Herbal Study - Homeschool Blogger

Herbal Harvest

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:39:00 -0500

So far...

Progress Report #3

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:25:00 -0500

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I now have all the paths finished. I cleared the paths with the weed trimmer. Then I laid down a barrier fabric, used bricks to keep it down. Then covered it with hay. I have also weeded the center row. And weed wacked down all the tansy in the main area of the garden. It is still on all sides of the vegetable garden so I didn't feel I needed all of it. I wanted more space for other herbs now.

We are making Progress

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:41:00 -0500

Herb Garden Stage 1

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:43:00 -0500

I have killed off all the grass. Now it's time to get it back into shape. Here are photos of the first stage.

The fenced in area in the background is the vegetable garden.

Watercress

Mon, 11 May 2009 15:18:00 -0500

Horseradish

Mon, 11 May 2009 15:17:00 -0500

Why all the Photos and no Text

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:27:00 -0500

I am hoping to have time to get the text/herbal helps, written up this week. So hopefully soon each entry will tell you about the herbs that I have growing in my gardens.
Patience Please! :)

Yarrow

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:26:00 -0500

Wild Violets

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:25:00 -0500

Tansy

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:23:00 -0500

WARNING: This herb is Highly toxic and should not be used medicinally.

Why you might ask am I showing it here then? Well pests don't like it. Deer, bunnies and bugs don't like it so it's a good companion plant. I have it all around the fence of our veggie garden.

Spearmint/Mint

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:22:00 -0500

Warning consuming lots of peppermint/spearmint can dry up your milk supply if you are nursing.

Shephards Purse

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:21:00 -0500

Oregano

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:18:00 -0500

Mullein

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:16:00 -0500

These plants get huge. They bloom biannually. You make the herbal medicine from the flowers.
Homemade Cough Syrup
(coming soon)

Echinachea / Purple Coneflower

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:44:00 -0500

This is one of my favorite herbs. I love watching it change colors from very pale pink to deep pink. Also the cones in the center change. But other than being pretty what is it good for?

Herbal Health-
Why it's used- Echinacea helps prevent and treat colds, bronchitis, gingivitus, cold sores, yeast and ear infections.
What parts can be used-The root generally used in tinctures or powders for almost any type of infection or inflammation; it can be especially useful for recurring kidney infections, as well as more common mucus and colds. Harvest after flowering; wash, chop and dry.
How it works- It contains a number of complex immune-stimulating substances.
Comments and Cautions- A numbing of the tongue is normal when using liquid forms. Do not use it if you have an autoimmune disease or if you are allergic to plants in the daisy family. Echinacea may trigger autoimmune disorders in pregnant women. High doses can occasionally cause nausea and dizziness.
Some History: The Native Americans used purple coneflowers to treat snakebites, fevers, and old, stubborn wounds. The early settlers soon adopted the plant as a home remedy for colds and influenza, and it became popular with the 19th-century Eclectic. In the past 50 years, it has achieved worldwide fame for it's antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, and it has also been used in AIDS therapy. Cultivated purple coneflower is usually E. purpurea, although E. angustifolia is considered more potent by some practitioners.

More to come...

My Herb Garden 3 years ago.

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:25:00 -0500

Unfortunately this garden no longer looks like this. It lost a fight with bermuda. I broke down this year and sprayed chemicals on it. That would kill the grass but not the plants. But many of the herbs were chocked out before I decided to use the chemical.

There herbs included are ...
Coneflowers, nasturtiam, bee balm, hyssop, horseradish, lemon balm, chives, rhubarb, garlic,spearmint, tansy, yarrow, oergano, basil, sage, thyme and Comfory. And I'm sure a few I have forgotten.