Paula's Herbs and PlantsJune Newsletter
June is here and the kids are out of school. Many families will be going on vacation now, but with gas around $4.00 a gallon shorter trips close to home may have to suffice. Not only gas but food also seems to go up in price almost weekly. I have noticed a number of articles on the internet, newspapers and television about the return of the home garden. A local newspaper article quoted a county extension agent as saying “I have had many more questions, and more people want to plant gardens,” he said. “I would say as we get higher and higher food costs, we will see more interest in home gardens.” Also a local television station was interviewing a home economist, who said she had lots of calls this year wanting to know about home canning and food preservation. When I was growing up, in the late 50's and 60's, everyone had a garden. As food became readily available in the grocery stores for a reasonable price, people slowly let the gardens fall by the wayside. For a longtime now it has been financially easier to pick up foods rather than grow them. But convenience is getting to be too costly. I believe that until gas and food prices return to a reasonable price range we will see more home gardens return. There are more gardens and larger gardens, in our local area, this year than I have seen in over 30 years or more. Another beneficial aspect of the home garden is in knowing where the food comes from, what chemicals have (or have not) been used on your food and that you are helping the planet in reducing our dependency on foods that travel hundreds or thousands of miles to your table. There is also the sense of accomplishment and pride that goes with providing nutritious whole foods for your family. If you are new to gardening, the internet is a convenient source of almost unlimited information and your local library in another great source. A home garden doesn't have to require a great deal of space. Many people garden on large terraces or rooftops or mix vegetables in with their existing flower beds. You may even consider planting a garden with friends or neighbors and sharing the space, workload and the bounty of your harvest. Teaching children to garden or learning to garden with your children is a great way to spend quality time together that you both will value. I will be including more information on home gardening on our website in the near future. We will also be expanding our seed selection to include vegetable as well as herb seeds. If there are topics you would like to see covered or seeds you would like to see offered on our site, please let us know. Practical Uses for Feverfew
Traditionally, feverfew was used in European folk medicine for
headaches, arthritis, and, of course, fevers. This plant from the
sunflower family got its name from the Latin word febrifugia or ‘fever
reducer’ for obvious reasons. Eventually it became used to treat
menstrual problems, labor problems, skin conditions, stomach pains, and
asthma.
Being native to southeastern Europe explains its major
role in European folk medicine. Now, it is widespread throughout North
America and Australia also. All parts of the plant above ground can be
used for medicinal purposes, but most times the leaves are the only
ones.
This particular herb’s dried flowers are used in
flavoring in certain pastries in addition to it’s medicinal uses. It
adds a aromatic bitter taste to foods. Medically, a tea is made from
the dried flowers to aid in the maladies mentioned above. Caution is
advised when using this plant as the fresh flowers can cause dermatitis
and mouth ulcers is consumed. Always seek a physician’s advice before using any herbs.
On a different note, feverfew can also be used as an insecticide when
put into a liter of hot soapy water. The essential oil is also used in
perfumery since the leaves themselves are extremely aromatic.
The plant itself is very easily cultivated and can spread over an
entire area if an eye is not kept upon it. It has small daisy-like
flower clusters when in bloom and is a short lived perennial. It
prefers sun and can withstand harsh weather.
Chives Chives were originally cultivated in Europe during the Middle Ages,
after Marco Polo brought them from China, but their uses date back to
up to 5,000 years ago. Romans used chives for medicinal uses. They
believed it could relieve the pain from sunburns and sore throats. They
also believed it increase blood pressure and acted as a diuretic.
Chives were also used by the Romanian Gypsies in their fortune telling
and bunched of chives hung around the home would ward off disease and
evil spirits. The Japanese plant chives between the rocks of the
borders of their flowerbeds to keep pests away. Not only the plant
itself, but the juice form the leaves also has the same insecticide
properties.
Most people know the herb for its many uses as a
culinary ingredient. Their leaves are the most often used but their
flowers can be used as well. Chives are believed to be on of the ‘fine
herbs’ of French cooking. It can be found fresh in most markets and
grocery stores year round making it readily available.
As
for its medicinal uses, chives’ properties are similar to those of
garlic but in a much milder and weaker fashion. Chives have a great
beneficial effect on the circulatory system, actually lowering blood
pressure, counteracting what the Romans had assumed. This particular
herb in rich in vitamins A and C, with small traces of sulfur and iron.
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