Because it Deserves a Second Look: Hugelkultur Raised Garden Beds

hugelkultur: the ultimate raised garden beds

raised garden bed hugelkultur after one month

raised garden bed hugelkultur after one year

raised garden bed hugelkultur after two years

raised garden bed hugelkultur after twenty years

hugelkultur raised garden beds in a nutshell:

• grow a typical garden without irrigation or fertilization
• has been demonstrated to work in deserts as well as backyards
• use up rotting wood, twigs, branches and even whole trees that would otherwise go to the dump or be burned
• it is pretty much nothing more than buried wood
• can be flush with the ground, although raised garden beds are typically better
• can start small, and be added to later
• can always be small - although bigger is better
• You can save the world from global warming by doing carbon sequestration in your own back yard!
• perfect for places that have had trees blown over by storms
• can help end world hunger
• give a gift to your future self

the verbose details about hugelkultur raised garden beds

It's a german word and some people can say it all german-ish. I'm an american doofus, so I say "hoogle culture". I had to spend some time with google to find the right spelling. Hugal, hoogal, huegal, hugel .... And I really like saying it out loud: "hugelkultur, hoogle culture, hoogal kulture ...." - it could be a chant or something.
I learned this high-falootin word at my permaculture training. I also saw it demonstrated on the Sepp Holzer terraces and raised beds video - he didn't call it hugelkultur, but he was doing it.
Hugelkultur is nothing more than making raised garden beds filled with rotten wood. This makes for raised garden beds loaded with organic material, nutrients, air pockets for the roots of what you plant, etc. As the years pass, the deep soil of your raised garden bed becomes incredibly rich and loaded with soil life. As the wood shrinks, it makes more tiny air pockets - so your hugelkultur becomes sort of self tilling. The first few years, the composting process will slightly warm your soil giving you a slightly longer growing season. The woody matter helps to keep nutrient excess from passing into the ground water - and then refeeding that to your garden plants later. Plus, by holding SO much water, hugelkultur could be part of a system for growing garden crops in the desert with no irrigation.
I do think there are some considerations to keep in mind. For example, I don't think I would use cedar. Cedar lasts so long because it is loaded with natural pesticides/herbicides/anti-fungal/anti-microbial (remember, good soil has lots of fungal and microbial stuff). Not a good mix for tomatoes or melons, eh? Black locust, black cherry, black walnut? These woods have issues. Black locust won't rot - I think because it is so dense. Black walnut is very toxic to most plants, and cherry is toxic to animals, but it might be okay when it rots - but I wouldn't use it until I had done the research. Known excellent woods are: alders, apple, cottonwood, poplar, willow (dry) and birch. I suspect maples would be really good too, but am not certain. Super rotten wood is better than slightly aged wood. The best woods are even better when they have been cut the same day (this allows you to "seed" the wood with your choice of fungus - shitake mushrooms perhaps?).
Another thing to keep in mind is that wood is high in carbon and will consume nitrogen to do the compost thing. This could lock up the nitrogen and take it away from your growies. But well rotted wood doesn't do this so much. If the wood is far enough along, it may have already taken in sooooo much nitrogen, that it is now putting it out!
Pine and fir will have some levels of tanins in them, but I'm guessing that most of that will be gone when the wood has been dead for a few years.
In the drawings at right, the artist is trying to show that while the wood decomposes and shrinks, the leaves, duff and accumulating organic matter from above will take it's place. The artist is showing the new organic matter as a dark green.

raised garden beds on top of sod -
the soil comes from somewhere else

raised garden beds dug in a bit -
note the sod is put upside down on the wood
and the topsoil is on top of that

raised garden beds dug in a bit -
plus paths are dug on the sides and
that sod/soil goes on top too

I find I most often build hugelkultur in places where the soil is shallow. So I end up finding excess soil from somewhere else on the property and piling it on some logs. Presto! Instant raised garden beds! This is usually the easiest/fastest way too. Especially if you have earth moving equipment.
For those times that the soil is deep and you are moving the soil by hand, I like to dig up the sod and dig down a foot or two. Then pile in the wood. Then put the sod on top of the wood, upside-down. Then pile the topsoil on top of that. Even better is to figure out where the paths will be, and dig down there too. Add two layers of sod onto the logs and then the double topsoil.
I have discovered that a lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of raised bed gardens. They have seen the large flat gardens for years and are sure this is the way to do it. Some people are okay with raised beds that are three to six inches tall - they consider anything taller than that unsightly.
So this is gonna sound crazy, but I hope to convince you that the crazy-sounding stuff is worth it.
If you build your hugelkultur raised garden beds tall enough, you won't have to irrigate. At all (after the second year). No hoses. No drip system. Anything shorter won't require as much irrigation - so there is still some benefit. Imagine going on vacation in the summer without having to hire somebody to kill water your garden! As a further bonus, the flavor of everything you grow will be far better!
To go all summer long without a drop of rain, you need to build your hugelkultur raised bed gardens .... six feet tall. But they'll shrink! Mostly in the first month. Which is why I suggest you actually build them seven feet tall.
Hugelkultur raised garden beds can be built just two feet tall and will hold moisture for about three weeks. Not quite as good, but more within the comfort zone of many people - including urban neighbors.
Some people will start out with hugelkultur raised garden beds that are two and a half feet tall and plant only annuals. And each year they will build the size of the bed a foot. So that after a few years, they will have the bigger beds and the neighbors never really noticed. And if they've tasted what comes from it - they might be all for it without caring about the big mounds.
Besides, isn't this much better use of the wood than hauling it to the dump, or chipping it, or putting it in those big city bins for yard waste?

standard hugelkultur raised garden beds

narrower hugelkultur raised garden beds

peaked hugelkultur raised garden beds

hugelkultur raised garden beds with a stone border

hugelkultur raised garden beds with a log border

I usually build hugelkulture raised garden beds about five feet wide. This makes for some mighty steep beds. Just pack that soil on tight and plant it with a mix of heavy rooted plants to hold it all together. Quick! Before it rains! If you are going to build beds shorter than three feet tall, I suggest that you make the beds no wider than four feet wide. Unless you are doing keyhole style raised garden beds, in which case you should be able to get away with something wider.

Foraging is FREE - The Newest Plant We Have Found is Simply Amazing - PLANTAIN

Plantain
Botanical: Plantago major (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Plantaginaceae

Synonyms---broad-leaved plantain, ripple grass, waybread, slan-lus, waybroad, snakeweed, cuckoo's bread, englishman's foot, white man's foot, buckhorn plantain, dog's ribs, hock cockle, lance-leaved plantain, rub grass, dooryard plantain, round-leaved plantain, (Anglo-Saxon) weybroed, Che Qian Zi (China), Breitwegerich (German), Tanchagem-maior (Portuguese), Llantén común (Spanish), Llantén major (Spanish) 

Parts Used---Root, leaves, flower-spikes. 

Growth & Habitat --- A perennial "weed" that can be found almost anywhere in North America and much of Europe. You probably have some in your backyard! Plantain is thought to be indigenous to Eurasia. It will grow in sun to shade, and in almost any soil - plantain is very adaptable. Plantain spreads by seeds.
Plantain is a low-growing, green plant with oval, ribbed short-stemmed leaves. The leaves form basal rosettes which tend to hug the ground. The leaves may grow up to about 6" long and 4" wide, but tend to vary greatly in size depending on their soil and light conditions. Plantain sends up a leafless flower stock in summer/fall - the stalks can be up to ten inches tall.
There are over 200 species in the plantain family, and they are found worldwide. Many have herbal uses. Plantago major is the most common one in North America, but Plantago lanceolata can also be found. Both have the same medicinal uses, and are very similar in appearance. Plantago major has wide rounded leaves, with a flowering spike covered with small nubbly seeds; Plantago lanceolata has longer, slender leaves, and a mostly bare flowering stem, with a conelike cluster of flowers on the top. 

(Please note that plantain - the starchy, banana-like fruit, is completely different and not related to the plantain "weed" we are talking about!)

Plantain is edible - harvest the young, tender leaves for use in a salad, or steamed and used as a spinach substitute. The leaves do get tough quickly, so make sure to harvest only the youngest leaves. The immature flower stalks may be eaten raw or cooked. If you're really adventuresome, you can harvest the seeds. They are said to have a nutty flavor and may be parched and added to a variety of foods or ground into flour. The leaves, seeds and roots can all be made into an herbal tea.

Plantain was brought to the US and also to New Zealand by European settlers who valued it for it's culinary and medicinal properties. The settlers seemed to leave the plant wherever they went, thus earning it the name "White Man's Foot' or "Englishman's Foot" by the natives of both countries.

Plantain has been used medicinally by Europeans for centuries. Herbals dating from the 1500's and 1600's are full of recipes and uses for plantain. It was considered to be almost a panacea - a cure-all, and a quick search shows that is has historically been recommended as a treatment for just about everything, up to and including dog bites, ulcers, ringworm, jaundice, epilepsy, liver obstructions, and hemorrhoids! Plantain was so commonly known it is even found referenced in works by both Chaucer and Shakespeare.

Plantain is usually plentiful and can be easily harvested anytime from early spring until frost. Please do be careful where you harvest it - roadsides are notoriously dirty and dusty, and ditches are often sprayed with herbicides. Leave a spot in your backyard where you allow it to grow, and you can harvest your own all growing season! If your neighbors think you are crazy, let them know that plantain is a food source for some friendly wildlife such as butterfly caterpillars, and that the seeds are a food source for many varieties of birds.
Plantain is very high in beta carotene (A) and calcium. It also provides ascorbic acid (C), and vitamin K. Among the more notable chemicals found in plantain are allantion, apigenin, aucubin, baicalein, linoleic acid, oleanolic acid, sorbitol, and tannin. Together these constituents are thought to give plantain mild anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihemorrhagic, and expectorant actions. Acubin has been reported in the Journal Of Toxicology as a powerful anti-toxin. Allantoin has been proved to promote wound healing, speed up cell regeneration, and have skin-softening effects.

Modern medical research is proving to uphold many of the historical uses of plantain - especially as a wound healer, and as a treament for lung conditions such as bronchitis or asthma. Medicinally, plantain is astringent, demulcent, emollient, cooling, vulnerary, expectorant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitoxin, and diuretic. Plantain is approved by the German Commission E (a sort of German "FDA" that studies and regulates herbs and herbal uses) for internal use to ease coughs and mucous membrane irritation associated with upper respiratory tract infections as well as topical use for skin inflammations. Two Bulgarian clinical trials have suggested that plantain may be effective in the treatment of chronic bronchitis.

How much is usually taken? The German Commission E officially recommends using 1/4-1/2 teaspoon (1-3 grams) of the leaf daily in the form of tea made by steeping the herb in 1 cup (250 ml) of hot water for 10-15 minutes (making three cups (750 ml ) per day). The fresh leaves can be applied directly three or four times per day to minor injuries, dermatitis, and insect stings. Syrups or tinctures, approximately 1/2 teaspoon (2-3 ml) three times per day, can also be used, particularly to treat a cough. Finally, 1/2-1 1/4 teaspoons (2-6 grams) of the fresh plant can be juiced and taken in three evenly divided oral administrations throughout the day. Of course as with all herbal medicines, you are your own best doctor - listen to your body and pay attention to it's interaction with the herb, and you will undoubtedly figure out your own best uses and dosages.

Plantain is not associated with any common side effects and is thought to be safe for children Plantain is classed as "able to be safely consumed when used appropriately" by the American Herbal Retailers Association. Some preliminary research does show, however, that some allergy sufferers may have a reaction to plantain pollen, so if you feel this may be a problem for you, you may want to only use the plantain leaves for your herbal preparations.

One of plantain's most common uses is as a poultice for stings, bites, scrapes and rashes. The simplest way to harness plantain's healing powers is to crush a few fresh leaves, and apply to the affected area. Replace fresh leaves as necessary. The fresh plantain "juice" takes the pain away and seems to work wonders at staunching blood flow and closing wound edges. It's also wonderfully refreshing and soothing to sunburn.
Plantain infusion (tea) can also be used as a soothing wash for sunburn, windburn, rashes, or wounds. To make a plantain infusion, simply add a small handful of fresh plantain leaves to a cup or two of water, and bring to a gentle boil. Turn off heat, and let steep, then strain out the leaves. The infusion is best when fresh, although it can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.

Our favorite way to use plantain is in a herbally infused oil. Gently fill a container with fresh plantain leaves that have been lightly bruised or crushed. (Dried plantain can be used - if you are using dried plant material, you only need to fill the jar one-half full). Cover the leaves with oil - any vegetable oil will do, cover the container, and let sit in the sun for a couple of weeks. The will turn a beautiful dark green color. Strain out the leaves and you have a lovely herbal oil to use. It's wonderful to soften, soothe and heal any manner of skin conditions. We love to make a herbal salve from this oil - simply add 1-2 oz. melted beeswax to warmed infused oil. Stir over low heat until the beeswax and oil are uniformly combined, and then pour into clean jars or tubs.

Susun Weed recommends using plantain oil on babies and small children instead of lotions or vaseline. Natural vegetable oil that has been infused with the gentle, healing essence of plantain is far healthier to put on a baby's delicate skin than chemical-laden lotions or petroleum by-products. She also recommends using whole, clean, gently crushed fresh plantain leaves directly on a baby's diaper rash as an overnight polutice. This will help heal common diaper rash, as well as a yeast-infection diaper rash. Of course a plantain oil or salve can also be an excellent cure for diaper rash or cradle cap.

We use plantain-infused oil in just about all of our oil-based products, such as salves, lip balms, body oils, etc. We wildcraft chemical-free plantain from our property and the land next to ours. It dries well; the dried herb makes and excellent infusion and can be used to make an herbally infused oil that is almost as potent as the oil made from fresh leaves.

Refrerence: Prarie Land Herbs    (Actually, I just copied the post to here as a guest post because they are much more eloquent in describing the uses of plantain than I could ever be.)

Mold and Mildew Spray, Electrolyte Drink and Other Recipes Just in time for Summer

Powerful Mold and Mildew Spray

1 Cup Distilled Water

1 Cup Vodka

10 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

10 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

10 drops Lavender Essential Oil

Combine all the above ingredients and pour into a spray bottle. Spray this powerful mold and mildew spray directly on your mold or mildew problem. If it is really a bad problem leave on for 30 minutes or more before you wipe clean.

Odor Eliminator

2 drops Lemon EO

1 drop Melaleuca EO

1 drop Lime EO

1 drop White Fir EO

1 drop of Cilantro EO

Flower Garden Blend

Want your home to smell like a flower garden in full bloom? Try this one:

1 drop Clary Sage EO

1 drop Geranium EO

1 drop Lavender EO

1 drop Roman Chamomile EO

Bug Repellent Blend

This combo isn’t one that I’d necessarily wear as perfume, but it contains a collection of oils that most creepy-crawlies dislike:

1 drop Lemongrass EO

1 drop Melaleuca EO

1 drop Thyme EO

1 drop Eucalyptus EO

1 drop Rosemary EO

Chapstick

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons beeswax (about 1 oz)

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

2 Tablespoons shea butter

12 lip balm containers

dropper

Directions:

1. Melt beeswax in a small pan or crockpot over low heat. Add coconut oil and shea butter until all ingredients a melted. Add a few drops essential oil if desired. I did not use any essential oil and it is smells wonderfully like honey!

2. Using a small medicinal dropper, pour the melted liquid into your lip balm containers. Add a few extra drops to the top after filling each container as the ingredients will shrink as they cool.

3. Cool completely to harden. Cover with cap and decorate or label as desired.

Sun Burn

Lavender 10 drops

Chamomile 5 drops

Bergamot 1 drop

Geranium 2 drops

Diluted in 

Almond oil about 2 oz.

Coconut oil about 2 oz.

Electrolyte Drink

Water 1 quart

Sugar 8 teaspoons

Salt 1/2 teaspoon

Lemon or Orange EO 8 drops

Citrus Electrolyte Drink

Ingredients

1/2 cup fresh orange juice 
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 
2 cups of water (filtered or purified) or raw coconut water 
2 tbsp organic raw honey or organic maple syrup 
1/8 tsp Himalayan Pink salt or Celtic sea salt (I like Himalayan better – it has 84 trace minerals)

Equipment and Accessories

• Blender
• Mason jars

Directions

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend well. That’s it!

 

 References:  The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood; www.passionatehomemaking.com;The Prarie Homestead; www.dontmesswithmama.com

Frankincense - A Wise Oil from the Wise Men

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) has a sweet, warm, balsamic aroma that is stimulating and elevating to the mind. Useful for visualizing, improving one's spiritual connection, and centering, it has comforting properties that help focus the mind and overcome stress and despair. Frankincense is considered the holy anointing oil in the Middle East, where it has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. More recently, it has been used in European and American hospitals and is the subject of substantial research. Frankincense is also a valuable ingredient in skin care products for aging and dry skin. The ancient Egyptians used it in rejuvenation face masks. Frankincense has an approximate ORAC of 6,125 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter. EarthKosher Certified

How to Use

• For dietary or topical use. When using as a supplement, dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid such as soy or rice milk. Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Dilution recommended for both topical and internal use. Dilute before using on sensitive areas such as the face, neck, genital area, etc. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid using on infants and very small children.

18 Uses For Frankincense:

• Mood uplifting  - Frankincense is very powerful this way. Wear it like a perfume and inhale. Frankincense is a good essential oil to diffuse.
• Stress Relief – Apply to temples or wear as perfume. Inhale.
• Frankincense is great for your skin  - Frankincense promotes the regeneration of skin and healthy cells. It is an excellent choice for preventing or reducing wrinkles when used topically.
  
• Scar Tissue – Frankincense helps fade scars from acne, stretch marks and surgery.
• Relieves Itching Skin – Apply a couple drops of Frankincense to the itchy area.
• Relieves Pain  - Rub on sore joints to relieve arthritis pain and pain from injuries.
• Disinfectant for Cuts and Scrapes – Apply a drop of Frankincense to wounds to clean and disinfect.
• Removes Warts – Apply topically to the wart. Apply a couple times a day until the wart is gone. May take a couple weeks.
• Reduces Inflammation – Put a few drops in capsule and take internally or apply topically.
• Strengthens Immune System – Apply to bottom of feet or take in capsule.
• During Pregnancy and Labor – Apply to lower back to ease pain. It also helps with calming.
• Insect Bites -  Put a drop on an insect bite to help reduce swelling and speed healing.
• Enhance Visual Acuity – Many have eliminated the need for reading glasses by applying frankincense around the eye area – on the cheek bone and brow bone. Over a period of months, the vision often improves.  Some have even regained the peripheral vision that had been limited. They put one drop of frankincense in the palm, rubbed the palms together, and cupped the palms over open eyes for 3 minutes 2-3 times each day.  NOTE:  This can cause the eyes to water and/or tingle as the molecules of the essential oils disperse. In addition, remember that the condition did not occur “overnight”, and it may take many months before significant improvement is noticed.
• Improve Concentration – Apply 1-2 drops of on temples and/or back of neck to help improve concentration.
• Brittle Nails – Apply 1 drop on nails  to help strengthen brittle or weak fingernails.
• Cysts -  Apply 1-2 drops on cyst 2 times a day until it disappears.
• Overall health – Healthy Maintenance. Dilute 1 drop Frankincense oil in 1tsp. honey or 4 oz. rice milk and ingest daily for health maintenance.

 

Product Tips

• Inhale frankincense essential oil after lunch to spiritually refocus.
• Rub frankincense essential oil on the bottom of your feet to help alleviate nervous energy.

Ingredients

Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ frankincense essential oil(Boswellia carteri)

Cream of Tartar - What do I use it for? - via Preparedness Mamma

Discover the uses for cream of tartar

Do you have one of those little 2oz bottles of Cream of Tartar in your spice cabinet? You probably purchased it for a specific recipe, used a teaspoon or so, and then put it back on the self – never to be used again. The good news – cream of tartar lasts just about forever if stored in a cool, dry environment, so you’re covered. There are many cream of tartar uses for your home.

Tins, early to mid 20th century, most visibly one from Folger’s Golden Gate Cream Tartar, Edmonds Historical Museum, Edmonds, Washington, USA.}} |Source=Photo by Joe Mabel |Date=2012-0

A few months ago I wrote a little cheat sheet for baking substitutions to keep in the cupboard and shared it with you. One person, M-K-H, asked this question: “I think that while your baking substitutions cheat sheet is interesting, is the person that doesn’t have baking powder on hand REALLY likely to have cream of tartar just laying around?

Probably not M-K-H, but if they don’t they should!

Cream of tartar, (potassium hydrogen tartrate) is a fine white powder that forms inside wine barrels during the wine making process. It helps to help control the pH of fermenting grape juice and also acts as a preservative for the wine. It has been used by creative cooks for centuries and it is often used as a major component in baking powder. Combined with baking soda it will react when moistened to help baked goods rise.

Culinary uses for cream of tartar

Cream of tartar is used as a stabilizing agent and is added:

• To beaten egg whites to increase their stability and volume.
• To candies or frostings to give them a creamier texture.
• To stabilize whipped cream, helps to maintain its texture and volume.
• To prevent the crystallization of sugar syrups.
• Reduces discoloration of boiled vegetables.

Additionally it is used as a component of:

• Baking powder, as an acid ingredient to activate baking soda. Mix 2 parts cream of tartar to one part baking soda and you have baking powder.
• Sodium-free salt substitutes, in combination with potassium chloride (check with your doctor before using this as a salt replacement).

Household uses for Cream of Tartar

This is where Cream of Tartar really “shines”

• Mixed with an acidic liquid such as lemon juice or white vinegar, make a paste to clean metal pans such as brass, aluminum or copper.
• Mix with water to remove light stains from porcelain.
• Make a paste out of cream of tartar and lemon juice and apply to laundry stains. Let it sit for about 20 minutes and then throw it in the wash.
• Make your own “play-dough”
• Mix it into a paste with hydrogen peroxide and clean rust from garden hand tools. According to Wikipedia –  The paste is applied and allowed to set for a few hours and then washed off with a baking soda/water solution. Another rinse with water, a thorough drying and a thin application of oil will protect the file from further rusting.
• I’ve also heard that mixing it into a paste with vinegar will repel ants, but I haven’t tried it myself. You could try placing the paste over their “ant highways” and see if it will keep them out of the house.

Cream of Tartar Substitutes from Frugalliving.about.com

If you don’t have any cream of tartar in your pantry, you can use one of these substitutes in its place:

• For beating egg whites – use an equal amount of white vinegar or lemon juice, or omit the cream of tartar entirely
• As a leavening agent – replace the baking soda and the cream of tartar in the recipe with baking powder. One teaspoon of baking powder replaces 1/3 tsp of baking soda and 2/3 tsp cream of tartar
• For frosting – leave the cream of tartar out. No substitution is necessary

If you, like me, have that small bottle of Cream of Tartar in your spice cabinet, it’s time to check it for freshness. Under most conditions found in a spice cabinet, (dark and dry) cream of tartar will last for many years.

Inspect your bottle. The contents should look dry and powdery. If you see any clumps, the cream of tartar may have taken on some water or other liquid.

Look at the color. The product should be clean and pure white, without yellow or dark spots. If you see any discoloration, it may be contaminated with other spices. If you’ve had it for awhile it’s probably best to discard the bottle and purchase a new batch.

Smell it. Shake a small amount of the product into your hand and smell it. Fresh cream of tartar has a mild flavor, but if it’s old, you won’t notice any scent.See the full article here.

But it’s SO EXPENSIVE!

I’ll agree with you there…Look for it in bulk at craft stores or online. The most expensive way to purchase it is, in your supermarket’s baking aisle, in that little 2oz jar (costing a whopping $51 a pound, yikes!). Look around online at this link Cream of Tartar @ Amazon, where you can find it for about $20 a pound.

Peppermint Essential Oil - Nature's Versatile Little Oil

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) has a strong, clean, fresh, minty aroma. One of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion, it may also restore digestive efficiency.* Jean Valnet MD studied peppermint's supportive effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists have also researched peppermint's role in improving taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint's ability to improve concentration and mental sharpness. Alan Hirsch MD studied peppermint's ability to directly affect the brain's satiety center, which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals. This powerful essential oil is often diluted before topical application. Peppermint may also be used to enhance the flavor of food and water. Peppermint has an approximate ORAC of 373,455 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter. EarthKosher Certified

How to Use

For dietary, aromatic, or topical use. When using as a supplement, dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid such as goat's or rice milk. 
Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Dilution recommended for both topical and internal use. Do not apply neat to a fresh wound or burn. Dilute before using on sensitive areas such as the face, neck, genital area, etc. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid using on infants and very small children.

 1. Indigestion/Diarrhea 

Place 4-6 drops of peppermint oil in the palm and rub over the stomach and around the naval to relieve indention, gas and diarrhea. 
2. Heartburn 
Add a drop of peppermint oil to herbal tea (with agave or honey to emulsify/blend the oil and the tea) to aid in digestion and relieve heartburn. 
3. Nausea 
Massage several drops of peppermint oil on the abdomen, or place 2-3 drops in hands, gentrly rub together, cup palms and deeply inhale to relieve nausea. 
4. Travel sickness
Rub 4 drops of peppermint oil on the chest and stomach to relieve travel sickness. I always carry it with me while flying or during long train and car rides!
5. Hiccups 
To stop hiccups, apply a drop of peppermint oil on each side of the fifth cervical vertebra (up three notches from the large vertebra at the base of the neck). 
6. Inflammation (unbroken skin) 
Massage several drops of peppermint oil on an area of injury or chronic inflammation. 
7. Bruising (unbroken skin) 
Apply peppermint oil immediately to an injured area (not broken skin) — bruised shin, hit on the foot or hand — to relieve pain. If skin is broken, apply around but not on the open wound. 
8. Fever 
Rub several drops of peppermint oil on the bottom of the feet to reduce fever. 
9. Itching 
Apply a drop of peppermint oil topically on unbroken skin to stop itching. 
10. Poison Ivy/Poison Oak 
For poison ivy or poison oak, apply peppermint oil directly or dilute with vegetable mixing oil (coconut, sesame, etc). 
11. Headache 
To relieve a headache, rub a drop of peppermint oil on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (stay away from the eyes) and on the back of the neck. 
12. Trouble with alertness/concentration 
Place 2 drops of peppermint oil on the tongue and rub another drop under the nose to improve alertness and concentration. Diffuse in your office or home. 
13. Congestion
Place a drop of peppermint oil on the tongue and inhale into the nose and sinuses to relieve congestion from a cold. Diffuse in your room.
14.  Bugs
Get rid of pesky spider, fleas, ants, wasps, bees and ticks.

Product Tips

• Add a drop of peppermint essential oil to herbal tea to help aid normal digestion.
• Massage several drops of peppermint essential oil on the abdomen, place a drop on wrists, or inhale to soothe the minor stomach discomfort associated with travel.
• Rub one drop of peppermint essential oil on the temples, forehead, over the sinuses (careful to avoid contact with your eyes), and on the back of the neck to relieve head pressure.
• Place 2 drops of peppermint essential oil on the tongue and rub another drop of oil under the nose to help improve concentration and alertness.
• Apply peppermint essential oil to the back of the neck and shoulders throughout the day to keep energy up.
• Inhale peppermint essential oil, apply topically to your temples or neck, or put a drop on your tongue or in water to jump-start your morning routine.
• Diffuse or inhale peppermint essential oil mid-morning to curb the desire to snack.
• Inhale peppermint essential oil or rub a drop on to your abdomen to soothe minor stomach discomfort.

Ingredients

Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ peppermint essential oil(Mentha piperita)

Lavender - My FIRST essential oil love

Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolium)  is kind of like Spongebob - a universal good.  When I was introduced to essential oils in 1998, Lavender was the first.  I came to love it for its smell and versatility.  Anything I can use for more than one purpose is a win win.  Lavender has so much more to offer than one purpose.  

Lavender Origins:  England, France, Tasmania, Yugoslavia

Essential Oil is Obtained:  Flowering Tops

Lavender Characteristics and History:  

(Provided by Young Living Oils):  Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous aroma that is soothing and refreshing. Because it is the most versatile of all essential oils, no home should be without it. Lavender is an adaptogen, and therefore can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances. It is a great aid for relaxing and winding down before bedtime, yet has balancing properties that can also boost stamina and energy. Therapeutic-grade lavender is highly regarded for skin and beauty. It may be used to soothe and cleanse common cuts, bruises, and skin irritations. 

The French scientist René Gattefossé was among the first to discover these properties when he was severely burned in a laboratory explosion. Lavender may also be used to enhance the flavor of foods. Lavender has an approximate ORAC of 3,669 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.

Lavender Uses:

• burns
• scrapes
• inflammation
• cuts
• wounds
• eczema
• dermatitis
• fainting
• headaches
• influenza
• insomnia
• migraine
• nausea
• nervous tension
• infections
• sores
• ulcers
• acne
• boils
• astham
• rheumatism
• arthritis

Lavender Oil Properties:

• Antidepressant
• Analgesic
• Antiseptic
• Cicatrizant
• Expectorant
• Nervine
• Vulnerary

How to Use (Provided by Young Living Oils)

 

For dietary, aromatic or topical use. When using as a supplement, put one drop in a capsule or in 4 fl. oz. of rice or goat's milk.

Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Dilution not required; suitable for all but the most sensitive skin. Generally safe for children over 2 years of age. 

Product Tips (provided by Young Living Oils)

• Soothe minor burns by applying 2–3 drops of lavender essential oil to the affected area.
• Rub lavender essential oil on dry or chapped skin to moisturize the affected area.
• Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a cotton ball and place it in closets and drawers to scent linens and repel moths and insects.
• You may be able to minimize the appearance of scar tissue by massaging lavender essential oil on or around affected areas.
• Place a few drops of lavender essential oil on a wet cloth or dryer sheet to deodorize and freshen your laundry.
• Diffuse lavender essential oil to minimize seasonal discomforts.
• Rub a few drops of lavender essential oil onto your hand and spread over your child’s pillow to help him/her sleep.
• Diffuse lavender essential oil to set the mood for a baby shower or social gathering.
• Diffuse or inhale lavender essential oil to calm your mind, body, and spirit after a hard day’s work.

 

References:  

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valeria Ann Worwood, www.Youngliving.org, http://www.netherfield.co.nz/lavender-uses.php, 

Summer and Homesteading with Kids

It is that time of year.  School is almost out, and the kids will be home.  All.   Summer.  Long.  What do you do that won't break the bank and won't make you want to shuffle them off to boarding camp?  Below are some fun and homestead friendly ideas.  

Do you have some ideas you want to share?  Please.  Share.  It's a long 2.5 months.

Outdoor Homemade Games

So, the idea is to reuse what you have or to use what you find to make these games.

Backyard Tic Tac Toe

Materials:

• Smooth rocks -10
• Either:  cross cut log, round flat paver, left over plywood, the end of a large spool (you get the point) for the game board
• Paint or homemade paint:   (1 cup powdered milk, 1/2 cup linseed oil, 2 cups water, color (berries, clay, or ash)

Use the log, paver, etc. and paint to make a tic tac toe board

Paint the rocks 5 one color and 5 another (or make them with designs.  I personally prefer lady bugs and daisies)

Place it in the backyard and play.  This project is easy and kid friendly.

Here is an example I found on the internet:

You can do this type of project with twister, checkers, chess, scrabble, dominoes, toss across and sorry.

Homemade RingToss:

Materials:

• 2 1-inch thick sticks about 3 feet long, or 6 smaller ones
• Hoops:  Cross stitch rings, round clamps, swimming rings, frisbees, old pool noodles, hula hoops for a big set, etc.

Hammer the sticks in the ground about 30 feet apart.  Toss the rings like you would in horseshoes.  If the rings are flimsy and need weight, add small stones on each side and duct tape.  You can also use smaller stick hammered in the ground in a pattern to do the traditional ring toss.  

Here are some examples:

• Grow and harvest a garden.  Start to finish, let them help.
• Build a Fire Pit and Roast hot dogs and marshmallows.
• Build a tee pee and have an outdoor picnic.
• Camp out in the back yard with your new fire pit.
• Forage for edible weeds.
• Make firestarters together and then use them.  (See previous post on how to make firestarters).
• Build a greenhouse together and then camp in it before the plants get there.
• Build a solar oven together and bake cookies.
• Use a pool noodle with holes in it to make a fun day sprinkler.  Add heavy plastic between two rows of noodles to make a slip and slide.
• Make rain barrels to harvest water.  Kids love to conserve the earth.
• Make oil based soaps with herbs harvested from that garden you planted.

There are TONS of things you can do with the kids over the summer that will also move forward your homesteading skills and preparedness.

Thanks for reading.  Happy Homesteading!

Three Sisters Gardening - What is it?

A friend of mine introduced me to Three Sisters Gardening a couple of years ago. It is a growing technique used by Native Americans where each food is supported and benefits from the other to produce a better harvest.

Traditionally, Three Sisters involves corn, beans and squash.  The corn grows straight and tall.  The beans grow up the corn as a trellis and provide nitrogen to the other two plants, and the squash receives shade from the beans to help retain water.

We don't eat squash and very few beans, so I adapted the technique to utilize foods we do eat.  To make an adaptation, you need plants that are companions.  This means the plants benefit each other.

We used sunflowers, cucumber and radishes.  All three plants are companions and provide the same principles as the usual Three Sisters combination.  The sunflowers grow tall and provide a trellis for the cucumber, and the cucumber provide shade and nutrients to the radishes.  It is an experiment.  So far, we have good results.

No one technique provides everything you need for your soil or your plants.  Try a couple and see what works best for you.

Thanks for reading.  Happy Homesteading!

Canning - Part 6 - Bonus - Botulism

When you can, can it right.  If it is dented, throw it out.  The risk is not worth it.

Thank you American Preppers Network for sharing the story.

Man fights to survive after contracting botulism from canned food

DESOTO COUNTY, MS -(WMC) - A Horn Lake, Mississippi man is fighting
to stay alive after his wife says one bad bite of food destroyed their
lives. Mid-South doctors had never seen a case like this before; it is a
condition so rare, they contacted the Department of Homeland Security.

"One thing he ate changed our entire lives," said Amanda Killen.

Jay Killen struggles to even eat a spoonful of chocolate pudding, after more than two years in and out of the hospital.  "This is the first I've been able to feed myself," said Jay.

Around Thanksgiving, in 2011, Jay got sick.  "I thought I was having a stroke or something," he explained.  So did doctors in the emergency room.  He was unable to move or even breathe; Jay was hooked up to a
ventilator and placed in intensive care. By day six, doctors prepared to
declare the 40-something former construction worker brain dead. 

"He took me right outside the room and said, 'I have to tell you, that it doesn't look good,' " said his wife.  Paralyzed and unable to speak, Jay was desperate to let everyone know he was awake and aware of his dire circumstances.

"I said 'God, please! Please help me show them I'm here.'"  Amanda played Jay's favorite music at his bedside and noted his leg
moved in rhythm. Amanda's mother demanded doctors investigate. 

"He said, 'Jay, move your leg.' I did," said Jay.  "He [the doctor] said we've got this wrong. He said, 'We need to
figure out what this is but it's not what we think it is,'" said Amanda.  

After conferring with researchers at the Centers for Disease Control,
doctors at Baptist DeSoto determined Jay had contracted botulism. It's a
disease that affects fewer than 150 people a year in the United States.

"It paralyzes all of your voluntary muscle function," Amanda explained.

The rare illness is caused by eating food containing the toxic
bacteria botulinum. Moving your body and the simple acts of swallowing,
blinking, and breathing becomes impossible. Jay was on a ventilator for
11 months. Adult cases of botulism are so rare, the Department of
Homeland Security launched an investigation into the source of Jay's
infection.  "It may have been a can of beets we had," said Amanda.  The Centers for Disease Control warns foodborne botulism can come
from home-canned foods with low acid content, such as asparagus, green
beans, beets, and corn is caused by failure to follow proper canning
methods. Cases have also been linked to store-bought canned goods that
were improperly handled by manufacturers, retailers, or consumers.
Examples include chopped garlic oil, canned cheese sauce, chili peppers,
tomatoes, carrot juice and baked potatoes wrapped in foil.  "You get to the point where it really doesn't matter where it came
from because it's not going to change anything," Amanda explained.  "Yeah, it's done. You got it. Deal with it," added Jay.

After months tending to her husband, Amanda returned to work, in
part, to preserve their health insurance. Jay was unable to even push a
nurse call button, so volunteers signed up for weekly two and three
hours shifts. "These people showed up week after week. I know I got calls if
someone couldn't be there to substitute," said the couple's friend,
Malisa Burgess. 

Jay couldn't speak but regained his ability to blink. Blinking became
his means of communication as visitors recited the alphabet.  "I would say at ‘A,' and I'd say the alphabet, and he'd stop me on
the letter I'd write down. And then we'd go to the next letter," said
Amanda.  "It was the grace of God and the grace of mankind that I was alive," said Jay.  Now in occupational therapy, Jay refuses to let botulism beat him,
and hopes his story of survival, thanks to family and friends and his
faith, serves as a warning.  

"If you have a canned product, if it's dented, return it. Throw it away. Don't eat it," said Jay.  An interesting side effect from Jay's illness is that he has fewer
wrinkles. Botulism comes from the same toxin used in Botox cosmetic
procedures.

• If you would like to help Jay then follow the link: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/team-jay-killen/171319#.U17HMeQWuFQ.email
• For a botulism consumer use guide, click here: http://www.wmctv.com/category/282360/botulism-resources?clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass
• The Centers for Disease Control warns of foodborne botulism. Slide through this slideshow to learn what to look out for: http://www.wmctv.com/slideshow?widgetid=95316&clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass
• Information on botulism, risks and prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/botulism/
• USDA Guide to safely canning foods: http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/usda/GUIDE%201%20Home%20Can.pdf
• FDA guidelines on how to spot damaged canned goods that are at risk for bacteria: http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm197835.htm