Our Daily Herbal Tea

For a few months now, we have each been drinking two cups of herbal tea a day. At this time, we are buying the herbs that we are using in our tea. We feel like this is a healthy addition to our diet. Here's why.

I start off with:

3 tbsp. dried dandelion root simmered in 2 quarts of water for 20 minutes. I start this time when the water is still cold. This makes a decoction.



The benefits of dandelion root include:

• liver detoxification/tonic
  
• promotes good digestion
• good for indigestion
• good for arthritis
• regular use helps reduce cholesterol
• gentle laxative
• good for psoriasis

After the roots have simmered, I turn off the fire and add:

1 tsp. celery seed & 1 tbsp. meadowsweet, which sits and steeps for 10 minutes. Seeds, leaves and flower parts are used to make an infusion, which is the steeping process. Since the roots of the dandelion are much harder and thicker, they need to simmer to release the desired properties.

The benefits of celery seed include:

• helps reduce high blood pressure
  
• good digestive; reduces muscle spasms in the muscles of the intestinal tract
• purifies the blood
• helps treat arthritis
• has anti-inflammatory properties
• stimulates thyroid & pituitary
• clears uric acid from painful joints
• acts on kidneys & is a mild diuretic

The benefits of meadowsweet include:

• antacid properties
• astringent
  
• anti-inflammatory
• contains salicylates like aspirin
• diuretic 
• calming for overactive digestive system
• helps acid stomach, heartburn, ulcers, hiatus hernia
• helpful for rheumatism & arthritis
• clears sandy deposits in urine

This information has been compiled from several of my herbal books. Not everyone agrees with the effectiveness of herbs upon the body. You will have to do your own research and decide for yourself what is right for you.

Last year we began harvesting and replanting dandelion seed in the herb bed, just for this tea. I know many people see them as the bane of a beautiful lawn. Every time I see them I think of the benefits they are providing our bodies. We will continue to harvest the seeds and spread them all over the herb bed. They are already up and blooming this year, so it won't be long before the seeds are ready. Now I need to learn how to harvest and dry the roots for our tea, as well as start incorporating some of the greens in our diet.

May 2014

I have one meadowsweet plant established (I think, I haven't seen it yet this spring) and need to add many more to provide the amount we are currently using. 

October 2014, over wintered and is coming back out now

Celery seed may be a whole new challenge. I think I will do some more research and see if I can dry the leaves and/or stalks to use in the tea. It would be much easier for us to produce the plants than the seeds. My other research will include celeriac to see if it contains the same beneficial constituents as celery.

The lemon balm is just starting to come out now.

June 2014

We have some other things growing in the herb bed that I will be adding to a tea blend of our own. These ingredients will be chosen for the beneficial characteristics they have, as well as compatibility with other herbs. Lemon balm and peppermint are on the list for now. If I can get a good crop of chamomile and echinacea, I will add them as well. We're trying to cut down on the amount of herbs we buy, because we would rather consume those we can grow and harvest 

Peppermint, May 2014

ourselves. I still have a lot of learning to do when it comes to growing herbs, harvesting them at the appropriate time, dehydrating to retain the most benefit, and usage. This is another dream come true. I have wanted to be able to grow and use herbs for many, many years. Now I am starting down that path, and it's wonderful.

This is just one more way Frank and I are trying to reclaim our bodies from the effects of the chemicals we are bombarded with everyday. I am grateful we still have the peace and freedom to do so. The more I can learn now, the better off we will be if it ever comes down to having to make do with what we know, have and can do. I pray it doesn't reach that point, but it sure looks that way more and more every day. Learn something important this week that will benefit your family should times get hard. It's critical.

Until next time - Fern

Working in the Garden

Once the gardening season starts, there is always more work to be done. It is a never ending activity until the frosts of late fall bring it to an end sometime in November...maybe. When I read other blogs and some of the comments, it's hard for me to imagine still having snow on the ground and having to wait until June to plant. By the middle of February, I am ready to play in the dirt and get things going. Here is a run down on our latest activities.

Earlier in the week we planted more onions, then we got the last of them in today.

Even though the carrots are not growing as good as they did last year, we went ahead and planted them by the peas as well. Even though the peas are growing, we feel they should be doing more than they are. We will see.

The potatoes are coming up and look great.

 






The beets are growing and look pretty good.

This afternoon we got out the pots we had made and filled all 220 of them. Here is a list of the seeds we planted. Some of these varieties we have tried before and some we have not.

• Romano Italian green beans (very good pole beans)
• Dr. Jaeger's Cantaloupe (new variety)
• Early Cluster Cucumbers (new variety)
• Swiss Chard Fordhook Giant (new variety)
• Oakleaf Lettuce (new variety)
• Summertime Lettuce (new variety)
• Tendercrisp Celery
• Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach (new variety)
• Earliana Cabbage
• Early Jersy Wakefield Cabbage (new variety)
• Premium Crop Hybrid Broccoli (the only hybrid we grow)
• Early Golden Yellow Crookneck Squash
• Large Smooth Prague Celeriac (new variety)
• Red Russian Kale

The tomato and pepper seedlings are doing very well. We will begin to harden them off out on the porch after the cool nights expected this week pass. Then we will plant them in the garden in a few weeks after it warms up a little more.

Even though April 1st is our last average frost, we are still having some cool nights. Once these seedlings are up and hardened off, our gardening season will be in full swing. It's a very busy time of year, but one of our favorites. We will still be trying to tuck in some projects in between all of the regular chores that come with everyday life at our homestead. Life is good.

Until next time - Fern