Garden – Page 2 – GreenDesert

Oct23

Cranberry

Cranberries are a staple at most Thanksgiving dinner tables. Once you find out how beneficial the fruit is, you’ll want to add it to more than just one meal. Cranberries are antioxidant powerhouses.

Below are just some of the reasons why:

Urinary tract health

One of the most common known benefits of cranberries is that it helps with UTIs or urinary tract infections. How? Cranberries are high in proanthocyanidins, chemical compounds that give foods like red cabbage and blueberries their color. More importantly, it’s a natural antioxidant that keeps bacteria, that causes UTIs, from sticking to the walls of the bladder. That means that bad bacteria gets flushed away, reducing the chances of an infection.

But once you’ve got the UTI, the cranberry loses its super powers. Scientists say it helps in prevention but not really in the treatment.

Also keep in mind, drinking a cranberry cocktail will not give you the same benefits as eating raw cranberries. If you’re using it for your health, skip the sugar and have it as close to its natural state as possible.

Digestive benefits

The proanthocyanidins also help get rid of the harmful microbes in your colon. If you eat a lot of meat, sugar, and dairy, cranberries can help by putting good bacteria back in your body. That will help your digestive track stay on a healthy track.

Oral health

Those same antioxidants help fight infections in your mouth.

They’re like a repellent for bacteria on your teeth meaning it keeps the bad bacteria from sticking to your gums and teeth.

This can help prevent cavities, bad breath, and even help lessen the risk of oral cancer.

Again, we’re not talking about cranberry cocktails as the sugar in those drinks may do more harm than good. Often much of the active ingredient in the juice is long gone before it reaches your fridge.

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF CRANBERRIES

Eat them whole. If you do not like them raw, put them in a smoothie or a salad. Having the whole fruit will give you all of the benefits.

Cranberry juice, not cranberry cocktail, is a great way to enjoy the fruit but you lose the fiber, iron, and calcium that come with eating the whole fruit. If you prefer juice, look for those more natural, without the added sugars.

Dried cranberries are a yummy snack,you don’t have to worry about it spoiling and you’re getting some nutrients. Still fresh is best. Once dried, cranberries do lose some of their vitamins and have a higher calorie content.

Another way to enjoy it… Jelly! Cranberry sauce isn’t just for Thanksgiving… have it year-round on your toast or sandwiches.

We have an entire page of natural remedies. If you have natural remedies you choose, please share them — it takes a community!

Oct6

Garden Health Household Sustainable

Pomegranate

How pomegranates affect your health

Have you ever had the privilege of biting into a cluster of pomegranate seeds? The reward you get from the juice is priceless. Needless to say, I love pomegranate season! The satisfying flavor of the fruit speaks for itself. Along with the juice comes tons of health benefits.

Antioxidants

Pomegranates are full of antioxidants… punicalagins, anthocyanins, and hydrolysable tannins… all antioxidants known to help protect your cells from free radical damage!

Heart

Polyphenolic compounds found in the fruit have been well-known for helping your heart. These compounds in pomegranates may be able to help the inflammation in the arteries and reduce oxidative stress. This can also help lower your blood pressure and help fight plaque build-up in your arteries as well (atherosclerosis).

Tip: Pomegranate juice is an easy way to get the benefits into your system and can also help with chest pain.

Prostate

Studies have shown that drinking pomegranate juice can slow down the rate at which a tumor in your prostate grows. For people who have prostate cancer pomegranates also help promote cells from dying.

Urinary Health

Nobody wants kidney stones and pomegranates can help with that! It can hinder the mechanism that forms kidney stones.

Brain Health

Pomegranates have ellagitannins which are known to reduce inflammation in the body. These compounds can help your brain actually get better! This may be able to help protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by helping brain cells survive and reducing oxidative stress.

Digestive Health

Pomegranates are rich in fiber and can increase good bacteria in your gut. The beneficial gut bacteria, bifidobacterium and lactobacillus, are supposed to have pre-biotic effects helping prevent many digestive health issues.

Endurance

If you love working out or want to start, pomegranates may be able to replace that protein powder because it may improve your endurance for your workout.

It’s newer research but studies show because pomegranates provide potassium, which is an essential electrolyte for exercise. And remember those antioxidants and polyphenols that I mentioned earlier? Those nutrients are helpful for running and performance.

Try it out for yourself and let us know how it makes a difference in your routine!

We have an entire page of natural remedies. If you have natural remedies you choose, please share them — it takes a community!

Oct6

Garden Health Household Sustainable

Pomegranate

How pomegranates affect your health

Have you ever had the privilege of biting into a cluster of pomegranate seeds? The reward you get from the juice is priceless. Needless to say, I love pomegranate season! The satisfying flavor of the fruit speaks for itself. Along with the juice comes tons of health benefits.

Antioxidants

Pomegranates are full of antioxidants… punicalagins, anthocyanins, and hydrolysable tannins… all antioxidants known to help protect your cells from free radical damage!

Heart

Polyphenolic compounds found in the fruit have been well-known for helping your heart. These compounds in pomegranates may be able to help the inflammation in the arteries and reduce oxidative stress. This can also help lower your blood pressure and help fight plaque build-up in your arteries as well (atherosclerosis).

Tip: Pomegranate juice is an easy way to get the benefits into your system and can also help with chest pain.

Prostate

Studies have shown that drinking pomegranate juice can slow down the rate at which a tumor in your prostate grows. For people who have prostate cancer pomegranates also help promote cells from dying.

Urinary Health

Nobody wants kidney stones and pomegranates can help with that! It can hinder the mechanism that forms kidney stones.

Brain Health

Pomegranates have ellagitannins which are known to reduce inflammation in the body. These compounds can help your brain actually get better! This may be able to help protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by helping brain cells survive and reducing oxidative stress.

Digestive Health

Pomegranates are rich in fiber and can increase good bacteria in your gut. The beneficial gut bacteria, bifidobacterium and lactobacillus, are supposed to have pre-biotic effects helping prevent many digestive health issues.

Endurance

If you love working out or want to start, pomegranates may be able to replace that protein powder because it may improve your endurance for your workout.

It’s newer research but studies show because pomegranates provide potassium, which is an essential electrolyte for exercise. And remember those antioxidants and polyphenols that I mentioned earlier? Those nutrients are helpful for running and performance.

Try it out for yourself and let us know how it makes a difference in your routine!

Sep30

Garden Health Household sustainability Sustainable

Avocado

AVOCADOS BENEFITS

It’s no secret how amazing avocados are on almost everything including burritos, toast, salsas and of course guacamole. But the benefits go much further than the flavor; avocados are filled with antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, vitamins C, E, K and B6, among other nutrients.

They’re known for high levels of healthy fat and since they literally have no cholesterol and low sodium (1 avocado has 11mg), I indulge.

Below are some specific benefits that the avocado brings that may cause you to indulge too.

Anti-Inflammatory & Heart Health

Because avocados have a ton of niacin it helps with inflammation. When eating it, it can fight inflammation in the body and help protect your arteries. That in turn helps your heart stay healthy, lowering your cardiovascular inflammation.

In fact, new research from Harvard University shows eating 2 servings of avocados per week may boost your heart health and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Skin Health

The beta carotene protein and other nutrients found in avocado oil are great for your skin.

Rub the oil on your skin for eczema and to help treat psoriasis. It’s great for moisturizing your skin so it’s also beneficial for conditions like dermatitis since it helps with the itchiness associated with these inflammations.

Also try it on sunburns for faster healing!

Try this: Take the inside of an avocado peel and massage it on your face. Leave the oil on your face for about 15 minutes, rinse it off and let me know how great your skin feels.

Healthy Brain Function

Vitamin E is another main nutrient in avocados, and lots of research shows how beneficial vitamin E is for slowing down conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. It’s supposed to keep your brain from declining in thinking and memory skills. In fact, according to the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, when taken with Vitamin C, it’s been shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 20%.

Fun Fact: Half of an avocado contains about 2 mg of vitamin E. The recommended daily allowance is 15 mg per day.

Strong Bones

Vitamin K is the essential nutrient in strengthening our bones, which yes, is found in avocados. Vitamin K is also an important nutrient for blood clotting.

Digestion

Because avocados are high in fiber and insoluble fiber it helps move everything out of your body keeping you from getting constipated.

Vision

Eye doctors rave about the nutrients in avocados because they can save your eyes from damage that leads to poor vision. Specifically, the high amounts of lutein found in avocados protects your eyes from cataracts, macular degeneration and other age-related eye issues.

Fun Fact: Avocados have more lutein than your average lutein supplement.

We have an entire page of natural remedies. If you have any avocado recipes or any natural remedies you use, I’d love to try them, so please share — it takes a community!

Sep28

Garden Health Household

Cinnamon

Who doesn’t love the smell of cinnamon? Did you know it’s good for more things than just on your French toast?

Cinnamon was a rare and prized possession back in ancient Egypt, only fit for the wealthy! So, it makes sense that cinnamon is great for more than just breakfast, and now you don’t have to be rich to enjoy the benefits!

I buy cinnamon in bulk and add it to my daily teas, smoothies and I even make cinnamon water.

I have a recipe for cinnamon water AND cinnamon oil at the end of this article.

Diabetes

If you struggle with high blood sugar, or lack the ability to control your blood sugar, cinnamon can help.

If you take about 0.5 to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon a day it will act on your cells mimicking insulin by decreasing the amount of glucose in your body after you eat.

Not only can it mimic insulin but also will improve your sensitivity to insulin. If you are prone to insulin resistance add some cinnamon to your diet!

Nausea

Cinnamon is shown to stimulate the cells lining the stomach improving your digestion and soothing your stomach. That will help prevent vomiting and make that nausea feeling go away!

As soon as you feel any nauseas, grab a cinnamon stick, or ground cinnamon, put it in a cup with boiling water and drink away. Try it, I’ve felt instant relief.

Antibacterial

Cinnamon can help you fight off bacterial infections and may help treat respiratory infections caused by fungi. But you’ll want to use cinnamon oil for these benefits.

You can buy it or make your own. There’s a recipe at the end of this article.

Heart Disease

Cinnamon is able to reduce the risk of heart disease due to the benefits of making low blood sugar. Cinnamon is able to get rid of the LDL cholesterol while leaving the HDL cholesterol alone.

Not only this but cinnamon has shown to be helpful when forming blood clots. This also increases circulation and helps with tissue repair, hopefully in helping repair heart tissue to fight heart disease, strokes, and even heart attacks.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants which can help improve brain function. This can aid in preventing Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons. The cinnamon is supposed to help with the neurons in your brain that may help stop cognitive decline. Scientists are still doing further research on these benefits.

Mood / anxiety

If you’re using cinnamon to help keep your home smelling nice you’re most likely improving your mood without knowing it. This will also help relieve your anxiety even before it can happen. While the use of cinnamon can raise dopamine and serotonin levels in any form, I love the smell of cinnamon and recommend making it smell nice in your house so that you are always in a good mood! How can you be stressed if it smells like cinnamon?!

HERE ARE A FEW RECIPES TO GET DAILY BENEFITS FROM CINNAMON

DIY CINNAMON WATER

Cinnamon water- All you need is one glass of water, 2 medium cinnamon sticks or 1 tsp cinnamon powder per cup, and if you like it sweet, a teaspoon of honey. If you want it right away, add your glass of water to a saucepan along with your cinnamon sticks or powder and bring the water to a boil. Once it starts boiling, turn off the stove and let the cinnamon water simmer for about 10 minutes. The water should turn a deep brown. Add honey and you’re done.

You can also put a cinnamon stick in water overnight, and by morning, you’re ready to start your day!

DIY CINNAMON OIL

Here’s how you can make cinnamon oil using cinnamon sticks, olive oil and a jar (I use quart-sized). I pack as many cinnamon sticks, vertically inside the jar. Next I pour in the olive oil, covering the cinnamon sticks by at least a half inch. Next I seal up the jars and store them in a windowsill for about 3 weeks. You can store it anywhere warm and dry. The longer you let them steep, the stronger the oil will taste. When you’re ready to use it, you’re gonna want to first strain it. I use cheesecloth and then I store my oil in the pantry, although keeping it in the fridge can give you more than 3 years of storage. But mine doesn’t last that long. You can add it to your baking recipes, topically, even in diffusers.

A faster way of making the oil is by ground cinnamon. You’ll cook about a quarter cup with a cup of olive oil. Just mix the 2 together over medium heat and let it simmer up to 5 minutes. Let it cool for about 10 minutes before putting it in your sterilized jar. This oil can be used immediately, although I’d let it sit for about a week to get a stronger flavor. Make sure to shake the jar daily and don’t forget to strain the oil before using it.

We have an entire page of natural remedies. If you have natural remedies you choose, please share them — it takes a community!

Sep11

Garden Health Household

Witchhazel

Chances are you’ve heard of witch hazel because it’s so well known for its ability to soothe sensitive skin and ease inflammation. I was blown away when I learned how many more benefits the plant offers.

For centuries, the entire plant – leaves, bark and twigs – have been used to make medicine.

Below are some reasons why it’s still popular today:

Inflammation- Eczema, Psoriasis

Witch hazel is perfect for inflammation, eczema and psoriasis because it’s rich

in a compound called tannins, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your

skin against damage. In fact, researchers say the natural antioxidants give your skin a boost and protect against free-radicals.

That’s why you often find “tannin acid” in the ingredients of your favorite skin care products.

Simply rubbing the witch hazel on your skin should offer immediate relief.

Bug Bites, Sunburns, Diaper Rash, After Giving Birth, Acne, Scars

* Going camping or enjoying a day at the beach? Make sure to put witch hazel on once you see redness. This can relieve itchiness from bug bites and from sunburns.

* After giving birth you can add witch hazel on your pad or use a witch hazel pad for the affected area to help reduce swelling and pain.

* If your baby gets a diaper rash, use a little witch hazel to the area to help relieve your baby’s pain.

* Do you have a big pimple that will not go away? Witch hazel may help reduce the redness and help that pimple disappear faster.

Hemorrhoids

Witch hazel is common for hemorrhoid relief. Just add witch hazel to a cloth or cotton ball and rub it on the area where you need pain relief. You’ll even find witch hazel pads specifically for this condition. And it doesn’t simply help the pain. Witch hazel has hemostatic qualities showing that it may even help stop bleeding from your hemorrhoids or any other wound.

Scalp relief

Do you have an itchy or sensitive scalp? Well, rub some witch hazel up there as well! This may even be better than your dandruff shampoo as it is often used for dryness and dandruff.

Common Ways to use

You can buy witch hazel in pads, gels, ointment, and liquids to apply externally. Most of these

have alcohol in them so use cautiously to not dry out your skin, as well as alcohol-free ones.

I’ve also seen witch hazel sold as teas. Ingesting it was a common way to get its medicinal benefits back in the day, but some researchers today say this isn’t an herb that the more you drink, the better because taking it in large doses (more than 4 teaspoons daily) can cause vomiting, upset stomachs and even liver damage.

The FDA has only approved it for topical use on the skin.

Fun Fact

Witch hazel is a plant that most of us aren’t growing, primarily because it grows very slowly. It can take up to 2 years before the seeds germinate, 6 years to get mature flowers.

We have an entire page of natural remedies. If you have natural remedies you choose, please share them — it takes a community!

Jan24

Garden Health Household

Mullein

HOW TO USE AND GROW MULLEIN

The mullein plant has more than 200 species and has been around for centuries. But recently it’s become more widely used. So what’s the hype all about?

Mullein grows all over the country; it’s commonly known as Verbascum Thapsus. Many people consider it a invasive weed until they are introduced to all of its medicinal benefits.

Herbalists use it for a variety of issues including respiratory problems, skin conditions, to help fight viral infections, aid with ear aches, sleep, pain and so much more. It’s also known to have anti-inflammatory properties; it’s an expectorant… so mullein is beneficial to the lungs and filled with antioxidants.

Studies show mullein has potent therapeutic properties that come from the nectar and stamens of the plant and if you get close enough, you may smell a honey-like fragrance coming from the pretty flowers of the plant.

The leaves are harvested near the bottom of the plant and used either fresh or dried to make various products. The flowers are linked to several health benefits too.

One of the more popular ways to reap its benefits is by making mullein tea. In fact some lab studies show adding mullein to your tea helps fight against influenza A, herpes, soothing a sore throat and cough… it’s even supposed to relieve asthma symptoms. And the anti-bacterial properties are believed to help you get over infections faster by strengthening your immune system. It’s also known to cleanse the bloodstream of free radicals due to its polyphenol antioxidants.

So how do you make mullein tea?

Mullein leaves and flowers are great for naturally caffeine-free tea and it’s so easy to make:

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
Pour hot water over 2 teaspoons of dried mullein leaves and/or flowers. Keep in mind the flowers make a sweeter tea.
Let the tea steep for about 10 minutes
Filter the tea. Some people use cheesecloth, tea balls or other types of strainers. Whatever you use, DO NOT skip this step because mullein is covered in tiny, soft hairs and if you don’t filter them, it can irritate your throat.
Add your desired sweetener. I tend to use honey.
Once you’re done, toss the leaves into your compost… waste nothingJ
And you don’t necessarily have to drink the tea… let the tea cool down and gargle it for sore throats and cough.

Not much of a tea fan? There are other ways to enjoy the medicinal benefits;

Ironically mullein can be smoked in order to treat lung conditions. I had never heard of smoking anything to benefit your lungs, but research shows it actually helps.
Another option is to prepare an inhalant. Just boil the leaves for about five minutes and inhale the steam to help with dryness in the respiratory tissue. It’s supposed to relieve coughs, asthma and congestion.
The fresh leaves and flowers are also a tasty addition to salads.
The flowers can be used to create bright yellow or green dyes too!

Regardless of how you use the herbs, remember dried herbs are stronger than fresh herbs. Fresh herbs have a lot of water and moisture. I try to use fresh herbs from my garden whenever possible, but again you’re still getting the medicinal benefits from dried herbs…. Just double the amount if you’re going to use it fresh.

How to grow mullein

If you’re gonna indulge in this yummy, medicinal herb, you may as well grow it. No, it isn’t a common herb that you’ll find in backyard gardens like mint and basil, but it grows just as easy. In fact, you’ve probably seen the flowers on the side of the road or growing in fields and didn’t know it. That shows you how feasible it is to have in your yard. It’s not picky about the quality of soil but it prefers well-draining, dry or sandy soil.

It also likes lots of space. Mullein plants can grow as tall as 10 feet high and the leaves can spread 2 feet across.

Mullein is biennial, and it’s also frost resistant. But the plants prefer full sunlight in a dry, warm location.

It’s best to start mullein seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost in spring. Sprinkle seeds on the top of the potting soil before watering well. Be patient, mullein seeds take about two weeks to germinate.

Keep in mind, mullein develops a deep taproot, so If you are going to move the mullein, the sooner the better.

If you have a longer growing season, you can also sow the seeds directly in the garden in late spring.

Try not to keep the soil consistently moist, otherwise. You’ll reduce growth.

Between June and October is the best time to harvest the flowers and leaves. It’s best to use tender, young leaves.

Check out our Etsy shop for all sorts of GMO FREE seeds and teas

And no matter what the ailment, I believe there is a natural remedy to help.

We have an entire page of natural remedies. If you have natural remedies you’ve used, please share them — it takes a community!

Nov10

Garden Health Household

Chaparral

Any plant that is over 10,000 years old and thrives in the sunniest places on earth has bound to have medicinal capabilities. Introducing Larrea tridentata often called Chaparral, Creosote bush, or Greasewood. The plant exhibits a smell of rain from the oil in its leaves. This amazing bush thrives in desert regions including, the southwest, South America and northern Mexico.

The antioxidant properties of the bush help reduce free radical damage in the body aiding in diseases prevention. The Creosote bush contains nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), which is an antioxidant. It has been known to block certain enzymes for tumor growth.

According to cancer.gov, research has shown that NDGA treats several types of cancer including breast, esophageal, prostate, lung, and skin cancer. NDGA has also been recommended for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Epilepsy and Stroke. The high antioxidant properties of NDGA helps boost the immune system lowering inflammation and suppressing viruses such as Herpes simplex, HPV, HIV-1, and Influenza. The bush also helps with circulation by causing the blood vessels to expand.

Another benefit… it’s one of the strongest antioxidants in nature, making it a direct killer of yeast cells when its administered in high doses. The yeast-combative properties of chaparral are what makes it ideal for managing skin conditions caused by fungi.

How do you use it?

You’ll often see it sold as a tea, essential oil or a homeopathic remedy.

We live in Phoenix, Arizona … where the creosote bush thrives. We see it often everywhere… especially on hikes, and in many yards. So I like to clip a few branches or leaves and add it to my tea… but only occasionally.

If I have a skin issue, I use it as a balm. Salves and balms can be made to treat skin aliments such as dandruff and psoriasis.

Other aliments Cresote bush helps with:

Arthritis
Tuberculosis
Chicken pox
Common colds
Fungal infections
Stomach Cramps
Oxidative Stress
Cleanse the liver

If you’re considering using the medicinal properties, don’t go overboard. NDGA may be toxic to the liver in high dosages, so this is not a daily tea.

Chaparral is not recommended for use in patients with poor kidney function due to a risk of toxicity.

Dosage ranges so it’s best to consult your doctor.

This plant is just too powerful to not use in the fight of disease, a must have in the medicine cabinet.

Sep28

DIY Garden Health Household sustainability Sustainable

Start a garden

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN STARTING AN URBAN GARDEN

It’s planting season in Phoenix! Do you know what to plant? Where to plant? How to plant?

There are so many questions when it comes to starting your urban garden – or as I like to call it – your medicine cabinet and grocery store. And you will read all sorts of articles telling you dozens of things you need to do to be successful. But it really doesn’t have to be that hard or expensive… especially if you know the basics.

So we came up with our top things you need to know when starting your urban garden:

RESEARCH – This includes looking at a planting calendar to know what to plant in your area. And once you figure out what grows when, choose things you really will use. Research images of what the plant will look like in your garden, how much space the plant needs, best temperatures for germination, etc. Seed packets will give you the basics. Don’t limit your research only to online searches. Social media gardening groups are awesome and local nurseries can be extremely helpful.
START SMALL – Doing too much gets discouraging and causes many of us to quit. Gardening doesn’t have to be hard. 4×4 is a perfect starting point for a garden and so easy to build a garden bed yourself. Home improvement stores will cut your wood to your specified size and you can use blocks to simply place the wood slabs inside. It’s a simple process, especially if you want to avoid cutting and drilling, etc.
PREPARE YOUR BED – Grass and weeds can be one of your biggest enemies. We put cardboard at the bottom of our beds to help stop the grass. We also have a lot of gophers in the area so we also put chicken wire at the bottom. Fill your bed with soil… add compost…. Soil and water are the basics that will help your garden thrive or die.
SAVE MONEY ON SEEDS—1^st garden will be most expensive but should be the only time you have to spend money buying all of your seeds because you can save them each season.

There are lots of seed banks at libraries and other local places that may offer free seeds.

All seeds are NOT created equal, so look for GMO Free, heirloom, open-pollinated seeds so that you can continue to save the seeds each season.

GROW WHAT YOU’LL USE – Whether it’s food or medicine, if you’re watering it, you want to use it. If you won’t eat brussel sprouts, don’t plant brussel sprouts. Can’t sleep? Plant chamomile for tea. Got a cut? Plant aloe. You’d be surprised at how many natural remedies you’ll find in your garden (ADD NATURAL REMEDIES LINK)
CREATE MICROCLIMATES AND KEEP IT ORGANIC – Planting all of the same families in the same bed means they’re all competing for the same nutrients and attracting all of the same bugs. So mix things up. That will also create a cooler environment and help keep your garden naturally organic , especially if you consider companion planting.
PUT WATER ON A TIMER—one of biggest things to kill gardens is water so you don’t want to have to constantly think about if you’re over or under watering. Set a timer for your water —- regardless of the type of sprinkling system you choose.

OLLAS are another option for watering… my favorite because it takes guesswork out of watering.

FEED YOUR GARDEN—we fertilize about every 2 weeks with homemade worm tea, compost mix, etc. Again, don’t freak out if you’re not composting, you can buy fertilizers when you’re first starting – ONE THING AT A TIME. Again garden groups are great for where to buy what, where to find sales, tricks of the trade, etc.
BE PATIENT, STAY POSTIVE AND ENJOY THE RIDE—Everything will NOT grow and some things will look great one day and be falling over the next. It’s about trial and error, learning your soil, your garden. Trust me, the rewards make it all worth it. The flavor of the food is richer, you know exactly what you’re getting, you’re saving money, lowering your carbon footprint, growing your own meds… the benefits just keep coming.
TREAT YOUR GARDEN LIKE YOUR FAMILY – If you’re thirsty, you need water. So do your plants.

If you’re cold, you may need a blanket. If you’re hot, you may want shade. Same with your plants. I talk to my plants, sing to them… not sure if that makes them happy. The peace of being in the garden in priceless, so spend time in nature, learn your garden (family) and mother nature will do the rest.

We have all sorts of DIY videos helping you throughout your journey. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions because we are all in this together. It’s a lifestyle that keeps on giving.

Aug9

Garden Health

Jiaogulan

How Jiaogulan can extend your life

I truly believe there is a natural remedy that can help almost any ailment…

And it can be as simple as a free cup of tea.

Some of my daily ingredients are known for their miracle like abilities including moringa and hibiscus.

Another favorite is Jiaogulan… also known as the Immortality Herb… and for good reason.

When used regularly, tea from the immortality herb is believed to promote a long, healthy, disease-free life – it’s a supreme antioxidant, helps maintain blood pressure, boost energy levels, reduces bad cholesterol and enhances blood circulation… among other things.

Knowing all of that… doesn’t it make sense to add it to your daily routine?

I add Jiaogulan to my tea every day.

So for herbs this good, doesn’t it makes sense to grow them?

We grow Jiaogulan indoor so that we can have it year round.

And it’s pretty simple to grow.

We started our plant off under a grow light for about 12 hours per day and it just took off.

The care process has been pretty simple because we haven’t had to play the guessing game with water. Wouldn’t it be nice if your plants could talk… and you could actually understand what they were saying?

We used this Blumat watering system.

And the best part about it is the plants tell you when they’re thirsty, making it hard to over or under water them.

That in itself conserves water, a huge plus here in phoenix.

Did you know on average we get less than eight inches of rain per year? And that number is dropping.

Here’s how it works…

The system is built around clay cones called carrots. They are stand-alone sensors that monitor the moisture in the soil and roots.

Each carrot regulates when water is released.

When the plant gets thirsty, the drippers slowly release water. So every plant is individually watered.

What’s nice is we don’t have to use any electricity… it’s a gravity fed system, we simply have to make sure the reservoir stays full. (We used a 5 gallon bucket for our reservoir.)

We’ve left the system for more than four days and our five gallon reservoir still had water left when we returned, so this system definitely helped make the process more convenient – it gave us some flexibility.

Besides watering… we fertilize the plant every two weeks and that’s really it.

And since the plant is indoor we can add fresh Jiaogulan to our tea year round… just one way to grow your meds.

Whether you have a stomach ache, a cough or you just can’t sleep… look to natural remedies for some relief.

Category: Garden