tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3287096090826055822024-02-20T02:00:21.422-08:00HerbRealmThis is my way of sharing ideas and thoughts from my practice of phytotherapy (medical herbalism), my herb garden, vegetable garden, and kitchen.
(Phytotherapy is a registered profession here in South Africa. Phytotherapy is a 5 year course at the University of Western Cape. Phytotherapists are registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of SA.)HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-56077728636132371872022-04-05T06:01:00.000-07:002022-04-05T06:01:01.714-07:00Why Herbal Medicine?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5Wu6KcnoHmLoDVE6-I96oGZ3gaCEGpLu5BP3EJsX29KvBii5M78CtoCGZxNJ6GII2vgV3AydIzmEWMXmvWl8f1pz0eg6vy6XHxfhlPNt_IccZ4edYpfA2A5MDYUaWO5g37nxoox7mTX-QxJC_UGzAP5Fz4IDyCXrDJwMxGk6irQrwbJOF3vxXNAk/s1600/DSC00116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5Wu6KcnoHmLoDVE6-I96oGZ3gaCEGpLu5BP3EJsX29KvBii5M78CtoCGZxNJ6GII2vgV3AydIzmEWMXmvWl8f1pz0eg6vy6XHxfhlPNt_IccZ4edYpfA2A5MDYUaWO5g37nxoox7mTX-QxJC_UGzAP5Fz4IDyCXrDJwMxGk6irQrwbJOF3vxXNAk/s320/DSC00116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b>It's the year 2022 and standard health care comprises of taking your vitamins, getting vaccinated and if you get ill, going to the doctor for pharmaceuticals.</b></p><p>Following on from my previous blogpost, where I questioned the authorities' attitude to the coronavirus, I also take issue with modern "health care" of which the medical establishment is so proud. Health to me is a condition where the body is well nourished (as opposed to well fed), working harmoniously within itself and in some sort of equilibrium with the environment. Health to most people seems to be the ability to function from day to day with or without medication to prop one up, as well as being well fed (which to many is filling the stomach regardless of nutritional value of the food).</p><p>So living without any regard for the body's nutritional requirements, and ignoring warnings that all might not be well, ie constipation, headaches, frequent infections, stress etc., eventually may result in chronic disease or acute disease. Here we may be looking at chronic pharmaceutical medication, or hospitalisation. </p><p>The problem with this scenario is that although a life might have been saved, nothing else has changed. The cause of the disease has not been removed. Now a bandage has been wrapped around the cause. Patients are assured that they are receiving the best medical care. Medication may cause side effects which require more medication and patients often feel unwell on all the medicine, as ultimately they are still the same sick person because nothing has changed. </p><p>Which brings us to the question, "Why herbal medicine?" My answer would be: because herbal medicine can result in the change. Healing comes about via nourishing and nurturing, not suppression and blocking of symptoms. Herbs have nutritional value in their phytonutrient content, and their complex chemical make up can stimulate sluggish organs, or relax tense systems. <i><b>Phytotherapy is the art and science of using herbs to bring about healing, or an improved state which may result in fewer pharmaceuticals being required. </b></i></p><p>An enormous amount of research is being carried out worldwide on herbs, resulting in the scientific validation of herbal medicine. Phytotherapy is a registered profession in South Africa and phytotherapy offers a chance at much improved wellness for many who are trapped in the chronic disease and medication situation. Improved wellbeing leads to better mental health and improved happiness levels. Unfortunately most people are not offered this alternative. They remain unaware that there are other forms of help. </p>HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-69621646917276200382020-04-07T07:10:00.000-07:002020-04-07T07:14:13.879-07:00Covid 19 and herbal medicineHere we are in the midst of Lockdown 2020 because of a virus that is causing havoc in the world. I'm writing this to express my amazement that no sensible guidelines have been issued on how to improve your general health and your immunity. It's almost like the scientific community doesn't believe that a healthy person can shrug off covid 19. I'm sure that most people don't believe it either. Many people do get it and recover very nicely, but the association is not loudly made - that these people's immune systems were strong, that's why they were not severely impacted.<br />
<br />
There is so much one can do to improve one's health and immunity. During the panic buying that took place before lockdown, I observed shopping trollies full of chips and fizzy drinks! I can just imagine people lounging about in front of the TV or computer eating snacks all day. No warnings have been issued that this might be very bad for you if you were to get the virus, and make the illness more difficult to treat. You are what you eat. A diet full of sugar, fat, salt and flour, is going to increase the chances of getting the virus, and increases the chances of getting complications. It is already known that the typical western diet causes diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension and that people who suffer from these diseases are more at risk of dying from covid 19.<br />
<br />
Anyway, these days if the phrase"scientific evidence" does not appear in front of a statement, no matter how sensible, it is likely to be dismissed. I'm just going to suggest some broad guidelines that could improve your chances of having a very mild case of this viral infection, if you are to get it at all.<br />
<br />
Avoid or reduce mucus forming foods: dairy; sugar; baked goods; deep fried foods.<br />
Eat more salads and fresh greens, raw vegetables, garlic, onions and horseradish. These prevent mucus and keep mucus thin. (one of the deadly problems of covid 19, is how the lungs fill up with mucus).<br />
Exercise to keep good blood flow. (They say sitting is the new smoking.)<br />
Get plenty of fresh air and relaxation.<br />
Include some herbs in your cooking like rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano. Have some garlic every day.<br />
Take cod liver oil.<br />
<br />
I am a great believer in empowerment and spend a lot of time helping people understand their bodies and how to help themselves:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I just found out about this cool, woman-owned startup that I think you'll like - especially if you've been wanting to learn more about herbal healing. They're called Apothecary At Home. It's a box-subscription that introduces you to the world of herbalism, one hand-curated package at a time. Each month they send you 1-3 new herbs to get familiar with, medicine-making projects to do at home, and handy study resources to help you learn the concepts we herbalists use every day.</b></span><br />
<br />
<b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" /></b>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The world needs more healers - especially in these crazy times. I love that they're making this knowledge accessible to folks who might face obstacles trying to attend traditional herbal schools.</b></span><br />
<b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" /></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apothecary At Home is launching soon, and to celebrate, they're giving away a lifetime subscription. Learn more and enter the giveaway here: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://apothecary-at-home.cratejoy.com/&source=gmail&ust=1586354671075000&usg=AFQjCNEQFFi3wQ34h0uGN2dfNiJvewYW3w" href="https://apothecary-at-home.cratejoy.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">https://apothecary-at-home.<wbr></wbr>cratejoy.com/</a></b><br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
Take care and stay safe!<br />
<br /></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-43616608155210596402019-12-31T02:40:00.002-08:002019-12-31T02:40:37.474-08:00Bird LifeIt is so sad to read about the silence that has descended on many parts of the world. People say that they no longer hear birdsong. It's not rocket science to work out why many millions of birds have died since 1950 or so. The 2nd world war heralded the onset of commercial farming with chemicals: crime number one against the soil.No longer did farmers plough nice smelly manure into their fields, but happily sprinkled chemicals to provide the chemical elements, calculated to provide the basic requirements for healthy plant growth. Never mind about the soil microbiome and earthworms! Manure provides fibre and microorganisms for the soil, something that chemicals can't do. A healthy soil is teeming with insects, grubs and worms - brilliant for birds. But then on top of crime number one against the soil, came crime number 2 : Poison.<br />
All over the world on farms, in parks and gardens poison has been sprayed to protect crops, flowers and vegetables from the creatures that might eat them. Unfortunately birds have eaten the poisoned grubs and have died as a result. Seed eaters also get poisoned when crops are sprayed.<br />
Crime number 3 against the soil is the GMO story, and it will possibly take a long time to evaluate the true cost to the planet of genetic modification and glyphosate, which seems to adversely affect the soil microbiome. Are we going to see the results of birds and animals eating GM corn and other grains?<br />
<br />
So to my garden and this spring, which has seen an explosion of nest building and bird breeding. There is never a quiet moment, even on the hottest day, some bird will be filling the air with a happy song. Quite a few visitors are rather pesky, but I put up with them and use nets to protect berries and grapes. The mousebird will happily chomp away at my spinach, bean leaves, granadilla leaves as well as fruits. It's such a pretty bird, I can't get too upset. One of my favourite visitors is the pied barbet, and I deliberately allow Solanum spp to grow as they love the berries. Recently the bokmakierie (Bush shrike) made a return to our area after a long absence and I was delighted when an Olive thrush made a nest in the wild olive tree, and hatched out a very sweet chick. Bulbuls, sunbirds, white eyes and Cape robin are at home here, but a newcomer is the greater honeyguide, no doubt attracted to the beehives. There are two in the garden, flitting about near the hives and pecking on any empty frames I leave out for the bees to clean.<br />
<br />
Unlike in many parts of the UK and Europe that I have visited, my garden has a wonderful dawn chorus as well as sporadic daytime songs to gladden the heart. Our gardens make up suburban forests and we all need to be mindful of this and keep the environment poison free. This includes rat poison which affects owls and caracals (which still roam the hills and mountains surrounding built up areas.)<br />
<br />HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-70809439530914814382019-07-04T00:22:00.000-07:002019-07-04T00:22:18.871-07:00The humming garden - pollinators’ paradise. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8161lzZO653kXMRa0gPeh38ySBKL-vU8N8Qfxvz5a0a-D_j5V57nv8D-Z0Xkl7iXFwnWCJzdN83akzhvM_eFLYt4vRZ4Rd77Ceia2vHc8LqhaMjJ5S7E8ga-aNHJU21aoBW0INHZa5u8/s1600/DSCF0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8161lzZO653kXMRa0gPeh38ySBKL-vU8N8Qfxvz5a0a-D_j5V57nv8D-Z0Xkl7iXFwnWCJzdN83akzhvM_eFLYt4vRZ4Rd77Ceia2vHc8LqhaMjJ5S7E8ga-aNHJU21aoBW0INHZa5u8/s320/DSCF0225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just the other day I read a Facebook post from an organic gardener, who said that although spring had arrived, the garden was deathly quiet. No humming, no buzzing. He described it as worrying. At the same time, research is showing that globally millions of insects are under threat, while thousands of species have gone extinct.<br />
<br />
This is hardly a surprise is it? Most households have a can of insecticide and most gardeners go to the pesticide aisle if there’s an invasion of lice on their roses. In fact there is a whole timetable for when to spray different chemicals on roses.<br />
<br />
Insects are an important part of the food chain. They are eaten by birds, bats, reptiles, aquatic creatures, other insects and even humans. Poisoned insects are poisoned food for insect eaters.insects are also very important for having essential roles in the systems of life such as pollinating, cleaning up, and preying on other insects. Consistently spraying insects, whether done by gardeners or farmers, has created huge imbalances in the insect world. It has become extremely difficult to grow fruit without spraying something to prevent some or other infestation, and commercial fruit and vegetable farmers are almost trapped in the system of spraying in order to get a decent crop.<br />
<br />
We have seen a decline in the numbers of birds, lizards, frogs, chameleons and many insects such as bees, bumblebees and other important pollinators in our gardens. It is a deeply worrying trend which affects many aspects of life.<br />
<br />
So it is with delight that I observe the life in my garden. Even more delightful are the sounds of life - the chirping, cheeping, tweeting, humming, buzzing and droning of life! The air is filled with hundreds of insects, some dancing up and down, others hovering, darting, or swooping as they get on with their business.<br />
<br />
No a drop of poison goes into the house or garden. Sometimes I have no crops(my crop is very small) because of fruit fly, or pumpkin fly. But my garden is an insect paradise and a source of joy to me. To see the air so busy and alive like an aquarium is fantastic. I urge you to create a safe place for all living creatures in your garden. See your garden as an important part of the urban forest, to be nurtured and cherished. Let’s all do our bit to restore balance as far as possible.HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-84080741478939540892019-05-16T01:48:00.001-07:002019-05-16T06:24:09.392-07:00Post drought analysis<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dGFB_udRUrXdEblRdsVQ8GPSpI2fgpI9mSU4B6jDJhurALsHULC3dwVCPqGCOSmnUwyBIIkbkwOh4cw9lOYVYVgpP0cVa0xp_tf_PmBAzr-J9oMyqlcct_myArzIrT6a8Fs2dBCeMqM/s1600/DSC01946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dGFB_udRUrXdEblRdsVQ8GPSpI2fgpI9mSU4B6jDJhurALsHULC3dwVCPqGCOSmnUwyBIIkbkwOh4cw9lOYVYVgpP0cVa0xp_tf_PmBAzr-J9oMyqlcct_myArzIrT6a8Fs2dBCeMqM/s320/DSC01946.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here in the Western Cape we are slowly recovering from the worst drought in, for many of us, living memory. We have had some rain and water tanks are refilling. Dams are slowly gaining water and reaching more acceptable levels.<br />
Usually for me water saving is not too much of an issue - I've had water tanks for many years and have relied on them for much of the watering of the garden. But this drought, together with strong winds and scorching temperatures, really was a supreme challenge.<br />
<br />
What was an issue was the heartbreak I was experiencing when walking around the garden, and seeing the "lifelessness" of everything - like starving children with dead eyes, all just hanging on. Despite using plenty of mulch, I also noticed a change in the soil as the "life" had to drive deeper down, and the topsoil became dirt. This worried me the most - the damage to the soil microbiome from lack of water. But then as the water restrictions were relaxed a bit, and we have been allowed to put a sprinkler on for an hour per week, combined with some rain, things sprang into life with joyful blooms and greenery. It was almost as if the plants and the soil were shouting, "thank you!"<br />
<br />
Somebody wrote that they considered it to be a crime to use municipal water for the garden. I feel that our environment is vitally important. Studies have shown that trees are vital for rain production. We should all make an effort to use some water, even if it's grey water, to keep our surroundings, including our soils, healthy.<br />
Suburban gardens form mini forests which are home to many birds and the few reptiles that have survived human and pet attacks. We need to nurture all the life that surrounds us. Our ecosystems are under so much threat, let's try and do our bit at home, on our balconies and in our gardens to keep things alive and healthy. We will be rewarded with the soothing colours of nature and plenty of birdsong.<br />
<br />
So to keep water in the dams for future use, continue your water saving measures but remember to give some water to your garden. Collect rain water, cold shower water and vegetable washing water and give that to the plants. Even water that you've cooked veggies in, is really good for your garden. It's not just about human life, but all life.<br />
<br />HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-76249229145818893612017-04-21T01:21:00.000-07:002017-04-21T01:21:24.823-07:00Food forest gardeningSlowly over the years trees get bigger and the garden becomes transformed. I find photos of when I had a lush lawn, when I first planted the olive trees and when the back garden was a herb garden. Now because the trees got so big, the lawn wouldn't grow and because I had more shade, the choices of what I could grow became restricted. At the same time I find that with the increased intensity of the sun these days, many plants seem happier in dappled shade.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKT_hJDodeYYo3mKc63FnKClKCmE_Z3WvZ_401Y_Ynqt7hQBbEVXVPeaMbRt4jIjALlZkcrZLn4Ng0WegMqTQ_ia8rXrmopI0K8mP6CTBhTgOg0JV3kZWtkIX0hZcYb5VuipQEDumBck/s1600/DSC01334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKT_hJDodeYYo3mKc63FnKClKCmE_Z3WvZ_401Y_Ynqt7hQBbEVXVPeaMbRt4jIjALlZkcrZLn4Ng0WegMqTQ_ia8rXrmopI0K8mP6CTBhTgOg0JV3kZWtkIX0hZcYb5VuipQEDumBck/s320/DSC01334.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I recently heard about food forest planting and realised my garden is now naturally ready for that - it has evolved. So with some judicious pruning I am hoping to have more plants under my trees that enjoy dappled shade and give me something to eat. I planted an almond in the veggie patch to give me dappled shade for lettuce. Although lettuce grows in the hot sun on vegetable farms, I feel the wind and sufficient water help them survive there better than in the more enclosed area I have, where due to the wall around it, the heat is intensified. We also have severe water restrictions so growing food becomes very challenging.<br />
<br />
Part of my plan involves leaving plants in the ground even when they have died. My maize plants are dry and dead but I am hoping they will provide support for broad beans. I planted brinjals around dead bean plants and they are thriving. Leaving the roots in the ground keeps the ground healthy as the microrrhiza are not disturbed. I noticed after years of planting how the soil became powdery and am trying to get it vibrant and healthy again.<br />
My Jerusalem artichokes can be left standing to provide support for peas. Also my Golden rod will support peas - in this way the summer plants will support the winter plants. The fruit trees, being deciduous will allow for winter planting of veg that needs full sun so potatoes will go in there. Also blue berries should do well.<br />
<br />
I encourage you to google Food forest planting to be inspired for your own garden. So many people still have lawn and a couple of shrubs, where they could have a thriving food producing garden.<br />
<br />HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-73143230715075087812016-02-04T04:34:00.000-08:002016-02-04T04:42:58.167-08:00The universe within us - a story of microbial life inside each one of us.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The
universe within us – </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">a look at the gut microbiome and our health</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.conniemeyer.co.za/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">www.conniemeyer.co.za</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqld-FcDooc5T6yllxz7v1rWjUmUU5kuZcaA7FtGX692Y02e92bt-0jNxe21p-FxXQZXvgb1ENyAsyEYHDiV30Kc15eVgAPF6Fr4gXI1Sa9DuXHKQXV68iY6rGjSVG6n6KSvzkUTMKkx8/s1600/bees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqld-FcDooc5T6yllxz7v1rWjUmUU5kuZcaA7FtGX692Y02e92bt-0jNxe21p-FxXQZXvgb1ENyAsyEYHDiV30Kc15eVgAPF6Fr4gXI1Sa9DuXHKQXV68iY6rGjSVG6n6KSvzkUTMKkx8/s320/bees.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXGilbyIVNm0Yy-GCL-BgAtlY_VqGXY15m4u2bxe4dvn0QA4Sd2KUyrBFWy73-a652j6ojI6ntpcv6YI5_GYYezDJGLVbbAlgiQIFxKQ6OsVWp6USyIGF3gx7LG7s1b8CoG4MzjKIEuc/s1600/Jellyfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
</span></o:p></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>Similar to a swarm of bees</strong>, where different bees have a specific job and
are ineffective on their own, and where the swarm is the organism, the
microbiome in the gut is a giant organism – the universe inside us. This
microbiome has ancient roots and is part of the wonder of our evolution. We are
in fact a combination of human and microbial cells having evolved together
since humans started their time on Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Over the past 50 years or so we have seen dramatic increases in many
diseases, notably autoimmune diseases, allergies, behaviour and learning
problems, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Much of the decline in
human health can be attributed to changes in the microbiome, which has served humans
well for as long as we have existed, but is now under great threat for a
variety of reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Up to 90% of one's
stool consists of micro organisms<span style="color: blue;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Diversity of the
microbiome is important, similar to biodiversity in nature. The microbiota work
together by communication and depend upon one another to maintain a healthy system. If one or
more are removed from the system, it has a domino effect on the others as a
link is missing in communication and cooperation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The microbiome helps
develop the gastrointestinal system after birth. The mucosal layer of the gut
is densely inhabited by microbiota, which serve to protect and thicken the
lining of the gut and help to make it impermeable (preventing ‘leaky gut’).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Gut microbiota can
cause or prevent disease, depending on diet, medication and other influences. Microbiota
thrive on certain foods, and a poor diet can negatively affect them, making
them less diverse and predisposing their human host to disease. The microbiome
of the average westernised child is not as diverse as that of the average
non-westernised child.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The microbiome is
important for the homeostasis of other tissues, even bone. Fibre is a vitally
important food for the microbiota. The microbiota detoxify many environmental
toxins and digest many foods that human enzymes cannot digest. A healthy
microbiome promotes gastrointestinal tract mobility, keeps pathogens in check
and plays an important role in creating a strong immune system.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">The microbiome has many important metabolic roles in the human body and can protect
against allergies, obesity and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
A diverse and healthy microbiome may increase the bioavailability of
phytonutrients in the diet. The microbiota also synthesise various vitamins for
us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We are only as healthy
as our microbiome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>IT STARTS AT BIRTH</o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It is the birth process that inoculates the gut of the newborn, although
some experts say that the foetus and the placenta have some microbial life. A
normal vaginal birth ensures the newborn’s exposure to a wide variety of
bacteria that seed the gut and start the process of establishing the
microbiome. Babies born via caesarean section don’t have this benefit and only
have exposure to bacteria via the skin, subsequently taking longer to develop
their immune system. These days mothers of caesarean babies are advised to "seed" their baby's microbiome by breastfeeding, not sterilising any baby utensils and by not washing hands or nipples. One can also get vaginal swabs to "seed" the baby.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Generations of
changes to the gut microbiome are transmitted from mother to infant,
(generation after generation) resulting in gradual genetic changes and poor
colonisation of the gut microbiome caused by:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); color: black; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">an</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> increase in the number of
caesarean sections</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">a
reduction in breastfeeding<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">the
sterilisation of baby utensils and the overuse of antibacterials<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">changes
in diet<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">antibiotics
in farmed animals<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(217, 217, 217); margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">medication,
especially antibiotics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Although the gut microbiome is similar in most people, it is also specific
to each person in that it develops according to the family history of that
person and various inputs that can affect it. Each indiviual's microbiome is a bit like a "fingerprint" or "poo print".</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">People from other cultures,<span style="color: blue;"> </span>who have
not had access to the western diet, have a far richer diversity of
microorganisms in their gut than people who are eating a typical western diet.
They also have microorganisms that are specific to their diet, such as the
Japanese who have microorganisms thought to originate from the seaweed they
consume.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In a healthy and balanced microbiome, the microbiota live in perfect
harmony with the human host and with each other. The relationship is symbiotic
in every way. The different species depend on and interact with one another.
The loss of one species can have a cascade effect on the others and disrupt
important processes, while leaving the system vulnerable to damage from adverse
events.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Adverse events can include<span style="color: blue;"> </span>inflammatory
western diets (high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, fats and proteins), chronic
stress, over sanitation (using mouthwash and antibacterial soap), change of pH
(the use of antacids, changing to a low carbohydrate diet), infections and
prescription drugs (especially antibiotics).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p>WHAT TO DO?</o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We need to pay more attention to the health of our microbiome. Our
microbiome eats what we eat, and the waste products (metabolites) can enter our
blood stream. A junk food diet not only creates nutrient deficiencies, but also
causes metabolite ‘junk’ to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain,
which can result in depression, anxiety and behavioural changes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The quality of the stool and degree of flatulence are good indicators
of microbiome health. The stool consistancy should be well-formed with minimal
odour and minimal‘winds’. A persistent vile smell indicates an imbalance in the
microbiome and may be an early warning of developing disease.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The microbes in our gut love vegetables, wholegrains and fruits –
especially apples and other fruits rich in pectin such as quince, citrus
fruits, pears, and apricots. Organically grown foods have a greater nutrient
density than commercially grown foods and provide the microbiome and us with a
greater diversity of phytonutrients.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: white;">Herbal medicine can contribute to a healthy gut </span>by providing many phytonutrients and
phytochemicals that create a favourable environment. <s><span style="color: #4f81bd;"><o:p></o:p></span></s></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Herbs rich in tannins (such as hawthorn, raspberry leaf, Lady’s mantle),
mucilaginous herbs (such as marshmallow root, <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">aloe ferox gel</span>, linseed), and bitter herbs (such
as artichoke leaf, dandelion leaf and Artemisia species), are the most
important for microbiome integrity, prebiotic support and pH balance. A
phytotherapist will be able to help restore a damaged microbiome by using the
appropriate herbs required for the case at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It has been shown that people who have a diverse and healthy
microbiome have fewer allergies, less chronic disease and better cognitive
function. Babies with a healthy microbiome have fewer neonatal infections and
also seem to tolerate vaccinations better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri";"><o:p>HOW TO KEEP YOUR GUT HEALTHY</o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Eat a diet rich in
vegetables, legumes, grains and fruits – preferably organically grown.<s><o:p></o:p></s></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Avoid antibiotics
and check that the meats you eat are not reared using antibiotics (this
includes farmed fish and seafoods). Antibiotics not only cause loss of gut
microbial diversity but also genetic changes. The effects of one course of
antibiotics can be felt for up to 2 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Herbal medicine provides
good alternatives to many pharmaceuticals and can treat many infections
effectively without disrupting the microbiome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Avoid sanitising
your home and your body. Simple hygiene with soap and water is enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Avoid routine
deworming. We have natural immunity against worms and helminths are part
of the microbiome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Eat more fermented
foods like miso, sauerkraut, naturally fermented cider vinegar and kefir.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Include plenty of foods
with prebiotics in your diet: apples, onions, garlic, Jerusalem
artichokes, sweet potato, oats, barley, bananas and all fibrous
vegetables. Berries and red wine, with their high polyphenol content, also
have beneficial effects on gut microbiota.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Avoid processed,
refined foods and food with chemical additives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Watch out for people
who diagnose ‘parasites’ and candida overgrowth without clinical
confirmation. Often the harsh treatment can be bad for your microbiota.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="background: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="background-color: white;"><strong><o:p>CONCLUSION</o:p></strong></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Scientists are discovering more and more about the microbiome every
day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Speakers
at the first International Conference of the Microbiome in Autism were
unanimous that children with autism had reduced gut microbial diversity, in
some cases remarkably different from the guts of healthy children. From only 1
child in 2 500 having autism in 1985, the figure has risen to 1 in 68 in
2015. This coincides with the massive shift observed since the 1950s in the way
our food is grown and the way we medicate ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">It’s
time to stop and think about what we are doing, as modern medicine and modern
diets are affecting the future health of our children and their children.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 11pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Further reading<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Sommer F, Bäckhed F.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> The gut
microbiota – masters of host development and physiology. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Nat Rev Microbiol 2013;11(4):227-238<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Microbiome in ASD conference. www.microbiome-autism.com
(accessed 2015)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">David LA, Maurice CF, Carmody RN, et
al. Diet rapidly and reproducibly alters the human gut microbiome. Nature 2014;505(7484):559-563<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">Queipo-Ortuño
MI, Boto-Ordóñez M, Murri M, et al. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Influence of red wine polyphenols and ethanol on the gut microbiota
ecology and biochemical biomarkers. Am J Clin Nutr 2013;95(6):1323-1334<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Blaser MJ. </span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Missing Microbes:
How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues. New York:
Henry Holt; 2014<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-7062806474333873092016-02-02T03:42:00.000-08:002016-02-02T03:49:10.904-08:00Abundance<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOL1hINuEYHBSXP-NW8UMn4FqAcd3WVc7mARWfykeaGcC9d-InJ-tRv5kPPaQ6eKW-Mka7kAWluh8XRUcx9iSmAHLfXfX9vIzMfQnk029FbVCaD9ldwuxAAFrbDAZZifIrOVcxNbPRgJs/s1600/DSC02015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOL1hINuEYHBSXP-NW8UMn4FqAcd3WVc7mARWfykeaGcC9d-InJ-tRv5kPPaQ6eKW-Mka7kAWluh8XRUcx9iSmAHLfXfX9vIzMfQnk029FbVCaD9ldwuxAAFrbDAZZifIrOVcxNbPRgJs/s320/DSC02015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It is interesting how fruit trees seem to have a good year and then a not so good year. The olive harvest may be excellent one year and mediocre the next; other fruit can range from none to one or many! This season has been a bumper season for me. That doesn't mean that I have tons of fruit but certainly a nice supply to eat and share with family. <br />
The birds also have their fair share. It's a pity they eat the unripe fruit! Anyway, I cover parts of the trees with netting and don't really worry too much about the birds because I appreciate the diverse bird life in my garden.<br />
So this year I've had prunes, apples, figs and lemons galore. There were a couple of bunches of grapes, but they disappeared before they were ripe I also harvested a couple of kilograms of luscious youngberries. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VAnFbrSe-zudUATtso5l3Gbo2AoBtFs67duploo2C3-sdDatEwdAkAwWC4ouu6IVYTs9GvXujKc_84B3bdeGxqccko11rjslZLQUm4Cy0AGNKC8SVMyI2iOLgi8UT38pigc-FcjwDRs/s1600/DSC01968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VAnFbrSe-zudUATtso5l3Gbo2AoBtFs67duploo2C3-sdDatEwdAkAwWC4ouu6IVYTs9GvXujKc_84B3bdeGxqccko11rjslZLQUm4Cy0AGNKC8SVMyI2iOLgi8UT38pigc-FcjwDRs/s320/DSC01968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Olive trees are looking promising after years of not bearing any olives. They are Manzanilla and probably not the best variety to have. I also have one mission olive which usually produces a reasonable crop of olives. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbkUgwbu4HyUE7-m4SbkiAfIzVe6wQb3h640IZ8B9TsYF2E_uVtg3hK-S4BgAawDnoTvfEJGN-n2gGVXNq5HyDEKGJuFdnAw8D5GMeKqRRTSQyAvi7F9_QTb_sxTPL7VnyQLLbSNzfeY/s1600/DSC02003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbkUgwbu4HyUE7-m4SbkiAfIzVe6wQb3h640IZ8B9TsYF2E_uVtg3hK-S4BgAawDnoTvfEJGN-n2gGVXNq5HyDEKGJuFdnAw8D5GMeKqRRTSQyAvi7F9_QTb_sxTPL7VnyQLLbSNzfeY/s320/DSC02003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My lemon tree has been groaning under the weight of lemons. I keep banging my head against them! 52 lemons on a smallish tree. Some of them are as big as grapefruit. This lemon tree didn't have a single lemon for many years but now it's making up for that! In a storm a few months ago, it blew over (partly due to the weight of the lemons) and my garden helper and I pulled it upright and staked it firmly. It hardly noticed that it had been uprooted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8ZMQrevt7iSFqk4HgjAQ6ZvnnsoVWNoBOi8sbD6UMCjmcBXJJLKemNR9pqE69N9AiDj4BjoMxIQ18XJgWlBvnMgIToMGmvg-lusQflevVuZ9FYvVfJiiFVquha8CryUij_4GygvfIFM/s1600/DSC02020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8ZMQrevt7iSFqk4HgjAQ6ZvnnsoVWNoBOi8sbD6UMCjmcBXJJLKemNR9pqE69N9AiDj4BjoMxIQ18XJgWlBvnMgIToMGmvg-lusQflevVuZ9FYvVfJiiFVquha8CryUij_4GygvfIFM/s320/DSC02020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have another lemon tree in the bee garden that started out as a kumquat tree. Then it had fruits that didn't know whether they were lemons or oranges. Now it has settled down to plain lemons.<br />
<br />
Soon it will be guava season.....<br />
<br />
The apples have their fair share of blemishes and coddling moth damage. They will be used for juicing and making cider vinegar. Maybe also an apple pie. Like the lemon tree that started out as a kumquat, the apple tree started out as a crab apple tree. Obviously the original stem somehow took over and now it is a huge and beautiful apple tree producing a good number of granny smith type apples.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W-JnjHANWdF7wNagM410KeCWqOrexgLUQ2bY605qFIIpfvCDEyrhv-OP0OJgCQ1melL5BH6DF5CiMX_xXXB9l3nPIJUXwF9waBy2uhaZ3pq1el-kJ9RIe680sRwWNsx5neGgpq9w-mo/s1600/DSC02017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W-JnjHANWdF7wNagM410KeCWqOrexgLUQ2bY605qFIIpfvCDEyrhv-OP0OJgCQ1melL5BH6DF5CiMX_xXXB9l3nPIJUXwF9waBy2uhaZ3pq1el-kJ9RIe680sRwWNsx5neGgpq9w-mo/s320/DSC02017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So all round there has been abundance and I haven't even talked about the honey. I'm wondering if the lovely fruit this year has anything to do with the many extra bees in the garden these days. HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-63678870454995685652015-07-13T07:25:00.001-07:002015-07-13T07:25:53.012-07:00My hypothesis on helping the bees - natural antibiotics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxpwaQtP9MN9B6ntXKx9W6m6lFGUIa0mNunUoWoNIsMkHNlKMRhOiwLhu7S75DhdYepE-pumDWjsjJmjU0cz2qZSJgrvnBJv0rEJpaVYYyaRurWWrI5eVdVu0me7538Ag5mT-Yc4riNc/s1600/DSC01799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxpwaQtP9MN9B6ntXKx9W6m6lFGUIa0mNunUoWoNIsMkHNlKMRhOiwLhu7S75DhdYepE-pumDWjsjJmjU0cz2qZSJgrvnBJv0rEJpaVYYyaRurWWrI5eVdVu0me7538Ag5mT-Yc4riNc/s400/DSC01799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
A bee enjoying the flower of the ribbon bush - Hypoestes aristata</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was watching the clip about AFB disease in the Western Cape on the TV program Carte Blanche, when I had a thought that is probably not original, but may well be an idea that farmers and beekeepers could bear in mind. Many beekeepers in the world believe the answer to diseases in the hive is to strengthen the bees naturally. They have a "survival of the fittest" approach. It is quite widely believed that there are many factors that have weakened bees, for example, the use of antibiotics, insecticides, feeding bees sugar, the use of chemicals in hives, monocultures, stress etc. When the one beekeeper who was interviewed said that the only way to get rid of American foulbrood disease is to use antibiotics, I realised that in natural, wild areas the bees get all the antibiotics they need from plants and these plants are missing in the urban and agricultural environment. <br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Because I am a phytotherapist (medical herbalist) I have a garden full of medicinal plants. Many of these plants have excellent antibacterial properties as well as antifungal and antiviral properties. I use these all the time for my patients instead of life destroying antibiotics. <strong><em>(Antibiotics are rarely used to save a life these days, they are more commonly used as routine panaceas to a gullible and ignorant public. If people understood the effects of antibiotics on their microflora, they wouldn't be so quick to demand them. Doctors in South Africa shouldn't be dishing them out like sweeties either.)</em></strong>Antibiotics, whether used on man or insects, cause genetic changes which result in resistance. In humans this resistance can last for two years or longer from one course of antibiotics. It stands to reason that people who are continually taking antibiotics will have stronger resistance genes and weakened immune systems than those who rarely take them. The same applies to insects.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So my theory is that by improving biodiversity for bees on farms and at apiaries, using medicinal herbs with antibiotic properties, bees would be getting a dose of medicine quite regularly throughout the seasons. Even those that are used to pollinate orchards, when removed from the orchard they could have a spell in a medicinal herb garden area, designed to keep them healthy. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am sure that some beekeepers will have already made the connection between bee health and the bees' environment. For instance are bees that feed on Eucalyptus healthier than those that feed on apple blossom? Are bees that feed on fynbos generally healthier? I can't answer these questions but I think beekeepers should be enquiring as to whether all bees irrespective of where they are, are prone to American foulbrood, or are some less affected?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here in SA we have stripped the countryside of it's natural biodiversity by removing nearly all the natural flora and replacing it with monoculture crops( like canola). We don't have fields full of yarrow as one sees in Europe, or thyme in the grass and Echinacea in the parks. In fact most of our suburban parks and gardens have only shrubs, grass and trees. There are very few wild areas left so the aromatic fynbos herbs are limited, compared to how it was before agriculture ruined the land. We also don't have the same flora as in Europe, which has survived because it is native or naturalised to the region and grown everywhere, on sidewalks and fields and gardens. Imagine my surprise to see Echinacea growing in a dry looking flowerbed at a petrol station in the Czech republic! (Echinacea by the way is native to North America).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It is no coincidence that aromatic herbs have antimicrobial properties, due to the essential oils in the leaves and flowers. Bees also love these plants eg rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender. These plants are not native to South Africa, but should be grown a lot more to supplement medicinal benefits for the bees. In the case of rosemary and lavender, they are hardy and drought tolerant. In European botanical gardens one often sees the most stunning thyme beds literally swarming with bees. Thyme has antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Echinacea, once established is very hardy and reasonably drought tolerant. It is the mainstay of any antibiotic treatment in herbal medicine and bees love it. They wriggle their way between the spiky flower heads, (which seems to be quite a struggle), in order to get the pollen they want.<br />
<br />
My opinion is, that we need to enhance the bees' immunity by planting flowers with antibiotic, antifungal and immune enhancing properties. Some indigenous plants might well do this, but in urban and agricultural areas there is not enough fynbos to do this. So we must embrace the herbs that we know have the phytochemicals they need for enhanced immunity. Some of these are:<br />
<br />
Sage; Rosemary; Thyme; Echinacea; Tulbachia (wild garlic); Garlic; Lavender; Buchu; Marjoram; Thuja; Myrtle; Olive; Eucalyptus, Garlic chives, Coriander; Aniseed; Fennel; Caraway; Rue; Yarrow; Artemisia spp; Juniper; Plectranthus neochilus; Hyssop. Strongly aromatic plants and plants with resin are the types of plants to look out for. Some aloes might have antimicrobial properties, but I don't know which ones, apart from Aloe vera. Aloes are important winter flowers for bees, as well as Cotyledon orbiculata (plakkie) flowers<br />
<br />
Plant in big clumps, not dotted all over the place. Bees prefer to forage in an area where plants are in masses. Spread the word among your friends and neighbours. It's not enough to be bee-friendly, we need to get the right plants in place for their medicinal requirements.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-74025138984255588922015-04-29T05:34:00.002-07:002015-04-30T07:40:11.762-07:00Bee Killer or Killer Bee?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mention the word bee to most people and they shudder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not in the same way that people shudder over
a spider or snake, but in a way that indicates a certain painful sting if one
should be in their vicinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A common
statement made is that they are allergic to bee stings. Funnily enough many
people who say that they are allergic to bee stings don’t carry a bee sting kit
or wear a Medic Alert bracelet! If you are truly allergic to bee stings, you
could die without immediate treatment.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_3dCnF6Yz8EKE4MRHTOjpNQyE9LYRGgJH7RypFUVXoFYfhgIMucrsbAJ_7_2Sc_bqoaVI_cBzV2Lp_1ykKm3_28VZwHZdLDMUQAAOH0Qa49R99VAeG4JXCDRrS2ZAoThDlDA96-4lnU/s1600/DSC01419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_3dCnF6Yz8EKE4MRHTOjpNQyE9LYRGgJH7RypFUVXoFYfhgIMucrsbAJ_7_2Sc_bqoaVI_cBzV2Lp_1ykKm3_28VZwHZdLDMUQAAOH0Qa49R99VAeG4JXCDRrS2ZAoThDlDA96-4lnU/s1600/DSC01419.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most people who have been stung by a bee will experience
pain and swelling in the area. This may last an hour or two or a few days. This
is not an allergy, but merely a reaction. This can be treated with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Echinacea applied to the area that was stung,
and taken internally. Vinegar is also useful to apply to the stung area. I once
received 30 or more stings to my face and head and was fully recovered after
two days. I have developed a sting gel which works very well indeed. I was the
guinea pig, and the stung area was better in two hours (better = hardly
noticeable).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is an extremely rare event for a swarm of bees to attack
an animal or human. It does happen, but usually because the swarm in its home
was disturbed in some way. Sometimes they make a home in a compost heap or an
old box or tree trunk, and they are stumbled upon by accident by a dog or human
on a walk. They still won't attack unless seriously disturbed. If they do it is a very serious situation and apparently jumping into water
doesn’t really help because the bees wait for you to come up for air. Bees
might also attack someone who has strong perfume on or who smells bad to them –
but this would be a few bees, generally not a whole swarm. Bees are very sensitive to
smells and noises.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYx8vLOmsGTo1_L9Cbu_-YdkpqNFx_nVzTpqIUVrsr1s51ABViWhVkMRlaDF7U-LOHzDkx1Wzb5DiFljRP3iBSzrS8F74cHAQzxkrMODIYEgqA4ilfk7rQaq_HhNL-7vuuJvEDof8MJY/s1600/bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYx8vLOmsGTo1_L9Cbu_-YdkpqNFx_nVzTpqIUVrsr1s51ABViWhVkMRlaDF7U-LOHzDkx1Wzb5DiFljRP3iBSzrS8F74cHAQzxkrMODIYEgqA4ilfk7rQaq_HhNL-7vuuJvEDof8MJY/s1600/bee.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Making propolis</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bees who are happily gathering pollen on a shrub on a warm
and sunny day, are not going to stop what they are doing to give you a sting!
They are too busy to be bothered. Likewise bees that are swarming won’t sting
you as they have their minds on finding a new home and protecting their queen.
You can handle a swarm of bees which has clustered on a branch, with your bare
hands.<strong> Do not be afraid of a swarm which flies over your garden or even lands in your garden.</strong> Just leave them alone and they will move away in a day or so. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And this brings me to the bee killers….. People who grab a
can of insecticide the minute they see a bee. And even worse, people who kill
an entire swarm that has landed in their garden or moved into a corner of their
shed or into a cavity wall.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By now everyone knows that bees are endangered and that
without bees 75% of the fruit, nuts and vegetables we eat will not get
pollinated, so we won’t have enough food anymore. This is a world-wide problem.
In some parts of China where there has been an appalling over use of agricultural
chemicals, all the fruit trees have to be hand pollinated. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bees are endangered for a combination of reasons: They have become
weakened by <strong>Commercial Bee keeping</strong> practices
such as repeatedly moving hundreds of hives great distances – this stresses
them; feeding them sugar; using chemical agents in the hives; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Agricultural practices</b> such as
monocropping, aerial spraying of poisons onto the crops; loss of habitat; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gardeners</b> using insecticides,
fungicides and other poisons (even organic poisons)in their gardens; spraying
fruit trees when they are in flower; spraying flowers; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Diseases </b>spreading throughout the world – various bacterial, viral
and parasitical diseases have spread across continents severely affecting bee
numbers. And then there’s you – the <strong>bee killer</strong> who sprays or burns a whole
innocent swarm, just looking for a home.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfT-MwXuceZedJkaKSRsh6lkX7AZfFy4bgzihf67zx79Zk6lTWWp-GJZmqZq3G5r4kk8yY4gvRuxwLajVoTK7SEu_BpEJFzaDwVtmN4fBKj3qfCMoZj3Ma5Z0C9nez5Dtc-4tMhwM9BE/s1600/DSCF0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfT-MwXuceZedJkaKSRsh6lkX7AZfFy4bgzihf67zx79Zk6lTWWp-GJZmqZq3G5r4kk8yY4gvRuxwLajVoTK7SEu_BpEJFzaDwVtmN4fBKj3qfCMoZj3Ma5Z0C9nez5Dtc-4tMhwM9BE/s1600/DSCF0544.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Create a bee garden</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bee killers far
outnumber killer bees</b>. Bees are peace-loving hard working insects who like
to be left alone to do their thing. Love them and leave them and they’ll make
you honey. Plant them a nice wild flower garden, or leave part of your garden
to go “wild”. Place a shallow dish of water up high somewhere for them. They are
very thirsty in the dry hot summer months. And stop buying insecticides. Leave
the poisons on the shelf in the garden centre and supermarket – you’ll be
sending the big companies like Bayer a strong message. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bees deserve our respect. They do an enormous job for us, apart from making honey. Let's all help save the bees. Every little helps</span></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-60929993490577640912015-01-19T05:53:00.001-08:002015-01-19T05:53:39.234-08:00Planning and harvesting.It's that time of year when there's quite a lot of harvesting to be done. It's very frustrating when the fruit is ripening, or there's a glut of spinach waiting to be picked, but you are just too busy to get there!! I had quite a few plums on my tree, but they were eaten by birds and, believe it or not my dogs, because I was unable to harvest them. I caught Rocco on his back legs trying to reach higher into the plum tree, and realised where all the low down plums had gone to!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO8x2AIFs6eJNSui_GzuaQX3Igxy8LPbYblcMO6mF65Ye5yO-C9bHRNH_j1DHp1QcXXcZzqEMKtDN2S2l1yNHjxMSU7DHrl6RwfjWtZbFMhA6clwv525xLqhsA2VbmKNpAtIDFZBTVqo/s1600/DSC01651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO8x2AIFs6eJNSui_GzuaQX3Igxy8LPbYblcMO6mF65Ye5yO-C9bHRNH_j1DHp1QcXXcZzqEMKtDN2S2l1yNHjxMSU7DHrl6RwfjWtZbFMhA6clwv525xLqhsA2VbmKNpAtIDFZBTVqo/s1600/DSC01651.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I have lemons ripening all the time and there's nothing more frustrating than picking them, and they get mouldy in a bowl. So now my method is to pick them, peel them and squeeze them. The peels go into alcohol for maceration for a constant supply of limoncello. The juice gets frozen in ice cube trays for drinks or other use. However if I plan properly, I'll make hummus on the day that I've picked a couple of lemons, and use some of the juice straight away for this delectable food.<br />
<br />
Spinach can be overwhelming in its abundance. What to do with it all? My solution is to check the leaves for dirt and insects, bung them whole into a plastic bag, and freeze them. Once they are frozen, they can be bashed into spinach crumbs, the stalks are easily removed now, they take up very little space and can be used in soups, stews and egg dishes as one needs it. I do the same with other greens like Chenopodium (goosefoot), Amaranthus (pigweed), Urtica (stinging nettle) and Portulaca (purslane).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJBd7Pt124vv_E2CJpNUDZWU8oUryl9e53_TCiYxT-RN2Hh059Q2E3tzVLF6aVTGbTe3Hl3wUI0TA6gvQQ_K4FbptGMYZlLcg2YZLqOXHdGuxrtDj-0DxVvhJ8t-6CQZckF8qBaOFoUU/s1600/DSC01524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJBd7Pt124vv_E2CJpNUDZWU8oUryl9e53_TCiYxT-RN2Hh059Q2E3tzVLF6aVTGbTe3Hl3wUI0TA6gvQQ_K4FbptGMYZlLcg2YZLqOXHdGuxrtDj-0DxVvhJ8t-6CQZckF8qBaOFoUU/s1600/DSC01524.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chenopodium</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Another good way to use greens is by drying them. A dehydrator is nice to have, but greens dry quickly in the shade on a hot sunny day. Once dried they can be crumbled up and a whole mountain of greens will fit in a large jar. In this way you can skip the vitamin pills or those supplements with phytonutrients that cost the earth, because you have your very own concentrated chlorophyll and minerals.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK4UI4G8i3xGND0kuO3hIDvMoE4FysOT70E2QzEv_cHeboSsVVy1k8cjbTgFjImf58dwh0ve954QIMmkfkzDGO6Zi84WPDSkyql7X7ehxBR1zPydbuP4l93Xc-upUrwUSBNx8HM7K74o/s1600/DSC01742-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK4UI4G8i3xGND0kuO3hIDvMoE4FysOT70E2QzEv_cHeboSsVVy1k8cjbTgFjImf58dwh0ve954QIMmkfkzDGO6Zi84WPDSkyql7X7ehxBR1zPydbuP4l93Xc-upUrwUSBNx8HM7K74o/s1600/DSC01742-001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dried spinach</div>
<br />
I have an apple tree that I love for it's foliage, but a harvest from it is not guaranteed. Mostly the fruit has codling moth or some other scabby problem, so it's not really edible. But the fruit is organically grown, and quite a bit of each apple is unblemished and perfect for juice. If I had enough I'd like to try cider making or even cider vinegar, but the number of apples hasn't got big enough yet. <br />
<br />
I have never tried salting green beans, but many years ago an aunt and uncle of mine used to do this with their green bean harvests. They would wash the beans and dry them and cut them up as if ready to cook them. Then they would put a layer of salt (non-iodised, sea salt) into a jar, a layer of beans, a layer of salt etc until all the beans were packed into jars. They said that when it came to cooking the beans, they tasted like they had just been picked. To me this sounds better than frozen beans.<br />
<br />
These are just a few ideas for dealing with harvests. I have more for another day. Enjoy.HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-85212281027139944682014-11-17T01:05:00.000-08:002014-11-17T01:05:08.995-08:00 My complete letter to the weekend Argus regarding the Banting diet (Tim Noakes)<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prof Tim Noakes was thinking in a
unidirectional way when he wrote his book. Unfortunately the body has more than
one system and to only look at the endocrine system is in my view, a mistake.
Diabetes is on the increase throughout the Western world because of the
shocking western diet - high in processed foods, salt, sugar and fat, and low
in fibre, fruits and vegetables. Prof Noakes claims it is genetic.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In South Africa we have many people
blindly and slavishly following the Banting diet without any knowledge of their
own physiology. I have patients whose cholesterol levels have soared on the
diet, with an increase in LDL and a lowering of HDL, including raised
triglycerides. Not a good scenario, any cardiologist would agree.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many people on the Banting diet will
love the permission to eat more meat (usually from feedlot farms) and fat and
not worry too much about vegetables. By doing so they will increase the amounts
of veterinary drug residues, like deworming drugs, antibiotics, hormones etc
and other toxins that are stored in animal fat, Omega 6 which occurs in
feedlot raised animals and causes increased inflammation, and nitrates from
processed meat which predispose one to cancer. At the same time there is a
reduction in valuable fibre from grains and root vegetables, a consequent
reduction in short chain fatty acids made by gut flora(which act as
anti-inflammatories); a change in gut flora to bacteroides which can
predispose one to colon cancer. High fat diets leading to increased amounts of
bile acid predispose one to colon cancer, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes,
irritable bowel disease to mention a few problems. Healthy gut flora play an
important role in protecting us against disease; a diet high in fat and low in
fibre could do the opposite.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Banting diet actually recommends
that people cut out refined carbohydrates. This is a good idea. Whole grains
and fibrous vegetables like beetroot (which Prof Noakes doesn’t allow) are
important dietary elements. We need plenty of fibre and the
micronutrients and phytochemicals from a vast array of colourful (preferably
organically grown) grains, fruits and vegetables to have a healthy microbiome
which will keep us healthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-58066076812547499182014-11-12T07:04:00.003-08:002014-11-12T07:04:53.417-08:00Birds and BeesIt's been a busy time in the garden. Birds flit about non stop building nests and feeding their young with never a quiet moment as they sing their individual songs. We can learn from them - to be joyful every day no matter the weather or hardships. So often when they have gone to all the trouble of rearing a chick or two, the chick is killed by another bird or animal, and they just carry on with life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXhxL3LK-BkFrOQrCrWXbeUqufiNfYR0XZgSYyPZ9Ss9H7-SLACSdj-ow0so-FnP3F31GIdNTZ1aEF37eWJfXs-ZMdluTuISQfKLVfzkk3aUHWLrQ5EBbUJFKHpQ826ZuJZumldSwIXY/s1600/DSC01624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXhxL3LK-BkFrOQrCrWXbeUqufiNfYR0XZgSYyPZ9Ss9H7-SLACSdj-ow0so-FnP3F31GIdNTZ1aEF37eWJfXs-ZMdluTuISQfKLVfzkk3aUHWLrQ5EBbUJFKHpQ826ZuJZumldSwIXY/s320/DSC01624.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A pied barbet hammering away at the fig tree.</div>
<br />
Where I live we are very blessed with an abundant bird life. If there are aphids on a plant, you can bet a white eye or two will be busy having a feast. The thrushes poke about in dead leaves looking for grubs and worms, and are as effective as chickens in getting rid of unwanted creepies. A weaver bird has made hundreds of nests in a wild peach that overhangs my garden wall, and each one has been rejected. I love the sound the weavers make. I have been on holiday to some places in the UK where there is not a single bird call and where I am struck by the dead silence in the early mornings. It's a sad fact that millions of birds have died as a result of insecticide use. <br />
<br />
Birds bring joy to the garden and are important to keep the balance of nature. If birds die out insects will take over. Some evenings I can hear owls hooting. Because of people using rat poison, owls are often poisoned. We need owls too!<br />
<br />
From birds to bees. It's been quite an adventure! I now have a second hive and was given a swarm to put in, and the bees are very happy. They settled in immediately and I can't wait to have a peep to see how they are progressing with their comb making. I have been harvesting honey from hive no 1 and I got severely stung when the bees crawled up under my bee suit, without me realising it. However with the use of herbs, it was soon quite bearable and I healed very quickly. Lessons are to be learned every day!<br />
It is amazing how serene one feels when just watching the bees go about their daily work. On the whole they don't bother one at all, they just go about their daily business with dedication. On occasion they might be a bit defensive but one learns not to aggravate them by digging too close to them, or cutting grass too near them. These are danger signals for bees and they can get irritated. Usually one or two will dart about threatening to sting. People are very scared of swarms, but when bees are swarming, they are not dangerous at all. They are too busy protecting the queen and looking for a new home.<br />
<br />
If a swarm is disturbed in an aggressive way in the hive or nesting spot, that is a different story. Then they will be an aggressive swarm and can kill a dog or a person. This happens rarely, but always makes the headlines!! Recently a dog disturbed a swarm that was nesting in someone's compost heap and they attacked and killed him. This is nobody's fault, as the swarm wasn't in a hive. <br />
I have three dogs and they very rarely get stung. They understand not to go sniffing around the hive, and even know they shouldn't go into the bee garden. It's all a matter of respect.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-u5yUkMDodDP1XLj6GsMtGQ0XMS4YUYO9Xxi9y3FPOfkrvzEysXitTnfx8-UlrTwTbb4TGHRkbhoswj74tJyTOu6aK78miYDnZpvxdUhiIjJ0F6OnIkjyDuqLgBpQzb265O_RrBrTpQ/s1600/DSC01636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-u5yUkMDodDP1XLj6GsMtGQ0XMS4YUYO9Xxi9y3FPOfkrvzEysXitTnfx8-UlrTwTbb4TGHRkbhoswj74tJyTOu6aK78miYDnZpvxdUhiIjJ0F6OnIkjyDuqLgBpQzb265O_RrBrTpQ/s320/DSC01636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A frame of capped honey</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nature deserves our respect because nature is perfect. We are the ones to mess up the balance of nature. Let's give it some thought and take the time to enjoy the parks and gardens with respect!</div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-9404473314668071242014-06-24T05:07:00.000-07:002014-06-24T05:07:14.249-07:00Tips to enrich your garden's biodiversity
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KbC9YPp2XQreabxAPPpVJ4Z6zImz0A1cSo7TnNv5gjuHO5kZkuR-zxwO7uKBpKp6a5LM-KnUUeDmGbHKQwcILrpqmJ6cJJWPe35zTkWfFJ_uoZ_ClUfHbYTln3vJexV2kKEf-a6ICLg/s1600/DSCF0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KbC9YPp2XQreabxAPPpVJ4Z6zImz0A1cSo7TnNv5gjuHO5kZkuR-zxwO7uKBpKp6a5LM-KnUUeDmGbHKQwcILrpqmJ6cJJWPe35zTkWfFJ_uoZ_ClUfHbYTln3vJexV2kKEf-a6ICLg/s1600/DSCF0544.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Biodiversity</span></b> is a term to
describe variety of living things within a system or environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I am concentrating on gardens, it is
practical to see your garden as a micro-environment, in relation to the size of
our country. If all the gardens in SA had only lawn with one or two shrubs and
a tree, that would severely limit the biodiversity of the environment under our
control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would also be detrimental to
the health of the country in terms of its biodiversity.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Conversely if everyone in SA who has a garden, focussed on
creating ecosystems that favoured biodiversity, imagine what a positive effect
that would have in general!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I look out of my window on a summer day, the air is
filled with insects hovering or flying about. I feel like I’m in an aquarium,
with all those creatures flitting past me. I like to think that I’ve created a
good environment for a rich biodiversity in my garden. I am lucky because I
think quite a few of my neighbours have also taken this approach. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what are we looking for when we think of having
biodiversity in our gardens? We are aiming for a rich bacterial and fungal life
in the soil, earthworms, a balance of insect life, some snakes, frogs,
chameleons and varied bird life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
order for all these different entities to thrive we need to have some rules:</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t use poisons in your
garden. A fly that has just been sprayed with poison, could be eaten by a
chameleon immediately afterwards. Snail bait is dangerous for the
endangered leopard toad and your pets. Bee numbers are declining worldwide
due to the use of insecticide poisons. Poisons also leach into the soil
killing valuable earthworms. Poisoned rats can kill owls.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reduce the amount of lawn
in your garden. It is a dead space for chameleons, lizards, frogs as it
provides no shelter from predators and no food. It also does not provide
habitat for insects.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Provide plenty of ground
cover in the form of low growing plants like Plectranthus species.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t be too tidy in your
garden. Logs, pieces of wood, stones and mulch – all provide shelter for
small creatures and breeding spots for various insects. Mulch also keeps
the ground moist for earthworms.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Allow a corner of your
garden to be “wild” with weeds and grasses that you allow to self seed.
Seeds attract birds and the wild grasses and weeds are a good habitat for
breeding insects, and provide food for pollinators. Prince Charles is
famous for his wild garden and meadows at Highgrove</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant indigenous plants <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to provide foods for local species of
pollinators like the carpenter bee and African hummingbird moth. Hypoestes
aristata which blooms in autumn is a good choice. Aloes provide good food for bees in autumn and winter.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Provide plenty of water in
bird baths and low containers, for birds and insects as well as frogs.
Your children will delight in watching tadpoles and dragonflies.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The small brown slug eater
snake likes to hide under planks of wood. Provide a spot for some of
these. They are not dangerous.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put an owl box in a tree
and a bat box on your wall high up under the eaves. Bats get rid of
millions of insects for us, and owls take care of rats and mice.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant herbs to attract
bees and butterflies. I once had a rosemary hedge that chameleons loved.
Basil, lavender, yarrow, lemon balm, sage species and nasturtiums are some
of the herbs that pollinators love.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Allow as many annuals as
you can to go to seed. Self seeding encourages a lush environment and
birds eat many of the seeds.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6QST7PGSxdoFNAMs83hiAXOs1L_30UT4p5BnSRcXE4yb2Oy57pyXMobCOdhpna82AhV2FbyXq5l5kTTFIoy-x-oXywn6GHR1xyrxAjUnduYxDkF35ojyYx2Qo9nNbtKO5CHlhuAnZsg/s1600/DSCF0566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6QST7PGSxdoFNAMs83hiAXOs1L_30UT4p5BnSRcXE4yb2Oy57pyXMobCOdhpna82AhV2FbyXq5l5kTTFIoy-x-oXywn6GHR1xyrxAjUnduYxDkF35ojyYx2Qo9nNbtKO5CHlhuAnZsg/s1600/DSCF0566.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your garden can be a paradise of
biodiversity, with interesting creatures and beautiful plants. I’m always
amazed how much noise there is in my garden, especially bird song, but also the
sound of frogs in autumn and the very loud hum of bees in some of my trees. It
is such a privilege to have a garden and a patch of soil to be the guardian of.
Let’s unite to create swathes of biodiverse areas where nature is in harmony.</span></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-31565571115700012682014-05-27T05:21:00.000-07:002014-05-27T05:21:22.923-07:00Hawthorn for the heart and for the bees.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-R-NLcmNBUr6RGwpYyoFJ-vsdDhQ_1mdGCNGvH4NpblR7MkgDT4wMfS-N2clyF5B6ckli9M-ecCH8Lkfxl54cfQCxqmULkVcuhzsZlpWklbBY144J1HaPUmbAqJembsIk1nSztfwsm8/s1600/DSC00584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-R-NLcmNBUr6RGwpYyoFJ-vsdDhQ_1mdGCNGvH4NpblR7MkgDT4wMfS-N2clyF5B6ckli9M-ecCH8Lkfxl54cfQCxqmULkVcuhzsZlpWklbBY144J1HaPUmbAqJembsIk1nSztfwsm8/s1600/DSC00584.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Hawthorn berries<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is it a coincidence that hawthorn is harvested in Autumn? I
don’t think so. Just as citrus fruits are winter fruits, full of vitamin C to
help with colds and flu, hawthorn is there to help keep us warm and prevent
chilblains.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hawthorn is native to Europe but grows well here. It can be
a shrub or a small tree, depending on how you prune it. It has very long, sharp thorns. It is deciduous and the
leaves turn a beautiful translucent red and yellow in autumn. Even the carpet
of leaves at its base is very pretty. In spring the blossoms attract bees, and to hear the loud hum of thousands of busy bees in the stillness of the morning is truly awesome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hawthorn is one of the oldest known
medicinal plants used in European medicine - its beneficial actions on the
heart were first reported by first century Greek herbalist Dioscorides and
later by Swiss physician Paracelsus (1493–1541) (Weihmayr and Ernst, 1996).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hawthorn is the ultimate nurturing herb for the heart. The
flowers, berries and leaves are used each with its own particular nourishing or
medicinal effect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hawthorn is
widely regarded in Europe as a safe and effective treatment for the early
stages of heart disease and is endorsed by Commission E- the branch of the
German government that studies and approves herbal treatments. It is used to
promote the health of the circulatory system and has been found useful in
treating angina, high blood pressure, early congestive heart failure and
cardiac arrhythmia. It has been found to strengthen the heart and stabilise it
against arrhythmias. </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It also
strengthens the entire cardiovascular system, improving blood flow to all our
organs thus improving our general health. It is my own opinion that using
hawthorn can delay visual and hearing problems due to old age, as blood supply
to these organs is well maintained.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Hawthorne should
be used under the care of a phytotherapist for circulatory or heart problems.</em></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t_uxBn5KNecJcwlv38eHdrlselegKWIh-iaknRFooMZCHU_lNa7lyQsCo4wQP1uX47F0PVMC3jpWf887KTDXrqe1T3e-VVKdcUqSFDX9vtJhFIY9-ycPLKVUO4ZWw3si6q2FMa8CMtI/s1600/DSC01508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t_uxBn5KNecJcwlv38eHdrlselegKWIh-iaknRFooMZCHU_lNa7lyQsCo4wQP1uX47F0PVMC3jpWf887KTDXrqe1T3e-VVKdcUqSFDX9vtJhFIY9-ycPLKVUO4ZWw3si6q2FMa8CMtI/s1600/DSC01508.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have just harvested a few kilograms of hawthorn from my garden, and am inspired to use it for myself. Apparently one can make a jelly from the berries to eat with cheese. There are quite a few recipes on the internet for this. What a wonderful herb!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-23979467699739240622014-04-02T07:36:00.001-07:002014-04-02T07:36:23.830-07:00The soil of life<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>The secret is in the soil.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pguUC6ZmH_YUQ2eLjVUr9gpmgy93bXhLVohuOoczOC0TJ7oaf4D3dbreQ3s1rSe1gtZXgOlmYsJ0i4EJnow9OXYGGw5ri6_I7ONm_8eNVDjsLVuoGklgEKn3zpmVY-XDPXgm3QH3JZo/s1600/DSC01432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pguUC6ZmH_YUQ2eLjVUr9gpmgy93bXhLVohuOoczOC0TJ7oaf4D3dbreQ3s1rSe1gtZXgOlmYsJ0i4EJnow9OXYGGw5ri6_I7ONm_8eNVDjsLVuoGklgEKn3zpmVY-XDPXgm3QH3JZo/s1600/DSC01432.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soil health – comparing the soil of our planet with the
“soil” in our body.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was lecturing at the University of Western Cape, I
used the analogy of soil to show the importance of prebiotics and
probiotics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the human body, we know
how important bacteria are in keeping us healthy. (Actually our bacteria
consist of many different types of micro-organism, collectively known as
microbiota, not just bacteria.) What many of us don’t know is that bacteria in
the soil are just as important, and this article is about your health as well
as the health of the soil in your garden or on your farm.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your digestive tract.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are accustomed to being given probiotics every time the
doctor prescribes an antibiotic. Antibiotics wipe out our bacteria, and the
probiotics help replenish the good bacteria. They say that we have more
bacteria in our bodies than there are stars in the universe or cells in our
body. We need the balance of our bacteria to be a healthy, thriving colony of
“good” bacteria keeping the “bad” bacteria in check. Probiotics are naturally
available in some types of yoghurt, certain cheeses, sauerkraut, and other
fermented<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>products like m<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">iso, tempeh, kim chi and kefir.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What we eat, feeds the bacteria. This is where prebiotics
come into the picture. Prebiotics are insoluble fibre from certain foods like
Jerusalem artichokes,garlic, onions, leeks, bananas etc. that feed the
probiotics. The typical western diet is notoriously low in prebiotics. In my
practice I see many people who never eat vegetables and fruit, so their diets
will be deficient in prebiotics. If we treat our body like a dustbin, eating
loads of “junk food”, we can expect malodorous (bad smelling) wind and stools.
This is not a good sign, and I always tell my patients that our stool is a good
barometer of our health. Healthy bacteria = healthy person.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This however, is not the whole story. One of the most
important prerequisites of a healthy bacterial colony is the “soil” of the
digestive tract. The trillions of gut bacteria have to have something to cling
to. A natural diet of lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains and legumes
provides the fibre which bacteria cling to. This is what I refer to as the
“soil” of our digestive tract. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In certain diseases where there is a lot of gut
inflammation, gut flora have a hard time establishing a healthy colony on the
weeping, raw surfaces. Where there is chronic constipation caused by a diet of
refined food, gut flora have a hard time as the “soil” is dry, compacted and
stagnant. (Fibre holds moisture and helps prevent constipation.) “Bad” bacteria
can contribute to constipation, causing a vicious circle. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fibre therefore, from a variety of sources (not just bran)
is very important for gut health, and contributes towards a healthy inner ecosystem
that has a profound effect on our overall health.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tips for a healthy
digestive ecosystem:</span></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eat plenty of vegetable
especially onions, garlic, leeks, and asparagus.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some companies manufacture
prebiotics and claim that it is difficult to get enough in your diet. A
diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes will have enough
prebiotics. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make sure your gut
bacteria are balanced by not mixing foods in weird combinations (steak
with a sugary drink and ice cream) or having too much sugar which feeds
“bad” bacteria.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have some plain yoghurt,
kefir, miso, sauerkraut from time to time.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Avoid unnecessary
antibiotics (viral infections) and other medication which can upset the
bacteria.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIVtvE7IgfgfDV-EglVkyufhr8lONfzizXrxQMpPNqfw87Eau5yx9qnzQlZCzbIAQ9SgA0zMI1lIsGLesLhgrchh7sjPwqVVVNa8dImxRh2avxwQueNJvxGqa6sm8sn-owr5uCcc-s_A/s1600/DSC01221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIVtvE7IgfgfDV-EglVkyufhr8lONfzizXrxQMpPNqfw87Eau5yx9qnzQlZCzbIAQ9SgA0zMI1lIsGLesLhgrchh7sjPwqVVVNa8dImxRh2avxwQueNJvxGqa6sm8sn-owr5uCcc-s_A/s1600/DSC01221.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026"
type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:450.75pt;height:337.5pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Connie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="DSC01432"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Prebiotics and probiotics for the soil.</strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we look at the earth, the amount of arable soil is
extremely small. So small in fact, that it is endangered .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Farming practices such as overgrazing, excessive
use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, ploughing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and natural events such as flooding, wind and
drought make for an alarming reduction in arable soil. The soil of this planet
is an ecosystem in itself, and needs to be nurtured as such. Bacteria form a
vital part of this ecosystem, and influence the plants’ ability to absorb
nutrients, just like our gut bacteria help us absorb vitamins.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just like in our gut, soil bacteria come as “good” and “bad”
bacteria. Healthy soil has mostly “good” bacteria, which suppress the “bad”
bacteria, help detoxify the soil and provide a medium that is a good home for
earthworms, insects and fungi – life forms essential to soil health. Healthy
soil also facilitates the absorption of nutrients by the plants. One sign of
healthy and balanced soil is the number of earthworms that can be seen when you
dig, because healthy soil tends to hold moisture better, allowing them to move
closer to the surface. They say you should see about 30 per spade of soil. I’m
sure for most of us that is not the case, which shows how much work there is to
do!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each one of us can make an effort to improve the soil that
we are guardians of, if we are fortunate enough to have a garden. One thing
that farmers and gardeners can do to help the soil stay healthy is to use
manure (probiotic) and humus (rotted vegetable matter) to provide fibre for
soil bacteria to cling to. Healthy soil is a living substance, teaming with bacteria,
just like our digestive tract. Fibre is the key element to ensure that bacteria
can cling effectively. Sand and dense clay are not good growing mediums unless
they have humus and compost added. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make your own compost and mix in some manure to add to your
soil. It’s more effort than buying fertilizer, but will keep the soil alive and
help it to thrive. Every patch of healthy soil on this earth makes a difference.
Soil which is alive with bacteria and earthworms is earth which will nourish
plants and ultimately nourish us. Soil which is dead from the over use of
chemicals and poisons is dirt and only serves to anchor plants.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tips for a healthy soil ecosystem:</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="1">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Avoid using artificial
fertilizers and poisonous pesticides, as these adversely affect the
bacterial and insect/earthworm content of the soil.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keep a layer of mulch on
the soil to maintain some moisture and allow a natural rotting process.
(Many gardeners think it looks untidy and remove all leaves etc. But it’s
much better to leave them.)Humus is the prebiotic of the soil.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apply some manure, well
rotted compost, and chicken pellets to the surface of the soil from time
to time. Don’t dig it in, but allow the earthworms to do the work. Manure
is the probiotic of the soil.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant legumes such as
lupins and dig them in when they are young and green. This is known as
“green manure” and nourishes the soil.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can buy bacteria for
your soil and for use in compost making.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a lot more that can be said about soil health, but
that can wait for another time. It is very sad that conventional farming and
even gardening practices, do a great deal of harm to the soil. Similarly modern
medicine incorrectly prescribed and abused is harmful to human gut bacteria. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-81750717469653999642014-01-29T05:22:00.000-08:002016-02-04T03:40:07.841-08:00Purslane - free food from your garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3Pb4w4hNbA9OAVwKqDGZ5bhDll-7d2TNCXoW_ns8Wo2dxf0IsBilp0bAVmoir0LIcbfzOA10HIGh6TvSOEMjJPylYW9fIV23WLbTh8_vKhARWIlvCON5wJk1DvFvox-w1CK1BUhtGBw/s1600/DSC01426.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This hardy, drought resistant plant grows in summer. It has fleshy leaves, red/brown stems and yellow flowers.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Purslane is an annual plant that self seeds prolifically. It tolerates really dry conditions, so is really sustainable and should be encouraged.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UrYZO4HNLjP2O-mnZepNzUpmXjFifsvQmdJq4gaAaQJYb3LTfoig4GjJ-PIyj2Kd72T0LTMb2b1LInve7oNPK5G5z9A5m3ru7V-tLnhcB2qfReUgG3xwqeDanwlvINHRY8CfXU6Rzs0/s1600/DSC01414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UrYZO4HNLjP2O-mnZepNzUpmXjFifsvQmdJq4gaAaQJYb3LTfoig4GjJ-PIyj2Kd72T0LTMb2b1LInve7oNPK5G5z9A5m3ru7V-tLnhcB2qfReUgG3xwqeDanwlvINHRY8CfXU6Rzs0/s1600/DSC01414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>It has medicinal benefits, is highly nutritious and can be used as a food in several ways.</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Purslane is rich in omega 3 fatty acid and as such is beneficial as an anti-inflammatory, helps to balance cholesterol ratios, helps improve bone density, helps prevent macular degeneration of the eye, helps prevent depression and may help with insulin resistance. Cod liver oil will do the same if taken regularly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Purslane is a vegetarian option to fish oil, and is free. However it would have to be included in the diet regularly and preferably raw or stir fried. In order for you to have an all year round supply, harvest it in summer and freeze as much as you can.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another significant benefit from purslane is in it's anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging activity. The flowering plant contains betalain alkaloids which help protect against cancer and other serious inflammatory diseases.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally purslane, due to it's slightly mucilaginous quality, is a good prebiotic.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em>The best way to get the health benefits from purslane is as a food.</em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QG1KAD8pNPA-1Sy95LKn5YMFbmjaFoSpBOggbsebgFnqqqpWyA-qdNhyphenhyphen5CmQSssoNwNAQ6StgWFUIKlJxlNV6TpneWp_xrf0ZY1os5iegnNa6XW1z-3ititY6YWUrb_chs2xhEwaJcQ/s1600/DSC01416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QG1KAD8pNPA-1Sy95LKn5YMFbmjaFoSpBOggbsebgFnqqqpWyA-qdNhyphenhyphen5CmQSssoNwNAQ6StgWFUIKlJxlNV6TpneWp_xrf0ZY1os5iegnNa6XW1z-3ititY6YWUrb_chs2xhEwaJcQ/s1600/DSC01416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Purslane linguini</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Purslane is not overpoweringly tasty, but has a fairly neutral flavour. It can be likened to waterblommetjie in that regard. As such it blends in with any dish and any flavour. It can be used in stew, stir fry, salad and soup. It can also be served as a vegetable on its own. Combine it with your favourite vegetables and be inventive. To get maximum medicinal as well as nutritional value, use it generously in salads. Wash it well and cut the thickest stalks off. Use the flowering plant whenever possible. It also makes a delicious pickle. (I always use apple cider vinegar for my pickling.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can even add it to your dog's food for extra nutrition.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Purslane contains high levels of vitamin C and B as well as potassium, magnesium and nitrate. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So when you are feeling the pinch and need food that is free and highly nutritious, look no further than your back yard or your pavement. </div>
<br />HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-81845547717607257122013-12-10T00:03:00.002-08:002013-12-10T00:03:57.198-08:00Lemon thyme cake - using 4 ingredients from the gardenIt's thyme to bake a cake!<br />
<br />
This cake is delicious and lemony. It is not a light and fluffy cake, but dense and moist.<br />
<br />
The first thing you have to do is pop into the garden and pick a handful of lemon thyme and dry it by leaving it in a basket in the kitchen for a few days. Then, on the day you want to bake your cake, pick one lemon off the tree, collect 4 eggs from your chickens, and honey from your bee hive.<br />
<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
<br />
300g of stone ground white flour<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ1ymKrDr-QZYPFLJpM_tX6I7fJnkQpREG43faPZKIzWl0PNhDBBym0IZVETv2S7TFBRQn17scIVwbSo3spLBBjRZo2Ub_j1CufXcdEadclrD6yJ4bs2o2xbm2Ls1ERQFGgZ93T-AVgM/s1600/DSC01405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ1ymKrDr-QZYPFLJpM_tX6I7fJnkQpREG43faPZKIzWl0PNhDBBym0IZVETv2S7TFBRQn17scIVwbSo3spLBBjRZo2Ub_j1CufXcdEadclrD6yJ4bs2o2xbm2Ls1ERQFGgZ93T-AVgM/s200/DSC01405.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
2 teaspoons baking powder<br />
200g organic sugar<br />
200g butter<br />
4 eggs<br />
2 large, heaped tablespoons lemon thyme (powdered)<br />
Zest of 1 lemon finely grated<br />
<br />
Filling<br />
<br />
I tub marscapone<br />
2 tablespoons honey<br />
<br />
METHOD<br />
<br />
Take your dry lemon thyme and grind it in a coffee grinder until it is a fine powder. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add the eggs one by one until well mixed in. Sift the flour and the baking powder and add to the creamed mixture with lemon zest and the lemon thyme powder. Mix until it is all well incorporated, and add milk to make a soft dropping consistency. Grease and flour a baking tin and pour the mixture in. Bake at 175deg for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted in the middle.<br />
<br />
Mix the marscapone and honey until well creamed.<br />
Allow the cake to cool completely and either slice it into two and fill it with the marscapone mixture or use the mixture as a topping.<br />
<br />
Enjoy!HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-25638222702240850942013-12-02T06:19:00.000-08:002013-12-02T06:19:02.468-08:00Pesky stinging nettles - such a valuable weedThis spring I pulled out loads of stinging nettle in my garden. Most people would be cursing at the stuff, as it is extremely prolific - but I can only rejoice. Nettle is such a versatile plant and can be used by the herbalist, gardener and cook.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLh0uLgECwMzUpWEBG2eR0M1kbjg3vlPzvWylaVEz3-l3kDbTmk6xYtzglkOOJEr9K7e1NkpkoS005c0SYgNsXWWgQtFA0Q7Ej1n7gnvI91jr6iydSFwHThMNt9kk3jxrateJ7xlnzqA/s1600/DSC01360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLh0uLgECwMzUpWEBG2eR0M1kbjg3vlPzvWylaVEz3-l3kDbTmk6xYtzglkOOJEr9K7e1NkpkoS005c0SYgNsXWWgQtFA0Q7Ej1n7gnvI91jr6iydSFwHThMNt9kk3jxrateJ7xlnzqA/s320/DSC01360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
A branch of nettle loaded with seed<br />
<br />
Every part of the nettle plant is useful. In the garden nettle plants are important hosts for various butterfly larvae, and I'm always happy to have a good environment for insects. It is my belief that a good variety of weeds and herbs creates a balanced ecosystem, and fewer pests.<br />
<br />
In phytotherapy (herbalism) nettle is a most valuable plant. The leaves, seeds and roots are used. The leaves are used as a tonic, anti-histamine, liver tonic, kidney tonic, iron tonic, to mention just a few uses. It should however, be used under the supervision of a phytotherapy practitioner, as it can cause an allergic reaction in some sensitive people. The seeds are used for kidney problems and the roots are used in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Cutting the roots off hundreds of nettle plants is quite a job. Most people would never realise quite how much work goes on behind the scenes of a phytotherapy practice.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4guIm6jg1g2VZA-0qny2mw0JSdX3ElSYemT7yJx09T8hyQP73JKO5ZFQXogzBHXWfjPp92K8uoh1DzTW-tWU7nZP7MevzKpOh3fnDvEqftjLPTJBVhjevfw0YPuBvIQa-z69bAZT84Y/s1600/DSC01332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4guIm6jg1g2VZA-0qny2mw0JSdX3ElSYemT7yJx09T8hyQP73JKO5ZFQXogzBHXWfjPp92K8uoh1DzTW-tWU7nZP7MevzKpOh3fnDvEqftjLPTJBVhjevfw0YPuBvIQa-z69bAZT84Y/s320/DSC01332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dried nettle roots</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Historically nettle stems have been used to make a cotton-like cloth, but I think I'll give knitting with nettle a skip. But it's an easy job to make a wonderful rich fertilizer with nettle. Once I've removed all the roots, I dunk the entire nettle plants into buckets of water and wait until the resulting brew stinks nicely. I don't dilute it as everyone says you must, but use it neat on tomato plants and other vegetable plants. Nettle is also a great compost activator, and I like to put it in a drum with other weeds to make a rich tea for the garden. One of my clients who has a wine farm, sprays his vines with nettle tea to fertilize them.<br />
<br />
As a food, nettle is a wonderful addition to soups, stews and even your dog's food if you cook for your dog. It has a very high protein content and is very rich in vitamins and minerals, especially iron and calcium. Some farmers add nettle to their feed for cows, as it encourages milk production.<br />
<br />
So next time you feel overwhelmed by nettles, think of all the things you can do with them, even if it is only to put them on the compost heap! <br />
<br />
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-48684948801737292642013-11-20T03:04:00.001-08:002013-11-20T03:04:39.274-08:00Moving the bees<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Before the move. This is the entrance to the owl box which in the space of one year got filled up with bees. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EHiKy1ODSsi9jns7DTVmSgiikqRwg7ZjARqvjCq1huOn_2-RpJX8zudNpIhpMjG5KDwCH_pc1Vy_wAMbRuG7WwxyNIv5npbiUG68BwRYy2IbYEAJHlpcoYYs-j-nYn9rWVnAwhvgdjM/s1600/bees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EHiKy1ODSsi9jns7DTVmSgiikqRwg7ZjARqvjCq1huOn_2-RpJX8zudNpIhpMjG5KDwCH_pc1Vy_wAMbRuG7WwxyNIv5npbiUG68BwRYy2IbYEAJHlpcoYYs-j-nYn9rWVnAwhvgdjM/s320/bees.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Luckily the side panel of the owl box is removable and this is what was revealed when it came off.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sq7cF4v085B8io7ZtU3PY98P-6KE5X-9Gbd-CrpJ981PnVDzzKSebqkisD8OQP9U5KNIWvMMqGQ-Qqrmg6aCs61HduNRjP1I4sKQ6aqNjL7YiqEuNiZyvT4QCSr3X8AdzgaHnSZi4Ok/s1600/DSC01368.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sq7cF4v085B8io7ZtU3PY98P-6KE5X-9Gbd-CrpJ981PnVDzzKSebqkisD8OQP9U5KNIWvMMqGQ-Qqrmg6aCs61HduNRjP1I4sKQ6aqNjL7YiqEuNiZyvT4QCSr3X8AdzgaHnSZi4Ok/s320/DSC01368.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-HF3ft5WrNpgqogopxgXF7bQeHRSo0wZ8xkgal-uXVfHNuzl_NLSmPr7PFiFKmFys2NcRaTsZFRruWmshoLGNRsl5eQ7dJg4Oqd3JpThmzwKvd1u2k7hvNPw5Swj3TSS-HxbreO4gTA/s1600/DSC01370.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-HF3ft5WrNpgqogopxgXF7bQeHRSo0wZ8xkgal-uXVfHNuzl_NLSmPr7PFiFKmFys2NcRaTsZFRruWmshoLGNRsl5eQ7dJg4Oqd3JpThmzwKvd1u2k7hvNPw5Swj3TSS-HxbreO4gTA/s320/DSC01370.JPG" /></a><br />
Here is the "bee whisperer" at work.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RcdGKq5DRXYOFt6B7JdW7WhORmRKuuD2qkeO7o0Lm7RweaGO4cwRU8U6atz8oIDeWMrjwkOyZmK_SjRtS_wasBz7o6c6ytSYp8FSbpbNoydZ8OzbQse9y4YSRpGNUTvh9E1yKvc2Ixo/s1600/DSC01372.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RcdGKq5DRXYOFt6B7JdW7WhORmRKuuD2qkeO7o0Lm7RweaGO4cwRU8U6atz8oIDeWMrjwkOyZmK_SjRtS_wasBz7o6c6ytSYp8FSbpbNoydZ8OzbQse9y4YSRpGNUTvh9E1yKvc2Ixo/s320/DSC01372.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYYXeZYCZ19T-uz9auLkALZJAkAFtTtI6sUD1M3z2NAYH9NoPlVs3_CUw27ofGKFIVsYQMY5GDiSsLHgotZQWRBS1CpxmZmdGjROQ-AwEi3R2gpS5o6bgjzFY8xd87rdFfJYmpXGPujI/s1600/DSC01373.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYYXeZYCZ19T-uz9auLkALZJAkAFtTtI6sUD1M3z2NAYH9NoPlVs3_CUw27ofGKFIVsYQMY5GDiSsLHgotZQWRBS1CpxmZmdGjROQ-AwEi3R2gpS5o6bgjzFY8xd87rdFfJYmpXGPujI/s320/DSC01373.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3axakYDjgf7lTgBasC8q7bnKzonzEBkxwjCALgFyC9RYSktOV5K-BfIbI3U5-xBm1gkR18437TKsXheb45qifJnqX2KFDF6kutiEX95LfiVR-QwghCrETUlMrwATS3xCgmG9GkehPGus/s1600/DSC01374.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3axakYDjgf7lTgBasC8q7bnKzonzEBkxwjCALgFyC9RYSktOV5K-BfIbI3U5-xBm1gkR18437TKsXheb45qifJnqX2KFDF6kutiEX95LfiVR-QwghCrETUlMrwATS3xCgmG9GkehPGus/s320/DSC01374.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJioaLQWpvzkBn-rO0YQq_5sB3CKNoE1LIzzXS8lRSp27yLjUVSAcacaKnxZhkvRX0sIEhara_oabKG007EYGuqDfeg1Ng-FHWbPfsJgaUXaq5bp_N7Qxz9uJPHkNkN96iW1nnjpDklY/s1600/DSC01375.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJioaLQWpvzkBn-rO0YQq_5sB3CKNoE1LIzzXS8lRSp27yLjUVSAcacaKnxZhkvRX0sIEhara_oabKG007EYGuqDfeg1Ng-FHWbPfsJgaUXaq5bp_N7Qxz9uJPHkNkN96iW1nnjpDklY/s320/DSC01375.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ybyScM703ynZkIHS4YQTIP4oy-gP4lls2kVjZpX9gTJbibaMw5Zg35zYnyayChPliVDTeKwQLndNgum3Z34_DRmJpJi5PBJpIYaSt1mdXe0Gvb_EI8Dx3UKK7VOL-bkBPhSh09aS3bY/s1600/DSC01376.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ybyScM703ynZkIHS4YQTIP4oy-gP4lls2kVjZpX9gTJbibaMw5Zg35zYnyayChPliVDTeKwQLndNgum3Z34_DRmJpJi5PBJpIYaSt1mdXe0Gvb_EI8Dx3UKK7VOL-bkBPhSh09aS3bY/s320/DSC01376.JPG" /></a><br />
The new hive.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOA5_Dg7BhyphenhyphenyOb_RRrJwkH8E5JGC_eYKhiJka4rC1IGf-lSk1OROFO3wrRcUulIEgJsSz3G-IyYz1eRYxoEAcOtw6gDSZK4GtFZsMXyTWe3Pk-bu6ruIG3wEQ92kBFt4Vc04oRk72HowY/s1600/bee+removal+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOA5_Dg7BhyphenhyphenyOb_RRrJwkH8E5JGC_eYKhiJka4rC1IGf-lSk1OROFO3wrRcUulIEgJsSz3G-IyYz1eRYxoEAcOtw6gDSZK4GtFZsMXyTWe3Pk-bu6ruIG3wEQ92kBFt4Vc04oRk72HowY/s320/bee+removal+1.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34ZAUr7Bb8-0WNpj0eIrJhbSCWQ8fyFgGBtQ7lgti8xysYn4iBP1d-VEA7HhorKLjdz76QPuXF6xWXtIYtpLvE7lGZ1IactqF3wGTvnYMyTjR34YHFSQFNTk8YioTGF-zEIglyiMtq4I/s1600/bee+removal+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34ZAUr7Bb8-0WNpj0eIrJhbSCWQ8fyFgGBtQ7lgti8xysYn4iBP1d-VEA7HhorKLjdz76QPuXF6xWXtIYtpLvE7lGZ1IactqF3wGTvnYMyTjR34YHFSQFNTk8YioTGF-zEIglyiMtq4I/s320/bee+removal+4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ3CV6p6RdA6dgtM2JXQE2SpZnlg5AEpnV0xQ2OhBbO8caalmF1Q4CBh27vcJJ4rTgd2bTBFXPDdooTeeHAewy9wPs4tZ4Rbcl-TaprcZkmjSufxnhKp614pK2Xl2IkiaUkWqToYTuoc/s1600/bee+removal+2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ3CV6p6RdA6dgtM2JXQE2SpZnlg5AEpnV0xQ2OhBbO8caalmF1Q4CBh27vcJJ4rTgd2bTBFXPDdooTeeHAewy9wPs4tZ4Rbcl-TaprcZkmjSufxnhKp614pK2Xl2IkiaUkWqToYTuoc/s320/bee+removal+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjgjgK_fUnNo0bBvn8VV-Zqolxugq0S0rcCM5_f5nf9sgRQ6tr9YQ1VeOLqiPRvvD9nm8kTmMkb9HtnxYOq6qlywz4Ruz3veyFDguP-zF-38Ra_k5ZtqGpL5H9NmVBDKNqGKQeUuhiac/s1600/DSC01378.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjgjgK_fUnNo0bBvn8VV-Zqolxugq0S0rcCM5_f5nf9sgRQ6tr9YQ1VeOLqiPRvvD9nm8kTmMkb9HtnxYOq6qlywz4Ruz3veyFDguP-zF-38Ra_k5ZtqGpL5H9NmVBDKNqGKQeUuhiac/s320/DSC01378.JPG" /></a></div>
The new hive going into its new place. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzDluhhcOVQVfN6HraLaPO4todQg0kfPg44e5UERIR_BDc0wSMMwV3QrrEyQdtX1qmDMwsIiSSMlGKMtDwScfKvVHYpRT65dJUPbbJWYT1AOQ-nWlTyQMbRZ6naxMnb943vdtFsKSAhU/s1600/DSC01379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzDluhhcOVQVfN6HraLaPO4todQg0kfPg44e5UERIR_BDc0wSMMwV3QrrEyQdtX1qmDMwsIiSSMlGKMtDwScfKvVHYpRT65dJUPbbJWYT1AOQ-nWlTyQMbRZ6naxMnb943vdtFsKSAhU/s320/DSC01379.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Honey comb which I was allowed to keep. The rest went into the new hive.</div>
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-53826112630355948312013-11-07T23:27:00.000-08:002013-11-07T23:27:27.250-08:00Down the garden path<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmViOOkfDzGbrFSbYhIZtumIxCualxn9g0Ii6XbCfruqi88tNS4Gz5uHoL4zXUC5aU06HgVJh6qOd1gREKeRS-xbbpG2JHo9YgPY7U5LdD5su9n3jQ3BSimB0ob1k4TkGrzaby_X_07A/s1600/DSC01355.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmViOOkfDzGbrFSbYhIZtumIxCualxn9g0Ii6XbCfruqi88tNS4Gz5uHoL4zXUC5aU06HgVJh6qOd1gREKeRS-xbbpG2JHo9YgPY7U5LdD5su9n3jQ3BSimB0ob1k4TkGrzaby_X_07A/s320/DSC01355.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">
Spring is a time of lush abundance and here in Cape Town, getting some rain at this time of year is such a bonus. My tanks are full and give me 6000 litres of water for the dry months. I walk around the garden in awe. Hypericum, Verbena and Chamomile are rocketing with spring energy and forming a dense woodland atmosphere. Over the arch a banksia rose glows in delicate yellow and sends showers of petals like confetti over the pathway.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqVB3N6_W44J0akySNpID98ivV9updXj_bzwVO6L5U-RQYQLL-KR2JcnNBzZEOq8CUWsoMtrK4ZZtQWCW1QsYX0MMlaohHEg840xXVapeWDXJJuTAkd_p5XgPIrSM5UFavqpzNf77qxc/s1600/DSC01351.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqVB3N6_W44J0akySNpID98ivV9updXj_bzwVO6L5U-RQYQLL-KR2JcnNBzZEOq8CUWsoMtrK4ZZtQWCW1QsYX0MMlaohHEg840xXVapeWDXJJuTAkd_p5XgPIrSM5UFavqpzNf77qxc/s320/DSC01351.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">
It isn't always as cool as this at this time of year, so walking down the path feels a bit like being in England, with a cloudy sky above and a deep shady green all around. Shepherd's purse, Chelidonium and Marrubium abound. They love my garden and their babies are everywhere.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpK2qkahnzBnW20b1TNPOnBcay9if-z9fhCjN2HGDBuEvaLmXnmMHIjAIpa0TN0eg2aRBNFtvwwctYg_s7C3iY_bLczRhH7DOsk7S3UoboL8JOX_ijCnIESrhigkUkIpTvU7n-wioZtvE/s1600/DSC01346.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpK2qkahnzBnW20b1TNPOnBcay9if-z9fhCjN2HGDBuEvaLmXnmMHIjAIpa0TN0eg2aRBNFtvwwctYg_s7C3iY_bLczRhH7DOsk7S3UoboL8JOX_ijCnIESrhigkUkIpTvU7n-wioZtvE/s320/DSC01346.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">
Feverfew has self seeded so much that one can hardly see some of the paths in the bee garden. I like to leave things as they are and have to step carefully over trailing Rue (as it gives me a rash if I touch it) and cascading Geraniums. The scents are subtle but heavenly. The leaves of my showy Vitex tree have just as wonderful a scent as the berries. The Hawthorn tree is a beautiful green with florets of buds just waiting to open. The apple tree is full of blossoms.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5dsMbYgLPIasPWBmUTe3xHYUCg4thxhNEjp5u6dAglZGpRQQ0I03zfGqG8gwMOh_BAPQDATJgezobF8MljQ3lw4bhQlI_Rq4D8TQ2QFCixWTwvsntP1jlVwREumWkv7gFsHPm7Dxglk/s1600/DSC01345.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5dsMbYgLPIasPWBmUTe3xHYUCg4thxhNEjp5u6dAglZGpRQQ0I03zfGqG8gwMOh_BAPQDATJgezobF8MljQ3lw4bhQlI_Rq4D8TQ2QFCixWTwvsntP1jlVwREumWkv7gFsHPm7Dxglk/s320/DSC01345.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">
What a joy to wander down one's own garden path, to breathe deeply and absorb the peaceful atmosphere. I am truly grateful for this abundance, for the quince blossoms, the aroma of fig leaves, and above all the splendid glory of the roses.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpuljWwjXN9nv6M9RgHF-F0Zy5vcuGnhj-sJcNtRpyPlR6OzdO91zMVpP0416_BSSCqvJGnGbQslFTspS01FkIc5cub-tFycdii6cwRcAOZrxybCXvhIUJLxC0wcIhnrCbNb2pPUhCBQ/s1600/DSC01338.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpuljWwjXN9nv6M9RgHF-F0Zy5vcuGnhj-sJcNtRpyPlR6OzdO91zMVpP0416_BSSCqvJGnGbQslFTspS01FkIc5cub-tFycdii6cwRcAOZrxybCXvhIUJLxC0wcIhnrCbNb2pPUhCBQ/s320/DSC01338.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">
Thank you for sharing this little walk with me. I get a lot of inspiration from other people who love their gardens, and hope that I can do a bit of that myself. </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE7u0UI5rNSB6WlpoX5ifXVYJ-0cqHed_AlTHvxJfQ6C_48JbR8HbZhXM1INbm5MvpREy69mt15JuafF_e0BbtXUbjEtu5ZSotag5X-iZzCnbKcHvpx26cMoa9uWCC5x6CHQRmtuicjs/s1600/DSC01333.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE7u0UI5rNSB6WlpoX5ifXVYJ-0cqHed_AlTHvxJfQ6C_48JbR8HbZhXM1INbm5MvpREy69mt15JuafF_e0BbtXUbjEtu5ZSotag5X-iZzCnbKcHvpx26cMoa9uWCC5x6CHQRmtuicjs/s320/DSC01333.JPG" /></a> </div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
Have a wonderful day in your garden.</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-31886048837591280092013-10-28T06:54:00.000-07:002013-10-28T06:54:37.722-07:00A tortoise in the veggie patch At one stage my veggie patch was more like a veggie jungle with so much chickweed and stinging nettle. It took quite a bit of sweat to make it look presentable and to reveal the vegetables that had thrived during the winter and our very wet spring. The weather was ideal for seedlings as warm days were followed by copious rain, and even seeds that I sowed directly into the soil, germinated and have grown nicely as can be seen in the picture of purple Kohlrabi below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdFivRsbKLjvSUI_7Z8XVhvcuPszWt_sbUM8dvvdK4FvFOaE-Jt9Ua6czhW4aERYhGnX_4Jrkjh3dgK96KalXxY2_fBThoxA9A676LawwwMeWs93rxisHOF7KZULcNIjK8nMmcPdaqMo/s1600/DSC01320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdFivRsbKLjvSUI_7Z8XVhvcuPszWt_sbUM8dvvdK4FvFOaE-Jt9Ua6czhW4aERYhGnX_4Jrkjh3dgK96KalXxY2_fBThoxA9A676LawwwMeWs93rxisHOF7KZULcNIjK8nMmcPdaqMo/s320/DSC01320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Kohlrabi growing nicely</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yyiNBqsWq4sI4fPDXx29bjg5TBLhZSjRRt_V6BBx6FzdaV5yZOdnkHJtzL6vEaYok9XgAmFJyDGx5pxIzKDMNRN7UQZqdfIU-xxhvg_-uTNp3jKNQAdgubKmlgg4wWikvm7A6GhMKAA/s1600/DSC01319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yyiNBqsWq4sI4fPDXx29bjg5TBLhZSjRRt_V6BBx6FzdaV5yZOdnkHJtzL6vEaYok9XgAmFJyDGx5pxIzKDMNRN7UQZqdfIU-xxhvg_-uTNp3jKNQAdgubKmlgg4wWikvm7A6GhMKAA/s320/DSC01319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Chickweed is a herbalist's dream herb for skin conditions, especially itchy skin. It also is reputed to have fat dissolving properties and I've always wanted to test this out on my dog's lipoma. However the timing of chickweed's appearance in such monstrous, strangling abundance is totally at odds with my attack on the weed jungle, especially when the sun is scorching my neck! So the chickweed lands up in my green bin where it rots to make a wonderful compost tea, together with all the other lush greens that get pulled out at this time of year. It really is frustrating, but there's only so much a person can do!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEDI1VxT8baUWGmItptuMW0GlU1V-G04GoVK5ABuIrlK9knFSuoP4anuk09WHYyCF_T_JvsbUNqW8HOs5B6Z2wAJOrPgFmcuA9VzyXTO1rZz7vudvxmhgJL8wS9d17c_yJPt5zu-BiYE/s1600/DSC01321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEDI1VxT8baUWGmItptuMW0GlU1V-G04GoVK5ABuIrlK9knFSuoP4anuk09WHYyCF_T_JvsbUNqW8HOs5B6Z2wAJOrPgFmcuA9VzyXTO1rZz7vudvxmhgJL8wS9d17c_yJPt5zu-BiYE/s320/DSC01321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Strawberries in pots and one dog trespassing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD8JjwSPc1aWw54M37JMgpMEF3mj-PB-jfRwZSItTXrZ7p5Jb-tnKzO82AHYC3R50Sna8pSiozHRcRZpnFrbc0IrOz6WKhQsjgUgdvL2RLQMccpjC9KpmhzGdFir10g54Wlp2Pd2cHXw/s1600/DSC01322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD8JjwSPc1aWw54M37JMgpMEF3mj-PB-jfRwZSItTXrZ7p5Jb-tnKzO82AHYC3R50Sna8pSiozHRcRZpnFrbc0IrOz6WKhQsjgUgdvL2RLQMccpjC9KpmhzGdFir10g54Wlp2Pd2cHXw/s320/DSC01322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
In June I planted a whole lot of potatoes that had sprouted so much they looked like hedgehogs. They came up with alacrity and I harvested quite a few kilograms of beautiful potatoes in September. Now I have sown maize in that spot - purple maize that I bought from Gravel Garden (Non GM as it is heirloom seed). I got it at the Oranjezicht Urban Farm where they have a market on Saturday mornings. That place is fabulous and well worth a visit. It is so inspiring. You can follow them on Facebook.<br />
<br />
In the veggie patch I have so much growing, but it is all a bit haphazard, not in very neat rows, although I do try! At the moment the broccoli and the tomatoes are in neat rows, but cutworm are attacking my broccoli so the rows are getting shorter. Today I will put toilet paper roll collars around the stems - that usually helps. Also things do tend to self-seed, and land in the rows, so what starts out as a row of one vegetable, ends up having rocket or chicory growing in between. <br />
<br />
So right now broad beans are ready to pick, peas (entwined round the broad beans) are coming on nicely, garlic is swelling, and the odd strawberry lands in my mouth. So nice to eat an organically grown strawberry!! I am put off buying strawberries because of the amount of spraying they get. I also have youngberries in bloom, and have planted a grapevine. It would be nice to report that I can eat some grapes from it in the future!<br />
<br />
And somewhere in the jungle is a tortoise. How it came to be in my garden is a mystery (the dogs discovered it). The only place where it is safe from the dogs is in the veggie patch. I suspect it does a bit of damage here and there, but not enough for me to banish it.HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-37796884209251047562013-07-03T06:23:00.002-07:002013-07-03T06:26:25.110-07:00Insect world- making your garden insect friendly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39mKGhtEM9K5I1rRtrtWkeaG_wllyu_C8CjMdtUDKbyhxMHTCiwBY_D_eOv97MY01B427iy4M8nRTV5CW0Gbzt-68UE4bboT3fxi9CK1ajweVESYhYp8uy2XmamK-oIZ6uuUt14DQoXk/s1600/DSC00223.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39mKGhtEM9K5I1rRtrtWkeaG_wllyu_C8CjMdtUDKbyhxMHTCiwBY_D_eOv97MY01B427iy4M8nRTV5CW0Gbzt-68UE4bboT3fxi9CK1ajweVESYhYp8uy2XmamK-oIZ6uuUt14DQoXk/s320/DSC00223.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Insects are an extremely important part of our ecosystem. Where insects are in balance they should pretty much sort themselves out, some eating others, and some being eaten by birds, frogs, chameleons and bats. Unfortunately using insecticides has created massive imbalances and it has made it very difficult to grow fruits and vegetables organically these days, whereas as little as 100 years ago it was the norm.<br />
<br />
I have tried to make my garden insect friendly, and apart from ants and millipedes, which live here in their thousands, insects are most welcome to enjoy the flowers. Insects are very valuable pollinators, and it is interesting to see that bees are not the only ones buzzing in the flowers, but many other species. In order to attract insects to your garden, you need to have plants that attract them, nesting places, such as bits of wood, piles of leaves etc, water and a <em><strong>no insecticide policy.</strong></em><br />
<br />
In my garden there are several water sources, one in each section of the garden. These double up as bird baths and drinking water for pets.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMcZYy5bBEWKFar33gJFu6ztM3LZQRhk2nvEJlF2Lx9YVjQHvK1XO-Q0xT8GttlYejeo3SAeRLIhhtTCDPhYapzJ57oe6G51MqZDhY3HAgwjikAmOlbNJwTLqygj5xTdo1qvF8HulV4I/s1600/DSC00694.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMcZYy5bBEWKFar33gJFu6ztM3LZQRhk2nvEJlF2Lx9YVjQHvK1XO-Q0xT8GttlYejeo3SAeRLIhhtTCDPhYapzJ57oe6G51MqZDhY3HAgwjikAmOlbNJwTLqygj5xTdo1qvF8HulV4I/s320/DSC00694.JPG" /></a><br />
Various plants are extremely attractive to a multitude of insects, including the hummingbird moth, and a variety of bees. One of these is the ribbon bush, (Hypoestes aristata), which blooms in autumn and is absolutely alive with insects at that time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi047VVQxJNjnE017vi4r99who58UvjeYO-70r-uvlm-2G_exGl62weGU2DbhhRpF4_K2MuMTiD1b5EU_Da-QAWf7EZ3bA0xjAoaGjk61SyI3Y6UwqVr7HPF0aREhBA9BetOzzYVDTU0VI/s1600/DSC01116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi047VVQxJNjnE017vi4r99who58UvjeYO-70r-uvlm-2G_exGl62weGU2DbhhRpF4_K2MuMTiD1b5EU_Da-QAWf7EZ3bA0xjAoaGjk61SyI3Y6UwqVr7HPF0aREhBA9BetOzzYVDTU0VI/s320/DSC01116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hypoestes aristata</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: NONE;">
This shrub is like a weed, and self seeds prolifically. It prefers sun, but will tolerate shade and is drought tolerant. It needs severe cutting back after flowering.</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: NONE;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: NONE;">
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a> Bees having a drink</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeF8WljAaa01W1jZsrDCwPbCMF2eK7tBfUbo9O2crhHwYsRxTxLdk_n2hDfFECRAYtprrt64U4G_EXxi8DxM-O-RCqIyUNptTs-JAM6fWTthe0fCG9mw5gly_ihaTUpiEcx7zW-ejcAM/s1600/DSC01062.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeF8WljAaa01W1jZsrDCwPbCMF2eK7tBfUbo9O2crhHwYsRxTxLdk_n2hDfFECRAYtprrt64U4G_EXxi8DxM-O-RCqIyUNptTs-JAM6fWTthe0fCG9mw5gly_ihaTUpiEcx7zW-ejcAM/s320/DSC01062.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Don't disturb bees when they are drinking water, because they are liable to sting you, as I learned the hard way when adding water to the bird bath while they were there!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another shrub that is heaven for bees of all kinds, is the Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha). It also attracts the sun bird</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-qqfmZqR65gLhuZRFdEYmrTeA_OQgfNwbg5T2nXkz-3gxLxzO-F2DLHGhsyrEAlXsHcSoU2md2-ClamCvkQSJU0VPCA1MkBDwo7PksqWigqG9gv5G036B23fKCdH3ZxIw0c8eF7HQfo/s1600/DSCF0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-qqfmZqR65gLhuZRFdEYmrTeA_OQgfNwbg5T2nXkz-3gxLxzO-F2DLHGhsyrEAlXsHcSoU2md2-ClamCvkQSJU0VPCA1MkBDwo7PksqWigqG9gv5G036B23fKCdH3ZxIw0c8eF7HQfo/s320/DSCF0225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Salvia leucantha</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This shrub blooms at least twice a year, and is simply stunning. It prefers sun, will grow in the shade, but won't flower as profusely. I have it planted in clumps and mine bloomed for 3 months - the entire autumn. Everyone who came to my practice commented on it - it was like a gift of glorious purple.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It needs to be cut back very severely after flowering, and can be divided very easily. I have divided mine, and planted the divisions so that it will form a hedge down the side of the garden. I expect a mass of purple next season!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Insects like a garden that is not too tidy. There must be plenty of places for them to have nests and hiding places. There are quite a few sites online where you can get ideas to make insect breeding stations of various sorts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The bees in my owl box are still happy, and one can clearly see the layers of comb now. How I would like to have some honey!</div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-50588753154735829522013-05-17T01:42:00.003-07:002013-05-22T01:37:49.801-07:00Flower essence of poppy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbbrWIu9FW8x1u51waNOlB9_RtSb3sB_tMoa3P4bZtRkkgJG421fosqUgyanBWrO250vI4xD8fgie_RHHasQdlP-uT-tSvANJsNuJBMVG-3aMu7bf5Golx1R3RZEEaIyspvIzZgK5XoI/s1600/DSC03524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbbrWIu9FW8x1u51waNOlB9_RtSb3sB_tMoa3P4bZtRkkgJG421fosqUgyanBWrO250vI4xD8fgie_RHHasQdlP-uT-tSvANJsNuJBMVG-3aMu7bf5Golx1R3RZEEaIyspvIzZgK5XoI/s320/DSC03524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>My experiment with essence of poppy</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flowers essences are not new. In the 1930's Dr Edward Bach made flower essences, which are still made today, and many countries have flower essences of their native flowers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I was offered the chance to try a flower essence of my choice from the Institute of Phytobiophysics, and to write a review. Normally I prefer not to use my blog as a commercial site, but decided to share my experience after all.</span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was only after I had chosen the flower essence of poppy that I received the pamphlet
which suggested choosing the flower essence that matches an area of weak
energy, which is defined by a colour. Poppy (being red) was represented by the
colon and urogenital area, not an area of concern to me. I had originally chosen it for “life blood” because
my heart is my weak point, as I suffer from rather alarming arrhythmias. So in effect I had made a mistake in my choice based on not reading the instructions properly! Nevertheless, it felt like the right choice.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the first two weeks it was probably too soon to see any
change in myself. I’m not the sort of person to believe too much in placebo
effects in myself, so I noted things like mood and quality of sleep, and these
fluctuated greatly, so I couldn’t pinpoint anything specific. I noted a day of
extreme energy, but then came down with a slight cold, which often happens – extreme
energy followed by feeling “off”. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After taking the pilules 3 x daily for several weeks I felt
very well. It could have been my imagination, but I did feel that my energy
levels were vastly improved. I was more motivated to do things and was getting
them done. The weather had been cooler which could also have something to do
with it. It may have been a coincidence, but I thought that my heart had been
really calm for a long time. But then recently
it flared up again, for no obvious reason.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> For me the best thing was feeling very motivated,
but this did coincide with a very busy spell in the practice with interesting
new cases, which in itself is very uplifting. I have stopped the pilules for about
a week now, to see whether I feel different, and I definitely have felt flat,
but now am too busy to feel anything but charged. I am planning to take the
pilules again from next week to see whether this changes.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All in all a very interesting experiment. Have a look at the
website <a href="http://www.mossopnaturalremedies.com/">www.mossopnaturalremedies.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you'd like to know more about poppy: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div>
<a href="http://www.mossopnaturalremedies.com/shop/product/detail/phytobiophysics-flower-formula-18-poppy-1.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>mossopnaturalremedies.com/<wbr></wbr>shop/product/detail/<wbr></wbr>phytobiophysics-flower-<wbr></wbr>formula-18-poppy-1.aspx</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328709609082605582.post-61923744796242995202013-05-07T01:21:00.001-07:002013-05-07T01:21:33.222-07:00More stories of RubyRuby will be one year old on the 18th May. She is still as naughty as ever. I won't go into the details of what has been wrecked in my house - these things teach one not to be so materialistic! Suffice it to say that new furniture is not in my budget!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfcAfU599QDqLdcopNoznWcOGniBuo3oiyJPAyt7oilk8Rfal3WFDkphjNtAm0UCMPBfQaYKzukbNZ4P4huYc8poGadXqfDB26O85yV2mWYodkqQKJFFWk6EqYOx87SolaQi_jXz1pZs/s1600/DSC01081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfcAfU599QDqLdcopNoznWcOGniBuo3oiyJPAyt7oilk8Rfal3WFDkphjNtAm0UCMPBfQaYKzukbNZ4P4huYc8poGadXqfDB26O85yV2mWYodkqQKJFFWk6EqYOx87SolaQi_jXz1pZs/s320/DSC01081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
What I love about her is her spirit, although it is maddening to have her nose right under the spade as I am digging, and when she gleefully sprints through the open gate into the road with absolutely no idea that it could be her last move on this earth, I almost have a heart attack.<br />
Recently she jumped over the wall into my neighbour's garden in pursuit of a dove. (This neighbour's house is in another street.) Unfortunately for her the wall is higher on my neighbour's side, so she couldn't get back. It took her seconds to realise this and by the time I walked through the house to go and fetch her, she was panting at the front gate - a distance of at least 500m done at the speed of light. She hasn't tried that again!<br />
<br />
But the funniest thing about Ruby is her appetite! It is insatiable and she'll eat anything. So many meals of mine have disappeared in a moment of distraction, and items of food put down for a moment are gone when I turn around. This season of harvests has caused quite a few issues. Firstly the olives. Who would believe that a dog would love olives off the tree, as bitter as they are? No problem for Ruby who gobbles them up as they drop off. Later I have to deal with the vomit. All my dogs like olives once they have been cured, but not when they are still bitter!<br />
<br />
When I open the back door in the morning, I have to make sure Ruby is safely inside while I quickly pick up all the guavas that have fallen off the tree in the night. She will happily wolf the lot. If she tucks into guavas later in the day, (as they fall off throughout the day), she'll wake me in the middle of the night to go out. So I haven't had a good night's sleep for a while.......<br />
<br />
And then yesterday while I was harvesting the hawthorn berries, she decided to have a taste too. It was a struggle to get to the bunches of berries before she did, as they fall down when I cut them, and I have to get down the ladder!<br />
<br />
When we go for walks all the dogs get to stop at gardens where eugenia cherries lie on the ground. They love them and eat quite a few before we move on. And when they hear me chopping vegetables they cluster round hoping for some broccoli stalk or cabbage stalk. Ruby doesn't reject anything, while the other two are more selective. The other day some raw onion slices landed on the floor. I read that this is really bad for dogs. But before I could pick them up Ruby had hoovered them up and was happily crunching away.<br />
<br />
Most of my friends have heard the story of the cookies. I had prepared a batch of 60 rustic cookies (the recipe is somewhere in this blog), all cut out and ready to bake. The doorbell rang and ..........<br />
Ruby pulled the baking paper with all the cookies onto the floor and wolfed the lot. You could hear my wails for miles. Luckily she digested it very well.<br />
<br />
Punnets of tomatoes, bags of nuts, peppermints, a (plastic) bottle of olive oil, cream cheese, yoghurt, you name it, all have been stolen and eaten if I'm careless. It's an expensive business!!<br />
HerbRealmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02002025387815064892noreply@blogger.com1