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Archive for the ‘The Garden’ Category
It is that time of the year here in the Northeast when many gardeners are itching to get their hands in some dirt. Most of us by now have probably viewed through several seed catalogs, and have all sorts of gardening ideas and projects running though our minds, just waiting patiently for winter to be over, and spring to arrive.
I have been growing all of our herbs that we use in our goats milk soap from seed, such as Lavender, Rosemary, Calendula, Mint, and so forth, and have purchased seeds from several different seed companies, which there are some really good companies out there that offer great quality seeds, and one of them is the Botanical Interest seed company. I do not limit my seed purchase to just the herbs that we use in our soaps, but grow all our vegetables from seed as well from Botanical Interest.
When I had started growing from seed I had no prior experience and really had no idea what I was doing, or what to expect. I was turned on to Botanical Interest at first, because they were very informative, I was so new to growing from seed I needed lots of information. There seed packets themselves are loaded with valuable information on the outside and inside of the packet as well, that guide you with every bit of information you need to know to successfully sow that seed. They actually have an artist paint pictures of the plants rather that use photos on the seed packets, which to me expressed their attention to detail, and love and passion they have in what they do, and that is provide only the best quality seeds, and to inspire and educate others to create beautiful gardens.
Botanical Interest offers over 500 seed varieties that are untreated, using no GMOs and have signed the Safe Seed Pledge. They offer a large selection of certified organic verities and have a guaranteed germination rate. You can also sign up for their free newsletter and visit there Blog and constantly learn new tips of the trade and get engaged in the gardening conversation.
I am very pleased to have found Botanical Interest and have had much success with their seeds, and I am confident you will too. Check out their site and click on the about us page and you can take a virtual tour of their factory and learn even more of this great company.
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The Loofah sponge surprisingly is the one sponge that does not come from the ocean, and can be easily grown in the garden. This is a Mediterranean native that requires a warm and long growing season. If you live in a shorter growing season such as New York, it is best to start your seeds inside to get a head start then transplant them to the garden. This gourd grows on a vine at lengths of up to 30 feet, so be sure to have a fence, trellis or garden tee-pee for it to grow on. The loofah is a gourd that makes the wonderful loofah sponge which is commonly used for skin exfoliation. We mold our soaps into the loofah sponge creating a loofah filled goat’s milk soap bar. These soap bars are wonderful for skin exfoliation and when the soap has depleted you can simply wash your sponge out with vinegar and water, and get several more months use from the sponge.
To prepare the sponge to be molded with soap, the sponge must be cleaned and dried out. When the sponge is dry we cut the middle section out, kind of like the core of an apple, this section is harder than the rest of the sponge and is great for leaving at the kitchen sink for scrubbing those really nasty pots and pans. After we cut the middle section out, we then take the sponge and seal off the end and sides with either a plastic bag or plastic wrap leaving one end open to pour in the soap, then seal and let sit for 24 hours. After the insulation the plastic comes off and the sponge soap bar then sits for 4- 6 weeks to cure. After the soap has cured we then slice the bar in half, and now the Loofah soap bar is ready to be used.
Loofa sponges! The sponge that comes from the ground, not the sea.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
posted by Barbara 7:00 AM
Our Loofa harvest has begun. This year we have planted much more loofa gourds in the garden than last year. My son Robby started the seeds in his greenhouse to get an earlier start in hope to have a healthier and larger harvest for making sponges. Making your own loofa sponges is a lot of fun, but very time consuming. These make excellent gifts, and with the holiday season just around the corner we want to be sure that we do not fall behind.
The first couple of frost has paid us a visit, and our vines are completely dead. Last year we were able to get some nice sponges, however I believe we picked the loofa’s too early. So this year we are waiting for the skin (the outer shell) to turn completely brown. I have read that this will make pealing the skin much easier. When the gourds have reached this stage, the skin should crack and crumble with a firm squeeze. Once the skin is removed we clean all the substance inside. Cut both ends of the gourd and, I find it is easier to cut the gourd in half for removing all the seeds and substance inside. You do this by running water through the gourd while squeezing it from the center to its ends repeatedly until all the substance is gone. Now that you have the loofa cleaned out all you need to do is place it in an area to dry for a day or two. If you want a lighter color, you can soak the sponge in warm water with a little bleach for 5 minutes.
Although making loofa sponges can be a messy and a time consuming project; it is well worth it. When you are finished, you end up with a beautiful product that you, or the one in whom you choose to gift to, a very natural sponge to exfoliate those dead skin cells. Or perhaps you may want to reserve one for the kitchen sink to scrub out those dirty pots and pans. Another great application for using natural loofa is to use them in a natural sponge soap bar. This is when the soap is actually molded into the sponge; you get the sponge and soap all in one.
Did you know that one of the best cures for Poison Ivy comes from a plant that most likely grows wild not too far from your home; if you live in any Eastern part of North America? This plant is Jewelweed, and has become very popular among homemade soap makers as an ingredient in making homemade soaps for treating poison ivy.
Jewelweed is not just for soap makers, but for anyone who has encountered Poison Ivy, Stinging Nettles, Poison Oak, and or any other rash inducing plants. The plant is found in moist wooded areas, and along creek beds. It grows 3 to 5 feet tall, has a bamboo like stalk, and blooms both yellow and orange. The yellow Jewel weed is called Pale Jewelweed and the orange is called Spotted Jewelweed. Jewelweed is also referred to as “touch me not’s” for if you so slightly touch the seed pods they pop!
The orange Jewelweed is known to have more medicinal value than the yellow, however the yellow is also know to effectively treat Poison Ivy. In the field to treat Poison Ivy, simply take the stalk and slice it open, or mash it up until the oils inside the stalk comes out. Now take that and rub it on the infected area. You can also harvest the stalk and leaves and boil them in water for about 20 minutes until the water has turned an orange-like color. Note this will only work with the orange Jewelweed. After boiling strain the water out into ice cube trays. You can store these cubes in your freezer for up to one year to effectively treat Poison Ivy or relieve the burn of Stinging Nettles. To view more photos on Jewelweed and read an article my son has just recently written on Jewelweed click on this link.
The flowering herb Calendula has earned high recommedations for next years gardening!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
posted by Rob 11:33 PM
Fall is finally here and it’s that time of the year in the Northeast to close up the gardens and prepare for winter. I love the winter for many reasons; for one it is a great season of rest for me. I like to take advantage of this time to catch up on lots of reading and writing, and to plan for projects I would like to work on in early spring, when most of us are itching to get out of the house.
One of the my projects I like to work on during the winter is planning the next garden season, going through garden books and seed catalogs, and sketching out garden designs. I love to research and introduce new plant species to my gardens that will offer many practical uses. For example just a couple of years ago I planted the flowering herb calendula in the garden thinking rather than buy calendula petals to put in our handmade soaps which we were; why not grow our own. Well not only did this supply us with an abundance of calendula for our calendula orange soap bars, but were able to enjoy the deep orange and bright yellow bloom all season long right up into heavy frost.
I highly recommend introducing this flowering herb to your garden for next year. Not only will this plant bring beautiful color to your garden but can provide much medicinal, and culinary values to your life as well. We have experimented making infused oils and have even sprinkled some calendula petals on a few salads. You can also dry the calendula flower to make a delicious tea. If you do decide to plant this herb in your garden next year I am sure you will not be disappointed.