FOOD STORAGE

We all have various types of insurance to protect our families. You have probably have health insurance, car insurance, life insurance, and homeowners' insurance. There is no guarantee that you'll ever need these policies (hope you don't!). But you invest in them because you understand that should you ever need them, they will be invaluable. On the other hand, you know for a fact that your family will need to eat. How stable is your current food supply? How many months of food do you currently have stored? Food storage can be considered a form of insurance, and should be valued as highly as any of your other policies. And this policy is edible! Food storage as "insurance" is necessary because of the interdependencies built into our society. The food on your plate depends on all of the following working perfectly: * your bank * your job, health, and paycheck * your supermarket * the local delivery trucks and their warehouses * the manufacturer's shippers and the plant itself * the farmers and their harvesting equipment and delivery trucks * the crops themselves, and * the weather. If any one of these links breaks, your family will begin to notice it in a just few days, and will be seriously hungry very quickly after that. By storing food, you can guarantee food on the table for a year (or more). Without stored food, we are vulnerable to a break in any of these links. I have always kept a well stocked pantry; if I am truthful it is because I absolutely detest shopping, so to buy bulk and only have to venture into the stores once a month for the groceries was a blessing to me. Of course having recently moved means I can’t get the fruit from the backyard now (a couple of years yet before they are fruiting enough to can) so the trips for that and dairy produce continue. A basic food storage calculator HERE can be used to help determine how much of these staple foods a person would need to store in order to sustain life for one full year. In addition to storing the basic food items many people choose to supplement their food storage with frozen or preserved garden-grown fruits and vegetables and freeze-dried or canned produce. An unvarying diet of staples prepared in the same way can cause appetite exhaustion so it is said, personally I believe if you were starving you wouldn’t care how many times you had eaten it, you would simply be grateful for food. An additional benefit to having a basic supply of food storage in the home is for the cost savings. Costs of dry bulk foods (before preparation) are often considerably less than convenience and fresh foods purchased at local markets or supermarkets. Food is stored by almost every human society and by many animals. Storing of food has a variety of purposes: * preparation for periods of scarcity or famine * taking advantage of short term surplus of food as at harvest time * enabling a better balanced diet throughout the year * preparing for special events and celebrations * planning for catastrophe or emergency * saving money by buying in bulk * providing short season foods all year round by canning or dehydrating And of course there are many more reasons why you would have a well stocked pantry; the reasons are as individual as the people who maintain them. Always make sure you keep a list of foods removed, you need to ensure you replace them in due time. Make sure you rotate your pantry or you will end up with food that will need to be disposed of. I keep a black marker pen in my pantry, I mark anything that has a use by date too small to see at a glance with a larger more legible date and I store new goodies to the back always using from the front first. Keep bay leaves and lavender throughout the pantry. I find they keep all the pests away. When bringing home rices etc, store it in the freezer for a few days first, if there are any larvae in there it will kill them. Store your soaps unwrapped. The drying out over time will ensure they last longer. I keep mine in a large plastic tub with small ventilation holes in the lid. Mark all the foods you have canned or dehydrated very clearly and rotate as you do for all other stock. Make sure your pantry (ours is a spare bedroom) is dark and cool. We blocked the window completely with white foam, bubble wrap, roller blind and curtains and then placed large wardrobes we store linen in right in the front of the window. The outside will later have shade cloth added over the whole side area. Store dehydrated and/or freeze dried foods as well as home canned and “store bought” canned goods. Make sure you add cooking oil, flours (if you don’t plan on grinding your own wheat) shortening, baking powder, soda, yeast, and powdered eggs (if you don’t have your own chooks). You can’t cook even the most basic recipes without these items. Vitamins are important, especially if you have children, since children do not store body reserves of nutrients as well as adults do. A good quality multi-vitamin and vitamin C are the most vital. Others might be added as your budget permits.

And the MOST IM0PORTANT RULE OF ALL: Store what you eat and eat what you store.

For food storage questions & answers see HERE For food storage recipes see HERE Hope your week is going well!

Take care of you and yours......and the planet:)

OLD POST TOP UP

A few weeks ago I did a post on recycling your old supermarket jars for canning all for a small cost of new canning lids available from GREEN LIVING AUSTRALIA David the owner kindly stopped by with some more information on what you need to consider, you can read his comments HERE. For those Aussies that preserve (or bottle as my grandmother called it) you can find lids to fit the jars at Green Living at an excellent price. Thanks for visiting David:)

THE WARMER WEATHER HAS ARRIVED

For a long weekend (for us "westies") the weather here has been magnificient. Sun shining, soft breezes....all one could wish for on time off:) Of course time off in the garden is called for at every opportunity, and today is no different, I was out there by 7am wandering around. I am amazed how quickly everything has come to flower with a few warm days. The orange tree will certainly provide a few fruits this year, the flowers smell divine too! Now this is what happens when you move into a new house and you plant like some raving lunatic and don't label them.....mystery seedlings LOL! From memory I planted sugar baby watermelons and butternut pumpkins in this area...so it's one of those! Now you know why in most photos you see the yellow markers, I can never remember what I have put there due to constant plantings! The Mariposa Plum too is putting out some beautiful flowers, however this year for all the fruits we planted most will have to be stripped, the trees are too young to fruit. According to my grandfather, who was an orchardist for many years, you should never let them fruit in the first two years, the trees will be stronger if you allow them a couple of years growth fruit free. I don't know if this still holds today however I will continue to practice it, I have always had very healthy trees when mature. We have four broody hens on the go! Because we only have bantams the chicks are the tiniest wee things, so adorable, can't wait till they all hatch. Bantams are the best mothers, protective to the end. This particular hen makes the weirdest noise if you attempt to get too close, she would have your hand if you put it anywhere near her lol. Daughters 21st was Saturday. She wanted a family luncheon, and of course I was more than happy to abide, beats the hell out of some of the booze ups I have seen around. We had the family, that's one large and very noisy group, and a couple of the daughters girlfriends and partner for lunch, the day was warm and the patio coped more than well with the large group, it was fun too to show some of the family around who hadn't seen this house since we moved in. This morning the kids were all off to the Royal Show for all that fun stuff we only remember doing in some distant past LMAO! Today it is time for some relaxation, lot's of gardening, some laying by the pond with a coffee and perhaps even a cat nap given tomorrow is a holiday! Hope your weekend is enjoyable too!

Take care of you and yours........and the planet:)

THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE...

Give me the greatest pleasures. Just seeing the pond structure completed is such a great feeling! In this pic you can see the waterfall. The pond is set up so we can have the fountain and the waterfall going or just one of them. I actually prefer the waterfall, the sound is softer and much more natural. Of course what pond would be complete without a couple of ornaments...ala frogs lol. Here's a larger view. We have much planting to do around and on it. The rocks are designed to both show little glimpses and to plant amongst, it will look gorgeous one everything is in and growing. The creatures we addded (minnows, water scorpions, fresh water shrimp and kunacks) all seem to be enjoying it. I throw a few dog pebbles in each day, just a couple until the natural system sets itself up to feed them. Now I need to search for water foods like the water chestnut, pretty as it is I'd like it to produce food too if possible:) And look at these pepinos, just about ready to eat, a couple more weeks and we will be tasting another new fruit. I have planted a couple of native hibiscus around the pond. They are wonderfully drought resistant and the flowers flush all over the bush for a couple of months, should add to the relaxing features. I am a great believer that whilst we are self sufficient and work hard on our foods, nature at its prettiest is food for the soul:) And the mushroom kits keep on producing. I have been drying those I don't use in our meals, I have enough now for a year all dried and ready for any soups and casseroles. Having said that the son loves them dried, they may vanish quicker than I think lol. Hope your week is a good one. Things will be quiet on the blog for a couple of days, we have daughters 21st luncheon to prep and get through.

Take care of you and yours......and the planet:)

SOMETIMES THERE ARE NO WORDS...

To describe the myriad of emotions that run through me when I look at where we are going and what we are still doing to the world around us...

Take care of you and yours.......and the planet:)

AUSSIES WORLDS "WORST POLLUTERS"

The report puts Australia at the top of the list when it comes to per capita C02 emissions.

A report by a British risk analysis company says Australians have overtaken Americans as the world's biggest carbon dioxide polluters.

The report relies on US Energy Department data to highlight the risks business would face in Australia under a global emissions trading scheme.

UK risk assessment company Maplecroft has puts Australia at the very top of the chart when it comes to per capita emissions of CO2.

Maplecroft finds Australia's heavy reliance on coal makes for an average output of 20.58 tonnes of C02 per person per year, compared to 19.78 tonnes in the USA.

China, which recently overtook the US as the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter overall, has a per capita average of about 4.5 tonnes per person.

The assessment illustrates how much work Australia will have to do if a global emissions reduction target is introduced. It also means Australia will have a more difficult time convincing developing countries to take responsibility for cutting emissions.

Awareness of "food miles" is something that will directly impact on countries which use coal-fired electricity.

The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is just months away.

Professor Barry Brook says the two different ways of deciding who the biggest polluter is will be the biggest stumbling block.

"So it's a bit of a political game like that. Australia has about five times the per capita emissions of China for instance but China produces over 20 times the carbon emissions of Australia because China has such a huge population," he said.

"So you can play around with these numbers all you want but ultimately what matters is the total global carbon budget and unless humanity as a whole can find solutions to that problem, then all of that petty bickering amongst nations about who's more or less responsible isn't really going to be very helpful."

We need to ask ourselves what we are doing daily to mitigate our footprint on mother earth.

Take care of yours.....and the planet

PAY IT FORWARD GOES TO:

I nearly forgot! DixieBelle won the draw from the hat, CONGRATS Dixie, please send me your address via email ( mollyatwndotcomdotau) and I will send it out before the weekend.

RECYCLING AT ITS BEST...

It's the ultimate in recycling. Take some wood ashes from the fireplace, add a little of your own urine and spread it around your tomato plants. You may get a blockbuster crop. Scientists in Finland have found that wood ash and human urine perform just as well as more expensive mineral fertilizers, at least for some crops, such as tomato plants. They found that wood ash and human urine perform just as well as more expensive mineral fertilizers, at least for some crops, while doing less damage to the environment. The combination is rich in nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The researchers raised a healthy crop of tomatoes in a carefully controlled series of laboratory experiments. Other research has shown that human urine is an effective substitute for synthetic fertilizers, at least for cucumbers, corn, cabbage, wheat and tomatoes. Ash has also been shown to be useful in agriculture. But the Fins say they are the first ones to combine urine with wood ash, and plants treated with that substitute performed four times as well as unfertilized plants and left the soil less acidic. The scientists insist it's safe and doesn't pose "any microbial or chemical risks." "Urine from a single human individual could fertilize some 6,300 tomato plants, which could produce 2.41 tons of tomato fruits" in just one season, the study notes. One reason people may not want to try this at home is human urine can carry pathogens if the donor is severely infected. "But most pathogens can be inhibited or killed if the urine is stored for one to two months," Prahan said. Urine contains urea, which turns into ammonia in a few hours or days, which kills pathogens, Prahan added. Urine was collected from several "eco-toilets in private homes," the study says, and stored for about six months while the researchers analysed its "microbiological properties." No harmful substances were found. During the growing period the plants that received commercial fertilizer and those that got the urine and ash performed about the same, substantially higher than the ones that got only urine, and four times greater than the unfertilized plants. But the plants that got only urine had” significantly higher" protein content, leading the researchers to conclude that either urine with ash, or plain urine, would work much better than no fertilizer at all. And it's cheap. It's probably not a good idea to dash out to the greenhouse after too much coffee and administer the treatment directly. Urine needs time to naturally immobilize any pathogens, so store it in a jar or suitable container for at least a couple of months And don't spray it directly on the plants because it could burn them. Instead, rake it into the soil. Then, one of these days, bite into a plump tomato and it will all come back to you. Now that's recycling. What better way than using natures own to give back to nature, beats the hell out of the environmental mess oil based/produced fertilisers cause! A new project, I have spare containers just right for the storage, now to convince the rest of the family to "save" LOL!

Take care of you and yours....and the planet:)

FROM THE GARDEN.......

This week saw a lot of planting going on for both the herb and veggie gardens. I love this time of the year, there is always such a variety to plant. Even better is knowing you will soon be ready to pick and store for the next 12 months! I am trying 3 types of tomatoes this year, just to see which gels best with our soil, although I suspect all 3 will do well, the soil here is amazing. I finally found some echinacea seeds, and some chamomile, I am dying to get my first crop from those, a few teas and tinctures to be made! I am trying a totally different lettuce this year. The buttercrunch is supposed to one of the nicest lettuces there are for all round salad use. We started on the waterfall on the pond today. Also finished the paving along one side. This is all paving slabs to create a walkway between the pond and the flower box at the end of the patio....I am tossing up whether to put a bench seat there or not. Daughter & partner are bringing me water scorpions, water beetles, fresh water shrimp, kunacks and other wee water creatures home this weekend from her partners property, I am hoping everything will not only survive but thrive. Remember I planted 3 gorgeous Panama Red Passionfruit along the fence on one side of the yard? Well the ***** caterpillars have been having a ball with the leaves, stripped them bare....so war has been declared! Take a couple of onions, , litre of water, a couple of garlic cloves and a good handful of chillies with a generous splash of oil and simmer for a couple of hours. Strain and dilute 1 part mix to 5 parts water and spray over plants, will keep everything in sight away I am told......will let you know who wins round one LOL. We also got stuck into the herb garden. Most of the herbs I want are now in, there are a few left to get, however they are on order so it's a case of waiting. The pea straw will provide shade for the roots and keep the moisture in, and lets face it, with our summer temperatures, the plants need all the help they can get. In additon to all this the peas that come up will provide nitrogen to the soil, before I pull them up and give them to the chooks...win win! Hubby has started working Sundays again, so tomorrow I am out doing the odd plantings where I can around the pond and cleaning out the chook pen. Next weekend its more of the same, chooks pen & pond...long projects but worth every minute of our time in the long term.

Hope your weekend is going well:)

RECYCLE, RE-USE, RE-PURPOSE

Now I don't know about you, but I have plastic tubs full of glass jars with lids. The trouble is, if I want to do any preserving those jars are no good to me for water bath canning, the lids cannot be used safely. Well, I have found the answer if you are in Aussie, HERE Absolutely wonderful! All those jars can now be utilised by simply buying the lids, and the prices are way below what one would expect! We get the jars out of storage and into production and we reduce our footprint in a big way, no more buying vacola! Funny how the simple things in life can bring so much joy :)

Happy canning!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Don't you just love spring? Everything around us is shooting new growth. Not that it will do us much good this year, everything is far too young to bare, however I know that growth is working towards next year and the possibilities of just a little as it grows :) This is the young fig we transported when we sold and bought this home. It hasn't looked back despite being stuck in an ice-cream tub for the first 8 or so weeks lol. All the berries are doing well, new growth there too. If the vines at the old house are any indication, we just may get a little fruit from these this year. I am still waiting for my elderberry, I am keen to do a tincture from that one, all my research tells me it is super effective in cold and flu season. The Tagasaste, sometimes referred to as the "Lucerne Tree" is going crazy, we have 4 of these planted and I plan on about a dozen more going in. These are a marvellous protein food for stock, make a gorgeous hedge, the chooks love it and the wood is amazing for both the fireplace and for making woodworking. The nasturtiums love where they are. You can do so much with this wonderful plant. Nasturtiums fresh leaves contain vitamin C and iron and an antiseptic substance which is at its peak before the plant flowers. Add flavorful spunk and stunning color to salads. Give bite to savory foods. Scatter over steamed new potatoes. Pair with Great Northern beans. Enliven risotto. The last few minutes of cooking, add sliced flowers to vegetable soups to add delicious zip. Whole flowers love floating in cold soups. Add this flower's edible beauty to dress up tea sandwiches. Combine with parsley, cucumber, chives, burnet and tarragon. Flavor butter and vinegar. Pickled flower buds make a tasty substitute for capers. To stuff blossoms, blend eight ounces softened cream cheese with two tablespoons finely minced chives or other favorite herbs. Carefully stuff mixture into nasturtium flowers; place on foil-lined tray; garnish with fresh blossoms. Serve at room temperature. For a dramatic presentation, fill blossoms with crabmeat or tuna salad. To add some colorful and tasty excitement to breakfast, sprinkle petals on a ricotta omelet; garnish with watercress. To store, keep in a plastic bag; refrigerate. For optimum quality, use promptly.

PAY IT FORWARD

You all know what "Pay it Forward" is right? It is a concept begun many years ago by a young lad, you can look the story up online. It has been a while since I have done one, and I do enjoy doing it, so here'e the deal: You let me know you want me to send this book and in return you do a Pay it Forward on your blog, with this book or another from your collection. We send the books free of charge, it's about sharing information with others and sharing the enjoyment we get from the reading and learning. If you would like the chance to read this amazingly well put together and informative book, let me know by commenting. One of us here will draw the names from the hat on Sunday evening:) On the home front, I planted out my potatoes into the cage yesterday (yes, a wire cage filled with straw). I will include a photo in the next post. Travelling, which I did today, always kills me, 4 hours of driving seems to do nothing for me but make me want to sleep lol.

RAINY DAYS

What do you do when you are stuck indoors? You get the dehydrator out and get to work! First the stinging nettles. Why do I dry those? Well, did you know that nettles contain the highest plant source of iron? It is an EXCELLENT source of vitamins, minerals and protein. It is literally a “super-food.” Forget all these designer capsules and energy drinks. Nettles are far more nutritious, and they are FREE! In folk medicine nettle plants have been used as a diuretic, to build the blood, for arthritis and rheumatism. Externally it has been used to improve the appearance of the hair, and is said to be a remedy against oily hair and dandruff. The plant has been widely used by herbalists around the world for centuries. In the first century, Greek physicians Dioscorides and Galen reported the leaf of nettle had diuretic and laxative properties and was useful for asthma, pleurisy and spleen illnesses. Bandages soaked in a leaf and stem infusion were used in early American medicine to stop the bleeding of wounds; an account of this use was recorded by Dr. Francis P. Procher, a surgeon and physician in the Southern Confederacy during the Civil War. Nettle leaves were also recommended as a nutritious food and as a weight loss aid by the famous American plant forager and naturalist, Euell Gibbons. In Brazilian herbal medicine the entire plant is used for excessive menstrual bleeding, diarrhea, diabetes, urinary disorders and respiratory problems including allergies. Externally, an infusion is used for skin problems. In Peru nettle is used against a variety of complaints such as muscular and arthritis pain, eczema, ulcers, asthma, diabetes, intestinal inflammation, nosebleeds and rheumatism. Externally it is used for inflammations, sciatica, wounds and head lice. In Germany today stinging nettle is sold as an herbal drug for prostate diseases and as a diuretic. It is a common ingredient in other herbal drugs produced in Germany for rheumatic complaints and inflammatory conditions (especially for the lower urinary tract and prostate). In the United States many remarkable healing properties are attributed to nettle and the leaf is utilized for different problems than the root. The leaf is used here as a diuretic, for arthritis, prostatitis, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure and allergic rhinitis. The root is recommended as a diuretic, for relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and other prostate problems, and as a natural remedy to treat or prevent baldness. WORLDWIDE ETHNOMEDICAL USES Belize-childbirth, diarrhea, dysentery, prostate problems, rashes, skin problems, sores Brazil-for asthma, bronchitis, cough, bleeding, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, liver support, lung problems, menstrual disorders, pneumonia, skin disorders, ulcers, urinary problems, and to increase perspiration Cuba-for bruises, burns, flu, hemorrhoids, urinary insufficiency, wounds Dominican Republic-for dysentery, fertility (veterinary), lung problems, and to increase perspiration Germany-for arthritis, inflammation, prostate diseases, rheumatism, urinary insufficiency, urinary tract disorders Greece-for asthma, inflammation, laxative, pleurisy, spleen disorders, urinary insufficiency Guatemala-for bruises, dermatitis, erysipelas, fever, gonorrhea, kidney disease, skin disease, skin irritation/eruptions, sores, ulcers, wounds, and to increase perspiration Haiti-for blood purification, coughs, diarrhea, digestive problems, fever, flu, fractures, scurvy, skin problems, wounds India-for eczema, nosebleeds, skin eruptions, uterine hemorrhages Mexico-for asthma, chest problems, childbirth, constipation, diarrhea, dysentery, elephantiasis, fever, gastrointestinal disorders, hemorrhages, kidney problems, leprosy, malaria, rashes, skin problems, syphilis, uterine disorders, wounds Peru-for arthritis, asthma, bleeding, diabetes, diuretic, dysentery, expectorant, hair, head lice, hemorrhoids, inflammation, intestinal inflammation, kidney stones, liver disease, muscle pain, nasal ulcers, pain, respiratory problems, rheumatism, sciatica, swelling, urinary insufficiency, wounds, and to increase perspiration U.S.-for allergies, arthritis, BPH, bleeding, hair loss, hypertension, inflammation, prostatitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, urinary insufficiency, wounds Venezuela-for syphilis, and wounds, and to lower body temperature, and increase perspiration Elsewhere-for aches, allergic rhinitis, asthma, bacterial infections, baldness, bleeding, bronchitis, bruises, burns, cancer, catarrh, chest problems, childbirth, cholecystitis, constipation, cough, dandruff, diarrhea, dyspnea, edema, elephantiasis, epilepsy, fever, gout, hair loss, hemorrhages, hypertension, insanity, iron-deficiency anemia, kidney stones, leprosy, liver diseases, lung problems, menstrual disorders, neuralgia, obesity, osteoarthritis, pain, paralysis, prostate disorders, rheumatism, skin diseases, sprains, stomach problems, swelling, tumors, uterine disorders, urinary insufficiency, urinary problems, worms, wounds, and to promote perspiration The mushrooms are producing like crazy, despite having them in a variety of ways in just about every dinner. I have will dry the remainder before they go to waste, this gives me a 12 month supply, wonderful for when they are not in season! The coriander is growing like crazy too, so much so that I had a dehydrator full, a couple of years supply there I should think! Now I just need to wait for the next flush and I will have all the coriander seeds I could need for the next 12 months! Coriander Seed has been a reliable tonic for good digestion, improved appetite and relief of gas. More than just a condiment and spice, Coriander also appears to be an effective anti-inflammatory that may safely ease the pain of arthritis. Coriander's main reputation lies with its ability to support the digestive system. It is a fine stomach tonic that stimulates the secretion of gastric juices thereby helping to promote good digestion. Coriander is said to soothe the stomach of both adults and colicky babies and generally reduce irritation in the gastrointestinal tract, including heartburn, nausea and stomach pain. It also helps to improve the appetite and is often used as an aperitif. Coriander Seed is considered a carminative that will help prevent gas from forming in the intestines and will also help expel wind from the bowels. In addition, Coriander is believed to allay the "griping" (pain and grumbling in the bowels) often associated with other laxatives. As an antispasmodic, Coriander is thought to help relieve diarrhea and ease abdominal cramps. Coriander contains substances that are antibacterial and antifungal, helping to prevent infections from developing in wounds. Topically applied, the essential oil in Coriander has been used to ease the pain of rheumatic joints, sore muscles, neuralgia and sciatica, which appear to attest to its anti-inflammatory reputation. And remember, this is for your information only. If you intend on utilising any herbs for health, speak to your doctor or a registered herbalist FIRST. Hopefully the rain will have abated tomorrow and we can get moving on more work in the chook pen, the netting needs putting up, more tin needs putting in place in one section, the front tin panels need a trim to level them off and the fish pond needs some dirt around one side to bring the level up a little. Hope you have a super weekend ahead:)

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY PUTTING IN YOUR MOUTH?

If you're sitting down to dinner, here's a question for you. Do you really know what you're eating, or where it comes from? Well, for a start, it's probably loaded with fat, sugar and other nasties. Many experts say our food is so highly processed and so full of additives, it's not really food at all. In fact, it's making us sick. So, if you've had enough of tasteless vegetables, fruit that's been sitting in a freezer somewhere for months and packaged food with less flavour than the cardboard it's wrapped in, why not join the world-wide revolution.

Grow your own, turn your backyard into a fruit and vege garden

Courtesy of 60 Minutes

A GLIMPSE INSIDE OUR MADHOUSE......

I asked daughter (21) if she would make me a couple of labels on the label maker. One for coriander and one for nettles....the conversation went something like this...... "Whats the nettles one for"? "I use them in the cooking" "Eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww", pronounced with great drama! I then told her she had been eating them for at least 4 years, to which I got another, even more pronounced "EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW" "I am never going to eat your cooking again" To which I responded (whilst trying not to choke on my laughter) "Darling, you have been eating them for years, you never knew, why would it bother you now? Obviously thinking about it on the run, and realising she would have to cook all her own dinners, she responded...."Thats it! I am standing near the stove every time you cook us dinner, cos I am neverrrrrrrrrrr eating those again"! Some days I laugh till the tears run, if only YOU could have watched Ms D-Q's (drama queen) performance, it would have won an emmy hands down! LMAO!!

AND YET MORE SEEDS.....

Today I ordered another 3 lots of seeds I have been dying to get my hands on. This time from LostSeeds, you can find them HERE. The Echinacea is most famous for its use for colds, coughs, flu and other respiratory conditions but it can also be used for: • enlarged lymph glands • sore throat • urinary tract infections • other minor infections • may help with herpes and Candida • wounds, skin regeneration and skin infections when used externally • psoriasis, eczema treatments, and inflammatory skin conditions when used externally • promoting healing • strengthening the immune system • ear aches • lymph gland problems When used for colds and flu, studies have shown that Echinacea has effectively reduced the symptoms and duration of the cold or flu. It will not stop you from catching the cold or flu, but if you take it as soon as you feel the symptoms coming on, it will be much less painful for you. And of course Camomile. Specifically, chamomile can be used in the following ways: • As a tea for lumbago, rheumatic problems, and rashes • As a salve for haemorrhoids and wounds • As a vapour for cold symptoms and asthma • To relieve restlessness, teething problems, and colic in children • To relieve allergies • To aid in digestion when taken as a tea after meals • To relieve morning sickness • To speed the healing of skin ulcers, wounds, or burns • To treat gastritis and ulcerative colitis • To reduce inflammation and facilitate bowel movement • As a wash or compress for skin problems and inflammation • To promote general relaxation and relieve stress • To control insomnia • To treat diverticular disease, irritable bowel problems, and various gastrointestinal complaints • To soothe skin rashes, minor burns, and sunburn • To treat eye inflammation and infection • To heal mouth sores and prevent gum disease • To reduce menstrual cramp Chamomile can be used in many ways – as a tea, pill, tincture or cream. It is most renowned in its tea form. Use chamomile tea at bedtime as a relaxant to combat insomnia and promote restful sleep. A 2006 review of the medical literature reported a number of beneficial effects for chamomile in in vitro and animal tests, but added that more human clinical trials are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. Research with animals suggests antispasmodic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory and some anti-mutagenic and cholesterol-lowering effects for chamomile. Chamomile has sped healing time of wounds in animals. It also showed some benefit in an animal model of diabetes. In vitro chamomile has demonstrated moderate antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and significant anti-platelet activity, as well as preliminary results against cancer. Essential oil of chamomile was shown to be a promising antiviral agent against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in vitro. [14] Potential risks include interference with warfarin and infant botulism in very young children.

Now remember, this is for information purposes only, for any herbal treatment check with your Doctor and/or Naturopath!

I just couldn't bypass the Buttercrunch lettuce, a premium quality European Bibb lettuce with delicate flavour. The tender, compact 5”-6” heads have slightly crumpled green leaves with a creamy yellow core. Its buttery, tender texture makes it perfect for salads, giving them a gourmet touch. A vigorous grower, it loves moist but not soggy soil and is easy to grow, even in containers! Buttercrunch is also bolt resistant and will withstand a little more heat than many other lettuce varieties. The work will continue this weekend on the pond and the chook pen....providing the rain holds off, we have had some wild windy weather today, I am hoping that will all pass by Friday night!