Blogs

"When life wearies and ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden"

Somehow, this old quote seems very contemporary. We have too much bad news around us these days. I finally decided to put myself on a "news fast" and spend the time in the garden instead.

A whole mess of spider mites blew in this summer on the west wind from Utah. They just wiped out the early coneflowers hollyhocks. It was a heartbreaker to have to cut off all those beautiful new buds, but it was the only way to keep the mites from invading even further. Fortunately, the coneflowers and hollyhocks rebounded with even more beautiful, mite-free flowers a few weeks later.

The more I hear about kids with learning problems, the more I think about wooden classrooms. I know I'm showing my age, but when I was a kid I went to a school with a lot a wood. Wooden floors, wooden desks, cedarwood pencils, and wood-cased windows that actually opened for a little fresh air. I don't remember a rash of inattentive kids with behavior problems. When I look at today's classrooms, I have to wonder. So many are entirely constructed of plastics and other off-gassing materials, and many don't even have windows that open.

All my years and years of self-study and classes about how the body works and how different health treatments work really paid off this winter. I won't bore my readers with too many details, but I think I probably would have died if I had not known when to take matters into my own hands.

“Let your food be your medicine” is ancient good advice that is getting a fresh listen. With the high price of food, who can afford to eat junk?! We need to make every bite count with maximum nutrition. Both classic European cooking and aromatic Indian cooking do the job with style.

Food has not always been plentiful. Many of the old-fashioned food preparation methods were survival strategies. Classic culinary practices like making sauerkraut and adding a dash of vinegar to cooked greens were actually techniques to maximize available nutrients. The added flavor was a bonus.

Our greenhouse is one of the best investments we’ve ever made. For under $10,000 total investment, we got a 10’ x 16’ lean-to greenhouse. Besides adding 160 of delightful covered space, the greenhouse heats the house, cleans the air and helps us make money. It makes our house look better too!

Normally, when a person here in the high desert opens the front door on a clear January day, they expect a blast of cold air. That’s not true in our house.

Many new moms enjoy using essential oils in their own lives. It is common to wonder, “Can I use essential oils with my new baby?”

If your baby is a premie, or has any sort of lung weakness, the answer is “no”. However, if you have a full-term healthy baby, there are a few essential oils that can be used in very, very tiny amounts to calm a fussy baby or soothe colic and upset tummies. Even with a healthy baby, it is best to wait until baby is a few months old before using essential oils. When in doubt, ask baby's doctor.

It is important to remember a couple of things:

Just last week I pulled my favorite blouse out of the dryer and noticed that it was streaked with some sort of grease pencil. This is the price I pay for mixing my laundry with my husband's laundry! But I did not fret, even though the grease stain had been somewhat set by the dryer.

I pulled out my bottle of all-purpose super degreaser. This cost-effective homemade degreaser is great for the laundry, food spills on carpet, and cleaning up greasy tools. Once you make up this great household rescue solution, I'll bet you never buy a bottle of commercial laundry degreaser again.

One of the most common questions I hear is, "What do you think of light bulb rings for diffusing essential oils?" These devices appear attractive because they are easy and cost effective. A plug-in diffuser offers the same ease and low price as a light bulb ring. This is the method I prefer.

I don't use light bulbs rings to diffuse essential oils because they scorch the oils and have been cited as the cause of a number of house fires.

When I teach aromatherapy classes, I ask the class participants what comes to mind when they think of aromatherapy. Lots of people think of scented candles when they think of aromatherapy. There is nothing as relaxing as the lovely glow of candlelight accompanied by a pleasant aroma.

Unfortunately, burning up essential oil in a candle is one of the least effective ways to enjoy the oil. The good news is that you can get the effect you want in better ways.