|
Everlasting
Gardener’s
Improving Your Herb Know-How
Publisher: Joanie Lapic Volume Number 2
Issue Number 7 Date: April 01, 2009 |
|
“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on
the face of the whole earth
. . . And to . . . Everything that has the breath of life in it I give
every green plant for food.’”
Gen.1: 29,30
|
|
If you have questions about any information in these
articles, or if you
need any supplies or products, please contact
Joanie Lapic, Everlasting Gardener
Phone -- 724-846-4787
e-mail --
joanie@everlastinggardener.com
Following this link to my website may also help you find what you are
looking for:
http://www.everlastinggardener.net
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE:
~ Herb Highlight -- STEVIA
~ Herbal Terms
~ Upcoming Appearance and Classes
~ Have a Cuppa TEA!
~ April Special
~ Important Quotes
|
|
Stevia
Stevia rebaudiana
Also known as “Sweet Leaf”, Stevia can be grown outdoors
in temperate zones in the summertime (no lower than 45 degrees), The plant
likes moist, sandy, acid soil, and full sun. It is propagated by semi-ripe
cuttings in spring and summer, the seed being mostly infertile.
Dried leaves, and the powder made from the dried leaves, are 10-15 times
sweeter than sugar. It is used as a safe sugar substitute in foods and
drinks. Stevioside is stable when heated, does not precipitate in acids, or
cause fermentation. It has no glycemic index and negligible calories.
You can use Stevia leaves (home-grown, if you like) to sweeten your hot or
sun tea, and various cooked and baked foods. Harvest the leafy stems just as
flowering begins, and then dry.
Stevia is native to tropical and subtropical parts of North and South
America. In Paraguay the indigenous people have used Stevia for generations
as a sweetener.
The Japanese food industry has been using Stevia since the 1970s, after they
developed an extraction technique that removed the color and bitterness.
(some information obtained from “Encyclopedia of Herbs” by Deni Brown)
If you would like to use Stevia as an already-prepared extract in powdered
form, please visit:
http://mynsp.com/everlastinggardener/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=1386
|
|
HERBAL TERMS
(continued from the
mid-March,
’09, issue of “Improving Your Herb Know-How”)
These are terms that describe what Herbs can do for you. These may be of
help to you when you read or study about herbal medicine. This is not a
complete list.
Antispasmodic – Prevents or reduces muscle spasms. (such as Black Cohosh,
Chamomile, Kava Kava, Valerian and Wild Yam)
Antitussive – Relieves or suppresses coughing ( Horehound, Wild Cherry bark)
Antitumor – Fights or suppresses tumor growth (Astragalus, Echinacea,
Frankincense)
Astringent – An herb that causes contraction of the tissues. Useful in
conditions such as bleeding or diarrhea (Geranium, Sage, Witch Hazel,
Yarrow)
Bitters – Bitter-tasting herbs stimulate digestive organ secretions and
actions (stomach, liver, gallbladder and pancreas). They can also help
increase abnormally low appetites. They include (but are not limited to)
Gentian root, Burdock, Goldenseal and Dandelion root.
More to come in future issues.…
(some information from “Prescription for Natural Cures”,
by Balch and Stengler)
|
|
Upcoming Appearance and Classes
For information about signing up for Joanie’s classes, please visit the
website:
|
|
Act 48 Continuing Professional Education Courses
Please see Joanie’s SUMMER COURSES, offered at both Beaver Valley
Intermediate Unit, and at Midwestern I U., on Joanie’s
website
(for registration and other details):
|
|
New Herbs for YOUR Garden
Let’s think about herb plants, the ones you’d like to
grow this summer and the delicious and healing things you might do with
them.
Attend Joanie’s class
Saturday, April 18, 4:30 – 6:30 pm
$15.00 per person.
Receive $2.00 off each, for you and for your friend attending together.
Joanie needs your registration deposit of at least $7.50 by April 15, 2009.
Please send to: Joanie Lapic, 888 Tulip Dr., New Brighton, PA 15066
~ We will do a study of the growing requirements of herb plants.
~ Learn which herbs suit your needs, whether for cooking, medicine, scent,
etc.
~ Receive printed information and a little starter pot of an herb plant
~ GET 15% OFF any herb plants you wish to purchase.
You can check Joanie’s herb plants for sale:
http://everlastinggardener.net/herb_plants_for_sale_at_everlast.htm
YOU WILL LEAVE THIS CLASS WELL-INFORMED, READY TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR HERB
GARDEN. |
|
CELEBRATE VIOLETS
"When wake the Violets, winter dies.
God does not send us strange flowers every year.
When the spring winds blow o'er the pleasant places,
The same dear things, lift up the same fair faces.
The violet is here.” (Author Unknown)
Sat., May 16, 2008
2:00 to 4:00 pm
$25.00 each. Or attend with a friend, and each receive $3.00 off
~ Watch Joanie make tantalizing Violet Jam - and take some home with you.
~ Discover the healing uses of this herb for * stress relief * cough and
bronchitis * skin problems (such as bruises, acne, itching) * healing eye
bath, etc>
~ Make a medicinal preparation
~ How to crystallize the flowers, make a syrup.
~ ENJOY Chocolate Violet Cake and Violet Flower Tea.
Take a walk through the wild violet field. Pick a bowlful of violets, if you
wish, to help make the jam and projects during class, and to take some home
to dry for your own tea. Tour Joanie’s Gardens to see the violets and many
other herbs.
You must make your reservation by paying half of your class fee, received in
Joanie’s mailbox by May 13.
|
|
PRACTICAL HERBOLOGY
June 20, 2009
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
This seminar helps you take your health into your own hands!
AT THIS SEMINAR YOU WILL LEARN --
~ identification of herbs by sight, smell and touch. In Joanie’s exhibit
gardens you will find these herbs and more: St. John’s wort, feverfew,
marshmallow, shepherd’s purse, agrimony, comfrey, sage, wood betony,
horehound, valerian, arnica, boneset, burdock, sheep sorrel, lavender,
elecampane, echinacea, digitalis, various thymes, and mints.
~ to make herbal preparations like skin-healing salve, tincture, essential
oil therapies, virus-killing and mood-enhancing room sprays, stiff/painful
joint cream, natural deodorant and non-toxic household cleaners -- AND TAKE
SOME HOME WITH YOU.
~ herbal supplements - exactly which herbs are needed to enhance brain
function, encourage weight loss, help overactive children to concentrate,
overcome debilitating skin conditions and joint problems, help us feel young
at any age, and more…
A delicious herbal lunch will be served.
(More particulars in the mid-April newsletter, and on Joanie’s
website.)
|
|
Have a Cuppa TEA!
(Part I)
Camellia sinensis is the plant from which we get green and black tea.
What would you say to growing your own Tea plant?
Then picking the leaves and making a fresh, flavorful, healthful beverage
with it .
That can only happen in tropical climates, you say.
Nope, in temperate climates, it is content to be grown indoors in the
winter, then thrives outdoors in the summer.
It is an extremely handsome plant with shiny dark green leaves. Furthermore,
it produces 1 inch flowers, cream-colored with bright yellow stamens, and a
light, pretty scent, often in late summer and fall.
As for the benefits of Tea – recent studies indicate that consuming tea can
help prevent cancer, heart disease and tooth decay. Externally it heals
swelling, sunburn, cuts, bruises and insect bites.
The term “infusion” is defined as an herbal beverage made by steeping plant
material in hot water. Most people use the everyday word “tea”, when they
mean “infusion”. This a bit confusing, because in herbal medicine “tea”
technically means an infusion of the leaves of the Tea plant, Camellia
sinensis.
As to the specifics of growing the plant, Tea plant enjoys acidic soil of 5
to 7 pH, with high organic content and moist but well drained. If it’s
really hot in your garden, make sure the Tea plant gets a little shade in
the afternoon.
When grown indoors, make sure the pot does not hold water too much. Add sand
for drainage and compost to provide nutrients.
Part II of this series will include the interesting history of this very
useful plant, and much more on the health benefits.
Look for Camellia sinensis plants to be offered in early summer at Joanie’s
Everlasting Gardener:
(some information from "The Herb Companion", Nov., '08)
|
|
APRIL SPECIAL
EARLY BIRD Special—
Whether you want to add amazing fresh flavor to your foods, increase
nutrition in your diet, or get acquainted with simple medicines – TRY SOME
HERBS!
Are you ready to start planning your herb garden? Here’s a great start . . .
Buy 3 herb plants and get a FREE Lemon Thyme OR Stevia plant.
This offer is good only for the month of April, 2009.
Please see Joanie’s website “Herb
Plants” for sale, then go to the “Contact
Us” page to let Joanie know when you want to come out to her greenhouse
and pick up your herbs.
|
|
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety,
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking
for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he
said.” Matthew 28: 5, 6
|
|
JOANIE IS NOW A PROUD GRANDMOTHER
HAPPY EASTER!
|
|