Plant Camp Monday's

Chicory, Cichorium intybus,  also called Blue Sailors.   Its in the Daisy family.

This wild flowers grows along our country roads.     The roots are used for coffee , altho I have never tried.   I like my Folgers : ).   But its good to know in case the coffee can gets low. 

I pick the long stem flowers here on the homestead for flower arrangements.   Altho treated like a weed its a beauty and is edible , leaves and roots can be used , flower can be eaten but is bitter.

Here's a link among many on the web about this plant.  Chicory


Hope you check it out and your sure to spot some growing in your neck of the woods.

Thanks for stopping by and see ya next Monday at the Plant Camp

take good care
linda

Herbal Salves

I started making herbal infused oils for herbal salves last week with herbs from the garden.  This one is Yarrow flowers. I have Nettle leaf, Thyme, Camomile flowers and Plantain leaf so far.  They are soaking in extra virgin olive oil for about 4 to 6 weeks by a sunny window.  I have to shake twice a day and when the oil starts to take on the color and aroma of the herb its ready to strain through cheese cloth.

From there it will be melted with beeswax, add a few drops of essential oils like Lavender or Tea Tree and a few drops of Vitamin E oil, which is optional.  

I got the easy to do instructions from Mary Janes Farm mag.  I got tons of herb books but this method seems very easy.  So far so good and before to long I'll have wonderful salve from the herb garden.  Used for many things like bee stings, scratches, and anything that would be good for the skin. 

I need to pick up more olive oil b/c the Lavender is blooming.  I'm going to try Cayenne pepper, it helps for arthritis and sore muscles, helps with itching too.

I've grown herbs for years and use in cooking but this will be my first salves.  I'm glad I started this project.   Like many things we talk about doing, its really easy once we get over that before we start stage. 

If you havn't picked up a Mary Janes Farm magazine your missing a treat, if you have you already know how inspiring it is and know your are a Farm Girl no matter where you live.

Have good one, hope to share my homemade salves in a month. 

linda  

Coyote Creek Homestead

I still had a hard time getting back to blogging and then was encouraged by an artist friend on a new photo site I started posting my pic's lately and having a great time sharing my photos and seeing beautiful photos and art work by others.   Heres a link to my homepage http://www.ipernity.com/home/292513, also check out other beautiful pics, its a great place to show your photos.  Check it out!

Update on the Cabin in the Woods.  Well after almost 4 yrs trading homesteads with my daughter and her family I'm still loving it here in the woods better and better each and every day.   I change the title b/c the cabin has not been built yet and still living in the old mobil aka Vintage Cabin.  And boy is it a cabin and vintage to boot.  But seeing and hearing coyotes running the creek I name our homestead Coyote Creek Homestead.

Our V Cabin is mostly all windows looking out in the woods.  The kitchen I took all the cabinets out and let my cabin dishes show out on shelves.  It has the feel of  always on vacation.  I love it.  Heating with wood and using it for cooking in the winter time.  But still connected to the grid. 

I'm still working on my new Outpost, even made a teepee out of branches from the woods.  I went ahead an scrapped it for burning wood.   Another/ better one will be later.  The old club foot iron bath tub is still over at our first homestead, it will be a major project to move it up a very steep hill , it is in the woods too, I  may have to just bathe in the woods over there. (I love my vintage cabin showers, lol).  But I do have the creek here to wade in and the gkids have a blast playing in the creek and yell up a storm when they spot a snapping turtle, lol.  

 The gardens are doing well even with so much rain.  The raised beds really help in getting an early start.   I cut down on putting out so many heirloom tomato plants from 400 to just around a hundred, I think it will be enough, lol.   Oh I do get carried away with the tomatoes.   I gave lots of plants away cuz I think I'm getting lazy.

Peas to pick tonight and the green beans will be ready in a day or two, lots of little green beans are on the bush plants.   A little longer for the pole beans.  May have a tomato or two ripe by the 4th of July!

Oh and my fishing adventures with my sister (Yak Sisters), we have not even got our kayaks wet yet this year.  So much rain, but we've been talking and maybe in a week or two will catch some fish. 

I'd like to get my Plant Camp back and running, so hope your still with me and welcome new visitors.  It helps me learn whats growing on the homestead. 

Well off for now and thanks so much for stopping by
Take good care
linda