What’s Growing in the Apartment Garden, #2

Things are growing beautifully here at home! We have lots planted and still space for more. There is a new weed coming up a lot that I have never seen before with a big, annoying taproot… I’m not a fan. Besides that, things are perfect and lovely!

The snap peas are growing fast. Today I’m going to tie some twine up the patio railing there so our little babies can climb up easily. They are so cute and will look beautiful once they start flowering!

This is a brand new strawberry patch that we just planted. We probably won’t get much fruit this year, but it’s growing well! Arugula in the bottom right and radishes growing behind the strawberries.

Radishes and carrots are growing slowly but surely in the wacky temperatures we’ve been having. Over on the right, take a look at that awesome Red Clover!! Almost time to harvest some flowers from her.

Sweet little poppy flowers are coming up in the lettuce patch! They will look gorgeous in a few weeks. Last year I had one poppy flower, let the seeds fall and overwinter, and now we have so many coming up! Poppy seeds like to overwinter.

I’m just starting to get things growing in our patio pots again. I planted cilantro, marigolds, and in a 5 gallon bucket I put a tomato, carrots, and calendula! It’s amazing to see what plants can grow harmoniously together in a small space and benefit eachother!

What do you have growing in your garden so far?

Wild Native Herbs of Missouri

True healing can only be found in nature. Mother Earth provides EVERYTHING that we could ever need, it’s all there. When we take the time to tune out of the distractions of our fast-paced lives and look inside of ourselves, we learn what our bodies and minds truly need. And the earth is always willing to help us. When I feel down or confused, I go outside and sit underneath a big Oak tree and quiet my mind. The tree tells me what to do, to be still, to grow, to breathe, and to live. The tree tells me that everything is here. Underground. In the air. The tree tells me to find guidance in the plants sometimes.

There are so many amazing, healing plants that grace us in Missouri! Some folks find them annoying and consider them “weeds”, but to me there are no weeds. There is a purpose for every plant, even if we don’t know what it is… So let’s get to know some of these amazing herbs that we can probably find in our own backyard!

Dandelion

This is one we have probably all met before. She shines a beautiful yellow light when she is in bloom, and then turns to a white puff that flies to the sky and spreads more dandelions here and there and everywhere.

• roots and leaves are potent healers
• a mild diuretic that contains potassium
• stimulates and aids our liver to eliminate toxins in our blood
• known to cure hepatitis
• leaves are wonderful in salads and full of nutrients
• flowers may be used to make dandelion wine

Mullein

These plants are super fuzzy and known to some as “cowboy toilet paper” because they’re soft on your hind side! I love using them in cough remedies and bronchial teas.

• leaves and flowers are used
• effective treatment for asthma
• oil is used as a remedy for ear infections
• great for colds and bronchial spasms

Wild Carrot / Queen Anne’s Lace

These beautiful frilly plants smell just like carrots! That’s how you can be sure it’s a wild carrot.

• leaves, seeds, and flowers are used
• great for urinary system
• juice is good for kidney complaints
• regulates fertility – can be used as contraceptive after intercourse

Milk Thistle

These are spiky ones so wear gloves when harvesting. They are extremely powerful to the liver, kidneys, and blood. My mom has used it to effectively treat her liver cirrhosis.

• seeds are used
• regenerates liver cells
• stimulates bile flow
• antidepressant
• can be used for spleen problems, jaundice, and gallstones

Passionflower

I love seeing these grow down the hill where I live. They are so beautiful when they are in flower, and you can eat the amazing fruits!

• leaves and flowers are used medicinally
• nervine  – used in neurological problems like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, anxiety, hypertension, etc.
• said to be aphrodisiac in large quantities
• improves circulation and nutrition to nerves

Nettle

Another prickly one, use gloves to harvest! Do not eat this plant uncooked… it will prick you from the inside out, not good.

• whole plant is used
• used to stop bleeding
• treatment for gout
• helps increase aromatic oil content of other herbs
• promotes milk production in humans and animals

Red Clover

We have some red clover growing HUGE in our garden. It is so beautiful when it begins to flower, and the roots are great for the soil because they produce nitrogen!

• flowers, leaves, and blossoms used
• natural blood thinner
• excellent blood purifier
• cleanses and soothes bronchial nerves
• used in the treatment in of cancer

Plantain

This herb grows all over the US and has been used historically to remedy snake bites by Native Americans.

• leaves and seeds are used
• diuretic
• tea is excellent for diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and ulcers
• urinary tract infections
• used for skin wounds, poison ivy, bug bites

Blogging for GMO Awareness !!

From new friendships come amazing new opportunities and adventures! Every situation can shine a light on something new and direct us in a different, exciting direction.

I recently met a very inspirational friend online, a writer by the name of Michael Kinnaird. He found my blog and we really hit it off from the start. He shares my deep passion for living a harmonious life with our Mama Earth, growing our own food, respecting our resources, and motivating people to walk a natural path in their life. He is the author of Habit Guide, a guide to being happy and healthy…. and little did I know at the time, he is one of the masterminds behind GMO Awareness.

You may have heard of GMO Awareness on Facebook where they have over 11,000 likes.I was following their FB page long before I knew who Michael Kinnaird was! Moving onto the point of my story and what I’m so excited about… Michael has asked me to write for GMO Awareness! I was so thrilled I wrote my first article right away and it is full of awesome information! Check it out and give it some love. 

How to Keep Monsanto Out of Your Garden

How to Keep Monsanto Out of Your Home Garden

Writing is something that has always come naturally to me, and writing about my passions and beliefs is what I love more than anything. To write for this amazing effort of enlightening people to the truths of GMO is a task that I’m thrilled to commit time to! I feel like this is the beginning of something wonderful for me… not sure exactly what is yet, but I believe it involves writing and sharing knowledge and power with others. I’ll keep you posted as I go along on my journey.

PS. It’s snowing outside my window in the beginning of May in Missouri. Is this an Ice Age?

Macadamia Nut Pesto Recipe – raw and vegan :)

For about 3 years of my life I was living in the coastal, tropical goodness of Vista, Escondido, and Oceanside, CA. During that time I somehow found a guy living on a macadamia / citrus orchard given to him by his parents who has passed on. The man had no use for his macadamia nuts so I went over there and harvested THREE macadamia nut trees. Oh my gosh… it was heavenly. Carlos (my handsome lover) came over to help me crack those nuts, and then I created some amazing recipes like this one, for …

Macadamia nut pesto – raw, vegan, and delicious

ingredients

• 1/3 cup raw nuts
• large bunch of basil
• 5 garlic cloves (more or less, depending on preference)
• grated raw cheese
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 coconut oil or other organic, unrefined oil of choice
• 1/2 large lemon – juiced

prepare the goodness

My preferred method is to chop all of the dry ingredients BY HAND with a big, chopping knife. Leave out the lemon and oil.. just chop all the dry stuff really small and mix it up real nice. Then mix in the oil and lemon and serve! If you want to make a whole lot of this, you can store it in your freezer without the oil and lemon.

Another option is to use a food processor or high powered blender to blend/chop it up.

other nut options

Macadamia nuts are expensive if you don’t have access to someone’s free orchard bounty, so you could use other nuts instead. I haven’t tried almonds, but they might make a good pesto. I normally soak my almonds before using them.

Do you have a nutty idea?

What’s Growing in the Apartment Garden

Spring is here in full swing and the garden is full of bounty and beauty! I’m so thrilled that I took the time to go out in the cold of fall and winter and throw seeds around here and there, because so many of the babies I planted are coming up now! Many varieties of annual plants can overwinter their seeds in the midwest and then they are the first to come up in the Spring. I threw around lettuce, arugula, marigolds, and morning glory among other things…

lettuce patch next to our patio

lettuce patch #2

lettuce patch #3

We thinned one lettuce patch and all of our little heads of lettuce made it. They did lose some outer leaves, but they are going strong! Notice the weeds growing all over our garden… I like to leave the weeds until I decide to thin or plant something in it’s place because they are there for a reason. Weeds grow to put nutrients into the soil and having something covering the ground is a really good thing. Whenever I pull the weeds, I either lay them down on the ground or turn them under to decompose.

baby cilantro

dry birdhouse gourds

I grew these last year and now it’s time to drill holes so the birds can use them. Then I’ll preserve them with clay, decoupage, or paint… haven’t decided yet.

beautiful soapwort

radishes

Our radishes are growing so fast this year!! Last year it took forever because the soil at our apartment complex was mainly compact clay and rock. We practice no till methods so we just put some manure, straw, and compost on top of the soil. The simple act of building the earth a couple inches and growing things in it (including weeds) has made a fluffy, delightful soil in just a couple years!

Our new neighbor planted zinnias!

kale going to seed

We planted these dwarf kale in late Spring and reaped the bounty of them throughout the Fall and WInter. Now they are going to seed and the little flowering tops taste just like broccoli!!

Although our apartment management is incredibly pretentious and closed minded about many things, I am forever grateful to have the opportunity to grow a beautiful garden here! I truly believe that almost any apartment management would be willing to allow tenants to BEAUTIFY the garden spaces. Without the flowers and plants, this place would be so dull! I recommend that anyone interested in gardening and living in an apartment should ask the management if they can beautify their home. The worst that can happen is a no. Go for it!

Natural Holistic Remedies for Abscess Tooth

What is an abscess tooth?

An abscessed tooth is an infection that can result in swelling. It normally looks like a boil on your gum between your tooth and gum. It is generally caused by a foreign element that gets into a decayed or decaying tooth, but can also be caused by dead cells from your body that get stuck or by a traumatic event like a cracked tooth.

The infection and decay of teeth begins with your diet, not with bacteria like people want you to think. Historically, tribal peoples all over the world suffered from little to no tooth decay. They did not brush their teeth or floss each day, but they ate a very traditional diet that they had been eating for generations. With our modern diets of heavily processed and chemical-filled foods, we have seen a massive rise in tooth decay! So the first step to healing your teeth is to adopt a very traditional diet. There are many amazing books and blogs that you can read to get started on that journey…

An abscessed tooth can be a very serious issue and may lead to a life threatening infection if it is not dealt with immediately. These remedies are meant to be used by generally healthy people who are not suffering from any severe chronic issues. I advise everyone to see a dentist if they feel it necessary.

Natural Remedies for Abscessed Tooth

• Clove Essential Oil – This will help to kill the infection and also relieve any pain that you are feeling. Brush your teeth gently with clove oil, rub it onto your gums, and put it on a tooth pick and stick it into your tooth if there is a hole from a cavity, etc.
• Peppermint Essential Oil – When I didn’t have clove, I used peppermint to help with the pain and it worked like a charm!
• Oil of Oregano – This is a powerful immune booster, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidant. It will help to kill the infection fast and boost your immune system so it can heal up. It is known to be very effective in curing tooth ailments.
• Oil Pulling – An ancient Ayurvedic healing tradition, oil pulling has been used for many years to remove toxins from the body. I use organic coconut oil to do my oil pulling because it has anti-bacterial and immune boosting properties. Take 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and swish it around your mouth, through your teeth and gums for 10-30 minutes. Do not swallow it! After at least 10 minutes spit it out and rinse your mouth out.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Use real organic ACV like Bragg’s or something homemade if you have access to it. Swish it around your mouth for a few minutes and spit it out. It will help to disinfect and bring down the swelling.
• Drain the abscess – If you are going to do this, you must be VERY cautious. First, make sure to completely sterilize your needle and tools with alcohol. Prick a little hole or two in your gum where the boil is. Then release the toxic pus with a Q-tip by pushing on the abscess. Make sure you don’t swallow any of the pus because it does contain toxic infectious bacteria.
• Raw Garlic – I took a clove of garlic and mashed it a little so the juice would come out and I stuck it right between my gum and lip. This helps to kill the infection and also eases the pain and boosts the immune system.

The Story of My Abscess

I recently suffered from an abscess tooth just a few days ago. It started on Monday when I went on a sugar binge and ate a bag of gummy bears. Some bits got stuck in my decaying tooth and later than night I got a HUGE toothache that would not go away. I started with the peppermint oil and oregano oil immediately. I could barely sleep that night and was putting on oil over and over again. On Tuesday morning I woke up with a huge boil between my gum and tooth so I did an oil pull, used more peppermint and oregano oil. That night my toothache had subsided, but the boil (abscess) was still there. I went for the needle and pricked about 5 holes in my gum. Barely any pus came out… I washed my mouth out with apple cider vinegar and brushed my teeth with lavender oil to calm my nerves a little bit. Then I put on some more oil of oregano. I woke up on Thursday morning (today) with no pain and all the swelling was gone! I had also been feeling a lot of pain and swelling in my lymph node from the infection, but that is almost gone too! I successfully cured my infection! Now I can rest easy until I find a good holistic dentist in the area to pull my tooth.

 

Linked up at… Tasty Traditions, Fight Back Friday, Small Footprint Friday

Natural Pregnancy . Creating life is natural and beautiful!

Mother Earth Pregnant Goddess by PearlWhitecrow

Pregnancy has been an incredible journey and it is totally enlightening, I’m learning so much about myself!! It’s an exciting new experience growing a real life human in my uterus right now! The other day when I was walking, I subconsciously placed my hand on lower belly and could feel a life spiraling around me. This is a different kind of life than little gassy indigestion amoebas.. it’s very spiritual and holy.

Birth is an absolutely holy thing for every woman. It is holy for a walnut to fall from a tree and years later there appears another walnut tree bearing so many fruits. Birth is magical! Birth is beautiful! Birth can be a spiritual awakening that connects a woman and her partner to god, the creation, light, source, the entire universe. Birth is NATURAL… It is nature. Human nature, animal nature, plant nature, and amoeba nature. Every life in this universe was born from something. To be more specific, female humans have been giving birth for a heck of a long time (as long as there have been humans) and we’ve been doing it without fail until now… and we are still doing it!

Gaia Goddess by Michelle Molesch

For some reason, doctors seem to truly FEAR BIRTH. It totally disgusts me to hear stories from pregnant friends about their experiences with doctors. Of course all doctors are different, and all midwives are different too, but for the most part the stories I hear from folks are just horrendous!

One friend of mine was pregnant with her first son and during her pregnancy went through many many ultrasounds. She got a C-section for that baby. That child started speaking late in his life and is still overcoming a speech impediment and is now 7 years old. A couple of years later when she was pregnant with her second child, she did not want to have a C-section. The only reason that doctor had for wanting to give her a C-section is that she had one before. She refused so the doctor dropped her, and so did the next 5 doctors! She finally found a doctor that would deliver her baby naturally and she had a perfectly healthy little boy! Why did these doctors refuse to deliver her naturally? Fear of some sort of liability.

Joyful Soda Fire Goddess by gislebertus

I have two friends who are pregnant with twins right now and getting ultrasounds every two weeks. Their doctors also refuse natural birth and will only do a C-section to deliver twins. Yes, it is more of a hazard to deliver two or more babies because of the chances of them being at difficult angles, bleeding, tearing, etc. But it can be done and has been done many times! If a woman believes in herself and finds a spiritual midwife who is fully 100% present and aware of the moment, the birth will be a beautiful thing no matter what happens.

For my own pregnancy, I have no intention of going to a doctor or hospital at all and I am totally comfortable in that choice. I do not fear doctors but I find them totally unnecessary and unable to help me during this time. My partner Carlos has been the most amazing help for me throughout this time and I’m so thankful to have a fantastic and honest relationship with my life partner! We have a seriously tantric connection a lot of the time where he just knows what I need in that moment. He is the sweetest, most understanding, and very wise spirit. I’m blessed. We are all blessed and we all deserve the most amazing experience!!

I have been reading a book called Spiritual Midwifery written by Ina May that fills my heart with a beautiful realization that I CAN DO IT! Ina May is this amazing midwife who has been doing it for years and years and years, since the 60s. She shares stories from hundreds of women about their birth and all of them have this psychadelic experience during their pregnancy. Sometimes they are afraid or nervous, but their midwife helps bring them to a state of mind where they just are present with the miracle of life that is happening in their body! It is truly a magical thing. If you are pregnant, I highly suggest reading Spiritual Midwifery!

I have not yet found a midwife, but I know it will all happen naturally and beautifully. I have no doubt, no fear.

Things to think about…

Are ultrasounds causing the huge rise in autism?

Research on ultrasounds

Have you delivered a baby naturally or are you going through a natural pregnancy? I would love to hear your stories!

Linked up at: Small Footprint Fridays, Tasty Traditions