Written by Meg Dickey, Contributing Writer Our Valley finally began it's annual cooling trend last week. After several months of nearly 100 degree heat, we were able to enjoy a rainstorm, complete with chilly temperatures and a delightful nip in the air. Along with those blissful breezes come the sniffles and sneezes... when we start to feel like we're running down, I like to put a pot of this luscious soup on to simmer. It does a wonderful job of soothing sore throats, boosting [...]
Written by Meg Dickey, Contributing Writer Last time we talked about how to harvest your herbs - now that you've harvested them, what are you going to do with them? Here are my favorite ways to preserve herbs for out-of-season use: Freezing This method best preserves flavor. Rinse the herbs and chop coarsely. Place about 1-2 teaspoons in each compartment in an ice cube tray. Cover with chicken stock, olive oil, or plain water and freeze. Transfer frozen cubes to Ziplock bags for longer [...]
Written by Meg, Contributing Writer Herbal Remedies for Sunburn Once your skin is burned and there’s no turning back (or when your skin has been overexposed to hot, drying sun and wind or chlorinated swimming pools), use the same herbs, essential oils and vitamins recommended to treat any injured skin. My first choices are lavender, aloe vera and calendula to repair damaged skin cells. The essential oil of geranium has skin-rejuvenating properties that encourage healing. Expensive, but exquisite in scent and skin-healing properties, are rose [...]
By Meg Dickey, contributing writer Behold the flowers that deck the field, The gentle breeze perfuming And tender herbs their fragrance yield Are health and life diffusing. ~Harvard Shaker Community Herb Catalog, 1843~ For some of us, the tantalizing breezes of summer are already wafting over our gardens. As the days warm and the herbs in our gardens increase in size and production, there's not better time to indulge in a pitcher of iced herbal tea, or herb flavored water kefir. There are some standard [...]
Written by Meg Dickey, Contributing Writer This month at Keeper of the Home, we're discussing Gardening 101, and we're continuing this week with the second part of Gardening with Herbs 101. Let's jump right in to my favorite part of gardening: what to grow! First, consider your needs: What herbs do you love the smell of? What tastes do you enjoy adding to your food? What tea are you always splurging on? What kinds of medicine does your family use during the year? Do you want [...]
Written by Meg Dickey, Contributing Writer This month at Keeper of the Home, we're discussing Gardening 101. What better way to throw off the weariness of winter than with the joyous awakening of the earth around us? Today I'll be sharing some tips on gardening with herbs, and next time we'll talk about what herbs work best in different environments. Let's start with the basics: WHY should I grown my own? Growing your own herbs is easy to do, and you'll be amazed at the [...]
Written by Meg Dickey, Contributing Writer We all have those moments of random stress, moments that leave us drained, exhausted, and with a lingering feeling of depression. This month at Keeper of the Home, we've been addressing ways to find a balance in our lives, both physically and mentally. On Monday, Stephanie addressed natural ways to approach depression, and she mentioned several herbs that can help to calm our senses in the midst of stress. I'd like to elaborate further on some of them, and explain why [...]
Dealing with depression is a touchy subject. When I first began to admit to people in my life that I was struggling with depression, I got a lot of different recommendations. Most were shocked that I hadn't been to see a doctor, some supported my desire to try to deal with it naturally but expressed concern for me, and a few even confronted me and told that I was possibly being too proud in my "healthy ways" for not being willing to use prescription medication. [...]
I'm Stephanie. Creator of Keeper of the Home. Lover of Jesus. Wife to Ryan. Mommy to four. Drinker of fair-trade coffee with maple syrup and raw cream. Organic gardener. Barefoot, flip-flop wearer. Creative cook and kitchen messer-upper. [Read More …]
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Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home on 97 Ways to Solve Your Biggest Homemaking Challenges
Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home on 97 Ways to Solve Your Biggest Homemaking Challenges
Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home on 97 Ways to Solve Your Biggest Homemaking Challenges
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