Herbs and foods for health Here's something interesting to research. I've always believed that herbs and natural foods... work as well as or better than modern medicine WITHOUT all of those nasty side effects. Rosemary for muscle pain? Kelp for with hair loss? Cilantro can soothe a headache? NewsTarget and Truth Publishing have launched the internet's largest free searchable database of healing foods, herbs and nutrients. Look up any ailment and find a quick guide to treating the problem with everyday natural ingredients. www.healingfoodreference.com On a side note, I may just be blogging on my Yahoo blog and my website blog from now on as they as much easier to use.

Here's something interesting to research. I've always believed that herbs and natural foods... work as well as or better than modern medicine WITHOUT all of those nasty side effects. Rosemary for muscle pain? Kelp for with hair loss? Cilantro can soothe a headache? NewsTarget and Truth Publishing have launched the internet's largest free searchable database of healing foods, herbs and nutrients. Look up any ailment and find a quick guide to treating the problem with everyday natural ingredients. www.healingfoodreference.com

On a side note, I may just be blogging on my Yahoo blog and my website blog from now on as they as much easier to use.

It's that time of year when my organic gardens... It's that time of the year when my organic gardens need to be readied for winter (and next spring). We've been trying to pull out the last of the weeds that snuck in and grew when we weren't looking. The garlic has been planted and we've pulled up almost all of the potatoes and carrots ... . Soon the gardens will be covered with leaves from our yard and that of my parents and some neighbors. These help to feed the soil and gets thje ground/earth ready to grow next year's crops. I refuse to use chemical fertilizers like Miracle Gro ... because I prefer to allow the earth's natural systems to do their thing. I also don't wish to add to the pollution of our planet. The no-till gardening method looks interesting. I'd like to try that. It allows for the organic build-up of soil without disturbing the worms and microOrganisms. I also want to build a more formalized organic herb garden. I will have it in raised beds for ease of use and for comfort. Oh, if I only had more time and less aches and pains - LOL.

It's that time of the year when my organic gardens need to be readied for winter (and next spring).

We've been trying to pull out the last of the weeds that snuck in and grew when we weren't looking.

The garlic has been planted and we've pulled up almost all of the potatoes and carrots ... .

Soon the gardens will be covered with leaves from our yard and that of my parents and some neighbors.   These help to feed the soil and gets thje ground/earth ready to grow next year's crops.

I refuse to use chemical fertilizers like Miracle Gro ... because I prefer to allow the earth's natural systems to do their thing.   I also don't wish to add to the pollution of our planet.

The no-till gardening method looks interesting.   I'd like to try that.   It allows for the organic build-up of soil without disturbing the worms and microOrganisms.

I also want to build a more formalized organic herb garden.   I will have it in raised beds for ease of use and for comfort.

Oh, if I only had more time and less aches and pains - LOL.

My old house & Gift Shop was highlighted on an organic gardening group

To see the article, go to my Yahoo-Geocities blog. Diana's Organic Garden & Gift Shop Blog I didn't want duplicate content so I didn't post it here too.

One lady just loved that we had Italian charms at good prices.   She bought 4 on the spot and ordered 2 more for now.   She bought a bunch of other things too.
A gentleman ordered 4 bars of goat milk soap for him, 1 for his sister AND a bottle of lotion.
My regulars have been faithful customers
- some of them making weekly visits.
Thank you to all of you who have made opening my little Gift- Craft-Antique Shop a joy and a success.

Wow! What a month August was! We had to...

...try to keep up with all of the gardening chores, the kids were getting ready to go back to school, it was TOO hot outside for me, and the most exciting of all - I got two Beagles !!!
The "girls" are about a year old ~and~ they were already housetrained - YEAH !
Suzy and Sassy
They are just Soooooooooo sweet.
Sassy and Suzy

I love beagles.
They are big enough to roughhouse with,
but not dangerous.   Yet, they are not high-pitched yipping dogs.
I love beagles
Oh, I guess I said that already {Grin}
These girls are going to be inside dogs other than our walks and "potty time" of course.

Our cats haven't been too thrilled with the idea of having dogs in the house, but I think they'll come around eventually.   For now, the cats choose to stay on a completely different floor from where the dogs are at the time.King and Gypsy
Jade

Here's a description of how Essential oils are extracted

What are essential oils ?

Do you have "Good" or "Bad" bugs in your garden ?

Here are two places to help you determine whether you have friends or foes:

What's that bug ?

Butterflies & Moths ...

The value of compost - OR - Yet another reason to be an organic gardener

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH019
The site above has a chart that shows which minerals are added to your garden by using compost from different types of materials.   There is also other information as well.

Need to find mosquito avoiding tips ?

Look here: Diana's Natural Solutions
For even more tips: pioneer thinking

Comment from Christina

" Hi Diana, :) I love your blog. I just found it - you and I have had lots of nice email conversations. (I'm from the Happy Slob Blog.) I'll be back to visit often! Hugs, Christina "

Thank you for your nice comment. Coming from someone like you, it means a lot !
If anyone needs some earth-friendly and fast housekeeping tips, The Happy Slob blog and website is THE way to go folks. HappySlob site

I received a question today from - - - Anonymous :

"What about the natural fly /flea killing plant(Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium)?"

My answer is: Yes, it is a natural insecticide - BUT it can still have an effect on the "good bugs" and the honeybees, also fish, pets, and people too... so please be very careful if you do decide that you HAVE to use it.

For more information see these pages:

cdpr.ca.gov/docs

davesgarden.com/pf/go/63874

experts.about.com

Insect got you bugged? Additional natural options.

The website below offers advice and some organic methods:

G H Organics

Insect Repellant or other Plant Qualities

Basil -- Flies, Mosquitoes, Asparagus Beetle, Tomato Worm

Borage-- attracts bees, deters tomato worm, (the cucumber flavored petals are great in salads too)

Calendula -- Asparagus Beetles, Tomato Worms (products with this are said to have skin healing properties)

Caraway -- repells ants and flea beetles

Catnip -- Ants, Aphids, Cockroaches, Flea Beetle, Japanese Beetles (makes a relaxing "people" tea and can make your cat feel like a kitten again)

Chervil -- deters slugs

Chrysanthemum -- Mexican Bean Beetle

Cosmos-- Mexican Bean Beetle

Coriander -- Aphids

Dandelion -- Colorado Potato Beetle (The leaves are great in salads... and the petals make great jelly and wine...)

Fennel-- Fleas

Feverfew -- attracts aphids away from roses so can be used as a "trap plant"

Flax -- Potato Beetle

FOUR-O'CLOCKS - one of my Grandmother's favorites -- Kills Japanese beetles (poisonous to humans)

Garlic -- Aphids, Japanese Beetles, Spider Mites, Ants

Geranium-- Cabbage Worm, Red Spider Mite, Japanese Beetle

Horseradish-- Potato Beetle

Hyssop -- Cabbage Moth

Larkspur -- kills japanese beetles (poisonous to humans)

Lavender-- Mice, Ticks, Moths (Great for aromatherapy and to freshen the air in your home too)

Leeks -- repel carrot flies

Lemon Balm -- Use to ward off squash bugs (Makes a great lemon flavored tea...)

Marigold -- Mexican Bean Beetle, Nematodes, aphids, Colorado Potato Beetles and whiteflies

The Mint Family -- Ants, Aphids, Cabbage Moth, Fleas, Mice

Mole Plant -- Mice, Moles

Nasturtium -- White Flies, Squash Bugs, Striped Pumpkin Beetle, Wooly Aphid on apple trees (The petals give salads... a spicy flavor)

Oregano-- Cabbage Butterfly, Cucumber Beetle

Parsley-- Beetles (Chewing on it can freshen breath if you're in a pinch)

Pennyroyal-- Fleas, Flies, Mosquitoes

Pot Marigold -- Asparagus Beetle, Tomato Worm

Radish -- Cucumber Beetle, Flea Beetles

Rosemary-- Bean Beetles, Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly

Sage -- Bean beetle, Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly, Slugs

Summer Savory -- bean beetles

Sunflower-- Armyworm

Tansy-- Ants, Fleas, Flies, Japanese Beetle, Moths, Striped Cucumber Beetles, Squash Bugs (poisonous to humans DO NOT EAT)

Thyme --Cabbage Worm

Valerian -- Good anywhere in garden

Yarrow -- plant near aromatic herbs to enhance production of essential oils, also attracts bees

Why an organic garden? - Beneficial Insects

Assassin Bug -- Caterpillars, Flies

Damsel fly --Aphids, Caterpillars, Leafhoppers, Thrips; attracted by: Alfalfa.

Ground Beetle --many Caterpillars, Cabbage Maggot, Colorado Potato Beetle Larvae, Cutworms, Slugs, Snails; attracted by: Clover.

Honeybee -- Pollinator for many crops

Hover Fly (Syrphid Fly) -- the larvae eat aphids, some beetles, some caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs and thrips

Lacewing --Aphids, Corn Earworms, Mites, Thrips

Lady Bug/Beetle --feasts on Aphids and is attracted by: morning glory vines, angelica, coreopsis, cosmos, sweet alyssum and tansy.

Praying Mantis -- Also eats beneficials, but not enough to want to keep them away

Soldier Beetle --eats Aphids, Beetle larvae, Caterpillars, Corn Rootworm, Cucumber Beetle, Grasshopper eggs-- attracted by: Goldenrod, Milkweed, Hydrangea

Tachinid Fly --Caterpillars

Yellowjacket -- Flies, caterpillars


Many beneficial insects like hoverflies are attracted to: Sweet Alyssum, Buckwheat, Cilantro, Fennel, Mustard, Yarrow, chamomile, asters, cornflower, black-eyed Susans and marigolds.

Beneficial predator insects are attracted to these pollen and nectar plants :Carrot, Catnip, Coneflowers, Daisy, Dill, Fennel, Goldenrod, Lemon Balm, Mint, Parsley, Peppermint, Spearmint, Thyme, Yarrow.

Organic Gardening isn't scary... - it's NATURAL!

If we were all better Gardeners/Farmers who paid attention to the natural order of things and worked WITH nature, we wouldn't need poisons or artificial fertilizers....
If we looked for the cause of a problem and networked with others around us, we would find that there are indeed others who have come up with observations and have noticed some natural solutions to gardening/farming problems.

Sometimes the answer is to plant extra and allow for "sharing" with the critters. Sometimes it's planting several varieties to compensate for plant diseases or insect infestations. Many times, companion planting can solve the insect problem. Most of the time the "good" bugs will take care of the problem for us IF WE DON'T PANIC - because when some people panic, they tend to want to go crazy and spray everything in site killing ALL the insects including butterflies, bees, and eventually the birds... that dine on the insects.

These chemicals also get into our air, water, and food.... And people wonder WHY we need so many doctors.

This mindset of "modern gardening" reminds me of most modern medicine. You have a pain/problem... a doctor gives you a pain reliever. The doctor usually doesn't seek the source of the pain so you get the pain again. The doctor gives you stronger and stronger medicines.... Eventually, you have kidney or liver failure because your body can't take the poisoning anymore.
If the doctor would have bothered to check, as every one of us should insist upon, perhaps he/she would have noticed that your pain was only caused by too little or the wrong exercise.
I know people who complain for 6+ months out of the year about thier back. They take medicines and see doctors and chiropractors.... Almost magically it seems, the pain is gone all summer and most of the fall. What is this mystery ?
They are couch potatoes until it is time to work in the garden.
All of a sudden they are getting the needed exercise and VOILA !
- the pain is gone.

Day one !

I decided to try my hand at creating my own blog.

Diana's Organic Garden will focus on my gardens, the how-to of creating and maintaining an organic garden, the joys of small town-rural living in my hometown of Hubbard Ohio, my family, and my little gift shop.

I have a gift, craft and antique shop in Hubbard, Ohio that features goat milk soaps, glycerin soaps, potpourris, drawer sachets, car air fresheners, eye pillows, neck pillows, shoe deodorizers and etcetera made from the flowers, herbs, fruits ... that are grown in my organic garden.

My shop - Diana's - also features handmade items ranging from hand-crocheted hats to hand loomed-woven throw rugs.
I have a whole room that is especially dedicated to handcrafted and/or vintage-antique items.

Recycling is also very important to me as I believe it goes hand in hand with organic gardening.
Most of my soap molds are items that I saved to reuse-recycle.
All of my vegetable plants, flowers, herbs, fruits ... are either eaten, are used in my aromatherapy products, in my sachets-air fresheners ... or are composted in order to feed next years organic garden.