Nutritional Boost and Flavor

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1 Chive Flowers Add a Nutritional Boost and Flavor What are chive flowers? Most of us are familiar with the chive plant and the added flavor it brings to soups, salads and other recipes. The pretty puff balls of violet petals growing out from the green grassy chives are chive flowers. Their delicate aroma and pretty color add an interesting flair to food. Chives are a hardy perennial herb that grows well in most places. Chives are in the Allium genus as are onions, leeks, shallots and scallions. The flavor is mildly like onion. To use in cooking it is recommended that you snip with scissors as opposed to cutting with a knife.

2 When to harvest chive flowers Personally, I like to leave the blossoms on the plant as long as I can, but the best flavor is soon after they bloom. The pretty color is attractive in the herb garden and the bees will welcome this early blooming flower. Once I see quite a few blooms, I snip most of them into a small basket. The chives can be harvested over and over throughout the growing season. Lightly fertilize to keep the growth going. If you want to freeze or dehydrate, snip the green stems, and then package for freezing or lay on dehydrator tray until dried. When cooking, preparation. add the chives towards the end of the Use Chive Flowers in Vinegar The goodness of the blooms can be saved in vinegar. Using the method outlined in this post, place the blossoms in a jar, cover with vinegar, cap the jar and let it infuse! Using a light vinegar such as white wine or champagne vinegar, works best. I used Asian Rice Vinegar, because for some reason I had two bottles of it in my pantry! The steps are simple. Rinse the flowers if you see any insects Place the chive flowers in a pint size mason jar.

3 Pour vinegar into the jar until the flowers are covered or fill the jar. Shake gently. Shake every few days during the process. After about a month in a dark cabinet, you can strain out the flowers and keep the vinegar for cooking or making dressings. Use in Oil Add chives and chive flowers to a jar. Pour in the oil. Cap and let infuse for a few weeks, in a dark cabinet. If you are going to use the oil soon, you can try infusing it with sunlight and warmth. Rancidity can result, so use caution when infusing oil. Mix your chive blossom vinegar and your chive oil to make a

4 delicious salad dressing. Adding Chive Flowers Fresh to Foods and Salads Chives are frequently used as a fresh garnish on cooked food. Often seen topping sour cream on a baked potato, the fresh or dried chives can do so much more! You can enjoy the chive flowers, fresh, in salads and soups, right from the garden! Just rinse and dry on a paper towel. Add to the dish and enjoy. Here s a yummy cracker that you can make using chives for flavor. Making chive butter is a delicious way to change things up a little. Whip up the butter and add snips of fresh or dried chives or chive flowers.

5 Health Benefits of Chives Why are chives good for us? Both the chive and the chive flowers add nutritional support to our bodies. Some evidence has been reported that chives will combat Salmonella and other bacteria. Yes chives act to rid the body of bacteria, and other icks like yeast and fungi. That s pretty amazing! Just a tablespoon of chives added to your soup or salad can give a significant amount of calcium, potassium, beta carotene, vitamin K and folic acid. Chives in the Garden Companion planting of chives and Strawberries was a surprise to me. I never would have guessed that growing chives near the strawberries would convince the squirrels to leave my strawberries alone! But it did work and now I have strawberry off shoots growing in my chive pots.

6 Chives will also keep bugs away from tomatoes, carrots and rose bushes. Would you like more information on other herbs commonly found in our herb gardens? Lavender is a favorite of many people and has many benefits for our health, too. Sage is good herb for digestion and adds antioxidants to your diet. Combine sage with rosemary, parsley and mints for a strong tea that fights inflammation.

7 What herbs are you growing in your garden this year? The following articles were helpful resources in the writing of this post: Indie Herbalist Joybilee Farm Grow a Good Life Grow Forage Cook Ferment Homespun Seasonal Living Favorite Herbs for Chicken Care Improve Chicken Health with Herbs for Calmer Hens and Better Egg Laying

8 Herbs in chicken care is an idea receiving more coverage lately. Growing herbs for chicken care pairs easily with growing food for your family. The same herbs can be grown for both home and coop. Herbs in chicken care can include adding herbs to the chicken food, the nest boxes, and when cleaning. Herbal use benefits general health, pest and parasite prevention, wound and illness treatment and promotes egg laying. With over 36 commonly found and grown herbs to choose from, how do you make a choice of what to grow in a small garden? Let me tell you some of my favorite herbs for chicken care Herbs for Chicken Care in the Nest Box Most of the chicken keepers I know are raising hens for eggs.

9 Of course it would be important to encourage egg laying in reluctant hens. Some herbs are especially good at stimulating egg laying, nesting, and relaxing. Relaxed, happy hens lay delicious eggs, right? Adding the following herbs to you nest boxes can help. Marjoram, Fennel, Nasturtium, Parsley and Mint Don t be alarmed if your hens eat the herbs. herbs are safe for chickens to eat. All culinary For dark rich looking egg yolks, consider Marigold, Dandelion Greens, and Basil. Make sure to only use dandelions from lawns not treated with chemical weed killers or fertilizers.

10 Herbs for chicken care also includes pest prevention and repellent use. Sprinkling Lavender, Feverfew,and Rosemary around the coop and particularly in the nest boxes will work on repelling rodents and various insects and parasites. Adding mint to both the interior of the coop, the nesting boxes, and planting some around the exterior of the coop will ward off rodents and many insects. Adding herbs makes everything smell much better to us. The vermin don t appreciate a fresh smelling coop and stay away. Calendula, Chamomile, Cornflower, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosebuds and Spearmint and more are mixed for a pleasant but not overpowering aroma. I actually don t mind cleaning the coop, when I get to be around the herbs! IF You Don t Grow Herbs. I often use a product called Herbs for Hens, Coop Confetti. This product comes in eco friendly packaging, and wow, what a beautiful smell when you open the bag. It is meant to be added

11 to the nest boxes and coop bedding as an herbal supplement and pest repellent. Herbs calm the hens so they are encouraged to lay more eggs. And those pesky mice don t appreciate the mint and lavender very much. It s hard to say if egg production was up due to the herbs in the bedding. During the spring when I first began using the product, egg production was naturally increasing. But I can say that the hens liked the herbs added to the nests. More nest boxes were used this year, with the Herbs for Hens in the nests. The coop smelled fresh and during fly season, adding the herbal blend repelled the flies, noticeably.

12 If you don t grow your own herbs and botanicals, I do suggest treating you and your hens to a bag of Coop Confetti!

13 How to use herbs for chicken care and parasite control Herbs for chicken care can include the prevention and treatment of certain infections and internal parasite control. Oregano and sage used together, can control salmonella, coccidiosis, and other parasitic intestinal issues. And, while doing that job, the herbs will be adding to the health of your chickens! Just snip the herbs into small pieces and add to their food. My chickens immediately eat the herbs from their food. Nasturtium, dandelion and lavender also play a role in prevention and antiseptic needs in the coop.

14 Herbal Cleaning for the Coop And of course herbs for chicken care includes using the herbs for cleaning. I make a natural cleaner out of vinegar and lemon or orange peels. Add mint leaves, let steep for a couple months in a mason jar. Strain out the solids and store the liquid in a mason jar. Pour into a spray bottle to use. The herbs you use for chicken care can be used fresh or dried. Both are effective but if fresh is available, I recommend using the fresh first. Have you started using herbs with your chickens and other livestock? Tell me what works best for you!

15 Jewelweed Anti Itch Relief from the Woods Jewelweed or Touch-Me-Not is a tall green weed with oval, toothed leaves. It seems to grow prolifically in ditches, and other undisturbed areas. It loves moisture and soft soil. According to one of my plant handbooks it is considered an annual herb. Jewelweed grows up to five feet high, although the patch I found was not as tall.

16 There are two varieties of Jewelweed. One is the spotted type and the other is referred to as the yellow flowered jewelweed. I am not sure which one we have growing on our property because it didn t have a lot of spots but it had a bit of spotting. Maybe we have both varieties. The flowers lend a bit of fun to a hike. When touched, the small flower recoils, then shoots out it s seeds! How fun is that? That s how it received the name, Touch-Me-Not. Another name it is found under is Snapweed and sometimes Pale Jewel Weed. The scientific names are Impatiens biflora and Impatiens pallida. One day, a friend posted on social media that he was teaching the kids in his naturalist class about Jewelweed. I asked him to bring me some. His response made me laugh. Apparently we had a large patch of it growing along our driveway! I had been driving by the pretty little yellow flowers for weeks, not knowing what they were. And that was a good lesson for me, to slow down and spend more time looking at what I am looking at!

17 Jewelweed as a Food You can prepare Jewelweed to eat as you can some other wild greens. To me, it seems a bit labor intensive but this is good to know if we ever need to eat wild greens for survival. The recommendations I read say you should boil the smaller, shorter plants twice, for 10 to 15 minutes, draining each time. Jewelweed can be served with salt and butter. There is a caution about eating this plant. Jewelweed contains an abundance of calcium oxalate crystals. Eating a lot of TouchMe-Not could lead to kidney stones or other kidney/urinary problems. The seeds from the pods are also edible and it s reported they have a nutty flavor. Jewelweed as a Medicinal Herb Since we are fortunately not in a survival scenario, I prefer to use the wild herbs for medicinal uses and making herbal lotions and balms. One of the best benefits from Touch-Me-Not is the juice contained in the plant stem. This juice provides anti itch relief, and is effective at neutralizing poison ivy oils. Therefore, its a great, quick fact to know when spending time in the woods. Jewelweed is often found growing

18 nearby poison ivy. If you touch it, look for some jewelweed, break open the stem and apply the juice to your skin. pin me! How to Preserve Jewelweed for Later Since this is a pretty effective plant to have around, how can you preserve the benefits for later. This is where I ran into a bit of discrepancy while researching this herb. Most sites I found state that the liquid in the stem is only effective fresh or frozen. For some reason, I had a hard time believing this and contacted a few herbalists that I know personally. Reformation Acres and Faerie Springs Farm Quinn from Reformation Acres has information on Four Ways to Preserve Jewelweed. This is what I was looking for! She uses it in her soaps which can be found here. The extracts, soap and lotions she makes make a difference in her family s itchy

19 skin relief. While I have not had the pleasure of trying Reformation Acres Skin Care products, another friend, Suzanne from Faerie Springs Farm has products that I do use regularly. In additon, I contacted Suzanne about my confusion. Suzanne does much the same thing that Quinn does with Jewelweed. Try using it fresh during the summer and dried in an oil infusion, for making salves and lotions. Here is what Suzanne wrote : I actually dry the whole plant. Hangs in my drying room then I crumple and bag. I use it in soaps and lotions by infusing the oils with it. I also have made a tea for soap, but the color doesn t stay as pretty. When it s fresh in the summer I still dry it, specifically to get that pesky water out for the itch cream. Suzanne also reminded me that this is in her Anti Itching balm that I had. Checked the label and sure enough there is the Jewelweed in the ingredient listing. I know this works because I have used it myself. My Action Plan How do I look at the discrepancy in the information available? You might find that the fresh juice is the most effective way

20 to use the remedy, but that doesn t mean the dried infused way doesn t offer relief. I am not a trained herbalist so I need to leave the question for others to answer. I can tell you that I will be making some salve from the last of the Jewelweed on our farm, before it withers for the winter. My instructions for making an infused oil with botanical ingredients can be found in this post. Let me know how it works out for you, too. Read more on this subject > click on image to go to the post

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22 Container Gardens for Fall and Winter Indoor Growing Indoor container gardens are the perfect way to extend the growing season for some of your favorite edible herbs and greens. Now is the time to begin planning or planting a container garden that can be brought inside before the first frost. Recently, I planted a couple of small gardens that I plan to carry into the house. Right now it is 100 degrees in the shade and plenty humid but planning ahead for the fall growing season is a must. What to Plant in a Container Garden I have a handful of favorite herbs that I like to have growing fresh all year long. The rest of my herb container gardens spend the winter on our unheated glassed in porch. There, they are protected from the harshest of conditions, yet still

23 go into a dormant, restful time. As the weather starts to cool to near freezing, I either carry the whole container inside or split the plant and bring small pots of certain larger herbs plants inside for winter. This has worked well for me the last few years. If I need a few mint leaves I can open the porch door and grab a few from the sleeping plant. No new leaves are being produced but I can still use the ones that are there. Planting Gardens Decorative Container The first garden I put together doesn t contain any edible plants. I actually was shopping at one of my favorite local garden centers and they had small terrarium or mini garden plants on sale. My collection of garden miniatures now being covered by the overgrown herb garden could be add to a new dish garden. My collection of enamel ware from flea market sales and would be a perfect basin to use for the garden. I purchased a few plants. When I got home, I decide to add my bonsai tree to the garden too. It adds some height to the landscape. Gather the Supplies The first step to the mini container garden construction is to gather the items for the garden.

24 In this container garden I used miniature terrarium or houseplants. It serves the purpose of a creative little garden that is fun to look at. My grandchildren love to find the miniature world hiding in the garden.

25 Place a layer of stone in the bottom of your container gardens for good drainage. Add the potting soil and I also added some perlite to the soil for extra air and drainage. Container gardens have the tendency to compact and become soggy. Adding the perlite will keep the soil from clumping together.

26 Planting the Garden I planted the tiny plants around the basin. I left tree planted in it s own pot. If it doesn t do well the garden, I can pull it out and move it to location. I am actually so surprised that I have tree alive for three years. the bonsai as part of a better kept this

27 The Finishing Touches Once moss then only soil I had the plants where I liked them, I took a sheet of that I purchased at the garden center. Soak the moss and pull pieces of it and arrange around the garden. Not does it look pretty, it serves to keep moisture in the longer.

28 Finally, the real fun begins. Place your decorations and miniatures around their garden world. I prefer to tuck mine into little vignettes.

29 I have always been a kid at heart and I hope I never lose that sense of fun and whimsy.

30 Planting Garden an Indoor Herbal Food For a more usable style of container garden, plant culinary and medicinal herbs. The second container garden has five of my favorite herbs to use during the winter. Thyme for colds, and respiratory infections, including cough suppression. Brew in a tea or make an infusion using vodka or coconut oil Oregano great immunity boosting herb. I use it in cooking mostly. You can use it fresh or dried. It s great to have on hand for any chickens or animals that get sick or sniffly during the winter too. Both Oregano and Thyme are good for supplementing immune systems, digestive tracts and respiratory systems.

31 Mint A delicious herb to use in cooking, for flavor and garnish. Mint can be used for freshening and cleaning. Add some to a spray bottle of vinegar or vodka is a natural counter top cleaning spray. In the fall, mint spray will help deter pests from seeking shelter in your house as the nights get chilly. Parsley Used for flavor in many recipes. Also used as a garnish on food. The leaves are full of nutrition and Parsley is a good green to take to the chickens when they need some fresh greens. Lavender Mostly I plant Lavender because I love Lavender. It grows well in pots with other herbs, When it flowers I snip off the stem and dry the stalk to add to my wool storage. Lavender repels pests and insects that might hide in my yarn inventory and damage the skeins of yarn. Add Lavender to sugar for a different flavor. It is delicious added to baked goods, too. You can learn more about many herbs and their properties for health and healing in this post with printable charts.

32 Of course I had to add some miniature vignette scenes to this container garden too. This is going to be my indoor herb garden this winter, while the majority of my fresh herbs will be allowed to go dormant or die out during the winter. These two container gardens are ready to come inside when ever the frost date gets near. Until then they will stay outside, enjoying the late summer sun and humidity. Watering Container Gardens I find the watering the hardest part of growing in container gardens. When the weather is hot and the garden is sitting in the sun, the container dries out much faster than I would expect. When inside, where the heat and humidity are easier to control, the gardens seem to need much less water.

33 Of course this is what you would expect but how do you know when to water? I use the good old fashioned method of sticking my finger a few inches into the soil. If it feels dry, I water the garden! If it feels moist I might spray with a spray bottle. Roots can rot in improperly drained soil, so try not to over water and end up with soggy soil. If possible, set the garden in the sun to dry and do not water until the soil feels dry again. It is a bit of a game trying to get the watering amount just right. What do you grow indoors in container gardens during the winter?

34 Growing, Preserving and Storing Garden Fresh Herbs Growing garden fresh herbs in our backyard has been one of the more rewarding activities on the homestead. Use fresh herbs in your homestead cooking. Add them to a sauce, recipe or dessert. Growing herbs also gives you quick access to the healing properties of the plants. Tinctures, salves, and extracts can be made in a few hours to a few weeks, when growing garden fresh herbs. Planting Herbs I have planted my garden fresh herbs in containers the last few years. As the weather starts getting chilly, I can pick up the containers and put them in a warmer location for fall. Last year, quite a few of my containers survived the winter and continued through to this spring and summer. Last year,

35 during the summer, I had the boxes and containers on our deck where they received part sun and part shade throughout the day. I checked for moisture frequently during the week and watered when the soil was dry or if they herbs were wilting. I watched the basil and sage, in particular and they let me know when to water. The only other maintenance was picking off dead pieces or straggly pieces and pinching off some growth now and then. The basil and marjoram needed more shade than the others, so they were moved into the screen porch and did much better there. Using the Garden Fresh Herbs Garden fresh herbs are always best! The softer herbs like basil, parsley, and cilantro can be stood up in a glass with a couple of inches of water. Keep at room temperature. Fresh herbs will last 3 to 7 days. Do not use if leaves are turning brown or if mold appears. Chives, Rosemary, and Thyme are best kept fresh in the refrigerator. Wrap loosely in plastic wrap, maybe add a crumpled piece of paper towel to keep moisture away. Store on the door portion of the refrigerator where the temperature is warmer. Rinse before using in cooking.

36 Preserving Garden Fresh Herbs for Later I used a few methods to use and preserve my herbs for cooking. Air Drying Drying herbs can be accomplished in a few ways. Tie the stems together and hang upside down in a cool dry area. Let air dry. Microwave method Microwave herbs between layers of paper towels using 30 second intervals. Basil is one herb that particularly lends itself to microwave drying. Using an Electric Dehydrator. Store dried herbs in air tight jars, containers, or plastic bags.

37 Freezing Freezing is also an option for storing herbs for later use. Lay the herb leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. When frozen, store in plastic bags or freezer containers in the freezer. Another option freeze in ice cube trays in olive oil. When frozen, remove from trays and store in bags in the freezer. When using your stored garden fresh herbs, remember that drying concentrates the flavors. Use 1/4 to 1/3 less. Herb Categories Did you know that there are some general classifications for herbs? Some are referred to as culinary and others are in a category called medicinal. Growing garden fresh herbs gives

38 you access to a medical and culinary garden right in your back yard. Culinary Herbs Culinary herbs are used as food flavoring and are usually added to food during the later part of the cooking process, for best flavor. Some of the common herbs used in cooking include basil, mint, rosemary, oregano, thyme, cilantro, parsley, chives, dill, sage, tarragon, and marjoram. Medicinal Herbs The herbs with medicinal properties include, basil, chamomile, echinacia, feverfew, lavender, lemon balm, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage/salvia, thyme, marjoram. As you can see, there are some herbs that are in both categories. Growing garden fresh herbs will not only add healthy nutrition and flavor to your cooking, it will add beauty to your garden and feed the bees, too. The herbs will be available all winter if you use these methods to preserve and store your garden fresh harvest. If you liked this post, you can save it to pinterest using this image! Thanks so much.

39 Looking for more information on raising herbs for teas, infusions, and extracts? You may like this post. Step Into Herb Gardening here are some other resources for you to enjoy Grow Herbs Indoors this Winter by Fresh Eggs Daily Healing Herbs for the Homesteaders Garden by MomPrepares Preserving the Harvest Drying Herbs and Greens by Little Sprouts Learning Grow Herbs Indoors by Grow a Good Life

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