Simply Nettle

     Each plant is made up of thousands of chemicals. This is why so many herbs are useful for so many different things. I have a handful of herbs that are my “go to” herbs for just about everything I need. Today I'm going to share one of my favorites out of that list. Nettle.

     Stinging Nettle, or Urtica dioca, is the most commonly used nettle, but you can also use the Florida native nettle in the same ways. The Florida nettle is Urtica chamaedryoides, commonly known as either heart leaf nettle, or fireweed. Nettles are notorious for their “sting,” which is why the heart leaf nettle has the name “fireweed.” They have little hairs all over their leaves and stems which contain a toxic compound. These hairs are more like tiny needles that inject this compound into whatever touches them. This compound is actually very very similar to the toxin used by fire ants. Depending on the species of nettle you might have come across, the sting can last for as little as 7 minutes, or go on for several hours. Unfortunately the heart leaf nettle is one nettle with a really long sting, as well as being one of the smaller nettles. Despite all of this, throughout history humans have eaten nettles. Once you cook them, the “sting” goes away so that they are safe to consume. Several different cultures have adapted nettles into their diets, so much so that almost every culture has a form of nettle soup. But the most common way that nettle is eaten, is as a potherb. Basically this means that you pick a pot full of nettle, add a little moisture, and cook it. Those of us in the South might immediately think of dishes such as collard greens, or mustard greens. Yup. That's how people usually cook nettle. And, it's delicious!

     All parts of the nettle plant can be used both in the kitchen and for medicinal benefit. There are slight variations as to how you use the root verses the above-ground parts. I tend to mainly use the leaves and stems, largely because I order the dried leaves in bulk, but also because I can continually harvest the leaves while digging up the root can only be done once. However, the root does offer some amazing benefits that may be worth it if you have a particularly prolific patch of nettles in your garden or yard. You can easily purchase nettle leaf in it's dried form at most herb purveyors. However you can also find it as a tincture (an alcohol extract), as a tea, or as a capsule. Some places also have nettle root tinctures. You can also find it easily in nature. Just remember to wear thick gloves when you harvest.

Medicinal Uses:

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)- Nettles are cool and dry. They nourish the yin, which is the quiet, cooling, and moistening fluid (and nature) of the body. Nettle strengthens and heals the lungs, nourishes the skin, detoxifies the body, reduces tumors, dissolves stones, drains fluids, dries damp conditions, reduces infection, builds blood, enriches both liver and kidney yin, stops bleeding and hemorrhage, helps regulate metabolism, nourishes connective tissue, promotes lactation, and replenishes blood after giving birth.

Ayurveda- Nettles are an excellent rasayana (rejuvenator) and nourishing tonic, especially for the kidneys and adrenals. They increase ojas, which is the essence that gives strength to the body, improves immunity, and takes care of the well-being of the body as a whole. Nettle stimulates the actions of the liver and kidneys, which helps to detoxify the body. Nettles help to clear excess pitta and kapha from the system which helps to improve skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis. In mild doses, it can help to alleviate common vata conditions in the intestines (gas, bloating, etc), but it can increase vata when taken in excess.

Allergies- Nettles are amazingly anti-inflammatory which helps in a lot of situations. However one major effect this has is that nettle helps improve the symptoms of hay fever. Nettles also contain a pretty high amount of histamine, which one might think is bad for allergies, but is actually one of the reasons nettles help to reduce the amount of allergy attacks you may have in allergy season. For hay fever, I recommend making a super strong tea, with nettle leaves, and drinking it throughout the day. You can improve the flavor with mint, but I like it just by itself.

Nourishment- Nettle is considered a super food because of it's high content of vitamins and minerals. Nettles are a great source of the vitamins A, C, D, and K, as well as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and sulfur. Nettles are also a major source of plant-based protein.

Pregnancy- Not only is nettle a great source of vitamins and minerals that are needed for both mom and baby, they also help to improve the health of your reproductive system as a whole. This makes it easier to conceive, carry, and deliver a child. Nettle also helps prepare your uterus for the process of labor, helping to speed up the labor process, especially when used with red raspberry leaves. You can make a strong tea of nettle and raspberry leaves, then freeze it so that mom can suck on herbal ice during labor. The high amounts of vitamin K helps prevent hemorrhage during labor as well, as it's a major blood clotting agent. I usually recommend drinking a strong raspberry and nettle infusion 3 times a day during the last few weeks of your pregnancy, and once a day for the entire pregnancy. Use caution in the first trimester as nettle also stimulates menstrual flow, so consuming to much at the beginning of your pregnancy could cause some problems. However, after the first trimester, nettle is perfectly safe to use on a regular basis.

Arthritis- For hundreds of years, little old ladys have been harvesting nettles bare handed. Eek! However, they have a great reason for doing so. Nettles have a great anti-inflammatory effect, as well a pain relieving effect on arthritic joints. Even the sting can help reduce arthritis pain. Now it's not necessary, as you can get many of the same effects by drinking nettle tea, but it is one way to help ease arthritic symptoms.

Cardiovascular Health- The combination of vitamin C and iron help to stimulate blood cell production. This combination also makes nettles ideal to help prevent and treat anemia. There have also been several studies that show nettles have an effect on lowering blood pressure, so check with your doctor if you are on blood pressure medications.

Urinary and Prostate Health- Nettle is useful to help tone the kidneys as well as to break down both gallbladder and kidney stones. It's also a diuretic which helps the body get rid of toxins faster. This can help prevent infections. But nettle has a special place in prostate health as well. It helps to prevent prostate growth, but it cannot reduce growth, just prevent it.

Skin, Hair, and Nail- Along with providing the proper vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy skin, hair, and nails, nettle also works well externally. Salves including nettle can help with many burns, eczema, and psoriasis. Nettle salves can also help speed healing, reduce the appearance of scars, and help keep your skin looking young. Washes (strong teas) made with nettle help to reduce instances of acne, itchy scalp, and dandruff. These same washes help stimulate hair growth in cases of thinning hair.

Summary of actions- Traditionally used in Europe as a blood purifier and blood builder. Nettle is nutritive, hypotensive, diuretic, laxative, antioxidant, astringent, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, sedative, nervine, anti-anaphylactic, anti-rheumatic, anti-asthmatic, anti-convulsant, anti-dandruff, anti-histamine, decongestant, depurative, hemostatic, galactagogue, immunomodulator, hypoglycaemic, and CNS-depressant. Nettle is both a prostate tonic and stimulating tonic.

I only included a basic introduction to this amazing herb. I hope you have learned a new appreciation for how amazing nettle is. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

References:

April Crowell: Nourishing with Stinging Nettles: http://aprilcrowell.com/asian-medicine/nourishing-with-stinging-nettles/

Chinese Herbs: Stinging Nettle and it's Multiple Benefits: http://www.chinese-herbs.org/stinging-nettle/

Herb Wisdom: Stinging Nettle Benefits: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-nettle.html

Medicinal Plants: Stinging Nettle: http://medicinalplants.us/stinging-nettle-background-actions

Organic Facts: 11 Amazing Benefits of Stinging Nettle: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/stinging-nettle.html

Purusha Ayurveda: Nettles, an Ayurvedic Perspective: http://www.purushaayurveda.com/articles/2016/3/24/nettles-the-ayurvedic-perspective

Wellness Mama: Nettle Herb Profile: https://wellnessmama.com/4807/nettle-herb-profile/

Whole New Mom: 7 Proven Health Benefits of Stinging Nettle: https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/benefits-of-stinging-nettle/

Easy Compost Tea

     It's the time of year where people are venturing out into their gardens after a long winter. Or in the case of us Floridians, after a long, hot, drought. What better way to celebrate the change in seasons but with compost? Seriously, compost! You know, that mushy mess you've been stirring, trying to turn it into healthy plant food. One of the best ways to nourish your garden is by utilizing compost and brewing compost tea.

What in the world is compost tea?

     Compost tea is a liquid fertilizer for your plants. Most gardeners consider it “liquid gold.” It's super rich in nutrients, well-balanced, and organic. By brewing compost tea, you enhance the already amazing effects of your compost by adding oxygen. Compost tea helps to increase plant growth, provides fast-acting and quickly absorbed nutrients, provides beneficial organisms (like bacteria) to help boost your plant's immunity, helps suppress diseases and ward off pests, and goes a long way to replace toxic garden chemicals. The best part about compost tea, however, is that if you compost, you can make it year-round, for free!

What do you need to start?

     To start brewing all you really need is well-finished compost (compost that has been broken down into tiny particles. The best place to find this is at the bottom of your compost bin. You don't need much to make a decent batch of compost tea.), a 10-gallon bucket, and a water source. You can also aerate your compost tea by adding a pump to keep the tea moving around, providing a continual oxygen boost. Also optional is a commercial catalyst that can help jump-start the growth of all the beneficial microbes present in your compost.

What to do

     The first step is to fill your bucket 1/3 of the way full with your compost. Then you add water to the top of the bucket. Now if you're using tap water, make sure that you have let it set out for at least a day to get rid of the chlorine, which can kill all those beneficial microbes you want to grow. After adding your water, let the tea steep for 3-4 days, stirring occasionally. After this time, strain the liquid for use.

     You can brew this simple tea, or you can boost the nutrient quality of it by adding a sugar source and/or more nutritious substances. The sugar source, like unsulphered molasses, provides food for the microbes. Powdered seaweed, or fish emulsion, are great to help boost the nutrient quality of your tea. You can also let your compost tea sit for up to a week to make it concentrated.

How to use this tea:

     You can use compost tea in several ways, the easiest of which is by simply pouring it, undiluted and/or unfiltered, onto the soil around your hardy trees and shrubs. You can also dilute it for use on your more delicate or container-bound plants. 10 parts water to 1 part tea is a good start for diluting. You can also use it as a foliar spray, directly on the leaves of the plant. For this you should dilute the tea and add 1/8 tsp of oil to the mix to help it adhere to the leaves.

I hope you enjoy making your compost tea! Feel free to ask questions or comment below! I also enjoy seeing pictures of your amazing gardens!

Resources:

HGTV: How to brew compost tea: http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/how-to-brew-compost-tea

Home Composting Made Easy: How to make compost tea: http://www.homecompostingmadeeasy.com/composttea.html

Mother Earth News: How to make aerated compost tea : http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/gardening-techniques/aerated-compost-tea-zebz1307zsie

Basic Nutrition for a Happy Pup

     Dogs are a man's best friend. And woman's too! So how do we keep our best friend happy and healthy? One solution is to take great care in their diet. I usually recommend making your own dog food, then supplementing with, good quality, store bought foods. However, even if you just use store bought food, learning the basics of your pooch's nutritional needs can help you help them live a long, happy and healthy life.

To start, here's a basic introduction to nutrition for dogs.

     There are 6 major classes of nutrients: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. A well balanced diet contains a good amount of all 6. For energy needs, we count calories which are determined by proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Vitamins and mineral are essential for proper immune and bodily functions. Water, is by far one of the most important nutrients as most life on earth is made up of at least 70% water.

     Proteins provide the building blocks of cell growth, repair, and maintenance. In domesticated animals, proteins are mostly used for the maintenance of fur and hair. They are made up of 20 amino acids, 10 of which are produced in the body. The other 10, termed “essential amino acids,” must come from the diet. Arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalnine, theronine, tryptophan, and valine are these essential amino acids. If the diet is lacking in just one of them, the body cannot make proteins effectively. Animal proteins are much more bioavailable, and therefore easier for the body to use, than plant proteins.

     Fats provide the most concentrated form of energy as well as fatty acids which are essential for maintaining normal, healthy cells. They also help in absorbing fat soluble vitamins such as the vitamins A, E, D, and K. Not to mention, fats just taste good. However, there are two fatty acids that are super important for normal cellular activity, omega-3 and omega-6. Most animals need more omega-6 than omega-3 to maintain health.

     Though most commercial dog food is largely made up of carbohydrates, dogs don't really need to consume carbohydrates for energy, they get that from protein and fats. However, whole grains provide more than empty carbs. They can provide essential vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. Carbohydrates also come from fruits and vegetables which offer many more nutrients as well.

     Vitamins and minerals are essential for daily function of the body. Having a diet deficient in any of them could cause major health issues. Both vitamins and minerals are needed in small amounts, but the important thing is to remember the balance. Balance is especially important with minerals because if you have too much of one, you might interfere with the absorption and usage of another.

But what does this all mean?

     When you're buying dog food, make sure that the listed ingredients are whole foods. Ingredients are listed in order of quantity, largest amount to least amount. Check to make sure the meats are listed first. Try to find food that lists a specific type(s) of meat and not a generic “meat” meal. Aim for products that use natural preservatives such as tocopherols (Vitamin E) and Vitamin C. Natural antioxidants (rosemary extract) can also be used as preservatives. Avoid by-products (meat or otherwise), sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and artificial preservatives.

     If you decide to make your own dog food, there are a few other things to keep in mind. First, raw food is a great thing to add in to your dog's diet. The canine digestive track is naturally able to fight most food-born illnesses off. However, dogs are one of the more domesticated animals in the world and sometimes need a little extra help. I recommend making a dog food of 70% cooked and 30% raw for maximum nutrient absorption. What works best for my home is spending one day a week cooking a little extra food for the pup and keeping that refrigerated. I also take some time, that same day, to mix up a bit of raw food, pre-portion it out, and freeze the portions. When I go to bed at night, I pull out one portion and place it in the fridge for the pup's breakfast. I mix the raw and the cooked together each meal. I also sprinkle in some tasty, nutritious herbs, such as nettle or turmeric. These herbs help increase vitamin and mineral intake as well as add to the flavor of the meal. A quick internet search can help you find several recipes to try. Having several good recipes on hand is a good way to make sure your furry friend gets all the best nutrition possible.

I hope this entry has helped introduce you to a good bit of the basics of canine nutrition. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!

Resources:

On the Web:

The Bark: Canine Nutrition Basics: http://thebark.com/content/canine-nutrition-basics

Pet Education: Nutrition and Feeding Dogs: http://www.peteducation.com/category.cfm?c=2+1659

Books:

Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care by Randy Kidd, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

     It's Spring! That means that all the green things are growing, all the animals are frisky, and it's time to savor the sweet tastes that come with all of this excitement. One of the flavor combinations I have always associated with this time of year is Lemon Poppy Seed. So I figured that I'd share my favorite recipe for Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf. It's a bright, cheerful sweetbread and can easily be eaten as breakfast, or a snack. One thing my husband and I enjoy is using this bread to make french toast.

A bit about Lemon and Poppy Seeds:

Lemon is well known for being high in vitamin C. It's also jam packed full of other vitamins and minerals including vitamin B6, niacin, and potassium. Lemon is full of antioxidants to help fight cancer. It also helps prevent diabetes, high blood pressure, and constipation. It improves the skin, teeth, and hair. Lemons are amazing little powerhouses of healthful goodness.

Poppy Seeds are rich in several vitamins and minerals including calcium. They help prevent vomiting, treat asthma and other breathing issues, reduce LDL levels while raising HDL levels, and can help prevent heart disease and/or stroke.

Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf

The Cake:

2 cups Gluten Free, All Purpose Flour (my favorite)

2 tablespoons Poppy Seed

1 tablespoon Lemon Zest

¾ tablespoon Baking Powder

1 tablespoon Baking Soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon Coconut Oil

1 tablespoon Organic Vanilla Extract

½ teaspoon Ground Chia Seed

¾ teaspoon Ground Flax Seed

3 tablespoons Water

¾ cup Raw, Local Honey (or Agave Nectar)

½ cup Plain (or Vanilla) Greek Yogurt (Soy or Coconut Yogurt would work too)

2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice

3 tablespoons Plain or Vanilla Almond Milk

The Honey Glaze:

1 ½ cups Raw, Local Honey

¼ cup Fresh Lemon Juice

½ cup Plain or Vanilla Almond Milk

Instructions:

Mix the ground Chia and Flax seeds with 3 tablespoons of water. Set aside for 10-20 minutes, or until it forms a gel. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and lightly coat a 9x5” pan with coconut oil (or cooking spray). Whisk together the flour, poppy seeds, lemon zest, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a different bowl, mix remaining ingredients, including the chia/flax mixture. Mix together both bowls, starting and ending with the dry ingredients (1/3 of the dry, ½ of the wet, etc). Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40-45 minutes (optional: cover the batter with foil for the first 30 minutes to prevent excessive browning). Let cool for about 10 minutes. While the loaf is cooling, mix together the ingredients for the glaze in a saucepan. Bring the glaze to a boil, over medium heat, continually stirring. Boil until the mixture is reduced by ¼. Let cool and pour over the cake. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy making this tasty springtime treat! If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!

Resources:

Home Remedies for You: Poppy Seeds : http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/herbs/poppy-seeds.html

Organic Facts: 15 Amazing Benefits of Lemon : https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-lemon.html

Upcoming Herbal Workshops

Spring 2017

For more information please contact the Florida School of Holistic Living in Orlando, FL

Echinacea

     There are a handful of herbs that have gained almost a cult following in recent years. St. Johns wort, ginko biloba, and echinacea all come to mind. All three are even listed in the top most popular herbalsupplements, a list published by Johns Hopkins health library not to long ago.

     There are several different species of echinacea, but the two most commonly used medicinally are Echinacea purpurea and E. angustifolia. The common name, here in America, is Purple Coneflower. Echinacea grows well in disturbed soil, preferably rocky, in prairies, open fields, or by railroad tracks.  The most commonly used parts of this plant are the roots and leaves, but the whole plant can be used medicinally. If you are specifically trying to use echinacea for it's Immunostimulant properties, it's best to make or find a double extraction tincture as the necessary constituents (natural chemicals) are extracted by both water and alcohol. Most online tutorials for double extraction tinctures involve mushrooms, but you can use echinacea in the recipes, instead of the mushrooms, and have no problems.

Medicinal Uses:

Summary of actions- Immunostimulant, depurative, vulnerary, lymphatic, sialagogue, antiseptic, mildly antibiotic, bacteriostatic, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-tumor.

Traditional Chinese Medicine- Known in Chinese Medicine as Zi Zhu Hua, echinacea is seen as a blood cleanser that also stimulates, restores, and dissolves. It works on both the lung and spleen meridians. It's used to activate immunity, restrain infection, clear toxins, reduce inflammation, resolve tumors, relieve pain, promote tissue repair, cause sweating, release the exterior, scatter wind heat, dredge the kidneys, enliven the lymph, and restore the stomach.

Immunostimulant- Echinacea has a great, and well earned, reputation as a preventative herb. Most of it's use as a supplement is for the prevention of colds and flu. Part of this is due to it's anti-viral and antibacterial properties, but mainly this is due to how well it stimulates the immune system. In fact, the University of Connecticut performed a study that determined that echinacea reduces chances of catching a cold or flu by over half. This same study also concluded that echinacea reduces the duration of the same infection by at least one full day. Echinacea does this, not by attacking the bacteria/viruses directly, but by enhancing our own immunity so that our immune system is better able to kill off bacteria, viruses, or even abnormal cells like cancer.

Cancer- Not only does echinacea help our immune system fight off infections, it also stimulates our body's tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, which is important to fighting off cancer. Recent studies have stated that echinacea shows promise, along with several other natural remedies, in the fight against cancer. So much so that it is becoming fairly common for medical professionals to recommend echinacea alongside of conventional therapy.

Painkiller- The Great Plains Indians of North America witnessed ill animals consistently searching out and eating the roots of echinacea plants. This lead to the use of echinacea in their native practices. Mainly, it was used as a painkiller for pain in the bowels, headaches, snake bites, sore throat, measles, toothache, tonsillitis, and stomach ache. It's also effective as a painkiller for herpes and gonorrhea. You can either drink a tea made from the plant, or rub the crushed and moistened plant onto the area where you are experiencing the pain.

ADD/ADHD- Children and adults that suffer from ADD/ADHD are more prone to anxiety, depression, and social phobias. Echinacea has been shown to help relieve those symptoms. However dosage is key. If you take too strong of a dose, it could actually worsen those same symptoms, so use echinacea for your anxiety only under the supervision of a trusted doctor and/or herbalist.

Cautions and Warnings- Since this herb is so stimulating to your immune system, if you take it consistently for a week you should take a break from it for the next week. If not, you could overwork your immune system and put yourself at risk for a more severe infection. If you have pollen allergies to any of the plants in the Asteraceae family, you may have allergic reactions to echinacea. Also, if you have an autoimmune condition, this herb could overstimulate your immune system and cause a flare-up. Please use only if absolutely necessary. The Mayo Clinic states that echinacea is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, however most herbalists will not attest to this, use this herb with the utmost caution.

     I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have ever used echinacea or have any questions, please feel free to comment below.

Refrences:

Dr Axe: 9 Echinacea Benefits: https://draxe.com/echinacea-benefits/

East West Healing Academy: Echinacea: https://www.eastwesthealingacademy.com/herbs/echinacea/

Herb Wisdom: Echinacea purpurea benefits: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-echinacea.html

Johns Hopkins Medical Library: Herbal Medicine: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/complementary_and_alternative_medicine/herbal_medicine_85,P00181/

Medicine Net: Tumor Necrosis Factor: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25458

Mountain Rose Herbs: DIY Double Extraction: https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/mushroom-double-extraction

Mountain Rose Herbs: Echinacea purpurea root: https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/echinacea-purpurea-root/profile

Mr. Ginseng: Echinacea: http://en.mr-ginseng.com/echinacea/

Wellness Mama: Echinacea: https://wellnessmama.com/25999/echinacea-benefits-uses/

Bats for Insect Control

     Living in Central Florida has it's perks (amazing biodiversity, beautiful beaches, easy gardening weather, etc.) but it also has it's drawbacks. The bug population numbers in the top of my annoyances with Florida. This summer is going to be brutal in that aspect, because we didn't have a single winter day cold enough to kill off a decent amount of the pesky little things. Granted, there's still a chance that we could get a good cold snap, but the likelihood that we'll get one cold enough to decimate the pest population is almost zero. This being said, there are ways to keep the bug population in your garden and yard down. One of the best is by inviting bats into your yard.

     Florida can lay claim to 13 different bat species, all of which are insectivores (they eat mainly bugs). There are also around 7 species that are considered “accidental species,” which means that they do not normally live here, but do visit frequently. The majority of these accidental species are pollinators, which is another amazing reason to invite bats into your yard! Most of these accidentals don't typically reach Central Florida, however. But getting back to the bug eating power of a single bat... according to Bat Conservation International a single little brown bat (Florida is home to it's bigger cousin the big brown bat) can eat up to 60 medium sized moths, or 1000 mosquito sized insects in a single night. That's quite a few less mosquitoes we have to worry about, all thanks to a single little bat.

     How do you attract bats? Two easy steps. First, build or buy a bat house. This will provide the bats with a relatively safe place to roost. Second, make sure the needs of the bat colony are in your yard. This includes water features (or simply put out a bowl or two of water), night-blooming flowers, and plenty of shade (dead trees are also a plus).

Building a Bat House:

Normally I would do a tutorial, giving you a step-by-step of how to craft your own bat house, but I am not a big carpenter and feel that a few other sites have already done a great job of this. So instead of my own instructions, I'll send you to a couple of my favorite DIY bat houses.

• DIY Network has a great tutorial for building a Cedar Bat House that is super cheap, relatively easy to complete, and can house up to 50 brown bats once completed.
• Bat Conservation International has a great tutorial for building a bat house along with modifications to make it larger for bigger colonies.
• The National Wildlife Federation's Garden for Wildlife campaign published a great, easy tutorial on building a bat house. This one goes over how to properly place your bat house once finished.
• Morning chores has a list of amazing bat house tutorials you should check out for ideas if you are wanting to try your hand at building one.

Bat Houses for Sale:

If you are like me and not much into carpentry (though my husband and I do occasionally give it a try), here are a few good bat houses to purchase.

• Here's a good, top of the line, bat house that blends well with trees. It's also endorsed by the Organization for Bat Conservation, however it's a bit on the pricey side.
• This bat house is a bit more affordable, but it's recommended to paint it darker to attract more bats.
• Here's a large bat house that can house up to 300 bats.

     If you want to purchase a bat house and make it more attractive to bats, you can either paint it a dark color or glue bark onto the exterior of the house. Some companies offer pheromone sprays to help attract bats, I have not personally used these and am unsure as to their possible effectiveness. If you have experience with these sprays, please leave me a comment below.

     I hope you all enjoy making or assembling your bat houses! If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments below!

Resources:

Bat Conservation International: http://www.batcon.org/

Better Homes and Gardens: Attract Bats for Pest Control: http://www.bhg.com/gardening/pests/insects-diseases-weeds/attract-bats-for-organic-insect-control/

DIY Network: Build A Bat House: http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/how-to-build-a-bat-house

Florida Bats: http://www.floridabats.org/FloridaBats.htm

Morning Chores : 37 Free Bat House Plans: https://morningchores.com/bat-house-plans/

National Wildlife Federation Garden for Wildlife: Build a Bat House: http://www.nwf.org/garden-for-wildlife/cover/build-a-bat-house.aspx

5 Natural Ways to Combat Seasonal Allergies

     I don't know how things are in your area, but so far this year Central Florida has seen record breaking pollen counts. This means that my husband's seasonal allergies have been acting up worse than usual. Even my allergies, which usually don't bother me all that much, have made themselves known. So I thought that I'd share with you some of the things I do for allergies in my home.

1-Dietary Changes: There are some foods that can actually make your allergies worse. If you know what you are allergic to, do a little research and find out what foods could be causing oral allergy syndrome, a reaction to your food due to pollen allergies. Even if you don't have oral allergy syndrome, there are a few thing you can do to improve your allergy symptoms. Cut back on the dairy! Dairy products can increase the bodies mucus production and make the mucus much thicker. Cutting back on the dairy can help to manage this aspect of your allergies. Also, quite a few allergy symptoms can be caused by, or compounded by, issues in the gut. Probiotics can help relieve many of the issues that may be the underlying cause of allergy symptoms.

2-Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a wonderful tonic for the whole body, but by far it shines when dealing with seasonal allergies. ACV is packed full of beneficial vitamins, including lots of B vitamins. Make sure you get the raw, unfiltered ACV with the mother (the mother is the bacteria that helped make the ACV), the bonus for this is that you get some amazing probiotics in with it. Take 1 teaspoon in water 3 times a day for maximum results. It works (and tastes) even better if you use ½ teaspoon of raw, local honey in the mixture.

3-Nettles: Urtica dioica, or stinging nettle, is a natural antihistamine. Nettle can be made into a tea, tincture, or capsules, and in many places it's a common cooked green. However, to best use nettles for allergy relief, you should find an alcohol based tincture. The natural antihistamine found in nettle is best extracted using alcohol, so a tea won't have as much. If you eat the herb or take a capsule of dried nettle leaves, you'll still get all the antihistamine properties as well, but you'll need to consume more to get the same effect that you would get from just one dropper-full of the tincture.

4-Goldenrod: I know it seems strange that the plant most known for causing hay fever can actually help, but it really can. Solidago spp. is a great herb to use on a regular basis to help prevent and control allergy symptoms. However, it does not work if you are taking any synthetic allergy medicines with it. Goldenrod works well as either a tea or a tincture. If you're worried about a pollen allergy, make sure that the tea/tincture is made with leaves that have been harvested before the plant has flowered, to keep from accidentally getting pollen on the leaves.

5-Local Honey: There may not be any scientific evidence that consuming raw, local honey lessens allergy symptoms. However, it has worked like a charm with my family. The thought is that local honey contains the pollen from local flowers and consuming it will help your immune system to acclimate to this pollen. Whether or not this is true, honey is packed full of amazing vitamins and minerals that help to boost immune function and improve symptoms such as congestion.

     I hope these tips will help you and your family through this allergy season! If you have any questions or comments please leave them below.

Resources:

Earth Clinic : Apple Cider Vinegar for All Allergies : https://www.earthclinic.com/allergies/apple-cider-vinegar.html

Know Your Roots : How to Take Goldenrod for Allergies : http://www.knowyouroots.com/ijustgottashare/2015/07/08/how-to-take-goldenrod-for-allergies/

Naturopathic Physicians : Natural Treatments for Your Seasonal Allergies : http://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=117

Wellness Mama : 7 Effective Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies : https://wellnessmama.com/8370/allergy-relief-remedies/

Wild Herb Pesto

     As many of you may know, I am very much an advocate for wildcrafting and using herbs as both food and medicine. One of my favorite ways to incorporate wild greens into my diet is with pesto. Pesto is such a great sauce/spread. I use it on sandwiches, in pasta dishes, and even mix it with hummus or sour cream to make a tasty dip for vegetables and chips. Even better, pesto is so easy to make. All you absolutely need are greens and olive oil. You can leave out the cheese if you are vegan, or the nuts if you have an allergy. It's great!

     Just be very careful when harvesting your wild greens. A few good rules to remember is to harvest only 100 feet (or more) from roadways to avoid contamination from road run-off. Make sure to harvest only in areas that are not treated with herbicides and/or pesticides. Also be careful to not harvest from waste areas (many of these plants have a tendency to take in the harmful chemicals and minerals from these areas). Make sure that you thoroughly wash these plants before using them to avoid bacterial contamination, this is also important if you are harvesting plants that grow shorter than a dog's leg. I also follow the Native American harvesting tradition of only harvesting ¼ of the plants you encounter. You leave ¼ for the animals to eat, ¼ for the next wildcrafter/forager who comes along, and ¼ to grow and continue the population. And the most important rule of all, be 100% sure of what you are harvesting. If you are 99.99% sure, do not harvest. There are a great number of look-alikes that can be toxic, so please please be sure of your plant before consuming it.

Wild Herb Pesto

2 cups Herb (or herbs) of your choice

2 cloves garlic

¼ cup pine nuts (or cashews)

2/3 cups extra virgin olive oil

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Combine herbs, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped. Add in 1/3 cup of the olive oil and process until smooth. Stir in remaining olive oil, cheese, and seasonings. Enjoy!

*For more of a traditional pesto flavor, use 1 cup of basil and 1 cup of wild herbs. I also like to use tulsi (holy basil) occasionally for an added health boost.

*Feel free to play with the amount of olive oil you use for different textures and flavor.

10 Herbs to experiment with:

• Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica is notorious for it's sting. If you encounter it in it's raw form you'll know exactly why. However, once cooked or dried, nettles loose their sting and can be quite tasty, not to mention nutritious. Nutritionally, it's a great source of vitamins A, C, and D as well as iron, calcium, and magnesium. Medicinally, nettles are used to treat hay fever and similar allergies throughout the world. Because of the sting, this is one green you definitely want to blanch or dry before using in recipes.

• Spanish Needle Bidens Alba is one of the most under-appreciated plants in North America. It's also one of the most prolific. Everywhere you look, especially here in Central Florida, you can find it. The young leaves and flowers are edible, but the whole plant is used medicinally. If you are using the leaves for pesto, you really want to blanch them first. Nutritionally, bidens leaves are very similar to spinach and packed with lots of vitamins and minerals. Medicinally, they are very useful for upper respiratory conditions. For more information on how bidens is used medicinally, you can find a previous post of mine here.

• Purslane Portulaca oleracea is the most nutritionally jam packed green on earth. It contains more omega 3 fatty acids than any other plant known. It's also full of vitamins A, B, C, and E, beta carotene, magnesium, calcium, folate, lithium, iron, and protein. It's also a powerhouse of medicinal benefits. For more information on how purslane is used medicinally, you can find a previous post of mine here. You can use the leaves and stems for the pesto.

• Red Clover Trifolium pratense is in the legume (bean) family and the leaves have a slight bean flavor. The flowers are even more tasty and are supposedly the most tasty of any of the clover flowers (I haven't personally tried all of them yet, but so far it's winning for me). Nutritionally, red clover is full of nutrients including vitamins A, B, and C, zinc, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium. Medicinally, red clover is one of the best herbs for women as it helps to balance the female hormones. It's also a great aid in helping to prevent cancers of all types.

• Peppergrass Lepidium virginicum is quite peppery in taste, almost like a very mild horseradish. The seeds can be used to flavor foods like pepper, the root can be used similarly to horseradish, but the leaves are delicious raw. Nutritionally, the leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C. Medicinally, this plant is great for the kidneys and has been used, traditionally, to treat asthma. This is one of the few plants that actually have no known dangerous look-alikes.

• Chickweed Stellaria media is one of the earliest spring greens that show up in the eastern portion of the United States. Nutritionally, it's full of calcium, magnesium, potassiom, and quite a few other nutrients. Medicinally, this is one of the most amazing little herbs for your lymphatic system. You can use the leaves, flowers, and stems in this recipe.

• Dollarweed Hydrocotyle bonariensis (also known as pennywort) tastes like carrot tops, or a bit like celery. It's a common weed in Florida that drives most lawn-owners crazy. Not only does it like lawns, but it also really loves to get it's feet wet, which means that you'll find it at the edges of rivers, streams, and lakes. You can also find it marshy areas. You can eat it raw, but you can also pickle/ferment it to make a “kraut” similar to sauerkraut. Dollarweed is often confused for Gotu Kola, which is a close cousin and has similar medicinal and nutritional benefits. Nutritionally, dollarweed is a decent source of minerals as well as B vitamins. Medicinally they are great for lowering blood pressure. Use only the leaves for this recipe.

• Nasturtium Tropaeolum spp.may not be native to Florida, and may not be found in the wild, but my mother got me addicted to growing these tasty treats as a young girl. She used the excuse that for every flower I picked, two more would bloom, but I think it had more to do with the fact that we both loved to eat them in our salads. The whole plant is edible, and nasturtium flowers are one of the most recognizable, edible flowers on the market in America. The whole plant tastes peppery and you can use the flowers and leaves fairly interchangeably, but you can also pickle the seeds to add a little pop to your salads. There is only one warning associated with eating this plant, and it's a common one. Nasturtiums contain oxalic acid which can cause health issues when consumed in abundance. For that to happen, you'd need to eat several pounds of the leaves in one sitting, but the warning is there none-the-less. Nutritionally, nasturtium leaves and flowers are packed full of vitamin C and iron. Medicinally, nasturtium leaves are antibiotic, and this property is strongest just before the plant blooms. I use both the flowers and leaves for this recipe.

• Watercress Nasturtium officinale has been eaten by humans for our entire history, and one of the oldest to be cultivated. You can still find it in quite a few grocery stores today. Nutritionally, it is loaded with vitamins A and C, and contains significant amounts of iron, calcium, and folic acid. Medicinally it is loaded down with benefits as well. The vikings considered it THE food to eat in the spring because it helped to flush the body of all the built up chemicals that come from existing solely on meat throughout the harsh winters. Just avoid this tasty green during pregnancy.

• Wood Sorrel Oxalis spp. can be found everywhere in the world, except at the North and South poles. There are around 850 different species and they are all edible. Oxalis leaves taste a little sour, reminiscent of a very, very mild rhubarb. You can eat every part of this plant, but I do need to caution you about over-eating it. Oxalis contains oxalic acid which can cause health issues when consumed in abundance. For that to happen, you'd need to eat several pounds of the leaves in one sitting, but the warning is there none-the-less. Nutritionally, oxalis is high in vitamin C, iron, and zinc. Medicinally it's great for reducing fever, increasing appetite, and it happens to be a diuretic. For this recipe, I use the leaves, but the tubers are eaten all throughout Eastern Europe and South America.

I hope you enjoy making this pesto and have fun gathering your herbs! If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below!

Resources:

(if you can't tell, I'm a Green Deane fan)

Eat the Weeds : Chickweed Chic : http://www.eattheweeds.com/chickweed-connoisseurs-2/comment-page-1/

Eat the Weeds : Oxalis How to Drown Your Sorrels : http://www.eattheweeds.com/oxalis-how-to-drown-your-sorrels/

Eat the Weeds : Nasturtiums Natures Nose Nabber : http://www.eattheweeds.com/nasturtiums-natures-nose-nabber/

Eat the Weeds : Pennyworts Making Sense : http://www.eattheweeds.com/a-pennywort-for-your-thoughts-2/

Eat the Weeds : Peppergrass Potent Pipsqueak : http://www.eattheweeds.com/peppergrass-potent-pipsqueak/

Eat the Weeds : Purslane Any Portulaca in a Storm : http://www.eattheweeds.com/purslane-omega-3-fatty-weed/

Eat the Weeds : Spanish Needle Pitchfork Weed : http://www.eattheweeds.com/spanish-needles-pitchfork-weed/

Eat the Weeds : Stinging Nettles : http://www.eattheweeds.com/urtica-chamaedryoides-nettle-knowledge-2/

Kansas City Star : Not Just Pretty : http://www.kansascity.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/chow-town/article326554/Not-just-pretty-edible-flowers-pack-nutritional-punch.html

Mom Prepares : Red Clover and Edible Plant that Packs a Punch : http://momprepares.com/red-clover-an-edible-plant-that-packs-a-punch/

Plant Care Today : Backyard Weeds You Can Eat : https://plantcaretoday.com/backyard-weeds-you-can-eat-with-health-benefits.html

Bidens Alba

     One day, while out wandering in nature, my husband made a comment about how much Spanish Needle we had growing in the area. My response was “that's how you know you're in the Southeastern part of America.” And there is a bit of truth in that sarcasm. If you look around anywhere here, you'll see white flowers with yellow centers. In fact, it's so prolific that our founding fathers were once wondering if they should grow it as a food crop and decided against it because it was all over the place and very easy to forage.

     The genus Bidens contains almost 200 distinct species of herbaceous plants in the Aster family (Asteraceae). In Central Florida, Bidens alba is most commonly referred to as Spanish Needle or Beggars Ticks. We also have Bidens pilosa which is used in the same way and looks so similar that the only major identifying difference is height (alba is taller) which is hard to distinguish when you’re dealing with a plant that gets mowed over quite regularly. The latin name will actually help you to identify the plant a little easier. Bidens refers to the seeds and literally translates to two (bi) teeth (dens). Alba refers to the flower and translates to white. The flowers and young leaves are edible, both in salads and as a potherb (just don’t eat Bidens too much or too often as it has a high saponin content and has a tendency to take up silicas from the soil), and the whole plant can be used medicinally. Bidens is also the number one plant that bees use for honey in Central Florida. So if you want to help out our local pollinators, encourage the growth of Bidens in your garden.

Medicinal Uses:

Summary of actions- Astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antidysenteric, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antiseptic, blood tonic, carminative, diuretic, galactagogue, hepaprotective, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, immunomodulant, mucus membrane tonic, neuroprotectant, prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, styptic, vulnerary.

Traditional Chinese Medicine- This plant is used to clear up heat, remove toxins, and eliminate stagnancy. The applications listed include influenza, swollen and sore throat, enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine), dysentery, jaundice, epilepsy in children, malnutrition in infants, and hemorrhoids.

Mucus membrane tonic- Use the whole plant to dry up excessive mucus, relieve pain, soothe and heal the mucus membranes. This is particularly potent when dealing with the urinary tract. My husband and I use it, in addition to Nettle, for help with our seasonal allergies when our sinuses are particularly effected.

Antimalarial- A tincture of the fresh leaves is extremely effective against malaria. Only slightly less effective, in the short term, than typical malaria drugs. If taken longer, however, Bidens shows a greater measure of effectiveness, even once the parasite becomes resistant to typical drugs.

Blood pressure and heart rate- Bidens relaxes vascular tissue, is a vasodilator, and relaxes the heart. The effects are also long lasting. This makes it a great herb to lower blood pressure. For this use, it’s good to pair with ginger as ginger works as a catalyst to increase the effectiveness of Bidens.

Antimicrobial- The whole plant can be used as an antimicrobial remedy. If you are using the leaves, fresh leaves make the best tincture. Black pepper should also be added as it works synergistically to increase the effectiveness, unless you are using this for the GI tract (black pepper can cause irritation). Bidens has shown a great amount of effectiveness in this use, particularly when dealing with resistant strains of bacteria.

Styptic- If you collect and grind the seeds into a fine powder, Bidens can be used to help stop bleeding.

     I hope you have a new appreciation for this common plant. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

Refrences:

Bitter Root Restoration: http://www.bitterrootrestoration.com/health-care/uses-of-bidens-alba.html

Chinese Herb Info: http://chineseherbinfo.com/gui-zhen-cao-bidens-demonghost-spikeneedle-plant/

Eat The Weeds: http://www.eattheweeds.com/spanish-needles-pitchfork-weed/

Item Online: http://www.itmonline.org/arts/bidens.htm

Joybilee Farm: http://joybileefarm.com/bidens/

Medicine County Herbs: http://www.medicinecountyherbs.com/blog/bidens-as-an-herbal-antibiotic-a-case-study

The Great Kosmic Kitchen: http://www.thegreatkosmickitchen.com/its-a-spanish-needle-spring/