Unusual organic herb plants

[nick the grief]

This post has me wondering. Do you think we need a Herb board? I would be interested in what everyone thinks about having a dedicated section for herbs.

Cheese board sounds better

[madderbat]

Earthbabe,have you been looking at my windowsill? I bought some wonderful ginger on the market this year and it started to grow, so I looked it up and tried planting it. Unfortunately not only does it need heat and water, but coming from the tropics it needs plenty light too and we just didn't get enough in L'bro in winter, so top shoots have died off (there is still green underneath though). An elderly asian lady tells me that her son grows it in his garden here during summer, so may try again.

Piglet Willie, it was 'eye of newt' I believe!

Nick, shouldn't the cheese board be another thread?

[Poledragon]

I'll add my 'aye' to having a Herb Bed board please.

Although, aren't chilis a spice too? :P

[Sue]

LJ
Can see the problems with more medicinal preparations but I would also be interested in sharing people's recipes for alternative products and how they work. ie I make my own face and body moisturiser with aloe vera, glycerine and rose oil and would love to know if other people have similar recipes. So it wouldn't just be garden more in line of trying to be as green as poss.
But if there are things that can be grown to make preparations would be interested to read of them.
Sue

[pigletwillie]

I certainly would be interested in the moisturisers etc Sue, We pigs do catch the sun something terrible. I make calendula hand cream with beeswax and olive oil.

[nick the grief]

I certainly would be interested in the moisturisers etc Sue, We pigs do catch the sun something terrible. I make calendula hand cream with beeswax and olive oil.

I know what you mean Piglet, it plays hell with your complexion doesn't it

[Sue]

Pigletwillie
Would love the handcream recipe please!
The basic recipe for my aloe vera cream is
1/2 cup aloe vera gel (£4.99 from Holland & Barrett)
1/8 cup vegetable glycerine (£1.55 from the chemist)
Don't have to store in the fridge, basic rec shelf life 4 months.
This is the basic recipe from an American book called Better Basics for the Home, a goldmine of simple recipes for "less toxic living".

However if you don't want to fiddle around with cups just squirt the whole tub of aloe vera gel in a pot and mix in enough glycerine till it feels good on the skin. I also add a few drops of rose oil because it's my favourite smell.
I use this all the time and got through loads in the summer, it seemed to help my tan last and it's excellent for dry skin.

Another tip is to dry lavendar and grind it in a coffee grinder to powder and add to cornstarch with a few drops of lavendar oil, makes a great body dusting powder. Hope to have enough lavendar this year to turn out a few Xmas pressies, you can find lovely old silver and glass flour shakes in charity shops to use as containers for the powder.

best wishes
Sue

[pigletwillie]

Calendula Hand Cream

Olive oil 300 ml
Beeswax 100 gm
Calendula 1 big handfull of flowers

Put the oil and beeswax in a double saucepan (like for melting chocolate in) and bring to a simmer. Add a big handfull of calendula flowers and simmer for 10 minutes. Filter the flowers out and put the ointment into jars to cool. You can add a few drops of any essential oil if you wish to add a fragrance.

You can add more or less beeswax to alter the consistency to your ointment if you so wish. It is brilliant on dry hands, well dry skin anywhere really and especially after gardening.

Enjoy.

[Crazy Chickie]

Those recipies look really handy , thanks for posting them up. How long does the Calendula cream keep Piglett?

[pigletwillie]

Months cc. I am still using a 500ml le parfait jar that was filled in the summer and replaced the one from the year before.

I have trotters like an office wallah rather than a quarry electrician. Smooth as a babys bottom.

[denise]

A herb board sounds like a fantasic idea.
Would be very helpful, yesterday I discussed with OH about clearing a flower bed near the house and haveing a herb bed. I love the idea of using them alongside the veg we will harvest (fingers crossed) from down the plot. This is our first year - im excited already.

PLEASE LJ talk the powers that be into set this up.

[Lesley Jay]

I already have!!

[Lesley Jay]

Ben has set the new board up this morning with a sub forum for spices.

Which means when you click on The Herb Bed you have a choice of posting in either the spices section or the herb section.

[pigletwillie]

Lesley, your a gem, and please pass on thanks to bendy Ben.

[Lesley Jay]

I have already thanked wonderful Ben but I would be delighted to thank him again!