Many of the herbs we use for natural medicine come with a rich history of use as well as their own folklore. I’m often drawn to the ancient stories that accompany some of our best plant healers because I’m in awe of the intuition early people had to incorporate them into their lives. Without the scope of modern technology to understand these plants’ constituents and how they work in the body, our ancestors crafted these magical tales that gave a hint to how the plants could be grown, identified or put into healing action.
PHOTO: Jessica WalliserAs the gardening season begins, many gardeners are already dreading weeds. But, with a little planning and a few spare minutes a week, it’s possible to control them effectively without turning to synthetic chemical weed killers.The key to weed control is in both the strategy and the timing.
Expert bed bug killer and ultimate victor. By the third infestation in three different apartments, I had them figured! According to a recent article in Business Insider, bedbugs were nearly eradicated in the 20th century as a result of various pesticides. However, a few survived, and they have adapted.
PHOTO: Ruth McHaney DannerWith reluctance, I opened the plastic packaging, which contained a set of colorful, double-bed sheets. Birds and butterflies flitted among green, blue and pink flora—a bit dizzying and gaudy for my taste. After all, I grew up in a household of white sheets on every bed. I hadn’t even known colored sheets existed until I went to slumber parties in junior high school.
PHOTO: USDA / Colorado State UniversityYou might have a hobby farm or what you consider not much more than a glorified garden, but small acreage and tiny flocks can add up to big change in your soil, your bank account and the world. Two handy online conservation planning tools can help quantify those benefits.
PHOTO: iStock/ThinkstockAs soon as humans domesticated animals, they began treating their ills and injuries with the same medicinal plants they used for themselves. We can do that, too! While herbs are often used to cure disease and dress wounds, they’re best used for preventative health in both animals and humans.
