Caraway seed is the chief spice used in savory dishes in traditional European cooking. A strong aromatic, it is a member of the parsley family, which includes dill, anise, fennel, and cumin. It is native to northern and central Europe and west Asia, and it grows widely throughout the European continent.  It has also been found growing wild in India and throughout the Himalayan region. On the plains it is cultivated as a winter crop, whereas in the Kashmir, Kumaon, Garhwal and Chamba regions, it is harvested in summer. Caraway’s properties were known and appreciated
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There are two different plants that bear the common name bee balm: Monarda Didyma and Monarda Fistulosa. Both are grown for their scent, color, and usefulness. M. Fistulosa, the lavender-colored Wild Bergamot – also known as Oswego tea and Horsemint – grows in open, airy fields and has flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. Its flavor is sharper and mintier than M. Didyma. Native Americans used wild Oswego Tea medicinally for stomach ailments and bronchial problems. It was also used as a food enhancement or flavoring. Oswego tea was a staple for early settlers
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The “three sisters” garden is a gardening technique taken from our Native American forefathers. It is a tradition where corn, beans, and squash are planted together. The corn stalks are used for the beans to climb up as they grow, while the squash provides a living mulch to keep the ground cooler and moister. They are also beneficial to one another for the nourishment they provide to each other. Beans fix nitrogen in the soil that is required by the corn plants. Not only are they good planting companions, they are also good companions for
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Making essential oils is done by extracting the natural oils from herbs and/or flowers. These extractions can be made with oils or alcohol. Extracting Oils with Oil Oil attracts oil, bringing it out of the leaves and flowers. Therefore, one relatively easy way of extracting essential oils is to soak them in oil. Use a
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The last winter crops are in from the garden, and in spite of mild weather in some parts, it may still be a little too early to plant anything in your neck of the woods. This slack time can be frustrating for gardeners.  It can also be an excellent opportunity to plan how to handle
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All gardens need to be pollinated, and bees are the usual suspects for this task. Unfortunately, they are seriously lacking in our gardens, as most of us live in urbanized areas. So let’s plant a garden that will invite them in and give them place to live and prosper, and they will make our other gardens yield more produce too. Though we think of pollinators as just the bees and butterflies that visit our gardens, they actually come in many shapes, sizes, and varieties. There are garden-friendly varieties of bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, birds,
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Plants, like people and animals, can develop a number of diseases. Whether you see it in your houseplants or out in the garden, diseases can destroy your greenery quickly if not treated, prevented, or destroyed. It’s probably not the end of the world if you lose a houseplant to a disease, but if you rely on your vegetable garden for food, it can be a major problem. There are a number of diseases that could be affecting your plants. Some may occur on any type of plant, while others will be specific to certain plants.
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As much as we love our gardens for the edible bounty they provide, it’s also important to appreciate their aesthetic value as well. The beautiful fragrances that grace our gardens can be brought into our homes in many ways, but one that has always been very popular with my family are potpourris. Potpourris are an
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Vanilla extract being so expensive, you would think that it would be difficult to make.  Not so. Making vanilla extract requires few ingredients – vanilla beans, alcohol and a glass jar – and a fair amount of time. The expense lies in that vanilla “beans” are the seedpods of an orchid. This orchid must be hand pollinated to obtain the beans that are the base of this extract we all use. Storage Bottles Choose dark glass bottles or jars with tight fitting lids to store your vanilla extract. Dark glass protects the extract from direct
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While your garden is sleeping, it is preparing the foundation upon which your plants will be grown. However, there are still a few things you will need to do to help your garden along. Here is a list of chores that have to be completed while you wait for spring. I have them divided by month, but not necessarily in order of importance. Depending on your garden, you may not need or be able to do everything. So do what you are able, enjoy the preparation, relax, and bask in the promise of the coming
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