Summer Solstice Celebration

Summer. Oh, summer summer. Lemons and Sunshine .

 I am fortunate to have an Eureka Lemon tree, it produces lemons virtually year round.  I use them in a variety of ways, but the best way to use them is juicing. Leave on a little pith for extra nutrients. Juice, then add it to your favorite salad dressings, teas and tinctures. Save the peals, then juice them for a homemade cleaning solutions.  Just add a little baking soda, mix and see the results on any surface.  It works great on dirty finger and toe nails.

It also gives your juicer a good cleaning. 

   

Lemons from my tree, Pomegranate tea and a Handy Dandy Juicer. No Sugar Necessary.  ~ Have a Wonderful Summer  ~   EnJOY

may garden

i love gardening

Rosemary, Lavender and Lemon

       I've been laying around reading, not exercising, and now I am paying for it. I got a terrible headache. So, I went out to the garden, picked a little rosemary, lavender and a lemon (zest), threw it in a pot of water and brought it to a boil. Turned off the flame and made a towel tent over myself and the herbal water.  It's amazing how it clears up your head and makes the house smell nice too.  Give your house or bath a nice refreshing smell with your own herbal steam, and be well. 

tending

My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. 
~H. Fred Dale

Mistakes? Most of the greatest Joys I've experienced have been from accidents.  Meeting my husband, having my child, and all the friends that have blessed my life. The blackberry bush on my side yard is another delight.  We all know berries are good for us, but blackberries have many unique qualities not shared by other berries.  They are actually a member of the rose family and contain individual drupelets that surround a firm core called the receptacle. These drupelets, their skin and seeds, along with the receptacle give the highest fiber of any fruit. Blackberries are full of vitamin A, C, potassium, calcium , phenolic acids and many other healthy anti-carcinogenic properties.  Their leaves are beneficial as an antiseptic and astringent.  A tea made of blackberry leaves aids in reduction of nausea and also promotes healthy digestion.  Blackberry leaves can also heal the very scratches they often cause while picking them. There are many reasons I have decided to live with the blackberry bush, but the most obvious is that they are delicious. So whether your thumb is green, red or purple, remember goodness can come from things we may first see as Mistakes.  There is so much that can be learned through the process of simply living.  EnJoy

Tomatoes

I love cherry tomatoes. Like sweet peas in spring, I eat a lot off the vine.  Nothing is better than food from your own backyard. 

Share the Bounty

"Do your little bit of good where you are. It is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Our garden is so giving, so we share.  Remember to share whatever you have.  A smile is all it takes to spread kindness.  

Garden in June

I finally took a few pictures of the garden.  In May I picked 10 gal of lettuce a week. I see signs of bolting, so it's time to replant a patch in a shady area.  The carrots, peas and beets are all doing fabulous. I can't wait for the summer vegetables to take off.  Have a Wonderful June Day!

small changes, yield great things

Even in a small back yard space, there is room for growing.  Growing, changing, and yes evolving is what every living thing must do. There is a great quote on the Jefferson Memorial that says a lot about this, he refers to it as progress and enlightenment.

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

Think about this quote when you think that things should be done as they always have been done.

Think about what you can do to make a change, whether it is to help the environment, or the poor or the sick.  After all, how we treat the least among us, the helpless, the homeless, the hopeless, shows our character.  If you cannot change, share, give, or progress, you will not evolve.  Leave a loving legacy to the whole of humanity.  Plant a seed, and watch a miracle happen.  In your back yard, in your neighborhood, in your community, be the change you wish to see in the world.  Nameste

flowers

Beautiful flowers in the garden.  Soon the camilias will be gone, but the azalias and roses are full of buds, I'm so excited! Spring into JOY

lemons

While the vegetable garden is going in, I am enjoying these tart Eureka lemons.  The sweeter Meyer lemon is my favorite (lucky two neighbors have meyer trees), but

 Eureka's fruit all year,  Bonus!

Dandelions

I admit, I am officially juicing and eating weeds!  I can't help it, they are so good and best of all FREE!
I've only tested Dandelions from my back yard, and Minor lettuce from my son's secret location :)  We have been researching wild edible greens. It's amazing how much is overlooked.
My dad used to eat lambsquarter when I was a kid, we thought he was weird. Truthfully, they have a very strong flavor, but just fine for juicing.   Something to think about. . .  a very slow food.

indoor garden

I started sprouting last summer, Radish Seeds, they are so good. After reading a couple of books and experimenting on my own, I realized how simple it is to sprout just about anything. The book RAW by Juliano Brotman really inspired me.
All you need is a jar, some cheese cloth, and seeds.

Step 1: Soak your seeds (Most seeds take 8 to 14 hours)
Step 2: Rinse daily (I use a strainer and rinse twice a day)
Step 3: Refrigerate (When sprout tails have formed)

What to sprout? Just about all my local stores carry organic seeds, raw nuts, legumes and grains in bulk. If you are unable to find locally, I love MountainRoseHerbs.com they have the coolest stuff. Sproutpeople.com is another fun site. Don't hesitate, it's really great fun to watch them grow, and even yummier to eat. As Always, Enjoy

daily compost

It's so easy to recycle your food scraps. Don't put any animal products in your compost. Only fruits, vegetables, tea leafs, coffee grounds, nut and seed shells. My kitchen jar holds enough for my daily use, then off to the backyard compost. If you can't compost at home, ask someone at your local farmers market if they will take them, maybe even trade. This stuff makes the richest soil. Don't forget, any old flowers or greenery can be composted. Let's give back to mother nature, she give us so much! Thanks