Grace Outdoors

04/13/2020

There is not much cooler than this. H/T The Garden Academy

02/15/2020

Health Benefits of Herbal Teas!
(Credit goes to Merriwether's Foraging Texas for this list and photo. Thank you!)

The best part of herbal teas are the wonderful effects they can have on your body. Do you want to sleep or wake up? Are you suffering from a cold? Do you need your heart, or blood to function better? Do need to calm your stomach or your nerves? Yeah, there's a herb for that.

HERBS FOR ENERGY
Ginseng
Yaupon holly (caffeine)
Licorice
Tumeric
Chrysanthemum
Ephedra

HERBS FOR HEADACHES
Mint
Rose hips
Rosemary
Thyme
Lavender
Chrysanthemum

HERBS FOR IMPROVED HEALTH
Burdock root - blood purifier, antioxidants
Cinnamon - improves circulation, may increase longevity
Dandelion root - stimulates liver, flushes system
Lemongrass - cleanses blood, liver and kidneys; reduces blood pressure
Licorice - reduces congestion, improves focus
Stinging nettle - cleanses blood, stimulates liver & kidneys
Blackberry/Dewberry - high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; blood cleanser
Rose hips - vitamin C, antioxidants
Rosemary - improves liver action and blood circulation, improves memory
Persimmon - vitamin C
Sassafras - blood cleanser
Hibiscus flower - antioxidants, control blood pressure, lowers cholesterol
Red clover - antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, reduces bad cholesterol, thins blood
Ginger - reduces morning sickness, reduces arthritis pain and other chronic pain
Jasmine - antioxidants, lowers bad cholesterol, may fight cancer, boosts immune system
Ginko Biloba – improves memory
Chrysanthemum – lowers blood pressure, high in minerals
Sage – blood purifier, improves liver, kidney, and brain functions,
Thyme – reduces anemia
Fennel – reduces pain
Ginseng – improves immune system, lowers bad cholesterol, improves blood flow
Hawthorn – strengthens heart tissue & blood vessels, lowers bad cholesterol
Mint – strengthens immune system

HERBS FOR CALM
Chamomile Oatstraw
Basil Valerian root
Lemon balm St. John's Wort
Lemongrass Ginseng
Mint Sage
Jasmine Licorice

HERBS FOR STOMACH ILLS
Burdock - reduces indigestion and constipation, increases bile production
Cardamom - increases digestion, reduces gas
Chamomile - reduces indigestion
Cinnamon - reduces indigestion
Cloves – aids digestion, reduces nausea
Fennel - improves appetite, stimulates digestion, reduces gas
Ginger - reduces nausea
Lemongrass - improves digestion
Mint - improves digestion, reduces nausea
Licorice – improves digestion
Blackberry/Dewberry - helps control diarrhea
Sage - improves digestion
Ginseng – increases appetite, helps digestion, cures diarrhea
Yarrow - increases appetite, improves digestion
Red clover - reduces gas
Stevia - reduces heartburn
Anise - reduces gas and indigestion
Thyme – reduces gas
Basil – reduces diarrhea
Fennel – reduces gas, aids digestion

HERBS FOR COLDS/FLU
Burdock - reduces congestion, opens airways, reduces fever
Elderberry - improves immune system
Fennel - soothes sore throats, reduces coughing
Ginger - soothes throat, opens sinuses, reduces fever
Lemongrass - reduces fevers and other cold symptoms
Licorice - soothes sore throats, reduces coughing
Stinging nettle - reduces coughing, opens sinuses
Black berry – soothes sore throat
Sage – reduces, fever, congestion and coughing
Strawberry leaves - slows diarrhea, reduces indigestion
Thyme - reduces coughing and sore throats, strengthens immune system
Yarrow - reduces congestion and other cold symptoms
Red clover - expectorant
Ephedra - reduces congestion
Anise - expectorant, reduces congestion
Cinnamon – reduces cold symptoms

HERBS FOR WOMEN
Cinnamon - reduces menstrual cramps
Ginger - reduces menstrual cramps
Lemongrass - reduces menstrual issues
Licorice - reduces menstrual cramps
Fennel – stimulates milk flow
Motherwort - reduces PMS
Blackberry/Dewberry - general menstrual aid
Skullcap - reduces PMS mood swings
Stevia - may help prevent osteoporosis
Fenugreek – increases lactation
Red clover - reduces symptoms of menopause due to estrogen mimicking molecules, not for use by pregnant women!

HERBS FOR MEN
Ginseng - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants
Ginko Biloba - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants
Ginger - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants
Hawthorn - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants
Blackberry/Dewberry - improves blood flow to Mr. Happypants

01/18/2020

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01/17/2020

Wild lettuces are sprouting up, perfect for eating, this time of year. But if you’re looking for the one (Lactuca virosa) that contains morphine compounds you’re out of luck as it doesn’t grow in Texas. However, the young leaves of the wild lettuces we do have are a good addition to a salad, especially the variety with yellow sap. Learn more about wild lettuce over on the main Foraging Texas website: https://www.foragingtexas.com/2005/07/wild-lettuce.html
**ds **ds

01/13/2020

You may know that a freshly-cut willow branch stuck in moist soil will almost always grow roots and turn into a new tree but do you know why? Willow tree wood is high in the chemical gibberellic acid which is the hormone that tells plants to grow roots. Gardeners often buy bottles of it as a powder or liquid to help trigger plant cuttings to take root. Why buy when you can make your own your own rooting stimulator by grinding up a willow branch and soaking the resulting sawdust in water. Use a 60/40 mix of water and willow wood shavings, left to soak at least four weeks, shaking it 1-2 times a day. After the time has passed strain out the wood and dip your new cuttings in this “tea” before planting. You’ll have a much high rooting success rate.
Check out more about willow on the Foraging Texas website: https://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/willow.html

01/05/2020

Carolina Geranium is too astringent to be used as food but it has a long history as a medicinal tea (tisane) for treating sore throats (gargle), antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-diarrhea. More recent, scientific studies have shown it’s also good at relieving pain, reducing fevers, and is anti-inflammatory. What a great w**d! You can learn more about it my website: https://www.foragingtexas.com/2012/09/carolina-geranium.html

12/29/2019

Trees secretly talk to each other underground. They're passing information and resources to and from each other through a network of mycorrhizal

12/23/2019

Lots of delicious chickw**d around now. Its small, white flowers appear to have ten petals but if you look closely you’ll see it’s actually five deeply cleft petals. Tricky little thing! This w**d is good eaten raw, blended into smoothies, or used medicinally for skin irritations. Learn how to identify it and where to find it over at the main Foraging Texas website: https://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/chickw**d.html
**d **ds **d **ds **d

12/16/2019

It’s dandelion season! There are few better wild foods than young dandelion greens out there. However, you do need to know how to prepare them properly to minimize their somewhat bitter flavor. My personal favorite is mix them with assorted other green then splash them with hot bacon grease. If you aren’t into bacon grease check out the main Foraging Texas website for other ways to prepare them: https://www.foragingtexas.com/2006/07/preparation-tips-for-bitter-greens.html

12/12/2019

Another great find at another private class for a homeschoolers co-op down in Needville. The property was loaded with all sorts of stuff including this sow thistle (Sonchus species). The young leaves can be used as a salad green though chop them finally to dilute their somewhat bitter flavor. The unopened flower buds are what I was really after. Pick the buds that still have a flat top with a slight depression in the center and drop them in a jar of pickles in your fridge. Let them soak in the pickle juice for at least six weeks and an amazing transformation will occur, turn the flower buds into something similar to a pickled caper. I love using the pickled sow thistle buds as a “relish” on bratwurst!
Learn more about sow thistles by following this link: https://www.foragingtexas.com/2009/01/sow-thistle.html

11/25/2019

Cleavers aka sticky w**d aka velcow**d aka bedstraw is an annoying w**d to non-foragers. But us in the know realize what an excellent and delicious source of vitamin C cleaver tea is. When they a fresh and tender you just need to twist and roll the strands some to rupture its cell walls, the steep in hot water for about 10 minutes. When the water turns an emerald green its ready. You don’t want to boil it as that would destroy the vitamin C. Learn more over at Foraging Texas: https://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/cleaver.html