Issue 54 May 2009
What a busy month this has been, and with all the public holidays it has flown by. The Vermiculture workshop, held at Ditton’s farm in Muldersdrift, was a great success. All participants left with various pots of plants that they had propagated and plenty of new knowledge of herbs and earthworm farming. It is really the way to go for all gardeners who have no space or time to make traditional compost, but who want to grow their own veggies and flowers. (It can be used for large gardens too!). There are several workshops coming up in May and June, including at a brand new venue, the Nursery at the Gardens at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens. If this proves to be successful we will definitely have more in the future.
If you are interested in holding talks or workshops at your venue, please contact me for details on how to arrange it. Also remember the food business is going strong, so if you are in need of delicious ready made meals, contact me for that too.
Have a magical month,
Sharon
Herb of the Month
Pot Marigold
Calendula officinalis
You should plant lots of this bright and cheerful herb now as it grows best in winter and spring. The flowers dry easily and are used for many cosmetic and medicinal skin creams. I usually put a bay leaf into the pot of dried petals to discourage the small brown beetles that seem to eat them. You must make sure you have Calendula officinalis, as the African or French marigold which are the Tagetes species share the same name. Calendula is used extensively for skin care products and is astringent, antiseptic, anti fungal, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, stimulates bile production and is also a menstrual regulator
It has historically been used in many cultures of the world and for a variety of purposes. The Ancient Egyptians used it as a rejuvenating herb, Ancient Romans used it to colour fabric and food, in India it was mainly used as a culinary herb to add colour to rice dishes, in Europe is has always been used both as a medicinal and culinary herb and in the American Civil War it was used on the battlefields to treat open wounds. Nowadays it is seldom used for culinary purposes, but it is prized for its healing properties for the skin and for bile production in the liver.
Cultivation: Very easy to grow from seed, which can be sown directly into the ground or in seed trays. It needs a sunny position, and is happy in most soils as long as it is not too wet.
Keep removing the dead flowers to encourage continuous flowering.
Medicinal: Soothing, healing and antiseptic. Use on most skin conditions including acne, eczema, leg ulcers, varicose veins, rashes, bruises, chilblains, cracked nipples from breastfeeding, nappy rash and bed sores
Use as a mouthwash for gum problems. Drink as a tea to help digestion, regulate menstruation and to promote bile production in the liver.
Household: Makes a pale yellow dye. Use the dried petals for pot pourri
Culinary: Add petals to foods to give a lovely yellow colour and a slightly sharp, tangy flavour. Especially good with soups, stews, yoghurt, soft cheeses, cakes, breads and milk dishes.
Add fresh petals and young leaves to salads and stir-fries
Cosmetic: Make a cream with the petals or add the petals to baths and facial steams for cleansing, healing and softening the skin. Use as a hair rinse for blonde hair
Indigenous Page
Uit Letitia se tuin :
Die Herb Happening was ‘n reuse sukses en dankie vir almal wat kom groet het.
Die inheemse plant van die maand is van dieselfde familie as verlede maand. Ek het ‘n paar jaar gelede “Botany in a Day” en “Shanleya’s Quest” van www.wildflower-and-weeds.com bestel. Veral Shanleya’s Quest (Botany stories for children ages 9 – 99) het vir my, wat in ‘n rekenkundige rigting geswat het en nie eers biologie op skool gehad het nie, baie gehelp met plant identifikasie. Vir die van julle wat nou begin met julle kruie avontuur is dit dalk ‘n manier om julle kruie in hul familie groepe te probeer bestudeer. Elke familie het sekere eienskappe wat identifikasie baie vergemaklik. Die HAoSA se studiegroep kom weer die 16de Mei bymekaar en beloof om baie interessant te wees. Skakel my vir meer inligitng. Geoff Lockwood bied ‘n "Beginners Birding Course" aan; 5 – 7 Junie en ek kan dit regtig aanbeveel.
Kruie Groete
Letitia
"Do all you can with what you have, in the time that you have, in the place that you are."
Noksi Johnson
Guarri
Euclea spp
Family: Ebenaceae
A family of flowering plants. A characteristic of the family is a persistent calyx on the fruits (the sepals of a flower are collectively called the calyx). The family has 2 genera – Diospyros and Euclea. The genus Euclea comprises of about 12 – 20 species found from Africa up to Arabia and Comoro Islands.
Also known as: E. undulata – gewone ghwarrie (Afr) common guarri (Eng); guarrie (Khoi); chizuzu (Shona); mokwere kwere (Sotho); imgwale (Xhosa); inkunzane, gwanxe (Zulu)
E. crispa – bloughwarrie, ghwarriebos (Afr); blue guarri, bush guarri (Eng). Interestingly in Zulu the male plant is called idungamuzi and female plant isizimande or umgwali.
E. divinorum – towerghwarrie (Afr); magic guarri (Eng); ichitamuzi, idungamuzi (Zulu)
E. natalensis – bergghwarrie, Natalghwarrie, swartbasboom (Afr); large-leaved guarri, Natal ebony, Natal guarri (Eng); inkunzi, emnyama (Zulu)
What is in a name: The genus name Euclea comes from the Greek eukleia meaning “glory” or from eukleos meaning “good report”, “famous” or “good fame”, revering to the fine, ebony-like wood of some species. The species ‘divinorum’ was named by the botanist Hiern after he noticed the diviners using it.
Culinary: E. undulate – the small black berry is edible and can be used to make a vinegar. Some tribes used the fruit of E. divinorum to make an alcoholic beer.
Medicinal use: Studies by the University of Pretoria was done on the antibacterial properties of the roots of E. natalensis. Another study showed inhibitory activity against Mycoba-bacterium tuberculosis. The University of Stellenbosch tested the fresh root against Streptococcus mutans and found that bacterial growth was suppressed. No real beneficial effect was found as the daily practice is too limited. Ethnobotanical studies done in Ethiopia reported E. divinorum being used for the treatment of Gonorrhoea. There is ongoing research on its effectiveness in treating Gonorrhoea and Syphilis. In Zimbabwe the root is cooked with the seeds of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) to treat bilharzia. E. undulate leaves are used in treating diarrhoea and stomach disorders and the root infusions for headache, toothache, heart disease, inflammation and as an enemata.
Traditional use: E. crispa – Used to wash divining bones to give them accuracy and used in divination in Lesotho.
E.divinorum – Used in divination. Used in south-western Ethiopia to purify dinking water by leaving branches in pots to soak for several hours. Used in Kenya to preserve milk. Twigs and roots are used as toothbrushes. Branches hung above the entrance of huts to repel witches and other evil spirits.
E. natalensis – Root is hypnotic. The rootbark is one of the herbs in a decoction (imbhiza) used in the treatment of scrofulous swellings. A wine glass of decoction made from finely powdered roots was taken daily for venereal diseases known as "drop".
E. undulate is one of the ingredients of inembe (used during pregnancy). The Shangaan applied ground roots on the skin against leprosy.
Other uses: The roots are boiled to produce a dye for baskets, mats and wool. In Northern Namibia a purple ink is made by boiling the ink. Hornbills enjoy the juicy, red-purple fruit of the Magic gwarri.
RECIPE PAGE
Marigold Wine
Marigold flower petals to fill a 2.5l jug.
2 oranges – juice and thinly sliced rind
1 lemon – juice and thinly sliced rind
1.5kg sugar
4.5 l water
15g fresh yeast or 7.5g dried yeast
Boil water and sugar and pour over the flowers, fruit rind and juice. Leave to cool.
Add the yeast and stir well.
Cover and leave in a warm place for one week.
Strain into a ceramic container and leave it, covered, until the fermentation is over, this will take about one month.
Bottle and leave for 2 weeks before drinking.
Marigold Oil
Use this oil for sore chapped hands, rough skin, acne, eczema, chilblains, cracked nipples, cuts and abrasions.
Fill a small glass jar with Marigold (Calendula officinalis) petals.
Cover the petals with sweet almond oil.
Cover the top of jar with a piece of muslin and leave on a windowsill for 3-4 weeks.
Strain the oil and pour into a clean bottle.
To use, smooth the oil into the affected areas.
In the language of flowers, calendula represents despair. When it closes its petals at the end of the day, it captures a drop of evening dew, and when it opens in the morning, the drop of dew is still there. So it is said, “Calendula goes to bed with the sun and rises weeping.”
Cheese and Onion Bake
4 Tbsp butter
1 kg potatoes, thinly sliced
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp fresh marigold petals
1 cup milk
Salt and pepper
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Grease an oven proof dish and layer potatoes and then onions alternately until they are all used, ending with potato.
Heat the milk with the marigold petals and butter until boiling.
Season with salt and pepper and then pour over the potato.
Top with grated cheese and bake in the oven at 180 C for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the potatoes are soft
Problem Skin Soap
1 kg glycerine soap
1/4 cup calendula flowers
5 drops geranium essencial oil
1 tsp ground rosemary
10 drops tea tree oil
5 ml wheatgerm oil
mix essential oil and wheatgerm oil
melt glycerine soap base in a double boiler
add ingredients one at a time, calendula flowers last.
pour into moulds
will help with skin problems without drying out the skin.
Marigold Mask for Blemished Skin
2 tablespoons yoghurt
1 tablespoon bruised marigold leaves
1 teaspoon parsley juice
1 tablespoon wheatgerm oil
Mix together and apply to clean face.
Leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water
Happy Feet Massage Oil
Recipe by Kathi Keville, author of 12 books, including Aromatherapy for Dummies (IDG, 1999) and Herbs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
Sage can help stop perspiration and fight infections,including athlete's foot. spearmint increases circulation and relieves tired feet. Calendula soothes irritated skin, birch relieves soreness and both herbs soften rough, callused skin. The beeswax thickens the massage oil slightly so it's easier to use and less messy to rub on feet.
1/4 cup chopped sage leaves
1/4 cup calendula flower petals
3 tablespoons chopped spearmint leaves
1 cup olive oil
up to 16 drops birch essential oil (optional)
1 tablespoon shaved beeswax
Place herbs in a jar and cover completely with oil. Stir, close the jar and keep warm for a couple of days. Strain. Place the oil in double boiler add essential oil and beeswax.. Stir to blend. Pour into pretty bottle and store in cool place.
The Last Page
Courses and Workshops
May and June 2009
Venue: Shades of Ngwenya
Contact Helen 074 448 8504
14-May-09
Thursday
Organic gardening
23-May-09
Saturday
Culinary herbs
28-May-09
Thursday
Culinary herbs
06-Jun-09
Saturday
Bath and skin products
11-Jun-09
Thursday
Bath and skin products
13-Jun-09
Saturday
Herbal remedies for common ailments
18-Jun-09
Thursday
Herbal remedies for common ailments
27-Jun-09
Saturday
Green cleaning for the home
02-Jul-09
Thursday
Green cleaning for the home
Venue: Barefoot Herbs – Muldersdrift
16-May-09
Saturday
9.00am Module 5, the skin
20-Jun-09
Saturday
9.00am Module 6, nervous, reproductive
20-Jun-09
Saturday
1.00pm Module 5, the skin
Venue: Walter Sisulu Botanical gardens
09-May-09
Saturday
9.30 Pamper yourself with herbs
Talk and demonstration R100p.p.
Venue: Barefoot Herbs – Meyerton
9-May-09
9.00am Mod 4, Respiratory system, Syrups & remedies
16-May-09
9.00am Feet Care Workshop – Creams, Lotions
23-May-09
9.00am Mod 9, Urinary system, making herbal gifts
23-May-09
1.00pm Asian Cooking with locally available herbs
6-Jun-09
9.00am Mod 5, the skin, creams & bath salts
13-Jun-09
9.00am Asian Cooking with locally available herbs
20-Jun-09
9.00am Mod 10, Pets & household cleaning products
The following workshops are available on request for groups of 5 or more: Liqueur making, organic gardening, bath and skin products, herb and spice mixes for culinary use, herbal first aid box, herbal products for babies and toddlers, herbal remedies for common ailments, green cleaning for the home.
Courses and workshops cost R300, which includes all materials, a recipe booklet and refreshments.
Contact Us :
Sharon
sharon@barefootherbs.co.za
Tel 011 957 2413 Cell: 082 415 3743
Letitia
letitia@barefootherbs.co.za
Tel: 016 362 0754 Cell: 082 451 9876
Visit our Website
www.barefootherbs.co.za
and see photos, past newsletters, products and recipes
Essential Herb Products
For all of your herbal requirements
Contact us for more details
Edward Proctor
082 463 1360
info@essentialherbs.co.za
Or go to our website www.essentialherbs.co.za
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