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