Natural Gardener Austin Gardening Tips

Don't forget to plant your pumpkin seeds.

http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/what-to-do-in-july.html

GMO Information

Links
http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/gmo-safety-zmgz13amzsto.aspx#axzz2X4R2i8Ki
http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/gm-corn-linked-to-cancer-tumors
http://www.nwrage.org/content/about-us
http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/
http://www.nongmoproject.org/
http://www.righttoknow-gmo.org/
http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/

Five Plants that Repel Mosquitoes (article from aha modern living)

Lemongrass This plant has a fresh lemony smell that is quite nice to people, but that mosquitoes hate. Lemongrass may be grown from seeds, but it is a rather lengthy process. It is actually easier to grow lemongrass from the mature plant, which you can buy at your preferred produce spot, Asian market or grocery store. Purchase a bundle of lemongrass, and when you get it home, trim the tops of the plant, and remove any dead parts. Place the trimmed grass in a clear jar or glass of water, then place this on a sunny windowsill. Within a few weeks, this will develop roots and can be transplanted into a spot with full sun.

Rosemary This herb is awesome for cooking, but did you know that it’s great for repelling mosquitoes, too? Rosemary likes a Mediterranean climate, so it thrives in well draining soil and full sunlight. It’s easy to grow and doesn’t require much water. If you live in a warm climate, your rosemary will even survive the winter. If you live in a climate where the winter dips below 30 degrees F, plant your rosemary in pots so that you can bring it indoors during the winter. Rosemary is technically a shrub and can get quite large, so trim it frequently.

Marigolds Marigolds are awesome companion plants that make a beneficial garden border for many reasons. And something about their slightly pungent smell is just hated by mosquitoes. You can find many different varieties of marigolds and select your favorite to fit the look you want: tall or short, red, orange, gold, or yellow. They don’t need much maintenance, but do benefit from deadheading. While most plants can be rubbed on your skin to help repel mosquitoes, you should avoid this with marigolds.

Mint Why it is mosquitoes don’t like the refreshing, delicious scent of mint? We don’t know, but the fact is that they don’t! Mint is a very hardy plant that grows rapidly in the ground or in pots. You can pick mint leaves and rub them on your skin as a mosquito repellent, or just include the plants in your landscape. As a bonus, mint also is an easysummer cocktail and snack ingredient.

Catnip Loved by kitties, but loathed by mosquitoes, catnip is a great plant to help keep pests away. Catnip should be trimmed back frequently, otherwise it tends to get a bit invasive. A good way to keep it from spreading too much is to simply plant it in containers. It also grows well and looks pretty in hanging baskets. Amazingly, catnip has proved to be 10 times more effective than DEET, a chemical commonly found in insect repellents, at keeping mosquitoes away. Catnip is totally safe to rub on your skin, just crush the leaves up a little bit first.

Yarrow, a natural insect repellent

by Rosalee de la Foret

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is a beautiful and incredibly useful plant that grows practically everywhere, and is a great natural insect repellent. I tell hikers and other avid outdoors people that if they only knew one plant, yarrow should be it.

My first introduction to yarrow was quite dramatic. While out camping, a friend sliced open her hand quite deeply and it started to profusely flow with blood. After sitting her down and raising her hand above her heart, yarrow was picked fresh and place on the wound. Within seconds it stopped bleeding.

Later at the emergency room the doctor was at first annoyed with the “dirty” plant material that was place in the wound, but then amazed as he realized how deep the cut was, and how very little blood there was.

Yarrow is another magical herb that can not only stop bleeding almost instantly, but can also increase circulation when taken internally or used externally to promote blood flow in bruises or varicose veins.

Yarrow’s healing abilities have been known for an immeasurable amount of time and have even been made famous in our myths of Achilles.

For yarrow, also named Achillea, is the magic potion said to have protected Achilles so well. Also called woundwort and other similarly devised names, yarrow has been used on battlefields to heal soldiers’ wounds as far back as we have sad tales of war.

Yarrow grows outside my front door, but during the dormant season I like to keep enough dried on hand for whatever emergencies may arise. It can be powdered and sprinkled on wounds, not only to stop bleeding but also to dull pain, and as an antiseptic herb to prevent infection.

Yarrow’s abilities are not limited to wounds however. Taken internally it can open pores for cleansing and to release a fever. Yarrow is frequently used as a tea at the first sign of a cold or flu. The tincture or tea can be used for bladder infections. Yarrow is anti-microbial, astringent, anodyne, and reduces inflammation.

Last summer I was collecting yarrow leaves and flowers to make an infused oil and tincture. When I brought the stalks home I was amazed at the lack of insects on the plants. It truly is a natural insect repellent. Usually, after wildcrafting, I set the plants outside to “de-bug”. But there wasn’t a single bug there. And so I came up with this insect repellant that is not only effective but also smells great!

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Yarrow Natural Insect Repellent

1. Gather enough yarrow leaves and flowers to fit snugly in a jar. Chop them up and put them in the jar.

2. Pour in vodka to the top of the jar.

3. Shake it every day for a first week.

4. Strain after 2 to 6 weeks.

4. Pour desired amount into a spray bottle and add catnip and lavender essential oils.

It's THAT simple to make a natural insect repellent!

Food Shelf Life Information

http://www.stilltasty.com/


http://m.almanac.com/content/freezer-storage-how-long-will-food-keep-chart

margaret fishback powers

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Mix the following ingredients:
1 (4 pound) box of Super Washing Soda

1 (4 pound) box of Baking Soda

1 (4 pound) box of Borax

3 bars of Castille soap-Shredded

Add 2 Tablespoons to each load. 

*Cover your face with a clean dish towel or bandana while mixing. Inhaling the soaps can irritate your nasal passages.