Where did March go?

March 29, 2025 / Sue Dreamwalker / 65 Comments

Well here we are already at the end of March, and it rushed by at an ever increasing speed. We have been thankful for the Sunnier days, which have fluctuated from warm to frosty starts. I hear on the long range weather forecasting that Winter may not have done with us just yet. But, the ground is now dug, and my hubby has all but a few more rows of potato’s to get in, and then that is the hardest job of work done. ( Except for the constant weeding ) 🙂

Trenches dug, then horse manured, and potato’s planted.

Onions and shallots are sprouting well in their pots, and if the weather holds out in the next couple of weeks it will be my job to put them in the ground. We have made sure we have more shallots than last year, as I want to make more jars of pickled onions with them this autumn..

Onions are frost hardy, so long as the temps do not get too low. and we will put them under cloches until they get more established to protect them.

These look like blades of grass at the moment, and they have to grow quite a bit more yet before they are planted out. We still have leeks in the ground from last year, we are using in soups and dinners.

Kitchen Medicine:

The Onion family hold many health benefits, helping boost your immunity and good for heart health too. Onions also have a history of use in traditional medicine for their antibacterial properties. This is now backed up by scientific studies, which confirm how onions are effective against harmful bacteria’s like Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) and other bacteria such as E. Coli.

The Brassica Family is now also sprouting well in the greenhouse. You can see from my last post how these are growing. I have already spoken about the health benefits of cabbages.

Broccoli is another vegetable with lots of health benefits. It contains many vitamins, along with antioxidants, and its a good source of fibre helping the digestive system. It can also help in reducing inflammation, along with keeping blood sugar stable, and strengthening the immune system. Below is the purple flowering variety we grew last year. The net was to keep the pigeons from eating it.. They know what is good for them too 🙂

Apples: I was also thrilled to see Apple tree is beginning sprouting, on my newest addition to the plot. I grew this young apple tree from a pip in an apple… Well I grew around 6 seedlings, but this one grew the best the others didn’t survive.

Here you see the rows of potatoes, behind a young apple tree that I have grown from seed. Which seems to be loving its new position in the allotment. Photo taken 2023.

This one stood on my landing window sill for nearly two years getting stronger before I planted it in the allotment. I think this has to be 5 years old now from seed to the branch you see below. I am hoping this year we may get a few apples, and it will be interesting to see if they are similar to the apples I bought which I took the seeds from.

I have two smaller Apple trees which bare apples. I have sprayed them with a mixture of Bicarbonate of Soda, a little sunflower oil and a few drops of washing up liquid.. This helps keep mildew forming on the leaves, and pests at bay. Recipes can be found on line for organic home made sprays to protect your plants. I use this recipe regular… For One litre of water I use two teaspoons of Bicarbonate of Soda, One tablespoon of either Neem Oil, or I used sunflower oil, and around 10 drops of washing up liquid ,which is around half a teaspoon. Put into a large spray bottle and shake well before spraying. You can find recipes on line I quickly found this one on YouTube Recipes may vary slightly.

Apple Tree from seed now hopefully will blossom and set apples. It now has many more branches than the photo above.

And Lastly I added the Spring Bulbs which are now in full bloom in my home garden. The Hyacinths fragrance is just wonderful as I walk past them.

Happy Gardening and Happy Growing Season in April.

And wishing All Mothers here in England and the UK On Sunday 30th March..

. A very Happy Mothers Day…

I know I will be enjoying my Mothers day with family, So I may not respond straight away on Sunday to comments until later in the day.

Sage

February 12, 2025February 7, 2025 / Sue Dreamwalker / 32 Comments

Sage Google Images.

Sage: Salvia officinalis~ Common Sage is a herb which was used often in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome right through the middle ages to this present time.

Properties of Sage: ~Tonifies both Yin and Yang~ Neutral to slightly warm~

Sage strengthens the lungs, it is therefore very good for Coughs, Colds, and Flu .especially if the symptoms include a Sore throat.

In Fact Sage is one of the best remedies for Throat Infections ,used as a gargle or tea, or in the form on an essential oil massages over the throat.

In the last century Sage was used frequently to help those who suffered from Tuberculosis, Especially if their symptoms included night sweats. It is thought it may strengthen the immune system.

Today Sage is recommended for excessive sweating. It also has astringent properties helpful when there is Chronic Diarrhoea.

Sage stimulates the adrenal glands if taken as a tea or in the form of essential oil rubbed over lower back. This is also helpful in strengthening weak of flaccid limbs.

The presence of Oestrogen-like substances also means that sage has beneficial effects on the female reproductive system, Increasing fertility. And is also helpful with sweating and hot-flushes during the menopause.

Also an infusion of sage, or the massage oil, perhaps with some Rosemary and nettle, can be rubbed into the scalp to help counteract hair loss.

Note: Because Sage tends to encourage menstruation, Sage should not be taken as a tea of used in the form of essential oil during Pregnancy or if periods are heavy, although it can be used as a flavouring in food, also during breast feeding it can discourage the flow of milk..

Preparing and Using Sage: To make Sage Tea, infuse a pinch of dried Sage or 1-2 leaves of fresh Sage, torn and bruised, in a cupful of just-boiled water. Flavour with a little Lemon and honey if you like.

The strong flavour of sage means you need to use it sparingly in the kitchen, Sage compliments Onions and also apples when used in savoury dishes.

I often use dried sage and boiled onions with fresh breadcrumbs to make a sage and onion stuffing, to add variety I also sometimes add chopped mushrooms to the mixture.

Smudging With Sage.

Many of us also know about the powerful cleansing that sage can provide when we use it for smudging.

There are different kinds of sage that can be used, I like to use White Sage, (Salvia Apiana). I think this is the most popular kind for this kind of use. But there is also Common Sage, (Salvia Officianalis), and Blue Sage, (Salvia Azurea.)

I use it to smudge out negative energies and it can also clear out negative thought patterns, and clear our aura’s energy space. It can also be used to cleanse objects.

Many still do not understand that our thoughts are energy and negative energy can collect to form dark pockets of energy not only around ourselves but in dwelling places and on objects too. This type of Sage is mainly found growing wild in the USA, and some parts of Mexico.

The Native American Indian Tribes would burn sage revering it as a sacred plant, and use as cleansing and in ceremony often in shells, and the smoke which is white, would represent the wind

For more information about Smudging There is a nice little book on Smudging called

The Smudging and Blessing Book: Inspirational Rituals to Cleanse and Heal. By Jane Alexander

Happy Gardening

Healthy Beetroot.

January 16, 2025January 12, 2025 / Sue Dreamwalker / 26 Comments

Beetroot, has many wonderful uses, we eat quite a lot, both in salads and we juice it, mixed with apple juice, its refreshing and the health benefits from beetroot are amazing.. Just some of them can be found here

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Beetroot Chutney Recipe:

Preparation Time 25 minutes /Cooking time 65minutes

Ingredients

1kg fresh beetroot peeled and diced ( suggest to wear protective gloves to prevent hands from staining )

1 Large Onion chopped

450ml red wine vinegar

200g granulated Sugar

200g Demerara Sugar

Pinch of Salt

Good grind of Black Pepper

3 heaped tablespoons of strong Horseradish sauce

Method

1. Put all the ingredients into a large preferably heavy bottomed saucepan and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down to simmer and cook for a further 60minutes until the beetroot is soft.. stirring occasionally.

2. When cool the chutney can be eaten straight away, in which case just place and cover in the fridge and use within 3 days.

3. If you want to make a preserve, you will need to prepare the jars and lids in a dishwasher on a hot wash to sterilise them inside and out.. But if you are like me and don’t have a dishwasher then boil the jars in a large pan to sterilise using sterile utensils to lift out of the pan, and to dry place in a cool oven to allow the jars to dry until you need to fill them.

4. Pour the hot cooked chutney straight into the jam jars and screw the lids on tightly. This will now keep for up to 12 weeks..

This recipe is very easy to make and is delicious with a cheese selection and crusty bread and butter.

This made me 5 Jars in total. Enjoy!

This recipe I posted back in 2015…

Health Benefits of Beetroot.

Beetroots help lower your Blood Pressure, and in just 100 Grams of Beetroot. they contain the following nutrients.
Calories: 44 Protein: 1.7 grams Fat: 0.2 grams Carbs: 10 grams Fiber: 2 grams –Folate: 20% of the Daily Value. Manganese: 14% Copper: 8% Potassium: 7% Magnesium: 6% Vitamin C: 4% Vitamin B6: 4% Iron: 4% .

They have also been shown in a study in 2014 that Beetroot helps inflammation of the joints in people with osteoarthritis.

And Beetroot also contains some helpful anti cancer fighting properties too as stated here on this Site

We also like to juice several cooked beetroots with apple juice for smoothies.. So however you enjoy your beetroots, they are extremely good for you…

Happy Gardening..

Healing Cabbages.

January 9, 2025January 2, 2025 / Sue Dreamwalker / 39 Comments

Cabbages are so very beneficial to both our internal and external health.
Did you know that when a crushed cabbage leaf is applied to a gangrenous wound it brings about healing, and was used in times gone by to avoid the need for drastic surgery.

Cabbage leaves can be applied externally on any part of the body which is inflamed, including Rheumatic joints and gangrene, You have to bind the leaves firmly in place and leave them overnight. Use fresh leaves for every application.
Many French Drs, vouched for this remedy which was also used in ancient times by Roman and Greek physicians.. And even the British Medical Journal states that Cabbages are the Poor Mans Poultice

Cabbage also cools the digestive system, and is excellent for indigestion with there is swelling, burning and inflammation as in gastritis and ulcers ..

A good recipe for Sauerkraut can be found HERE I think most have heard or eaten Sauerkraut..

This Christmas one of my gifts from our daughter was a Soup Maker. I love making soups, especially this time of year, where you need something warming.

So, I thought I would share this lovely soup recipe I came across some years ago. This soup is said to help Chesty Coughs and Catarrh.
You can either leave it thick and chunky, or add more liquid and Whizz it to a creamy constituency. If you enjoy a little richer soup, you can add a little cream at the end. This recipe serves four.

15 gms or ½ oz of butter, ( I add a little more )

1 small cabbage, trimmed and shredded

1 large potato, peeled and diced

½ teaspoon of fennel seeds

½ teaspoon of Thyme

Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste.

1 ¾ pints of water, approx. 1 litre.

Method..
Melt the butter in a large saucepan and stir in the cabbage, potato, fennel seeds and thyme. Then cover and cook without browning for around 7 mins, on medium heat, stirring from time to time to stop sticking . Add the 1 litre/1 ¾ of water, cover the saucepan with a lid and leave the soup to simmer for around 20 minutes. Until the potatoes are tender.
You can then either leave the soup as it is, or liquidise it, season to taste with salt and pepper..

Cabbage is also believed to be good for a Hangover!… So while it may be the last thing you would wish to reach for, the morning you wake with a hangover.. (something I have only ever experienced in my youth 😉 )
this serves 1.

175gms/6 oz white cabbage
A sweet eating apple, quartered and cored.
Juice of ½ – 1 lemon
sea salt.

Method.
Grater and finely chop the cabbage and apple, preferably in a food processor/blender, reducing them to an almost puree consistency. Then add the lemon juice and the sea salt to taste…

Tips for cooking cabbage: is to cook quickly and with a mimimum of water… Do not over cook and boil, or you just drain all the goodness down the sink with the cabbage water. It will usually take 4 to 7 mins . To a pan of cabbage add around half to one inches of water, bring to the boil then turn down to simmer slowly for the rest of the time…
You can also keep the cabbage water if you wish and use as stock for gravy etc..

And lets not forget the famous Bubble and Squeak, with left over veggies from the Sunday Roast Dinner

Enjoy Your Cabbages.. both Growing them and Cooking them..

HERBS—- Chamomile Tea

October 29, 2023 / Sue Dreamwalker / 40 Comments

It has been a while since I created a gardening post for my Garden Blog. I have not been on the plot in 3 months, due to illness and lack of energy. But thankfully however my hubby has kept things in check. But I have not been to take any photos since July.

It was around that time I picked some of my herbs for drying. I planted a couple of short rows in my herb raised bed of Chamomile, Oregano, Sage, and Parsley.

Since then, I have dried out the Chamomile and Oregano, Sage, and Parsley.

Today I want to talk to you about the benefits of Chamomile tea.

This tea has a very aromatic floral flavour which is not only soothing to drink but it also acts as a soother for nerves, having a wonderful calming influence for anxiety and nervous disorders.

Studies have shown in drinking Chamomile tea, it can also help with improving your sleep patterns as it helps you relax. This is due to the flavonoids and an ingredient found within the herb called apigenin. Which studies have shown binds to receptors in the brain, aiding sleep. These apigenin agents within the flower may also help as an anti-inflammatory.
It is also suggested this may also help in blood sugars and may also help soothe an upset stomach.

When to drink this tea? I like to drink a cup which I seep about a heaped teaspoon to a cup of hot water in a diffuser, which I allow to brew for around 5 minutes before drinking. I find a cup after a meal and before bedtime very helpful.

More information can be found here, about when to drink it and more health benefits can also be found on this site, where 7 Health Benefits Of Chamomile Tea: A Research Overview. Where lots of research into the benefits of drinking Chamomile tea can be found.

Chamomile tea now dried and put into jars

Why not trying your hand at growing your own Chamomile tea, it also looks great as a flower in your boarder .

Benefits of Drinking Chamomile Tea

Even if you do not have an allotment, you could think of growing some herbs in pots on your window ledge or patio.
Happy Gardening and Sending you all, Good Health Wishes.

And as Winter approaches, this is also a good time to dive back into your hobbies and creativeness. I have got back into my water colour painting again and as it is the season of Pumpkins… I will leave you with one of my watercolour paintings..

Happy Gardening and Sending you all, Good Health Wishes.
🍂🎃Happy Samhain.🎃🍂

Sources.

April on the Plot.

April 16, 2023 / Sue Dreamwalker / 64 Comments

So how does your garden grow?
April for us has been a mixture of rainy day showers, along with couple of frosty mornings and some bitter winds. but despite all of that, the Potatoes got planted.. Three rows of earlies and Five rows of the the main crop.

Here you see the rows of potatoes, behind a young apple tree that I have grown from seed. Which seems to be loving its new position in the allotment.

Lots of things are now growing, and will soon be ready to put in the ground… The Onions and shallots are now in the ground under netting, and this week the peas will go in, along with broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage plants. Seeds in the ground also have been set, these are Beetroot, and Parsnip.. Also lettuce, Spring onions and radish.

The tomatoes have yet to get transplanted into their permanent pots in the greenhouse once more room has been made when other plants can go outside

While Hubby was busy doing his planting I went behind the sheds to the Nettle patch.. Remember how I told hubby to leave me a nettle patch in the last post? Well Spring nettles soon grow and this you can now see, Just ideal for me to pick for my tea making.

Nettle Patch of New Growth of Spring Young Nettle shoots.

You just have to have a thick pair of gloves on and cut them roughly the same length.. I filled a large bag full of them to take home, clean and hang up to dry… I am hung them in my art room over my bookcase… And it was just like walking into a spring meadow every morning… They still have a little more drying out to do before they can be crushed up to store in air tight jars which I use for tea.. Here are the Listed Health Benefits of Nettle Tea..

When the sun has got out and the clouds have cleared away… The Sky has been a brilliant blue… Not often have we seen our blue skies this Spring… As mainly its been a white out… For those who do Look UP.. and take note of your skies above you, you will have seen how busy those planes have been in the sky.. For those not understanding this then you perhaps need to educate yourselves on Geoengineering . and watch the film on the link called The Dimming!.. It may open your eyes to just some of the things in plain sight, that people don’t see..
So it was lovely to see on this morning the Blue skies above the Plum Blossoms.

To finish off this post… I did another Painting earlier this month.. And and for those aware of the CME’s incoming to Earth , these also enhance the Northern Lights which have recently been seen across many more parts of the world..
While we here in England have not witnessed these beautiful formations of Lights.. I was inspired to paint my own version of one in our Night sky…
My interpretation is that it is coming from a central point in the Cosmos.. As we are birthing New Earth, via our Higher Consciousness..

Enjoy the rest of your April Sunshine and showers, and remember

“Every leaf that grows will tell you: what you sow will bear fruit, so if you have any sense my friend, don’t plant anything but Love.”
— Rumi

Happy Gardening..

Until Next Time.

Dandelion

July 16, 2022 / Sue Dreamwalker / 51 Comments

With Locks of Gold today;
Tomorrow Silver Grey:
Then Blossom-bald.
Behold,
O Man, thy Fortune told!
J.B. Tabb~( 1845-1909 )

Most of us will know what a Dandelion is, many see them growing wild, they are also found in our gardens, especially our lawns.

We are often encouraged to kill them in those weed-killing adverts, as they show us how to zap them dead with one squirt of poison.

Hare and Dandelion painting
~Sue Dreamwalker

Yet the Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has tremendous health benefits, perhaps that’s why big pharma linked with the chemicals companies of weed killers want you to keep zapping them. Because it grows in abundance and is free and it aids our health.. Like some other plant-based medicines I could think of.

The dandelion root has been used for hundreds of years to treat a wide range of health issues, so it is no wonder that it’s regaining popularity as people discover how easy it is to grow and harvest.

The Dandelion has many health benefits, the root is where most of the medicinal properties are. But you can eat the leaves and the flowers along with the stems, they are all edible, and can be added to salads and stir fries. Or you can dry it out and use for making tea.

Here I hung out Dandelions Drying for making tea

Dandelion derives from the French ‘Dent de lion’ ( Lion’s tooth ) a reference to the jagged leaves pointing backwards. Which to the imagination look like a lions jaw.

Dandelions contains 12 times the amount of vitamin A than a lettuce, and about 3 times its vitamin C.

I pick younger leaves as the older leaves tend to be Very, very bitter if using them in a salad. Or steamed like spinach.

Note: Make sure that your Dandelions have not been sprayed with any chemicals or weedkillers, and are picked away from the roadside where they will pick up contaminants from vehicles exhausts etc. Wash well.

You can also make Dandelion Wine I am sure many of us can recall the taste of Dandelion and Burdock Pop or cordial … One of my favourite fizzy drinks as a child and still is…

https://www.twineagles.org/dandelion-wine-recipe.html https://www.twineagles.org/dandelion-wine-recipe.html

Studies have been found Dandelion is very good for our hearts, and can lower bad Cholesterol, it can fight Free Radicals with its powerful Antioxidant properties, called beta carotene.

It can help stabilise blood sugars, and some research suggests it may be helpful in treatments of type ll Diabetes.

Also Blood Pressure can be lowered naturally with dandelion root. Potassium has been proven to help lower blood pressure and dandelions are rich in potassium. Also Potassium increased in your diet will help relieve muscle cramps, you can also get this from Banana’s too.

Potassium also helps osteoporosis and kidney stones too, so a cup of dandelion root tea every day will provide the potassium your body needs to stay healthier.

Dandelions have antimicrobial and antiviral properties in them, that work to strengthen the immune system. Vitally important at the moment to keep our immune systems topped up. I also use Echanechia drops this helps our immune system fight cold and flu symptoms!.

What is there not to like about the Dandelion, for they improve digestion, help reduce inflammation, which is why I drink dandelion and root tea on a regular basis, along with nettle tea, I will go into the benefits of nettles another day. Dandelion leaves are rich in vitamin A.

Here I picked tender young leaves and roots from my allotment, I washed and scrubbed the earth from the roots and then hung up to dry, once dry I then crushed to store in an airtight jar to use as in a tea. Lots of methods can be found on the internet of how to prepare and add to recipes.

So next time you think of zapping a dandelion or pulling it up from your garden…. Think twice on how it may aid your own health and benefit you,… all for free… 😊

I will add a link here so you can see for yourself all of those health benefits

DANDELION – 18 Health Benefits Backed by Science

Happy Gardening!

Healing Properties of Garlic

May 18, 2015October 20, 2023 / Sue Dreamwalker / 17 Comments

Just some of the garlic we harvested Last year.

Healing Properties of Garlic. Garlic: Allium sativum

Hot- Anitiseptic, Expectorant

Garlic is renowned worldwide for its healing properties, it was first documented in Ancient Egypt some 4,500 yrs ago being given to workers building the Pyramids to keep up their energy and ward off contagious diseases like flu and colds. The Greek physician, Galen, called garlic ‘ The Great Panacea’

Garlic has an antiseptic action which is effective against viruses, fungi and bacteria, and it has been thoroughly researched and documented in both the East and West. Its warming and strengthening action on the respiratory system, makes garlic extremely valuable in treating colds and flu.

In India and China, it has also been discovered the value of garlic in treating amoebic and similar types of Dysentery, killing the bacteria which cause these diseases, Garlic can also be used against many other symptoms for instance Candida, for this action the purple skinned verity is recommended.

It works to help eliminate harmful bacteria created by digestion of food in the gut due to a slow digestion, Garlic increases circulation, warming cold limbs, lowering High blood pressure.

Note: Garlic should not be taken when there is an excess of heat or inflammation in the body, especially in the digestive system, as in Gastritis or Ulcers.

Garlic is my kitchen basic, enhancing savoury dishes, and you will find many a recipe with garlic. Garlic especially goes well with most pulses, especially chickpeas. .

Recently in my own area where I live the University of Nottingham found that it was 90% effective in the treatment of MRSA (meticillin-resistant staphylococcus aureusis) a type of bacterial infection Superbug that is resistant to a number of widely used antibiotics.

Scientists at England’s Nottingham University recreated a 9th Century Anglo-Saxon remedy using onion, garlic and other ingredients found in the link below.. “This 1,000 yr old recipe was recreated and was found to be effective in treating 90% of the superbug MRSA”. Link to this BBC News Item above and I have also enclosed a short video clip below of the findings.

NOTE: This video has now been removed and is no longer available!