Visit Us On Our Other Channels

Category: Herbs

Planting Herbs in the Fall: A Homesteader’s Best-Kept Secret

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on

Fall may feel like the time to put the garden to bed, but for homesteaders, it’s actually one of the best seasons to plant herbs. The soil is still warm from summer, the air is cool and gentle, and the garden finally slows down enough for you to catch your breath. It’s the perfect window to tuck in new herbs that will reward you come spring.

You can watch Ron plant a lot of our herbs here.

Planting herbs in the fall gives their roots plenty of time to settle in before winter hits. With cooler temperatures, herbs don’t have to fight heat stress or rapid evaporation. Instead, they can focus on building strong, steady root systems. By the time spring rolls around, they wake up early, growing faster and fuller than herbs planted in the spring.

If you want a little more color and fragrance, consider planting lavender or lemon balm. Both settle in beautifully during fall and bring a burst of life to early spring gardens. And don’t forget parsley — technically a biennial, but it thrives when planted in autumn and will give you bright green leaves deep into winter.

When planting, add a layer of compost and mulch to protect the roots and hold moisture. Water deeply, then let nature take the lead. Fall rains do most of the work for you.

So before you hang up the garden gloves for the season, give your herb garden a head start. A little fall planting goes a long way — and your springtime self will thank you.

Tulsi “Anxiety Buster” Tea Blend

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on

The Tulsi “Anxiety Buster” Tea Blend contains three herbs; tulsi, rose hips, and peppermint. They work together to bring relief from stress and tension. These herbs help fight the doldrums and the anxiety that can build up inside of us. I know I feel it especially during winter, going through the cold. It seems to bring on depression and anxiety.

Here is how to make the Tulsi “Anxiety Buster” Tea Blend

The Herbs

The tulsi relieves stress and tension and also acts as an anti-depressant. The rose petals are full of Vitamin A, C, & E. They assist with depression and anxiety. The peppermint is a slight stimulant, helps relieve tension and aids in your digestive system.

Creating the “Anxiety Buster”

When the 3 herbs are brought together and blended it creates the “Anxiety Buster” herbal tea that helps your:

body – physically

mind – mentally

energy – metabolically

emotional – psychological.

“The four vertical layers of the human psyche are: the body, the hetart, the mind, and the spirit.“

If you struggle with anxiety and depression, I understand… I do as well. That is why I invite you to try this tea. To see if it helps you in any of your four layers of human psyche. If nothing else, the warmth and smell of the tea will get you through your morning.

We have this tea made up and ready for you so you can start taking it now. So, if you are looking for a medicinal, herbal option for anxiety I invite you to try out our Tulsi “Anxiety Buster” Tea Blend. Here is the direct link to the tea so you can order it today.

Our teas are made in house, blended with love and care. Most herbs are organic and non-GMO. The teas we offer to you are herbal teas with medicinal values.

Here is to your next cup of tea,

Shawn

Chamomile “Allergy Buster” Tea Blend

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on

The Chamomile “Allergy Buster” tea blend has 8 different herbs selected to work together to protect and help your body to fight against the allergy season! If you are a person who suffers from allergies this tea will help give your body a fighting chance to guard against the allergy symptoms such as: sneezing, itchy eyes, and the sniffles. This tea does work it’s best when consumed in abundance.

Here is a look at each of the herbs and how they are blended to make the tea.

The Herbs in Chamomile “Allergy Buster” Tea Blend

The eight herbs in the chamomile “Allergy Buster” tea blend are:

  1. Chamomile – it acts as a natural antihistamine.
  2. Nettles – is very nourishing and provides your body with extra nutrients to make it strong.
  3. Elderberry – boosts the body’s immune system.
  4. Oat straw – helps your body with nutrients and helps your body build up immunities.
  5. Rose hips – Contains Vitamin C and helps your body to heal.
  6. Licorice root – Coats and soothes your throat and helps with coughing.
  7. Ginger and
  8. Peppermint – act as a decongestants.

Oh my, sweet relief from the allergy season.

This tea is complex in the different herbs used to give your body the best tools to give you relief from allergies. We have this tea made up and ready for you so you can start taking it now, building it up in your body because it does work it’s best when consumed in abundance. So, if you are looking for a medicinal, herbal option for allergies this year I invite you to try out our Chamomile “Allergy Buster” Tea Blend. Here is the direct link to the tea so you can start using it today.

Our teas are made in house, blended with love and care. Most herbs are organic, and non-GMO. The teas we offer to you are herbal teas with medicinal values.

Here is to your next cup of tea,

Shawn

Lemon Balm “Sweet Sleep” Tea

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on
basil & lemon balm

Lemon balm “sweet sleep” tea is the answer to what a lot of people are looking for! With the crazy winter weather we are having this year a lot of people have been ill. It is hard to rest when you are battling the flu with sore throats that brings on coughing and sneezing. Your body needs some help in kicking that flu or common cold. Providing some relaxation and rest is just what your body needs. So, we all know that rest is the most important tool towards feeling better. Our lemon balm “sweet sleep” tea is key in helping you get that rest.

Making the Tea

Click here to see how to create the Lemon Balm “Sweet Sleep” tea.

The Herbs

Lemon Balm Herbal Tea

Lemon balm is a versatile and fragrant herb in the mint family, known for its lemony scent and calming properties. It’s a hardy and easy-to-grow perennial that thrives in a variety of conditions.
Chamomile is a popular herb known for its gentle floral aroma and calming properties. Chamomile is most commonly consumed as a tea.
Tulsi, is a sacred plant in Indian tradition. Known for its aromatic leaves and medicinal properties. It is easy to grow and thrives in warm climates. Combining the three herbs is what makes the Lemon Balm “Sweet Sleep” work so well in helping your body get the rest it needs.

I’ve been making medicinal herbal tea blends for my own use for years. Here is an article I wrote back in the day about organic medicinal teas. My interest has only grown in this field and I finally took the step toward offering medicinal herbal teas to the public. The teas I offer are made in house, blended with love and care. Most herbs are organic and non-GMO. The teas we offer to you are herbal teas with medicinal values. Here is a link directly to the Lemon Balm “Sweet Sleep” tea.

Here is to your next cup of tea,

Shawn

Herbal Cold Medicine Ball Tea

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on

The herbal cold medicine ball tea consists of 3 herbs. These aren’t just any herbs, these are powerhouse herbs that will work with your body and fight against viral, bacterial infections that many of us face during this time of year. So, if your nose is sore from blowing it, your tired, and ran down and weary of taking medicine that just doesn’t seem to be helping. Let me tell you about my little friend, the herbal cold medicine ball tea.

You can watch me make the tea here.

3 Magic Herbs

The 3 medicinal herbs that is in this tea blend is oregano, peppermint and thyme. Here is how each of these herbs work to help you kick that common cold.

Oregano boosts immunity. It is rich in antioxidants like thymol and carvacrol, which protect against free radicals. It contains vitamins A and C that support immune function also fights Infections. Oregano contains natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral compounds. It also encourages sweating, which can help flush toxins from the body.

Peppermint helps with stress relief. The menthol in peppermint has a calming effect, helping reduce anxiety and stress. It also acts as a natural decongestant for colds and sinus issues. The aroma of peppermint can soothe tension headaches as well.

Thyme has antiseptic and antibacterial qualities. It also helps relieve coughs and congestion when used in teas or inhalations. Thyme also contains compounds that fight inflammation and boost immunity. All of which helps with upper respiratory and viral or bacterial cold and flu symptoms such as sinus issues, sore throat and congestion. It helps with sinus infections, sniffles, coughs and bronchitis.

Medicine ball tea

So, as you can see there aren’t a lot of ingredients in this tea. But the 3 herbs that are blended to create this tea are hard working along with your body to help you feel better and recover from the common cold. If you are interested we have the tea already made and packaged for you. It can find it by clicking here at the “Our DIY Homestead” store. It will take you directly to the Herbal Medicine Ball Tea Blend.

Here is to your next cup of tea,

Shawn

The Magic of Peppermint Tea

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on

On these cold, blustery days nothing warms a person up better then a hot cup of peppermint tea. The magic of the tea comes from the many ways it helps your body mentally and physically without the tea drinker even being aware of it. After learning what a cup of this tea does for you, believe me you will enjoy it even more so.

Really, the first thing that I notice when making the tea is the smell of the peppermint. My mouth is already watering in anticipation of that first sip! There are many benefits of drinking peppermint tea. Some of which are it can help calm a headaches as well as help with relaxation from anxiety and stress.

I like making a loose leaf tea blend of peppermint, lemon balm and tulsi. The blend brings out the right notes in each herb to make a delicious herbal tea. It is able to warm your body, helps with making you feel better physically with headache relief and also helps with relaxation easing stress and allows anxiety to ease. There is no need for popping pills for relief, it can come from three herbs. It all happens from the magic of peppermint tea. Wow, what a drink!

I believe in the magic of this tea so much that I have started creating it right here at home and offering it to others. All of my teas are made in house, blended with love and care. The teas I offer to you are herbal teas with medicinal values. If this tea sounds like it would be helpful to you please visit the “Our DIY Homestead” Shop and you can order your own Peppermint Calm & Refresh Tea.

Happy Homesteading,

Shawn

Peppermint bed

Harvesting Peppermint

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on
Peppermint bed
Peppermint bed

This is the week of our gateway herb, peppermint. In our last blog we talked about the different ways to use peppermint. You can find that blog here.

Today I’m going to share with you a video I did about harvesting that peppermint. How to bring it in and prepare it for dehydrating and then the different things I do with it.

If you aren’t going to use a product from your garden, why grow it? So, I wanted to show you how to prepare and use peppermint.

Here is the video and while you are at our YouTube Channel please subscribe and like the video.

Happy Homesteading!

Ron and Shawn

Peppermint bed

PEPPERMINT: THE GATEWAY HERB

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on

Peppermint is the gateway herb

It is said that chickens are the gateway animal for people in neighborhoods to homesteaders on acres of land. And I believe that is true and we can also say the same about peppermint and how it is the gateway herb. It is easy to grow and there are many things you can do with this herb from protecting your home and garden from bugs and insects to using it in the kitchen.

Starting Peppermint

New peppermint bed
New peppermint bed

It is easy at the time of this writing to get peppermint seeds and it is also easy to start the seeds and grow them up to nice plants. I start my seeds inside in late winter and by early Spring they are ready to go outside. Now I’ll give you a tip, peppermint will spread and so it you don’t want it to take over you garden plant it in a container. I have it in several containers through out the garden.

TIP: Peppermint will spread and so it you don’t want it to take over you garden plant it in a container.

Peppermint and Chickens

I also plan on putting it out in the chicken coop. Peppermint provides different vitamins and minerals, it is good for their digestion as well.

peppermint and chickens

Peppermint and Pests

To most humans peppermint smells wonderful however bugs and inscents don’t share the same feeling. If you are having problems with pests in your home bring in a peppermint plant. Your unwelcome pest guests will leave. If having a plant in your home doesn’t work you. Peppermint oil on some cotton balls and tuck around your home will work as well. Outside you can spread your peppermint plants around your garden. This is very important if you are trying to run an organic garden and not using chemicals.

Peppermint and the Kitchen

So, we have taken care of the chickens and the garden pests now here is how we can use peppermint in the kitchen.

Fresh Peppermint

Using fresh peppermint in fruit salads and curry dishes is delicious and a great way to use up some of your peppermint. If you do a Google search you will find many great recipes using this delicious herb.

Dry Peppermint

Peppermint Herbal Tea
Peppermint Herbal Tea

I love all peppermint in my opinion it is hard to go wrong with this herb. However, my favorite way to use peppermint from my garden is to dry it and use it in herbal teas. You can make iced teas or hot teas with peppermint. During the summer there is always a quart of iced peppermint tea in the fridge. It is easy to make! I fill a tea bag with dry peppermint tea ingredients put it in the pitcher that is full of hot water. Leave it on the counter overnight. In the morning pull the tea bag out, sweeten if wanted, pour over a glass full of ice and enjoy!

Making Mint and Vanilla Extracts

  • By - DiyGarden
  • Posted on

Smells, isn’t it funny how they can bring memories rushing back. That is what happened to me this week as I was working on making some vanilla extract and mint extract. The wonderfully strong vanilla smell brought back memories of past Christmas baking.

Vanilla Extract

Sourcing for Vanilla Extract

vanilla beans

I ordered my Madagascar vanilla beans from Amazon. For a pack of 10 it was $24.99. This might seem expensive upfront however; the good news is you can reuse the beans so you will get your money’s worth from them.

Vodka is the next thing you will need. As you go shopping for it just remember that you don’t need the most expensive brand. Vodka is just the vehicle used to hydrate and coax the vanilla flavoring.

vodka

Creating Vanilla Extract

Cut the vanilla bean lengthways just opening it up. Leave the vanilla alone and put it into your storage container. For me it was a pint jar with a plastic lid. I also use other glass jars as long as they are around a pint size container.

Storage for Vanilla Extract

Now put your jars in the back of your cabinets for the next 3-6 months even up to one year.

Seems pretty simple doesn’t it.

Mint Extract

Sourcing for Mint Extract

mint

Mint extract isn’t as expensive to start if you have some mint growing in your garden. Trim it up and fill a container. I had enough to fill a quart jar. Again any glass container will work for this.

Creating Mint Extract

Fill the jars with the mint leaves. Here is a hint I use a variety of mint so don’t worry too much about what kind of mint to use. Then pour vodka over the leaves and cap it.  

Storage for Mint Extract

Now put your jars in the back of your cabinets for the next month then take out the mint and you can put the extract in smaller jars or leave it in the jars you started it in. Make sure to strain it before you use it.

As you have seen making the extracts is pretty simple. I hope you step out and try making some.

Here is a video link talking about the extracts.

https://youtu.be/lD1oJMjAxsE