• Herbs,  Home Garden

    Herbal Plant Companions

    Herbs are typically hardy and resilient. In these times of unpredictable weather, herbs provide beauty, flavor, medicine and food for people and pets. One additional benefit of herbs is serving as good companions for your flower and veggie gardens. When certain herbs are planted near or among other plants, they help those plants be resilient, too. Companion planting with herbs attracts beneficial insects or draw unwanted pests away from more vulnerable plants. Here are a few examples of our favorite companion herbs.  Calendula This cheery, sunny, fragrant flower (also known as pot marigold) pairs well with eggplant and tomatoes. It attracts a wide variety of pollinators, including striped bees and…

  • Sad dog
    Alternative Medicine,  Herbs,  Pets

    Organic Hemp Oils for Pets

    In the last few decades, veterinary medicine has come to embrace the idea of pain management for dogs, cats, and other companion animals. When we have pets that are in pain, sick and uncomfortable, or anxious and stressed, it can be hard to treat their symptoms with just one solution. Sun God Medicinals is offering all-natural hemp-infused herb oils to ease most ailments for our furry loved ones.  Airmed Pet Oil  Specially formulated with Oregon-grown hemp and supporting herbs that may help relieve digestive problems. Ingredients: Olive oil, Marshmallow root, Dandelion root, Fennel seed, hemp and Vitamin E oil.  Aja Pet Oil  Specially formulated Oregon gown hemp and supporting herbs…

  • FOOD,  Herbs

    Herbs for the Urban Homestead

    As pioneers moved to Washington and Oregon during the 19th century, they homesteaded the land and started a lifestyle that persists even today. There are many stories of pioneer women carrying seeds or a start of their favorite plant carefully wrapped inside a potato. The potato nourished the cutting on the long trip west. There weren’t grocery stores so they grew and processed their own food. They had to be self-sufficient just to survive. 21st century homesteading is still about self-sufficiency — wherever you live. It’s about using less energy, eating wholesome local food, involving your family in the life of the community, and making wise choices that will improve…

  • helpful herbs for pets
    Herbs,  Pets

    Herbs for Pets

    For many of us, pets are important members of our families - they sure are in our homes! Herbs can be useful for our very best furry (and even feathered!) friends, big or small.

  • Alternative Medicine,  Education,  Herbs,  Home Garden

    Local Medicine: Preserving Medicinal Herbs

    “Herbal medicine provides relief while also assisting our immune systems do their jobs.” Herbs offer us many gifts: culinary seasonings, teas, and nutritive medicine. Even though we are nearing the end of the growing season, there is still time to harvest and preserve herbs for use throughout the winter months. Be sure to dry herbs for culinary use and for teas, store them in glass jars to protect their aromatic oils. In this article, I describe a favorite way to preserve medicinal herbs for winter use. Upper respiratory viruses are the most common ailments during the colder months, and we are most vulnerable during the seasonal transitions of fall to…