January News 2005 

What's happening in our garden for January: Happy New Year everyone! We at Country Rose Soap Co. wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year! As we watch in horror at the terrible events stemming from the Asia quake we can’t help but realize how very fortunate we all are. It is incomprehensible for most of us to even fathom. We had a wonderful Christmas and I am presently cleaning up after a very large family dinner held at our home last night. We have been so busy this fall that we didn’t even get all of our potatoes dug up. I was positive they were ruined after all the heavy rain that we have received but the ‘Yukon Golds’ were in perfect shape and made wonderful ‘Potato Puffs’. This month I will be going through my seed catalogues which arrived last month and will decide on what I need to order this year. February comes quickly which is when I start my tomatoes, begonias, etc. 

January "To Do" List: -pull weeds which have sprouted during warmer weather. -order seeds. -winter is a good time for pruning. -shape ornamental trees when they are still young by cutting any shoots growing in the wrong direction to a well-placed alternative. -avoid blunt-cutting mature branches. -remove an offending branch at its point of origin or cut it back to a suitable side branch. -arch-shaped flowering shrubs such a mock orange and deutzia that have become too densely overgrown can be rejuvenated by cutting them right back to the ground. If you do not want to miss a flowering season, cut out one third of the oldest stems this year and repeat the procedure next winter – fertilize and water it in dry weather. -spray dormant oil over deciduous trees and shrubs. -keep the bird feeder full and clean out nesting boxes. 

Greenhouse Gardening for January: (for a cool greenhouse kept at 40 - 45F (5 - 7C) -plants in bloom for this month – pelargonium, rosemary, jade plant, cymbidium orchid, odontoglossum orchid. -maintain a minimum temperature of 40F (5C) in the cool greenhouse if frost sensitive plants are stored. -it is important to maintain a dry atmosphere to prevent disease – water only when absolutely necessary. -severely cut back tropical plants. -keep an eye out for aphids and whiteflies. Spray with Safer’s Insecticidal Soap or your own homemade soap spray. 

Herbal Hints: Keeping insects away the Herbal Way: The following are a few of the herbs historically used to fight insects in the home.
1) Basil - used as a container plant in doorways or on windowsills where it is said to discourage flying insects from seeking entry to the home.
2) Bay – long been used as a fragrant strewing herb. It was also thought that placing the dried crushed leaves in cupboards would keep weevils and cockroaches away and adding a few leaves to the bottom of the flower container would act as a pest deterrent.
3) Feverfew – the dried leaves of Feverfew are added to sachets kept with clothing – said to deter moths.
4) Hyssop – old strewing herb – historically used to get rid of lice.
5) Lavender – popular strewing herb. Its reputation as an insect repellent is extensive – said to repel moths, fleas and mice. It was often used in sachets that were then wrapped up with unused carpets and clothing.
6) Lemongrass – used in the making of Citronella, a mosquito repellent.
7) Marjoram – another fragrant strewing herb believed to be an all-purpose insect repellent.
8) Mints – all the mints are thought to have insect repelling properties and were used as strewing herbs. Of all the mints, pennyroyal was considered the most important for this purpose.
9) Mugwort – insect repelling reputation – flying insects as well as moths. Mugwort leaves were often placed with stored clothing.
10) Pennyroyal – famed as a fighter of fleas – was often added to sachet mixtures. Its leaves were also dried and burned as a sort of insect repelling incense.
11) Rosemary – prized both for its strong fragrance and its presumed insect fighting abilities – has a reputation for use against both moths and fleas and is a common ingredient in insect repelling sachets.
12) Rue – another all-purpose reputation – dried rue leaves are sometimes scattered in animal’s sleeping areas and are also said to drive away flies and fleas when placed on the floor in poultry houses.
13) Southernwood – another member of the artemisia family – branches of southernwood were cut and hung in the closet to keep moths away – was also popular as a strewing herb and was an ingredient in insect repelling sachets.
14) Sweet Woodruff – dried fragrant sweet woodruff leaves have been used to stuff mattresses, supposedly adding fragrance while keeping insects away.
15) Tansy – an all-purpose reputation as one of the best insect repelling herbs – used to fend off ants, moths, flies, fleas and even cockroaches.
16) Thyme – has a reputations for repelling some flying insects – has been used with lavender to make an ointment and in sachets to deter moths.
17) Wormwood – member of the artemisia family - insect repelling reputation – useful against moths and flying insects. 

Handmade Soap News: Part 19 – Soap Making Soap making and the manufacture of potash and pearlashes were closely related trades of colonial America. Pearlash, purified potash, because of its many industrial uses was an important item of export for the colonies. Pearlash was used in both soap-making and glass-making, both in the colonies, and in Europe. Potash and later pearlash were valuable items of the export trade to England, being one of the few items produced by the American colonies that could be traded directly to England for cash. 

Natural Cleaning Products: Natural Appliance Cleaner:
-1 tsp liquid castile soap
-1/8 cup white vinegar
-1/4 cup lemon juice
-2 cups water
-4 drops lemon or orange essential oil
-1 tsp borax. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use. Spray on appliance surface and wipe with a damp cloth or sponge. Wipe dry with a towel. 

Organic Gardening Tips: Cover Crops – Green Manure: A simple method that can be used to improve any garden as green manures will add nitrogen and organic matter. A cover crop is something you plant in your garden, often over the winter, which you then turn over and dig into the soil before planting your regular season vegetables or flowers. These are also referred to as green manures. There are many choices. Legume family cover crops add large amounts of nitrogen to the soil. Nitrogen is easily washed from the soil, particularly in our area that receives a lot of winter rain. The most common and easiest cover crop to grow is winter rye. Rye seed is sold in bulk at most feed stores, nurseries and garden centres. Winter rye is planted in the fall. It germinates in the cold soil and will keep growing through most winters on the Coast. In colder regions it goes dormant and then starts growing again as soon as the days go above freezing. Plant it by either broadcasting the seed over the surface of the soil and raking it in or by planting it in closely spaced rows. It should be planted thickly to get the maximum benefit. Birds love rye seeds so it is important to cover it well In spring, 3 or 4 weeks before you want to plant your garden, dig the rye in, turning it over so all the green material is covered with soil. It quickly decomposes adding its nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Your then renewed garden bed is ready for planting. 

Health and Wellness Designer Greens - Mesclun: Originating in southern France, the term ‘mesclun’ simply means a combination of young, tender greens. Mesclun mixes provide a tasty blend of salad greens in a combination of colours, shapes and textures. The mixtures may contain combinations of mustards, arugula, endive and cress providing a piquant, biting contrast to the mild tender greens of lettuces and corn salad. Mesclun is quick and easy to grow. The greens are harvested when young and tender, and then allowed to grow again. As many as 3 or 4 cuttings can be taken from a very small area. Mesclun greens have a few things in common – they grow quickly, prefer cool weather and can even take a light frost. Plant as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. Sow in an area where the plants will receive full or partial sun. Leaf crops are heavy feeders and requires soil high in nitrogen. Dig in some organic matter such as compost or aged manure. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, cover with fine soil, tamp down and water in. Seeds can be broadcast in blocks (in 2 or 3 foot sections), or planted in wide rows that can be harvested a portion at a time. I like using them to fill empty spots in the garden. To harvest, snip off handfuls of leafy greens when they are 4 to 6 inches high. Cut an inch or so above the ground. Wash carefully to remove any dirt or insects, then simply pat or spin dry. These are delicious on with a simple vinaigrette dressing. Very healthy and nutritious. Here is my new salad that I served at our Christmas Dinner: 

Leafy Greens Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
-variety of tender, leafy greens such as spinach, endive, arugula, etc. (Washed and spun dry)
-very finely sliced cucumbers, radishes, green onion and sweet pepper
-dried cranberries,
-pumpkin seeds
-sunflower seeds
-peanuts (optional)
-pomegranates Toss leafy greens, cucumbers, radishes and sweet pepper and arrange in an attractive salad bowl. Sprinkle with a handful each of dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pomegranates and peanuts. Serve with Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing. 

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing:
-3/4 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
-1/4 cup raspberry vinegar or white wine vinegar
-1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
-small handful fresh tarragon leaves
-kosher salt to taste
-freshly ground pepper to taste Combine all ingredients in food processor: pulse until smooth. 

Thanks for visiting! Susan

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