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November News 2003 |
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and Updates for November 2003 Welcome to our monthly "Newsletter". This is where we announce the most recent additions to our website along with "what's happening in our gardens", helpful hints, herbal tips, etc. Please check back often as we will be updating regularly. What's happening in our garden for November: This year has brought some bizarre weather patterns to our part of the world. We had an unusually hot, dry summer which caused the worst forest fires in our province’s history. Within a matter of days we had gone from drought conditions to major flooding in many areas. Never have I seen such heavy amounts of rain in such a short time. I have an oversize wheelbarrow and it was over flowing within 2 days. Needless to say it has been difficult to complete our fall garden cleanup. The sun has been shining lately though with unusually mild temperatures so we are almost caught up again. We are now offering Bulk Soaps after repeated requests along with “bulk” hand rolled soap balls at discounted prices. They make great stocking stuffers and are located at this link: Bulk Soap Christmas comes quickly so please get your orders in early to enable your gifts to arrive before Christmas. Also, if orders are placed early they can be shipped at the more economical regular surface mail rather than Xpress Post. November "To Do" List: -turn over soil in vegetable garden adding compost. -plant fall rye for green manure. -rake up leaves or mulch with lawnmower and add to compost. -shred woody stems with power shredder and add to compost. -drain irrigation hoses to prevent from freezing. -dig up dahlias, gladiolus and cannas – store in peat or sand in a cool, dark frost-free place. -add lime to vegetable garden if it needs it – lilacs also benefit from lime. -clean and fill bird feeders. -put an arrangement of greens and berries such as holly branches in a basket outside front entrance. -make an outdoor arrangement by pushing cut branches into pot filled with soil - good choices are shrubby dogwoods and willow, twiggy blueberry and huckleberry stems. -pot up some bulbs that have been pre-cooled or state that they have been treated – some good choices are crocus & hyacinths. Give them 3 to 4 weeks in a cool, dark spot to make roots. Keep moist, then bring to light. Greenhouse Gardening for November: (for a cool greenhouse kept at 40 - 45F (5 - 7C) -plants in bloom for this month – bougainvillea, oleander, gerbera, pelargonium, begonias, hibiscus and bouvardia, -clean benches and remove all debris. -ventilate if day is warm and sunny as the greenhouse tends to get too humid this time of year causing mould and mildew. Remove infected leaves immediately and destroy. -deadhead spent blooms and remove diseased or yellowed leaves. -I now have brought in all of my tender perennials, herbs, etc. and have cut them back drastically to reduce storage space in the greenhouse. I keep all plants barely moist over the winter months. -check for aphids and whiteflies - spray with Safer’s Insecticidal Soap or make your own with the following recipe: Natural Organic Insecticidal Soap 1 bar grated handmade soap 2 cups water 1/4 cup light vegetable oil (canola, safflower, corn) Boil water in saucepan. Add grated soap and allow to simmer until all or most of the soap has melted. Strain and pour into spray bottle. Add vegetable oils and shake well. CAUTION: test on small area first to make sure spray does not damage leaves. Indoor Sunroom or Conservatory: A list of plants presently blooming in our sunroom: -Oncidium Orchids (Dancing Lady Orchid) -Phalaenopsis Orchids -Bromeliad -Cattleya Orchids -Oxalis -Myrtle -Gardenia -Anthirium Growing Conditions for House Plants – Part 4 Location: Some direct sunlight – on or very close to an east or west facing windowsill. May need protection from hot summer sun. Suitable plants for this area include Beloperone, Capsicum, Chloropytum, Chrysanthemum, Codiaeum, Cordyline terminalis, Cuphea, Ficus elastica decora, Gynura, Hoya, Impatiens, Nertera, Plumbago, Poinsettia, Saintpaulia, Sansevieria, Solanum, Sparmannia, Tradescantia, Zebrina. Herbal Hints: -the herb garden is now tidied up for winter, tender herbs brought into our heated greenhouse and others mulched for winter protection. -bring in pots of rosemary, thyme, bay, etc. indoors or heated greenhouse for a winter’s supply of fresh herbs – keep them on the dry side and scrupulously remove any diseased leaves. Country Rose “Scrub in the Tub” Sachets: 6 cups organic oats, slightly ground 2 cups crushed organic rose petals 1/2 cup slightly crushed scented geraniums 2 cups chamomile blossoms, whole 1/2 cup comfrey crushed 3 tsp orris root powder 1 1/2 tsp ylang ylang essential oil 3/4 tsp lavender essential oil 1/2 tsp orange sweet essential oil 1/4 tsp rose geranium essential oil Blend all ingredients well in a glass or stainless steel bowl. Spoon into muslin drawstring bags. To Use: Hang on tub spout allowing water to run through bag or drop directly into bath water. Can also use muslin bag to give a thorough scrub to entire body for an aromatic and skin softening massage. Handmade Soap News: Part 4 –The Celtic people are also thought to have discovered soap making and were using handmade soap for bathing and washing. It might be due to the increased contact with the Celtics by the Romans that using soap for personal care became popular. Very little soap making was done after the fall of the Roman Empire in Western Europe until around the 8th century when it was revived in Italy and Spain. By the 13th century, France also became a European soap maker. During the 14th century England started producing soap. Soap produced in southern Europe was made with olive oils but in the north soap makers were not able to obtain the olive oil so made their soaps with animal fats such as tallow. They even resorted to making soaps from fish oils. Soaps made from the poor quality animal fats were adequate for laundry but not that desirable for bathing and washing. Southern Europe with their olive oils produced much superior soap which resulted in a busy trade of exporting fine soaps from southern Europe. Natural Cleaning Products: Handmade Soap Sanitizer 1/4 cup grated handmade soap 3 Tbsp household chlorine bleach 4 cups hot water few drops lemon or pine essential oil Combine all ingredients in a bucket. Clean garbage cans, etc. with this mixture, leave on for 5 minutes and rinse. Organic Gardening Tips: Beneficial Bugs: Bees – are responsible for the pollination of more than one third of the vegetables and fruits we eat. Centipedes – eat a wide range of soil-dwelling pests. Domestic Fowl – chickens and ducks eat insects and slugs Frogs and Toads – feed on insects, snails, worms, and slugs. Ground Beetles – eat cutworms, caterpillars, slugs and snails. Prefer to live in areas with ground cover plants. Hoverflies – their larvae help to control aphids. Lacewings – eat aphids, whiteflies, larvae, mites and thrips. Ladybugs – eat aphids, mealybugs and scale. (their larvae eat mites) Spiders – catch many pests Wasps – lay their eggs in pests and when the eggs hatch, the pest is destroyed. Health and Wellness Chamomile Skin Toner : 1 oz chamomile blossoms 1 cup water 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice Bring water to boil. Add the chamomile blossoms, remove pot from heat, cover and infuse overnight. Strain and add the lemon juice. Refrigerate. Thanks for visiting! Susan |
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