Sod this, I'm Preparing for Spring

The advantage to a cold winter is that Spring looks all the better. 

Happy New Year everyone, by the way.

I refuse to acknowledge this cold wave we're having (we get a reprieve today (Jan 1) and tomorrow then after another week of mid -20s (Celsius) those who never get it right are giving everyone hope by saying it will be in the range of 0C (32F) for about a week -- I'll believe it when I see it.

Good news for the chickens though, I will leave their coop door open today and tomorrow for some much needed fresh air. I've had to keep them cooped up (pun intended) due to the extreme -40C temps. (-40C is also -40F for anyone who doesn't know -- also known as 'Damn Cold')

We decided to start planning our garden...

So because we want to learn to save our own seeds, I ordered this book which comes highly recommended by numerous homesteading peeps.

We need this book because every veg/plant, etc has different times/ways to save the seeds, for some the seeds are saved early in the growth and for others you let a few of them grow long past picking before saving the seeds.

Seed to Seed

We have 1 of these standing storage racks but to ensure it is the same size as the other I have ordered 2 of them to snug side by side.

Storage rack for seed trays

(I noted the price increased $5 since I ordered them yesterday)

And a lesson learned from last year when I started all our starts but then had to buy a bunch of starts because they didn't get strong enough even with the greenhouse.... this year, grow lights!

Full spectrum LED grow lights

As for the seeds, as you may know - if you plan to save seeds you need heirloom seeds (ie non-gmo) as the gmo seeds are sprayed and processed in such a way that they do not propagate well. By buying only heirloom seeds we ensure the heritage of the seeds, 'Purebred' seeds if you will.

Here in Alberta, there are a few heirloom seed companies and I chose to order from Heirloom Seed Vault and Wildrose Heritage Seed Company.

It is also worth noting that when buying seeds, you should always try to buy locally because by way of example, tomatoe seeds sold in Alabama will not be as hearty as those sold in Alberta, not to mention the much shorter growing season here.

Everyone should try to grow something, even if its just a few small herbs in the kitchen window, or a single tomatoe plant on the veranda. It gives you a sense of something.... I can't quite put my finger on, but suffice to say it makes you feel warm and fuzzy. A huge garden like we tend to do is not necessary for everyone but having a plant growing somewhere just, well... feels right for us. And many typical house plants are edible too... multi purpose. Not to mention the many many that are just growing wild outside your door, yes YOUR door, every door, free for the taking, and often medicinal.

May your next salad be wild! 

Butterfly gland flies again

Thyroid Gland (AKA Butterfly Gland)

The Doctor called for Brad's appointment today. When Brad was finished I jumped on the line to give him the heads up that I wanted to get off the pills in lieu of Stinging Nettle Tea. 

He actually agreed....!

My numbers are such that he agrees my thyroid appears to be working well. He is willing to test me again in 2 months to see how its going and he has sent a prescription for 25mg to the pharmacy so that I have it just in case I find that I need it as it can take 2 weeks to get an appt with him. 

Although he did say that if I started experiencing any symptoms that I am to call the office immediately and they will get me booked fast.

My new question is: Do I even need the Stinging Nettle Tea? Perhaps my thyroid has completely fixed itself. I will assume I need the Stinging Nettle Tea for the foreseeable future and cross that bridge once I've stabilized my numbers.

What else is growing and why

*** There is Health Benefit information in this post for the purpose of shedding light on options, please do your own research before consuming and/or using any Medicinals/Edibles.

My Garden Helper

Potatoes are coming along nicely

Horseradish on the right but not on the left, instead something my app can't decide on so I'll leave it to grow a bit more.

Horseradish Benefits: 

Strengthens Immune System, Treats urinary tract infections, Helps to regulate blood pressure, Helps in digestions, Useful during pregnancy, Helps relieve pain, Helps prevent cancer, Treats sinus infections, Good for teeth, Helps metabolism.

Horseradish edibles: Aside from the obvious condiment... Roots can be sliced and roasted as with parsnip, Young leaves can be added to salads, pickles or cooked as a potherb. Sprouted seeds can be used to season salads.

Asparagus 1

Asparagus 2

Asparagus 3

Stevia (sugar substitute found at any health food store)

Stevia Benefits:

Weight control, Cancer prevention, Improves bone health, Regulates blood pressure, Skin care, Improves oral health, Cures allergies

Stevia Edibles: 150x sweeter than sugar. Dried leaves can be ground and used as a sweetener or soaked in water and the liquid used in making preserves. Powdered leaves can be added to herb teas.

The white flowers are (will be) Saskatoon Berries

Saskatoon Berries Benefits:

Immunity, Heart health, Inflammation, Fiber, Brain and Nerve, Energy, Stomach ailments, Mild laxative. Juice used to make eye and ear drops. 

Saskatoon Berries Edibles: Fruit used in soups, stews, meat dishes, pemmican and dried cakes.

St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort Benefits:

Smoking cessation, Menopausal mood swings, Reduces pregnancy pains, Anti-cancer effects, Cure hangovers, Cure Parkinson's Disease, Treats sinus congestions, Lowers blood pressure, Cures depression (not to be mixed with some depression meds - research required), Controls anxiety, Alleviates pain, Antiviral, Alleviates joint pain.

St. John's Wort Edibles: Leaves, flowers, seeds used in tea. Leaves and flowers can be tossed in salad.

Greenhouse planter box now includes Salsa tomatoes and jalapenos

This planter box is mostly for salsa. Tomatoes, Jalapenos, Bunching onions and Cilantro with a couple of Brussel Sprouts, Beets and Radishes thrown in.

Yesterday I started Corn...

... and POPcorn

Tomatoes, Peppers and Romaine are thriving in the greenhouse

Two tomatoe plants that were unlabeled as to which type of tomatoe, will go on the deck in these big pots. I soaked Pea seeds overnight and they will go in these hanging baskets - don't know if that will work but I don't see why not, so...

Carrots and Leeks

Lamb's Ear

Lamb's Ear Benefits:

Antibacterial bandage, Bee stings, Insect bites, Colds, Gum and throat infections, Asthma, Eyewash, Toilet paper, Absorbent pads

Lamb's ear edibles: Young leaves in salad, steamed as a green, battered, stir fried.

Side garden onions

When I planted onions in the large garden I had a few bulbs left over so I put them in the side garden in a patch that doesn't grow things well... never expecting that they would come to anything as the ground is so shallow here, but here they are in all their glory just the same as the ones in the garden.

Small garlic patch

We have a large garlic patch out by the main garden with 92 plants in it.

Some likely familiar medicinal plants

Robbie and I foraged enough for 4 Betty trays (1 full load)

2 of Purple dead nettle, 1 of plantain and 1 of plantain seeds

Purple Dead Nettle

Medicinal uses: Astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic and purgative. Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal. Leaves used on wounds or cuts, poultice.

Edibles: Pesto, soup, salads, smoothies. Any way you would use any green leafy vegetable or herb.

Plantain

Medicinal uses: Cough, Wounds, Inflamed skin or dermatitis, Leaves crushed and applied topically for insect bites, stings, eczema and small wounds or cuts.

Edibles: Infections, Inflammation, Kidney, Bladder, stomach and intestinal problems, Breathing conditions.

Plantain seed head can be dried and ground to a flour

Medicinal Uses: GI (Gastro-Intestinal) therapy, Treat hyperlipidemia, Anti-cancer effects, Respiratory treatment, Chronic bronchitis, Asthma, Cough, Cold, Laxative, Insect repellant.

Edibles: Eat as insect repellant, Salad, Breads, Grind to use as flour.

I have found learning about our local weeds to be quite fascinating and I hope you are finding it interesting - if nothing else. If others are interested I will continue to add details here and there, otherwise I won't be discussing it again so please let me know your interest level in the comment section below. 

I have not been able to find anything which will replace my thyroid medications as they appear to be made from pig thyroid hormones which I guess explains the weight gain. LOL

More Hypothyroid Intel

 

You may recall when we were still in our RV we were very fortunate to find a lovely spot in the woods to park after leaving the campground we had been running in November of 2019... and then my thyroid went wonky and I almost died in April of 2020....

You may also recall that I thought the other day to check for medicinals for thyroid troubles.... I have HYPOthyroid and so it is that to which I am referring in this post and cannot speak to HYPERthyroid. I came across some info in researching any local medicinals which could help my thyroid should I not be able to obtain the western traditional medicine (Synthroid) which keeps my thyroid operating and thereby keeping me alive (for you die without the thyroid).

The information I found was an article about Traditional Chinese Medicine and in that article when discussing causes of hypothyroid issues it states:

"sand in the water of springs and rivers, especially in the mountainous regions."

That sure got my attention! The spot we were at had pretty good water but every so often I had to remove the little filter on the end of the tap and remove a blockage of sand............  So now it makes sense why I was perfectly fine and then suddenly within such a short time was on deaths door. 

Since moving here, my thyroid seems to be working. The Dr. keeps having to reduce my medication because it appears that my thyroid is putting out something at least.

My question now is: IF I ingested sand and it caused my thyroid to wonk out on me - and I have now moved from that source of sandy water -- is my thyroid hooped from that or can that grain (granules) somehow be removed by my body and my thyroid will repair itself?! 

I know I was told  a year ago that my thyroid was absolutely dead and could not be saved. I also know that on rare occassion thyroids do resolve themselves.... so I'm wondering if those whose thyroids resolved themselves are people who moved away from bad (sandy) water....

I know there is absolutely no reason to ask the Dr, as he is only legally allowed to tell me what 'they' say and I'm laying good odds that 'they' don't have a clue anymore than the weatherman. 

All I know is that my thyroid has begun generating and my medication has been and is still being reduced rather drastically as I mentioned in previous blogs. I will be getting another dose of bloodletting done next week... I'll be very interested to see those results. Very interested.

Picking Daisies for Inflammation and Pain

Note: I am not a medical authority, do your own research.

Daisies are historically used medicinally for Cough, Bronchitis, Liver and Kidneys, minor Bleeding, Blood purifier, minor Pain and also Inflammation... well Brad has a lot of inflammation and pain issues, so... off I went.

The orchard is full of daisies, just snap off the flowers tops and steep in a cup of hot water

Just occurred to me to see if there is anything that will help my thyroid..... I'll check it out.

 

To make sure we have some all year, I'm freeze drying them and putting them in mason jars.

Also in this picture is Lamb's Tongue which is used as a poultice and also for mouth wounds such as canker sores... its there so I may as well grab some just in case.

'Those who never get it right' are saying we're in for a doozy dose of rain.... I'll track how it changes each day.... often times they say tons of rain and it ends up as ~1mm (.039")

I sure hope they'll get it right this time because we need the rain in the cistern. We are presently 4.5" lower in our cistern than we were when we moved in May 16th last year... we still had 24" left at the start of rainy season in the fall, but.... with all the flowers we have I'd like a better cushion. 

The garden ground cover means we only water down there once a week (Friday) as described previously.... 55 gallons pumped out over half an hour via a drip system, which we anticipate will mean our garden will require much less water this year vs last year when we had to water everything twice a day. Our landlord brings water up to the garden area with a tractor until the irrigation system is turned on in the heat of summer.

Garden fixed. Medicinals

Back in the garden to fix the ground cover we went.....

A pigeon stopped by to check it out

He was thoroughly unimpressed that he couldn't eat through it.

Robbie in all his regal beauty waited patiently on the side for us.

After burning the holes where we needed them to be, I put rabbit manure down there then the onion bulbs, covered with dirt and a dose of more rabbit manure on top.

Yellow, Red and Green onions are in. Finally.

Mrs. Farmer Chick. Sexy right?! LOL

We had a bunch of garlic that was starting to sprout so I peeled them and Freeze Dried the lot, its super handy because you can just lay a knife flat on FD'd garlic and mince it instantly just by pushing down. Works super fantastic and the flavour is concentrated so you need less.

I've been waiting months to harvest Blackberry leaves and they are finally sprouting so off I went. This is a blend of blackberry and black raspberry leaves. They will be in the FD within the hour. 

These leaves have many medicinal properties and uses such as Cancer, Dysentery, Whooping cough, Mouth ulcer, Minor bleeding, Diarrhea, Toothache, Sore throat, Colitis, Anemia, Mouth wash, Psoriasis, Hemorrhoids. More information about this can be found here. Or for a simpler explanation just Google ' Medicinal benefits of Blackberry leaves'.

Brad's massage therapist has a small homestead and they just had some lambs born very recently. 

So cute.

'

The expected layout of our garden this year. Does not include the 11'x13' bed of garlic Brad planted in the fall.

We picked up some parts yesterday for a garden update which will be in an upcoming post.