Indoor Herbs/Garden - General

If you're a regular you've probably no doubt seen one of my prior posts regarding outdoors planting on a budget. For those of you as my first time reader, just peruse and you'll find it-it's an earlier post I've written. Moving along...

So in that said previous post I mentioned specifically some plants that were great for cooking as well as natural mosquito repellants during the hot season and for those plants to be placed near your main entryways or literally right next to the door that people most frequently use to enter into your home. Today's post expands on a little cool project that you can do indoors and not only can it be fun for the kiddos BUT it's still pocketbook friendly!

Back in 2018 I found some great items at Dollar Tree (a more upscale Dollar General feel and pricing) not really knowing how awesome they would have my plants turn out. First off, for any of you who are only Target or Walmart or whatever neighborhood market place you have and refuse to enter into some of those budget friendly spots-it's a darn shame because there are some great things in there I'll have you know! So taking my oldest (while pregnant again) into the Dollar Tree store we came upon some really fun items for the "spring" and "floral" section they organized at the front of the store. They had packages of "dirt-less dirt" which almost looked like a bunch of moss in a nicely packaged ziplock bag. Not knowing how much I would come to love them, I only placed six in my cart. I say six because in reading the directions you could put dirt in the flowering part you used the product in, you would just have to have more of the dirt-less product than actual dirt. Well right next to that package was the plastic flowering pots. Made a quick decision and decided to try my own take at vertical indoor herb garden.

I bought a total of twelve white plastic flowering pots, because I wanted my oldest to help me in decorating or making it an outdoor arts and crafts experience for her and I. Found some little chalkboard like signs that were on clips, so bought those with the idea to use those as my labels for the flowering pots. Then went back to the dirt-less package area and bought them out, buying and taking home with me a total of fifteen. I didn't know how they would (or wouldn't) work so I didn't want to risk wasting my time in coming back; I mean they were only a dollar a piece why would I bother leaving them at the store when I could just take them!

Well I knew that for the good stuff I had to buy at a better store, therefore there we went to Walmart to buy the white chalk paint marker, a package of paint pens, and the herbs that my oldest and I would be planting together in the house. so the total for it all: twelve flowering pots, fifteen dirt-less packages, the mini chalkboard signs, paint markers, chalk marker, four wood boards, some wood nails, the wall decals for the wall you'll see in the picture and of course the twelve plants to plant. The twelve plants consisted of lemon thyme, lavender, sweet mint, and cilantro; all of the above for the grand total of $96 and some change. It could have probably been less had ai not bought all of the dirt-less packages and started off with so many plants, but boy am I glad I did! We got home, unloaded everything onto a table in the garage and my oldest daughters proceeded in doing some arts and crafts with me while we did our project and assisted me in the planting portion of the project. When it came to setting up the wall she also helped me, in her way anyway. Below is the finished product.

I was SO shockingly surprised how well this little idea turned out and how much fun it was for my oldest and I, especially since we make a lot of sweet mint herbal sweet tea and for anyone who knows or uses sweet mint, the more you cut the faster and larger quantity of sweet mint grow in...well when you take care of your plants anyway. The dirt-less dirt was badass considering I was only watering once a week and no more than a cup so that the moisture retained (as the package explains) would work its magic. I mean I wasn't even using "plant food" it was just simple vitamin D light from the sun even though it was in a corner and the observational care. If I found that I may have missed the care of the plant and it would start to die off, I had the extra material on hand already to swap out plants/herbs and keep it all going.

The moral of the story is not only to incorporate your kids BUT that someone can not and should not dis the cheap locations and options for the category in use, such as the one used here, for gardening/planting. Are there any cool tips or creative streaks that you can provide?

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Herbal Teas - Health/General

If you like to have sweet teas or are a person who enjoys their hot tea blends, then this post is definitely for you. Before we get into the teas, what type of tea drinker are you? Are you the hot tea or cold brewed tea drinker? Is your preference towards tea bags from the big chain/known companies or the eccentric and not known or heard of packaging? Perhaps you go into an actual Asian market or grocery store to get the more foreign tea bags? Do you have the hot tea bags that have the full herbs inside? Or are you the type of person like myself that will grow your own herbs than make the fresh teas at home?

In my home we grow the following plants so we can make our own homemade teas: lemongrass, lavender, rosemary, parsley, and sweet mint. Yes rosemary and parsley can be used as teas, they aren't just for cooking, and they are pretty delicious incase you haven't tried them. Why do I personally grow these specific ones, you may ask. Well aside from already knowing how to care for these great smelling and delicious plants I'll break down each plant and why I grow them.

Rosemary-for starters, it tolerates the excessive heat and lots of sun exposure so you don't have to fret when you grow this plant no matter where you live in the nation. They have served as a great natural mosquito repellant and I've seen that they keep a lot of unwanted bug guests at bay from the entryways (which is where I keep this specific plant). I also personally don't like ginger or "spice" like teas but rosemary provides that hint of spice towards the end of your sip, so it's something I can tolerate and appreciate more. It's a source of antioxidants and serves as an anti-inflammatory compounds that's thought to assist with boosting immune system and improve blood circulation. 

Parsley-a plant that can tolerate high levels of heat but I have found it likes a good amount of exposure to the sun with some shade in the daily mix. I've used this plant a time or two when I've had some really bad cramps-yup you heard me! Those wonderful monthly cramps, this plant once created into a tea helps a lot, you should try it sometime. I've never used it dried out but I also wouldn't suggest it since having it dried out removes the benefits the herb provides; it contains vitamins (a single teaspoon contains more than 70% of vitamin K and a good amount of vitamin A), minerals, and serves as an antioxidant as well (a good amount of flavonoids).

Lavender-the plant itself is supposed to be in the heat or more like in the sun, so the plant will also thrive anywhere in the nation. Serves as a natural mosquito repellant so this is also one plant I have at the entryways of my home, besides it smells wonderful and the flowers are pretty so who wouldn't put it in the doorway or entry door of your home. This lovely plant doesn't just boost your mood but goes to the extent of reducing colic as well. Serves for soothing/relaxing when you're anxious, moody, and helps relieve pain or inflammation. 

Sweet Mint-this plant is one of my favorites because not only is it grown or can be grown anywhere in the nation, it's a resilient plant that can do well in any climate! It makes the area it's planted in smell delicious, then with a plus provides a great natural mosquito repellant. One of the best parts, it grows like weeds so you can literally use it every week! Yes as I've mentioned on the other plants, this too is one I have near or right adjacent to my entry door/s, serving both as a a great natural aroma when you pass by and keeping those pesky blood suckers at bay. This plant also has so many benefits; stomach/digestion assistance, boosts your immune system, helps with clean like skin from acne, say bye to nausea, works great when you're literally feeling sick (cold/flu, allergies, etc), and is also great drink for when you're stressed.

Lemongrass-is by far my favorite plant and the most delicious of teas for me personally, whether it's hot or cold! This is a plant that basically grows instantaneously after you’ve snipped it for some tea. No concerns for heat/sun exposure because it thrives on the sun and grows like a weed when planted correctly. Also another natural mosquito repellant, even if it doesn’t provide the same amount of natural aroma in the area it’s planted, like sweet mint, it’s one of the best buy you could have in/for your home. Great for relieving pain and swelling, helps reduce fever, improves sugar and cholesterol levels in addition to stimulating the uterus and menstrual flow, with antioxidant properties. 

As you can see, I love doing my teas! Well my daughters and I are always enjoying our tea batches.

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman