Types of Rose Hips: Do All Roses Produce Hips?

 

Did you know the first roses were most likely cultivated in China around 5,000 years ago? The Romans started using rosehips for medicinal purposes soon after, and the Egyptians for scent.

Filled to the brim with juicy, vitamin-packed flesh, the hips of a rose plant are an...

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How to Dry Orange Slices

 

Oranges represent sunshine and bring warmth and light during long, cold winters. Not only that, but they have many benefits when it comes to food storage.

Who doesn't want a little sunshine in their homes when it's cold outside? Yet, while we may think of dried orange slices...

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Rose Bush Care: Methods and Techniques

 

Did you know archaeologists have found rose bushes that are 1000 years old? And really, it's no wonder they're still a popular choice for gardens and budding horticulturists.

They have incredible scents, look gorgeous in a garden, and you can even eat them and add them...

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Nettle Tea: How to Grow, Harvest and Preserve Nettles

 

A hot cup of nettle tea is still a remedy for many ailments for many people. It's no surprise considering stinging nettle greens are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

Besides the health benefits, stinging nettles are really tasty.

But we can't ignore the fact that...

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Herbalist Garden: Getting Started

 

While herbs were cultivated clear back to the time of Adam and Eve, medicinal herbalist gardens such as that of St. Gall have been in use for hundreds of years. This just shows that humanity has not only been using but has been reliant on natural remedies and...

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How to Plant, Grow and Care for English Lavender & Other Edible Blooms

 

We have been lied to about lavender. While many like to share that lavender was a biblical plant, unfortunately, those statements have been confused with another plant referred to as Spikenard. Spikenard is much different from the variety of spike lavender said to be the same...

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How to Plant and Propagate Elderberry Bushes

 

Elderberries come in two varieties: American (Sambucus canadensis) and European black elderberry (Sambucus nigra). The American elderberry is smaller and grows to be 6 to 10 feet tall. The European elderberry can grow up to 10 feet tall. 

The Sambucus elderberry grown in the United...

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How to Stratify and Scarify Medicinal Plant Seeds

 

We've all been there. Our new botanical seeds arrived in the mail, we planted them eagerly into the ground, and then... nothing. They don't sprout; they don't grow, and we're left wondering if our green thumbs have shriveled off.

Did you know, though, this happens because seeds...

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How to Plant Roses for Preservation and Production

 

Imagine going out to your rose garden to cut a few stems for your dinner plate, not for your sweetheart. Growing edible roses is a time-honored pastime, though it may sound weird at first.

Did you know the Greeks, Romans, and Persians all loved using roses to cook with? They...

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How to Brew Jun

 

Did you know that approximately 70 million people are affected by digestive diseases? Diet plays a huge factor in some digestive problems, and adding in healthy gut bacteria, such as probiotics, can help mitigate some of the side effects.

Have you heard of Jun? This close relative of...

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How to Flavor Water Kefir

 

We lovingly refer to the gut as “the second brain.” Not only because we tend to think with our stomachs, but because it handles digestion, weight management, blood regulation, and helps build a thriving immune system.

The bacteria living in our gut are called the gut...

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Fire Cider Benefits and Protocol: Everything to Know for Home Herbalists

 

 

Warm bellies, tingling lips, and a strong immune system. That's what fire cider is all about. Brimming with fresh ingredients and steeped in raw apple cider vinegar, there is no good reason not to be drinking fire cider this season. Or maybe eating it in this Kale Crunch Salad...

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