The finishing touches have been added to get the much needed height (about 10ft!) on the deer fence to protect the Herb Garden.

In the garden spinach has started to come up along with the lettuce.

Garlic was planted on Tuesday the 10th in the above ground beds, there are some of the boxes that are in need of being rebuilt.

Every day we get a little bit closer to getting the Herb Garden back on track.

We have one row of Verti-Grow and more soon to follow.

One day next week there is a trip planed to go to the Blue Oak Farm to explore the possibilities of getting a few goats and maybe even some chickens. That will probably take place in the spring, although we are in the process of bushhogging and clearing areas to be determined later.

The Greenhouse is in place and more is needed to get it ready for the winter months. So we march on!

The cats nestled right in to the new Grass Valley Home as soon as they saw the plants come from Roseville.

Yesterday the Hot Tub arrived so Ms. Lily (our oldest cat) knew we were here to stay.

Sorry have not been very diligent with our Blog posts in the last few months due to planning and then moving. Yes we put our money…..Ok not much money as we only have a little, where our mouth is and leased some property in the foothills near Grass Valley, California. The ground is full of rock as the area was known for gold mining in the past. The native herbs are pretty much non existent, replaced by Scrub Oaks and Digger Pines. We are planning to farm the property using square foot gardening and vertical growing towers. Please follow us as we flail about on this new journey and offer us some advice on this blog. We are ready to take on the Wiley Deer, the incorrigible raccoons, the insatiable rabbits, and the slow but steady moles. Please wish us well in our journey!

 Everyone’s a buzz at “YOUR BACKYARD HERB GROWERS.”  Its harvest time again and the Chamomile is ready to be picked and dried.  The Echinacea as well as the other herbs are in bloom. The backyard is a painters paradise. The tomatoes, squash, radishes and strawberries are starting to appear. The hydroponics have bountiful yields of broccoli, strawberries and a variety of lettuce and herbs (both for cooking and medicinal).

With temperatures climbing, the worker bees are busy putting the finishing touches on the sun-canopies to keep the harsh 3-digit temperatures so well known in California at bay.

If you live in an apartment or even find yourself working away from home, there is no reason not to enjoy fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables when you return. You can do this with Hydroponic Gardening.

The Verti-Gro Hydroponic Garden is a self contained soiless gardening. The timer allows the garden to function automatically. The water is recycled so there is no waste.  If you are away from home for extended periods of time, you could have someone check in on your garden periodically and you could even barter some of the produce/herbs in exchange for their time.

The garden comes with everything you need for set-up and is very easy to assemble and maintain.  All you do is enjoy the abundance of fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits.

Special Features:  Timer, Fertilizer, Pump, Self-contained, Fewer Pests, No weeds, No Soil, Recycle Water

The special features make it easy for anyone to start their own garden with little space and very little effort. I am sure that you have people in your life that would love to take some fresh produce off your hands if you end up with more than you need. It is such a treat to go to your patio and pick all the fresh ingredients you need for a salad and of course it taste better too.

You really should take the time to start a Verti-Gro Hydroponic Growing System. It takes up very little room and adds to the decor of your patio, not to mention it sounds like a waterfall and  is very calming.

Eating fresh is so rewarding physically, mentally and spiritually. Knowing where your produce comes  from, how fresh it is, how it’s handled and also that you saved money, makes you feel very empowered.  

     Bev

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“Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) was used  in South America by the Incas and later in Europe as a “calming” herb for anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and hysteria. Passionflower was once the main ingredient in many over the counter sleep aids until it was banned by the FDA due to an inadequate number of studies showing its effectiveness.

It is still used today to treat anxiety and insomnia. It is recommended in Germany as a sleep aid and for anxiety. Passionflower may be used for anxiety associated with menopause, quitting smoking or alcohol addiction. Although scientists aren’t sure, it is believed that passionflower works by increasing levels of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA lowers the activity of some brain cells, resulting in relaxation.

Passionflower tends to have less potent effects than valerian (Valeriana officinalis) or kava (Piper methysticum), other calming herbs, and is often combined with valerian, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), or other herbs that treat anxiety. No scientific studies have successfully evaluated passionflower for anxiety or insomnia.

Plant Description:

Native to southeastern parts of the Western Hemisphere, passionflower is now grown throughout Europe. It is a perennial climbing vine with herbaceous shoots and a sturdy woody stem that grows to a length of nearly 10 meters (about 32 feet). Each flower has 5 white petals and 5 sepals that vary in color from magenta to blue. According to folklore, passionflower was given its name because its corona resembles the crown of thorns worn by Jesus during the crucifixion. The passionflower’s ripe fruit is an egg-shaped berry that may be yellow or purple. Some kinds of passionfruit are edible.

Although Passion flowers are considered hardy in USDA zones 5-9, they should be planted in a protected location and mulched heavily if severe cold threatens. The top growth is killed back by frost, but will grow back in spring if protected. Passion flowers are easy to grow. They need partial to full sun, and will adapt themselves to most well-drained soils. During the growing season, the soil should be kept evenly moist, to ensure good flowering and growth. Apply a balanced (10-5-20) fertilizer in the early spring, and then again six to eight weeks later. Passiflora incarnata may be propagated by softwood cuttings of fully mature wood in early summer. Cuttings will take 3 months or longer to root. It is not recommended growing passionflower from cuttings due to long germination time. Passion flowers may be grown in containers or in the garden in a well lit area but not full sun.

Parts Used:

The above-ground parts (flowers, leaves, and stems) of the passionflower are used for medicinal purposes.

Available Forms:

Available forms include the following:

· Infusions

· Teas

· Liquid extracts

· Tinctures

How to Take It:

Adult

The following are recommended adult doses for passionflower:

Tea: Steep 0.5 - 2 g (about 1tsp.) of dried herb in 1 cup boiling water for 10 minutes; strain and cool. For anxiety, drink 3 to 4 cups per day. For insomnia, drink one cup an hour before going to bed.

Fluid extract (1:1 in 25% alcohol): 10 - 30 drops, three times a day

Tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 10 - 60 drops, three times a day

Precautions:

You should always consult with a doctor before taking passionflower as herbs do have side affects! Depression of the nervous system may result in fatigue and mental fogginess if you take too much passionflower for too long. Start with a low dose several times a day.

Do not take passionflower if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

For others, passionflower is generally considered to be safe and nontoxic in recommended doses.

Possible Interactions:

Passionflower may interact with the following medications:

Sedatives (drugs that cause sleepiness) — Because of its calming effect, passionflower may increase the effects of sedative medications. These can include:

· Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin (Dilantin)

· Barbiturates

· Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium)

· Drugs for insomnia, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), ramelteon (Rozerem)

· Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine, doxepin (Sinequan), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)

Antiplatelets and anticoagulants (blood thinners) — Passionflower may increase the amount of time blood needs to clot, so it could make the effects of blood-thinning medications stronger and increase your risk of bleeding. Blood-thinning drugs include:

· Clopidogrel (Plavix)

· Warfarin (Coumadin)

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors or MAOIs) — MAO inhibitors are an older class of antidepressants that are not often prescribed now. Theoretically, passionflower might increase the effects of MAO inhibitors, as well as their side effects, which can be dangerous. These drugs include: Isocarboxazid (Marplan, Phenelzine (Nardil)

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http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/passionflower-000267.htm

http://www.thegarden helper.com

Vertical Hydroponics

Our favorite method for growing herbs is vertical hydroponics. Many of the herbs purchased from the grocery store are grown hydroponically. We use the method pioneered by Tim Carpenter. Tim is a pioneer in the greenhouse industry and pioneered and holds patents for vertical plant growing technologies. Tim has incorporated his thirty years experience as an international consultant specializing in commercial hydroponics and vertical growing methods in his verti-gro products.

 

The Verti-Gro Hydroponic Growing Systems provide for very high density production for the Commercial Grower and space saving for the hobbyist or casual home Gardener. Whether for the purpose of small farms, large scale agricultural operations or research, the space saving is significant.

Anyone can assemble and operate our Vertical Gardens and grow Hydroponic Strawberries, Lettuce, Tomatoes… In a much smaller space, due to the higher density allowed by our systems.

 

We are your best source for Vertical Hydroponic Gardening, Vertical Organic Gardening, and Commercial Greenhouse Vertical Production Systems, as well as smaller Hobbyist Greenhouse, Shade house and indoor/outdoor growing systems.

Our stackable pots are insulated to protect the plants from extreme temperatures. Stacking pots in Vertical Towers allows for very high density production in a far smaller amount of space. The Verti-Gro system is excellent for CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture).

Our specially formulated Hydroponic Fertilizers and Nutrients provide all plants the means to thrive in our Vertical Planters.

Grow Lettuce, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Peppers, Broccoli, Greens, Ivy, Eggplants, Parsley, Basil, Corn, Herbs, Flowers and almost anything Vertically!!!

The fully automatic patio model is available at the following link;

http://www.yourbackyardherbgrowers.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=93&osCsid=e40c7bd2da2fce0a9611da38d106213b