The world seems full of all sorts of chemicals these days. Big industry, agriculture, maintenance companies, and even the everyday family, use a variety of chemicals, many of which are irritating, bad-smelling, and even toxic. So what to do?!?! Let’s consider some herbal alternatives that are more natural, not too difficult to make or obtain, and certainly less toxic than many products on store shelves.
In the garden:
Many herbs are great companions to other plants, helping us use less or no pesticides. We have discovered that yarrow (Achillea millefolium) planted next to our roses can discourage aphids. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) – this sunny fragrant flower also known as pot marigold, pairs well with eggplant and tomatoes. German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) – a lovely flowering annual, partners well with cole crops, such as cabbage, cauliflower, and kale. The aroma keeps away pests such as the white cabbage butterfly. Chives (Alliums schoenoprasum) makes a good partner to dill, tomatoes, and carrots. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) pairs well with pumpkin, squash, beets, and hyssop, while it repels insects and attracts bees. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) can benefit tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, and oregano but not sage. More helpful herb companion info here: https://www.greenlivingpdx.com/herbal-plant-companions/
Around the house:
Use real natural cleaning supplies such as that ubiquitous cleaner, vinegar, and its best friend, baking soda. Don’t care for the smell of vinegar? Add a few herbs.
Vinegar infused with dried or fresh herbs serves well as furniture polish or a disinfectant surface spray.
Baking soda mixed with dried herbs becomes a scouring powder, carpet cleaner, and surface scrubs. Antibacterial herbs include sage (Salvia officinalis), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and peppermint (Menta piperita) which can be infused in vinegar or mixed with baking soda for added cleaning power and aromatherapy.
For more ideas: herbs-for-a-healthy-home
Oh, the refreshing scent of lavender! The store shelves are full of air fresheners that we spray around our homes so they smell fresh, relaxing, and soothing. A nice container of herbal potpourri placed in rooms around the house can be just as effective without any sprays or cans to throw away. Herbs are effective for keeping insects and critters at bay in the house. The two sites below will provide ideas for making a variety of potpourris, including some with lavender.
Personal Care:
There are many recipes for making your own body care products that include the herbs often found in commercial products but without the extraneous chemical products. A ••• cup of Epsom salts and a ••• cup of a dried herb make a soothing skin-softening bath salt. Chamomile is good for softening skin, while peppermint is stimulating. For more recipes and ideas for making bath and beauty products containing herbs, check out Mountain Rose Herbs’ blog (PNW based): https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/
Use Real Herbs:
One last resolution – use whole herbs. Currently, there is a fondness for essential oils used in all areas of people’s lives, from cooking to health care. For many consumers, using essential oil is more complicated than they realize. Essential oils are a very concentrated form of an herb, so caution should be taken with their use. Just because something is labeled “pure”, doesn’t mean it is safe to rub on skin, to breathe, or to eat right out of the bottle, especially for young or elderly family members.
Another aspect of essential oils is the amount of herbs that must be grown and harvested to make those little bottles everyone buys. Approximately three pounds of lavender buds are needed to make half an ounce of essential oil. It takes 30-50 roses just to make one drop of oil. That’s a lot of plant material that has to be farmed, so it begs the question if this can be sustained.
Herbs are an excellent substitute for commercial products that may contain harmful ingredients, so resolve to make use of them.
Erin Harwood & Eloyce O’Connor are co-owners of Garden Delights Herb Farm in Brush Prairie, WA, where they grow a variety of herbs for culinary, medicinal, pet, home, and garden use. They also offer classes.
For More Info: www.gardendelightsfarm.com
