I spend a large potion of my daydreaming time thinking of how to create an Urban Homestead. As in: a giant edible farm at home. As in… THIS! Growing all my food, raising bees to make honey, creating my own essential oils, herbal oils and much much more. This will happen (!!!) but to start… herbs in pots and small plots are the stepping stone to that really big farm!
It all started when I got a huge amount of veggie seedlings and soil and made a patio garden 9 years ago. That year I seismically leaped forward in life in every way while my tomatoes climbed and my zucchini blossomed!
If you want to raise the healing, thriving energy of your home, grow some herbs that are powerfully medicinal and multi-functional as teas, in salads, in beauty, in cooking and even chewed straight from the plant as a dose of goodness!
Echinacea: This herb can been grown indoors with the need for both full sun and light shade. Echinacea can go for extended periods of time with little water, but it’s best to keep it slightly moist. It’s also… gorgeous!!!
Echinacea has been used medicinally for decades. As noted by Dr. Axe, it holds properties to help heal cancer, it will boost your immune system, it can relieve the pain of headaches, sore throats, toothaches, and stomach aches. Applied to the skin, it can relieve eczema, psoriasis and stings.
Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is a succulent- in itself a prosperous one to grow!- and because it retains water in it’s leaves for long periods of time it’s easy to maintain. It does need plenty of sunlight, but it can grow in any type of soil. This is a very hearty plant, as when it becomes damaged (or you harvest some!), the leaves will seal themselves and continue to grow from the root.
The gel from the leaves of this plant is great for the healing of minor cuts, burns, eczema…skin inflammation and it can be used as a moisturizer. I also use the gel as curly hair gel as it’s totally brilliant mixed with some natural conditioner. The edible pulp aids in digestion and also prevents inflammation of the stomach. **** NOTE: Only certain aloe vera plants are edible, so check at the nursery that you have an edible variety!*****
Peppermint: Peppermint needs lots of water, fertile soil and lots of space to grow and expand. Sunlight is also essential. If you’re growing inside, it will be best to use a large pot full of fertile soil. Think: small plant and giant pot… it will have the room to grow and flourish!
You can use the leaves for tea to help calm your stomach, and chewing leaves is great for your teeth.
Sniffing peppermint aids in relieving motion sickness, and stomachaches. You can also place this herb on your skin to reduce itchiness from skin allergies and skin inflammation.
You can learn even more ways to use your peppermint harvest HERE.
Thyme: Thyme is perfect for growing indoors, as it can handle indirect sunlight and prefers to not be watered very often (alert for those of you who forget to water plants!) When potting, it’s best to use a clay pot. It will keep the soil from staying too saturated.
Eating thyme on a regular basis is thought to lower blood pressure and boost immunity. I have thyme tea (brewed in a tea pot) every day to enjoy so many of its medicinal properties.
The essential oil obtained from thyme can also relieve coughing and may even lift your mood. More on Thyme you can find HERE.
Sage: Sage can be planted indoors in an area with medium to full sunlight. It doesn’t require a great deal of hydration, and you should wait for the soil to dry up before watering.
Consuming sage has been know to enhance the cognitive function of patients suffering from Alzheimers’ disease and can lower your blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
Chewing on sage leaves can also boost your cognitive ability (it’s brain food!), while brewing sage and drinking it can help with arthritis, gout, and digestive tract issues. More on this HERE!
Here are a few tips to set up a garden that works for you:
Pick the plants that will best thrive in your temperatures and lighting conditions. Not all of us will have mint that’s flourishing, but lots of us can have aloe!
Set up a little table by a window or dedicate part of a patio with great lighting for your garden. Trying a windowsill is always an option, but sometimes it’s not enough space!
Scheduling watering ,care and maintenance into your calendar so you don’t miss it! The more attention you give to your plants the more they’ll thrive!!!
Use your herbs! I find that if I don’t use them, they actually don’t thrive as much… so use your plants and watch them thrive!
Enjoy the wellness abundance you’re creating!!!
xoxo Dana
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xoxo!!!
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I have found that harvesting herbs and preserving them has been very therapeutic.