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 Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon), a delightful plant with many uses. Used in cooking and herbal teas this plant has medicinal uses from soothing an upset stomach to soothing achy joints and providing a energy boost to your day. Lemon Grass is a tropical plant, so care is required to keep it during frosts. Easy to grow and prolific it is a good addition to any medicinal garden. Cut the large fronds, spread out to dry and use as needed.
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Actually they are not from Egypt, but they are perennials that keep on giving! :) "Allium proliferum": these hardy little onions are very "prolific." Plant them in your garden for years of onion harvests! Egyptian Walking Onions are also called "Tree Onions, Egyptian Tree Onions, Top Onions, Winter Onions, or Perennial Onions. Quite flavorful and easy to grow, provideing a kick to your salads and cooking. Low maintenance and self reseeding, it doesn't get much better than that.  inside When the fall crops are harvested and the cooler weather sets in there is still plenty to do outside. Mulching, contouring the land, repairs, the list goes on. The most important activity is "planning". Evaluate what has happened the previous year and how you can improve on it. Reducing your labor, positively impacting the land and increasing the return for your effort require thoughtful, creative contemplation. Interact with fellow farmers, growers and homesteaders ~ either in person or on line. Learn as you Grow! A cure for what ails you is coming into season. Lemons and oranges are ripening when other fruits have come and gone. Use them to keep healthy and when a cold sets in. Vitamin C of the best kind, fresh!   These winter berries provide essential foraging for wildlife. They are also a welcome sight for people looking to brighten their day with some needed vibrant color. When thinking about your environment, consider not only food crops, but visuals as well. Some are for the pollinators, birds and beneficial insects, but for the soul as well. Giving sustenance to wildlife and receiving in return.
 Frost on the pumpkins doesn't happen often in SC. This recent, extreme ice and snow in the coastal region has presented new challenges. Watch out for pipes, pets and sensitive trees.
As always, Mother Nature will have her way. It is our opportunity to adjust and accommodate her moods. That is when creativity comes into play. Use this as an opportunity to review your resources and skill set for self reliance.  The southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is an icon of southern heritage. Stunningly beautiful, fragrant flowers on a resilient, equally stunning tree. Shiny, large dark green leaves provide intense contrast to the over sized floral display. No southern landscape is complete without them. How do they fit into the permaculture concept? Beauty, shady, erosion control - 3 immediate results of their presence. The aesthetic appeal they bring provides value of its own. If your area will accommodate them, enlist them into your overall design. They won't disappoint you.
 Snow Bells - Scientific Name: Leucojum
This flower is one of the first to burst forth to announce spring is around the corner. A delicate flower to take on such a task! It's the little things in nature that require essential skills of observation. Know your surroundings, pay close attention to the details that nature offers. Nature does not always yell, as in a hurricane or flood, sometimes she whispers. Are you watching and listening? The return on that investment is well worth it! Watch, listen, breathe and smile! Deer are very resourceful at picking around thorns and obstacles to their food sources. Neem oil, organic and natural is an effective method of persuading them to dine elsewhere.  This year started off with a cold snap event that followed a previous year of weather events. No question Mother Nature is in control. Protecting people, animals and water pipes were a priority. However, so was protecting sensitive plants and keeping the cold frames in place. If you have established a winter food plot, for yourself, family or animals (wild or domestic) don't let your efforts be affected by the freezing temperatures. A little protection goes a long way. Somethings to remember: do not use plastic if it will touch your plants, keep the covering supported off of the leaves. Use the stored heat of the earth by trapping it from the ground level. Using a simple gallon milk jug with the bottom cut off will help, as long as it does not touch the plants. It will keep those starts growing. Cloth tarps that are supported over the plants is a good defense, if you lack a hard structure, cold frame or green house. Below is a simple, inexpensive way to keep those winter greens coming!  |
Diane C. MoreyMaking our environment, Archives
January 2020
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