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Permaculture in the Garden

Many gardeners start over again every year to lay out and plan their garden. A sustainable and natural alternative is offered by the permaculture garden, which forms a closed cycle, is self-sustaining for a long time and means relatively little care for the gardener after extensive planning. A permaculture garden offers free development for both humans and nature. Resilient and well-functioning ecosystems are mimicked in such a garden, creating wild oases where each element present has a variety of important functions that the gardener takes into account.

What does permaculture mean?

The term permaculture, derived from the English term “permanent (agri)culture”, means something like “permanent agriculture or culture”. Since the 1970s, this method has been significantly influenced by the Australian Bill Mollison, who is regarded as the father of permaculture. Independent of Mollison, the Japanese Masanobu Fukuoka also developed a similar principle.

Principles and Goals

Basically, the principle of permaculture is about creating your own stable and sustainable ecosystem, which is modeled on natural processes. Last but not least, the responsible use and perception of valuable natural resources such as water is an important aspect.

In the holistic principle of permaculture, natural and closed cycles as well as the consideration of all functions of individual elements are in the foreground. The principles established by Mollison are:

“Earth Care” – Caring for our earth
“People Care” – caring for people
“Fair Share” – The fair sharing and limitation of consumer goods
These principles show that the principle is no longer only applied in the agricultural context, but also in the social context and in other areas of life.

The aim is to develop and maintain a networked and multifunctional ecosystem. Existing resources should be used efficiently and their consumption and energy consumption reduced.

Gardening in harmony with nature – The advantages of a permaculture garden

Biodiversity, i.e. the diversity of species, is the focus in a permaculture garden. The mixed culture makes it possible to plant plants next to each other that mutually benefit from their proximity. Resources such as water are conserved through clever planning and mulching, for example. Due to the resilience of the functioning ecosystem and the awareness that every living being within it takes on several important functions, the use of chemicals can be dispensed with entirely. For example, fungi can settle here, which play an important role as intermediaries between the plants.

Relatively little work for the gardener

With proper planning, a permanent culture requires little work because it is a closed loop system. Time-consuming tasks such as weeding, trimming plants and tilling the soil are almost completely eliminated. When creating such a garden, for example, the soil is only loosened, but not dug up. Among other things, this preserves valuable microorganisms in the soil. Beneficial insects such as wild bees, bumblebees or earthworms should also settle and feel comfortable in the permaculture garden. Flower meadows, companion plants in the vegetable patch, piles of leaves, dead wood or an insect hotel attract them. The compost heap is also an important part of the permaculture garden, as it can be used later, for example, to improve the soil.

High yield in a relatively small area

In a permaculture garden, the available space is used as best as possible. Vegetables or fruit can also be grown at different heights. Climbing plants, such as pumpkins, are guided upwards and thus offer space for underplanting.

The zones of the permaculture garden

A permaculture garden can be roughly divided into five different zones. The focus is on the human being. The further away the zone is from the center, the less care should be given to it. There are also zones that are planted more densely than others – the same applies here: the closer the zone is to people, the more densely it is likely to be planted.

Zone 0: residential area: house or apartment

Zone 1: kitchen garden, herb garden, most maintenance intensive

Zone 2: vegetable garden, possibly with greenhouse and small animal husbandry

Zone 3: Agriculture, fruit and nut trees, animal husbandry

Zone 4: Pasture land, fruit and nut trees, wood supply

Zone 5: wildly growing natural zone, living and resting area for animals and humans, no maintenance

Please note: The division into zones is only intended to serve as a guide, because of course, depending on the size of the garden and other circumstances, you have to weigh up the extent to which each zone can be created and whether some may have to be left out.

Permaculture in Practice – How do I start?

If you want to create your own permaculture garden, there are a few things to consider beforehand. Remember that you are creating this garden for the long term and do not plan it anew every year. It is therefore worth taking the time to figure out what you want to grow and plant in your garden. Of course, you can make changes over time if you wish.

Take a close look at the area that will later be home to your permaculture garden. where does the sun shine Where is penumbra or shade? Are there wind-protected and non-wind-protected areas? Does your garden have a slope that should be considered for future watering?

You should also consider a soil analysis, because a good soil is already half the battle for a magnificent garden. If you have already used the garden area for growing vegetables, green manure is also a suitable way to improve the soil quality in your bed.

When planning, you should make a true-to-scale sketch. This also helps you with the planning and variety of small intensively used and larger extensively used areas.

Think about which vegetables, which herbs and other perennial or hardy plants you want for your garden. Of course, depending on the weather in winter, it can always happen that one or the other plant does not survive. You can then swap them out for the next season or try out new varieties.

You should also consider keeping animals in your yard. Ducks or chickens help keep pests at bay. Plan their forage plants and shelters accordingly.

Last but not least, you should think about a structure. Which plants are good neighbors? How can you use potential watercourses? Would you like to collect rainwater and lead it to the bed? Would you like to create a hill bed or a herb spiral or would you rather build a raised bed? A pond or a greenhouse can also be useful. For example, the greenhouse allows you to overwinter sensitive plants or grow young plants, while the pond can be an excellent heat store.

As you can see, there are no limits to your creativity! The beauty of permaculture gardens is that each garden is completely individual. You will not be able or willing to implement all of the suggestions we have made. It is important that you consciously think about the design and observe the rules of mixed cultivation and crop rotation.

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Lifestyle

This is How You Garden Sustainably and Close to Nature

Everyone is talking about climate protection. Farmers and forest owners are complaining about major losses as a result of changing climatic conditions, which are reflected in violent storms and unusually long dry periods in this country. The agricultural partner companies of meine ernte are also feeling the consequences and, like Bauer Bachhausen from Solingen in 2018 and 2019, have to accept heavy losses in the cultivation of cereals, vegetables or strawberries. Anyone who grows their food in their own garden or on the balcony without using pesticides is acting sustainably in many respects and is therefore making an important contribution to climate protection.

Seasonal and regional – your own garden as the basis for climate protection

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is not only healthy, but also quickly brings about a new appreciation for food. You get a feeling for when which crops are “in season” or when they have to be grown or imported under energy-intensive conditions. Tomatoes in December, for example, tend to seem “Spanish” to a vegetable gardener and are not exactly one of the climate-friendly meals on the plate in winter due to long transport routes and high water consumption. On the other hand, by growing your own crops in the kitchen garden and being more conscious of consumer behavior, energy and long transport routes can be saved.

With your vegetable garden or balcony you create the perfect conditions for gardening close to nature and doing your part to protect the environment.

But there are a few tips on how you can garden even more sustainably in your vegetable paradise!

Work the soil close to nature

The most valuable resource in your vegetable garden is the soil. In the best case, the soil always contains the right amount and concentration of nutrients. Since we remove nutrients through our vegetable harvest, additional care and protection of the soil is essential. Useful soil organisms are promoted through near-natural care. In addition, nutrient-rich soil strengthens your vegetable plants and makes them less susceptible to disease.

Our top 5 tips for a nutrient-rich soil in the vegetable garden:

1. Use organic fertilizer: A soil used for gardening and agriculture should be fertilized. We recommend the use of organic fertilizer. These are products of animal and/or vegetable origin that decompose slowly and add value to the garden soil.

2. Conserve water by hoeing: During the gardening season, you should regularly hoe your soil around the vegetable plants. This keeps the soil permanently loose and well aerated. A loose garden soil can absorb rainwater and irrigation water better. Chopping also removes weeds. You can simply let them dry out on the bed when the sun is shining.

3. Composting is about studying: Make your own nutrient-rich soil with your garden waste. With a compost heap in the garden, you can use the remaining nutrients from plant residues and return them to the earth as finished compost. Tip: There are also small composters for the balcony!

4. Mulch soil: Protect your garden soil from erosion. Soil erosion is the removal of the topsoil, the fertile soil for your vegetable cultivation. Protection is provided by a layer of mulch made of green waste and plant residues. Mulch is particularly important in winter so that your cleared vegetable beds are not exposed to wind and weather.

5. Buy peat-free soil: If you buy soil for your vegetable patch, raised bed, or balcony plants, then make sure that it is as peat-free as possible.

This is how you save water in the vegetable garden

To get a feeling for the water needs of your plants, you should consider the length of the roots and the water content of the vegetables.

In general, outdoor plants form longer roots and require less additional irrigation water than raised bed or balcony plants. Plants that need a lot of water are, for example, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, lettuce and aubergines.

Hacking – the solution to save a lot of water
A loose and regularly chopped soil saves additional watering, since the existing water reservoirs can be more easily reached by the roots of your plants.
Likewise, a layer of mulch on your vegetable patch keeps moisture in the soil and protects against superficial drying out. Incidentally, there are gardeners who do without watering the entire year because they always hoe as soon as it has rained, so that the soil stores enough water.

That’s how you water properly

If you still need to water extra, stick to the following points:

Use collected rainwater and water the roots of the plant vigorously once instead of just watering a little several times a week. This will encourage root growth in your vegetable plants and train them to search for water on their own.
You should water in the early morning hours or late afternoon/evening if possible, since the plants can absorb the water best at these times.
Some vegetables, such as cucumber, require regular watering and will produce few or bitter fruits without it. Here you can think about an automatic watering system like drip irrigation.

Beneficial – the natural alternative to pesticides

No one wants pesticide residues in their vegetables or soil. So-called “beneficial insects” can prevent the use of pesticides and plant protection products in your vegetable garden. The ideal protection for your plants is to encourage beneficial insects in your garden and to garden in an insect-friendly manner. In this way, pests and diseases on the vegetable plants do not increase. Beneficial insects ensure a balanced soil life and have the larvae and eggs of pests as a food source.

Attract wild bees and insects with a variety of flower mixes. You can upgrade empty beds in autumn with green manure. This serves as a source of food and supports the nutrient requirements of the soil. Edible flowers and herbs are a good opportunity to do something good for the insects and yourself.

Make sure there are enough places in your garden for insects and microorganisms to retreat to with leaves, piles of dead wood and stones, as well as nesting boxes for songbirds. Especially in winter, the animals are happy to accept this shelter. You should also leave dried stems of e.g. chives over the winter and only cut them off in summer.

No plastic in the vegetable garden

Small plastic particles are just as undesirable in your vegetable patch as they are in the oceans. Nevertheless, nets and fleece are often essential to protect the plants. Here it is worth buying a long-lasting crop protection net that does not fall apart and can be used for many years. Fix it with stones or bury it well in the ground – this way you avoid plastic net holders.

There are also alternatives made from compostable materials such as organic cotton or grain-based.

Plant pots, especially for growing young plants in spring, are also available made from coconut fibers or you can make your own growing pots from newspaper or toilet paper rolls.

When it comes to gardening tools, it is also better to spend a little more money and then have something of it for a long time: You really need these gardening tools. Large garden tools that are used less often can be shared with your neighbors.

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Food

Grow Porcini Mushrooms in Your Own Garden

Porcini mushrooms are one of the most popular mushrooms on our menu. Year after year, their full aroma attracts many mushroom pickers to the neighboring forests. Even if such a walk in the forest offers not only full baskets but also relaxation, it would be great if we could also grow the popular porcini mushrooms at home.

Grow porcini mushrooms

The bad news first: while button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms and many other mushrooms can be grown easily at home or in your own garden, this is unfortunately not yet the case with porcini mushrooms.

Porcini mushrooms belong to the so-called mycorrhiza fungi, i.e. they absolutely need the community of living plants for the development of their fruiting bodies. Without this community, the underground mycelium will grow, but no fruit with the distinctive brown hat will be visible.

Mushroom mycelium and fruiting bodies

What we commonly refer to as a fungus is actually just the aboveground fruiting body of a huge underground network, the mycelium. These cells of the fungal mycelium, which can hardly be seen with the naked eye, extend over long distances like a net in the soil or, in the case of tree fungi, penetrate entire trunks of wood.

In breeding, mushrooms are provided with a suitable growth substrate. This can be soil, wood shavings or even coffee grounds. In mushroom growing kits, this substrate is already inoculated with the appropriate mushroom mycelium.

Mushroom growing in the garden

For mushroom cultivation in the garden, holes are often drilled into old trunks or blocks of wood into which wooden dowels inoculated with mycelium are inserted. Alternatively, in addition to the dowels, a suitable substrate is also supplied in mushroom growing sets, which enables cultivation on or in the ground. For ideal growth you should choose a shady and slightly damp location and then be patient. It can take three to six months for the mycelium to spread.

It’s faster with the mushroom growing sets for the home. Here the first mushrooms can sometimes be harvested after less than two weeks. However, since the breeding ground in the mushroom boxes is limited, this is the end after two to three harvests, while forest mushroom cultures can be expected to produce delicious mushrooms in the following year as well.

Growing porcini mushrooms in the garden

Even if there are no growing kits for porcini mushrooms, it is not ruled out to grow porcini mushrooms in your own garden. However, your garden should be more of a small oak or spruce forest so that there is even a chance of colonizing a porcini mycelium. As with truffle cultivation, you can try to inoculate the soil around living oaks and spruces with unwashed mushroom pieces that still contain enough spores. With a bit of luck and a lot of patience and the right weather conditions, there may be success in the years to come. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can at least console yourself with little namesakes – the stone mushrooms.

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health

Gardening is Healthy

Gardening combines several health-promoting aspects at once and thus noticeably increases the quality of life. We experience that firsthand at my harvest. For all those new to gardening and those interested, here are 7 reasons why the garden keeps us physically and mentally healthy.

1. Outdoor Gym

Bending, weeding, plucking, lifting, loosening, fetching water and, of course, harvesting your own vegetables – all these activities require movement sequences that are also found in our everyday life, this is called functional training. The entire body is stretched and stretched and the most diverse muscle groups are active in alternation – that makes and keeps you fit!

2. Outdoor cardio training

400 calories an hour

Exercising in the garden stimulates blood circulation, similar to average endurance or cardio training such as walking or light jogging. Everyone decides for themselves how far they want to go – when digging, for example, you can work up a sweat and burn up to 400 calories per hour. As a result, in addition to the sporting effect, you are even rewarded with flowers and crunchy vegetables!

3. It doesn’t get any fresher

Regional, seasonal, wonderful!

“Eat lots of healthy vegetables!” Doctors and health institutes advise us again and again. Nowhere are vegetables fresher and tastier than from your own garden and they are also pesticide-free. We know where it comes from, we eat seasonally and often save ourselves the trip to the supermarket. If you cook, you are even supplied all year round.

4. Breathe in, breathe out – lived mindfulness

Anyone who has ever pulled weeds, planted seeds, or simply observed a ladybug on a lettuce leaf can attest to how focused it is on living “in the here and now.” The big trend of mindfulness or yoga becomes a practice in the garden. A true recovery cure for our often overwhelmed senses. Anyone who works in the garden can leave the meditation cushion at home!

5. Bio lessons from Mother Nature

Whether you’re a garden newbie or an old hand – you constantly learn new things with and from the garden and anchor what you’ve learned through practical experience, for example if a pest appears and we want to find out what to do. Ensuring that a tiny seed grain becomes a high-yield, strong plant – dealing with the diverse challenges of a garden keeps the mind alert and expands our wealth of knowledge.

6. Social cohesion

Whether in the family, with friends or with garden neighbors – when gardening together we share our goals and successes. We exchange ideas, pass on tried-and-tested recipes, work together with our children. We gain appreciation for community and nature and “create” something new together. What better way to strengthen relationships?

7. Happy hormones for free

Being in nature relaxes us, brings the mind into balance – fresh oxygen, sun exposure (production of vitamin D), perception of natural light and colors, the feeling of earth on the hands: In the open air we can switch off, become creative and – as numerous studies confirm – happier. If you don’t want to read studies, you will find the proof of garden happiness in the faces of proud gardeners by harvest time at the latest…

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Lifestyle

Pruning, Caring For And Planting Columnar Cherries: Tips For The Garden And Balcony

You don’t need a spacious garden of your own for a columnar cherry, because the plant also fits on a balcony or terrace. You can read here what you should consider when planting and caring for the special cherry tree.

If you don’t have too much space in the garden or if you don’t want to do without sweet cherries without your own garden, a columnar cherry is the ideal solution. The fruit-bearing trees grow narrow and low and can therefore also be kept in pots on balconies, roof gardens and terraces.

Pillar cherries and pillar fruit in general are the result of clever breeding. The trees grow to a maximum height of two to three meters, but beyond that they are normal cherry trees.

Tip: If you want to get a single cherry tree, you should use a self-pollinating variety. These do not need another tree for pollination. Example varieties include Campanilo, Claudia, Sara, Stella and Victoria.

Pillar cherry: The optimal location

As far as location is concerned, the cherry tree has the same preferences as conventional cherry trees. In the best case, you will find a location in full sun – the more sun the tree gets, the sweeter and tastier the fruits will be. A place that is sheltered from the wind and not at risk of frost is best.

The soil should be loose, humus and moist. Pillar cherries do not tolerate wet, heavy soil. The plants also prefer medium-heavy, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil.

Planting cherry trees: Here’s how

When you have found a suitable location for your columnar cherry, you can already plant it. The best way to do this is as follows:

Dig a planting hole about twice as deep and wide as the diameter of the plant’s root ball. Tip: If you want to plant your cherry tree in a bucket, it should have a capacity of at least 30 to 40 liters.
If your soil is very poor in nutrients, you can mix in some humus or compost before planting the plant. By the way: If you don’t know what your soil is like, you can take a soil sample and have it analyzed.
Put the plant in the hole. The root ball should be flush with the soil. The plant should therefore be planted neither deeper nor higher than the ground.
Fill the hole with dirt and trample it down with your feet.
Water the plant generously.
Tip: If you want to plant several columnar cherries, you should keep a distance of at least 80 centimeters between them, preferably one meter.

It is also advisable to use a support rod. You can dig this about 30 centimeters deep before you put the plant in the hole. Then tie the cherry tree to it with a piece of string.

Caring for the cherry tree properly

Pillar cherries are quite easy to handle and do not require much maintenance. Just stick to the following tips and you should be rewarded with a rich harvest:

In summer and when it is dry, the cherry tree needs enough water. Then water them regularly and generously. But be sure to avoid waterlogging.
In spring, as soon as the first shoots appear, you can provide the plant with some compost to provide it with nutrients. Finally, you should fertilize in August so that the new shoots can still sprout before frost.
You can protect columnar cherries in tubs from frost in winter with fleece, jute or coconut mats. Also place the pot on a piece of wood so that not too much cold gets in from below.
If you cultivate the plant in a pot, you should repot it every two to three years.

Cutting cherry trees: tips and tricks

In principle, sweet cherries, which also include columnar cherries, often sprout strongly and are very vigorous. Therefore, you should make a pruning every year after harvest.

Remove all weak and diseased as well as very old and heavily woody shoots.
All side shoots should be cut back to two or three eyes. Eye is a synonym for bud – so you can recognize eyes by thickenings on the shoots where the tree sprout. The side shoots should remain about 20 to 30 centimeters long.
If some shoots grow very dense or cross each other, you can trim those too.

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health

The 11 Best Medicinal Plants From Your Garden

Herbs in your garden are a pure delight. Its flowers attract bees, bumblebees and butterflies, they exude a heavenly fragrance and inspire new taste experiences in the kitchen. Some herbs can be the salt in the soup – or even replace it. Herb beds are usually easy to care for, hard-wearing and productive. And that’s not all – if you want to heal minor illnesses in a low-threshold way, you’re well advised to grow a few essential herbs in the garden. Some medicinal herbs also find their place on the balcony and windowsill. We have put together our top eleven medicinal herbs that should not be missing from your medicine chest.

Thyme – Small herb with well-documented medicinal properties

Thyme is indisputably a must-have among Mediterranean herbs. The herb with the small wiry leaves conjures up Mediterranean flair in your vegetable and potato dishes. In the garden, for example in the herb spiral and on the balcony, thyme makes itself popular because of its willingness to bloom and its trouble-free thriving. But the herb is not just a delicious spice in the kitchen.

Thyme has been used as a remedy for all kinds of ailments since ancient times. Its essential oils, such as thymol and carvacrol, have an antibacterial, antibiotic, expectorant, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect. These effects of thyme have now been well documented in studies.

Relieves airways, relieves spasms and relaxes the intestines

A thyme tea has an antibacterial and antiviral effect against infections of the upper respiratory tract. The antispasmodic effect also relieves the bronchial tubes. Thyme tea can also be good for the stomach. In the case of flatulence and menstrual cramps, it calms things down again. Drink a well-strained tea made from 2 teaspoons per cup of thyme in three cups throughout the day to allow the healing effects to unfold.

A thyme steam bath lets skin impurities disappear quickly and gently, because it has an antibacterial effect without destroying the pH value of the skin. You can also make a strong decoction of 100g thyme in half a liter of water, let it cool down and dab blemishes with it.

Real chamomile – Yellow tea against bad pain

The clear yellow tea from the white-feathered flowers is considered the health tea par excellence. It lives up to this reputation because the plant, which has been used for thousands of years, can alleviate a wide range of ailments. It has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. Chamomile grows on barren, poor garden soil or in herbal soil in window boxes and tubs.

Inflammation of the gums or a sore throat can be alleviated with chamomile with a gargle solution. A tea can also be of good service if it has been steeped for a long time and is drunk in small sips throughout the day.

Chamomile blossom tea also develops an antispasmodic and antibacterial effect in the gastrointestinal tract. A decoction of chamomile flowers added to the water of a sitz bath can relieve minor genital infections and hemorrhoids.

Rosemary – The power of the coast for your muscles

Rosemary, the “rose of the sea” is relatively undemanding and grows in the dry zone of herb beds or in tubs and pots on balconies and terraces. Rosemary can grow relatively tall outdoors, up to two meters. Short-snouted insects like bumblebees and bees love the bluish flowers. We humans appreciate the bitter-spicy taste as a basic seasoning for soups and stews. The essential oils of the needles have a circulation-enhancing and warming effect. Rosemary loosens muscle tension, helps with rheumatism, muscle and joint pain and gives the circulation a boost.

Green Sud is also good on the head

Make a rosemary brew to harness its effects. To do this, strip the needles from the branches and put them in a pot with water. 100g of needles are enough for one liter of water. Let it simmer for twenty minutes and then pass it through a sieve. You can add the brew to your bath water.

20 g rosemary boiled with 250 ml water and poured with 250 ml cold apple cider vinegar results in a strengthening hair tonic that soothes your scalp and smells extraordinarily well.

Taken internally, rosemary aids in digestion. Add it to particularly fatty foods to aid in digestion.

Lavender – Violet happiness and calm for your nerves

The silvery stems and leaves of lavender and its purple flowers are the epitome of Provençal summer. Its distinctive sweet-fresh scent has been used in perfumery for centuries. You can plant it in the garden to border beds or to give a border of perennials a rustic look. It attracts bumblebees, bees and butterflies and keeps aphids away from other plants. But lavender also has its place in the herb bed. Lavender is an herb that has a beneficial effect on the nerves and psyche. According to studies, the essential oils contained in lavender, coumarins, tannins, flavonoids affect the nerve receptors in the body. The release of the stress hormone norepinephrine is inhibited and the body releases more of the happiness hormone serotonin. The mere scent has a delightful effect.

Sleepless nights? Only for the moths!

A lavender bag under the pillow ensures a peaceful and deep sleep. You can also make lavender tea from two teaspoons of dried flowers or add it to other tea blends. Lavender tea calms the nerves, clears thoughts and alleviates fears and depressive moods.

Indoors, the dried flowers will repel moths from closets.

Meadowsweet – Sweet pain reliever from the meadow

You may know Meadowsweet from walks along streams or wet meadows. The perennial grows up to two meters tall, has pinnate leaves and flowers in white racemes. Meadow hay with meadowsweet spreads a characteristic, cinnamon-like sweet fragrance. You can collect meadowsweet in the wild, but it is definitely worth cultivating the plant in your herb bed as well. Due to its height, however, the herb is not so well suited for containers or window boxes. The real meadowsweet has many healing effects that have long been known in folk medicine. It contains substances that have an astringent effect on the mucous membranes. This helps against colds. However, the high content of salicylaldehyde and salicylic acid methyl ester is particularly noteworthy. Together, these two substances have a pain-relieving and fever-reducing effect similar to that of aspirin.

Gentle drainage

Meadowsweet tea is also said to have a diuretic effect. The whole plant, i.e. stems, leaves and flowers, is used for medicinal purposes. You can make a meadowsweet tea by steeping a tablespoon of the chopped plant parts in a cup of boiling water. Then let the infusion steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Then pour everything through a fine sieve. Meadowsweet tea should be drunk as hot as possible to increase the sweat-inducing effect.

Sage – Bitter leaves against viruses, bacteria and fatty foods

Real sage is another typical Mediterranean herb, which thrives well in our latitudes and overwinters without any problems. It grows bushy and branched as a pretty purple flowering semi-shrub in our herb garden. The slightly felty silvery leaves taste bitter and aromatic.

Sage is a culinary herb that goes particularly well with hearty and greasy dishes. Its bitter substances stimulate bile production and help with fat digestion. The antimicrobial properties are used in the kitchen to preserve oily and fatty foods.

Not only is sage valuable for your medicine chest, but also because it contains thujone and camphor. Both substances are antibacterial and partially antiviral and are effective against inflammation in the mouth and throat with a sore throat. Prepare a tea from fresh or dried sage leaves. Ten leaves are enough for a cup of water. You can drink the tea or make a stronger infusion to use as a gargle solution. Anyone who likes to produce natural cosmetics can add sage to homemade deodorants, because it inhibits excessive perspiration.

Calendula – Rich orange is not only delicious, but also healing

The marigold blooms bright orange and lush as an insect magnet in your garden. The flowers not only enrich your beds for decoration, but also your diet with their edible, slightly salty-bitter petals and your herbal pharmacy with their healing powers. Their content of plant pigments, flavonoids and carotenes has an antibacterial, expectorant and wound-healing effect. Calendula officinalis, as it is called in Latin, is a traditional cottage garden plant that was used as a weather prophet in earlier times. It is believed that the weather will be nice when the flowers open in the early morning.

Since the 12th century, marigold has been used in herbal medicine to alleviate and heal skin complaints, gynecological disorders and as an antispasmodic. The flavonoids, glycosides, saponins and mucilage it contains are said to have a disinfecting, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant and analgesic effect.

Refine tea and dishes with marigolds

You can use the pretty colored leaves of the marigold as an ornamental herb in tea mixtures and potpourris. They can be used as a substitute for saffron in many dishes. Whole flowers adorn salads and also taste great. You can pickle the marigold buds in vinegar and then eat them like capers.

In medicine, among other things, marigold ointment or wraps are used especially for dry skin and in wound healing. You can easily make a marigold soap yourself. The yellow-orange color of the flowers can also be used to dye rice or Easter eggs, for example.

Flowers for smooth skin and light legs

Marigold helps heal skin injuries and wounds by promoting cell renewal and protecting the wound from inflammation and bacterial attack. In addition, marigold promotes blood circulation and thus works against muscle and joint problems as well as heavy legs. The marigold also has a firm place in natural cosmetics. Marigold moisturizes dry, cracked or irritated skin and promotes the renewal of skin cells.

The marigold blossoms are used medicinally because they contain the important active ingredients for the skin, muscles and joints. Harvest and dry the marigold flowers as soon as they first bloom. Early picking also stimulates flowering.

Congestion in the veins, which leads to fluid accumulation and swelling, can be relieved with calendula ointment. The “heavy legs” disappear because the marigold has a stimulating effect on blood circulation and the lymphatic system. Fluid transport is improved and swelling can subside more easily.

Parsley – Healing outside the box

Yes, you read that right! Parsley, the evergreen and evergreen among kitchen herbs, can also be used as a medicinal plant. The main use of parsley is its dehydrating effect, which you can use internally and externally. Fresh parsley provides you with a high dose of vitamin C for your immune system. Fasting cures are supported by parsley tea because the tea has a strong draining effect. Add three handfuls of chopped parsley to half a liter of boiling water and let it simmer and steep for a few minutes.

Strong voice through green Sud

Drink the tea in sips during the day and stop the dose in the early evening so that you are not woken up at night by the urge to urinate. Parsley is said to help break down and flush out toxins from the body. The draining effect is also said to counteract high blood pressure. Externally, you can use parsley to minimize cellulite. Wraps made from the chopped parsley are said to do this.

Incidentally, a course of parsley tea is also suitable for intercepting a budding urinary tract infection. If you have to talk a lot or even sing, you can drink a low-dose tea that is lightly sweetened with honey to strengthen your vocal cords.

Peppermint – Coolness and relaxation for body and mind

With its sweet freshness, mint is the ultimate summer herb. Cultivating real peppermint in the garden is easy and always worth it. The herb spreads luxuriantly on damp locations that are not too sunny (install a root barrier if necessary!) and is more versatile than almost any other. Whether you use it to refine sweet dishes or teas, make syrup from it, season salads and dressings with it or add it to delicious cocktails – mint refreshes and creates a pleasant coolness.

Tasty and healing on top of that – mint calms the intestines

In addition, it also has some healing properties. The areas of application of the medicinal plant are primarily the gastrointestinal tract. Its essential oils strongly stimulate bile production, which initially gives a boost to fat digestion. Starting from the bile, the entire digestion is then facilitated. Mint oils can lessen or reduce bloating. Yoghurt dips with mint go perfectly with meat dishes and all dishes with legumes. Anyone suffering from irritable bowel problems can get relief with two cups of fresh peppermint tea a day. Mint oil has a cooling effect and can relieve tension headaches. A strong brew made from peppermint leaves also has the same effect if you place it on cotton balls and dab your forehead and temples with it. Symptoms of colds and runny noses are alleviated when you treat yourself to a mint steam bath. Peppermint is also used for muscle and nerve pain.

Lemon Balm – Magical aroma brightens the mood

Lemon balm is a grateful herb that branches out like a bush and thrives luxuriantly in almost any soil. Lemon balm takes center stage in the herbal spiral. It can also be planted in balcony boxes and tubs, but then it has to be kept small by cutting and dividing. The jagged, heart-shaped leaves of lemon balm give off a scent of fresh, tart lemon peel and can often serve as a substitute for the more expensive exotic lemongrass. You can process lemon balm into cold soft drinks and soothing tea. The flowers are small, white and inconspicuous, but very popular with bees.

Various substances in the essential oil, such as citral, geranial, neral and citronellal, are responsible for the scent of lemon balm. These oils are also responsible for the healing properties of lemon balm. You can use lemon balm leaves to calm down and improve mood against a number of psychological complaints. Lemon balm can also relieve indigestion. Lemon balm is even antiviral to a small extent. A tea made from its leaves can stop or alleviate the onset of a cold.

Arnica – Full flower heads have a gentle decongestant effect

Used as a medicinal plant for centuries, arnica was in some cases completely eradicated in nature due to excessive collection. Today, the wild collection of arnica, which occurs on acidic, poor meadows, is forbidden. In order to still benefit from the effect of the plant, you can plant it in your garden.

The healing effect of arnica against swelling, bruises and bruises is well documented for external use. In homeopathy, arnica is also used internally, but you should not take any plant parts from the arnica itself, because then it has a toxic effect.

Worth the wait

It is not very uncomplicated to plant arnica in the garden. Above all, well-drained, acidic and lean soil without waterlogging is important. Cultivation indoors towards the end of winter in February is also required. You can then plant the seedlings in May after the last frosts. You then need a little more patience, because arnica grows slowly and can only be used three years after rearing. When the time comes, you can make a tincture from the flowers, which can be further processed as needed. Add 100 ml spiritus dilutus from the pharmacy to 10 g arnica flowers. Shake the mixture daily for a week. Then pour the liquid through a fine sieve and into a small apothecary bottle. To make poultices with it, you need to dilute the solution at a ratio of 3:10. You can also use the tincture to make mouthwashes that have an antiseptic effect. The dilution is then 1:10. It is important that you do not swallow the solution! Children and those who are allergic to daisy family should refrain from using arnica altogether.

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Cooking Tips

Use Coffee Leftovers For The Garden And Home

Anyone who is a regular coffee lover and owns a garden should pause for a moment before throwing away the old coffee grounds.

If you drink coffee regularly and have a garden, you can recycle the used coffee grounds in your garden.

Although the old coffee grounds cannot be used for another cup of coffee, things look different again in the garden! Because if you recycle leftover coffee in the garden or elsewhere, you can work wonders with a few small tips. But coffee leftovers can also be useful for purposes other than in the garden.

Gardening tips with coffee leftovers

If you want to do something else with your used coffee grounds instead of just throwing them away, here are lots of little tips for coffee leftovers in the garden. In general, coffee is not simply disposed of in the garbage can, because it is too good for that. Instead, it belongs in the compost. If you mix some coffee leftovers with potting soil in the garden, you will receive a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants. Because the ground coffee still contains nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Not everyone has a garden, but most people have at least a few beautiful flowers on the balcony or in their own four walls. This tip can therefore also be applied there.
In the garden, coffee residues also lower the pH value of peat soil or neutralize very calcareous irrigation water. That’s because it’s classified as slightly acidic. If there are problems with ants, leftover coffee in the garden can also help. Because if you build a small wall of coffee grounds around the bed, it protects the area from intruders. Since the coffee neutralizes odors, the scent traces that the ants lay down are also eliminated. If you want to keep ants and cats away so that they don’t use your beloved garden as a toilet, coffee residues in the garden will also help. To do this, the coffee grounds are simply distributed generously throughout the garden, where they are also composted and do not have to be cleared away.

Coffee leftovers can be useful not only in the garden

In addition to the garden, coffee leftovers can also create benefits inside the home. In fresh powder form, for example, it is wonderful for neutralizing odors by absorbing foreign odours. This means that it can also be placed in the fridge overnight, which then absorbs unpleasant odors such as the intense scent of Camembert. Furthermore, coffee grounds can be used to color various objects such as handicraft paper, fabrics or Easter eggs. All you have to do is dissolve the coffee grounds in a little lukewarm water. Dirt on the grill that doesn’t come off easily can also be cleaned with the help of coffee residues. To do this, the coffee grounds are simply placed on a sponge like scouring milk and the residue is removed with a little scrubbing.

In addition, coffee residues can also be used wonderfully for skin and hair problems. Because coffee also works against cellulite. For this, the still warm coffee grounds are placed in kitchen foil or a towel and then wrapped tightly around the thigh. If the coffee grounds are no longer warm enough, they can simply be warmed up briefly in the microwave before they are used on the thigh. After 10 to 15 minutes the coffee residues are removed again. In addition, the coffee grounds can act as a conditioner and produce shiny hair. It is simply massaged into the hair and left to take effect for 10 minutes. After that, the hair must be washed thoroughly. So coffee is used in many different areas. So not only does your own garden benefit from coffee residues, but also some problems in the house can be solved and it can also be used as a care product for the skin and hair. Coffee leftovers are therefore an ideal tool for your own body, home and garden.

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Cooking Tips

Garden Party: Tips for Food, Drinks and Decoration

You can easily make your garden party sustainable with our ideas. We give you tips for the food, the drinks and the decoration.

A successful garden party primarily includes good food and refreshing drinks. You should make sure that you choose seasonal, regional and, if possible, organic quality in order to make your menu sustainable and environmentally friendly.

For your garden party, you can use our seasonal calendar for vegetables and fruit as well as the organic seals from Demeter, Bioland and Naturland, which stand for strict criteria in organic farming and animal welfare.

Garden party: tips for food and drinks

These snacks and drinks are ideal for your garden party:

Food: If you grow your own in your garden, you can use your own fruit and vegetables to make delicious food for your party. Raw vegetables with homemade dips for vegetables, quick salads or finger food are particularly suitable for this (tip: finger food recipes). Make sure to use local foods that are in season at the time of your celebration. If you want to grill, then you will find more tips here: Grilling, but sustainable: 10 tips from charcoal to vegetarian.
Drinks: It is also important for the drinks at your garden party not to forego regionality. Of course, nothing beats domestic tap water, which is the most sustainable drink. For the warm summer months, however, homemade ice tea, various homemade lemonades and other summer drinks are also available.
Little waste: You should produce as little waste as possible during your garden party. You can achieve this by avoiding unnecessary packaging – especially plastic. If you need straws, skewers for finger food or similar, you should use them in a reusable form (glass straws are available at **Avocadostore, for example). Glass bottles are also recommended for drinks, which you can either return as deposit bottles or continue to use yourself after the party.

Sustainable decoration for your garden party

With creative decoration you can give your garden party a unique atmosphere. Your celebration will be particularly sustainable if you recycle or upcycle old and used materials for your decoration. Here are a few ideas:

Flowers as a natural decoration: If you throw a party in your own garden, not so much decoration is necessary. After all, your plants and trees create a unique atmosphere in your garden. If you are still in the process of planting your garden, wildflowers are worthwhile. They not only make your garden shine in bright colors, but you can also use them for a salad.
Sustainable lanterns: When night falls, glowing tea lights bring cosiness to your garden party. You can make these yourself in a sustainable way. For this you can recycle old jam jars as well as cardboard and paper remnants or natural materials such as leaves. With our instructions you will be able to make a lantern. Alternatively, you can also make new candles yourself from old leftovers.
Lanterns as light decorations: Fairy lights and lanterns are as much a part of a garden party as the Christmas tree is at Christmas. You can make your garden particularly beautiful and sustainable with handcrafted lanterns. They are a great way to recycle old packaging or toilet paper rolls.

More ideas for your garden party

These tips can also help you when planning your garden party:

Sustainable children’s corner: If you invite guests with children to your garden party, a sustainable children’s corner makes sense. Depending on the age of the children, this can consist of a sandbox made of wood (tip: build your own sandbox) or a mud kitchen. There is also a whole range of movement games for children that can be fun. A painting corner is also welcome. You can, for example, lay out “scratch paper”, which would have ended up in the waste paper anyway. More useful information: The best colored pencils without poison, paint or solvents.
Make short journeys sustainably: Your celebration will be particularly sustainable if you point out to your guests that they can also reach your garden on foot, by bicycle or by public transport and should avoid using the car if possible. It is best to show directions and the departure times of any nearby trams or buses on your invitation card.

Reusable crockery: If possible, do not use disposable crockery for your garden party. This is often made of plastic and produces an unnecessary amount of waste. Instead, you should use normal crockery and cutlery – and only use more environmentally friendly reusable crockery in an emergency. If you don’t have enough dishes for a larger celebration, you can certainly borrow some from friends or family members. If you want to buy new tableware, it is worth doing without plastic tableware and choosing wooden ones instead.

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Lifestyle

Coffee as Fertilizer – the Helper in the Garden

Every European consumes around 7.2 kilograms of coffee beans every year, which usually end up unnoticed in the garbage can or on the compost after brewing. Coffee is an environmentally friendly, high-quality and inexpensive fertilizer and with every cup of coffee you are doing something good for your plants. So spoil your green friends with the valuable coffee grounds!

Coffee grounds: Inexpensive fertilizer with many nutrients

Many plants need soil with sufficient nutrients to grow in order to thrive properly and develop a strong green colour. And coffee is simply ideal for this: The coffee grounds are rich in phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen and thus show many of the characteristics of a conventional fertilizer. The slightly acidic coffee can lower the pH value of peat soil and neutralize calcareous irrigation water. The potassium also ensures healthy growth of the plants. Simply mix the coffee grounds into the potting soil or sprinkle them on the compost.

Pests and bugs in the garden? coffee here!

Already knew? With some coffee grounds under the potting soil, you can easily keep pests such as voracious snails and ants out of your garden. In contrast to the hard-working earthworms, these pests cannot stand the smell of coffee. The earthworms, on the other hand, do well with coffee, supply your garden with healthy biomass free of charge and loosen the soil so that it remains well aerated.

Instructions for using coffee grounds fertilizer

In principle, all plants need fertilizer to grow well. Only seedlings should be excluded from the coffee treatment, since the tender little plants are sensitive to caffeine. Coffee works particularly well for plants in the home garden, is acidifying and is therefore particularly suitable for hydrangeas, rhododendrons, tomatoes, pumpkins, zucchini and berries. And even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can’t go wrong with coffee as a fertilizer. It is important to let the coffee grounds cool and dry before using them as fertilizer to avoid mold growth. It is therefore best to first collect the leftovers in a dry and airy place and not to run into the garden with every coffee filter.

Try it!

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Food

Planning a Self-sufficient Garden: You Should Consider This

You should plan a self-sufficient garden well so that it works for you. Then it can be an important tool for a more self-determined and sustainable life. Here you can find out more about the most important tips.

More and more people want to live more independently of the economy and the state, focus more on nature and combine sustainability, health and nutrition. You can put this into practice with the help of a self-sufficient garden, for example.

In this article we explain how you can provide yourself with fruit, vegetables, herbs and nuts.

Self-sufficient garden: questions to get started

These relevant questions should accompany you if you are seriously considering becoming a self-sufficient person:

What level of self-sufficiency would you like to have? In other words, what percentage would you like to take care of yourself and what would you have to buy additionally?
In which areas of daily needs would you like to live self-sufficiently? Just fruit and veg? Or, for example, with honey and eggs?
What is your eating style now and how would it need to change if you were self-sufficient? Would it be possible for you to do all of this yourself?
How much garden space do you have available?
How much time can you take to work in your self-sufficient garden?
How much strength, endurance and patience do you have? Are you aware that self-sufficiency also means being outside at any time of the year?
Who would like to help in the self-sufficiency garden? It’s easier when you can share tasks and work.
Which methods do you want to work with? Is classic vegetable cultivation in rows something for you? Do you already know market gardening? Would you like to work with mixed cultures or even with the principles of permaculture?

Basic nutrition and self-sufficiency

If you just want to feed yourself using your self-sufficient garden, you should first find out how much food you need in a day. A food diary can help you with this. Your approximate basal metabolic rate can also serve as a guideline. This indicates how many calories you burn per day at rest.

According to the DGE (German Society for Nutrition), the average calorie requirement for men aged 25 to 51 is 2700 calories on average and for women of the same age 2100.

When creating your menu, you should also make sure that you consume sufficient micronutrients and all macronutrients (i.e. fats, proteins and carbohydrates) in a balanced amount.

How much space do you need for a self-sufficient garden?

How much space you need for a garden that you can completely take care of yourself depends on many factors. The soil conditions and the type of crops cultivated play a role here, for example. The numbers given here give you a first orientation:

Vegetables and herbs: The DGE recommends eating 400 grams of vegetables per day. That would be around 150 kilograms per year. You should plan a little more for the cultivation. Then you are well prepared if there is a loss in earnings. So if you plan on 180 kilograms per year, you need an area of ​​at least 60 to 70 square meters for the vegetables. The potato is probably the most essential staple food for self-sufficient people. It has high nutritional value and is easy to grow relative to grain. One person eats around 60 kilograms of potatoes a year. This corresponds to a bed area of ​​30 square meters.

Fruit: The recommended amount of fruit per day is 250 grams. That is approximately 90 kilograms of fruit per year. Here’s an interesting comparison: A well-tended standard apple tree produces around 100 kilograms of apples a year. However, it takes a few years for an apple tree to reach this stage. Therefore, it is advisable to grow different fruit trees and shrubs. In order to provide yourself with the amount of fruit mentioned above, you should calculate at least an area of ​​​​80 square meters.

Nuts and seeds: You should also plan some space for this indispensable source of protein and fat. Native walnut species are: hazelnut, walnut and chestnut. It also includes beechnuts and acorns. These nuts were formerly brought in as a food source in times of need and are edible under certain circumstances. A mature hazelnut bush, for example, provides you with about 3 kilograms of hazelnuts per year. They are well suited for planting at the edge of the garden. For a hazelnut tree you need about 20 to 50 square meters. You should plan 80 to 100 square meters for a walnut tree.

Note: The required size of your self-sufficient garden ultimately depends on the extent to which you want to be self-sufficient and whether and to what extent you buy additional groceries.

How much time for the self catering garden?

If you are planning a self-sufficiency garden, you also need to know what time capacities you have. The time of day also plays a role. If you only have time in the evenings, it can be difficult in winter. Your soil quality is also a factor affecting time. For example, if you’re lucky enough to have nutrient-rich soil, you don’t have to go to extra lengths to improve soil quality.

Some self-supporters report that they only need an average of 3 hours of work per week to feed two adults and one child. You can definitely do that with certain gardening tricks. But just when you start building a self-sufficient garden, you will have to plan more time. This also includes the research time.

How much time you will need exactly, you have to find out for yourself at the beginning. A garden diary can help you with this. This way you can plan step by step better and better how much time you have to spend on certain activities.

These plants are suitable for cultivation

Plants that grow well without much effort are particularly suitable for a self-sufficient garden, especially at the beginning. These include, for example:

Radish,
chard,
Pumpkin,
Zucchini,
Spinach,
Arugula,
bush beans,
Jerusalem Artichoke,
Potatoes.

Different plants also contain different nutrients. They can be broken down into three categories:

Plants rich in carbohydrates: for example potatoes, corn, carrots, all types of fruit;
Plants rich in protein: for example French beans, broad beans, peas, soybeans, walnuts, hazelnuts;
Plants rich in fat: sunflowers, flax, poppies, walnuts, hazelnuts.

A seasonal calendar gives you the best orientation as to which regional fruits and vegetables you can grow and harvest in which month. The storage periods are also indicated in the Utopia seasonal calendar. In order to fully plan your self-sufficient garden, you should first think carefully about which plants are suitable for which part of the garden. Take the time to read, research and share with others! Your region, climatic conditions and soil conditions are also important when choosing your plants.

Note: In order to be able to eat food from the self-sufficiency garden all year round, you must store it well or preserve it in some other way. To do this, you can boil, dry, ferment, salt, sour or sugar vegetables or fruit. For example, you can make pickled cucumbers, dried tomatoes, sauerkraut, dried fruit, jam, mush or chutney.

Material and equipment for the self-sufficiency garden

Before you start your project, you should get some important things. With the right material and high-quality gardening tools, your work will be much easier.

Your equipment for wind and weather: rubber boots, rain jackets and trousers and gardening gloves (e.g. with natural rubber) are essential. Because you will be kneeling on the floor a lot, knee pads or a knee pillow are useful.
Garden tools: Spades, rakes, rakes, pruning shears, garden shears, hoes, shovels, brooms, knives and weed pullers are the most important garden tools. You can use a lawn mower or even a sickle or scythe for mowing. A ladder, several buckets, a watering can and a wheelbarrow are also among the most important utensils. It is best to look for used equipment to save money and resources.
Planters: Cultivation pots and plant pots of different sizes are essential. Use eco-friendly options whenever possible. Read also: Avoid plastic plant pots: 8 alternatives. If you buy eggs, you can use the egg cartons as breeding pots.
Larger purchases: A self-sufficient person should also create a cold frame, a greenhouse, a planting table, raised beds, a warehouse or a storage cellar and a compost. For your storable harvest, stackable crates come in handy. You should also organize irrigation water.

Self-sufficient garden: conclusion

Complete self-sufficiency from your own garden is almost impossible these days. This would require a lot of compromises and hard work. There are also weather conditions and crop failures.

Nevertheless, there are many reasons to venture into a self-sufficient garden. No one can take away the knowledge and skills you acquire with it. Self-sufficiency makes sense, especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables: In 2020, German agriculture only produced 22 percent of the fruit and 37 percent of the vegetables that were offered for sale. The rest was imported from other countries. If you want to be less dependent on this global industrial agriculture, a self-sufficient garden is a good option.

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