The cold season is upon us, people!

Here’s a way to get some quick relief from that head cold that your ten year old brought home from school to share!

1.     Take two cloves of garlic and crush them into a stout coffee mug.

2.     Take two rose hips, either from your yard or purchased from the health food store, quarter them and add them to the garlic in the mug.

3.     Pour boiling water over all.

4.     Allow to steep 7 to 10 minutes.

5.     Using a spoon, remove the bits from your mug.

6.     Sweeten with honey and drink.

Many gardeners here in the Rogue Valley grow their own garlic and most of us have roses growing in our gardens.  In fact, there are so many wild roses growing out and about the rural areas of the valley that have not been sprayed that – with permission from the property owner – a person could realistically gather plenty to support a family through the cold season.

The back-story on garlic and rose hips:

Garlic has been promoted as having a plethora of health benefits.  Some are substantiated and some are not.  Three areas in which garlic’s benefits have been proven are:

Colds:   One of the most common ailments garlic has been touted to treat is the cold.  Upon the onset of the sniffles, many people testify that consuming a clove or more of garlic takes them away.  How can a clove of garlic possibly help?  Studies have shown that garlic extract improves immune function; giving our natural defense system a boost and helping it conserve the levels of antioxidants in our system. It is this strengthening of the immune system that aids in its support for other health related conditions.

Hypertension: Another heart benefit of garlic is its ability to help control blood pressure by thinning the blood. The chemical found in garlic, called ajoene, thins the blood and keeps clots from forming. Studies done with general populations have shown that where there is more garlic consumed in a population, there is also a reduced incidence of hypertension and heart disease.  Although garlic's heart healthy benefits may be new to some, for centuries Chinese herbalists have been using garlic to treat people with angina attacks and circulatory disorders.

Infection:  Since 1858 garlic has also been known for its anti-bacterial properties. At this time Louis Pasteur discovered that bacterial cells died when they were saturated with garlic. Other instances of garlic being used as an antibiotic in history include WW II, when British doctors used it to treat those wounded in battle.  Albert Schweitzer used garlic to treat typhus and cholera. Garlic is known to have not only antibacterial but antiviral and antifungal properties as well. It is effective against intestinal parasites, recurrent yeast infections and the growth Candida albicans is slowed by garlic. With this in mind, it should be considered only as an aid to antibiotics in fighting infections, as it is not enough to replace them. Garlic can help by stimulating T-cells that help fight infection.

People have been talking about rose hips tea for years.  When you think of roses, you probably think fragrance, beauty, softness, but how often do you think vitamin C, vascular system or capillaries?   During World War II, the English government organized the harvesting of all available rose hips to make vitamin C syrup, since fruits were virtually unattainable at the time. Rose hips are reported to have up to 60 percent more vitamin C than citrus fruit and are rich in bioflavonoids.  Bioflavonoids are important to build and strengthen body tissue. This in turn strengthens the vascular system.

Rose hips are taken by many today as a natural way to get vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K,  and help to prevent and treat various infections, especially colds and flu.  Rose hips are also taken to speed the healing process for bruises and skin irritations.  Inflammation and sore throat can find relief with rose hips, which come in capsule form and are usually taken 3 times daily. Women receive extra benefits from rose hips which help uterine cramps, heavy menstrual flow and some breast disorders.

In addition to vitamins C, E, and K, rose hips contain calcium, citric acid, iron, niacin,  phosphorus, tannin, vitamin A, B1, B2, and P. As a natural stimulant it gently allows movement of the bowels, as a diuretic rose hips helps cleanse the urinary system and as a tonic the rose hips strengthen organs and supports the immune system.

Stressed and tired? Rose hips will help. Nervousness? Try rose hips for relief. As a matter of fact, rose hips provide innumerable health benefits to the skin, the immune system and the urinary tract.  Studies have even shown that rose hips can help prevent the development of kidney stones and prevent diarrhea. Additional studies have proven rose hips are helpful to the circulatory system, respiratory system, the thymus gland and as a blood cleanser.

There are few side effects for most people who take rose hips. Some do complain of headache, heartburn, insomnia or nausea.  Most people have no issues or complaints with rose hips. 

Never attempt to replace any medicine with herbal or plant based remedies without talking to your doctor first.  Although rose hips have medical benefits, they are not a substitution for many prescribed treatments.

Rain, Halloween and Green Tomatoes

I was awakened at 3 this morning with a cat on my head and Bekah kicking me.  Every chance she gets, that girl will sleep in my bed.  I always said that she wouldn't be leaving for college still sleeping in my bed.  She's starting to scare me.

And Luna C. Kitten...You are DARLING, really you are, but those fish hooks and needles that are your claws and teeth?  I'm really not so enamored of this kitten at three in the morning.

I also learned it was raining when I finally gave up on sleep and got up for good at 3:45.  Raining on Halloween.    Lizzy did win a second place prize at the costume contest last night with her Marcel Marceau, but they are both looking forward to TOTing.  Even Bekx, at her "advanced" age.  We have plans, too.  One of Lizzy's friends, her mom and little sister are supposed to go with us.  Bekx is working on finding someone else to go since her friend got grounded at the last minute.  Really and truly a bummer, but I totally get the mom's position on why she felt it was necessary.

I was poking around the remnants of my garden yesterday, trying to make a decision about the tomatoes and wondering if the rain has ruined the hollyhock seed pods.  I have green tomatoes.  Lots of folks have green tomatoes still on the vine.  Over here, I wrote about how to dry them and how to store the dried 'maters:  
http://www.examiner.com/gardening-in-medford/wrapping-up-the-season . 

I remembered my Mama Grande making this for us as kids.  While I haven't quite figured out how to work around my red-dye-sensitive elder child and red jello (or artificially dyed red anything else for that matter...), I have fond memories of the faux raspberry jam she made with green tomatoes.  I don't have her exact recipe, and she's long gone now, but the method is still out there...

I know what you’re thinking and, while I may be certifiable in just about every other area in life, this is not one of them.  Jill Nicolaus from Dave’s Garden has provided the method and it’ll give you something entertaining to do with those last green tomatoes.

I’m sure that, with the recent threats of frost, you fled to the garden to save those last tomatoes.  Maybe you’ve got some set aside to slowly ripen.  Maybe you’ve been making fried green tomatoes, green tomato chutney and green tomato pickles.  Run out of ideas?  Round up your kids or grandkids – it’s time for something totally fun!

This jam is perfect to make with kids.  Three ingredients, no canning – just some chopping and stovetop cooking.  Be sure to gauge how much help your helpers are going to require.  Move a chair or step stool to the stove so they can reach for stirring.

Admittedly, “red raspberry” jam from green tomatoes likely won’t bring home a blue ribbon from the county fair compared to Mrs. Nesbit’s very best quality raspberry preserves.  However, the seeds give it an authentic look and the tang of the green tomatoes makes a nice counter to the sweetness.  A recipe attributed to Southern Living magazine reduces the amount of sugar to 1-1/2 cups and increases the amount of tomato to 2-1/2 cups.  I’ve heard that you can add a packet of unsweetened raspberry Kool Aid drink mix for extra zing.  For us, that red dye could be an issue, but moderation in all things is the key!

There’s an entertainment factor of epic proportion by transforming green tomatoes into something that tastes and looks like red raspberries.  Imagine the kick you and the kids will get out of revealing the “secret” of your homemade “raspberry” jam.  Imagine the kids giggling themselves silly attempting to explain to their dad that he’s just eaten a peanut butter and tomato sandwich!  Whether or not you have kids to help you, give this recipe a try.  Faux food recipes are not only tasty, but they’re really amusing to serve to unsuspecting guests.  You Red Hat Ladies – whip some of this “jam” up for one of your teas.  After all, it’s the right color! 

Green Tomato “Raspberry” Jam

2 cups minced green tomatoes

2 cups sugar

1 – 3 oz. Package red raspberry gelatin

Wash and stem or core the tomatoes and remove any bad spots.  Then dice or shred the tomatoes.  A food processor to roughly mince them also works well.

Put the tomatoes and sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat.  Bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar and reduce the heat.  Simmer 20 minutes.  If you diced the tomatoes, cook them long enough so that they don’t look chunky anymore.

Add the raspberry gelatin and bring to a boil.  Now the jam is ready to be poured into clean jars.  This is not a shelf-stable recipe and you have to store it in the refrigerator or freezer.  This recipe makes about a pint and you can totally double it if you wish.

Well, it HAS been a year...

I know.  I'm pathetic.  I haven't updated this blog in forever.  I've been horrifically busy and - of course - 92 million other totally lame excuses for not checking in here.

After talking with someone earlier today about an article on winterizing roses and rose hips, it was pointed out that I should write about what to do with the hips - the teas, the oil, the boo-boo juice I put on the kid's scrapes.

Ah, but that's not gardening.  So would go the statement from my editor, I'm sure.  I can't OFFICIALLY write about homemade botanicals or food and I find that odd.  Aren't these two thing intrinsically tied to gardening?  WELL, SURE THEY ARE!!!  If you're growing callendula to make a healing oil, and you're sharing how to get the best and biggest blooms, why isn't it also OK to tell how to make that oil.  (Which is great as a barrier for diaper rash, by the way.)

So - I'm taking to my blog and I'm gonna talk about everything (except politics and religion - I'm kind of offensive when I start ranting about either of those!).

There's so much in this big wide world - Great food, a fun craft here and there - maybe with something you've found or grown in your yard, some silly movie I saw that made me laugh, or even how to make a balm to save your feet from turning into camel claws this winter - Dude - I'm gonna share it. 

Nyah nyah!