You’ve probably seen purple dead-nettle growing at one time or another, even if you didn’t realize it.

This common plant that’s native to Europe and Asia, can now be found throughout North America too, and it’s very widespread.

If you start paying more attention to the plants around you the next time you go for a walk, odds are, you’ll see it growing.

It’s one of those plants that when you see its image, you immediately recognize it, you just didn’t know what it was called.

Purple dead nettle is one of the safer plants to forage. It has no dangerous lookalikes, but it is still advisable to have on hand a foraging field guide to help you identify.

Below is our recommended resource to take with you:

Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods

It contains beautiful color photographs of each plant, as well as a season by season guide to identifying, harvesting and preparing more than 200 edible plants.

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Purple dead-nettle is in the mint family. It forms early groundcover mats, with fuzzy, spade-shaped leaves and delicate purple-pink flowers, a lovely addition to a spring weed bouquet.

It was named “dead-nettle,” due to its resemblance to stinging nettle, but it has no relation and comes without that awful sting.

So why should you go out and find it? There are many reasons, including these.

1. Purple dead-nettle is a wild, edible green

Purple dead-nettle is edible, in fact, you can eat the entire plant. It has a mild, slightly grassy, somewhat floral flavor, and the purple tops are even a little sweet.

Although it is in the mint family, it doesn’t have a minty taste. It can be used in salads, soups, blended into smoothies or made into a tea.

Generally, you can use it just like you would any other green. The plant can also be finely minced and used as a garnish like you would an herb.

The easiest way to get the maximum out of its nutrition benefits, as discussed below, is to toss a bunch into a smoothie – banana and mango are especially good complements.

Making it into a tea is also a good way to take advantage of those benefits, just keep in mind that it may have a laxative effect if you drink a large amount.

2. Purple dead-nettle is highly nutritious

The plant is highly nutritious. It’s abundant in vitamins, particularly vitamin C, along with iron and fiber, while the oil in its seeds is packed with powerful antioxidants.

3. Purple dead-nettle offers a host of medicinal benefits

This plant is renowned for its medicinal benefits, as it’s considered to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. It’s also a diuretic, an astringent and diaphoretic.

Purple dead-nettle is known for reducing allergy symptoms, in fact, its antifungal and antibacterial compounds are currently being studied in an attempt to explain the reason behind its medicinal abilities linked to allergies.

It can also protect allergy sufferers from secondary infections of the throat and bronchi.

The leaves of the purple dead-nettle plant can be placed on wounds or cuts to stop bleeding, and its vitamin C and flavonoids work together to help boost the immune system and fight infection.

Research published in 2007 in the Hacepttepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy in Turkey, found it to be effective against the E. coli bacteria and others too. Its anti-inflammatory properties were documented in 2008 research in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

Although science is only just now catching up, it seems we’ve known about purple dead nettles benefits for centuries. In fact, in the 17th century, Nicholas Culpepper had a number of interesting things to say about it in his book entitled Culpeper’s Complete Herbal: A Book of Natural Remedies for Ancient Ills

“It makes the head merry, drives away melancholy, quickens the spirits, is good against quartan agues, stancheth bleeding at mouth and nose, if it be stamped and applied to the nape of the neck; the herb also bruised, and with some salt and vinegar, and hog-grease, laid upon a hard tumour or swelling, or that vulgarly called the king’s evil, do help to dissolve or discuss them; and being in like manner applied, doth much allay the pains, and give ease to the gout, sciatica, and other pains of the joints and sinews. It is also very effectual to heal green wounds, and old ulcers; also to stay their fretting, gnawing and spreading. It draweth forth splinters, and such like things gotten into the flesh, and is very good against bruises and burnings. But the yellow archangel is most commended for old, filthy, corrupt sores and ulcers, yea, although they grow to be hollow, and to dissolve tumors.”

4. Purple dead nettle benefits the bees

Bees love purple dead nettle. The plant is an important species for these endangered creatures, and not only do they seem to prefer it over other plants, but it’s one of the first to flower in the spring, which is why you may want to forage it now and use the seeds to plant it in your garden.

If you live in a mild climate, it may even flower through the winter to provide vital bee forage.

Growing your own purple dead-nettle:

Planting purple dead nettle will allow you to enjoy your very own supply and help save the bees. You’ll have easy access to its fabulous benefits right outside your door.

To grow purple dead-nettle, you can start them by seed found on wild plants, spreading them in the fall on the ground.

Tamp and then cover them with mulch. They can also be planted in the spring after there is no chance of frost.

If you can’t find them growing in the wild, there are a number of speciality seed houses that carry them, and they are also available on Amazon from Palm Beach Medicinal Herbs here.

Purple dead-nettle is very easy to grow, they thrive in full sun, partial shade and even full shade provided it isn’t too dark.

If you do grow them in full sun and live in a warmer climate, just be aware that the heat will cause them to die back, but they’ll return in the fall or the following spring. They’ll do very well with moist, nutrient-rich soil, especially if its nitrogen-rich.

They prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soils, which makes it a good groundcover for those who live in areas where there is lots of limestone rock in and around the soil.

Harvesting is easy too, just pick the upper leaves and stems in the spring and summer.

Keep in mind that as the season moves forward, the stems tend to get tougher, but the leaves are still good through at least mid-summer.

Purple Dead Nettle Recipes

Purple Dead Nettle Tea (& 4 Other Easy Foraging Recipes) @ RuralSprout.com

Herbal Dead Nettle Salve – 3 Ways @ TheNerdyFarmWife.com

Purple Dead Nettle Soup @ Southern Forager

Wild Weeds Pesto with Dead Nettle @ NittyGrittyLife.com

Purple Dead Nettle Dye For Wool @ TimberCreekFarmer.com

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Read Next: 25 Reasons To Go & Pick Dandelions

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Raising your own backyard chickens is a great way to increase your sustainability and improve the health of your family by providing organic eggs with no added hormones.

Plus, chickens are a natural source of pest control for your garden and can provide endless hours of entertainment.

Here’s what you need to know before you consider raising chickens in your own backyard.

Check the laws in your town

Many cities, towns, and neighborhood associations have widely varying laws and regulations when it comes to raising chickens.

Follow the guidelines explicitly regarding square footage, the number of chickens, type of fencing, and if you are allowed to have roosters or not. Breaking the law can lead to massive logistical headaches and you may even have to get rid of your flock.

If you plan to sell extra eggs in your community, check with your local extension service or state university poultry department for a list of requirements.

The smell isn’t exactly pleasant

Chickens aren’t the cleanest creatures so it is important to be aware of the smell factor before you embark on your journey of cultivating a backyard flock. Keeping the coop clean, and odor free (or at least odor reduced) will take a lot of work.

Be sure you are willing to put in the effort and deal with the stench, and the maintenance before jumping in. Otherwise, you will be left with a pungent coop, a fly infestation and unhealthy chickens.

You won’t necessarily save money at first

Though financial saving is often the rallying cry for joining the backyard chicken bandwagon, it’s not exactly true.

Sure, you won’t have to buy eggs in the store anymore…but think about how much were you really spending on eggs before.

The cost of the coop, chicks, fencing, and feed can all add up when you are just starting out. It is important to understand that you won’t necessarily cut down on costs in the first few years while you are getting your setup established.

Chickens will eventually pay for themselves, however, and the rewards go far beyond eggs. You’ll be able to use their natural fertilizer for your garden and enjoy the companionship of your feathered friends.

You don’t need a rooster

Your hens will lay plenty of unfertilized eggs without a rooster around so if you only want eggs for eating (and not for making more chickens) you don’t need to have a rooster.

Roosters, if left unchecked could become aggressive and possessive of their flock making it difficult to get to eggs, however, this can also be a good thing as they will do everything they can to protect their hens from natural predators.

You need to set your coop up before buying chickens

You don’t want to have a box of chirping chicks without a safe place to put them.

Get your coop in order before you bring your chickens home. It is a good rule of thumb to provide 3-5 square feet of floor space in the coop for each chicken, 8” of roosting bar for each one, and one nesting box for every 3-4 hens to lay their eggs.

It is always a good idea to build a bigger coop than you think you’ll need so that you have room for expansion later. This will help you avoid costly additions and coop remodels to fit your growing flock.

Hens don’t lay all year

Unfortunately, the wealth of fresh eggs that you enjoy from spring to early fall will not last throughout the winter.

Hens may lay a few eggs here and there but their production will significantly decrease. Be prepared for this eventuality by researching wholesome, organic store-bought eggs to fulfill your needs until your chickens start producing again.

They will lose feathers

Don’t panic when you go into the coop and see an explosion of feathers like something from a horror movie.

Count your chickens, and if they’re all there, it is likely that one or more are molting.

Molting is a natural process that usually occurs in the fall when chickens shed their feathers and grow new ones in preparation for the chilly season. Feather loss can be caused by many other things as well, including stress, fear, and picking at bugs.

Predators will try to harm your flock

As you are planning out the design of your coop and working on the construction, it is important to keep in mind that chickens are incredibly appealing to many predators. Foxes, skunks, hawks, coyotes, dogs, rats (with chicks), and owls will all try to find any weakness in your fortifications to get to your hens.

Build a solid coop that will keep out as many as possible.

Handle your chicks as much as possible

Handling your chicks as soon as you bring them home can make a huge difference to their sociability.

It is inevitable that you’ll need to catch your chickens at some point to give them medical attention or move them to a new area. Whatever the case, the more time you spend picking them up and playing with them now, the less headache you’ll have later. Be sure to wash your hands before and after handling chickens.

You will lose some

Even if you do your very best to protect your chickens from predators, you will still lose some.

They are incredibly hardy, yet fragile at the same time and you may not even know that a chicken is sick until it dies. Understand the reality of loss before you get your chickens and it will be easier to deal with when it happens.

Not all eggs are perfect

Believe it or not, those perfectly white, round eggs that you buy from the grocery store aren’t natural.

Chickens in industrial farming are exposed to a whole host of chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics that make them efficient egg laying, meat-producing machines. This also strips away most nutritional value, however, and can expose you to the same harmful hormones that were pumped into the hens.

True, organic eggs from backyard chickens will be all sorts of different colors, sizes, and shapes. You may even find a shell-less egg once in a while. Nature isn’t perfect and that’s just one more thing that makes having your own flock so appealing.

Have a retirement plan for your hens

A hen’s most lucrative egg-laying years are the first two years of her life. However, chickens can live to be much, much older. In fact, the oldest living chicken on record was a whopping 20 years.

It is important to have a retirement plan in place for your “old” hens that are no longer laying. Some people choose to cull (kill and eat) their hens, but if this isn’t appealing to you, you can fence off a grassy area for them to “go out to pasture” and live out the rest of their days.

It is important that you know how you are going to handle this inevitability before you purchase chickens so that you don’t have stress when the time comes.

Formulate a compost pile

If you don’t have a compost pile already, now is the time to start one. You’ll want to collect all of that valuable chicken scratch to help make nutrient-rich soil that will deliver much-needed minerals to your garden.

Have someone to take care of your chickens if you travel a lot

Just like any other animals, chickens require daily care and attention. Locate someone who will be willing to look after your chickens, before you purchase them.

This is especially important if you are away a lot and will need a reliable chicken sitter to collect eggs and maintain the health of your flock.

It is important to keep them cool

Many people are overly concerned about keeping their chickens warm in the winter. The real threat, however, is the brutal summer heat.

If you live in a place with high temperatures, consider installing a fan in the coop, and be sure to provide plenty of areas for your hens to take a dust bath which can help cool them down.

Always make sure that your chickens have access to fresh water and the coop is properly ventilated.

Research breeds

Before you raise backyard chickens, do research on which breeds are best for you.

Some do well in colder climates while others are more sensitive to the chill. There are also many interesting heritage breeds that you can help preserve by giving them a place in your coop.

If your space is limited, you may consider raising bantam chickens – a collective term for a number of breeds of miniature chickens – often half the size of regular birds.

You’ll fall in love

Most importantly, be prepared to fall in love with your chickens. They have more personality then you’d expect and there’s nothing quite like a group of hens trotting at your heels as they follow you around the yard on a free-range day.

Soon, your flock will be just as beloved by your family as the dogs and cats. They are incredibly friendly, affectionate, and make wonderful pets.

Raising backyard chickens is a huge commitment, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Once you decide to take the leap, you’ll never look back!

Read Next: 20 Reasons To Consider Raising Backyard Goats

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Herbal salves are great products to have in your home apothecary. And they are easy to make! You will need just a few basic ingredients to make an herbal salve base. Use this base to make some home remedies that you’ll use time and time again.

This is a quick guide to herbal salve making, followed by five recipes to try!

What Is An Herbal Salve?

A basic herbal salve is simply a blend of two ingredients, with the addition of essential oils and/or herbs. A true herbal salve will use an herb-infused oil (see below for further information) but you can also use many of the basic carrier oils used in aromatherapy; for example, sunflower (Helianthus annuus), sweet almond (Prunus dulcis), apricot and kernel (Prunus armeniaca) oils. More advanced herbal salves, using aromatherapy carrier oils, may contain borage (Borago officinalis), rosehip (Rosa rugosa), or evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) oil. However, you need to have an understanding of these carrier oils to adapt how much of each one you would combine in an herbal salve.

How To Make The Basic Salve

What You Will Need:

Beeswax (Cera alba) + herb-infused oil/carrier oil (+ essential oils)*

OR if you are making a vegan herbal salve you will need:

Carnauba wax (Copernica cerifera)** + herb-infused oil/carrier oil (+ essential oils)*

*essential oils are optional, depending upon what the salve is being made for.

** carnauba wax is a wax derived from the leaves of the Brazilian palm tree. It is not the same tree from which palm oil is derived.

Beeswax and carnauba wax are hard, solid waxes but note that carnauba wax is harder than beeswax. You’ll need to take this into account when making recipes and adjust accordingly.

The Method:

Which can be used to make all of the recipes provided in this article:

• Place the beeswax/carnauba wax in a Pyrex® jug.
• Heat up regular tap water in a small pan until it is hot enough to start melting the ingredients.
• Place the Pyrex® jug with the beeswax/carnauba wax into the pan containing the water. The jug should rest just above the water (attach the handle on the side of the pan) so that the steam from the water will start to melt the ingredients.**
• Once the beeswax/carnauba wax is melted, stir in the herb-infused oil or carrier oil and immediately take the Pyrex® jug off the heat.
• At this point add in and stir together the essential oil blend you’ve created (see recipes below).
• Pour the finished salve into salve tins or glass jars, before the mix starts to solidify.
• Place the lids on the salve tins or jars and place them in the refrigerator or a cool place to solidify. Keep the salve in a (cool) place where the temperature is constant so that the salve doesn’t continually melt and solidify.

*These instructions are adapted from my own work in making herbal salves.

**This is called the double boiler or Bain Marie method.

Using Herb-infused Oils In An Herbal Salve

If you want to add an herb-infused oil to the salve, some of the most common plants used are:

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis): for skin inflammation and bruises
• St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum): for burns and rheumatoid arthritis
• Carrot (Daucus carota): for itchy skin and eczema.

You can also infuse almost any type of herb into a base oil to create an herb-infused oil, as discussed in a previous article here – How To Make Herb Infused Oils & 3 Recipes To Try

5 Simple Recipes For Herbal Salves

The following recipes use beeswax. If you want to make a vegan herbal salve, you’ll need to substitute the beeswax ingredient with carnauba wax. However, unless you want the salve to be rock hard, you’ll probably need to use less carnauba wax than that specified for beeswax.

These recipes also use a ratio of 6:1. You can take a salve recipe up to a ratio of 8:1, if you want a more fluid salve. Alternatively, you can take it down to a ratio of 2:1 if you like a really hard salve.

Lastly, these recipes use either an herbal-infused oil or a basic carrier oil. More complex carrier oils can be used but you would need to formulate a different recipe, based on the viscosity of the individual carrier oil.

All of these recipes have been formulated for adult use only, unless specified otherwise.

1. Aches & Pain Herbal Salve

Ingredients:

6-oz. apricot kernel (Prunus armeniaca) oil

1-oz. beeswax (Cera alba)

10 drops peppermint (Mentha × piperita) essential oil

15 drops rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oil

10 drops clary sage (Salvia sclarea) essential oil

Add the essential oils to a glass beaker and mix well. Add the essential oil blend to the beeswax and apricot kernel oil as instructed above under How to Make the Basic Salve.

To Use:

Apply to point of pain twice a day. This is a potent blend and should be used sparingly. Stop use immediately if adverse reactions occur.

Cautions:

Avoid use around and with babies and children. Avoid use in pregnancy. Avoid use in epilepsy. Avoid use with high blood pressure. Possible skin sensitivity.

2. Herbal Salve For Burns

Ingredients:

6-oz. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) oil

1-oz. beeswax (Cera alba)

10 drops helichrysum (Helichrysum angustifolia) essential oil

20 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil

5 drops vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) essential oil

Add the essential oils to a glass beaker and mix well. Add the essential oil blend to the beeswax and St. John’s wort oil as instructed above under How to Make the Basic Salve.

To Use:

Apply to the burn up to three times a day. Stop use immediately if adverse reactions occur.

Cautions:

Possible skin sensitivity.

3. Boo-Boo Herbal Salve For Children

6-oz. calendula (Calendula officinalis) oil

1-oz. beeswax (Cera alba)

5 drops Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) essential oil

5 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil

8 drops sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil

Add the essential oils to a glass beaker and mix well. Add the essential oil blend to the beeswax and calendula oil as instructed above under How to Make the Basic Salve.

To Use:

Apply to any bumps or minor bruises that children tend to incur during daily activities. Stop use immediately if adverse reactions occur.

Cautions:

Use with children aged 5 years and over. Possible skin sensitivity.

4. Herbal Salve For Skin Irritations & Bug Bites

6-oz. carrot (Daucus carota) oil

1-oz. beeswax (Cera alba)

15 drops geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil

6 drops frankincense (Boswellia carteri) essential oil

15 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil

Add the essential oils to a glass beaker and mix well. Add the essential oil blend to the beeswax and carrot oil as instructed above under How to Make the Basic Salve.

To Use:

Apply to minor skin irritations and bug bites as they occur. Use up to three times a day. Stop use immediately if adverse reactions occur.

Cautions:

Possible skin sensitivity.

5. Herbal Salve For Digestive Complaints

4-oz. calendula (Calendula officinalis) oil

2-oz. carrot (Daucus carota) oil

15 drops sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil

12 drops ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oil

8 drops dill (Anethum graveolens) essential oil

Add the essential oils to a glass beaker and mix well. Add the essential oil blend to the beeswax, calendula oil, and carrot oil as instructed above under How to Make the Basic Salve.

To Use:

Massage a small amount over the abdomen area in a clock-wise direction. Use up to three times a day. Stop use immediately if adverse reactions occur.

Cautions:

Avoid use in pregnancy. Possible risk of phototoxicity. Possible skin sensitivity.

Using Herbal Salves At Home

Herbal salves are a great product to have on hand for minor problems at home. Combined with essential oils, herbal salves are a natural alternative to many store-bought salves – and you’ll know exactly what went into them if you make them yourself!

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Read Next: How To Make Herb Infused Oils & 3 Recipes To Try

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So you’ve finally figured out how not to kill every houseplant you buy. Congratulations! It’s now time to reward yourself with some fun, stylish accessories that will bring your houseplant game to the next level. We’ve scoured the internet for the best deals and hottest items. Check out our list below!

1. Macrame Plant Holder

The 70s are back with this hand-braided macrame plant holder. The minimalist style will fit into any decor and keep your plants from taking up shelf space.

2. Gardener’s Lifetime Mini Trowel

A tiny trowel that takes propagating and planting your houseplants to a whole new level. Sure, you could use a full-size hand trowel, but this mini tool is just too darn cute to pass up. Plus, it is super practical for handling your delicate houseplants.

3. Black Glass Geometric Terrarium

An elegant glass geometric terrarium to amp up your decor game and bring a modern flair to your space. Use as a centerpiece on your dining room table or to spruce up an empty windowsill.

4. Esschert Design Stainless Steel Watering Can

A sleek, minimalist watering can that you can proudly keep out on your counter. You may even remember to water your houseplants, for once.

5. Sustainable Village Brass Mister

A vintage-inspired brass mister that is perfect for maintaining the moisture and humidity levels around air plants and tropical houseplants such as African violets, aloe, fuchsia, orchids, and philodendrons.

6. White Ceramic Succulent Planter

A shallow dish that is perfect for designing your very own succulent arrangement. Plus, it comes with a handy bamboo drainage tray to keep your furniture protected.

7. Mkono Macrame Plant Hanger

A beautifully woven plant hanger that is perfect for the houseplant fanatic on a budget. With over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon and a seriously affordable price-tag, there’s no reason not to buy one (or three) of these versatile plant holders.

8. Giantex Wood Plant Stand

A sturdy wooden plant stand that can provide an attractive place to stack your plants and allow them to soak up the best natural light in the room. Are you even a houseplant lover if you haven’t started running out of space to put all of your pots?

9. Timeyard Woven Cotton Rope Plant Basket

A cotton rope basket that looks great in an empty corner of your room and can conceal a plain plastic planter. The sustainable cord is woven tightly to provide a flexible, yet sturdy basket that can be utilized in a number of ways around the home.

10. Rivet Geometric Ceramic Planter

A medium-size stoneware pot with a beautiful, understated geometric design. The pot comes in gray or rose and can add a subtle, yet striking element to your home.

11. Wyndham 3-Piece Globe Watering Set

A must-have for the forgetful waterer. These watering globes make it possible for you to keep even the most thirsty plants alive. The colored blown glass look is timeless and these practical devices will deliver just the right amount of water to your potted plants.

12. Carnegie Pendant LED Grow Light

A modern pendant light that plugs into a standard wall outlet and allows you to grow light-loving plants in shadowy corners of your home. The LED grow bulb provides full-spectrum directional light that will make any plant happy.

13. Mkono Seagrass Plant Basket

An attractive boho plant basket that is handwoven from natural seagrass. Bring a touch of whimsy to your home with this unique style.

14. FOX & FERN Modern Adjustable Plant Stand

A wooden plant stand that comes in multiple stains to suit your other wood furniture. Fits most average size pots and is totally adjustable for height and width. This stand lifts pots off the floor and can give height to an empty corner.

15. White Pot with Gold and Grey Detailing

A set of two clean-lined pots with delicate gold accents. These are perfect for succulents. Be sure to add a layer of small rocks in the bottom since these pots don’t come with drainage holes.

16. Glass and Driftwood Terrarium

A totally unique conversation piece, this glass terrarium rests over a piece of reclaimed driftwood. If you love the ocean, or just want to bring a little piece of the sea into your home, this tabletop terrarium is for you.

17. Modern Marble Pots with Bamboo Trays

A miniature pot that is perfect for your desk or bedside table. What’s the point of a surface if it doesn’t have a plant on it, right? This set of pastel pots is perfect for tiny succulents that don’t need a lot of room to grow.

18. Purism Style Plant Mister

A mister that is as much as a practical device for keeping your plants hydrated, as it is a stunning decoration.

19. Dangling Ceramic 4 Pot Set

A set of dangling ceramic pots that makes a beautiful piece of living art. Hang on the wall or ceiling for a bright pop of color.

20. Rivet Mid-Century Ceramic Planter with Stand

A modern iron stand with a ceramic pot in four visually appealing colors. The pot can be removed from the stand for ease of planting or if you want to use a different pot.

21. SONGMICS Bamboo Customizable Plant Stand

A sturdy shelf that can support even your largest fern. Fill it with plants or incorporate other statement knick knacks for a truly eye-catching display.

Have fun enjoying all your stylish new houseplant accessories, and remember…it is not possible to have too many macrame plant hangers.

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Read Next: 22 Practically Immortal Houseplants That Even You Can’t Kill

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Whether you’re living in the suburbs, a city high rise apartment complex, or rural America, these tropical and exotic houseplants will transport your home to a lush island or vibrant rainforest and bring your decor up a notch. Many of these intriguing plants are deceptively easy to grow and will reward you with spectacular color for years to come. Check out our list of 22 tropical plants you should add to your houseplant collection today.

1. Rubber tree

This plant is incredibly hardy and adds a truly exciting flare to any decor. The leaves are large and often variegated in color, making it a no brainer way to bring the tropics indoors. Be sure to dust the large leaves often with a wet cloth to keep them shiny.

2. Amazon Elephant’s Ear

With its distinctive leaf shape and slivery tint, the Amazon Elephant’s Ear is a fairly easy plant to keep alive and can amp up your houseplant game. It can fill in an empty corner or serve as a focal piece in the center of the room. Be sure to keep it away from children and pets as it is toxic if ingested.

3. Swallowtail Or Butterfly Plant

This plant is wonderful to add to your collection if you are looking for an exotic, unusual twist on the typical tropical greenery. It has triangular-shaped leaves with naturally occurring pink and green stripes. Forget seasonal flowers that only bloom for a time, swallowtail will keep its color all year long. Be sure to place it in an area of indirect sunlight to avoid burning.

4. Fairy Duster

The name conjures up images of delicate, bright flowers, that are sure to make a statement, and the plant doesn’t disappoint. The pink flowers are incredibly vibrant and bring color to your home. Plus, if grown outside on a patio or front stoop in the summer, this plant attracts tons of butterflies and birds which can make it an even better viewing opportunity.

5. Adiantum Venustum

A unique twist on the typical fern, this plant is a little more high maintenance than your typical greenery. However, the delicate fronds and lovely pale green hue make growing this plant indoors more than worth it. It requires frequent watering to stay moist and the old, brown fronds will need to be trimmed in the spring to make room for more growth.

6. Bromeliads

Bromeliads are often considered the least finicky tropical plant. They still produce a gorgeous flower and can be found in many colors, but aren’t nearly as high-maintenance as other flowering plants. Just be sure not to overwater.

7. Anthurium

Anthurium is a fairly well-known cultivar with many different varieties and colors available. Though it requires a green thumb, it is a great way to take your topical houseplant game to the next level.

8. Madagascan Palm

This drought-tolerant plant will produce bright yellow flowers and a striking, almost tree-like stem with thick waxy leaves. Be sure to keep it in well-draining soil as it doesn’t do well in wet environments.

9. Schefflera

The leaves of the Schefflera plant (or umbrella plant) are broad, drooping and full. This is a great choice to fill in a bare area as it creates a lovely canopy effect in the home.

10. Bird Of Paradise

If you are willing to put in the effort, you will be well rewarded by this incredible plant that exemplifies the tropics at their most showy. It may take a few years of diligent care and regular fertilization for the bird of paradise to bloom, but once it does, it lives up to its name with a spectacular display of blue and orange plumage.

11. Kaffir Lily

Kaffir Lily has bright orange blossoms that only come out to play when the plant is given the perfect conditions. With a little trial and error, you can enjoy the gorgeous flowers and strappy green leaves. This plant grows well in indirect sunlight in a hotter climate and direct sunlight in cooler climates so you may have to move it around in your home as the seasons change. It also needs good ventilation and medium air humidity.

12. Aechmea ‘Blue Rain’

Part of the pineapple family, this plant has similar hard, spiky foliage with an interesting twist of purple color. Keep achemas happy with regular misting to maintain humidity and frequent doses of foliar feed.

13. Croton

If you’re still new to the tropical plant game and want to grow something different but not quite as high-maintenance, croton is for you. This plant is distinguished by striking foliage in orange, amber, yellow, and green to bring color and intrigue to your home decor. Keep it in an area of indirect sunlight and water when the soil is completely dry.

14. Calathea

It can be difficult to find houseplants that do well in low-light apartments or homes, but calathea fits the bill. With many varieties available encompassing a wide range of patterns and colors, as long as it is kept warm, this plant will thrive for years come

15. African Violet

African violets produce pretty little purple flowers without much coddling and are a great choice if you want a flowering plant without having to put in a ton of work. There are a few color variations as well, so chose one that best matches your decor.

16. Sansevieria

Though “thrives on neglect” doesn’t exactly sound like an accurate way to describe a houseplant, this hard-to-kill plant certainly is. Thick, stiff leaves bring a modern, stark feel to your home and can balance out softer, more delicate greenery.

17. Cordyline

A certain way to bring the tropics into your home, cordyline epitomizes island living and the laid back lifestyle of beach dwellers. Cordyline can be found in a number of colors to match any decor style and is a great way to get a little taste of paradise.

18. Elephant’s Ear

Depending on the variety and the growing conditions, this tropical, Southeast Asia native can produce leaves up to 3’ wide. Be sure to plant elephant’s ear in a large pot with lots of room to grow. Keep the soil moist all the time and grow the plant in a warm environment. This is a houseplant that is perfect for the bathroom.

19. Dumb Cane

Dumb cane is often shied away from because of its poisonous sap that can burn if it comes into contact with your skin. As long as you don’t handle this plant directly without gloves on, it is an excellent choice to grow indoors. Bold pattern leaves and tolerance of the forgetful gardener make it a great starter plant when you decide to branch out from your nearly impossible-to-kill succulents.

20. Monstera Deliciosa

Another quintessential “tropical” plant monstera deliciosa produces massive, dark green leaves that go with virtually any decor style and make a modern botanical statement. Keep it near a window where it can receive indirect sunlight.

21. Peace Lily

This plant is famous for its air-cleansing capabilities and its lovely, white flowers and waxy deep green leaves. It is fairly easy to grow as long as it is kept in a moist, partially shady environment. A bathroom with a window would be best since it can bask in the warm steam from the shower.

22. Brazilian Fireworks

More of a selection for the intermediate to expert houseplant enthusiast, Brazilian fireworks live up to their name with a spectacular demonstration of red blooms during the warmer season and beautiful, variegated foliage throughout the year. Finding the proper water balance for this plant can be hard so it is important to keep a close eye on the moisture levels in the soil. Keep in bright, indirect sunlight.

23. Bird’s Nest Fern

Ferns are hard to resist and these bright green, wavy fronds are even more intriguing. Keep it in bright indirect light in a warm place with lots of humidity and this Southeast Asia native will flourish.

24. Palms

When you think of a topical plant, you almost inevitably picture palm trees. Many varieties grow well in the home and can make you feel like you’re on vacation all year long.

25. Orchids

Though there are many types of orchids from varying environments, tropical orchids are the most popular. Many people struggle to keep this delicate plant alive, but once you’ve mastered the art of growing orchids (keyword: humidity!) they will reward you with intricate drooping flowers and a delicate perfume.

26. Rex Begonia

If you’re looking for an explosion of color that doesn’t involve fragile blooms that only come for a season, rex begonia is a great choice. The pale green and red leaves bring a unique look to your home and can spice up a bland surface.

27. Money Tree

Money tree, or Pachira Aquatica, is a wonderful, low maintenance houseplant with a cool twisted trunk that can grow 3-6 feet indoors. The large leaves are incredibly glossy and a beautiful dark green color that can keep your living room ultra classy.

Good luck trying to pick your favorite tropical treasures from this list and not simply buying them all! These plants are also great conversation starters as your dinner guests are sure to admire your exotic taste. Happy planting!

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Read Next: Top 20 Unique Fruits You Can Grow in Your Backyard

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As the heart of any home, the kitchen tends to be a place of congregation. It’s where we cook our meals, enjoy our food, and chat about our days. 

Making your kitchen a more environmentally friendly space has plenty of advantages over the status quo. Not only is it healthier for you and your loved ones, it’s much more economical and far less wasteful.

If you are planning a large renovation or are just looking for some quick and easy tips, here are our top 10 ways to go green in the kitchen:

1. Eat a Climate-Friendly Diet

Whether you live to eat or eat to live, our daily sustenance has a massive impact on ecological systems around the globe. Lessen the mark you leave on the planet by practicing these climate-friendly food tenets:

Eat Locally – The less distance your food needs to travel to your plate, the better. Shop your local farmer’s markets to reduce transport emissions while also supporting organic food producers in your area.

Eat Fresh – Frozen, canned, refined, and processed foods might be convenient but they are also lacking in nutrition, contain synthetic additives, and are often sold in excessive packaging. You can avoid these pitfalls by eating real food. Here are 65 staple foods you can stop buying and start making.  

Grow Your Own – There are so many benefits of tending a garden, not least of which is producing fresh, organic food.  

Eat Less Meat – Modern agricultural practices are a major contributor to climate change. Eating more fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds is a whole lot healthier for you and kinder to the planet. Here are some tips to ensure you receive good nutrition when going vegetarian.

Don’t Waste Food – Americans tossed away 20 pounds of food per person per month in 2012, and much of it was still perfectly edible. With just a little planning, we can drastically reduce our food waste.

2. Preserve Food With Beeswax Wraps

Ditch the single use plastic cling wrap (which can’t even be recycled!) and use all natural beeswax wrap instead to preserve your leftovers.

Made from organic cotton cloths that have been coated in beeswax, these wraps can be washed and reused again and again. When they have reached the end of their usefulness, they are 100% biodegradable and can be tossed in the compost or wrapped around kindling to be used as a fire starter.

Pick up a 3 pack of Bee’s Wrap here. Or check out our tutorial for step by step instructions on how to make your own beeswax food wraps.

3. Invest in Glass Storage Containers

You won’t need to worry about BPA and other chemicals leaching into your food when you invest in a good quality set of glass food storage containers. Made from durable and shock resistant borosilicate glass, take care of them and they will easily last a lifetime.

Check out this 12-piece set, safe for use in the dishwasher, oven, microwave, and freezer.

4. Use Cast Iron Cookware

Modern frying pans, made from aluminum or stainless steel, are typically coated in non-stick chemicals like Teflon. Made up of long chain perfluorinated chemicals, Teflon is a toxic substance that seeps into the food you cook in it. Worse still, when heated at common cooking temperatures, Teflon releases a slew of chemicals into the air. When heated above 1200°F, it releases carbon tetrafluoride, an ozone depleting greenhouse gas.

Superior in every way, cast iron cookware is versatile, non-sticking, and incredibly durable. Since it is seasoned with oil, it won’t leach out any chemicals into the air or into your food. You can use it on the stove top, in the oven, and on the barbecue without worrying about it breaking or melting. And the more you use your cast iron pans, the better food tastes.

Replace your existing cookware with this 5 piece cast iron set that includes two skillets, a griddle, and Dutch oven.

5. Stop Using Paper Towels

Although single use plastics get a lot of (much deserved) flak, let’s not forget how incredibly dirty the paper manufacturing industry is and its environmental impact on air, water, and waste pollution.

Swap out conventional single use paper towels for reusable, earth friendly alternatives. We especially love Bamboo Towels – each sheet can be washed and reused at least 120 times. And because they are made from fast growing bamboo trees which grow 3 feet per day, they are a much more sustainable choice than other tree materials.

6. Set Up a Composting System

When food scraps and other organic waste end up at the landfill, they are buried in a “dry tomb”. This airless and arid environment alters the natural decomposition process; in lieu of oxygen and moisture, anaerobic microorganisms break down organic matter and release greenhouse gases that leach out into the atmosphere. Landfill gas is composed of about 50% carbon dioxide and 50% methane. Methane gas holds 28 to 36 times more heat than carbon dioxide.

A powerful way to mitigate your individual contribution to climate change is to dispose of food and yard waste with a composting system. Composting breaks down organics with the help of millions of aerobic organisms that require oxygen and moisture to do their work. While composting does generate carbon dioxide emissions, it is far less harmful than dry tombing. And at the end of the process, you will be rewarded with hummus, a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

There is a composting system for practically everyone, even if you have very limited space. Compost heaps are certainly a traditional, tried and true method that can be set out in the open, placed in covered bins, or enclosed in a rotating tumbler. Trench composting is invisible and odorless, simply bury food scraps directly in the garden. Vermicomposting is great for a year round, indoor set up that produces super nutrient rich worm castings. Another indoor method, bokashi composting differs from conventional decomposing of organics and breaks things down through the process of fermentation.

7. Put Food Scraps to Good Use

Another way to deal with organic waste is to squeeze every last bit of usefulness out of it. Here are a few typically tossed items that are actually quite helpful to have on hand:

Spent Coffee Grounds

After each brew, scoop out the coffee grounds and stow them in the fridge. They can be used as a free fertilizer that boosts nitrogen in plants as well as lower the pH for acid loving cultivars. Coffee grounds can also be used to repel pests, exfoliate your skin, absorb odors, and more.

Used Tea Bags

Spent tea bags have plenty of additional life left in them after the tea’s been made. Cut open the bag and drop the leaves into the soil of your indoor and outdoor plants for a free boost of nutrients. Or keep them in the bag to shine wooden surfaces, sooth irritated skin, condition your hair, or as a natural dye.

Banana Peels

Enriched with potassium, banana peels are an excellent fertilizer for plants and seedlings. Use the moistened side of the peel to shine shoes and dust houseplants. You can also make vinegar, tenderize meat, or dry them out to feed your chickens, rabbits, and pigs. Check out more banana peel uses here. 

Eggshells

An abundant and free source of calcium, save your eggshells for the garden to fertilize your plants, deter pests, and make some adorable seed starter pots. You can also grind up and eat eggshells to strengthen bones, support your joints, and remineralize your teeth.

Additional Ways to Use Up Food Scraps

You can repurpose food scraps in endless ways – from spoiled wine and fruit pits to bones and bread ends. Check out our roundup here.

8. Add Air Purifying Plants

Between building materials, furnishings, carpets, combustion products, and household chemicals, the home can be a major source of indoor air pollution, with some estimates stating it can be anywhere from two to ten times greater than pollutants we breathe outdoors. If you burn scented paraffin candles or use plug in air fresheners regularly, you’re only making your indoor air quality worse.

You can literally green up your kitchen (and the rest of the home) by adding houseplants that will clean the air.

According to a study conducted by NASA in 1989, English ivy (Hedera helix), peace lily (Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”), bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii), mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria laurentii), marginata (Dracaena marginata), and Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis “Janet Craig”) were the most effective for removing all three pollutants tested,  formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. Another study from 1993 also identified several cultivars – including emerald gem (Homalomena spp.) and parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) – that absorb ammonia and xylene as well.

Interestingly, both studies noted that soil surface area is just as important for the removal of toxins as is the plant’s foliage. So when you pot up plants to place strategically around the home, use wide pots that allow the plant’s roots to extend outward and near the soil’s surface to maximize their ability to purify the air.

Related Reading: 17 Best Houseplants For Your Kitchen

9. Use Natural Cleaning Products

If you’ve got white vinegar, baking soda, and some fresh lemons, you already have practically everything you need to scour and disinfect any area of the home. These cheap and all natural cleansers can easily tackle a kitchen’s worst messes – check out our 40 green cleaning tips here.

You may also purchase natural cleansers for ease and convenience. We like Truce All Purpose Cleaner for wiping clean multiple surfaces around the home. For scouring, Bon Ami Cleaning Powder is a gentle abrasive that won’t scratch your sink, stove, and countertops.

10. Be More Energy Efficient in the Kitchen

It’s no surprise that the kitchen appliances take up a large share of home energy use. Between the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, as well as other smaller appliances, the kitchen can be a real energy hog.

When your kitchen appliances are ready to be replaced, upgrading to energy efficient models has both immediate and long term benefits. Appliances with the Energy Star label use about half the amount of electricity as standard models, saving you money on day to day operating costs. And while it used to be that energy efficient appliances were more expensive than their non-certified counterparts, higher demand for Energy Star products over the years has made their upfront purchasing costs much more competitive. See also the many rebates, tax credits, and other incentive programs to go green.

But purchasing energy efficient appliances is only part of the battle. How we use them is just as important for minimizing energy consumption:

• Refrigerators with top mounted freezers use 10% to 25% less energy than bottom mount and side-by-side fridges.
• Microwaves use half as much energy as a stove.
• Every time you open the door, the oven loses around 25% of its heat.
• Because pressure cookers cook food so fast, they use 50% to 75% less energy than the oven or stove top.
• When cooking on the stove top, select the burner size that best fits the size of the pot you’re using; heat is wasted when the burner is larger than the pot.
• Use smaller appliances, like a crock pot, toaster oven, or convection oven to prepare small or one pot meals.

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If you’re considering ways to become more self-sufficient, you’ve likely looked at the reasons to raise bees.

Harvesting your own backyard honey sounds like a homesteading dream come true, but is it worth it to start this hobby for yourself? Should you sink some money into a set of hives?

This article will walk you through many of the rewards of raising bees and give you suggestions for how to get started.

Why Raise Bees?

There’s never been a better time to raise backyard bees. Not only are they entertaining and educational to watch, but a hive of honeybees offers impressive pollination benefits for the home garden, especially if you have fruit trees.

Saying that, there are some pros and cons to weigh out carefully before deciding whether you should raise bees. Below are some of those factors.

The Pros:

Help Save Bees: Bees perform close to 80% of pollinating globally, but their populations have been on a sharp decline for more than a decade.

It’s not completely clear what’s causing the die-off, but you can work to rebalance your local community of pollinators by tending to a hive.

(Learn more about how you can help save bees here)

Harvest Homegrown Honey: There’s no better honey than what you harvest straight from the backyard, and so long as you manage things properly you can ensure that there’s enough for both you and your bees to make it through the winter.

It takes twelve bees to produce a teaspoon of honey over their lifespans, but having a hive of hundreds means this honey adds up fast.

Fresh Wax Supply: A byproduct of honey production is beeswax, as worker bees form it into honeycombs to create the structure of their home.

There are endless uses for beeswax, including making candles, body balms, and other projects. Maintaining your own hives gives you a ready supply.

Boost Your Backyard Food Potential: For those with home gardens and orchards, honeybees and other pollinators are essential for fruit production.

Having a hive or two near your fruiting plants ensures that bees will visit them during their nectar search and pass on pollination benefits in the process.  

Little Work From You: Once you set up a beehive, the local inhabitants quickly earn their reputations for being as “busy as bees.”

You won’t need to do much to maintain your hive, as it typically takes an hour or less a week to ensure everything is operating as it should.

However, if you live in a colder climate, it requires more effort to help your bees survive the winter.

The Cons

There are some downsides to raising honeybees that are worth knowing before you dive into this hobby. Below are several factors to keep in mind.

Honeybees aren’t Native: It’s believed that honeybees originated in Africa, but they have been spread across their globe through the help of humans for their honey production potential.

This means that your hive of honeybees might out-compete the native bees and other pollinators in your area, potentially causing their populations to fall.

You Might Get Stung: Honeybees aren’t the most docile of livestock, and almost every beekeeper needs to be prepared for the occasional sting. If you are sensitive or allergic to stings, this probably isn’t the smartest hobby for your situation.

Beekeeping isn’t Cheap: While many people find that the joy of beekeeping pays for itself, the rest of us discover that maintaining hives is an expensive proposition.

You’ll pay hundreds of dollars for your first hives, and clothing and other gear will likely cost several hundred more.

If you’re looking to cut costs, it’s usually not worth compromising on lower quality equipment. Instead, look for people getting out of the hobby who might be willing to cut you a deal on their used equipment.

Die-Offs Happen (A Lot): Even if you do everything right, there’s still a chance your bees might not make it. That’s because a young hive has a lot to do their first year, including producing wax, finding enough honey for the winter, and raising the next generation.

It’s a common complaint that whole hives dive over the winter, so you need to be prepared to start over.

Your Bees Might Get Sick: Today’s bees face a lot of threats, and a number of diseases, pesticides, and parasites can do them in.

You’ll need to stay aware of the symptoms and prevention practices so that you can ensure that your hive stays healthy.

Top Beekeeping Tools For Getting Started

If you’re still interested in raising your own bees after seeing this pros and cons list, then it’s time to start considering the equipment you’ll need. The first big decision you need to make is about hive variety.

There are three main types of hives to consider: the Langstroth hive, the top bar hive, and the Warre hive.

Langstroth hives are the most common type used today, and they are considered beginner friendly. They consist of removable frames that are stacked on each other for easy access.

Considered to be one of the oldest hive designs in the world, top bar hives feature wooden bars laid out on the top of the bar and a protected interior for the bees to build their comb in.

These hives are easier on beekeepers backs because they don’t require you to stack heavy boxes on top of each other.

However, you need to remove the comb to extract the honey which means that the bees will need to rebuild it each year. 

The Warre hive is a vertical top bar hive, as it consists of identical stacked boxes placed on top of each other.

Most beekeepers who use this style tend to put empty boxes on the bottom of the hive to better mimic how bees create habitat space in the wild.

Beyond the hive, you will also need a variety of beekeeping equipment, including protective clothing, frame grips for removing frames for harvest, a hive smoker (to sedate the bees and prevent stings), and a honey refractometer to test its quality.

Beginners might want to invest in a starter kit to get the basics all at once.

Where To Get Honey Bees

Once you have your hives established, it’s time to think about securing your bees. Buying bees tends to be the most popular method for beginners, and the two common ways to receive them are as a package of bees or a nucleus hive.

As the name implies, a package of bees contains a queen and worker bees that you can incorporate into your hive.

It’s usually best to buy package bees locally, though they should be fine in the container for a few days because they typically come with a sugar syrup feeder.

With this method, the queen bee usually arrives in her own special cage that keeps her safe from the workers.

Once all the bees are in the hive, the worker bees will slowly eat through the food plug in her care to release her.

A nucleus hive, in contrast, is a half-size colony with a queen and baby bees (called a broad).

This gives you a jump start on starting a hive, but it’s slightly more precarious because you have a higher risk of spreading pests or disease into your new colony.

For those who are daring, it’s also possible to capture a swarm in the wild to re-home in your hive.

Bees tend to divide up their colonies when they grow too big, so swarming is a natural instinct for half the bees to leave with a new queen and reestablish themselves.

Most bees tend to swarm in the spring, so it might be worth looking for tree limbs covered in bees that you can then cut down and deposit into a container.

Just make sure you wear protective clothing and use a smoker to keep them calm. This should only be done if you know what you are doing or have an expert there to assist you.

How To Harvest Honey From A Backyard Hive

Once you’ve established your hive, it’s time to start making a honey harvesting plan.

Keep in mind that keeping bees is a commitment, as you’ll need to wait until at least the second year for the bees to produce enough honey to spare.

Bees only produce honey when they have access to abundant flowers for long periods, so you’ll tend to get more honey if you live in a warm climate and ensure your backyard contains a variety of flowers that bloom throughout your entire growing season.

So long as you give your hive the time and resources to create stellar honey, the supply will be well worth the wait.

The average colony in a flower-rich region produces enough honey for a beekeeper to harvest more than four gallons, but this amount can vary significantly by year and location.

Harvesting honey is a delicate process because you don’t want to disturb your bees or harvest honey to the point that they can’t make it through the winter.

For that reason, it’s best to harvest honey with an experienced beekeeper for your first few attempts so that you can learn the nuances.

The specific steps you will need to follow will depend on the hive you have, but below is the basic technique.

1. Open the hive: Use a smoker to puff smoke into the hive entrance so that you sedate your bees and drive them into a corner of the hive. You’ll then carefully remove the inner cover to gain access to the inside. Note: Too much smoke can affect the honey’s flavor, so use it sparingly!
2. Pull Bees Off the Frame: Before you can pull out frames, you need to remove lingering bees from them with a “bee brush” to get them back into the cave.
3. Puncture the Honey Caps: Once you have a free comb, you will need to remove the beeswax seals from the comb with an uncapping knife by slicing through the top layer. Don’t throw away these cappings, as you can transform the beeswax through a variety of homesteading projects.
4. Extract the Honey: You’ll next put the honeycomb in a honey extractor (hand crank or electrical models both work). Extractors use centrifugal force to spin the hives and pull the honey from the combs so that it drips off the sides to the bottom where it is released through a spigot.
5. Filter the Honey: Once you have a large amount of raw honey, you will want to strain it through several layers of cheesecloth to remove stray wax and debris, and then let it set for a few days so that any contaminants settle at the bottom and can be poured out. From there, you can bottle it with clean, sterilized bottles.

Once bottled, you can return the used comb to the hive for the bees to replenish it. It’s possible to start enjoying your homemade honey immediately.  

3 Final Tips To Keep In Mind for Raising Bees

There’s a lot to learn about keeping honeybees that we can’t cover here, but below are three final tips to keep in mind before you commit to this challenging yet rewarding hobby.

1. Know Your Local Laws:

Not all areas are conducive to beekeeping, and some cities have restrictions and regulations you need to know in advance.

Some places ban beekeeping altogether, and in others you will need to register your hive and potentially pay a fee.

It’s also smart to check in with your local community to make sure keeping bees won’t cause problems for anyone else.

After all, you don’t want to invest in hives only to find out a local five-year-old is deathly allergic!

2. Think Like A Bee In Flight:

The term “beeline” means to travel in the most direct route, which is precisely what a bee will do when it senses food.

You’ll want to think through this fact during hive placement so that you can ensure that bees won’t be flying over problem areas to get to food sources.

If you don’t want bees traveling around a pathway that humans take, consider installing a fence near the hives so that the bees are encouraged to fly high quickly and stay above people who don’t want to be stung.

3. Make Bee Food Plentiful:

One of the best ways to ensure you have success with bees is to ensure they have a ready food supply all summer long.

Plant lots of flowers (preferably native) and focus on varieties that will bloom at different times of the year so that you can guarantee your bees a nectar supply from spring to fall.

There’s a lot to think about when deciding if you should raise bees.

Weigh out the decision carefully before you start investing in equipment, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a lot to like about this highly rewarding hobby.

This article has only touched on the basics of beekeeping. For further information, we recommend these books:

• How to Raise Backyard Honey Bees by Isaac Miller

• Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees by Richard E. Bonney

• Backyard Beekeeping by Olivia Abbey

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The world seems to be firmly divided into two camps: pro-cilantro and anti-cilantro. It is incredibly rare to find someone ambivalent about this ancient herb, either they love it or they hate it. If you are in the former group, here are a few ideas to take your cilantro game up a notch and incorporate it into even more dishes. If you’re in the latter group, well, maybe this article will change your mind. Here are just a few reasons to grow cilantro today.

How To Harvest & Prepare Cilantro

One of the best things to do to increase the lifespan of your cilantro plant is to harvest from it regularly. This is perfect since you’ll soon be incorporating it into every meal and won’t be able to get enough of it. Cut the plant one-third of the way down with sharp scissors to harvest and leave the bottom two thirds to grow new leaves. You can also just trim off a few pieces if your recipe is not cilantro-heavy. It is important to harvest from your plant at least once a week to prevent bolting. Freeze any leftover cilantro you don’t plan on using within a couple of days to preserve its flavor.

Be sure to treat cilantro gently when you are preparing it as it can bruise easily and leave all of its potent flavors on the cutting board instead of in your food. Use an extremely sharp knife and gently slice cilantro into small stips rather than roughly chopping it.

Food

The use of cilantro as a food dates back to the ancient Egyptians, from there it was carried along trade routes to the Chinese where it became a popular staple in many dishes. Eventually making its way to North America, cilantro particularly gained traction in Latin America and Mexico where it enhances and flavors much Mexican cuisine to this day. But the use of cilantro in cooking doesn’t stop at tacos, burritos, fajitas, and guacamole. It can be added to many culinary creations for its fragrant and slightly citrusy taste.

1. Salad dressing

There is perhaps no better combination than cilantro and lime. And when these two flavors are combined to make a light, tangy salad dressing, the result is out of this world. This summery salad dressing utilizes lime, cilantro, garlic, olive oil, and spicy mustard to create the perfect blend of flavors along with a bit of sugar to cut through the potent citrus flavor.

2. Stir fry

Toss in some chopped cilantro after cooking a batch of stir fry to maintain the slightly-spicy flavor and enhance your dish. Lime and cilantro once again perform a perfect duet in this Cilantro Chicken Stir Fry that makes a wonderful weeknight meal.

3. Infuse oil

Infusing oil with herbs is one of the easiest ways to take your simple olive oil drizzle to a whole new level. Plus, it uses a large number of herbs all at once, so it is a great way to use the fresh cilantro from your last harvest of the season. Follow these instructions to create your own cilantro infused oil to use as a simple drizzle over cooked veggies, to marinade meat and any other way you can think to use olive oil.

4. Guacamole

Guacamole is perhaps one of the most famous uses for cilantro and is often the only thing that people use it for. There are a ton of guacamole recipes that incorporate cilantro but honestly, its all about finding the flavor that works for you. Avocados are very forgiving so don’t be afraid to use the recipes as more of a guideline and experiment with different amounts and ingredients on your own. There is nothing quite like a fresh bowl of homemade guacamole and a bag of tortilla chips to brighten an afternoon.

5. Pico de Gallo

Another famous Mexican dish, this chunky tomato salsa incorporates onions and cilantro along with fresh chilies and tomato to make a tart, yet slightly spicy dish that is perfect with chips or tacos (or anything really)

6. Smoothies and juices

Any cleanse or detoxification isn’t complete without a few cilantro smoothies to help rid your body of toxins. Plus, it supports digestive health, is high in Vitamin K, and has potent antimicrobial properties which make it an excellent choice for those wishing to reset their bodies. These attributes along with its ability to reverse heavy metal toxicity make this an often overlooked power-herb. Toss a few handfuls into whatever smoothie or juice you are making and blend well or try this cilantro-mango green smoothie detox.

7. Salad

Cilantro forms the backbone of this vibrant, healthy salad and pairs wonderfully with the other flavors of the tomato and avocado. It is essentially a salad-esque combination of salsa and guacamole with cilantro as the main focus rather than a seasoning. This cucumber cilantro salad is a little lighter and works well as a side dish for a summer picnic or barbeque.

8. Cilantro Pesto

Though basil is the more popular choice when it comes to whipping up a batch of pesto, this cilantro pesto certainly doesn’t disappoint. Use it as a spread for sandwiches, on pita, or baked into fresh bread. It is also delicious when combined with cold pasta and olives for a summer side.

9. Garnish, season, and marinate

Once you start experimenting with the unique flavor of cilantro, you’ll want to try adding it to everything. And the thing is, you totally can! It tastes great as a seasoning for most meats, fish, vegetables, and soups and stews. Your imagination is your only limitation! It goes particularly well with most Spanish, Southwestern, Chinese and Caribbean meals. Just remember not to add it until after cooking as it can lose its potent flavor.

A simple marinade of 2 tbsp. Finely chopped, fresh cilantro, 1/4 tsp. lemon zest, ginger, and minced garlic and 1/2 cup olive oil makes an incredibly flavorful, yet simple marinade for grilled meats.

10. Drinks

Mojitos, margaritas, martinis, and more. There is no better way to up your summer cocktail game than with these delicious drinks that utilize the vibrant flavor of our favorite green superstar.

Health & Beauty

Not only is cilantro a flavorful addition to culinary creations, but it is also loaded with beneficial phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that make this herb a true superfood.

11. Improves skin

Believe it or not, cilantro can be a wonderful addition to many skin care products and can have a soothing, cooling effect on the skin. Plus, its astringent effects can help balance oily and acne-prone complexions and brighten your skin. These cilantro-based face masks can reduce puffiness, calm inflamed skin, and exfoliate dead skin cells.

12. Prevents wrinkles

Combine cilantro, egg white, and oats to create this rejuvenating face mask. Let sit for a 10-15 minutes before rinsing off. This paste can help increase the elasticity of your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by encouraging collagen production.

13. Eases anxiety

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly 18% of U.S. adults struggle with anxiety with many taking prescription medications to help regulate and control their mental health. One animal-based study showed that cilantro may be as effective as anti-anxiety drugs like diazepam for reducing anxiety. Without the dangerous side effects. Always speak with your health care professional when it comes to mental health and managing your well being.

14. Improves heart health

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in America, causing one in every four deaths in the country. And most of the time, it is totally preventable. A study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology found that cilantro’s rich polyphenolic content and cardio-protective nutrients can help prevent oxidative damage associated with poor heart health.

15. Balance blood sugar levels

Cilantro could potentially be used to help balance blood sugar, making it a helpful aid in managing diabetes. High glucose levels can wreak havoc on the body, but a few handfuls of cilantro thrown in your morning smoothie or juice could help regulate your blood sugar and maintain consistent energy levels throughout the whole day.

16. Prevent food poisoning

No matter how careful you are, you’ve probably experienced food poisoning at some point in your life. It’s safe to say this is one of the more miserable food-related experiences with nausea, chills, muscle aches, and a blistering headache all coming out to play. But, there may be a way to prevent you from ever having to deal with food poisoning in the first place. Cilantro has been shown to be effective at protecting against listeria which is a bacteria that is most commonly responsible for that dreaded post-meal discomfort.

17. Protects your brain

Our brains are our most precious resources so it is absolutely crucial that we look after them. By eating foods high in antioxidants such as cilantro, you can protect your brain from oxidative stress and reduce chronic inflammation that leads to diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

Are you now convinced that cilantro deserves a place in your garden? Have fun experimenting with this herb in the kitchen and add it to your daily diet to receive the incredible health benefits.

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Read Next: 10 Perennial Herbs You Can Plant Once & Enjoy For Years

The post 17 Brilliant Uses For Cilantro That Goes Way Beyond Cooking appeared first on Natural Living Ideas.

Did you know that about half of annual plastic production is destined for a single-use product? It’s estimated that four trillion plastic bags are used worldwide a year! Yet, only 1% of plastic bags are returned for recycling. Even worse, most areas lack the capabilities to recycle single-use plastic bags even if they wanted to. Grocery stores are starting to encourage the use of reusable bags to pack your groceries, but still offer the single-use plastic bags in the produce section.

Skip the single-use plastic at the grocery store and make your own reusable produce bags instead. Here’s how.

Supplies

• Cotton Fabric
• Ribbon or String
• Safety Pin
• Sewing Machine and Thread
• Sewing Ruler
• Iron

A note on fabric

Use cotton or any breathable, natural fiber. You can use recycled fabric too. Use old t-shirts, pants, sheets, pillowcases, or anything you have that’s all cotton.

Cut

These bags are easy to customize. You need to start with two equal size rectangle or square pieces of fabric. Or, to save on sewing time, one long rectangle piece. Fold the fabric in half or place the two pieces of fabric right sides (the printed sides) together.

Sew

Along the fold, sew up the left and right side of the bag with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Stop 2-inches from the top on each side.

Fold and iron a 1/4-inch hem around the sides and tops of the bag (both sides).

Fold down the top seam another 3/4-inch and iron–this will be the drawstring channel. Sew along the bottom edge of the drawstring channel with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Repeat on the other side.

Thread the Ribbon

Attach a large safety pin to the end of one of your ribbons.

Thread the ribbon through the channel on both sides of the bag. Tie knots at the ends of the ribbon.

Your bags are ready to go! Make extra bags and store them with your reusable grocery bags so you never forget to take them grocery shopping.

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Read Next: GOING ZERO WASTE: 30 Easy Swaps To Save You Money & The Planet

The post How To Make Your Own Reusable Produce Bags appeared first on Natural Living Ideas.

Coffee is good for more than just waking you up in the morning. 

Take a look at this list and find the perfect recycling tips and tricks so you can enjoy your coffee again – even after you’ve finished sipping your morning cup of Joe!

You’ll never throw away your used coffee grounds again after seeing just how many things you can do with them!

Quick Tip:

If you find you aren’t drinking enough coffee to be able to utilize the old grounds, then you can often pick up bags of used coffee at your local coffee shop for free.

How To Use Old Coffee Grounds In the Garden:

1. Pest Repellent

Sprinkle used coffee grounds around your plants to protect them against destructive garden pests like ants, snails, and slugs. Ants are repulsed by the smell of coffee while the slightly abrasive texture of the coffee grounds can be irritating for soft bellied pests like slugs and snails.

It has even been said that old grounds mixed with dried orange peel will keep away some small mammals like cats (though Felix can be a tough customer. If coffee and orange peel doesn’t work, try rosemary oil instead!)

Similarly, you can also soak your used coffee grounds in water overnight to extract more of that coffee goodness, then strain out the grounds and use the weak coffee liquid as a foliar spray.

The spray will have antimicrobial properties and will help to repel many insects, particularly caterpillars. It is thought the smell or flavor of the coffee acts as a deterrent to many critters.

2. Fertilize Your Garden

If you grow azaleas, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, camellias, roses, or other acid-loving plants, then used coffee is the fertilizer for you! 

Mix your old grounds with dead grass clippings, brown leaves, or dry straw to neutralize some of the acidity, the spread them around your plants. 

Used coffee grounds add nitrogen and potassium to the soil (the first and third numbers in the fertilizer formula: N – P – K) as well as a boost of magnesium which all plants need to stay healthy.

Just remember that this fertilizer lacks phosphorus and calcium so it isn’t ideal for encouraging blooms and fruiting.  You’ll need to add lime or wood ash to the mix if you want to create a complete fertilizer using old coffee grounds.

3. Change The Color Of Your Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are one of the most beautiul plants to grow in your garden, but they can present themselves in many colors from bright blue to bright pink. The color is dependent on the pH of the soil.

Alkaline soil produces pink flowers while acidic soil yields blue hydrangeas. Adding coffee grounds to your soil acidifies your soil and can help to turn your flowers from pink to blue.

4. Compost It for Later

If you don’t have a use for coffee ground fertilizer right away, go ahead and throw it on the compost heap. 

Coffee grounds make excellent “green” matter as they are rich in nitrogen. Also, beneficial worms may be attracted to your compost with the addition of old coffee. Just be sure to limit the amount of grounds that you add to your pile so that you don’t throw off the ratio of “green” to “brown” matter. 

Further Reading: Composting 101: How To Create Compost That Works Like Rocket Fuel For Your Garden

5. Caffeine for… Carrots?

If you love carrots and you love coffee, then you’re in business! Your carrots will love you back if you share your old grounds with them at planting time. 

Before you sow carrot seeds, mix them with some old dried coffee grounds to give them an energy boost right from the get-go. You’ll get bigger and better produce with the added bonus of deterring pests that want to eat your carrots before you do.

6. Grow Your Own Mushrooms

Five Gallon Ideas presents a brilliant way to grow your own Oyster mushrooms with a five gallon bucket full of coffee grounds.

You’ll need a lot of coffee grounds for this project so you’ll probably want to pick some up from your local coffee shop.

Here are some more brilliant ways to recycle old coffee grounds in your garden.

How To Use Old Coffee Grounds Around the House:

7. Absorb Food Odors

Used coffee grounds can be used much like baking soda for absorbing food odors in the refrigerator and freezer. 

Just load up a small open container with your old grounds, place it in the back of the fridge, then forget about it for a couple of weeks while you collect more grounds. 

As an added bonus, after you remove smelly old grounds from the refrigerator or freezer, you can then toss them on the compost pile or use them for fertilizer as described above.

8. Natural Abrasive

Sprinkle old coffee grounds onto an old cleaning cloth and use them to scrub away stuck-on food from counters or dishes. 

While used grounds are abrasive, they aren’t so harsh that they will damage the surfaces in your kitchen. Just be sure not to accidentally scrub grounds into cracks where they might leave behind stains!

9. Beautiful Golden Dye

If you’ve ever spilled coffee on a white shirt, you know the “Beautiful Golden” color to which I am referring. 

Turn that pesky coffee stain around and use it to your advantage. Re-wet old coffee grounds and use it to dye everything from feathers and cloth to Easter eggs. 

Used coffee grounds soaked in a bit of water can also be used to turn boring white paper into ‘antique’ parchment. Here’s the How-To. This faux parchment can then be used for all kinds of arts and crafts including some very interesting and beautiful gifts!

10. Homemade Coffee Candles

If you love the smell of coffee, why not turn your old grounds into all-natural homemade candles? 

For this fun up-cycling project you will need a small paper coffee cup, a paper towel, about a cup of wax candle ends, a wick, scissors, a small sauce pan for melting the wax, a small glass mixing bowl, and of course some used coffee grounds.  (Check out this link for the How-To.)

11. Clean Out the Fireplace

No, used coffee grounds won’t do all of the work for you. However, they will make the process of cleaning out your fireplace much easier and less messy. 

Gently scatter old used coffee grounds over the ashes to weight them down and prevent the huge clouds of smoke that often arise when performing this arduous task. 

Not only will shovelling the ashes be easier than ever before, you also won’t have to wipe down every horizontal surface in the room when you’re done.

How To Use Old Coffee Grounds For Health & Beauty:

12. Exfoliate Skin

Coffee grounds make an excellent exfoliating body scrub. Just add used grounds to a bit of warm water or your favorite all natural oil – such as coconut or sweet almond. Then scrub your skin from head to foot to remove all of those dead skin cells.

13. Rejuvenating Facial

Just as it works as a body scrub, coffee makes an excellent facial. 

Mix two tablespoons of used coffee grounds with an equal amount of organic cocoa powder. Add three tablespoons of whole milk or heavy cream and top it off with a heaping tablespoon of honey for the perfect all-natural alpha-hydroxy and antioxidant facial.

14. Puffy Eye Reducer

Caffeine, when applied to the skin, is anti-inflammatory which helps to reduce swelling. This makes coffee an effective puffy eye reducer.

Simply mix some used coffee grounds with a teaspoon of coconut oil and a few drops of water and carefully rub below your eye – making sure not to get any in your eyes. Allow to sit for five minutes and then rub away with a soft damp cloth.

Alternatively, try this Homemade Coffee Under Eye Cream recipe.

15. Cellulite Treatment

Poor diet, frequent or extended periods of sitting, smoking, or genetic predisposition – cellulite has many causes and for every cause there are at least a dozen “cures” which may or may not actually work.  Well, here’s one that does: used coffee grounds.

There are hundreds of recipes online for cellulite-reducing coffee scrubs. However, a simple mix of used coffee grounds and warm water will also do the trick. Use this scrub for ten minutes twice per week on any areas affected by cellulite. 

A 2008 study in Sao Paulo found that topical application of caffeine reduced cellulite fat cells by 17%.

16. Caffeinated Soap

Caffeine, when absorbed through the skin, acts as an anti-inflammatory to reduce puffy eyes, it stimulates blood flow which can aid in the production of collagen and it can draw water out of fatty cells, reducing the appearance of cellulite.

The multitude of caffeinated soaps available around the internet are testament to how well it works. 

For an all-natural alternative, why not turn your old coffee grounds into homemade soap so you can get one more good caffeine kick in the morning before work? Here’s the recipe.

17. Coffee for Your Hair

If you use a lot of hair styling products, or if you’ve recently switched to a natural shampoo and conditioner, your hair is probably weighted down by residue. Remove that build-up using old coffee grounds to give your hair a lift and restore its natural healthy shine. 

Before you shampoo, simply grab a handful of used grounds and massage them into your hair. The coarse texture is enough to break apart the product residue, but it’s also gentle enough that it won’t damage your locks.

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Read Next: 7 Reasons To Rub Coffee Grounds On Your Skin & Hair

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