Garden Talk

  With everything from raccoons to birds attacking the gardens with a vengeance, I am beginning to think that I planted just for the critters. Once the critters polished off the peaches and plums, they raided the tomato patch.  Why in the world they are eating green tomatoes is beyond my comprehension.  I want my green tomatoes.  Actually, I want them as ripe tomatoes!  It is not that I mind letting one or two hungry animals have a nibble, I just do not really want to share with every critter in the county!  It seems as if the hillside is inundated with hungry animals.

  While out and about today, I did make one fine discovery.  Obviously, critters do not season their meals.  The herb garden is going unmolested.  I picked a basketful of fennel tops and the mint desperately needs harvesting. The basil and chives are taking over the place and the oregano...the oregano is unbelievably thick!  All will be clipped, washed and dried for this winter.  

  Oregano is an herb that should be stocked in every kitchen whether you like pizza or not. (It seems that most folks associate the flavor with pizza over any other dish!)  Not only is it an ideal herb for seasoning any tomato based dish, it is quite handy as a medicinal herb as well.  I have found on many occasions that a blend of oregano and turmeric added to a salt soak can help cleanse and heal many wounds.  Call me clumsy if you please but I find myself constantly in need of doctoring some sort of cut, puncture or abrasion.  If the wound is not so severe that I need a (real) doctor's care, the oregano/turmeric soak usually helps.  Since it has antifungal and antimicrobial properties, oregano helps to kill bad bacteria and fungal infections!  It is good stuff!

  Besides all of the goodness packed inside this little plant, it also helps out in the garden.  When planted next to things like tomatoes, the herb does its part in keeping things bug-free.  Oregano can actually repel bugs! .......Now if I can only find something that will repel raccoons and birds!