Busy Moms Helper

Family fun, food, recipes, crafts, and free printables

Grow Your Own Garlic to Use as a Natural Remedy

by Leave a Comment

Garlic is a perfect addition to many meals, but did you know that it’s packed with essential nutrients that are behind his medicinal properties? Rich in flavonoids, amino acids, polysaccharides, and sulfur, garlic is a potent natural remedy against a variety of diseases and conditions.

It was used as the base for numerous remedies in the past thanks to the presence of yet another powerful compound – allicin. Studies have confirmed that allicin can do wonders against high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems, preventing atherosclerosis and a variety of other problems.

While research on garlic’s properties against cardiovascular problems has still not moved beyond theory, garlic has proven itself a powerful weapon against colds and the flu. You can easily prepare a garlic remedy and take it every day to boost your immune system and keep respiratory infections at bay.

Thanks to the presence of antioxidants, garlic may help against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and boost your physical performance. You won’t get all of this, however, by buying garlic from the store. The good news is that you can grow your own batch of garlic that you can later use as a natural remedy.

Grow Your Own Garlic to Use as a Natural Remedy

How to Grow Garlic at Home

Garlic should be planted in a sunny spot in your garden. You’ll need to make compost of tea mixed with 5-10-10 NPK fertilizer for the soil. Take a garlic bulb and break up the cloves, then plant them into the soil 4-6 inches apart. Cover them with an inch or two of soil, with 5-6 inches of mulch.

Water your garlic when the topsoil is dry and not before. A low-decomposing compost is needed twice a month, and a high-nitrogen fertilizer is required once. Cut off any weeds or flowers to prevent the garlic’s slow growth.

You should see the first sprouts in 3 months.

Grow Your Own Blueberries and Reap Their Amazing Health Benefits

by Leave a Comment

Raise your hand if you hate blueberries…yeah, we didn’t expect many hands up. Blueberries are tasty, blueberries are healthy, and they offer a multitude of benefits for our health. Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, they should be a major part of your daily diet. However, just like with all berries and fruit in general, those bought in stores aren’t exactly ideal.

Good news – you can easily grow blueberries at home! It’s quite simple actually and you don’t need to be a botanist to do it. Before we tell you how, let’s check some of their benefits.

Health Benefits of Blueberries

Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, but low on calories, blueberries are the heavyweight champ among berries. The antioxidants can prevent free radical damage to your cells, while they also reduce the risk of heart disease and boost the function of your brain.

Full of fiber and vitamin C, they are great for your digestion and immune system. You’ll also get a nice portion of vitamin K in a cup of blueberries with reduced DNA damage as a plus. In short, these berries are amazing and should be on your menu every day. Once you learn how to grow them at home, you’ll enjoy the benefits of this tasty fruit every day.

How to Grow Your Own Blueberries

To grow your own blueberries, you’ll need to pick the right spot. First and foremost, these berries need a lot of space. They also love sunlight, so make sure you grow them in a sunny area. Planting is done during spring – you’ll have berries ready to pick in July and August.

When it comes to mulch, you can use pine bark, grass clippings or rind mulch. About 2-4 inches should be fine.

Prune the big bushes to strengthen the branches. It goes without mention that dry bits should be removed. Bloodmeal and cottonseed work best for blueberries. Stick to these recommendations and you’ll have a batch ready in no time.