Today's Harvest

I harvested some stuff from my community garden plot today:  peppers, curled parsley, pink coreopsis, fennel, lemon verbena, and squash. I give the peppers to my friend Mike, since I can't eat them.  I use the lemon verbena and fennel for tea and I cook with the parsley, after I dry it.

I also picked a lot of marigolds from the Cottage Garden I tend (see photo). After I pluck the petals, I let them dry, and then make a tea for coloring my hair. Sometimes, I use Calendula (Pot Marigold) petals, but I didn't grow any Calendula this year. I've used dried Chamomile tea, too. You can also mix the tea with henna powder and a bit of olive oil to make a paste for coloring your hair (and nails). Henna is great for strengthening nails.

I've never used commercial hair coloring and do "natural" coloring about four times a year, usually when I cut my hair (which I did last week).  So, all in all, with making my own shampoo, my hair care expenses amount to pennies.

Here's a pic of the marigold petals before drying.

In my other community garden plot, behind my neighborhood's public library, I grow Borage, a couple of tomato plants, and a little lavender.  I dry the lavender buds and use them for potpourri.

Of course, I garden only organically and in both plots, use compost. In the end, it doesn't really matter what you grow, as long as it's something you like!