Notes from Louise Wallace - Seedy Sunday April

"A healthy person has many wishes, a sick person has only one." - Indian proverb

According to the WHO, 80% of people use some form of natural therapy.

Infusions are made with leaves and flowers
Decoctions are made from stems and roots
Must be simmered for at least 10 minutes and three cups a day should be drunk for therapeutic effect. A new batch should be made each day for that day's consumption.

Sage
-- Harvest before it comes into flower.
-- Used for fevers, head colds, toothache and menopause.
-- Gargle for sore throats or ulcers.
-- Use a strong infusio for nervous headaches.

Thyme
-- Antiseptic, antispasmodic, antibacterial.
-- Tonic for the immune system.
-- Good for whooping cough, intestinal worms.

Feverfew
-- Prepare before flowering.
-- For migraines eat one leaf a day.
-- Expels afterbirth and brings on menstruation.

Garlic
-- Expectorant, anticoagulant, antiparasitic.
-- Lowers blood cholesterol and pressure and excellent for type 2 diabetes.
-- Garlic tea decoction - boil for 10 mins and leave overnight.

Lemon balm
-- Use all aerial pars before flowering.
-- Antispasmodic, antiviral, calmative.
-- Reduces fever.
-- Cold sores - use essential oil and drink tea.

Borage
-- Pick flowers before they bloom. Can dry at this point too.
-- Use whenever you have an infection. Good to use after corticosteroids.
-- Supports adrenal glands when stressed.

Comfrey
-- Mash tops with calendula and leave on cuts and grazes.

Chickweed
-- Eat raw or juice. Goes well with potato dishes and pasta.
-- Source of Vit C, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, manganese, protein.
-- Use as a restorative after colds and flu.
-- For eczema use a strong infusion in the bath with a sockful of oats.

Seedy Sunday this Weekend - April 18

A super quick note to say we're on again this Sunday, 2pm Paraparaumu Memorial Hall.

Guest speaker will be Reikorangi medical herbalist Louise Wallace.

Pop your requests for the swap table below in the comment section and some lovely fairy godperson may grant your wishes.

See you Sunday.

Seedy Sunday presents the Homegrown Food Swap this Sunday

Seedy Sunday is thrilled to be working with the Kāpiti Coast District Council to bring the Homegrown Food Swap to the Sustainable Home & Garden Show.

The Homegrown Food Swap gives gardeners the chance to swap their spare fresh produce. It’s a great opportunity to swap your extra zucchinis for beans, or your lemons for someone else’s carrots. Maybe you have too many parsley seedlings – bring some down on the day.

Check in from 1.00 - 3.30pm

When people come in they can ‘check-in’ items that they wish to swap, receiving tokens in return. There will be someone sorting what is brought into divisions and deciding on the amount of tokens to be given in exchange.

Suggestions for a ‘token’ would be a head of lettuce, a potted vege seedling, a potted herb cutting, a bunch of fresh herbs, a couple of lemons etc.

From 2.00pm the Swap Table will be open for swapping.

There will be a section for spray-free produce.  Any items not swapped will be donated to the Kāpiti Food Bank.

The Fine Print:

• Tokens have no monetary value and are only valid at the swap. Tokens cannot be redeemed or exchanged once the event is over.
• Amounts will be generalised at the whim of the organisers.
• All items are as is, where is. SSK takes no responsibility for incorrectly-labelled items, sudden plant death or viability problems.
• We do this for love, we do this for community - so please be kind.
  

March wishlist

Here's your opportunity to let us know what you would really like to see on the next swap table. Just add a comment below and that may prompt someone to bring along that special something you've been looking for.

Requests for agapanthus, non-related items or bank account details will be summarily dismissed. 

If you're new to the SSK concept, take a look at 'the basics' page.

The March edition - this Sunday

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note to let you know that we are on again, this weekend.

No guest speaker this time. We're going to have a bit of a chat instead about how SS has been going, what we want to do in the coming months -- because guess what? Next month Seedy Sunday will be celebrating our first birthday. So this month we're going to forget about the experts and talk about us - you, me and our local community.

As always, the ever-popular swap table will be operating. Bring all your goodies.

The Kapiti Sustainable Home & Garden is on March 27 & 28th. I'll be having a stall there to promote Seedy Sunday. There will also be a fresh produce swap on the Sunday so keep that day free. Lynda Hallinan, editor of NZ Gardener and star of Prime's Get Growing will be speaking on the Saturday. Should be lots of fun.

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend,

Anna