I Love Herb(s)

I love Herb...Herbs...imagine
a breathy "H" to make that
 seem funnier. A little culinary
humor never hurts. I happen to
like gardening.  It makes me feel
 relaxed and, oh yeah, I also like
getting my hands dirty!

Spring is  a great time to decide
 to dive into herb gardening.  It's
super-easy, pretty cheap to get
 started and can really enhance
the ambiance of your porch or patio.  Let's check out the  "why" & the
 "how" of herb gardening:

Why herbs?  They're good for you, tasty, smell nice, easy, look good in your yard/patio
and more cost effective to grow your own.   Herbs have many health benefits, perhaps
some arguably, but they have been known to help:

• symptoms of menopause
• arthritis
• asthma
• headaches
• allergies
• anxiety
• depression
• fatigue

The list is rather endless, not to mention the benefits to your food.  I can't tell you what
a kitchen diva I feel like when I go out to my patio and snip off fresh herbs to add to
 whatever I'm cooking.  I actually dry my herbs and save them for later, as well as give
them to friends as gifts(and they think that's really cool).  Fresh herbs make your food
taste so good - there is a big difference in the herbs in the store and the ones grown
by your hands in your yard/porch or window sill (yes, this is absolutely possible).

On to the how, in the condensed version:

Let's start small and then you can go crazy from there.  You will need:

• 3 pots, about 10-12" in diameter.  Terra cotta, plastic (preferably from recycled source), or the more expensive ceramic
• Potting soil, preferably organic.  You are growing something you will be eating; you don't want any contaminants in it
• 3 herbs of your choice, either seedlings (organic is better) or grow from seeds (this method is best started inside, like right now)

Your herbs, whether on a window sill, in the yard, or on your porch should be placed
in the South, Southeast or East direction to get the best light.  Western exposure is
 a strong light (too much sun) and can often be too harsh, but it's not a deal breaker.
Plant, place, water.  I could go on & on about particulars, but at this point, you would
 be doing yourself a favor by getting on an herb forum/get a book to get the best result
for whatever herbs you choose.  Water every few days, harvest often (after they have
grown to a decent size plant) and enjoy!  herb gardening is a great way to re-connect
with the earth, be healthy and save money. What more could an EcoChic want?

~Cathy Tiffany, Chief GreensKeeper, EcoChics Earthwear

15 Easy Ways to Eco-Entertain this Spring!

Like everyone, the 2EcoChics love to party!  One of our favorite times of year to throw a get-together is during is the spring, where we can enjoy the outdoors before the summer heat makes us wilt.  Springtime entertaining is also great way to celebrate the season, while reducing your impact on the earth. EcoChics Earthwear has put together a list of easy ways to green your party, and be a fabulous eco-entertainer:

1.   Save a tree and use an evite for inviting your guests rather than mailing a paper card.  Or make a phone-call to invite them and find out if they can come at the same time.

2.   Suggest that your friends carpool to your party to reduce greenhouse gases from car emission.  Make it easy by giving out the names and phones numbers of guests who live near each other.

3.   Prepare your yard and flower beds by using an acetic vinegar preparation to get rid of weeds, instead of a toxic chemical.  EcoChics Earthwear likes to set up a table underneath a shaded tree or near a pretty garden.

4.   Plant rosemary in your yard or buy potted rosemary to act as a natural mosquito repellent.  Pots can be placed around the table for an added natural decoration.

5.   Look in thrift shops or yard sales for fun, unique plates.  If they don’t match, it just makes the table more interesting.

6.   Use reusable cloth bags when food shopping for the party.  Plastic bags can take as long as 1,000 years to break down!

7.   Buy snack foods like grains, nuts, and candies from bulk bins at the organic market.  These items cut-back on plastic packaging and the chemicals used to manufacture it.  Serve locally-grown, organic food for your main course. 

8.   Wear sustainable clothes to the party, like EcoChics Earthwear organic cotton T’s and tunics. Look eco-fabulous, while helping the planet.

9.   Don’t use single-use tins for food.  Instead choose inexpensive platters and dishes from consignment shops. Encourage your guests to do the same if they are bringing a favorite dish.

10. Put brightly-colored, labeled laundry baskets out near the dining area to encourage composting and recycling among your guests.

11. Decorate and light your table with soy or beeswax candles, rather than stringing electric lights to save energy.

12.  Don’t use paper napkins and instead, cut up old flannel shirts and make cloth ones.

13. Use compostable, disposable cups for your guests, with their name written on it, to cut back on unnecessary replacements.

14. Pack up leftovers for you and your guests to reduce wasted food.

15. Give parting guests plant seedlings in mini-clay pots to take home and plant.