-Lisa Michelle-

Amaranth seed collecting. ✨🌿

The seeds are tiny, black, round and shiny and each plant can produce between 50,000 and 200,000 seeds. Other cultivated Amaranth species have golden seeds and these are the seeds you’ll find packaged as cereal grains in health food stores. They grow everywhere.

I learned that when you’re collecting these seeds you can just shake it and all the seeds will fall to the bottom and you lightly blow on it to blow away the top debris.

Amaranth seed collecting. ✨🌿

The seeds are tiny, black, round and shiny and each plant can produce between 50,000 and 200,000 seeds. Other cultivated Amaranth species have golden seeds and these are the seeds you’ll find packaged as cereal grains in health food stores. They grow everywhere.

I learned that when you’re collecting these seeds you can just shake it and all the seeds will fall to the bottom and you lightly blow on it to blow away the top debris.

✨Endless basil! ✨

Just snip off 3-4 inch pieces(first pic)

Then take off lower leaves so they don’t rot during propagation. (Second pic)

Lastly, just stick them in a cute little bottle filled with water. (Last pic)

In about a week or so your cuttings should have rooted. Continue to let it grow in water until roots are around 2-3 inches long then replant in soil.

You can continue this process over and over again. Bam. Endless basil.

You can do this method with many herbs too! Try it out. :,)

I currently am propagating some basil, lemon thyme, Spanish lavender and English lavender, as far as herbs go.

My peace lily soaking up some sunshine, lookin’ so fine ✨😍

A great addition to your home jungle, I highly recommend peace lilies! Their botanical name is Spathiphyllum and this perennial is native to the tropical regions of Colombia and Venezuela. Therefore, it loves indirect sunlight and high humidity. While it is very resilient and will happily sit in most areas of your home, too much sunlight can scorch the leaves so be mindful of that. Outdoors, in an ideal habitat, it can reach up to 6 feet but typically will only reach around 3 feet indoors depending on its environment. These plants will let you know when they want to be watered by getting really droopy and sad looking, then they all perk right back up after a nice chug. (About once a week during warm months.)

Herbs are always a must have in my garden. Basil is one of my top fav herbs. Super easy to grow. It’s good for pizza, sauces, soups, salads, garnish, microgreens and more.

I’ve been intrigued about herbalism lately and have been learning that basil has many medicinal uses too!

Basil is part of the mint family so it can be used to settle the stomach.

Basil tea can help soothe sore throats and headaches.

You can boil it and breathe the steam to help with congestion.

You can even use crushed, fresh leaves to help bug bites/ stings. 😄

Herbs are a staple in the kitchen.

I love the “cut and come again” herbs such as basil, chives, parsley, cilantro, mint and many more. They are easy to maintain plants and you can grow them indoors or outside. If you want to dry them for storing them away, here’s how!

You want to harvest the herbs just as the first flower buds begin opening, this is because the oils in the leaves are most concentrated at this time so the herbs will maintain their flavor. Then just cut some sprigs or branches and tie them together at the cut ends. Hang them upside down in a warm, dry place with good ventilation and no direct sunlight. When the leaves crumble readily you can strip them off of the stems and store them away in air tight containers.

Another way is to take the leaves off right away and place them spread out on a screen or sheet. Leave them in a dry, airy place with no direct sunlight and stir them around every few days as they dry.

For herbs grown for their seeds you can harvest the seed pods or heads once they’ve turned brown. Just dry them in a paper bag until you’re able to shake the seeds loose. Store your seeds in air tight containers to use whenever you’re ready.