Sustainable Gardening

Happy chadon beni planting

A herb with a strong pungent scent and flavor that is used extensively in Caribbean cooking, more so “Trini” cooking, especially when making an assortment of chows, chutney and condiments to flavor foods.

Chadon beni/shadow beni is a member of the Apiaceae family. The name chadon beni is said to originate from French patois meaning “blessed herb”. It is rich in calcium, carotene, iron, riboflavin, vitamin A, B1 and 2 and C. It is considered a cure-all.

The scientific name for the herb is ‘Eryngium foetidum’ but in Trinidad and Tobago the popular “market” names for chadon beni are culantro or bhandhania. Research indicates that the leaves and roots are used in teas as an aphrodisiac/sexual enhancer. It is also used to stimulate the appetite, improve digestion, combat colic, soothe stomach pains, eliminate gases, as an anti-inflammatory, for chills, fainting, colds and convulsions in children.   A tea of the leaves and roots may treat pneumonia, flu, fever, vomiting, diabetes, constipation and malaria fever. The root may be chewed to combat the poison from scorpion stings. Further research specifies that it can calm a person’s spirit, making it famous for prevention of epileptic fits (seizures). Thus, the name spirit weed or fit weed. 

How to plant Chadon beni

Seasoning herbs are noted for their tolerance to shade and can be grown as companion crops with other crops especially those susceptible to insect attack. Cahdon beni can be grown using both seed, young plant and base plant. When planting using seeds space out every 15cm x 15 cm. If using the base of the plant, remove the flower stalk and 2/3 of each leaf from the plant before planting. Every week, lightly till the soil around the plant. This allows more water to reach the roots. When harvesting the leaves, it can be trimmed from the main stem about 2/3 off each leaf.

Sustainable Gardening

 About Thyme!

Food for thought, grow and eat local, a must-have seasoning ingredient in many Trini dishes and a must have in my garden. Thymus vulgaris commonly known as thyme with its origins from the Mediterranean region is an evergreen herb with culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses. Here in T&T, this herb is known as either French thyme, Spanish thyme or small-leaf thyme. It is best cultivated in a hot, sunny location with well-drained soil and tolerates drought well. It can be propagated by seed, cuttings, or dividing rooted sections of the plant. Here in the tropics thyme grows year-round. 

The taste of this leaf is pleasantly aromatic and delightfully refreshing. The leaves are strongly flavoured and make an excellent addition to stuffing’s for meats and preparation of fresh chutneys.

French and Spanish Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Thymol, an antiseptic, is an active ingredient found in thyme used in various commercially produced mouthwashes and alcohol-free hand sanitizers. Researchers have found that by infusing the herb in water it can be used for whooping cough, asthma and bronchitis. In traditional medicine it’s regarded as a good remedy to soothe stomach cramps, headaches and gas.

Sustainable Gardening

Kitchen scraps vegetable garden

You only need to buy once then grow forever!

We go to the market to purchase vegetables, use what we need and throw the rest away, then do the same thing again and again. But you can save money and grow your own vegetables from the scraps that  are initially left over. Here are some simple hacks to produce your forever garden:

Carrots

1.  Cut off the carrot top which you normally throw away as scrap.
2.  Insert 3-4 toothpicks on the sides of the carrot, keeping it in line all the way around.
3. Place carrot top in a glass of water or bowl and leave in a shaded area on the counter top for 3 to 5 days until roots and tops sprout.
4. Once the roots has grown, transplant in the ground or deep plant pot.
5. The carrot will take about one (1) month to be fully grown. 

Tomatoes

Instead of throwing out the over ripe tomatoes, it can be used to yield more tomatoes for you.

1. Cut the tomato into equal slices.
2. Fill the plant pot with soil and place the cut slices on the surface, cover the slices with a thin layer of soil so that the slices cannot be seen.
3. Use a spray bottle to keep the soil moist until there are baby shoots.
4. Once all the shoots can be see, you can transplant each seedling in a separate plant pot. 

Raised bed garden

Chives

After using chive, take the cuttings of the chives and plant them directly in your raised bed, a deep pot filled with soil or place the ends in a small amount water in a bottle or glass. Leave to form new growth and save some money in your pockets. 

Sustainable Gardening

Growing Herbs

Solomon , the wisest man that ever lived, said :"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it"(Proverbs 15:17).  Aloes (Aloe socotrina) is one of the most healing agencies we have among herbs. It is used to clean the colon and the part used is the leaves. This herb should be a must have in all back yard gardens because it is one of the finest body cleanser and brings most gratifying results. It also cleans the morbid matter from the stomach, liver, kidney, spleen and bladder.

Aloe (Aloe Socotrina)