More Fennel Notes

1. Fennel should be planted away from Dill or Coriander for the strongest flavor and to prevent cross pollenation.
2. Mix with Sodium Bicarbonate and syrup to make grip water for gassy/colicy babies over 4 months of age.
3. Seeds should be sown in early April.
4. Magickally, fennel is used for protection, healing, purification and money.  Its corresponding planet and element are Mercury and Fire.
   

Fennel Chai Tea

Combine in a glass jar and cover tightly.
       1 Cup Cinnamon Chips
       2/3 Cup Fennel Seed
       2 Tablespoons Whole Cardamom Seeds (without husks)
       2 Tablespoons Black Peppercorns
       1 Teaspoon Whole Cloves

Boil 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup milk.  Add 2 teaspoons of spice mix.  Remove from heat and steep for 10 minutes.  Boil a second time, add 1teaspoon or 1 teabag of black tea and 1 or 2 teaspoons honey.  Steep for 5 minutes without heat.  Strain into cup and enjoy.

Fennel

I decided to start with Fennel, since I love the anise flavor of it.  It's pretty and feathery, and I'll add a picture in of ours a little later on.

1. Seed stalk rises up to eith feet and produces umbels of yellow flowers.
2. The plants die back in winter and reappear in early spring.
3. Fennel does best in fertile, moist but well drained soil and is hardy to -10 degrees Farenheit, as long as it is not in standing water.
4. To keep plants producing tender leaves, they should be cut back to the ground when they begin to flower.
5. Harvest all seeds and cut down to ground in winter for a neat appearance.
6. Fennel should be divided every three years in early spring or fall. 
7. Young fennel is tender and tastes very much like licorace, which makes it good for a child's garden.
8. As a kitchen seasoning, it's great for pork and other fatty meats and adds interest to salads.
9. The flavor of the seeds are stronger than leaves and can be nibbled straight from the garden while they are green and were used in the past to freshen breath.
10. Gray green fennel seed heads grow hot, fast and aromatic.
11. Fennel was used in ancient Rome as a weight loss aid due to it's diuretic and fat-digestion qualities.
12. Seeds are carminative, digestive, antispamodic, duiretic and taken for liver and gall bladder problems, especially stones.
13. Fennel is often used in cough drops and syrups for it's soothing mildly expectorant effect.\
14. It is also thought to be good for the eyes and eyesight.
    

A Cover Crop

We decided not to do a winter garden and instead to use a cover crop.  We bought some Mammoth Red Clover from Territorial Seed Co. and planted it in the area all the plants used to be.  I decided to get Red Clover because I read that the blossoms can be used in tons of different ways.  Syrups and cough drops for sore throat, tincture for headaches, but most importantly, and probably the first thing I would use them for is a skin lotion or ointment for Mindy to use for her Psoriasis. 

I've decided to study a different herb each weekend, starting with the one's we've actually got out on the table.