Time to Garden

It seems like spring really might be on its way. Does anyone else feel like this winter was extra harsh? I think we had quite a few more snow storms than normal here in Utah. Fortunately, all the snow is gone now! With the warmer weather here I have started getting excited to plant my garden.

A few weeks ago I took some gardening classes and thought I would share some of the information on the Lavender Farm's blog. My favorite class was called Gardening by the Month. The instructor gave us a handout that listed what you should be doing in your garden each month of the year. In March it says you should prune your trees and plant hardy plants such as non-transplantable flowers, bulbs, grass, onions, peas, vegetable greens and cole crops. (He explained that cole crops are things like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.)

So far I have only gotten around to pruning my trees, so I still have a lot of work ahead of me. Good luck on getting your gardens started!

Pilgrims, Pumpkins, and a Little "Peace" of Land

Much like the Pilgrims, I too am thankful for pumpkins that are so plentiful during the fall. This year, our homegrown pumpkins are taking center stage on our front porch, where they have welcomed the fall holidays and guests to our home.
These pumpkins represent more to me than just a symbol of the first Thanksgiving--they remind me of the "peace" that comes from planting. My daughters and I planted a garden this past summer in a little corner of our backyard. With the help of our neighbors, we learned how to till the soil, plant the seeds, protect the growing leaves from the deer, and lovingly care for our plants until the fruits and vegetables were ready to be harvested, cleaned, and cooked.

Planting and harvesting has brought a lot of joy into our lives, and I must agree with those who say that gardening is therapeutic. There's just something about being connected with nature that is extremely healing.

At the Young Living Lavender Farm, we are thankful for the good land that we have to grow plants that bring joy and healing benefits to thousands around the world. The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims about plants that would provide sustenance for them, and also taught them about the healing properties of plants. Much of this earlier wisdom is now being rediscovered as more and more people are turning to natural ways to improve their health and well-being.

The plants grown at the Young Living Lavender Farms are carefully distilled to produce therapeutic-grade essential oils. Some of my favorites to use during the Thanksgiving holidays are cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg (these spices are excellent additions to your holiday recipes!)

What are your favorite oils to use during the holidays? I'd love to hear about your holiday traditions and use of essential oils, so please send me a comment!