All About Herbs

30/10/2026

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
Don’t forget to start putting food and water out for birds and wildlife now autumn is upon us.
Trees, Shrubs and Lawns
Don’t forget to put out food and water for birds and other wildlife now autumn is upon us.
Large areas of bare soil start to appear in all parts of the garden. If left over winter, the soil will lose nutrients. Use organic mulches to protect it and give good structure for next year’s growing season. The best mulches are:
A thick layer of autumn leaves; wetted so they don’t blow away
Straw, grass clippings and leaves all mixed together
Cut back plants, such as sweet peas or runner beans, all chopped up
Several sheets of newspaper, covered in grass clippings to weigh it all down.
Autumn is the best time to lime your soil, organic gardeners use Dolomite limestone which is slowly broken down in the soil. Apply it where you plan to grow brassica crops next year. Never lime soil before planting potatoes.
Start a winter compost trench; this will be next season’s planting area for moisture loving crops such as runner beans or pumpkins. Dig a trench, or hole, a spade deep, fill with vegetable scraps as they become available covering with a little soil. Cover the whole thing with soil once filled.
Continue to mow the lawn but raise the level of the blades, in wet weather keep off the grass. Worm casts can be washed away with a strong jet from a hosepipe, or hold a full watering can high up and splash the water down onto the worm casts to clear them away.

25/10/2026

Set up for the Mind Body and Soul Fayre at Stoncliffe academy in Halifax.

23/10/2026

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
General Maintenance
Don’t forget to start putting food and water out for birds and wildlife now autumn is upon us.
Don’t put compost down now, many of the nutrients could be washed away over winter, use it in early spring before the growing season. If you have too much material for a compost bin; place the materials into sacks temporarily. As the bins content subside, top up with your stored material. Keep the bin covered to retain as much heat as possible.
Clean the greenhouse to remove overwintering pests, Citrox disinfectant is ideal for this. Don’t forget to clean underneath staging as well as the top surfaces. Leave spiders where possible as they are excellent predators. Wash out all empty pots and trays, good hygiene will prevent pests and problems. Before you bring any plants into the greenhouse, check for pests. Cut out any rolled or folded leaves and trim back top growth. Scrape off the top 2 cm of potting compost and replace with grit over winter, next spring as growth starts replace the grit with fresh compost.
Don’t disturb ponds now, creatures have started to hibernate. Just remove any fallen leaves as these can foul the water if left and take out any duckweed if seen.
Insulate your worm bin with bubble wrap, or move it to a warmer spot such as a porch or greenhouse. This will help keep the worms working well over winter.
Collect deciduous autumn leaves and store to create leaf mould. Make sure the leaves are damp and put them all in refuse sacks with holes in for air circulation. To attract beneficial insects and to help them overwinter in the garden, leave some leaf piles in secluded corners, put hedge trimmings from the last cut of the hedge under the hedge, create a log pile and allow some tussocky plants to stand over winter.

16/10/2026

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
Don’t forget to start putting food and water out for birds and wildlife now autumn is upon us.
Fruit and Vegetables
Save your own organically grown seeds, it is easier than you might think. Just leave a few pods on bean plants to dry in the wind and collect before winter frosts set in.
Runner beans, carrots, pumpkins, beetroot and winter squash are all ready to be harvested now, for storing or preserving, do this before any frosts.
Check that your netting is still in place, pigeons are likely to damage your Brussels and broccoli for winter food. Remove dead on yellowing leaves from the winter brassica, they can encourage fungal diseases and harbour pests.
Some onion sets can be planted now for a January/February harvest.
Plant new fruit trees and bushes now, choose ‘bare root’ plants as they tend to cost less and are much easier to transport. Ideally choose organic plants certified disease free as much as is practicable. The soil is still warm enough for plants to start developing a good root system before winter. Clean up strawberry beds, remove netting to let birds in as they will remove pests. Remove dead and yellowing leaves and any plants which show signs of disease, remove and compost the summers straw mulch and replace with a soil conditioner such as leaf mould.
Inspect apple trees for evidence of woolly aphids; look for a whitish fluffy coating on the bark, rub off on sight as they can damage the trees.
Put apple and pear windfall into the compost heap. Prune out canker on apples and pear trees and disinfect tools afterwards. However, don’t prune apricots, cherries, peaches and plums, wait until spring when the rising sap will allow faster healing. Apply grease bands to apple, pear, cherry and plum trees to stop female winter wingless moths and March moths from crawling up the tree to hibernate or lay eggs. Remember to grease the supporting stakes too as these provide alternative routes into the trees.

11/10/2026

The current last fayre of the season for me is on 25th October at Lightcliffe Academy Sports Centre. I am not doing a talk this time, however, I will have all of my stock with possibly some new arrivals. (If I get them done in time!) You can book tickets in the link below.

Mind Body Soul Fayre: Health, Wellbeing & Spiritual Fayres ❤️ Holistic Treatments 🧡 Arts & Crafts 💛 Spiritual Gifts 💛 Health & Beauty products 💚 Clairvoyant and Psychic readings 💙 Food & Drinks 💜 FREE talks & Workshops & prize draw ❤️

19/09/2026

My stall is set up now!! I am doing a talk at 4 pm today on herbs and dental health

17/09/2026

I have a stall at the Ilkley Alternative Health fair this weekend 19th and 20th September. I am also doing a talk on herbs and dental health.
One of the things available is this mouthwash for bleeding gums and gingivitis. It is a tincture based mouthwash and contains Chamomile, Yarrow, Plantain, Marigold and Triphala. All the herbs are antimicrobial and they help to heal damaged tissues and reduce inflammation.

16/09/2026

I have a stall at the Ilkley Alternative Health fair on the 19th and 20th of September. I am also doing a talk on herbs and dental health.
One of the things which will be available are these non alcoholic mouthwashes. Perfect for children and people who either cannot tolerate or do not want a tincture based mouthwash. A packet is one dose and the dose kept in the fridge will last 7 days. Any remaining after the 7th day needs to be thrown away.
There are three varieties; marigold based, yarrow based and one specifically for after having dental work done, regardless if it is a cleaning, filling or tooth removal.

15/09/2026

I have a stall at the Ilkley alternative health festival on the 19th and 20th September, I am also doing a talk on herbs and dental health.
One of the things that will be available is Everyday Mouthwash. This is a tincture based mouthwash and is for everyday use. This contains Yarrow, Bee Propolis, Plantain, Echinacea and Thyme.
The herbs are antimicrobial, help to remineralise teeth, reduce bleeding gums and bad breath.

14/09/2026

I have a stall at the Ilkley Healing Alternatives Festival this coming weekend. I am also doing a talk on herbs and dental health.
I have mouthwashes, both tincture based and not and a topical gel for abscess whilst you wait for the dentist appointment for the antibiotics.