Best Cyber Monday Sales

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I've never been a big one for CyberMonday sales but this year they're off the hook. Here are the best deals in home and garden, if you're shopping for gifts (or yourself) today...

• The Growers Exchange is offering 12 FREE paperwhite bulbs with a purchase of $50 or more.
• Clarington Forge is offering $20 off any order over $150 with code NOV262012
• Perky Pet is offering 30% off their Design-A-Feeder until 3PM with code MONDAY2012
• National Wildlife Federation is offering 30% off site wide with code 98312
• Havahart is offering 25% off site wide with code HHCYBMON
• ACE Hardware is offering 15% off site wide 
• Plow & Hearth is offering 15 – 25% off their entire site, depending on what you spend
  

Happy Shopping!

Experts Share Eco-friendly Tips to Protect Homes from Pesky Fall Bugs

Fall’s cool, crisp weather is an ideal time to plant and prepare the home and landscape for next spring. While tending chores outdoors, pesky insects are heading indoors ahead of Old Man Winter, seeking food sources and warm, safe places to hibernate.
 
Home Invaders. Unwelcome invasive pests like silverfish, spiders, earwigs, flies and ants are typical party crashers once temperatures fall.

To protect a home from unwanted fall pests, industry experts share these simple eco-friendly tips to keep pesky insects at bay:.

1. Clean up brush and keep mulch and firewood piles and move them away from the house to avoid creating habitats for critters and insects

2. Seal up cracks, crevices and holes with caulk or weather stripping around potential entry points and seal around pipes and utilities. Repair loose roof tiles and screens. Inspect windows and basement foundations and repair loose and crumbling mortar.

3. Clean cupboard shelves from loose grain, starch-based and sugary food and place food in sealed containers or plastic bags.

4. Check where stink bugs hide in warm, dark spaces like baseboards, exhaust fans, ceiling tiles and drapes. Pick stink bugs off by hand with a tissue and flush them down a toilet or drop into a bucket of soapy water. If you vacuum, be warned. When threatened, stink bugs emit a foul odor so dispose the bags immediately.

New traps help battle stink bugs without the need to touch them. Zhang explains, “Once you see the bugs clinging to the side of the house or screens, this is a signal that they are ready to get indoors to hibernate and more may be coming towards the home. The RESCUE!® Stink Bug trap uses non-toxic pheromone attractants that lures stink bugs from a radius of 30 feet, intercepting them before they reach the house.”

The RESCUE!® Stink Bug Trap can also be used indoors with an LED light attachment. It works best when stink bugs start waking up from hibernation – usually January through April.

5. If ants are your problem, try herbs. Briscoe White, herb expert and owner of The Growers Exchange, says bay leaves, cinnamon and cloves repel ants outdoors and indoors. Sprinkle dry crushed herbs around points of entry, cabinets and windowsills to create a natural barrier. Plus, peppermint and spearmint are excellent deterrents against both ants and moths.

 -Katie @KatieGMG

Unusual Edible Herbs from The Growers Exchange Provide Fresh Tastes and Flavors

If common kitchen herbs have started to lose their zest, then maybe it’s time to try something a little different.

Over the past few years, The Growers Exchange has seen an increased interest in growing herbs for culinary and medicinal uses.

Briscoe White, owner and herb farmer says that "When we opened our doors at the nursery 25 years ago, people only asked for basil, parsley and rosemary, but now, people are asking for unusual varieties like lovage and lemongrass.”

Unusual edible herbs, such as feverfew and bergamot, are just a few of the herbs grown and sourced at The Growers Exchange.

Here’s a “taste” of some rare herbs for adventurous palettes that will spice up any plate:

Sorrel. Otherwise known as the ‘forgotten spinach’, sorrel is among culinary herb plants essential to French cooking. This culinary herb has large, succulent, and slightly acidic-tasting leaves. “Sauté it as you would spinach,” says White. “It’s chock-full of Vitamins C, A, and B1 and Potassium.”

Bold, peppery edible flowers (Nasturtiums, feverfew, bergamot) can all be ingested and used for culinary dishes that need a little "pick- me- up" or garnish. Edible flowers make a delicious addition to your favorite salad, tea, jelly or dessert!

Chervil. Spice up any dish with chervil for a refined taste that hints of French tarragon and parsley.
White suggests planting your unusual edibles now.  Although many culinary herbs are warm-weather plants, most don't go dormant in winter. You’ll be surprised that they offer some edible foliage in the cold months.

The Growers Exchange has been experimenting with rare and unusual herbs for decades.

"Through the years, we’ve learned a lot about herbs and love sharing our passion with people to inspire them to grow herbs for beauty and flavor, and to develop an appreciation for these rare and unusual herbs,” says White.

-Katie

How to Keep Cut Herbs Fresh

We were recently asked a very good question on one of my favorite topics: herbs.  What is the best way to keep cut herbs fresh? 

 

There are MANY suggestions out there for this, but I have found the following to be the best methods, told to us by herb experts at The Growers Exchange.  

1. Clean and wrap them. Wash herbs well: swish them around in a large bowl of cool water to remove dirt and dust from the leaves, lift them out of the water, shake off any excess water, dry them in a salad spinner or pat them dry with paper towels, roll them up in clean and dry paper towels, and store them thus wrapped in a plastic bag in the fridge. Herbs treated this way will keep very well for at least a week. 2. Store them like flowers. Put a bunch of herbs in a vase or jar of water as you would flowers. Cover loosely with a plastic bag and put in the fridge. Herbs kept this way will keep several days; the better they are covered with plastic so they don't dry out, the longer they will keep. 3. Tupperware!  Store the fresh herbs in a tupperware container.  Wash the herbs the same as above, put a centimeter of water in the bottom of a dish and cover!  Herbs will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or until they get wilty. Of course, there are other long term ways to save your fresh summer herbs for the winter

1. Freeze Them in Water: Wash them, chop them, divide them into portions and put them in an ice cube tray with a little bit of water.  You can also put them in ziplock bags and freeze them. This is a good method for using in soups.  Basil is particularly good for freezing. 

2.  Freeze them in Oil: Follow the same instructions as above, just substitute oil.  This is a better method for sauteed herbs or cooking

Here are some more tips and tricks from one of my favorite bloggers, Margaret Roach.  And thanks for the questions, Triple Threat Mommy!

-Katie

Herbs, glorious herbs!

I was preparing a salad tonight and wanted to add that fresh kick of flavor that only fresh herbs can fill.

Although we've suffered through an unseasonably hot and dry summer, the sweet basil 'Genovese' I planted is growing nicely and complemented the flavors of  thick cheese slices and homegrown tomatoes.

The sprigs were perfect.

Herbs are simply marvelous. From ancient times, herbs have been used for culinary, medicinal and aromatic purposes.

They add splashes of color and texture to any size garden and are easy to grow throughout the landscape, as borders, or potted up in containers on balconies.

Pot up lavender; it's a marvelous container plant with multiple uses. From potpourri and sachets the essential oils are used in candles to perfumes and extracts can be used medicinally. Plus, it's a wonderfully exotic culinary herb.

Or grow chamomile and use the flowers to make yourself a nice cup of soothing tea to de-stress after a long day at work.

Whatever herbs you choose, The Growers Exchange makes it easy to select herbs perfect for your lifestyle. Enjoy!
Lynne
Garden Media Group
photo credits: Basil 'Genovese'; lavender and Common chamomile: The Growers Exchange

In the Garden with: Herbs

Kenan and Briscoe White

Briscoe White, co-owner at The Growers Exchange, joined Mike Darcy for his informative and fun radio show, In the Garden.  

Mike and Briscoe talked herbs, Jamestown and the first American settlers.  And according to Mike, herbs are one of his favorite topics! (He likes Jamestown, too!) Good thing Briscoe knows his stuff!

Briscoe stumped Mike with his suggestion of citronella scented geraniums to repel mosquitoes. It really works!  Listen to the podcast here.  And get your geraniums here!

And for another herbal mosquito repellant, check out this DIY salve recipe from Unplugged Sunday:

The main ingredients (clockwise):
dried catnip, calendula, coconut oil, beeswax,
lavender and lemon oils, and rosemary.

all photos by Alexa @Gardenista

Materials:

• 1 cup Dried Calendula Flowers
• 1 cup Fresh Rosemary
• 1 cup Dried Catnip
• A mix of Olive and Coconut Oil (about 2 cups total)
• 1/4 cup Beeswax
• Lavender and Lemon Essential Oils (about 10 drops each)
• Double Boiler/ Sauce Pan and Bowl
• Cheesecloth
• Liquid Measuring Cup and Glass Jar
• 4-5 Lidded Jars

Directions:

• Set up your double boiler and bring water to a boil.
• Add the rosemary, calendula, and catnip to the top bowl 
• Cover with enough olive and coconut oil to completely submerge the herbs.
• Allow the mixture to simmer for about 30 minutes to slowly heat up the oil.
• Strain the oil into a glass jar through the cheesecloth.
• Reheat the filtered oil over low heat, adding the 1/4 cup of beeswax until it's completely melted.
• At that point, add in your drops of essential oil and stir.
• Prepare your glass jars, fill with the mixture, and allow to cool completely. 

Voila! The finished product!

GMG's Friday Find: Your Herbal Easter Basket!

Today we are talking about a slight change to the traditional plastic grass to fill your Easter bastkets...this time try gorgeous herbs that could pass for the real thing!

The Growers Exchange Herb Easter Basket!

This year you can start a new Easter tradition with your family, and grow your own herbal Easter baskets!

Environmentally conscious, educational and edible, this is a wonderful way to teach kids about gardening while giving them a foundation in sustainability.

These DIY Easter baskets are easy to make at home. The Growers Exchange tells us how:

1. Find a basket or pot. Look at a local thrift store or your garage or attic from last Easter.

2. Line the bottom of the basket with plastic that you have poked a few holes in for drainage. This will prevent the basket from leaking, while still giving the soil a place to drain water.

3. Fill the basket halfway full with soil. Make sure to choose a semi coarse potting soil that includes either organic materials or perlite, to allow the soil to drain adequately. Most herbs thrive in a soil that drains well, as excess moisture will encourage disease.

4. Choose your herbs! Herbs like catgrass, arugula, parsley and dill, all grow quickly and have lush green foliage that will mimic the traditional plastic Easter grass you may have grown up with. You can also try nasutriums or basilfor a new twist on the classic Easter grass look.

5. Decorate! Hide chocolate eggs or toys in the plants' foliage for Easter morning. And, when they're done finding the last foil-covered egg, make a salad with your arugula or let your pets enjoy the catgrass!

A very cute idea and a BONUS for you...NO cleaning up all those little pieces of plastic easter basket grass that inevitably ends up everywhere! (You're Welcome!)

Happy Easter!!!

-Karen

GMG

A Mild Winter Means Peskier Summer Insects

In case you missed #Gardenchat last night- here are some of the tips suggested by The Growers Exchange to help ward off pesky insects like ticks, mosquitoes, ants and termites... naturally!

Catnip 

Usually grown by cat lovers, catnip is proven to be ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes and biting insects than the harsh commercial chemical DEET.

According to the American Chemical Society, the active chemical in catnip, nepetalactone, that drives cats crazy also repels mosquitoes. Plant regular catnip or lemon-scented catnip in full sun and keep it well pruned. Rub the leaves on clothing and skin as a protectant from biting insects. Basil Basil also keeps mosquitoes away, as well as repelling house flies, especially when planted near doorways. Whether in containers or mixed into flower beds, basil adds texture, beauty, fragrance, and most importantly a "no fly zone" to homes. Mint Both peppermint and spearmint are excellent deterrents to ants, flies and moths, but they can also keep lice and mice at bay as well. Planting either variety of mint around the foundation of a house makes a natural boundary that many pests won't go near. Use it near windowsills or beneath sinks, to keep sneaky insects from coming in to visit.
About The Growers Exchange	Planting natural herbal defenses against pests eliminates the use of harmful toxins, improves the local ecology in gardens, and provides benefits of many plants that double as culinary, medicinal or aromatic herbs. Make sure to choose the safe, sustainable insect repellents this summer and think of the garden before reaching for the toxic spray!

-Katie
Garden Media Group

The Growers Exchange Offers Ways to Spice Up Valentine’s Day with these Romantic Herbs

Briscoe White of The Growers Exchange suggests 3 herbs that will be certain to spice up your Valentine’s Day. Find out which herbs here!

GMG's Friday Find - The Growers Exchange

As any good gardener knows, January & February are always filled with anticipation for the arrival of gorgeous new plant catalogs. This week's Friday Find is the just released 2012 catalog from The Growers Exchange.
 
Full of great growing tips for your favorite culinary, medicinal and aromatic herbs and flowers, as well as interesting facts, high quality pictures and more! They've also added more pages this year to include even more Potted Herbs and Potted Herb Garden Kits, Tools and Garden Accessories to give you the best selection possible.

And, just for requesting a catalog, you’ll get multiple discounts found inside and even some additional savings for referring your friends. This is definitely a resource worth holding onto for reference while planting.

Request a FREE catalog today and start planning your spring herb garden early...click here!

Like The Growers Exchange on Facebook here!
Follow them on Twitter here!

Keep sending me your ideas for our Friday Find!
-Karen
GMG

Gift Idea for your favorite gardener UNDER $25!

"Twas the night before Christmas,
and boy was I miffed,
I still hadn't found
that one perfect gift!"

Don't let this happen to you! The Growers Exchange has great gardening gifts under $25, tasty herbs, beautiful bulbs, unique handmade artwork and more! 

And even better, they will gift wrap your hard goods for free! 

Visit The Growers Exchange for all your gardening needs!  Fox gloves, pots and delicious herbs!