Yucky Worms

I just bought this book for my little friend Solomon today.  It has extremely cute illustrations and I have to admit, I learned a thing or two about worms.  Since worms are so valuable in every garden, it's probably important to teach the little ones (and big ones) respect for those slithering things.  Check out the diagram of the worm.  Did you know that worms hearts (five) are all located near the head of the worm?  Sadly, I didn't.  It's a story of a grandmother and her grandson gardening together and studying worms together.  It's actually really adorable.  

Yucky Worms

by Vivian French and illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg

Candlewick Press, 2009

Grow Your Own Drugs

Grow Your Own Drugs

Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Fixes

By James Wong

Readers Digest, 2009

Grow Your Own Drugs is a recipe book for natural remedies for everyday ailments and natural cosmetics.   James Wong has a popular BBC documentary series educating people on these natural remedies.  Here's a link to the first part of the first episode. 

Okay, to be totally honest I bought this book over a year ago and have only tried making one recipe from it.  It was a recipe for the Plantain Cream which is used for insect bites and stings.  I found that the directions didn't lead me to the most effective way of mixing a cream.  The oil ended up separating from the water. I may have made an error along the way though.  

At first glance the recipes seem daunting because it feels like the herbs won't be that accessible, however, it's amazing how available these medicinals are when you really open your eyes.  Plantain is a common lawn weed.

I'm curious about trying the vitamin booster recipe.  It uses rosehips and there is a forest of shrub roses along the bike path down the road.  Perhaps you can try it first. I'll add the recipe to the Incredible Edibles and Dispensary section.