Dont let hayfever spoil your summer
“let us dance in the sun wearing wildflowers in our hair”
Hello June, and welcome to Let It Bloom month when we continue our efforts to allow insects and invertibrates to flourish while we leave the mower in the shed for a month or two at least. Yes im sure some will be twitchy to cut the grass but that could undo all your hard work. Did you know that in older days, dandelions were cultivated as you can eat every part, they are related to sunflowers. I cup of dandelions gives you 500% of vitamin K and over 100% of vitamin A, so maybe next time you curse a dandelion, you may see it has value, even if its as food for the sparrows!
I understand that leaving grass to grow longer can make hayfever worse and as a fellow sufferer it is not fun but seeing the activity in my grass ( and yes i am that woman who kneels downs to watch the baby bumblebees emerging from the nest in my lawn), is worth the sneezing and running eyes. Leaving your grass longer has many benefits, not just for insects
your grass will be healthier as the roots will be longer therefore able to access moisture and nutrients
your lawn will not need to be watered or fertillised
it absorbs heat from the sun and gives a cooling effect in your garden
if you are lucky, you may have newts and baby frogs
the green lush grass is perfect for you to enjoy grounding or walking barefoot on the grass connecting with the earth below and all its magnetic benefits
why not add clover to your lawn, even just a small area will help support the bees
Anyway back to hayfever, we are very excited to be launching the third member of the balm family, Breathe Easy Balm today, made with our “help me, i’m feeling under the weather” blend of tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender and tangerine. The scent will help clear your head, unblock the sinuses and help to clear infections as the oils used have antibacterial, antiviral and anti microbial properties. The base ingredients for the balm are highly nutritious, easily absorbed into your skin. Perfect for dry irritated patches but also good for insect bites and skin blemishes. The Breathe Easy Balm comes in a 50ml aluminium tin, we have added a wooden spatula to keep the balm clean and added an information card to help you enjoy it.
dont struggle with a blocked nose and sinuses, use the Breathe Easy Balm
Our tips to relieve hayfever symptoms
drink plenty of water to keep the mucous watery
keep damp eye pads in the fridge to help soothe and calm your eyes
have a shower once home to wash away pollen spores
here, we have added a netted mesh to the windows we open, we have chosen to velcro the netting to the window but please make your own choice as there will be a residue left from the velcro on your frame, This means we can enjoy the window being open but it keeps insects and pollen out of the bedrooms
use our new balm, Breathe Easy Balm to help you sleep. You can either apply a small amount to your chest area or put a little on a tissue and keep by your bedside. This is best for younger children too. The scent of tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint and tangerine organic essential oils will help to keep your airways open so you can sleep easier.
if you place an old book or piece of wood under the top legs on the bedframe, this raises the bed to a small incline without altering your position to sleep. This helps to prevent the dreadful puddle in the morning, this is good for childrens beds too.
garlic is a good source of quercetin, a natural antihistamine. It also contains compounds that help to support your immune system.
hot peppers include an active compound, capsaicin which can help to reduce nasal congestion. If you dont like hot peppers, maybe steep them in an oil and drizzle over salads.
local honey contains traces of local pollen which can desensitise the bodys allergic response to pollen in the air. This is a homeopathy remedy, I do think you need to begin eating this early in the year but maybe find a local source and try it.
In June we celebrate the Summer Solstice - 21st June
Mid summer or the summer solstice is a time when the daylight hours are at their longest. It is a time of fertility, abundance and joy. It is a time to make daisy chains and dance with them in your hair, completely free of worry and just enjoying the free feeling of summer.
We have designed a letterbox gift to celebrate this most wonderful time of year, I love it. The box is filled with organic products and information to help you have fun with friends and family. Please order by the 14th June as I make each product personally.
celebrate mid summers eve and the summer solstice with this letterbox
How to relax and enjoy the sunny days and balmy nights
There is nothing nicer than sitting in your garden feeling a part of it and coming out again later to indulge in the evening show. During the day you may be lucky to have dragonflies, swifts and swallows dancing in the sky, at night the bats come out too. The stars light up the night sky, we have had many wonderful moons too.
This is wonderful but mosquitos can ruin the party! A dragonfly will eat up to 100 mosquitos a day, add to that the number birds eat, you can happily balance the quantity by encouraging both in your garden. They do still find our legs somehow. An old fishermans tip is to apply aloe vera to your limbs and neck before you sit out. We have blended a summer scent which contains sage, rose geranium, lavender and pink grapefruit. Flies and mosquitos do not like lavender or citrus scents so make sure to take our hello to summer candle or wax melts out into the garden with you. Or fill pots with a little water and add 4 - 5 drops of our essential oil blend and keep them near your sitting area.
the scent is summery, light and refreshing
And finally
Theres a freedom that comes with the sunshine, somehow sitting on a bench just watching the world go by is a wonderful way to spend an hour. Anixety is often a reaction to living too far in the future, come back to now = where your feet are, where your breath is, where your power lives, living by this helps to reduce feelings of worry and overwhelm.
Regular star gazing can reduce stress too and helps you sleep better by aligning your bodys natural rhythms and induces a sense of wonder and tranquility. So this month, grab a blanket and pillow and lie on the grass and star gaze.
Linda x
“the hum of bees is the voice of the garden”
