Ginkgo Herbals

What to do on a rainy day? Cook a pot of beans, this time it’s field peas with snaps. Making some ghee out of a pound of unsalted butter. Putting up all the dried herbs and keeping an eye on the ones I picked before the rain. Finishing up a last load of laundry and thinking of a nap this afternoon.

Fall is coming, the days are already getting shorter. Are you getting prepared for the changing of the seasons? No, it isn’t too early. Respiratory problems, dietary changes, temperature changes and so much more are coming. There is truly an increase in Covid right now. Flu season not far away as school begins as well as all the other germ sharing.

For home sanitizing of hard surfaces and laundry- use white vinegar. I like to make a strong tea of thyme & let cool. Get a spray bottle that will hold about a quart. I usually use equal parts of thyme tea, white vinegar and then add some (a bit more than an equal portion) distilled water. Fill your spray bottle. I put any extra solution in a canning jar and store it until I need a refill. Now you have a great solution for hard surfaces with not one but two germ fighters.

For laundry, if you must, put some (1/2 cup to 1 cup, depending on the size of the load) in the final rinse water of the washing cycle. No, it won’t make your clothes smell like vinegar. It will soften, sanitize and help remove odors. Dry as usual. If clothes are washed properly and dried, there really shouldn’t be a need for sanitizing. I still use warm and even hot water for washing most of our clothes.

So stock up on white vinegar (regular strength is fine) and order you some thyme tea tea bags (easiest way) to make this solution. No worries about dangerous or harmful chemicals on your food surfaces or even not getting all the store bought cleaners rinsed off well enough. Not only can these store bought cleaners leave residue on food surfaces (like countertops) it can be absorbed thru your skin.

Baking Soda is useful as a cleaning agent all around the house too. I am never without it.

No frozen bread in this recipe!