Harvest mites are hardly visible to the human eye and are generally picked up in summer from long grass/crops and beds of weeds.
I visited my doctor some years ago with swellings/blisters, mainly on the trunk of my body, some as large as a ten pence piece. They itched intensely and were very sore. He said they were harvest mite bites (I hadn't heard of them before)and the only way to get rid of them was to wait for autumn, the weather would be cooler and they would die off. Meanwhile he prescribed an ointment for the itching that was next to useless.
For three months I was in despair from the continuous crawling feeling on my skin and ongoing bites. The itching kept me awake at night also. Relief came in October as the weather cooled.
During this time I searched the internet for ways to free myself from the 'enemy'. Nobody on the forums seemed to have an answer at that point.
Two years later they were back. I put it down to the flower bed I had been weeding. Taking matters into my own hands I found a way out of this agony. Working on the theory they die off in cooler weather, I took it to the other extreme. Perhaps heat would work.
Every day for three days I got out of bed, stripped off the linen and put it straight into the washing machine. Not wanting to transfer the mites, I showered straight after and put on clean clothes. This is essential and includes nightwear. I showered morning and evening and washed clothes and towels after each shower. I also changed the bed linen each morning and then tumble dried everything for the heat. Hoping to kill them off completely.
It worked! After three days the crawling feeling had gone and no fresh bites. The bites I had healed, but took a while for the scars to disappear.
The relief was heaven!
Sunday 24 July 2011
SHEAL'S REMEDIES
As gardeners we are aware that certain plants and creatures in our domain are harmful. That said, we needn't run to the doctor or chemist for remedies to minor ailments.
Many can be found in and around our homes, from various plants outside and everyday items inside. Cures and/or remedies have also been handed down to us from generations past that can still be put into use. Therefore, the following are just a few that I can pass on.
Mosquito/Gnat bites etc.
Soak a small cloth in water, as hot as is bearable. Ring out and hold on said bite, repeat once or twice. The poison will be drawn out and itching will stop, relief is gained for hours after. This may need to be repeated at a later point, but reduces days of itching.
Bee/Wasp stings.
Make a fairly wet paste with bi-carbonate of soda and water. Use as a poultice for the sting. Again it will draw out the poison and give relief.
Eradicate Warts.
Soak a handful of marigold leaves in warm water for about twenty minutes. Take out and shake off the excess. Put the leaves into a blender to turn them into a paste. Apply the paste to the warts and hold in place for an hour or two with a bandage or something similar. On removal rinse the area with cold water. This may be repeated as necessary.
Many can be found in and around our homes, from various plants outside and everyday items inside. Cures and/or remedies have also been handed down to us from generations past that can still be put into use. Therefore, the following are just a few that I can pass on.
Mosquito/Gnat bites etc.
Soak a small cloth in water, as hot as is bearable. Ring out and hold on said bite, repeat once or twice. The poison will be drawn out and itching will stop, relief is gained for hours after. This may need to be repeated at a later point, but reduces days of itching.
Bee/Wasp stings.
Make a fairly wet paste with bi-carbonate of soda and water. Use as a poultice for the sting. Again it will draw out the poison and give relief.
Eradicate Warts.
Soak a handful of marigold leaves in warm water for about twenty minutes. Take out and shake off the excess. Put the leaves into a blender to turn them into a paste. Apply the paste to the warts and hold in place for an hour or two with a bandage or something similar. On removal rinse the area with cold water. This may be repeated as necessary.
Monday 11 July 2011
Looking after your Mediteranian Herbs by Dave
Rosemary gets quite large, so I usually give it a good sized container if its not going straight in the ground.
For both Rosemary and Thyme, I find the care regime similar.
They both like a sunny spot, and they like it when their soil dried out between watering. I.e. keep them too well watered and they will suffer.
With the Thyme, because it is low growing, be careful not to let taller plants shade it out. It will suffer if it spends too much of its time in the shade.
Both get 'leggy' if you're not careful. You can reduce the problem by regular cutting it back but it is important to cut above the lowest green leaves, as I don't think they can sprout from old wood like some plants.
Rosemary can form very dense top growth and can effectively commit suicide by blocking its own light out by produce too much growth so that the sun can't get right to all the leaves, then it goes brown, then black, then it's pretty much had it. Avoid this by cutting the middle branches away regularly, to form a sort of upside down cone effect so the sun can get to it all.
Its not as fiddly as it sounds, and when you cut the middle out it will quickly start to fill in again so it doesn't look silly.
For both Rosemary and Thyme, I find the care regime similar.
They both like a sunny spot, and they like it when their soil dried out between watering. I.e. keep them too well watered and they will suffer.
With the Thyme, because it is low growing, be careful not to let taller plants shade it out. It will suffer if it spends too much of its time in the shade.
Both get 'leggy' if you're not careful. You can reduce the problem by regular cutting it back but it is important to cut above the lowest green leaves, as I don't think they can sprout from old wood like some plants.
Rosemary can form very dense top growth and can effectively commit suicide by blocking its own light out by produce too much growth so that the sun can't get right to all the leaves, then it goes brown, then black, then it's pretty much had it. Avoid this by cutting the middle branches away regularly, to form a sort of upside down cone effect so the sun can get to it all.
Its not as fiddly as it sounds, and when you cut the middle out it will quickly start to fill in again so it doesn't look silly.
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