About the Author
Rita Heikenfeld
Articles by Rita Heikenfeld
Growing Bay Leaves is Easy and Rewarding
Add to Favorites My first bay laurel tree was a tiny four-inch seedling from the nursery. I found out quickly that growing bay leaves is not at all difficult. I …
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How to Make Bath Salts, Soaps, Scrubs, and Balms
Making my own spa products, starting with making bath salts, began as a lark. A fun experiment. Then came the Eureka moment.
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Learn How to Make Shrub Syrup
Shrubs. Have you heard of them? Do you know how to make shrub syrup? If you’re not familiar, shrubs are budget-friendly, delicious, fermented vinegar, and fruit-based beverages.
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Growing the Best Herbs for Containers
Growing the best herbs for containers needn’t be difficult. Most herbs can live their lives happily in containers. Especially herbs for culinary use.
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Growing Calendula from Seed
Growing calendula (Calendula officinalis) from seed is an annual garden project in my family. We let the little ones help, and they enjoy monitoring growth as the first seedlings push their way through the soil.
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Elderberry Offers Edible and Medicinal Benefits
My first experience with elderberries came when my husband and I moved to the country to build our first home. We purchased land that was pretty much untouched as far as wild edibles went.
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Anise Hyssop 2019 Herb of the Year
Add to Favorites The herb of the year for 2019 is anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). A member of the mint family, this lovely, easy to grow perennial is native to …
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How to Make Ginger Beer
When we were kids and would complain about a stomachache, Mom would give us a glass of ginger ale to help stop the rumblings and pain. Fast-forward to today, and ginger beverages have grown up and become quite trendy.
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Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
My old-fashioned peanut butter fudge recipe is a perennial favorite during the holidays. My sisters and I make batches of this easy peanut butter fudge to give away.
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Scented Geranium Plants: Fragrant Herbs Indoors or Out
My love affair with scented geranium plants started decades ago. The proprietors of my husband’s restaurant cultivated an herb garden on the premises.
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How to Make No-Knead Artisan Bread
Nothing says “welcome” like a warm loaf of crusty bread or a basket of buttery rolls. Here are two favorites, no-knead artisan bread and brown and serve rolls that are perfect for entertaining or anytime.
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Best Kitchen Gadgets
When each of us kids left home, Mom gave us several of the best kitchen gadgets, one of which was a cast iron skillet. I still have that skillet and it gets daily use.
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How to Plant Daffodil, Tulip and Other Bulbs in Pots
If you live in a condo, apartment or just don’t have space to plant spring-flowering bulbs in the ground, you can still enjoy continual color and fragrance from spring bulbs by learning how to plant daffodil, tulip and other bulbs in pots.
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Exploring the Numerous Calendula Benefits
Calendula (Calendula Officinalis), or pot marigold as it’s sometimes called, is a multi-purpose edible and medicinal herb. The Shakers and early settlers knew the culinary value and superior healing qualities of this beautiful golden herb.
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A Garden of Simples Offers DIY Remedies
In the early days of our country, certain herbs were grown and used for the household and for simple medicinal remedies. There was no drug store around the corner so whether one was rich or poor, every household had what was then known as a garden of simples.
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