10 Tips from ACHS Seed Starting and Growing Herbs in Pots Community Wellness Workshop

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Seed Starting and Growing Herbs in Pots workshop with Erika Yigzaw, ACHS Chief Institutional Officer and Master Gardener, on March 29, 2012. We had a lot of fun learning how to get a jump on our spring gardens, and hope you did, too!

For those who were unable to attend ... not to worry ... we'll have a video of the presentation live on ACHStv soon. You can subscribe to ACHStv on YouTube here for automatic notification of when the video goes live and for dozens of gardening how-to videos.

Scroll down to read 10 top tips from Master Gardener Erika Yigzaw's presentation.

When container gardening:

1. Use seed starting mix or good-quality potting soil.
   
2. Make sure your container has a hole in bottom for drainage; dampen the soil and then allow to dry for few hours before planting seeds.
   
3. Fertilize! Organic, liquid fertilizer works great. Compost tea may be a good sub: to make, put kitchen waste into a stocking, soak in gallon of water, and portion onto plants.
   
4. After the first leaves appear you may transplant if you want.
   
5. When grouping, think of the types of conditions each plant likes and group accordingly.
   

When container gardening:

1. Plant seed as far down as the size of the seed (same with bulbs). If the seeds are really small, such as poppy, scatter across the top of the soil.
2. Do not over-till the ground.
   
3. If you can grab a handful of dirt and squeeze moisture out, the ground is still too wet to plant.
4. If using a raised bed, the temperature will be approx 15 degrees warmer for the plant than when in the ground. Make the bed 6-8" taller with compost.
5. Do not over-water. Dampen the soil and then allow to dry for few hours before planting seeds.
   

Are you a master container gardener? We'd love to hear from you! What are your favorite herbs to grow in containers for the spring and summer seasons?

>>To learn more about herbal medicine training, including harvesting and using herbs for personal health and wellness, check out American College herbal medicine courses online here.

Propolis Makes Good Root Canals, Better!

What more could you ask for in a single ingredient? Propolis has antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Naturally, this study found propolis to be alternative root canal medication. Of course, using a good propolis toothpaste everyday could avoid letting things get to this point...

Histopathological Analysis of Corticosteroid-Antibiotic Preparation and Propolis Paste Formulation as Intracanal Medication after Pulpectomy: An in vivo Study

J Appl Oral Sci, 2012 February

Intracanal medication in pulpectomy therapy is used between appointments with the objective of reducing pain and inflammatory processes in pulp and periapical tissues. Propolis has been known as a natural antibiotic and has been subject of medical and dental research due to its therapeutic properties such as antibiotic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim was to carry out an in vivo evaluation of the periapical tissue response to propolis paste when used as an intracanal medication in the teeth of dogs after pulpectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

72 dog's incisors were selected for the experiment. After biomechanical preparation the root canal was filled with a corticosteroid-antibiotic preparation, experimental propolis paste, non-medicament (negative control) or non-pulpectomy at all (positive control). The medications were left inside the root canal for 7, 14 or 28 days. At the end of the experimental period histological sections were prepared and all laboratories processes for Harris hematoxylin and eosin staining was proceeded followed by the analysis using an optical microscope. Sections were classified according to a score representing the inflammatory events observed: the presence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, polymorphonuclear eosinophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells, macrophages and/or giant cells, fibrous condensation and abscesses.

RESULTS:

There were statistically significant differences between the tissue reactions caused by the two substances being tested, after different experimental periods, with the periapical tissue that was in contact with propolis paste exhibiting fewer inflammatory reactions in comparison to corticosteroid-antibiotic preparation.

CONCLUSIONS:

The low tissue responses from propolis paste suggest that this material could be considered as an option for root canal medication after pulpectomy... Furthermore, the propolis paste was more effective at controlling the inflammatory response over the 28-day experimental period.