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The strong antiviral properties of our high carvacrol oregano essential oil are combined with the vitamins, minerals and nutrients of the orange and honey, making this juice ideal to prevent flu symptoms.

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Seed keeping, is one of our big loves, next to herbs! It is so rewarding to grow even a small part of what you eat daily…

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These red sweet peppers thrived on our balcony from a heirloom variety seed! And hopefully some of their little seeds will grow into a plant loaded with peppers too, next year. Heirloom varieties, old varieties, traditional varieties, farmers varieties, landraces, no matter how we call them, they carry within them extremely rich genetic information, that allows them to adjust to different climates and soil types and survive change. This big genetic diversity offers us unique flavors and nutritional value. And this is what people used to grow and eat before the commercial, more productive (but not reproductive) varieties emerged a few decades ago.

Most professional farmers unfortunately abandoned them during the last decades, for the sake of more productive, genetically uniform, high yielding hybrid varieties. The new commercial seeds are certainly more productive, but only short term, because of their narrow genetic base. Farmers can’t save seeds to replant them, not to mention the high dependence on pesticides and fertilizers. Hopefully, small farmers all over the world have realized this problem and have started to replant heirloom varieties. Even though since 1900 we have lost more than 75% of our plant genetic diversity, according to FAO, it is never too late to start caring for our planet, our soil, our health -and of course the variety and richness of the tastes we enjoy- ..

 

Thankfully, there has been a very positive recent reform in EU legislation that will allow organic farming to focus on heirloom varieties so that they adjust locally and become more productive through breeding.

 

Είναι απίθανο να μπορείς παράγεις μόνος σου κάτι απ’ όσα τρως! Αυτές οι πιπεριές μεγαλώνουν στο μπαλκόνι μας από σποράκια που κρατήσαμε πέρυσι, από παλιά, παραδοσιακή ποικιλία. Μαζί με τα βότανα, οι παλιές ποικιλίες σπόρων είναι η μεγάλη μας αγάπη. Οι παλιές ποικιλίες είναι ανθεκτικές και προσαρμόζονται στον κάθε τόπο, ωστόσο έχουν εγκαταλειφθεί από τους περισσότερους αγρότες επειδή δεν είναι τόσο παραγωγικές όσο τα εμπορικά υβρίδια -τα οποία όμως χρειάζονται πολλά λιπάσματα και φυτοφάρμακα-.

 

Ενώ μέχρι και πριν από μερικές δεκαετίες όλοι καλλιεργούσαν αυτές τις ποικιλίες, σήμερα έχει χαθεί σχεδόν το 75% της φυτικής βιοποικιλότητας, σύμφωνα με τον FAO.

Ευτυχώς υπάρχουν πολλοί καλλιεργητές σε όλο τον κόσμο που αρχίζουν να τις καλλιεργούν ξανά.

Μάλιστα, μια πρόσφατη νομοθετική αλλαγή στην ΕΕ θα επιτρέψει στους βιοκαλλιεργητές να τους δώσουν προτεραιότητα, αφού οι παραδοσιακές ποικιλίες ταιριάζουν απόλυτα στη βιολογική γεωργία!

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Για Ελληνικά δείτε παρακάτω.

Organic farming is a lifetime love affair for us. Even when it comes to invasive weeds, chemicals are out of question. Seeking for alternatives we turned to our partners from ktimabioma and they suggested that we used fabric mulch. Michalis was excited and I was furious (Anastasia talking).

Ok, I know it helps keep the unwanted plants away, that the soil underneath is healthy (although it took me a lot of time to be convinced) and I surely know how much hard work it takes to get rid of the weeds by hand, in an organic farm with no herbicides at all Chemicals would make our work much easier –this is why conventional farmers prefer them- but the harm they do to the soil and our health is too severe to make them an option.

Despite the pros, I couldn’t overcome how ugly and unnatural it seems on the ground and I also had my concerns about recycling it.

My objections were heard but overruled. Michalis works harder than me in the farm – everyone knows it – so I didn’t insist on my aesthetic and ideological objections. .

I kept suffering quietly while the mulch was laid and I even refused to visit the farm during winter, expressing my disagreement.

 

Now, seeing the oregano plants thriving and remembering how many plants were lost when we didn’t use the mulch, I admit I feel comforted with the time, effort and money we will save (although the cost of the mulch was considerable). And I’m happy that the ‘wilds’ are also there, between the mulch lines, enhancing biodiversity.

 

But I still wish there was a way to have a balanced soil in a professional farm scale so that the unwanted plants wouldn’t harm our herbs, without having to spend years on preparing huge amounts of compost. .

I think it’s the first post that I talk about my personal views as Anastasia, compared to Michalis’s.

 

I prefer to share the things that we both agree on and focus on the “we” part of our story, but I felt that disagreements are also part of who we are, part of the journey through which we try to become better every day.

 

The point is not about being wrong or right, but being able to evaluate the circumstances and decide accordingly.
Even if in an ideal situation where time, effort and money didn’t matter, you would act differently.

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Βιολογική γεωργία και ζιζάνια

Η βιολογική γεωργία για εμάς είναι σχέση ζωής. Ακόμη κι όταν είδαμε πόση δουλειά χρειάζεται για να αντιμετωπίσεις τα επίμονα ζιζάνια χωρίς χημικά, πεισμώσαμε περισσότερο. Ψάχνοντας εναλλακτικές ρωτήσαμε τους συνεργάτες μας από το Κτήμα Βίωμα και πρότειναν να τοποθετήσουμε γεωύφασμα για εδαφοκάλυψη. Ο Μιχάλης ενθουσιάστηκε κι εγώ έγινα έξαλλη (Αναστασία εδώ).

Εντάξει, γνωρίζω ότι εμποδίζει τα ανεπιθύμητα φυτά να μεγαλώσουν αφού δεν επιτρέπει το φως να περάσει, ότι το έδαφος από κάτω παραμένει υγιές (αν και δυσκολεύτηκα αρκετά να πειστώ) και το σημαντικότερο, πόσο σκληρή δουλειά είναι να προσπαθείς να ξεχορταριάσεις στρέμματα ολόκληρα με τα χέρια. Στον αγρό μας δεν χρησιμοποιούμε ζιζανιοκτόνα, δεν επιτρέπονται στη βιολογική γεωργία αλλά έτσι κι αλλιώς είμαστε ριζικά αντίθετοι. Μπορεί να διευκόλυναν πολύ τη δουλειά μας – γι’ αυτό τα προτιμούν οι συμβατικοί αγρότες- αλλά η ζημιά που προκαλούν στο έδαφος και στην υγεία μας είναι πολύ σοβαρή για να την προσπεράσουμε .

Ωστόσο, παρά τα πλεονεκτήματα, δεν μπορούσα να ξεπεράσω το πόσο άσχημο και αφύσικο φαίνεται αυτό το υλικό επάνω στο έδαφος. Επίσης είχα τους προβληματισμούς μου για την ανακύκλωσή του όταν (μετά από χρόνια ευτυχώς) θα φθαρεί.

Οι ενστάσεις μου φυσικά απορρίφθηκαν. Ο Μιχάλης είναι αυτός που δουλεύει κυρίως στο χωράφι, εκείνος θα κουραζόταν να τσαπίζει ρίζα – ρίζα και να ξεριζώνει τα φυτά που εμποδίζουν τα βότανα να μεγαλώσουν, οπότε δεν επέμεινα στις αισθητικές και ιδεολογικές μου αντιρρήσεις.

Τώρα, βλέποντας τα φυτά να αναπτύσσονται δυναμικά, παραδέχομαι ότι ήταν η σωστή επιλογή, τουλάχιστον για τη φάση αυτή. Θυμάμαι πόσα φυτά «πνιγόταν» πριν χρησιμοποιήσουμε την εδαφοκάλυψη και συνειδητοποιώ το χρόνο, την προσπάθεια και τα χρήματα που θα γλιτώσουμε μακροπρόθεσμα. (Αν και το κόστος του γεωυφάσματος δεν ήταν καθόλου αμελητέο).

Χαίρομαι επίσης που ανάμεσα στα σημεία της εδαφοκάλυψης φυτρώνουν «αγριόχορτα», συχνά και άλλα βότανα, γεμίζοντας το χωράφι με ποικιλία.

Ωστόσο ακόμη εύχομαι να υπήρχε τρόπος να είχαμε ισορροπημένο έδαφος στην καλλιέργειά μας ώστε να μην χρειάζεται να παλεύουμε συνέχεια με τα «αγριόχορτα»

 

Αυτό είναι το πρώτο κείμενο που μοιράζομαι τις προσωπικές μου σκέψεις, ως Αναστασία απέναντι στον Μιχάλη.

Η αλήθεια είναι ότι προτιμάμε να μοιραζόμαστε τα «σημεία συνάντησής» μας, αυτά στα οποία συμφωνούμε, και να εστιάζουμε σε όσα μας ενώνουν. Ωστόσο και οι διαφωνίες είναι μέρος αυτού που είμαστε, της πορείας μέσα από την οποία εξελισσόμαστε.

Το ζήτημα δεν είναι αν έχεις δίκιο ή άδικο, αλλά να είσαι σε θέση να αξιολογείς τις ανάγκες, τις συνθήκες και να αποφασίζεις ανάλογα, υποχωρώντας αν χρειάζεται.

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Although oregano is such a pleasant aromatic herb, its essential oil can be a bit of a shock to the senses. It has a sharp, herby flavour and even one drop can make your throat burn and your ears pop. Remember what happens to Asterix every time he drinks the magic potion? That’s what we are talking about. It’s all well worth it, but it can be a bit brutal if you don’t know the ropes. To be precise, the more an oregano essential oil “burns”, the more potent it is in its antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (more about its properties in our previews post). So, you do want your oregano oil to be strong, but you don’t want to choke one afternoon in the middle of your apartment while getting your healthy fix. Fear not, friends; because we put so many methods to the test (no guinea pigs were used for this, just friends and family) and we are here to share what works…

First, let’s start with some (boring but) important information. Oregano essential oil is US FDA approved and is indeed approved as a potable item (granted that you buy a high-quality oregano essential oil like ours, intended for internal as well as topical use). It is a hot essential oil, so you should always dilute it. Note that although its use is approved and its benefits are backed up by numerous studies, you still need to check with your doctor or naturopath before using it, to make sure that it is safe for you personally. Also, you should avoid continued use over long periods of time or exceed the recommended amount mainly because it will reduce the body’s response to the instant antimicrobial effect that the oil has. Our body cells metabolize oils through complex chemical reactions (that scientists are still studying), so we shouldn’t exceed this metabolic capacity of the cells.

Lastly, we want to make clear that not all essential oils of oregano are the same; these guidelines are formed based on the Aetheleon oregano organic essential oil, which is of high quality, purity and potency. Weaker or diluted oils might require different treatment.

So, let the fun begin…

Internal use

• Oil + oil

a drop of oregano essential oil in a spoonful of olive oil. One could say that this even tastes pleasant. Some prefer it on a slice of bread (toasted or not). Tested and approved!

• Chef’s special

If you just can’t be bothered with taking oregano oil as a medicine, just throw a drop (or two) in a spoonful of olive oil and in your salad, mayonnaise, your Mexican salsa, a warm (not hot) bowl of lentil soup. It adds some zing in your food, plus, you get all the benefits.

• Spoon

Same concept as above, but you use a spoon to “target” the back of the throat. Fill the spoon with oil, add a drop of essential oil, bend your head slightly to the back and “hit”! Tip: it always feels nice to drink some water afterwards.

 

• Bread

Another classic. Roll a small piece of soft bread into a tiny (lentil-sized) ball and let a drop of essential oil fall onto it. Then act as if it was a pill, put it as near to your throat as you can and swallow it with some water. It sure keeps the tang away for whoever doesn’t like a bit of a sting (Don’t even think about chewing it).

• Desserts

Same as above. Just replace the piece of soft bread with a small sugar cube. Or a drop of oregano oil in a teaspoon of yummy honey.

• The capsule

For elaborate DIY-ers, you can always get a kit that helps you make your own capsules, simply by filling them with one-two drops of our oregano essential oil. This might be a helpful method for some. However, keep in mind that the rest of the methods mentioned have the extra benefit of letting the oil pass through the mouth and the esophagus, giving some love to the upper part of your GI tract as well.

• Inhale

A choir teacher told us that she hasn’t had a stuffy nose since she started adding a drop of oregano essential oil in a bowl of steamy water. She traps the steam by throwing a towel over her nose (protecting her eyes) and inhales for a few minutes. In fact, she has the entire choir following her practice now and they all swear by it. (Note to self: try this weekly treatment and see what happens to my acne.)

Nerdy reminder: Internal use should be kept to no more than two weeks in a month, and no more than twelve weeks every year. Of course, keep out of eyes, ears, or nose and note that its use is not allowed for children under 7 years of age. For older children or during pregnancy and breastfeeding, always ask a professional medical practitioner before use.

External uses

• Antimicrobial healing oil

A few drops of oregano essential oil added in a carrier oil like almond or sesame seed oil. This can be kept in a dark glass bottle (a great way to reuse our Miron Violetglass bottles) and used on wounds, insect bites, a variety of skin conditions and fungal problems. A cotton ball soaked in this blend and left on the nails, should keep any nasty nail fungus at bay, if repeated often.

• Muscle balm

A few drops of oregano along with other essential oils like rosemary, carrier oils and thickening agents such as with beeswax, makes a beautiful balm that can be used for muscle pain, strains and spasms. Just apply it in topically whenever you need to relief a sore muscle.

• Happy feet

Dilute 1-2 drops in your favourite carrier oil (almond oil, st johns wort oil, olive oil etc) and rub the soles of your feet to help boost your immune system.

Your skin there is less sensitive than the rest of your body (especially if you like walking barefoot), so you are less likely to have an allergic reaction. Plus, there are more nerve endings per square centimetre in the foot than any other part of the body, so your nervous system will get the memo fast.

• Diffuse (Burner)

When having sick people at home, make a light blend of essential oils which include oregano, eucalyptus and orange and add them to the essential oil diffuser, just to keep the air clean. Some friends who had a major mold issue in their house, kept diffusing oregano essential oil for weeks, with impressive results. There is something about oregano essential oil that just makes the air feel pleasantly fresh.

• Candles

Yes, candles! You can add our oregano essential oil with any other pure, natural essential oil you like (our favorite combination is with sage) in melted soy wax to create your own, natural, personal candles! You only need a few tools and materials (not expensive at all) and in a couple of hours you have custom scented candles to create a refreshing atmosphere at your home or office.

• Toothpaste

A few drops of oregano essential oil in your DIY toothpaste will give it a good antibacterial kick. Some of our friends have been using this over a year and they swear that their teeth have gotten healthier. You can find many recipes online, but a basic blend of coconut oil with a dash of baking soda, cinnamon and turmeric, is all it takes. It feels awkward at first but it leaves your breath surprisingly fresh too. We thought it would smell like souvlaki to be honest.

Nerdy reminder: Αs with any essential oil, always do a skin patch test before use (Take a small quantity, dilute it in a carrier oil and apply it to sensitive areas of the body like the inner wrist or inner elbow, wait for 12-24 hours to see if it causes any skin reactions – if not, go for it!)

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That’s the information we have gathered so far, but we keep hearing more and more people using the essential oil of oregano in a lot of creative ways. If you have been using our oregano essential oil in a different way, let us know and we will keep experimenting and sharing. If you haven’t, it only takes one drop to be converted. Just order yours online from our eshop and join the tribe!

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Oregano essential oil. Is it another trend?

Doesn’t it get a bit boring seeing one miracle ingredient popping after the next? Don’t get it wrong, it’s good that people get more and more interested in looking after themselves; especially when it’s done in a natural, holistic way. But hasn’t it gotten too far? Didn’t you just cringe when you read the word “holistic”? People used to consume news about pop stars; now they seem to feed off of information on that special natural ingredient that will improve their health. And then there is the next. And the next after that. Do these remedies even work? You can never be certain.

Getting to oregano essential oil, even Whole Foods makes an immunity shot with a couple of drops of this potent ingredient (tasted weird but did work!). People take oregano oil to fight colds, skin diseases and all sorts of ailments. Its use has spread so much so fast, that even the conventional research started picking up on it, proving that oregano essential oil has unique antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. So, it seems only fair that it’s trending, right?

Well, not exactly. Oregano has been used in herbal medicine for centuries and is even mentioned in ancient biblical texts. It isn’t something new. But the research is. The tradition goes hand in hand with the scientific evidence here; both roads leading to this little, beautiful, aromatic herb. Oregano has been used not only in herbal medicine but in the kitchen as well. Most Mediterranean food is laced with some of its aroma. It has been said that many herbivores eat it to balance their gut health (and it also partakes in the secret recipe of Feta; you see, feta is not just a white cheese. Its distinct taste comes from the herbs that the wild goats eat on the rocky mountains of Greece).

If only all these powerful properties could be condensed so that we don’t have to chew on oregano leaves all day at work… we would get a very potent vial full of oregano essential oil. And that’s exactly what we do. Aetheleon oregano organic essential oil is a product of personal passion and a lot of love. We figured that we put so much time and effort into this, we might as well make the best oregano oil possible. From the moment we picked our land, the organic native species to cultivate, caring personally for each and every plant, following all the way to getting that first drop of the finest oregano essential oil… we did nothing more but followed our vision to create excellence. Every step of the process has been fine-tuned in order to offer the purest possible essential oil of oregano. Not all oregano oils are created equal, but we can proudly say that our product deserves a place in every natural medicine cabinet.

Now that antibiotic resistance is on a whole new level and bacteria seem to survive even the strongest of antibiotics, we have a chance to look into those ancient ingredients that provide a natural alternative. Unlike conventional antibiotics, oregano essential oil does not strip our gut flora but is a strong immune booster. Moreover, this oil has a wound-healing effect if used in an ointment, reducing bacterial contamination at the same time. Oxidative stress is correlated with a number of degenerative disorders; however, the strong antioxidant character of oregano essential oil will help combat oxidation and aid proper detox. What is more, oregano is very rich in essential phytochemicals that we might be missing from our every-day diet. Phytochemicals provide positive mineral elements which are vital to fighting certain diseases. Lastly, oregano essential oil seems to be very active against certain fungi and bacteria such as candida albicans and epidermal staph infections.

The oil itself has a very strong taste and leaves behind a burning sensation. It doesn’t sound pleasant, but it’s all worth it, regardless. We have chosen one of the best tinted glass bottles, to preserve our essential oil and you only need a drop or two, so the bottle will last you a very long time. If you want any tips and tricks regarding its various uses, stay tuned. We will share all of our secrets and you won’t have to gag on oregano oil ever again. Starting here with some tips, order yours online from our eshop and welcome on board!