Live Love Mom

Click here to edit subtitle


Hardy And Over-Producing Perennials To Grow In Your Garden

Posted by Live Love Mom on September 11, 2020 at 9:00 AM Comments comments (1)

by: Dr. Stephanie McEndree

Unlike a lot of blog posts I have seen out there, some people truly do enjoy invastive, over-pruducing and hardy perennials to reap a ripe harvest. Whether you are planting a little bit that you want to spread over a large area or you want to plant it in a pot to keep it contained, these plants can come in handy. You can plant it once, and harvest it forever with a large production. 

Rhubarb. The roots and leaves are poisonous, so be sure only to harvest the stalks. As soon as it starts to flower, remove the flower and that entire stalk so the plant focuses oh making a ripe harvest. You can harvest in the spring time as well as the fall. The leaves get very big so they can block the sun from other plants so be sure to give it some space. 

Mint has been described by many homesteaders and gardeners to be invasive. Even just one mint plant will multiply into many and take over your garden very quickly. So if all you have is mint or all you want is mint, this is the plant for you. To keep it under control, you can keep it in a pot. However, mint can be a steady source of income during the summer, sometimes even during the colder months. You can simply uproot the plants you don't want, get a cheap pot at the dollar store, and sell them locally. If you keep them in a big pot indoors, they will have enough room to make more plants, which you can sell during the winter as well. The harvest is always huge, as mint plants grow tall with many leaves, and even flowers in July.

Chives are told to be impossible to get rid of, so be sure you want this in your garden. I've seen people say they have removed bulbs yet still have chives growing in their garden, or that in May they are already getting started. Be sure chives is something you or someone you know would appreciate eating or having. What is lovely about chives is that they will grow each and every year without fault after you planted them once. You will have plenty of food for years to come!

Oregano is an herb used for cooking, popurri or as a spice. It's very resiliant, so you don't have to worry about your oregano plants dying. Simply put them in a pot and keep them by the sun and water them. You can also plant them outside in your garden and enjoy a bountiful harvest in the warmer months. 

Creeping Thyme is another herb that is used as a spice or in cooking. It adds an earthy taste to your dish and is great to add in oven-baked goods as well as crock-pot recipes. Plant it in your outdoor garden, or even as a crop if you have a farm. 

St Johns Wort has many healing properties. It's said to be used as a natural supplement to treat depression among many other things. It produces well and has a great survival rate. This can be potted or used outdoors. For better protection against bugs and chemicals, put them in a pot indoors. Just don't fertilize them in this case as the whole house will start smelling.

Bamboo has the same uses as wood and can even be made into textiles. It grows fast and over-produces and is very invasive. If you are able to plant some, be sure it's far away from other plants as it will take over your garden. Lots of buildings are made with bamboo as well as furniture, clothing, blankets and bags. Bamboo comes in handy if you know what to do with it.

Edible Weeds To Forage From Your Backyard

Posted by Live Love Mom on August 13, 2020 at 9:00 AM Comments comments (7)

by: Dr. Stephanie McEndree

Edible greens can come from surprising places. Some are so hardy that they grow through cracks in the sidewalk! A lot of people simply remove weeds and throw them away. You can simply harvest them, wash them, and eat them. In fact, here are the most common weeds in almost every backyard that are not only edible, but bring a lot of nutritional value to your daily meals.

Clover has many different uses. You can pick it directly from the ground and wash it, and stick it in a salad. You can also leave it out in the sun to dry, and use it to make tea with the flowers. They are also edible raw and can be sauteed in different meals for a splash of color.

Plantain has both medicinal and edible purposes and is very popular for the forager. They can be added topically to soothe burns, rashes, stings and wounds. The leaves, whether old or young, can be sauteed, steamed, boiled or eaten raw after being washed. The seeds can be ground into a flour or cooked like a grain. These can also be used as fiber supplements or laxatives.

Dandelion is probably the most common weed listed here, and it can be very invasive with how fast it grows, spreads, and comes back even after removal. The roots go in very deep into the soil that they are nearly impossible to remove for good. The plant can regenerate and grow from a broken off root. The young leaves are considered less bitter, but the older ones are also very much edible. They can be eaten raw or cooked, and every part is edible. You can add the leaves in a salad, steamed or sauteed, even added to soups. The flowers can be eaten raw, breaded, fried, or used to make wine or syrup, or even salves. Roots are often dried to make tea, or roasted, or added to root vegetable recipes. Dandelions are way too useful to simply be pulled out and thrown away. In the past, people used to remove grass to plant dandelions.

Wood sorrel can be used as a thirst quencher and is said to be very refreshing to eat, so it's also popular for foragers during the hot summer months. The flowers, leaves and immature seed pods are edible but are said to taste sour like lemons. They can be a wonderful addition to salads, soups, seasoning and sauces. They look like clovers, but can be differenciated by the heart-shaped appearance of the leaves. They also have yellow floweds, when clover has purple or white flowers.

Curly Dock also known as yellow dock, is recommended to be eaten in moderation. The leaves can be eaten raw when they are young, and the older leaves need to be cooked and can be added to salads or soups. Stems can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked, while the mature seeds can also be eaten raw or boiled, and can also be roasted to make a drink similar to coffee. Change the water several times when you cook them because they are high in oxalic acid.

Purslane is most often found in damp areas where there is ample shade, so it is often never far from a body of water, a valley, or anywhere that regularly gets hosed or collects a lot of rainwater. You'd never think to look twice at this weed, but it's actually in the succulent family that can be eaten raw, cooked, or added to recipes for a natural pepepr flavor. Both the leaves and stemps are extremely rich in omega-3 and antioxidants. Add them to a stir-fry, salad, or to stews or soups. 

Lamb's Quarters are in the spinach family and are also known as goosefoot. The seeds are similar in appearance to quinoa and can be eaten as a side or main dish. Goosefoot can be eaten raw, steamed, sauteed or used as a replacement for spinach.

Chickweed can be made into a tea and used as a slight diuretic. With both edible and medicinal properties, this weed is always a joy to have in your backyard. The leaves, stemps and flowers can be consumed cooked or raw. It tastes like spinach and can also be used topically for small cuts, rashes and burns.

Wild Amarath also known as pigweedare popular with vegan foragers as the seeds are a great source of protein. They can be gathered and cooked whole grain or as a ground meal. Older leaves can be cooked similar to spinach, and younger leaves can be used in any recipe that requires leafy green vegetables such as salads or garnishes.

Mallow also known as malva or cheeseweed is mainly found in the United States in lawns or gardens. The leaves and seeds are edible either raw or cooked, especially when they are young. More mature leaves are best cooked, steamed, boiled or sauteed. Like the name might suggest, it doesn't taste like cheese and is not a cheese replacement.

Teach Kids To Grow Their Own Food


by: Dr. Stephanie McEndree



















Got any more suggestions? Comment below!

Easy Child's Striped Summer Tank Top


by: Stephanie McEndree


Size: Child 5-6


  • Size 11 single-point knitting needles
  • Red Heart Comfort 100g yarn in green
  • US size 7 crochet needle
  • Scissors
  • Stitch holder or another single-point knitting needle



  2. Knit in stockinette stitch for 2 rows.
  3. Knit in garter stitch for 12 rows.
  10. Bind off, weave in ends.
  11. Repeat steps 1 to 10.
  13. Sew the shoulder straps together.



Two Rectangle Stockinette Stitch Oversized Kids Dress


by: Stephanie McEndree


Size: 6-7 years, oversized

Items needed:

-Size 11 single point knitting needles
-Red Heart Comfort 1000g yarn in red, 1 skein
-US size 7 crochet needle

Kntting pattern:


  1. Cast on 50 stitches
  2. Knit rows 1-10 in garter stitch
  3. Knit in stockinette stitch until piece measures about 18 inches
  6. Repeat steps 1-5 with 2nd piece.
