Lovely Lavender...

Mmm… I love lavender. Okay, so Mr QuirkyPig thinks it smells like ‘old ladies’ knickers’ but (sexism alert), he’s a man, so, meh….

Lavender has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy for insomnia, and as an insect repellent. If you have a lot of woollies, keep lavender sachets tucked amongst them to keep the moths away (also, lavender smells a lot nicer than moth balls). It also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used in cooking to make lavender biscuits, cakes and even cheese.
Lavender grows best in a dry, well-drained sandy soil in full sun. I’ve got a few plants in pots at the moment, brought along from our old garden, and they’re looking a bit sorry for themselves after all the recent cold, wet weather. Hopefully when summer comes they will flourish again and keep the bees (and me) happy.

How to make quick and easy lavender sachets:

Cut two squares of thin material (muslin is good).
Turn right sides together, pin and and stitch together on three and a half sides (leave a gap to fill the sachet).
Turn rightside out and fill with lavender (I use a mix of rice and lavender as it gives the bag a nice weight and a good, squishy feel).
Securely handstitch the gap closed.
Ta da!


You can also decorate with ribbon, buttons, use two different sorts of material, a patchwork of material etc. These make lovely presents – for old ladies, or otherwise.