Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Growing Your Own First Aid



There are numerous plants that can be grown for their health benefits and medicinal value. One of the easiest plants to grow is Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera gel is used as a common ingredient in many commercially available lotions and food products. AloeVera extracts have even exhibited possible antibacterial and antifungal properties. Most people are probably most familiar with its use in lotions and sunburn creams.




The Aloe Vera plant is a succulent that is very drought tolerant and resistant to most diseases and insects. This combined with the fact that it is easy to grow makes it an excellent plant to considering growing as part of your preparedness efforts. Though not cold tolerant, they are easily grown indoors as a houseplant or outdoors in a greenhouse.

Here is a link with some simple tips on growing Aloe Vera plants:

http://monsterguide.net/how-to-grow-aloe-vera
Aloe Vera plants also make a great barter item!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yay Aloe - yep, got this growing around the house, and we introduced it out at the ranch as well. Great for sunburn. Pretty much replicates itself (sorta) and we hand out some to friends for their own plantings.

You can also grow it in pots up North, as it doesn't take cold weather too well. Take it inside when it cools down - you should be able to keep it going year round.

Anonymous said...

Nice post Riverwalker, I have been wanting to get some Aloe growing myself.

matthiasj
Kentucky Preppers Network

riverwalker said...

To: anonymous 7:17

I've got a bunch of it growing! Trade the extra plants for ones I don't have...saves money!

RW

riverwalker said...

To: matthiasj

No time like NOW to get started!

RW

Ken said...

...Thanx RW,from me and the Mrs...ours were so-so at best,i told her,her aloes' could look like yer pics,she got some good info from yer linx...

HermitJim said...

My patio is full of these little buggers...growing in everything I can put them in.

They sure come in handy!

riverwalker said...

To: Ken

The single plant pic was one setting in the yard and the other pic was from Mrs. RW's greenhouse I built.

RW

riverwalker said...

To: HermitJim

They multiply fast and you don't need a green thumb! Thanks for stopping by Jim.

RW

BTW, Don't forget to e-mail me about getting together while I'm at training in Galveston.

Marie said...

This is a great idea--now to find myself some aloe vera...Up here we would definitely have to keep it inside, but it would be good to have on hand!

Unknown said...

My yard floods fairly frequently, at least once a year, this year has flooded three times so far (not in the house, but the neighbors got water in their house with one of the floods). So I feel it's safe to say they're flood resistant, since my aloe veras are at the front part of the yard that floods first (and deepest).

riverwalker said...

To: Marie

They make excellent house plants.

RW

riverwalker said...

To: shreela

Being succulents they can absorb a great deal of moisture but will need to dry out at some point to avoid rotting.

RW

Mayberry said...

Ha ha! That's one of the few things that'll actually grow here! Got 2 great big pots of 'em....

Sanjac said...

There is a company that advertises on the radio that makes a digestive tract cleanser out of aloe. It must work cause they spend a ton of money on advertising. My plant made it through the snow we had last year while under the patio cover. I was impressed.

riverwalker said...

To: Mayberry

They ought to grow real good down in your "neck of the woods".

RW

riverwalker said...

To: sanjac

Other than treating minor burns, simple cuts and minor skin irritations, it's use as a digestive aid is one of its primary uses. The use of aloe vera has been around a long time.

RW

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