The grasshoppers are simply a plague this year; they devoured our pepper plants, and are taking a liking to my herb seedlings. Unfortunately, the Chinese red sage was their favorite, and not a single tender little plant is left. I will have to cover up the rest of the seedlings if we are to have any kind of crop.

The astragalus seed arrived, and I will plant them in the next day or so. My window of opportunity for planting is narrow now with the first frost date in October. All of the herbs are perennials, but they will need time to germinate and harden off before any heavy freezes. Astragalus is a vetch, and looks like many of the wild vetches that grow here in North Carolina. Unfortunately, there are not common medicinal values and uses known about our local vetch. We use astragalus in our immune system formula, Chi energy formulas, and cancer formula as it is endowed with polysaccharides that support the immune system and the production of T cells.

Husband Bill is busy building new shelves for the new line of products for Swan Creek Farm. It's fun launching a new product line, and my time is a bit crunched with 'the season' approaching quickly. Around here, it already feels like Christmas with boxes of essential oils, packaging, and ribbons arriving daily. I think the acupressure kits, therapeutic baths, and meditation candles will be well received.