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Buy a Dram, Save a Farm

November 21st, 2008

On November 5, Bad Human posted about saving a historic mint farm. Since I’m a big fan of homeopathic medicines and using essential oils I decided to buy some oil to help them out. I’m not going to rewrite the fantastic article about this that Bad Human wrote, please head over to their blog to read about this cause.

A little about the farm:
The Crosby Mint Farm in St. Johns, Michigan, was founded in 1912 by J.E. Crosby Sr. on two acres. The now 140-acre farm has produced chemical-free spearmint and peppermint essential oils for 96 years:

“In addition to having what appears to be the oldest surviving still in the country, the Crosby Farms operation also appears to be the oldest mint farm in continuous operation in the United States. The key word here is “continuous” – that it has cultivated and processed mint since J.E. Crosby purchased the property before World War I.” — Ephraim K. Smith, President; Heritage Productions, Inc.

So how about purchasing some mint to help save a historic mint farm. I bought a few bottles of oil that I will be using to cooking and for medicinal uses. Head on over to their site and Buy a Dram, Save a Farm.

What can you use this mint for? Here are a few uses for mint oil.

Headaches – peppermint may ease headaches and migraines. Apply a rub to temple area in circular motion and across the forehead. For migraines, wet hair and put 4-5 drops into your hand and massage into the scalp.

Sinus Problems – Peppermint is very useful in reducing sinus congestion when added to a bowl of steaming or boiling water. A rub may be applied to chest, back of neck area, and behind ears. A few drops of oil in a vaporizer at night will help ease congestion as well.

Digestive System – Peppermint oil can help relax the muscles of the digestive tract to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. One drop of peppermint oil on a sugar cube or used in tea may help relieve intestinal cramps.

Body Muscles & Arthritis – Peppermint oil is soothing to sore muscles when added to a hot bath or massage oil. Use this to soothe arthritis pain. Mix 4-5 drops of oil into 1 ounce of lotion and/or massage carrier oil.

Feet – Applied full strength, or mixed with a carrier oil, peppermint oil may relieve swollen feet and may reduce and assist in healing blisters, cuts, or athlete’s foot by killing bacteria.

Women Only – Relieve menstrual or abdominal cramps, add 1-2 drops of peppermint oil on a sugar cube or into an 8 ounce glass of water and drink. A toothpick dipped in oil works great for tea or water. Also helps to relieve Hot Flashes!

Flu Season?

For a sore throat, sparingly dip a cotton swab into mint oil and carefully apply to the back of the tongue area.

Relieve congestion by rubbing a few drops of peppermint oil on chest & covering with warm compress.

Add a few drops of mint oil to the water of a humidifier or vaporizer to keep it smelling fresh and kill germs.

Peppermint Oil is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal!

Looks like I won’t have any trouble using up my peppermint & spearmint oils. Any of you have any great tips or recipes using mint?

3 Comments to “Buy a Dram, Save a Farm”
  1. Leisha Camden on November 22, 2008 at 5:45 pm

    Peppermint oil is the best for clogged sinuses, I second that suggestion fully. :-)

    Reply to Leisha Camden's comment

  2. Buy a Dram, Save a Farm at Chiot’s Run on December 5, 2008 at 5:34 am

    […] November 21 I wrote about the Buy a Dram Save a Farm program to help save the Crosby Mint Farm and encouraged you all to buy some mint oil from them to […]

    Reply to Buy a Dram, Save a Farm at Chiot’s Run's comment

  3. Finley Mitchell on June 17, 2010 at 3:02 am

    irritable bowel is really a very annoying disease.”~’

    Reply to Finley Mitchell's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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