At one time I thought growing English peas was a waste of time and garden space for what we got back. Now I grow lots of peas since my wife discovered how to make soup from the pods.
In case you would like to try it, here is the recipe.
2 qts green pea pods(pods only)
1 tsp salt
1 onion
1 tsp pepper
2 Cups milk
3 TBSP flour
1 tsp sugar
a little Nutmeg
3 TBSP butter
Wash pea pods, cut into 1' long pieces, boil in water with onion for 1 1/2 hrs. Strain through colander, add pepper, salt, sugar, nutmeg, and milk (which has been scalded). Bring to boil and thicken with butter and flour mixture.
With a sandwich, this is really good, especially on a cold day.
Owen Newman 2008
Romani Herbs - Part 2
Cabbage: highly regarded by the Rom, it's germ killing and anti-inflammatory properties being well known. Leaves were bound on wounds,boils, abscesses, and sores. Crushed cabbage leaves were applied to bites and stings of insects. Arthritis and rheumatism, muscle aches and menstrual cramps called for an application of hot cabbage leaves, as did also sore throats. Cabbage water is good for preventing nightmares and stomach infections. These same properties can be found in sauerkraut as the cabbage enzymes are preserved in the fermentation.
Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus): The juice is rubbed on warts and corns, to remove them. Very effective,but mix with a little vinegar first and use sparingly.
Chamomile: Very strong antiseptic,the smell of which repels bees and biting insects. An infusion is used to a tonic and cure for flatulence,digestive problems. Relieves nausea and diarrhea. Helpful for babies with colic and teething pain. Being an effective sedative, the tea should not be drunk to excess. Flowers made into a paste can be used to treat skin ulcers, infections, rashes, and burns. For asthma it is smoked like tobacco.
Chervil: Used raw as digestive, diuretic, and expectorant. Use only young, green leaves. Cut fine with a knife... Do not chop!
Chestnut: Leaves were used in a tincture to treat chilblains, eczema,and rheumatism.
Chickweed: Very valuable plant. Stems were cooked and given to children that were undernourished to gain strength. Also used for rheumatism and cramps. Being potent, it is never used in large doses. It can sometimes cause mild temporary paralysis.
Chicory: The root made into a tonic is bitter digestive that increases bile flow and eases inflammation. The roasted root is used as coffee substitute and additive. An excellent tonic for the liver, and cleansing the urinary tract. Used as a mild laxative for children.
Red clover: A tea was made of the dried flowers to make a tonic for indigestion, headache, nausea, neuralgia, and bronchitis. Also used as a sedative for nervous complaints. Poultices are used to treat ulcers and sores. The dried flowers mixed with coltsfoot are used as an herbal tobacco.
Coltsfoot: Leaves were gathered after all the flowers had disappeared then dried. They were used to treat colds and bronchitis. Infused with honey, relieves asthma and pleurisy. A decoction of crushed leaves is applied to insect bites, ulcers, burns and cuts. Tobacco was made from the leaves mixed other leaves, comfry, beech and chestnut. It was smoked to cure asthma.
Comfrey: Also known as knitbone or boneset. The root is lifted in March, then grated and mashed and the warm pulp used as a poultice to treat inflammations, wounds, insect bites, and sores. It sets up hard just like a plaster cast.
O Newman, June 2008
Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus): The juice is rubbed on warts and corns, to remove them. Very effective,but mix with a little vinegar first and use sparingly.
Chamomile: Very strong antiseptic,the smell of which repels bees and biting insects. An infusion is used to a tonic and cure for flatulence,digestive problems. Relieves nausea and diarrhea. Helpful for babies with colic and teething pain. Being an effective sedative, the tea should not be drunk to excess. Flowers made into a paste can be used to treat skin ulcers, infections, rashes, and burns. For asthma it is smoked like tobacco.
Chervil: Used raw as digestive, diuretic, and expectorant. Use only young, green leaves. Cut fine with a knife... Do not chop!
Chestnut: Leaves were used in a tincture to treat chilblains, eczema,and rheumatism.
Chickweed: Very valuable plant. Stems were cooked and given to children that were undernourished to gain strength. Also used for rheumatism and cramps. Being potent, it is never used in large doses. It can sometimes cause mild temporary paralysis.
Chicory: The root made into a tonic is bitter digestive that increases bile flow and eases inflammation. The roasted root is used as coffee substitute and additive. An excellent tonic for the liver, and cleansing the urinary tract. Used as a mild laxative for children.
Red clover: A tea was made of the dried flowers to make a tonic for indigestion, headache, nausea, neuralgia, and bronchitis. Also used as a sedative for nervous complaints. Poultices are used to treat ulcers and sores. The dried flowers mixed with coltsfoot are used as an herbal tobacco.
Coltsfoot: Leaves were gathered after all the flowers had disappeared then dried. They were used to treat colds and bronchitis. Infused with honey, relieves asthma and pleurisy. A decoction of crushed leaves is applied to insect bites, ulcers, burns and cuts. Tobacco was made from the leaves mixed other leaves, comfry, beech and chestnut. It was smoked to cure asthma.
Comfrey: Also known as knitbone or boneset. The root is lifted in March, then grated and mashed and the warm pulp used as a poultice to treat inflammations, wounds, insect bites, and sores. It sets up hard just like a plaster cast.
O Newman, June 2008
Useful herbs of the Rom – Part 1
Being an outdoor people and outside of the mainstream of society, the Rom learned to use what grew in nature. Science is constantly affirming the healing power of herbs.
This is only a partial list. Many of these herbs are also used by people in rural sections of the United States.
Adders tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum): A fern that was crushed,cooked in oil,and strained,after which the oil was used to treat wounds. As the name suggests it was used to treat snake bite.
Agrimony: Also known as cocklebur or sticklewort, was used to treat eye troubles and as a compress for wounds.
Wild Angelica: grows alongside brooks and streams and produced a yellow dye. Stalks were blanched and eaten with bread and butter. The stems were chewed to relieve flatulence.
Balm, also called lemon balm: An infusion of the leaves was used to treat nervous troubles and fevers. It is a mild sedative and is an effective cure for insomnia. Balm is also used for headaches, depression, menstrual cramps, and queasy stomachs
Basil: A small amount (1/2tsp)of finely chopped leaves were added to a cup of hot water to ease stomach trouble and vomiting.
Bay: Not the common laurel used in hedgerows. Placed in containers of flour or grains and vegetables prevents damage from weevils. (ed. note, we do this today because it works!) Used to flavor stews and soups.
Blackberries: A tea made from the leaves is a cure for upset stomach. Blackberry brandy is an effective cure for diarrhea and will help in cases of the flu.
Blackthorn's young shoots are boiled in water and used as a toothache remedy.
Borage: Used to bring down fevers and treat depression. Leaves boiled or added to drinks.
Burdock: Leaves, flowers, or seeds were made into an infusion to cure rheumatism. The root is used as a blood purifier and to treat arthritis pain.
Butterbur: Leaves are used as tonic and to ward off fevers.
O. W. Newman
This is only a partial list. Many of these herbs are also used by people in rural sections of the United States.
Adders tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum): A fern that was crushed,cooked in oil,and strained,after which the oil was used to treat wounds. As the name suggests it was used to treat snake bite.
Agrimony: Also known as cocklebur or sticklewort, was used to treat eye troubles and as a compress for wounds.
Wild Angelica: grows alongside brooks and streams and produced a yellow dye. Stalks were blanched and eaten with bread and butter. The stems were chewed to relieve flatulence.
Balm, also called lemon balm: An infusion of the leaves was used to treat nervous troubles and fevers. It is a mild sedative and is an effective cure for insomnia. Balm is also used for headaches, depression, menstrual cramps, and queasy stomachs
Basil: A small amount (1/2tsp)of finely chopped leaves were added to a cup of hot water to ease stomach trouble and vomiting.
Bay: Not the common laurel used in hedgerows. Placed in containers of flour or grains and vegetables prevents damage from weevils. (ed. note, we do this today because it works!) Used to flavor stews and soups.
Blackberries: A tea made from the leaves is a cure for upset stomach. Blackberry brandy is an effective cure for diarrhea and will help in cases of the flu.
Blackthorn's young shoots are boiled in water and used as a toothache remedy.
Borage: Used to bring down fevers and treat depression. Leaves boiled or added to drinks.
Burdock: Leaves, flowers, or seeds were made into an infusion to cure rheumatism. The root is used as a blood purifier and to treat arthritis pain.
Butterbur: Leaves are used as tonic and to ward off fevers.
O. W. Newman
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