Herb Garden Information
So you’re thinking about starting an herb garden? If you ask any gardener what an herb is and if she’s worth her weight in sod, she’ll tell you that herbs are plants that have a purpose. And they’re everywhere. You’d be surprised at what’s considered an herb by experts. Whether it’s using aloe on a burn or adding a little basil to your next Italian dish. Once you start to look, you’ll find herbs in a lot of common places beyond the kitchen, such as in cosmetics, medicines, cleaning agents, pest deterrents, even in home décor.
You can get your feet wet with some basic herbs like sage, chives, oregano and fennel before branching out to some you’ve probably never heard of like burdock, anise, agastache and hyssop, but don’t stop there! Herb gardening will grow on you. It’ll even help you relax from a stressful day at work.
Here is some herb garden information that you can use:
• Herbs are great for cooking. Imagine being able to snip off some fresh rosemary to spice up your home-baked bread. I recommend a little bit of rosemary sprinkled on top. Yummy! Most people I know associate herbs with Italian food, but I always think of Thanksgiving, with sage and thyme in the stuffing you can’t go wrong. Herbs can complement most any meal. Try mixing in some French tarragon to your butter (and cream it well) for a delicious spread. Do you make homemade ice cream? Adding a sprig or two of lemon balm to some homemade vanilla ice cream for a light hint of citrus.
Keeping a garden full of cooking herbs will mean never using that dried stuff at the grocery store. Even though you can also get fresh cut herbs at the grocery store too, wouldn’t it just be nicer to grow it yourself? A nice part about herbs is that you can grow them year-round in most climates and just cut off what you need for your recipe without killing the plant. Trimming it occasionally can even encourage the plant to grow more.
• Herbs can cure what ails you. Although I wouldn’t necessarily encourage you to graze on the front lawn next time you’re constipated, oral tradition and scientific research have shown that the dandelion (that’s probably growing in your yard) has properties that can help get things moving again. I recommend the dandelion tea over eating the plant. Believe it or not, it’s an herb. Chamomile is another helpful herb to have that will calm nerves, reduce stress and may help you if you’ve got some insomnia. The herb peppermint that is in peppermint candy is good for indigestion. And we all know mint can help just about anyone with bad breath (perhaps after eating another herb, garlic).
Don’t just take my word for it. Before you start any herb-based treatment, please investigate the herb and the way the herb is supposed to be used. While some treatments work best in a compress (a cloth soaked in water containing herbs that have been boiled) others are best in a tincture (an herb mixed with alcohol and water and left to stand for two weeks). You don’t want to possibly make your problem worse or waste your time by not doing it the right way.
• Herbs can make you more beautiful. Now you may not need to be more beautiful than you already are, but if you browse the bottles of lotion, shampoo and soaps at your drug store you’ll find herbs all over the ingredient lists. Lavender, thyme and roses (yes, roses are herbs!) probably top the lists of most popular herbs for lotions, soaps and scents. You’ll even notice that stores are even carrying more unusual herbs in their products, like lemongrass and witch hazel. You can actually make lotions, soaps and shampoos at home with your own herbs. Beebalm and soapwort (convenient name!) make a great combo for shampoo, which you can make in less than an hour.
• Herbs can make your home beautiful too. From floral arrangements to potpourri and even wreaths, dried herbs can be used all over your home. When you decorate with herbs, they’ll add beauty to your home and a light fragrance that lasts a long time. Dill is a nice smelling herb that will beautify your home. Bellflower will work well in a floral arrangement.
You can also use herbs in candles (not near the wick though—burning herbs do not always smell great). You can also use dried herbs if you want to make homemade note cards, stationery and other paper goods, like bookmarks and wrapping paper. Pansies are excellent for these!
Not only are herbs useful, they’re some of the easiest plants to grow. You can start your own herb garden with just a small space in your yard or if you don’t have a yard, you can grow herbs in small pots on your doorstep, balcony or window sill. If you’re going to be using flower beds, you can mix your herbs in with your other flowers to be something really pretty. Or you can have a separate area just for your herbs, especially if you’re thinking of going organic.
