Do you have a kitchen herb garden? How do you use your herbs?

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Permalink Reply by Kathryn on November 15, 2008 at 12:29pm

Hi İ have always had a herb garden-growing whatever İ could depending on the area İ was in at the time. İ dont have one now but İ buy large bunches of herbs and dry my own to be used later. My father retired from military service and started growing culinary herbs commercially. He sells pkts of fresh herbs to large and small markets whilst also having a good market for his dried range.

The closest İ have come to making home remedies from herbs is using Rosemary tea for making my hair shiny-using Chamomile tea for cranky babies and applying Aloe vera for various burns and cuts.

When İ came to Turkey İ was happy to see alot of the turks using herbs for medicinal purposes. The have wonderful herb shops selling everything-large buckets you can scoop out what you want with people giving you all sorts of advice for your ailments.

Parsley tea for kidney infections-Apple tea for coughs and colds-Oregano tea for flu-Mint tea for stomach complaints-Sage tea for tonsilitis and gum problems-Stinging nettle for dandruff, diabeties, arthritis, inflamation and more and Lavender for liver, heb b and c, hair loss plus the more common for relaxation.

İ am a big believer in herbs and their uses for health we just need to know the information. İ personally use herbs in every meal İ make. Herbs are so easy to grow hopefully others out there will start with a herb garden or even a little window box. When İ came here İ also learnt how to find certain herbs in the fields, along the roadsides etc my favorite being the stinging nettle. İt is very delicous and versatile-makes a good filling for boreks and a good subsitute for spinach.

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Permalink Reply by Katherine Turcotte on November 15, 2008 at 7:32pm

I have only discovered nettles this past year and find them fascinating there are so many uses for them- I have moved some from the woods across the street from me to a patch in my own woods.
I have also become enchanted with Elderberry - my plants have grown sooo much that I can hardly wait till next summer to harvest my elder flowers and berries! Mullein is also a favorite of mine.
I love hearing about your country, do tell me more!

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Permalink Reply by Tamra on November 15, 2008 at 2:13pm

Thanks for starting this group. I grow tons of herbs, culinary, medicinal, or useful in some way. Here are a few ways I use herbs other than in the kitchen.

Lavender and rosemary in soap
Calendula and comfrey infused in oil for making a healing salve
peppermint, rosemary, and horehound teas for coughs
feverfew tea for headaches
rosemary and thyme in steam for opening up stuffy heads

Then there are the herbs that I grow because they have medicinal qualities, but I rarely use them
Echinacea
yarrow
Elderberry (my plant is young, therefore I have yet to get any fruit)
Dandelion (I don't cultivate this, but I don't try to control it either)

These are two books I refer to a lot:
A woman's Book of Herbs by Deb Soule
Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal

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Permalink Reply by Katherine Turcotte on November 15, 2008 at 7:28pm

Rosemary Gladstar is awesome isn't she? Also love Susun Weed and Gail Faith Edwards!
Great list of herbs and you use them well!

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Permalink Reply by Tamra on November 16, 2008 at 4:22pm

I would love to read your interview with Rosemary.

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Permalink Reply by Katherine Turcotte on November 15, 2008 at 7:34pm

I was lucky enough to get to interview Rosemary Gladstar, Susun Weed, Gail Faith Edwards, Christopher Hobbs and Stephen Buhner for HQ magazine this past summer - would you like me to post the interview so you can all read it? Rosemary has just put out a new book that contains all of her herbal recipes from all of her books!

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Permalink Reply by Courtney Ostaff on November 16, 2008 at 3:47pm

We have a kitchen herb garden, but don't really use it for remedies. We grow parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, majoram, basil, chives, dill, and anything else that strikes our fancy. We actually use the herbs throughout the summer, and then before the first frost, we harvest them, and process them (usually by snipping off the leaves), and then freeze them.

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Permalink Reply by Beva on November 16, 2008 at 6:30pm

I love my herb garden. Mostly, I grow cooking herbs. The usual, Rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, dill, chives, sage, tarragon, savory and parsley. I also grow horse radish, chocolate mint for tea, lemon balm, bee balm, cone flower, yarrow and chamomile. Some are for fun and others for reasons.
I am hoping to learn more about wild harvesting from an Native American elder. They even use white pine for medicine.
My cooking herbs, I cut and dry to use for winter. I bring in the tender ones such as Rosemary. Love that mid-winter with a nice pork roast.

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Permalink Reply by Letti on November 16, 2008 at 8:43pm

I started an herb garden five years ago and have been making herb teas and herbal seasonings since. Lemongrass and spearmint make a wonderful summer drink, with a slice of lemon. I like making different combinations, usually would use two to three herbs, when making teas. When cooking I trim a little of what is growing to add to soups, stews and salads. When the garden is in full swing I trim the overgrown herbs and dry them for winter use. I got an Elderberry bush this spring and is hoping for berries next year. I have been reading about the nutritional value of nettles and would like to grow some. Dandelion is my favorite addition to my salads and to vegetable juices.

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Permalink Reply by Deborah Poppell on November 16, 2008 at 10:35pm

I have only planted herbs this year,mainly for pleasure. chocolate basil which grew beautiful purple flowered spikes attracting bumblebees and butterflies, mints i couldn't get enough of the fragrance when watering and weeding makes a great ground cover in sunny sand. Guess it was too hot for lavender didn't do to good. I do use Aloe for burns have 4rth generation plants . Wild dandelions always welcomed have added to salads. I Am already planning to get serious about herbs next year.

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