Here are the websites that I gave to those who came to my class on herbs:
Basic info & newsletter: www.ann-mccormick.com/
Identification: www.herbies-herbs.com/pages/herbuses-4.html
Planting for Butterflies & Bees: www.ehow.com/how_2098987_plant-herbs-bees.html
http://botanical.com/site/column_susun/susun_growgarden.html
www.gardensablaze.com/BackyardHabitat/BackyardBees.html
www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-cilantro.html
Cooking: http://culinaryherbguide.com/usingherbsincooking.html
www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/ingredients-herbs/
www.lavenderfarms.net/hoodriverlander/HoodRiverLavenderRecipes.html
www.myhomeideas.com/outdoor-living/gardening/9-essential-herbs-10000001037512/
www.eatingwell.com/recipes/cream_of_mushroom_barley_soup.html
There's a lot to see on these pages.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Many sources; Be wise
I hope you noticed that I listed three different websites to check out the benefits of the three herbs I handed out in my class. These three sites will give you a lot of information on many different herbs.
Of course, there's no end to information on the web, but it's nice to have someone else narrow things down for you sometimes.
I would caution anyone looking for relief from medical difficulties. Consult your doctor if you have a headache or pain or anything else that doesn't go away in a few days.
Herbal remedies are wonderful and I use some of them, but they do not take the place of medical advice.
Don't forget that herbal remedies can interfere or block over the counter or prescribed medicines you are also taking. Talk to your pharmacist to see if there are any complications that may arise if you decide to take, for example, an herbal tea with your arthritis medication.
Make wise decisions - someone is counting on you to do your best to take care of yourself.
Of course, there's no end to information on the web, but it's nice to have someone else narrow things down for you sometimes.
I would caution anyone looking for relief from medical difficulties. Consult your doctor if you have a headache or pain or anything else that doesn't go away in a few days.
Herbal remedies are wonderful and I use some of them, but they do not take the place of medical advice.
Don't forget that herbal remedies can interfere or block over the counter or prescribed medicines you are also taking. Talk to your pharmacist to see if there are any complications that may arise if you decide to take, for example, an herbal tea with your arthritis medication.
Make wise decisions - someone is counting on you to do your best to take care of yourself.
Delicious Dill
Wow! This herb has everything. This is the third herb I'm highlighting because it's the last of the three I gave away. Now don't you wish you had been in my class? :)
Dill, just like Cilantro, gives you different benefits from its leaves and seeds. Rich in dietary fibers and eugenol, it helps to control cholesterol and diabetes. The essential oil eugenol has been used "as a local anti-septic." Dill oil (made from the seeds) has been used as a disinfectant and sedative. Full of Vitamin C and A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, beta-carotene, copper, potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium - you can almost throw away your multi-vitamin pills if you start using dill in your diet regularly. One thing we do to keep it as a regular part of our diet is to always put it in our scrambled eggs. We use about 1 1/2 tsp of dill with 6 eggs, 1/4 c. milk, salt & pepper.
See www.nutrition-and-you.com/dill-weed.html for more info. It shows you just how much of each vitamin and mineral (daily percentage) when you add dill to your diet. For example, 100 grams of dill gives you 257% of your needed Vitamin A.
Dill, just like Cilantro, gives you different benefits from its leaves and seeds. Rich in dietary fibers and eugenol, it helps to control cholesterol and diabetes. The essential oil eugenol has been used "as a local anti-septic." Dill oil (made from the seeds) has been used as a disinfectant and sedative. Full of Vitamin C and A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, beta-carotene, copper, potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium - you can almost throw away your multi-vitamin pills if you start using dill in your diet regularly. One thing we do to keep it as a regular part of our diet is to always put it in our scrambled eggs. We use about 1 1/2 tsp of dill with 6 eggs, 1/4 c. milk, salt & pepper.
See www.nutrition-and-you.com/dill-weed.html for more info. It shows you just how much of each vitamin and mineral (daily percentage) when you add dill to your diet. For example, 100 grams of dill gives you 257% of your needed Vitamin A.
Benefits of Basil
The second plant I gave out yesterday is sweet basil. Over the years I have planted many types of basil. I particularly like opal basil which gives a lovely purple color to Alfredo sauce. I've never grown enough to use it in my pesto, but basil a favorite ingredient for pesto. The health benefits of basil are HUGE. It is rich in flavanoids and is effective in preventing cell damage from both radiation and oxygen. It also inhibits bacterial growth - including making your salads safer to eat when you add basil to your salad dressing. Basil also has anti-inflammatory properties - good for those with arthritis. Vitamin K, iron, calcium, Vitamin A, manganese, magnesium, Vitamin C, and potassium are some of the vitamins and minerals found in this super herb. "It is good for the heart, because it helps to prevent building up in the arteries and fights free radicals. The magnesium helps blood vessels to relax which increases blood circulation."
Check it out at www.indepthinfo.com/basil/health.shtml
And you thought you just got a pot of dirt with a few seedlings.
Enjoy!
Check it out at www.indepthinfo.com/basil/health.shtml
And you thought you just got a pot of dirt with a few seedlings.
Enjoy!
Cilantro and Coriander
Did you know that Cilantro and Coriander all come from the same plant? Cilantro is the leaf portion and Coriander are the seeds. Cilantro is also called Chinese parsley. Check out more information at www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-cilantro.html
Cilantro is an annual herb. You can collect the seeds at the end of the season and keep them for next year. This makes growing an annual herb much less expensive.
Cilantro is most commonly used in Mexican dishes. There are many benefits from using this herb. You can check out all thirteen listed at www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/13-health-benefits-of-coriander-seeds-and-cilantro-leaves.html
Three benefits listed are: good source of iron, protects against salmonella bacteria, and is an anti-inflammatory that many alleviate symptoms of arthritis.
This herb is one of three herbs that I handed out in a pot to those who came to my class this weekend. The seedlings are still small; probably too small to tell which is which. Wait for another week and you'll be able to tell which is which.
Cilantro is an annual herb. You can collect the seeds at the end of the season and keep them for next year. This makes growing an annual herb much less expensive.
Cilantro is most commonly used in Mexican dishes. There are many benefits from using this herb. You can check out all thirteen listed at www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/13-health-benefits-of-coriander-seeds-and-cilantro-leaves.html
Three benefits listed are: good source of iron, protects against salmonella bacteria, and is an anti-inflammatory that many alleviate symptoms of arthritis.
This herb is one of three herbs that I handed out in a pot to those who came to my class this weekend. The seedlings are still small; probably too small to tell which is which. Wait for another week and you'll be able to tell which is which.
Planting for Bees and Butterflies
Even if you never pick or use any of your herbs, if you have garden crops that need pollination (zucchini, squash, pumpkins, cantaloupe, etc.), you'll benefit from planting certain kinds of herbs. Bees will be attracted to your garden. Did I see you squirm a bit? Really, bees are great to have around. With real honey bees around, you'll have less wasps. Bees don't sting you unless you act really aggressively towards them OR if you look and smell like a flower. While you and your children are outside, try not to smell too much like a flower (perfume, strong soaps, bubble bath) and don't wear bright colors. That will help.
Go to these websites for some good ideas:
http://www.ask.com/web?q=what+plants+attract+butterflies&askid=9997e180-c456-4167-8759-d7cf1acc78f3-0-us_gsb&kv=sdb&gc=0&dqi=&qsrc=999&o=2469&l=dir
http://www.ask.com/web?q=Flowers+That+Attract+Bees&o=2469&l=dir&qsrc=466
http://botanical.com/site/column_susun/susun_growgarden.html
There are some underscores in there that are hard to see, so copy and paste it to get to the right address.
I can tell you right now the wonderful varieties that have brought bees into my garden (and we love them for the great cantaloupe we get every year): Basil, Lemon Balm, Dill, Lavender, Parsley, Thyme, Sage and Mint.
Other varieties suggested are: Bee Balm, Catnip, Cornflower, Echinacea, Goldenrod, Horehound, Hyssop, and Feverfew. I don't know much about these herbs and what climates they like. I guess I have some more to learn.
Another way to attract the bees is to keep them interested and add a few annual herbs each year. By mixing it up, you in essence are adding to your restaurant's desert menu. Regular customers like that.
A third component is to keep a variety of herbs that bloom all season. That keeps the bees coming longer. There are many varieties of bees. Some like certain herbs and others like different ones.
If you plant mint, you MUST put it in a CONTAINER. Do not let that mint get roots in your regular garden area, or you might as well become a mint farmer and throw out all of the rest of your plants. It's much worse than thinking you should plant that whole package of zucchini seeds.
Go to these websites for some good ideas:
http://www.ask.com/web?q=what+plants+attract+butterflies&askid=9997e180-c456-4167-8759-d7cf1acc78f3-0-us_gsb&kv=sdb&gc=0&dqi=&qsrc=999&o=2469&l=dir
http://www.ask.com/web?q=Flowers+That+Attract+Bees&o=2469&l=dir&qsrc=466
http://botanical.com/site/column_susun/susun_growgarden.html
There are some underscores in there that are hard to see, so copy and paste it to get to the right address.
I can tell you right now the wonderful varieties that have brought bees into my garden (and we love them for the great cantaloupe we get every year): Basil, Lemon Balm, Dill, Lavender, Parsley, Thyme, Sage and Mint.
Other varieties suggested are: Bee Balm, Catnip, Cornflower, Echinacea, Goldenrod, Horehound, Hyssop, and Feverfew. I don't know much about these herbs and what climates they like. I guess I have some more to learn.
Another way to attract the bees is to keep them interested and add a few annual herbs each year. By mixing it up, you in essence are adding to your restaurant's desert menu. Regular customers like that.
A third component is to keep a variety of herbs that bloom all season. That keeps the bees coming longer. There are many varieties of bees. Some like certain herbs and others like different ones.
If you plant mint, you MUST put it in a CONTAINER. Do not let that mint get roots in your regular garden area, or you might as well become a mint farmer and throw out all of the rest of your plants. It's much worse than thinking you should plant that whole package of zucchini seeds.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Herbs that work in my Garden
Over the years, I've changed my herb garden around quite a bit. There are, however, some favorites for me. These are tried and true. Perhaps some of these will be easy for you too. The #1 best, easiest and prettiest herb I've ever used is sage. I've got three varieties of it at the moment, but have used all of these varieties successfully - Broad leaf Sage, Golden Sage, Clary Sage (green), Purple Sage, and Tricolor Sage. Another favorite is Oregano. It can be used in so many dishes. I especially like it in my recipe for Pesto. I'll share that later. Garlic Chives, English Thyme and French Lavender are other staples. Parsley and Garlic are very useful too, although they take a little more effort than the perennials.
The annual herbs I love are cilantro, purple (opal) basil, dill, and summer savory. The summer savory grows best when placed to the west of an established plant so it doesn't get the harsh sun. All of these annual herbs have the best chance if they are started 8 weeks early inside (mid-March).
The annual herbs I love are cilantro, purple (opal) basil, dill, and summer savory. The summer savory grows best when placed to the west of an established plant so it doesn't get the harsh sun. All of these annual herbs have the best chance if they are started 8 weeks early inside (mid-March).
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