Welcome to Herb world – a collection of posts about magical herbs! (Herb books here)
Healthy Alternatives
Organic sauces and flavourings can be expensive and sometimes they aren’t necessarily as healthy as we want them to be. Added sugars, however natural, can cause insulin disruption in the body and – horror – also put on weight!
Growing Mint at Home
Mint is probably one of the best known herbs in the UK, if only for its accompaniment to roast lamb! The essential oil in mint is used in many medicinal and cosmetic preparations as well as in the kitchen.
Coriander – The Curry Cheat!
Growing coriander in your garden really will put spice into your life! The coriander plant is two plants in one – a spice and a herb. Chopped fresh coriander will add a mild curry taste to any dish, which means you can save on buying or making curry sauces.
A Taste of Herbs
We’re pretty much all aware of the chemicals in processed foods these days and try to buy organic when we can.
These 5 herbs will give you the benefit of adding taste and nutrition to your everyday meals without having to check every label for added sugar!
Growing Horseradish
Horseradish is a prolific plant and should be positioned carefully in the garden. It will tolerate partial shade but prefers a sunny spot if possible. Choose a permanent place as horseradish will last many years.
Grow Parsley at Home
Parsley is probably the most under-used herb in the garden but is rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly iron. Gram for gram, parsley has more vitamin C than citrus fruits.
10 Awesome Facts about Aloe Vera!
Aloe vera has been widely used as a medicinal plant for centuries and in the last decade or so, we westerners have finally proved it’s value beyond any doubt.
10 Awesome Facts about Aloe Vera!
Growing Aloe Vera
The essential kitchen windowsill plant. Aloe vera gel (inside the leaf casing) is wonderful for soothing minor burns. I couldn’t do without an Aloe Vera in the house! Find out more about the medicinal uses of this magical herb and how to grow it yourself here.. Growing Aloe Vera
Just Basil
Basil has that gorgeous smell of summer and can and should be added to your meals every day – unless you have an allergy, then definitely ignore that!
Borage
Borage was always believed to be the herb of courage and was given to soldiers before going into battle. Hmm, could do with a little courage at the moment! As well as courage, the herb bestows a general good feeling and….
Chamomile
Any of us who have ever dabbled in herbal teas will have heard of chamomile. But do we know any more about this wonderful herb than the brand we usually buy? Ouch! Here are a few reasons to grow some of your own….
Chervil
Chervil is in the same family as carrots and is similar to parsley. There are two main varieties, one with flat and one with curly leaves.
Chives
Chives are easy to grow and produce purple or white edible flowers that can be used to garnish a meal, or dried and used in a flower arrangement. The bright green leaves are used in the kitchen and their delicate onion flavour enhances any meal.
Growing Comfrey
Humans have been growing comfrey as a healing herb for more than 2000 years, as I myself have (for slightly less than 2000 years though!). Comfrey is still used in external preparations to heal wounds.
Daisy Love
The common daisy has been the subject of many myths and legends over the centuries and has been part of the landscape for as long as records can be traced.
Growing Echinacea
Growing echinacea ( purple coneflowers ) in your garden could help fight those stubborn colds, and a whole host of other things. There’s still tons of research and heaps of trials to be done before the final results, but so far echinacea is living up to it’s fame. Growing Echinacea
Vampires Begone!
Garlic has so many myths and legends attached to it they would probably fill a whole book, although we do know for sure that it keeps vampires away, so for that reason alone we should definitely grow some!
Lavender
Lavender is probably one of the most well-known herbs and is grown practically all over the world. It’s been used for centuries as a medicinal herb and at one time in history it was used to flavour food because it was believed to help calm the stomach.
Lovage
I really thought I’d killed this poor plant, but here we are… looks like the birds may have had a bite or two but hopefully its hardiness will see it through… I’ve vowed to be nicer to my plants from now on and watch out for crazy weather forecasts 🙂
Parsley Power
Parsley is one of the best known herbs, but strangely probably one of the most under-used ones. It is generally used as a garnish and left on the side of the plate which is a shame because parsley is..
Saffron
Saffron, at the time of writing, is probably the most expensive spice known to mankind. Only a small amount is used at a time so this is a good reason to grow some yourself.
Taste of Thyme
There is no shortage of myths and legends attached to the herb, including an idea that if a woman wore a sprig of thyme in her hair she would attract her true love. There are many others, a lot of them based around romance and love.
A world of Herbs
Herbs hold some wonderful secrets that we can share if we venture into their world for a moment. My favourite herb of the moment is Aloe Vera. Not a culinary herb perhaps but the benefits of aloe vera are enormous.
The Magic of Weeds
Weeds are simply wild plants and can hold a huge range of medicinal and nutritional properties, just waiting to be used.
Herbs can Save the World!
I read somewhere that pasta sauces reach 9 out of 10 consumers. How many jars and lids does that add up to I wonder? I have no idea where to start doing the math, but I think we’re into the billions – of jars sold every year. Ouch.
Herb or Spice?
The difference between herbs and spices is simply the part of the plant used. The leaves and flowers of a plant are generally regarded as the herbs, while the seeds, roots, stigmas and even the bark are considered to be spices.
Herbal Rescue
Companion planting helps with maintenance in a garden. Certain plants grow well together and will get along happily without you having to do much. Herbs deter many pests because of their strong scent, and other useful components.
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