My Herb Garden

Spring is in the air here on the Hilltop! I can feel it in my lungs. The sun shines more frequently, flowers emerge from their winter hiding places, calves fill the pastures, and a newness spreads all around us. Oh, how refreshing springtime is for the soul!

One of my goals for this year is to establish a plentiful, useful, and beautiful medicinal herb garden. I’ve planted herbs here and there over the past two years, but this year I want to go ‘all out’. My hope is to use this herb garden in from-scratch cooking and baking, in our medicine cabinet, and in sharing with friends and family as well.

Come along as I share my dreams for this new garden!

What’s in my Herb Garden

There are a few herbs that I’ve planted over the past two years of living here:

  • Lavender
  • Rosemary
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Dill
  • Mint
  • Basil

That’s a decent start, but what new plants will I be adding this year?

What I’m Planting this Year

  • Echinacea
  • Bee Balm
  • Thyme
  • Chives
  • Sage
  • Chamomile

My Inspiration

I will be planting these herbs right alongside the house, by the kitchen door that we use on the daily. Here’s why I want this garden located here: accessibility. I enjoy the thought of being able to walk a few steps from the kitchen and pick the herbs I need for seasoning a meal, brewing a cup of tea, or fixing up a home-remedy for an ailment.

How I Plan to Use These Herbs

Tea

I love a warm cup of tea no matter what time of year it is. It’s one of my favorite ways to unwind for a bit. I also enjoy tasting new flavors of tea, so I hope to use my herbs to create my own tea blends.

I plan to use the herbs for this purpose in their fresh form, but also by drying and storing them away for later.

Medicinal Benefits

I hope to fill my medicine cabinet with more natural remedies made from my herb garden. I’m no opponent to conventional medicine, but I would like to have more natural options to give my family before falling back on prescription drugs! I found the following information at http://www.herbslist.net/

  • Bee Balm: Tea made from this plant was used to induce sweating and break fevers. Bee balm is often used to treat the common cold and sore throat as well.
  • Chamomile: This plant is used for colic, indigestion, flatulence, bloating heartburn and to calm nervousness. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiseptic, antibacterial and antispasmodic properties
  • Echinacea: is very popular for treating colds and flu. This herb is a great immune system booster.

Cooking

I will, of coarse, be using as many of these herbs in my daily food preparation. As I mentioned previously, I really enjoy the thought of growing all of these lovely plants right outside my kitchen door for me to pick and utilize at their freshest point.

  • Sage: with a sweet and savory flavor, sage works really well in dishes like creamy pasta, cured meats, stuffing, or sausage.
  • Parsley: we throw parsley into just about everything! Spaghetti sauce, salsa, soups, and more!
  • Thyme: Thyme pairs well with meat, tomatoes, and beans. It also makes an excellent addition to omelets and egg strata.
  • Chives: this herb works well as a garnish, in seasonings, or sauces.

These are my herb garden dreams. I’ll be sure to keep you updated as I make them into reality!

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