Benefits of Starting Your Own Herb Garden

Here in New England it’s the time of year where all the nursery’s are putting out their annuals, perennials, seeds and tress.  I don’t know about you but it gets me thinking maybe I might have a green thumb and try to plant something. Then I think, I ‘m fairly lucky that I have kept 3 plants alive. Let me just add these plants are like 10+ years old. So I have ever reason to be a product plant mamma.  Now.. when I think of getting a green thumb, I also think small like herbs.

If you go to the spice section in the grocery store, you will see many types of herbs.  I am the queen of spice and I see many spices that I could probably grow.

Herb gardens are great for cooking purposes, but they can also be home to medicinal and fragrant plants. Let’s break them down.

Cooking Herbs
There are many cooking herbs that you can grow in your garden.  Basil, bay, dill and chives are just a few of the many delicious spices that come from easy-to-grow herbs.  Most plants grow large enough to provide a bountiful harvest that you can share with friends and family.

Fresh herbs are much tastier than the store-bought ones because they haven’t sat around long enough to lose flavor.  So a little bit goes a long way.  Some cooking herbs are perennials, so they will come back for you to enjoy year after year.

Medicinal Herbs
Many herbs are known for their medicinal qualities.  Yarrow, St. John’s wort, and hyssop are some of the most used medicinal herbs.  Herbal remedies can be found for almost any common ailment, and they are less expensive and often have fewer side effects than traditional medicines.

Fragrant Herbs
Many herbs have a pleasant fragrance in addition to culinary uses and medicinal qualities.  So some people grow herbs simply for their beauty and scent.  Some fragrant herbs mingle well with regular flowers to add beauty and fragrance to a traditional garden.

Culinary, medicinal and fragrant herbs make thoughtful and useful gifts.  You could give entire plants or cuttings so that recipients can grow their own.  Or you could dry and grind culinary herbs that they can use in cooking.  For a friend or family member who is sick, you could prepare an infusion or tincture and deliver it to him or her.

Another great way to present culinary or medicinal herbs is with recipes.  You could print the recipe on some pretty stationary or a note card, package the other ingredients with it, and present it to someone who loves gourmet food or enjoys using home remedies.

There are many benefits of growing a herb garden.  It puts the things you need for cooking and herbal remedies right at your fingertips.  It allows you to use the ingredients fresh instead of buying them from the store, where it’s hard to tell how long they’ve been sitting on the shelf.  And it allows you to make money from the herbs or give them as gifts.  The many uses for herbs make herb gardening well worth the time spent.
Here are 3 ways you can get started with your indoor garden.

1. Go here is you want to start them inside and then replant them outdoors.
2. Go here if you want an indoor self sustainable garden.
3. Go here if you want a little fun — remember the chia pet”

If you’ve ever planted a herb garden, I’d love to hear your results, leave a comment below.