Herbal Adventures-Planting & Harvesting

Herbs and spices add flavor and aroma to food, but they also contain compounds with medicinal properties.  This is one of the reasons why I consider the kitchen to be nature’s pharmacy.  Herbs and spices are high in antioxidants and contain phytochemicals that provide many health benefits such as anti-inflammation, immune system boosters, digestive aids, liver detox support, anti-allergy, anti-high blood pressure, and many, many more.  I like to think of them as my “food as medicine”.

This summer I set out to plant my own herbs as a little experiment to see if I would be able to create my own medicinal teas, salves, syrups, and tinctures while I am indoors this fall and winter.  Not sure what a salve or tincture is?  No problem.  This is just the beginning of many posts that will go into detail on herbal medicine.  I wanted to first share my experience in planting and growing my herbs first. Because this summer was my first time gardening, I still have much more learning to do.  For example,  many “green thumbers” told me to not plant mint directly into my garden.  I wanted to see for myself what would happen and they were right, it takes over!

I chose to plant a spiral herb garden — thanks to being inspired by Pinterest!   The logic behind a spiral herb garden is that  plants that need the most sun are planted on the south and east sides, whereas plants that need less sun are planted on north and west sides.  The spiral is also suppose to increase in elevation so that plants that like the sun are planted higher and can provide shade to plants that like less sun.

Take a look at the beginning stages of my garden…

Planting:

I had so much fun looking for herbs.  I tried to buy organic when I could find some.  Next year I will try to make sure everything comes from organic seeds, but like I said this was a little experiment to begin with (and I wanted to plant any herb I could find immediately because I was so excited!)

Here are a few organic plants I came across at the Easton Farmer’s Market:

Most of my herbs came from Suelke’s Roadstand located Old Bethlehem Pike in Sellersville.  It’s close by and I’d rather shop local if I can.

This summer I also discovered a book that I LOVE for anyone getting into growing herbs and using them to make your own tea and natural medicines.  I highly recommend Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide by Rosemary Gladstar.

Here’s my garden in the beginning of summer when all of the plants were small:

Mid-Summer:

Today!

Today I finished my harvest.  I completely cut the lemongrass down and clipped some thyme, oregano, chocolate mint, spearmint, parsley, and rosemary for drying.

This summer I found my new calling – gardening!  I can’t wait for next Spring and learning from some of my mistakes from my first go round.   Please join me on my herbal adventure and come back soon! I will be sharing what happened when I took my herbs indoors and what kind of health concoctions I will later create!

From your dietitian-nutritionist-herbalist in the making,