Our home freeze dryer finally arrived a couple of weeks ago but we’ve been so busy working on the greenhouse (no, it’s not done yet!) that we haven’t had time to get it set up. In the meantime we’ve been harvesting a ton of tomatoes, cayenne and, of course, herbs. Last weekend Kim, Linde and …
We’ve talked a bit about borage before, but it’s a beautiful and delicious plant, and deserves a revisit! It’s not only a great companion plant, but it’s a useful one to herbalists. Borago officinalis is a cooling and moistening relative of comfrey. This is important information to remember. We actually don’t have that many moistening …
I am so blessed to have a hubby who not only takes an interest in my herb garden, but he has so much knowledge about cultivating and managing soil. Because of his continual commitment to that goal, my garden is flourishing. ?? Four years ago, the entire area was a graveled parking lot, and now …
Calendula officinalis has proven to be one of the easiest plants to grow. You can start it inside to plant out in the spring or sow the seeds directly in the ground. It prefers healthy, loamy soil in full sun. You will not get good results if you pick a shady area. It likes a …
Note: If you didn’t read Cultivating Garlic, go back and read that post first! Garlic is something we use everyday. Unlike many, I LOVE the taste AND smell of garlic. Once you’ve planted your garlic patch, all you need is a little patience and be ready to harvest when the time is right. In the …
One of the reasons I love garlic is its accessible almost worldwide. Garlic is a powerful herbal ally, as well as an easy-to-find addition to your diet and lifestyle. Of course, you’ll likely have garlic breath, but just think of all the wonderful cleansing properties that are enveloping your respiratory system! Besides, the cure for …
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the Malvaceae family related to hollyhock, cotton and hibiscus. It grows well in most locations down to zone 3, which means almost anyone can grow it! It does have preferences, however, and will grow better if certain conditions are observed. It likes to be watered well …
Let’s talk about cultivating mullein, aka Verbascum thapsus. These guys are going to start popping up soon here in North Idaho (once the snow decides to leave). All during the growing year in most countries in the world you will find mullein along roadsides, railroad tracks, open fields and construction sites. I have several mullein …
Alright, we’re finally at the end of our Edible Flowers series! We’re planning on putting these all together in a downloadable PDF, and I’ll be adding a few recipes to help you feel more comfortable adding flowers to your meal plans ?? Thyme, Thymus spp. Thyme flowers have a similar taste to thyme the …
Sage, Salvia officinalis Sage has proven to be a real fighter in my garden. Not only has it produced beautiful leaves and flowers year after year, but it’s also managed to spread and increase its yield. Thank you, sage! I love the flavor of sage, but it is quite powerful and a little goes a …
