Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Preserving
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Garden Herbs
Herbs serve such amazing purposes throughout their lifecycle. Seeds not only propagate new plants
but can often provide culinary and health benefits, as with coriander (cilantro) seeds, for example.
Inside the garden, herbs make fantastic companion plants, warding off harmful bugs or attracting
helpful ones as needed. And of course, leaves and flowers can be harvested throughout the lifecycle
to be used fresh or dried, in tinctures and teas, salves and pastes.
Some herb and vegetable pairings will actually improve each other's flavor, as with basil and
tomato. Some have culinary and medical purposes both, such as rosemary, which is not only popu-
lar for seasoning potatoes, but is also an excellent scalp and hair conditioner, as well as memory and
concentration enhancer.
Growing Your Own Herbs
Even the smallest of herb gardens can yield long-term benefits if you preserve the harvest with uses
in mind. While so many people buy herbs as they need them for cooking and then toss what gets
left behind, you can employ your steady harvest to use in many ways for the months and even years
ahead. And the bounty can be shared or even marketed and sold.
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Herbs have been used medicinally for centuries, and modern scientific research confirms the suitability of
many herbs when used in medicinal quantities. However, you should use herbs medicinally only under the
supervision of a trained health-care professional. When we agree that herbs can help benefit our body in
certain ways, we are saying that they change and affect our bodies. That effect is not always a good one in
all people. For example, elderberry helps boost the immune system and fights against viruses like the flu
and the common cold. However, it can also stimulate the immune system in people with an autoimmune
disease, and so should be avoided by those people.
