Personal Story

I have been gardening since I was a small child following my mom around in her vegetable garden. She would poke holes in a row, and I would drop seeds in each of them and smooth the dirt. I continued vegetable gardening as a young wife and mother. I later began to grow herbs for their beauty and health benefits. Planting and using medicinal herbs can support your body during times of illness or injury.

Dreaming about an Herb Garden

One of the first steps to gardening is to dream. Do you have a picture in your mind of what you want your herb garden to look like? Do you already know what plants you want to use? If you don’t have a good idea in your mind’s eye, you can do some research to help you discover your likes and dislikes. You may want to start a journal so you can write down ideas as you gather them. As you are walking or driving around, you can make notes when you see a plant or design you like. Perhaps you can take a picture and record the location in your journal with the date and address so you can return for a second look sometime in the future. Borrowing books from the public library can be helpful. Take your time going through them and enjoy reading the information they contain. Homegrown Herbs, by Tammi Hartung is a favorite of mine. It has beautiful photos and good information about growing herbs.

Herb Garden Creation

When creating a new herb garden, planning will be beneficial. In making decisions on what herbs to plant, you might consider a medicinal garden which contains herbs which can help support your body in times of dealing with health concerns. Our family has needed support for stress, immunity, and occasional digestive complaints, so I have planted herbs which can give needed support such as lavender, lemon balm, thyme, rosemary, echinacea, sage, peppermint, and German chamomile.

Other types of theme herb gardens could include culinary garden, herb tea garden, or a crafter’s garden.

❖ Culinary gardens often include herbs that would be used in the kitchen when cooking. These herbs could be planted near the kitchen door or in pots on a back deck. That way it’s easy to snip some leaves to use in meal you are cooking They would include basil, chervil, chives, chamomile, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, lavender, lemon balm, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, summer savory, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme.

❖ Herb tea gardens could have chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, mint, and holy basil.

❖ Crafter’s Gardens can contain flowers that are good for drying like globe thistle, ‘Dragon’s Breath,’ Sundaze Blaze Strawflower, Pansiolas, Baby’s Breath, Globe Amaranth ‘Forest Pink,’ African Daisy ‘Soprano,’ Larkspur ‘Gardian Lavender,’ Ageratun ‘Stellar Blue,’ Atemisia schmidtiana ‘SilverMound,’ ‘Cream Veranda’ Rose, Hydrangeas, and Lavender.

There are many online resources that can give ideas of what to plant and what the needs of the plants are. Don’t be afraid to try a variety of plants. Just keep in mind how much time and space you have. Most herbs also need sunny conditions.

Note: Mints are evasive, so care must be taken to limit their spread. I like to grow it in a container for this reason.

Favorite Herbs

As a Clinical Herbalist, I recognize the value of many plants for medicine. I have had small herb gardens. I will share some of the herbs I have grown or purchased, and their traditional uses. The plants I have grown are marked with an asterisk (*). For details on how to use these herbs as medicine, please consult a knowledgeable herbalist or health care professional.

• Astragalus- full sun perennial-immunity, gentle adaptogen, may be used with children.
• Basil*- full sun annual
• Catnip*- full sun/partial shade perennial- cramps, insomnia, colic, teething pain, colds, fevers, nausea, flatulence, irritability, intestinal viruses, vomiting, stress, GI stress
• Chives*- full sun to full shade perennial
• Cilantro*- full sun/part shade (to slow bolting), annual
• Dandelion- digestion and liver support, indigestion. (Not grown but used from untreated yards.)
• Echinacea*- full sun perennial- non-specific immunity, immune-stimulant in allergy and autoimmunity, enhances resistance to infections- especially in upper respiratory tract, anti-inflammatory for topical application to wounds.
• Elderberry- immune booster for colds (Not grown)
• Garlic- full sun/part shade perennial or biennial- antibiotic-resistant pneumonia; viral lung, sinus infection, and colds; lowers high blood pressure, may prevent blood clots, lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• German Chamomile*- full sun/part shade perennial- children’s herb for tummy ache, flatulence, bloating, uncomplicated diarrhea (combined with pectin), mild anxiety, stress-induced insomnia, restlessness.
• Ginger- shade/partial shade perennial- tummy upset, motion sickness, nausea, morning sickness, osteoarthritis, prevents arterial plaque build-up.
• Lemon balm*- full sun/partial shade- stress relief, tummy ache, insomnia, intestinal complaints, cold sores, headaches, hyperthyroidism-lowers thyroids output of thyroid hormone (doesn’t cause hypothyroidism), nerve pain, shingles, palpitations.
• Marjoram- full sun to partial shade tender perennial- digestive support and antiseptic properties
• Marshmallow- urinary tract infections, dry cough, gastritis, peptic ulceration
• Milk Thistle- liver cleansing from chemical pollutants and conventional drugs, for skin conditions, heartburn conditions.
• Mullein- bronchitis, common cold, influenza, tonsillitis, mucus, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, ulcers.
• Oregano*-full sun/part shade perennial- winter illnesses, digestive system support
• Parsley*- full sun/partial shade biennial- digestive tract, urinary tract
• Peppermint*- full sun/part shade perennial- digestive, tummy ache, gastritis, enteritis, respiratory tract catarrh, cough common cold, nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, nervous conditions, dysmenorrheal. Topical for headache, dysmenorrheal, irritable bowel, intestinal problems
• Rosemary- full sun tender perennial- mental alertness and memory, circulatory weakness, and topical application
• Sage*- full sun perennial- winter illnesses, digestive tract, respiratory system, throat conditions, hair and skin health, women’s health
• Stevia*- full sun/part shade, annual- used as a sweetener, digestive tract, may lower blood pressure.
• Tulsi*- full sun/part shade annual- reduces stress, supports the immune system, abundant in antioxidants, builds stamina, powerful adaptogen, aids digestion, anti-aging, balances metabolism, balances energy levels, uplifts mood.
• Turmeric- anti-inflammatory for arthritis, bursitis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis.
• Uva ursi- urinary tract infections and urinary stones
• Valerian- sleep disorders, especially trouble falling asleep, anxiety, headache, dyspepsia.
• Vitex (Chasteberry)- hormone balance, menstrual cycle, acne, PMS symptoms, dysmenorrheal, peri- menopausal symptoms, PCOS, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts

I recommend the book Homegrown Herbs, by Tammi Hartung for more information on growing, using, and enjoying herbs.

Note: Before using these herbs as herbal medicine, it is vital to know the safety, best applications, and dosages for different age groups. Please consult a professional for more information.

Action

Start dreaming about your herb garden and make plans to begin creating it using small steps.

May God bless you on your wellness journey!

Joni

P.S. What experience do you have herb gardening?