Herbs, Why grow them?

While I was growing up in South Georgia the only seasoning used was salt and pepper. I can tell you from experience that herbs enhance the flavor of many dishes. A baked chicken with salt and pepper is good, but add garlic and rosemary and it is unbelievable. If you are using dried herbs from the store, just try fresh from your own garden and you will be amazed at the difference. If you smoke meats or fish put green herbs on the coals to help flavor the meats. Herbs can be used to make herbal teas, oils, vinegars and homemade soaps, shampoos, or cosmetics. People have long relied on herbs for ingredients for home remedies. So, if you have not tried the joy of growing your own herbs, you are missing out on a world of flavors and experiences.

Some of the many uses for herbs:
Cooking and Flavoring Foods
Vinegars and Oils
Teas and Tisanes
Aromatherapy
Bath and Skin Care Products
Medical Properties
Garden Aesthetics
Attract Butterflies
Flower Arrangements
Potpourri
Repel Insects

We will be adding additional information often so check back.

Rosemary by Your Garden Gate

By Sarah White

As well as being a greatly loved culinary herb, rosemary also has a vast history and great metaphysical aspects. Being such a good cooking herb it has traveled around the world, spreading it's aroma and seeds with it. Being native to the Mediterranean region, it is used in the cuisine, giving it a very original taste. This plant also symbolizes remembrance, as it is used in weddings, war commemorations, and funerals. It is also said that its aroma helps improve memory. Not only used in cooking, rosemary was also used to flavor ales and wine, as well as being used in Christmas decorations.

Hungary Water was made for the Queen of Hungary to 'renovate vitality of paralyzed limbs'. It contained rosemary tops in flower and was made by mixing them into a liter of spirits of wine and was allowed to sit for four days before being distilled. Rosemary was also said to have been woven into the wreath that Anne of Cleves wore at her wedding. This plant has also been mentioned in various pieces of literature such as William Shakespeare's Ophelia, and is in words by Sir Thomas More.

In medicine, it helps dandruff, arthritis, stomach problems, and helps calm headaches as well as prevents baldness. Rosemary hydrosol is used to ease arthritis and headaches as well, soothing both the joints and the mind. When made into an infusion and used as a hair wash, it removes dandruff and stimulates the hair follicles to prevent baldness. Used in food, it aids in digestion and soothes stomach aches. (Harmful if used in large doses.)

Used for centuries as an incense in religious and magical ceremonies, it's smoke is said to removed negativity, purify objects as well as the body, and to help clear the mind. It is greatly used in healing sachets and poppets, and in dream pillows to expel nightmares. Wearing rosemary in a small bag or vial pendant is said to help memory and is great for students. Rosemary is also a herb associated with fairies under the name of 'elfleaf' and is said to keep harmful ones away while encouraging helpful one to come.

This herb known around the world covers everything from cooking to religion. What does it mean to you?