Herbs add variety and interest to organic cuisine, provide humans with natural medicines, and are the source of many wonderful fragrances. They are also a valuable aid in the organic garden, with many of them being deterrents to unhelpful insects.

Growing

• aromatic herbs should be grown in a sheltered site, which will also provide a better habitat for valuable insects
• herbs produce better if they are regularly pruned or trimmed back. Lifting, dividing and replanting in a new site can increase vigour where roots have become tangled
• regular replacement of herbs helps prevent diseases that can develop with older plants
• many herbs lose their vigour after a few years and should be replaced
• comfrey leaves added to the compost heap are an activator

Harvesting

• harvest leafy herbs when the concentration of aromatic oils is highest, just before the plant flowers
• roots of herbs are best harvested in winter when the plant is dormant
• all dried herbs should be stored in airtight containers, opaque or in a dark place as light causes herbs to deteriorate

Interesting Facts

Anise

• used in medicines for masking unpleasant tastes
• used as an additive to bait in traps for noxious animals

Mint

• in ancient times mint was used as a strewing herb (placed on the floor) to repel rodents from households

Parsley

• regarded by Ancient Greeks as a symbol of death it was their custom to scatter parsley over tombs of the dead
• Greeks and Romans ate the leaves and also wore wreaths of leaves in the belief that the scent would absorb the fumes of wine, thus preventing intoxication
• in medieval times, parsley was involved in black magic rituals and there are still superstitions regarding it
• will sweeten or deodorise the worst of bad breath
• contains a lot of iron, calcium, phosphorus and manganese and vitamins C and A

Rosemary

• history dates back to biblical times and later it was the main condiment used in Europe for salted meats
• it had associations with funerals and weddings and became a symbol of fidelity, hence the expression ‘rosemary for remembrance’

Sage

Sage

• in ancient times, sage was valued for its use in medicines, potions and tonics

Savory

• used in ancient Rome as a seasoning for sauces and vinegar
• it was also reported to have some medicinal value and was used in potions and ointments

Thyme

• ancient writers mention thyme being used as an incense to perfume and purify and as a strewing herb to overcome unpleasant odours
• it was also a symbol of courage in ancient Greece

Links

More herb information from Kay of Organic Gardening From Down Under.

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