A Beginner’s Guide to Herb Gardening - How to Grow Herb Gardens Table of Contents Introduction How to Lay Out a Herbal Garden Thinking of Layout Plans Making Paths Best Flower Choices Making a City Herbal Garden Making Leaf Mold Making Natural Organic Compost Feeding the Soil My Way of Planting Making Soil Beds Wooden Boxes as Plant Containers Window Boxes Other Containers Herb Growing Project for Children Suitable Herbs for Your Garden Perennials for herb borders and for beds Culinary and Beauty Uses of Herbs Elderflower Water Conserves Herbal wines Herbal Force Meat Stuffing Apple and Mint Jam Conclusion Author Bio Introduction The moment you hear the word “Herb” you visualize a soft stemmed plant, which is normally used in cookery, as well as in alternative medicine. These herbs used for millenniums have been an important part of our social traditional and religious fabrics all over the world. No one, without an interest in nature is not going to know more about Rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme, hyssop, basil, and other herbs put into use down the centuries. The awareness of the medical as well as the edible qualities of herbs, was naturally gained in prehistoric days by happy and sad experience. When food was nasty tasting or scarce, the pungent herbs made it more delicious and acceptable to eat. Leafy herbs provided vegetables and salads. Soon people began to find out that some herbs would also heal wounds and ease suffering. So that means that even the herbs that we supposedly used for culinary purposes could be used for healing purposes. In 460 B.C. Greeks were writing about the curative powers of plants. In the East, these herbs were used in alternative medicine, through medical books and compendiums written more than 5000 years ago. In Europe, all medical treatment based on herbs was done, thanks to a book written by Dioscorides in A.D. 60. In ancient Europe, The Greeks, Egyptians and the Romans could not do without their herbs. Culinary delights, especially the blending of sauces, which were made of flowers, herbs, spices and wines were possibly started in a Greek country named Sybaris , from where we get the term “sybarite” , or a person who enjoys pleasure. They were the people who made sleeping on rose petals, a fashion. All the herbs and the flowers which were used to keep the Sybarites happy were grown in the gardens in the plains of Possidonia and you can still see them today. The regular use of a large variety of flowers and herbs for medical and culinary purposes has just come down the ages to us since ancient times. However, in the early – mid-19th century with the rise of industrialization, the popularity of herbs began to grow lesser, because people started to clear up large tracts of lands on which herbs grew, to give way to cities and human settlements. In fact, one great forest in the USA, Limberlost made popular in the writings of a writer and naturalist, Gene Stratton Porter was totally destroyed due to the felling of timber. If Teddy Roosevelt was not such an ardent and dedicated naturalist, many of the great green forest areas of the USA, which are now natural forest reserves, with herbs still present in them, would have been destroyed through man’s encroachment and greed. So apart from these herbs still available in the wilderness, this book is going to tell you how to make an Herb gardening your own house. Thanks to the revival of interest and appreciation of herbs in the 21st century to heal and to cure and to beautify you, people with gardens are realizing the beauty of herbal plants. They are also learning the added pleasure of growing them in their garden, so that they can use these herbs freshly picked. People living in flats are raising these herbs on windowsills by planting them in window boxes. In town gardens, you can grow them in wooden tubs, boxes, and even in large pots on balconies and in your backyards.

A Beginners Guide to Herb Gardens - Herb Gardening in Your Home Table of Contents Introduction Which Herbs To Grow Where Do You Grow Herbs? Best Soil for Herbs. Planning Your Garden Chessboard Garden Propagation of Herbs Growing through Cuttings. Test – Have Roots Been Formed Herb Plant Division. Plant maintenance Harvesting Your Plants. Root Plants. Whole Plant Harvesting Leaves Harvesting. Herbal Harvesting Flowers Harvesting Seed Harvesting Drying Your Herbs. Herb Storing Using Herbs Herbal tips Bouquet Garni Omelette aux herbes fines Making Herb Tea Conclusion Author Bio Introduction I have already written about how to make a herb garden in another gardening book- How to make a Herb Garden – in our Gardening series, but the gardener cum herbalist is going to get an even more extensive knowledge about how to make a full-fledged herbal garden in this book. Perfumes, juices, oils and other products extracted from seeds, leaves, shoots, and bark of the herbs have been used since the earliest times in religious ceremonies, and in cooking. Magicians used them in making mysterious potions to impress the credulous public. Herb essential oils along with parts of herbs have long been in use down the millenniums to make natural beauty products. The oracles of Delphi were women who had been “intoxicated” on fumes of deadly nightshade, which would make them hallucinate. And then with bay leaves in their mouths-these leaves were considered sacred to Apollo – they used to predict the future. No wonder not many could understand them or interpret their sayings. So each hearer chose the one which suited his requirements the best, and believed the Gods had spoken. Today, these herbs are usually grown for their great value in cooking. That is why it is well worth finding a small place for herbs in any garden. The 21st century world is also slowly and steadily getting back to the idea that the herbal remedies, which were used in alternative medicine in ancient civilizations of the East and West had curative properties. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Chinese, Mayans, Aztecs, Greek and other knowledgeable people all over the world used these herbs, and derived all the healthy benefits of them as often as they could.

Create a successful herb garden at home this summer with this beginner-friendly guide One of the best things about herbs is that you don't need a large plot of land—or even any outdoor space at all—to grow them successfully. Whether you're envisioning a small container garden in a sunny window or a raised bed in your yard, Herb Gardening for Beginners provides all the information you need to cultivate herbs for a wide range of purposes. Taking up herb gardening can be a beneficial and relaxing summer hobby. You'll find step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting guidance for every stage of the process, from planning your garden to harvesting and using your herbs. Intro to herb gardening—Learn the benefits and uses of herbs, different planting options, essential gardening tools, and indispensable tips for success. Herb profiles—Find detailed breakdowns of 40 common herbs, including seeding information; mature plant size; light, water, and soil requirements; major uses; and safety considerations. 80 recipes—From a Bee Balm Sore Throat Remedy and an All-Purpose Lemon Verbena Cleaner to Turkey Nettle Pot Pie and Caraway Soda Bread, discover all sorts of practical uses for your homegrown herbs. Start a new summer activity and discover the culinary and medicinal power of homegrown herbs with help from Herb Gardening for Beginners.

Do you like gardening? Do you like the idea of growing herbs at home? Do you want to start an herb garden at home, but don't know where to start? If yes, "Growing Herbs: A Beginner's Guide to Herb Gardening at Home" is the perfect book for you.You don't need a green thumb to start gardening. If you have never tried your hand at gardening, it can seem intimidating. However, as with anything else in life, a little planning and preparation are needed. The first step to start gardening is to learn more about it. Irrespective of whether it is the balcony, terrace, or even the windowsill, you can create your little corner of paradise with an herb garden.

A fresh approach and simple way to transform your yard! The prospect of revamping a yard is daunting. Where do you start? How do all the various areas come together in a beautiful, cohesive way? The Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Garden simplifies the process by showing you how to spend fewer hours (and a minimal amount of money) in the garden by tackling one small area at a time. You’ll find garden plans for ten unique areas—the entryway, the shady areas under trees, and more—that can be linked together over time to create a unified yard, and plants that are dependable, easy to find, and look good year after year. You’ll also learn the basics of good design, which plants offer the most bloom for your buck, and how to avoid the most common planting mistakes.

Are you a chef or a cook that enjoys using different types of herbs in your cooking? Wouldn't you like to have your own herbs in abundance and always have a stash available every time you are in the kitchen? You can create your own herb garden, now is the time to consider having one in your backyard.

Gardening, with any kind of plant life, should be viewed as a relaxing and fulfilling activity. It not only brings you closer to Earth, but also allows you to have a somewhat intimate relationship with it. There's a different kind of satisfaction there, being that close to nature, understanding the workings of this life form and forging a symbiotic relationship with the elements. For there is such a joy to gardening and, as you delve into the foundations of this ancient ritual of planting, caring, and, finally, harvesting, you will find happiness in the fruits of this bountiful Earth.It not only brings you closer to Earth, but also allows you to have a somewhat intimate relationship with it. There's a different kind of satisfaction there, being that close to nature, understanding the workings of this life form and forging a symbiotic relationship with the elements. For there is such a joy to gardening and, as you delve into the foundations of this ancient ritual of planting, caring, and, finally, harvesting, you will find happiness in the fruits of this bountiful Earth.

A Beginner’s Guide to Raised Bed Gardening Gardening Tips and Techniques on Organic Raised Bed Gardening Table of Contents Introduction Tips and techniques for Raised Bed Gardening The Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening Raised Beds as Spiritual Therapy Conserving water in raised beds. Preventing Soil Erosion Keyhole gardens How to Construct a Raised Garden Choosing the Right Soil Rooting zone Making Raised Beds From Timber Support for the outer wall. Watering your raised beds How to check soil drainage In Your Garden Making a Kitchen Garden in Raised Beds How to Make a Compost Heap How to Make Leaf Compost Organic manure for Making Compost Making a Worm Farm Herbal Plants in Your Raised Garden Staggered Harvests Lasagna Gardening Conclusion Author Bio Introduction The first time I came across an example of raised bed gardening, my reaction was, that is an extremely sensible way of gardening, you do not have to stoop down to ground level. I was seeing these raised garden beds in a friend’s home. She loved gardening. She also had back trouble. So crouching down in front of her beloved flower and vegetable as well as herbal garden in order to de-weed them was purgatory to her. And then her handy do-it-yourself practical husband said, “Why don’t we raise the crops and plants in beds which are waist high?” And he immediately set about building 4 feet wide beds, in square shaped blocks with wood. The soil was raised above ground level, and placed in that wooden frame. The results were amazing. It was only 10 years later that I found out that raised bed gardening was being practiced extensively all over the world. Avid gardeners were making bed frames out of concrete, rock, and even wood. They made the containers to their own particular requirements, with dimensions ranging from 1.0 m to 2 m, depending on the space they had. Gardening in containers is all very well, but raised gardening eliminates the use of pots. And best of all, as my friend told me, “I do the gardening on my raised bed. Himself –(her enthusiastic DIY gardener husband) plans to plant plants which love the shade under the raised beds. In that way, we are utilizing every inch of the soil, as well as lots of space above ground level. What a sensible way to make gardens in limited spaces.” She has the right of it. And this is possibly the reason why so many people want to know all about raised bed gardening in rich organic compost laden soil. So as you are one of them, let us start with how we can utilize every square inch of our land, economically and beneficially, by making raised beds, how to make them, how to take care of them and how to enjoy their harvest. I definitely advocate natural methods for gardening, so I am going to tell you about the best organic and natural gardening practices, which people all over the world have been using for centuries. Take advantage of our technology in other aspects of gardening like watering, etc., but still use the old natural methods for fertilizing the soil.

Kitchen Gardening for Beginners has everything you need to leave the supermarket behind in favor of tastier and healthier home-grown fruit and vegetables. Avoid bland, pesticide-tainted produce flown in from the other side of the world and start growing your own produce with this reassuring guide, complete with a glossary of gardening terms and a picture gallery of common weeds. Kitchen Gardening for Beginners takes you through ten steps to preparing your plot and teaches you need-to-know techniques such as sowing, plating, feeding, mulching, watering, and weeding. Armed with the basics, you'll learn how to grow over 70 types of fruit and vegetable crops. You'll also find easy projects such as making a simple compost bin and planting a fruit tree and tips to attract wildlife along with simple, delicious ways to enjoy your produce. A handy troubleshooting section covers identifying and dealing with weeds, pests, and diseases. Whether you prefer to start small with a few herbs and vegetable staples or you are more ambitious and intend to feed your whole family all year-round, Kitchen Gardening for Beginners will show you how.

An invaluable reference for growing and using herbs. Includes extensive illustrations. This book covers everything the gardener needs to know in order to cultivate, harvest, and use a vast array of different herbs. There is a wealth of practical information on growing and planting, provided in a clear, easy-to-use, month-by-month format, allowing gardeners to instantly find the advice they need when they need it. You’ll find an introduction to the herb garden for each month, along with straightforward instructions and a checklist for seasonal tasks—as well as easy-to-follow projects, from designing an herb garden to harvesting herbs for scented gifts.