Sharon asks…
I’m an aspiring Wiccan and I have some questions about herbs…?
If I wanted to began growing my own herbs is their any recommended ones to start with, you know is there any basic herbs I should make sure I have?
GardenersCardiff answers:
You may want to get one of the herb samplers from e-bay to find out if you have an affinity for working with certain herbs.
Mugwort is an important one. I personally like hyssop too, but some people don’t like the smell. Roses are important for a lot of things, but roses are really hard to grow! Orris is pretty much the same as iris (from what I can tell) and then there is yarrow. Borage is good for bees and for courage spells. Catnip and dill for money spells. (Those two are really easy to grow.) Lavender is very popular for cleansing and memory, though I personally dislike the stuff. Chamomile is very good. Morning glory is used for binding spells (since it’s a vine) and is also a good incentive to get up early in the morning to harvest you herbs. If the morning glory flower has closed up then it’s too late and too hot to harvest your herbs and they won’t smell as good as if you had harvested them earlier in the day. Violets are very good to have but hard to grow.
I’m very fond of milkweed as a magical tool but I have yet to find it in any book. Same with lilac, actually, though I think lilac has been listed as something “calming and cleansing” or similar. You’ll start to get an instinct for this sort of thing after a while.
Joseph asks…
Where can I find recipes that start from scratch. I grow my own vegetables and herbs.?
Answers on how to combine different already prepared foods cannot help me. I make my mustard from seeds, ketchup/spaghetti sauce from tomatoes, baked beans from fresh picked beans, etc.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I must admit I am amazed at the number of US recipe sites that comprise recipes that require little more than opening tins. Especially when using fresh ingredients are healthier and make cooking fun. I too make all my stuff from scratch – I cook and freeze surplus tomatoes to use as sauce bases, and cook my own chickpeas/garbanzos for making curries and hummous – the latter being far better then those that come out of a tin and way cheaper.
I’d recommend getting a recipe book that enables you to do a range of foods until you find ones that you like but don’t require hours of preparation. Also I find that the prep gets quicker with experience. One of my favourite authors is Nigel Slater who does a range of books and I use his recipes constantly because they are tasty, different and don’t take me hours.
I anticipate that you are in the US, if so you can get his books from Amazon at the site below.
If you want to try food from the UK, one of the best sites I know is the BBC web site which has an excellent search facility and different types of cusine, again see the link below.
Have fun!
Mandy asks…
whats cheaper to buy herbs or to grow my own in pots?
GardenersCardiff answers:
It’s cheaper to grow your own from seed. We have lots of herbs in our garden, Mint,Oregano,Basil,Rosemary,Chives,Sage,Parsley,Thyme,Lemon Thyme,Lemon Verbena,Marjoram etc,some from seed but most from tiny plants. They require very little attention apart from weedind & watering & can be dried & put in jars or frozen straight from the plant. Do try it
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Sharon asks…
if you own an allotment or have a veg patch, why? and what do you get out of it besides food hopefully!?
Basically I am doing a project at Uni all about ‘grow your own‘ where I am growing my own herbs and veg as a beginner, seeing how far I get and documenting/photographing the whole process and I wondered for people whom own allotments or have veg patches in their gardens ect, why do you do it and what do you get out of It?
I would really appreciate your answers to help me gain more Insight on the topic as It seems such a popular thing to have/do at the moment!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Watching somthing grow from the seed you plans,protect,feed.
Then being patient,watch it grow to its full potential and even talk to it.then eat it. You just cant beat it.
Mark asks…
If you own an allotment or have a veg patch, why? and what do you get out of it besides food hopefully!?
Basically I am doing a project at Uni all about ‘grow your own‘ where I am growing my own herbs and veg as a beginner, seeing how far I get and documenting/photographing the whole process and I wondered for people whom own allotments or have veg patches in their gardens ect, why do you do it and what do you get out of It?
I would really appreciate your answers to help me gain more Insight on the topic as It seems such a popular thing to have/do at the moment!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Fresh air and exercise without expensive gym fees for one and at the same time delicious fresh produce that I grow organically at a fraction of the cost it takes to buy. There is something immensely satisfying about appearing from the vegetable plot with arms of vegetables you grew yourself.
I also feel a sense of continuity going back over the centuries and affinity with previous generations in my family who grew their own. There is a certain sense of oneness with creation as well. As I dig I think of my two grandma’s and dad who were avid gardeners. My dad was still growing his own fruit and vegetables until he died at the grand old age of 96 – it gave him an interest in life, healthy exercise and a healthy diet. He used to say with everything he grew that he lived like a lord. I now understand what he meant.
Chris asks…
Anyone grow their own herbs?
Please reply so i can catalogue your comm details and email you regarding planting and soiling and such.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Yes I grow parsley, thyme,oregano,basil,green onions,and garlic…
They grow in well drained soil and has to be watered when the soil is dry..if you putting it in a pot,stick your finger in the soil and if it is dry then water…if it is in the ground you water once a day..
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