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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George asks…
How can I make my own hanging basket herb garden?
I thought it would be a nice mothersday gift. I also need to know what herbs are best for a hanging basket. And how many different herbs can I have in one average size hanging basket. Thanks for your help i’ll choose a best answer as soon as I can.
GardenersCardiff answers:
The basics are not just attractive in foliage, bot useful in the kitchen.Of course they will be still small by mother’s day and depending on where you live ,will have to be kept inside until it warms up.Purple basil,green basil,parsley,thyme(drapes nicely)but be mindful it attracts bees.tarragon,chives and oregano are wonderful selections.That’s agreat gift!
Nancy asks…
What is a great graduation gift idea for my sister?
I am thinking something along the lines of a gift basket. So if I got things that would be like bathroom/laundry oriented that could be one idea. I am looking for something unique and sort of extravagant for my sister.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I saw this the other day on TV and it seemed really cool for a dorm or really for anyone’s vanity/bathroom:
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.CM_SCID.COLL.item.H164200.desc.Tabletop-Spinning-Cosmetic-Organizer-by-Lori-Greiner
If you want to include something special for your sister in your gift basket maybe a piece of jewelry would be nice. You can even get her a jewelry organizer and put the piece that you buy for her in it. Maybe something like this:
http://home-solutions.hsn.com/over-the-door-space-saving-jewelry-armoire-with-mirror_p-6215976_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=6215976&sf=hw&dept=hw0034&cat=hw0052&ocm=HW|hw0034|hw0052&prev=hp!sf!dept!cat&ccm=HW|hw0034|hw0052
Jewelry suggestions:
http://www.handmadegiftplace.com/Emily-Rosenfeld-Pewter-Wish-Come-True-Pendant.html
http://www.handmadegiftplace.com/Cynthia-Gale-Secret-Garden-Iolite-Key-Pendant.html
http://www.handmadegiftplace.com/Cynthia-Gale-Sterling-Silver-Envelope-Necklace.html
http://www.handmadegiftplace.com/Necklaces.html
http://www.handmadegiftplace.com/Inspirational.html
http://www.handmadegiftplace.com/Bracelets.html
There are a lot of “inspirational” pieces here which say “hope”, “dream,” love, etc:
Inspirational
I like your idea of a basket and know that your sister could probably use the items you suggested, but to make it unique and extravagant I think you might need to add something special. Best of luck to you!
Steven asks…
What Are Some Good Gifts For an Exchange Student from Japan?
She is 13 turning 14. We will have her for 2 weeks. She likes blue, pink, green. We want a lot of small gifts for her welcome present!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Well, you should get something for her, as well as some item for each member of her family back home, as well as at least one item for her family as a whole. She will also be bringing gifts for you as well, and generally you give gifts when you first meet, and right before she leaves to go home. I would recommend items that are small, light, and new for her, if possible, and also represent where you are from and your country. Some small picture books or calendars, ashtrays, chocolates, fragrant bath salts, t-shirts, sauces or salad dressings like Ranch, pure maple or berry syrups, colognes, jams or baseball caps, coasters, nice soap or shampoos, lotions, cosmetics, flavored coffees/tea, keychains, postcards, etc. Would be great. If you’d like to do something really memorable for her, see if you can rent a formal dress and get her some high heels, and have her photo taken in a professional studio. Japanese really don’t do anything like that til they’re 20 in a kimono, and it will be something she will always treasure. Above all remember she will likely be shy at first, so get her involved with family activities – make her a member of your family as much as possible, doing things together like shopping, gardening, and so on. What you take for granted will all be new to her, so even things like going to the supermarket can be a good experience for her.
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