Growing your own herbs is easy and economical.
Though they are simple to grow and readily available, fresh herbs are quite costly when purchased at the grocery store or local market. Those with gardens, terraces, patios, porches or even sunny windowsills can easily cultivate these pricey plants at home. Herbs that are not immediately utilized can be dried and stored for later use or sold at the farmer's market for a handsome profit. Does this Spark an idea?
Culinary Herbs
Chefs of all calibers prefer fresh herbs for their dishes. Not only do they add a flavorful kick to homemade soups, salads, casseroles and stews, fresh herbs tend to look nicer when incorporated into a dish or set along the side of the plate as garnish. Some of the most popular herbs for the kitchen include basil, chives, cilantro, oregano, parsley, thyme and sage. These hardy plants are easily grown from seeds and require almost no attention, beyond routine watering; however, in the store these flavorsome leaves can sell for as much as $2 per half ounce -- about the same price as a packet of garden seeds. From a single envelop of seeds, multiple plants can be grown, each of which is capable of producing a seemingly endless supply of tasty, aromatic foliage, flowers and stems.
Aromatic Herbs
Aromatic herbs are valued for their sweet scent. While potpourris, air fresheners and fabric sprays can be quite expensive, pots filled with plants such as lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena and apple mint, fill the air with fragrance and eliminate unpleasant household odors for a fraction of the price of commercial deodorizing products. Sprigs of these pungent plants can be used to fill sachets or placed throughout the house in small vases. Not only to they smell lovely, they tend to keep unwanted pests, such as flies, ants and moths at bay.
Herbal Teas
There are few situations that cannot be improved by a cup of hot tea. Herbal teas are popular with many as they tend to calm the nerves, ease digestive upset and bring on a decent night's rest. Rather than paying through the nose for a handful of dried flowers; plant a few chamomile or beebalm plants. These herbs are the main components in a number of trendy, store-bought herbal tea blends. To make a homemade beverage, simply snip a few flowers from the stems of the plant, drop them in a mug, then cover the blossoms with piping hot water and let the mixture steep for five minutes before drinking.
Medicinal Herbs
The use of medicinal herbs has grown in recent years. Whether people are disillusioned with modern medicine, dislike the possible side-effects of prescriptions, or are simply seeking less expensive alternatives; traditional, time-honored remedies are being resurrected and utilized by people all over the country. As a result, the cost of the most useful curative herbs has increased. Fortunately, plants such as St. John's wort, catmint, and marsh mallow can be easily grown in the home garden and put to use in a number of everyday preparations. Bear in mind, many home remedies have not been scientifically tested and may only be of limited use.
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