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The Green Guide to Herb Gardening


© T. Darlene Cheek

Sep 22, 2000


The Green Guide to Herb Gardening by Deborah C. Harding is an excellent resource for those of you who would like to begin experimenting with herbal remedies. The herbs that this wonderful book covers can be found right in your own spice rack! So many times when we look for a remedy, it's got a name like Wu Jia Pi. Now where in the world do we get Wu Jia Pi? Wouldn't you much rather hear your herbalist say, "Oh, you can use oregano for that!"

The Green Guide to Herb Gardening tells us everything we need to know about ten of the most popular herbs. That may not sound like a lot of information, but this book is 178 pages long, and packed with useful information including propagation, preparation, preservation, and magical uses. Each chapter on an herb lists the name and description of the many types of each plant. For example:

Types of Basil

  • Sweet Basil
  • Lettuce Leaf Basil
  • Lemon Basil
  • Bush/Breek Basil
  • Licorice Basil
  • Cinnamon Basil
  • Holy Basil
  • Camphor Basil
  • Opal Basil
  • Anise Basil
  • Green Ruffles Basil
  • Purple Ruffles Basil

    The chapter then covers the history, magic and folklore of the herb as well as the individual planting, cultivating, harvesting and storage unique to the herb. When you're saying, "Wow, that's a lot of information," you reach the next page on the culinary uses of the herb. This is my favorite part. An example of all the different recipes for Basil are:

    Culinary Uses

  • Italian Seasoning
  • Perfect Pesto
  • Pesto Pizza
  • Grilled, Basiled Veggie Mix
  • Pesto Omelet
  • Basiled Bread
  • Bouquet Garni
  • Basiled Eggs
  • Green Noodles
    These are good served with chicken or fish

    8 oz spinach noodles
    3/4 cup butter
    2 tablespoons fresh basil

    Cook spinach noodles per package instructions. Melt butter in a frying pan and add basil. Stir until basil wilts. Place cooked, drained noodles in a serving bowl and pour basil/butter mixture over top. Toss and serve. (excerpt from book)

  • Basil Butter
  • Opal Basil Vinegar
  • Tomato Basil Salad
  • Basil Jelly (2 versions)
  • Stuffed Basil Tomatoes
  • Basil Tea
    Even though this tea possesses many medicinal benefits, you can drink it just for the flavor. Enjoy some on a cold winter evening to get your circulation going.

    6-8 sprigs any culinary variety of basil
    4-6 cups rapidly bowling water

    Place sprigs in a teapot and add boiling water to cover. Steep covered about 10 to 15 minutes. Strain. Add honey of desired. (excerpt from book).

    Then the book moves into the remedies of each herb (with a full description):

  • Indigestion
  • Stomach Cramps
  • Anxiety
  • Constipation
  • Insomnia and Depression
  • Sores
  • Lung Congestion
  • Nausea
  • Menstrual Cycle
  • Milk Production for Nursing Mothers
  • Acne
  • Stings

    To finish off the chapter, we get a description of the aromatic, cosmetic, ornamental and other uses. Though I've used Basil as an example for this review, Ms. Harding also covers:

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    The copyright of the article The Green Guide to Herb Gardening in Holistic Therapy is owned by T. Darlene Cheek. Permission to republish The Green Guide to Herb Gardening in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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    Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
    13.   Dec 7, 2000 5:40 PM
    In response to message posted by CarolWallace:

    Sounds like a nice place to spend the weekend... do you think you could get us ...

    -- posted by mastiffs2005
    12.   Dec 7, 2000 4:45 PM
    In response to message posted by CheekHypno:
    What surprised me was the arnica. I thought he meant as a lotio too - but he says it ...

    -- posted by CarolWallace
    11.   Dec 7, 2000 3:44 PM
    In response to message posted by CarolWallace:

    TURMERIC

    A cleanser for all systems in the body, as wel as a digestive aid. ...

    -- posted by mastiffs2005
    10.   Dec 7, 2000 3:15 PM
    In response to message posted by CarolWallace:

    You can find Gotu Kola in post 67, here:

    http://www.suite101.com/discussion. ...

    -- posted by mastiffs2005
    9.   Dec 7, 2000 2:55 PM
    In response to message posted by CheekHypno:
    Does the book happen to mention an herb called Gutta Kola - or something along those ...

    -- posted by CarolWallace



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