Wednesday, 15 October 2014

1000 Flowers for the Planet - #325 Grow Herbs





1000 Flowers for the Planet - #325 Grow Herbs



Herbs are amazing plants with so much to offer. They also grow in the smallest of spaces, making them accessible to almost anyone. Most people tend to use them for cooking, but they can also be used for medicinal purposes and in making your own cosmetics. Thousands of books are available on the growing and using of herbs, as well as boundless information on the Internet. This might seem overwhelming, so a suggestion would be to pick one or two herbs you think you like and try them first. Research how you can include them in your cooking and then try looking at their medicinal qualities to see if you may benefit from them in that way also. Once you’ve mastered one or two, try a couple more.
Herbs have been used by mankind for millennia. They are nature’s contribution to healing. A word of caution: all care must be taken when using herbs for medicinal purposes, and always consult a medical practitioner first. Do your homework thoroughly, but do be encouraged to use fresh herbs in your cooking to add flavour and smarten up a dish. Fresh from the garden will provide so much more flavour than dried options from the store, or any stuff that comes in a plastic tube. Home grown herbs help the planet by reducing the amount of plastic packaging you purchase then toss into landfill. They can be companion planted to aid the growth of other plants and encourage good insects. Growing them can be a positive hobby for children, who would reap fast rewards for their efforts, learn about gardening and be encouraged to cook with their harvest. Even adults may find more pleasure in cooking with their home grown herbs, bringing families together around a table of healthy, home cooked meals. Lovely.

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