Community Herb Farming

I believe much of the magic of plants is experienced by being in close relationship with them. 

 Initially, for me, this involved many long walks paying attention to what trees and plants might be found along the path. It's always interesting to note which particular plant or plants may stand out or grab one's attention. I never grow weary of this, every day is a new discovery.

As I led plant walks and taught about various herbs and herbal preparations in my community and found myself fretting about the limited amount of wild plants in the very 'over-developed' suburban area where I live, it became clear that it was time to start growing herbs and leave the wild stands be. 

Thus began The Herb Garden Project.

It's wonderful to have dried herbs available when you need them! 

I remember a time, before internet, when

I'd hope to find a "natural food store" that might have bulk herbs in stock, and, if lucky, you could get the species you wanted. But where did they come from, who grew them- or were they wild harvested, and in what manner?  As I started my apothecary, it became more and more an imperative to know about the herbs that would become  ingredients in so many preparations. 

As I began drying my own herbs, I realized there was a very distinct difference in the quality of the fresh-dried herbs and, as a result, a beneficial effect on my teas, tinctures, oils and other various products.

Part of my vision for the Herb Garden is to teach others the art of harvesting and drying the herbs that we cultivate at the farm.

This year we are adding a shade cloth to our new hoop house and will be experimenting to find out what we may successfully dry.