Living with Herbs A Treasury of Useful Plants for the Home and Garden

by Gardner, Jo Ann; Sears, Elayne

• ISBN13: 9780881503593
• ISBN10: 0881503592
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-02-17
• Publisher: Countryman Press

Summary

Through her experience gardening in the inhospitable climate and soils of Nova Scotia, Jo Ann Gardner has learned simple but innovative growing methods and, as she says, "to become a more conscious gardener". The wisdom she shares--with vivid stories and a self-deprecating wit--is useful to herb growers living anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.

Table of Contents

Introduction	11	(8)
PART I	19	(76)
Chapter One BASIC GROWING METHODS	19	(30)
Starting Herbs From Seed	20	(4)
Starting Herbs Indoors	24	(3)
Starting Herbs Outdoors	27	(2)
Soil, Site, and Planting	29	(5)
A Sample Harvest Bed	34	(1)
Growing in Containers	35	(4)
Care and Propagation	39	(5)
Growing Herbs Indoors	44	(5)
Chapter Two HANDLING THE HARVEST	49	(12)
Traditional Method of Harvesting and Drying Herbs	50	(3)
Alternative Method of Harvesting and Drying Herbs	53	(6)
Other Alternatives: Microwave and Freezer	59	(2)
Chapter Three USING HERBS IN THE HOME	61	(20)
Aromatherapy	61	(1)
Bath Herbs	62	(1)
Butters	63	(1)
Candied Flowers	64	(1)
Cheese Herbs	64	(1)
Cooking with Herbs	65	(1)
Decoctions	65	(1)
Dried Flowers	65	(1)
Edible Flowers	66	(1)
Essential Oils	67	(1)
Fines Herbes	67	(1)
Fixatives	67	(1)
Infusions	68	(1)
Jellies	68	(1)
Medicinal Herbs	69	(1)
Oils	70	(1)
Potpourri	70	(2)
Sachets	72	(2)
Swags	74	(1)
Teas	74	(1)
Tussie-Mussies	74	(3)
Vinegars	77	(1)
Wreaths	78	(3)
Chapter Four THE INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE	81	(14)
The Starting Point	82	(1)
An Island Bed	83	(3)
The Art of Naturalizing	86	(1)
A Harvest Bed	87	(2)
A Rose Bed	89	(1)
Gardening at the Edges	90	(1)
Herbs for Landscaping	91	(4)
PART II	95	(182)
Chapter Five THE HERBS IN MY LIFE: 74 HERB PORTRAITS	95	(182)
Bibliography	277	(2)
Source Appendix	279	(2)
Index	281