Indeed, thank you Alexandra.

Most garden centers have very informative plastic 'info tabs' in with the plants. When in doubt, read them! They will usually have all the basic info you need, like whether they are edible (at least if they are categorized as 'herbs'). For example, when I went to buy herbs recently, they had five different plants referred to as 'lavender'. Only two of them were 'true' lavender, and listed as edible.


And you are quite right about using fresh herbs for tea, as well. They work much better than dried herbs in almost every case, but it takes much more in 'size' measuring to get the same effect, because the water in the herbs takes up so much space. For example, if you went by leaves, ten fresh mint leaves would flavor as much water as ten dried mint leaves... however, ten fresh mint leaves would be, say, a teaspoon, whereas the ten dried and crushed or chopped mint leaves might take up only a quarter teaspoon. (This is just an example, I don't know the actual ratio.)

I'll certainly get an article about it up soon though!

I would also just like to add that I am an avid and keen enthusiast, who has gained a good deal of experience, so I guess you could say 'I know my stuff'....but I wouldn't like anyone to think that I am an expert... neither am I qualified in any way... So whatever I post as information or content is purely gleaned and gathered through my own experience. If in doubt, always but always seek other opinion or advice...in fact, do that anyway... I wouldn't want anyone to take anything I say as 'Gospel'...!

I thank you.

Nice thread! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I found it - I knew I had a reference somewhere -
The general rule of thumb is 75g of fresh herbs to 500ml of fresh water.
When you boil the water, wait a couple of seconds before pouring it onto the herbs as 'plant constituents will get lost in the steam'...I quote.

The book I found all this in (link to Amazon page below) is absolutely brilliantly excellent in the identification, cultivation and use of herbs in infusions, decoctions, oils, creams and ointments.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/185626257X/102-7819627-8715343?v=glance&n=283155

Apologies for appearing to hog the thread.... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Don't underestimate the power of experience. I don't have much in the way of 'formal' training. And even 'experts' can make mistakes, or disagree with other 'experts'.

Please, don't anyone ever "feel bad" for helping others in the forum. That's what it's here for! However, if things look like they might become a protracted conversation in a 'business' thread like this, copy the question, and quote it in a new thread. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I like reading about any herbs. It is so humid here in the summer, some herbs just do not do well. Lavender is one, sage and thyme do not last long either. I prefer to grow my plants from seeds, if available. I love purple basil for herb vinegar; one summer I experimented with blueberries. I dropped frozen blueberries in the bottle of vinegar and put it up on the shelf. Don't move the bottle. It took weeks for the color to make its way to the top of the bottle and was fun to watch. One year I made a knot garden with chive seeds. The chives have been dug up and moved, and they must be 10 years old. My favorite thing is just playing with them because they smell wonderful. I am very allergic to Ragweed so I do not have chamomile.

Have you tried growing your herbs in partial shade, Firefly? I planted lavender under our live oak and it's been thriving for the last 3 years. It gets sun for a few hours a day, but is shaded the rest. I also grow other delicate herbs on the west side of the house although they still don't do as well as what's grown under the oaks.

I will put mine under a live oak and see what happens. It is so humid in the summer, sometimes people have trouble breathing, and they say the humidity does in a lot of plants. I am keeping my fingers crossed, as I picked up a beauty of a lavender plant several weeks ago. Perhaps dappled sunlight will work better than morning sun, afternoon shade. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I am happy to announce that my lavender is still with me, and looking good! I don't think my other ones were under a live oak. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue2.gif" alt="" />

Anyone have something specific they would like to see an article on? I know someone out there has to have a question or two I haven't addressed yet...?

Hi all!
I am interested in learning to make healing/body products using fresh herbs, like lavender, sage, rosemary, and lemon verbena. If anyone knows any recipes, or books about this, I'd love to hear about it.

Particularly I'd like to try making massage or edible oils, and products that would be good for hair, or solutions that could be used for aromatherapy...that kind of thing.

Looking forward to reading more about making tea with fresh herbs too. I was just wondering how that's done before seeing this thread!

Thanks so much!