Gardening from the couch: What Can I Do With My Herbs?
Garden books come in a couple of different varieties.
Coffee table books filled with pictures of beautiful gardens that you will never have.
Inspirational books filled with garden thoughts and sentiments you never have.
And truly useful books.
Judy Barrett's What Can I Do With My Herbs is one of the truly useful garden books. Like it's title, is direct and uncomplicated.
The author introduces us to 40 herbs, from artemisia to vetiver grass with lovely drawings. Then, in text with helpful subheads, she describes not only how to grow it, eat it and cook with it, but what creatures the herb will attract and deter, plus its medicinal and decorative uses.
Barrett also offers warnings for herbs that are dangerous if eaten, such as tansy. And she tells which herbs are good for your pores when steamed and what herbs are good for controlling erosion.
A truly useful book.
And one that can be yours if your name is randomly chosen from among those posting comments here! Please include your e-mail so I can contact you for a mailing address. Don't worry. I won't share it.
Comments
One of my favorite herb books of all time (and you should see my gardening library) is "A Cook's Guide to Growing Herbs, Green, & Aromatics" by Millie Owen. My copy was published in 1978, so I doubt if it is print anymore, but it was a book ahead of its time. It covers everything from what conditions the plants like to what to do with an unexpected bounty of, say, fennell or sorrel. And the recipes are excellent.
Posted by: Dahlink | May 17, 2009 7:49 AM
After a number of failed tries at a herb garden I finally have one growing okay this year. This book sounds like a huge help in figuring out what to do with I'm growing!
Posted by: Anthony | May 17, 2009 11:48 AM
I'm in the midst of my first herb garden and need all the help I can get with what to do with all the stuff! I am looking forward to read through all the comments to see other books people recommend. Then I'm off to my library!
Posted by: Tara | May 17, 2009 3:09 PM
I'm growing basil for the first time this year. I have a huge rosemary bush and other herbs growing in the garden this summer. This book would be quite helpful.
Posted by: Maude | May 17, 2009 4:57 PM
That looks like a very useful book all the way around. What a good source of information. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"
Posted by: Dan and Deanna | May 17, 2009 10:33 PM
Looks like a great book! I grow
A lot of herbs and am always
looking for creative things to do with them.
Posted by: Laura Soona | July 15, 2009 5:21 PM