Starting a Herb Garden
“The best thing for ordinary folks would be to keep a small garden near the house and work in it for a few hours every day.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
Shantree Kacera, R.H., D.N., Ph.D,
As the days grow longer and the air carries a hint of warmth, it's undeniable: spring is awakening. It's that time of year when visions of lush, fragrant gardens dance in our minds, beckoning us to cultivate our own slice of paradise. Whether it's the garden you've always envisioned or an expansion of your current oasis, now is the perfect moment to indulge in dreams of vibrant colours, tantalizing aromas, and bountiful harvests.
Gardening is more than just a hobby; it's a living canvas, a masterpiece that evolves with each passing day, weaving a tapestry of beauty and nourishment through the changing rhythms of the seasons. The gentle rhythm of planting, tending, and harvesting offers a profound connection to nature—a connection that serves as a potent form of medicine for the mind, body, and soul.
For those with culinary or herbal inclinations, the idea of a backyard garden brimming with ingredients for homemade meals or soothing teas is enchanting. But where to start? Location is vital, and what better place than steps away from your kitchen door? Convenience meets practicality when your culinary haven is nestled near the heart of your home.
Consider carving out a modest plot, perhaps a tidy 10x10 square, to begin your gardening journey. Don't be deceived by its size; this compact space holds vast potential for cultivating an array of herbs, each contributing its own unique flavour and medicinal properties to your garden tableau.
Creating a garden teeming with culinary and medicinal treasures involves carefully considering five essential aspects. Each step plays a vital role in cultivating a thriving sanctuary of health and flavour, from selecting the right plants to nurturing them through growth and harvest.
”The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.”
~Alfred Austin
“The five elements—Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Ether—remind us of the different dynamics we can call upon and embody in different scenarios.
The expression of these elements is within us all, as we all come from Mother Nature.”
EARTH/ SOIL—Working the soil is a grounding and stabilizing healing experience. The soil quality is the top priority in having healthy and vibrant plants. It starts with compost packed full of trace minerals and beneficial organisms; the more prosperous the soil, the richer, healthier, and more medicinal and nutritious the plants will be. Most herbs prefer a sandy loam, which is good and loose.
AIR/ VENTILATION – For a healthy little ecosystem, give your plants plenty of space between each other; all plants need elbow room. A little 3-4 inch potted plant can turn into a 5-6 foot monster in a few months. Plant the ones that will get big on the garden bed's north side.
FIRE/ SUNLIGHT—Ideally, most plants need at least 6-8 hours of light daily. Plant your shade-loving plants on the north side of the garden and your sun-loving or smaller plants, like the thymes, on the south side of the garden. Most plants are happy with east and west exposures during the summer, and with extra water and ventilation, they’ll do fine on the hot south side.
WATER/ RAIN – All plants need a sprinkle of rain before their roots get too dry. A good soaking once or twice during the hotter months works well; it will all depend on your soil type.
ETHER/ SPACE—This is actually the most essential aspect of gardening. By space, I mean creating a sacred space where growing miracles happen, and I don’t just mean the plants. The elements of nature through plants transform each and every gardener. Cherish each moment, for being in the garden is far more potent than any spice, tea, or herbal tincture you will ever buy. It is the medicine of medicines.
“Touching the earth – digging, planting, harvesting – connects us literally and spiritually to those who have dug, planted and harvested before us.”
~Peg Streep“We learn from our gardens how to deal with the most urgent question of the time: how much is enough?”
~Wendell Berry