Organic herbs and spices are the perfect accompaniment for your green Thanksgiving feast this November. Herbs and spices not only season your food but can help keep you naturally more healthy during the hectic holiday season. For example…

Sage used for stuffing, gravy, bread, soup, and more can also help fight upset stomach, reduce depression and even inhibits the development of different bacteria. Some research shows that sage can even help boost insulin action in those with diabetes.
Rosemary used for potatoes, veggies, and more fights free radicals, relaxes your stomach, and has even been shown to aid memory issues in Alzheimer’s …read more

While I like growing veggies, and really enjoy fresh cut flowers, herbs are my favorite garden item to grow. The whole reason I first started gardening was because of herbs. I had wanted to make my own soaps, creams, and other beauty products, but didn’t always want to have to buy herbs. Plus, some herbs are harder to find at stores, or you can only find them dry not fresh, and they can be costly.
There are plenty of reasons why I love herbs though; way beyond the beauty supply aspects…

Herbs are easy to grow: In my experience, herbs are easier …read more

PLANT O’ THE DAY: Mint – which granted is a little broad. There are over 600 varieties of mint. If you’re perplexed by which mint variety to plant narrow down what you’ll be using it for. For example if you’d like to make some insomnia mint tea, you may want to try a lemon mint, or for scented bouquets you could grow some apple scented applemint. You can look at a book about mint or talk to your local nursery to learn about native mints.

GROWING CONDITIONS: With over 600 types you might guess that there are plenty of growing conditions …read more

Herbs have been used for centuries to treat all sorts of ailments. If you’ve got your own garden plot you can set one area aside as a medicinal herb section. BUT make sure you play it safe with these tips…
Herbs can be safe but they can also be just as dangerous as a prescription or OTC drug. Just because you grew it yourself, does not mean you might not experience a negative affect after taking the herb. You should never take herbs willy nilly. Always research first and make sure you understand how to use the herb – i.e. in …read more

I admit, I don’t have a garden where I could pick fresh herbs when I need them for cooking. The fresh herbs I buy from the grocery store go bad after a week. It’s really frustrating because not only am I wasting too much herbs, I’m also throwing money away.
I just found my solution in the name of Herb Savor.
This little nifty kitchen gadget helps prolong herbs’ life for up to 3 weeks. The well base is refillable with water to keep it safe. It has a removable stainless steel basket/cover which holds the herbs together. The size …read more

Rosemary is another one of my favorite kitchen garden herbs. I brought one of my Rosemary plants in last fall and overwintered it in the laundry room window. I didn’t think it would make it through the winter, but it survived. Now it’s going back outside for the summer.
I love Rosemary’s citrus, woodsy scent and flavor. I have a wonderful recipe for rosemary cookies I’m going to share with you soon. Rosemary’s also great in summer potpourris and soups.
I like to throw it on the grill with kabobs and other meats and let it add its wonderful flavor. Rosemary stalks …read more

Nothing adds more interest and zest to your cooking than herbs cut fresh from the garden. One of the most versatile of these is thyme, a perennial herb that goes well with eggs, salads, braised meat dishes and a host of other recipes. Below is a little more about thyme:

* Thyme is mentioned in Greek and Egyptian literature. The ancient world used it in baths, for embalming, and as incense in temples.
* Thyme thrives in a sunny location with well-drained soil.
* Thyme is a staple in a wide range of cuisines, from French to Persian to …read more

Hello. If you are looking for Veggie Chic, you are in the right place. We are now part of the BlissTree portal. I’ll still be writing about a veggie life, but I’ll be over here at Foods and Nutrition.
I live in the Sacramento Valley area of Northern California. It’s fairly warm here all year and although we get frost, we very rarely get any sort of snow. (I think it’s snowed twice in the 16 years that I have lived here). Yesterday, I started getting my patio garden together.  I’m an apartment dweller, but I have a large slab out …read more

Alternative or complimentary treatments have been of interest in helping with the treatment of many diseases. How many of you have friends or relatives that use vitamins or supplemental minerals and herbs to aid their medical regimen? I know I do. My mom’s medicine cabinet looks like a pharmacy gone bad. She is a type 2 diabetic and has every herbal and vitamin that is manufactured. She uses them daily and believes that they have a positive effect on her life. Do they really work in the treatment of diabetes?
Many herbs and vitamins have …read more