Herbs

Cilantro is a fascinating and highly divisive herb. Some people love it for the crisp, fresh note that it brings to foods, but other people swear that it tastes like soap or worse! But the haters can’t help it, and it turns out this hatred of cilantro is actually genetic. Regardless of which side of … Read more

Only people who have never tried to keep plants alive think it is a simple affair. Give it a little water, give it a little light, boom, growing plants. But only we gardeners know the truth: it is easy to kill a plant by giving it too much or too little of anything, including water. … Read more

Basil is one of the most beloved and popular herbs in use around the world, and one of the very easiest to grow in a home garden. While basil it’s easy to grow, getting your plants started right is half the battle. So, how many basil seeds should you plant per hole? Plant one basil … Read more

Asparagus is one of those vegetables that you either love or hate, with seemingly no in-between. Assuming you like it, or that someone in your family likes it enough for you to grow it, you’ll need to make sure it gets enough sun if you want a good harvest. But, asparagus is fairly notorious for … Read more

Every plant, no matter what kind, needs water. Water is the most essential resource for life on Earth, and without enough of it everything will desiccate and die. But, if you are a gardener or landscaper, figuring out how much water to give your plants, and how often, is easier said than done. Too much … Read more

If you’re getting sick of the same old lettuce, and are plain tired of the usual Bibb or Butterhead, arugula might be a good choice to spice up your salads or give your sandwiches a little extra pizzazz. It also happens to be extremely nutritious and is one of the easiest salad greens that you … Read more

Tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus) is a super addition to any herb garden if your growing conditions permit. There are different types of tarragon, Russian, Mexican and French. It’s not a great looking plant, but it is hardy and a sophisticated addition to your kitchen herb garden. Commonly grown to use as a herb because of its … Read more

For many people, parsley is nothing more than a garnish that rests off to the side of the dinner plate. For others, parsley is a necessary staple in the kitchen, providing a whole host of flavors and uses for home chefs. I happen to fall into the latter category. Although I wasn’t a huge fan … Read more

Oregano is a superb culinary herb. The delicious herb is not only often used in my homesteading kitchen, but also in herb balls that I made for all of our livestock to boost their immune systems and help keep them healthy. This herb plant is a part of the Origanum genus. Origanum vulgare, the scientific … Read more

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose – table sugar. The FDA has approved highly purified stevia for use in food, but has not done the same with raw stevia grown at home and used in the raw due to a lack of safety testing. This herb plant … Read more

Comfrey is a beautiful and medicinal herb. You can easily grow this shrub style herb plant in either ground plots or containers. Comfrey can be cultivated in an apothecary patch on the homestead, or used as part of an edible landscaping project in traditional landscaping flower beds. This healing herb typically grows to reach heights … Read more

Marjoram is a superb “plant it and forget it” type of herb plant. Aside from being a little cold weather sensitive, marjoram thrives equally well when cultivated indoors in a pot, or outside in a raised bed. This member of the Lamiaceae family is a cousin to oregano, basil, summer savory, rosemary, thyme, mint, sage, … Read more

Most homesteads have some sort of herb garden outdoors, but sometimes, you want to bring the outdoors in. Whether it’s due to your space, simple convenience, or because you aren’t actually on a homestead yet, an indoor herb garden is an ideal solution. Let’s face it, there are many reasons for an indoor herb garden, … Read more

Amaranth may not be a staple crop on American homesteads right now, but it should be. This nutrient-rich plant has been used as a dietary staple and natural home remedy base ingredient in many regions of the world for centuries. This beautiful and easy to grow plant that is often classified as both a grain … Read more

Cilantro is an herb that can be grown in containers or in the ground. It is an annual flowering plant that is part of the parsley family. It is said that you either love the flavor of cilantro or you hate it. Those that hate it say it tastes soapy, while those that love it … Read more