Everything you need to know about herbs — growing and using
By Lorraine Kiefer
As one who has been in the garden for a lifetime I realize that my weekly garden column began and comes naturally as a journal. In the mid 1970s when I had a fall in a ski chair and broke by back I was confined to a hospital bed and had to experience gardening via my writings until spring and healing happened. Those winter months were linked to the garden with reading, writing and an occasional sprig, branch or bloom brought in to me. The column soon appeared in the local weekly paper the Franklin Township Sentinel as Ready, Set, Grow and has been part of me ever since.
Those days, so long ago, led to the beginning of a unique horticulture business with all phases of flowers and plants. It started in a little shed to use as my headquarters where I grew some seeds and cuttings into plants in a small green house. Since my days as a 4-H member I loved to arrange the dried flowers and herbs that I grew. It was a way of life that meshed with kids and household.
As I look back, I fondly remember the first herb 'week' as it was then. A table next to the shed where I did some herb classes and craft projects with people who came. A local herbal gardening friend Ursula helped me and also did some very interesting little talks. She will also be on hand Saturday, May 28 at 2:30 to do the same at the 40th annual herb weekend. Many other herbal friends and Herb Society of America members as well as some family members will also take part in this anniversary event.
Herbs are fascinating! Plants that are by definition culinary, medicinal, fragrant and decorative, they are timeless and so very historic. I remember picking dill with my Babci when the dill was as tall as me. Of course there were cucumbers to go with it in our garden! I remember picking basil with my other grandmother for her to cook with delicious fresh tomatoes from her garden. It was good.
Throughout the years new plants have always enchanted me. I have come to love lemon balm tea and value it as a relaxing, cold preventing beverage. Lavender, one of the longest used herbs is also fun to use, beautiful to grow and a very wonderful bath herb. Mints, artemisia and scented geraniums are insect repelling herbs that are safe and comfortable to use. I like to use natural oils and herbs to repel insects on both pets and people and will be doing a little talk about this at herb weekend.
Herb weekend has been happening for 40 years as it began as a Bicentennial event for me at my little herb shed in 1976. It brings together gardeners and herbalist from all over. It is free and very educational. This Saturday and Sunday there will be talks all day.
Sweet woodruff and strawberries will enhance the May Wine for all to taste, local honey will top the cake samples at the pollinator talk, teas and pesto will be demonstrated and tasted too. Lavender will be loved by all at the lavender talk and everyone will learn lots about the many facets of herbs.
The local South Jersey unit of the Herb Society of America will have table where they will answer herb questions, sell herbal cookies and used garden and nature books to raise money for scholarships,
Many locals will participate and do presentations along with me, but the keynote speaker this year is Karen O'Brien who will do presentation on the ancient still room garden. Her costumed presentation looks back in time to the practice of using herbs in all manner of 17th century life. From the kitchen to the bedroom to the farm, the stillroom was an important element in assuring the health and well-being of a household and estate.
Sharon Kiefer will have a natural table of her ceramics, her Arbonne products from a Swiss company that sells all plant-based, gluten-free, vegan, no animal testing, cholesterol-free, natural products. She will also have her farm fresh eggs for sale.
Carolla's local restaurant will have a lunch table both days.
It will be a great time to be herbal and natural and enjoy some timeless experience in learning about herbs. There will be tours of the garden and many talks throughout the day. Herb weekend is scheduled May 28 beginning at 10 a.m. with the last talk starting at 3:30 p.m. and May 29 starting at 10:30 a.m. with the last talk starting at 2:15 p.m. Check out tripleoaks.com for details.
Lorraine Kiefer is the owner and operator of Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville. She can also be reached by e-mail at Lorraine@tripleoaks.