Herb gardening yields many benefits but is not a difficult hobby. Herb gardening is beneficial, because herbs produce chemical compounds which give flavor to food and beverages; are sources of remedies for common ailments; produce delightful fragrances; have pungent aromas or poisonous properties which can repel or kill insect pests; and they contain pigments used in dyes, food colorings, and cosmetics. Herb gardening is not difficult, because herbs are the easiest of plants to grow, being adaptable to growing almost anywhere. Many will grow happily on a balcony or patio and even indoors. Herb gardening will reward you with decorative, aromatic plants that have a multitude of uses.
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Cooking With Herbs
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Thanks to the growing interest in eating healthy foods made from natural ingredients, herb gardening has become ever more popular as a hobby or even a small business. Herbs harvested from herb gardening can be used fresh or preserved in order to flavor salads, appetizers, soups, meat, fish, breads, beverages, and even desserts (lavender cookies are wonderful). Herbs are also used to flavor oils, vinegars, jelly, and wine. The list of culinary herbs is endless. Herb gardening of culinary herbs is often a side hobby of someone whose main hobby is cooking.
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Medicinal Herbs
Herb gardening has been prevalent throughout the world, and much of herbs’ history has involved their use in medicine. For millennium, people from all around the world have relied on herbs to heal wounds, expel parasites, relieve pain, increase stamina, resist infection, stimulate proper digestion, reduce fever, and cope with many other ailments. It has been said that for every human ailment, there is a botanical antidote, and modern research into the subject is revealing it more and more likely to be true. Herb gardening of medicinal herbs as a hobby for personal use, as a commercial grower, or in connection with herbalism, can be an interesting and challenging endeavor.
Preserving Herbs
Except for the use of fresh herbs in cooking, herbs are preserved in order to extend their life for future use. Methods include drying, by far the most extensive method, short term freezing, and preserving in vinegars and oils. These vinegars and oils can then be used in flavoring salad dressings, pickles, and marinades. Except for freezing, herbs can be stored for long periods of time. Herb gardening is truly the first step in what could be a lifetime hobby or career.