One of the easiest ways to start gardening is to plant herbs. Because herbs are easy to grow and require minimal attention, you can grow them on a windowsill, in pots, or even indoors (if the conditions, such as sunlight, are adequate). Plus, there are myriad ways of using herbs in your culinary creations for flavoring and garnishing — from adding a few mint sprigs into a green chutney, fresh rosemary on baked potatoes, jazzing up a glass of water, or sprinkling fresh oregano or basil on your pizza. And you may enjoy drinking tea or herbal infusions, or want to use herbs for their medicinal properties.

This past February, we heard from Master Gardener Caren White, who introduced program attendees  to culinary herbs used in Central & South American cuisines, as well as in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. She also gave us growing and harvesting information for those herbs that can be cultivated here in New Jersey.

Caren  will be back on Sept 22 at 11 am, for an in person talk entitled “The Bountiful Herb Garden: Harvesting and Preserving Your Herbs.”

You will discover that timing and technique are the keys to maximizing the harvest from your herb garden for future use. You will learn the correct way to harvest leaves, flowers, seeds and roots to maximize the yield from your plants. In the second half of the class, you will be shown multiple ways to freeze or dry your herbs and learn which technique works best for which herb.  Caren, who is a member of the Herb Society of America, Caren manages an international culinary herb garden in Lambertville, will also talk about how to make herbal oils, vinegars, salts, sugars and butters which can also be used to preserve herbs for future use.

Our online learning database, Universal Class, has a course entitled All About Herbs.

Here are some books on growing, harvesting and using herbs (in food, as a remedy, and even in crafting!) available with your Livingston Library card:

• The Backyard Gardener Simple, Easy, and Beautiful Gardening with Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers by Kelly Orzel
• Complete Container Herb Gardening : Design And Grow Beautiful, Bountiful Herb-Filled Pots by Sue Goetz
• Crafting With Herbs : Do-It-Yourself Botanical Decor, Beauty Products, Kitchen Essentials, And More by Debbie Wolfe
• Grow Your Own Herbs The 40 Best Culinary Varieties for Home Gardens by  Susan Belsinger  & Arthur O. Tucker
• Herb Gardening Learn About the Quick and Easy Way to Easily Grow Herbs, Fruits, and Vegetables In Your Backyard EASILY! by Old Natural Ways
• Indoor Edible Garden Creative Ways to Grow Herbs, Fruits, and Vegetables in Your Home by Zia Allaway
• Medicinal Herbs For Family Health & Wellness : 123 Trusted Recipes For Common Concerns, From Allergies & Asthma To Sunburns & Toothaches by J J Pursell
• Root & Nourish : An Herbal Cookbook For Women’s Wellness by Abbey Rodriguez and Jennifer Kurdyla

-Archana, Adult Services & Acquisitions Librarian