The last post ended with a foreshadowing of lurking fears soon to violently rear their monstrous heads and do some wicked damage. You may have picked up on some of this underlying fear from my brief discussion about my growing plan and how it seems to be setting myself up for success, not just my herbs. Up until then, it may have seemed like a brazen optimism was fueling this project, with not an inkling of doubt or pessimism present. While overall, I am extremely optimistic, I would be fooling myself if I were not to admit that a subtle fear does exist within my consciousness as I continue down my herb-growing path. What exactly do I fear? Here's the list:
1. Failure. I am afraid that my plants will not thrive, and I will not be able to harvest anything.
2. Not Following Through. I am afraid that I will do all of this planning, and then won't follow through with the actual planting and growing.
3. Hating It. While not likely, I am a little bit afraid that I won't actually like growing herbs once I start doing it.
Cognizant of these fears from the beginning--especially the fear of failure--I resolved to not let them dissuade me from undertaking this project, nor to let them tarnish my otherwise hopeful outlook. In fact, one of the reasons I was able to move forward at all was because I decided to allow myself the opportunity of failure and doing something for the sheer enjoyment of it--the process--not for an expected or desired outcome. Yes, I do have certain goals for this project, certain plans for the herbs that I grow; but this project is equally about challenging myself in a completely new and different way.
It was helpful to list these fears out, to fess up in a way, instead of brushing them off or just letting them slink around in my swampy unconsciousness, ignes fatui of sorts, where, unchecked, they could have potentially morphed and mutated into something of real substance, rather than remain mere innocuous flashes of apprehension. Sometimes we may think that by acknowledging our fears, we breathe life into them as oxygen to a flame, but oftentimes it is quite the opposite: when we place our fears into the open air of consciousness, we give ourselves the chance to view them, contend with them, and then gracefully allow them be carried off with the next passing wind (or the one after that, depending on how deeply entrenched our fear is). Afterward, we are blissfully weightless in our liberation, perfect in our freedom, and whole in our abilities to fully engage in the life we have been given.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
What is an Essential Oil?
Essential oil--as you will recall--was mentioned in the post about Basil, and it will most likely come up in subsequent posts. As such, I think it's essential that I say a little bit more about these compounds found in all herbs for those who may not be familiar with them. A little chemistry will be discussed, but nothing too complicated, for I do not claim to be an expert in this field. The information I'm about to relay about essential oils can all be credited to The Big Book of Herbs.
Essential oils are highly volatile and readily-evaporated compounds. Unlike the fixed oils also found in plants, they are not extracted easily from the plant: a distillation process or application of organic solvents is required in order for essential oils to be removed. An herb's fragrance depends on the presence and concentration of certain fragrance chemicals found in essential oils. Therefore, essential oils also affect the taste of the herb, as we all know that smell and taste are interdependent senses.
The plant's production of essential oils is contingent upon environmental conditions. Basic variables like lighting (length and intensity), temperature, nutrients in the soil, and water availability all exert influence on the productions of essential oils. Interestingly, the composition of essential oils undergoes minor daily fluctuations--or diurnal fluctuations--that are triggered by the same aforementioned variables in addition to air pressure. When I read about this fact, it reminded me of humans and how our internal milieu is also subjected to fluctuations throughout the day, dictated by our established ultradian rhythms, or also influenced by external, environmental factors (i.e. a stressful encounter causes a spike of cortisol and adrenaline, disrupting the baseline level of glucocorticoids and epinephrines in our bloodstream). We are more alike than we know!
I'd like to transition now to talking a little bit about how this knowledge of essential oils will affect--or really rather legitimize--my herb growing plans and approach. I had mentioned a few posts back that I was going to wait until Mid-May to start growing, partly due to seedling availability and partly due to an impending trip. However, some might be wondering: "She's growing indoors; why does this matter? Why doesn't she just hunt some seedlings down and start now?" Even though I am growing indoors, I think it will be best if I grow as if I'm growing outdoors. For those of you who may not know, in the Fall and Winter months, sunlight is a rarity in Pittsburgh (second only to Seattle in least amount of sunlight during the Winter). And I'm not ready at this stage to set up a lighting mechanism to compensate for the lack of natural light. Hence, I want to make sure that my plants are established during the months where the days are longest and sunlight plentiful. I'd like to be able to harvest something this year, and then maybe I will experiment and see how they do throughout the Winter of 2012, risking that they bite the dust. If they do indeed succumb to the winter gray, I don't think I'd feel as disappointed and demoralized after already having successfully grown during the previous summer.
And here I will stop because I'm getting into territory for the subject of another post: facing the possibility of failure.
Essential oils are highly volatile and readily-evaporated compounds. Unlike the fixed oils also found in plants, they are not extracted easily from the plant: a distillation process or application of organic solvents is required in order for essential oils to be removed. An herb's fragrance depends on the presence and concentration of certain fragrance chemicals found in essential oils. Therefore, essential oils also affect the taste of the herb, as we all know that smell and taste are interdependent senses.
The plant's production of essential oils is contingent upon environmental conditions. Basic variables like lighting (length and intensity), temperature, nutrients in the soil, and water availability all exert influence on the productions of essential oils. Interestingly, the composition of essential oils undergoes minor daily fluctuations--or diurnal fluctuations--that are triggered by the same aforementioned variables in addition to air pressure. When I read about this fact, it reminded me of humans and how our internal milieu is also subjected to fluctuations throughout the day, dictated by our established ultradian rhythms, or also influenced by external, environmental factors (i.e. a stressful encounter causes a spike of cortisol and adrenaline, disrupting the baseline level of glucocorticoids and epinephrines in our bloodstream). We are more alike than we know!
I'd like to transition now to talking a little bit about how this knowledge of essential oils will affect--or really rather legitimize--my herb growing plans and approach. I had mentioned a few posts back that I was going to wait until Mid-May to start growing, partly due to seedling availability and partly due to an impending trip. However, some might be wondering: "She's growing indoors; why does this matter? Why doesn't she just hunt some seedlings down and start now?" Even though I am growing indoors, I think it will be best if I grow as if I'm growing outdoors. For those of you who may not know, in the Fall and Winter months, sunlight is a rarity in Pittsburgh (second only to Seattle in least amount of sunlight during the Winter). And I'm not ready at this stage to set up a lighting mechanism to compensate for the lack of natural light. Hence, I want to make sure that my plants are established during the months where the days are longest and sunlight plentiful. I'd like to be able to harvest something this year, and then maybe I will experiment and see how they do throughout the Winter of 2012, risking that they bite the dust. If they do indeed succumb to the winter gray, I don't think I'd feel as disappointed and demoralized after already having successfully grown during the previous summer.
And here I will stop because I'm getting into territory for the subject of another post: facing the possibility of failure.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Introducing Basil
Basil has earned one of the coveted spots in my indoor
garden. It was pretty much a shoe-in from the beginning: it was part of the
starter project outlined in my herb book, and I love the smell and taste of it.
I plan on making pesto with my homegrown basil harvest, as well as indulging in
one of my favorite antipasto dishes, caprese. Let’s get to know this delightful herb a
little better.
Basil is the genus, Ocimum.
There are a 64 known species of Ocimum,
and I will be growing the Sweet Basil species, Ocimum basilicum. Basil’s history is tumultuous, as it was not always
held in such a favorable light as it is today: at one point this little herb
symbolized hatred. Culpeper notes in his Complete
Herbal that “it was an herb of Mars, and under the Scorpion, and perhaps
therefore called Basilicon, and it is no marvel if it carry a kind of virulent
quality with it.” Culpeper’s erroneous use of the word Basilicon—instead of the
intended Basilisk—illustrates a long-standing confusion between two related
Greek words that are credited for the herb’s namesake: basilicon (kingly herb) and basilicas
(basilisk) (Tucker & Debagio, 2000). A simple misinterpretation of two
phonetically-similar words granted Basil a seat in the Kingdom of Evil. Luckily
this undeserved sordid reputation was dismantled as the centuries went by.
Basil is an annual or perennial that requires full sun and
moist conditions for optimal growth. Planting different species of Basil in
close proximity is usually not a good idea because Basil is a promiscuous
plant. Naughty little herb! This won’t be an issue for me, at least not at this
point, since I’m only growing one type of species. Small, white flowers adorn
the mature basil plant. However, if I don’t want to keep repotting Basil every
year, I’m going to have to snip the flowers off to encourage continued leaf
growth.
There have been some reports of the essential oil in Ocimum basilicum having potential cancer-fighting
properties (Manosroi et al., 2006), in addition to antioxidant, antiviral, and
antimicrobial properties (Bozin et al., 2006; Chiang et al., 2005). Ocimum basilicum also contains estragole,
a substance that has been found to act as a carcinogenic agent in rats and mice
(EMEA, 2004). Extensive studies have not been conducted using human subjects, but I think following
the wisdom of an old adage will probably avert any potential harm: Everything
in moderation. The familiar saying by Paracelus also comes to mind: “Dose makes
the poison.”
I feel good about selecting Sweet Basil as one of my herbs.
I thought about growing some Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) because I enjoy the tea made from Holy
Basil leaves, but I’m more excited about using fresh Basil to make pesto and
caprese. Yum!
Friday, January 27, 2012
A Pastiche of a Post
As planned, I had a little herb discussion with my chiropractor today while she was working the kinks out of my body. Most of her experience with growing herbs has been in an outdoor setting, but she still had some useful pieces of advice. She strongly advised to follow the recommendations of regular fertilization. This is particularly important for plants grown in containers because the soil is not subjected to the variability and diversity of soil exposed to the natural elements. Hence, it can be very easy for container plants to become malnourished. Since organic food has been a mainstay of my diet going on 15+ years now (thanks to a health-conscious mother and the influence of my progressive older brother), I'm definitely opting with organic fertilizer. My chiropractor also cautioned to be mindful of what is in any soil that I buy: some mixtures come with fertilizer already in them, and it's usually not organic, unless specified.
Thinking ahead, it will be nice to be able to casually discuss my progress with my chiropractor as I become more deeply involved in the project (i.e. actually growing stuff). She has always been very easy to talk to and willingly shares any insight or experience that she has on a particular topic.
In other news, I am totally loving The Big Book of Herbs. I may have to save up to buy it at some point. As my younger brother rightly noted, it is a book that an herbalist should have in their personal reference collection. I will be sad when I have to part with it when I return it to the library.
To distract me from this impending, painful good-bye, I'm starting to think about containers I want to use to plant the herbs in. Continuing with the parsimonious approach to the project, I'm going to scrounge for free - dirt cheap containers. This may compromise the aesthetics of the project, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made. For starters, I've been letting an old, broken blender hang around the apartment well beyond its unfortunate demise (some of you are familiar with the blender I speak of). My brother started taking it apart recently, and I think the base--when turned upside-down--could serve as one of the containers. The size seems right, and it already has a drainage hole in it. I knew a broken blender would come in handy somehow! ;)
There is quite a bit of circuitry that needs to be removed, but I'm hoping that between my brother and me, we'll be able to gut it. If that doesn't work, empty coffee cans will be an easier option. One is already hiding out somewhere in the pantry, and over the next couple of months, I'm sure I'll be able to amass a few more. And now that I think of it, a pleasing appearance can still be accomplished, despite the otherwise unsightly nature of these reused containers: painting the coffee cans (and blender) would be an added fun, artistic part of the project.
Thinking ahead, it will be nice to be able to casually discuss my progress with my chiropractor as I become more deeply involved in the project (i.e. actually growing stuff). She has always been very easy to talk to and willingly shares any insight or experience that she has on a particular topic.
In other news, I am totally loving The Big Book of Herbs. I may have to save up to buy it at some point. As my younger brother rightly noted, it is a book that an herbalist should have in their personal reference collection. I will be sad when I have to part with it when I return it to the library.
To distract me from this impending, painful good-bye, I'm starting to think about containers I want to use to plant the herbs in. Continuing with the parsimonious approach to the project, I'm going to scrounge for free - dirt cheap containers. This may compromise the aesthetics of the project, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made. For starters, I've been letting an old, broken blender hang around the apartment well beyond its unfortunate demise (some of you are familiar with the blender I speak of). My brother started taking it apart recently, and I think the base--when turned upside-down--could serve as one of the containers. The size seems right, and it already has a drainage hole in it. I knew a broken blender would come in handy somehow! ;)
There is quite a bit of circuitry that needs to be removed, but I'm hoping that between my brother and me, we'll be able to gut it. If that doesn't work, empty coffee cans will be an easier option. One is already hiding out somewhere in the pantry, and over the next couple of months, I'm sure I'll be able to amass a few more. And now that I think of it, a pleasing appearance can still be accomplished, despite the otherwise unsightly nature of these reused containers: painting the coffee cans (and blender) would be an added fun, artistic part of the project.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
A Little Oops
I overlooked that the Gardening Hotline offered by the Master Gardeners is only active April - September. I still plan on calling them, but looks like I'm going to have to wait a bit. No worries though. I don't think this should set me back too much, if at all. I would have liked to talk to them sooner, but that's more a symptom of my neuroticism than anything. As long as I keep reading and learning, I think everything will be fine. In fact, maybe this will allow me to prepare more pointed questions, instead of going into it only partially informed, which would have been the case if I had called next week.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Cataloging the Candidates
After receiving word that a meeting I was supposed to attend this morning was canceled, I decided to use the time to start an herb directory (using Excel). "Wow, she really is serious about her herbs," you may be thinking. I know this task might seem uber-obsessive, but it will help me to learn faster and keep everything straight, and I think it will be a useful quick-reference in the future. Again, I am not going whole-hog to start out. I have selected a handful of herbs to document in detail, 10 to be exact. These 10 herbs are all in the running to be among the Chosen Four (Five). Think of this cataloging process as a background check performed before a prospective employee is hired: I want to make sure I'm getting valid information and am fully informed before I make my selections.
For instance, I am already finding conflicting information in regards to sunlight requirements for some herbs. This is definitely something I have to reconcile, as this characteristic of the herb is a crucial determinant in the selection process. I would hate nothing more than to have inadvertently selected a couple herbs that in actuality require part-sun, part-shade, not full-sun. Such a mistake in the process I feel would be inexcusable. If I am going to blunder along the way, I want it to be for something forgivable, not for something as easily avoided as selecting the right herbs for the lighting conditions.
For those interested in what I am recording for each herb in the directory, here is the list: common name, scientific name (genus + species), family, growth form, height, flower color, light requirement, growing requirements, harvesting, and medicinal properties/uses. I think this will be a good start and give me a quick, but comprehensive snapshot of each herb. Once I pick the ones I will be growing, I'll probably go a little bit more in depth in terms of the "character sketch" for each particular herb, delving into its history and the like. In fact, some of the lore surrounding particular herbs and the origin of their names is quite interesting and might factor into my decision to grow them.
Was this cataloging process terribly tedious? Not at all. I found myself really enjoying it, and I think I might even extend the directory to include a few more herbs of interest, perhaps working my way toward developing a personal herb compendium. But starting out with 10 was definitely a wise choice. Additionally, creating the directory had the effect I was hoping for: I've learned a lot, got answers to some of my initial questions (i.e. if it's better to start from seed or use seedlings), and all of the information I'm gathering seems more manageable and accessible. When I decided to start this project I never suspected that I'd be busting out the Excel sheets, but I'm really glad I did. However, if I start talking about making graphs--please--somebody stop me.
For instance, I am already finding conflicting information in regards to sunlight requirements for some herbs. This is definitely something I have to reconcile, as this characteristic of the herb is a crucial determinant in the selection process. I would hate nothing more than to have inadvertently selected a couple herbs that in actuality require part-sun, part-shade, not full-sun. Such a mistake in the process I feel would be inexcusable. If I am going to blunder along the way, I want it to be for something forgivable, not for something as easily avoided as selecting the right herbs for the lighting conditions.
For those interested in what I am recording for each herb in the directory, here is the list: common name, scientific name (genus + species), family, growth form, height, flower color, light requirement, growing requirements, harvesting, and medicinal properties/uses. I think this will be a good start and give me a quick, but comprehensive snapshot of each herb. Once I pick the ones I will be growing, I'll probably go a little bit more in depth in terms of the "character sketch" for each particular herb, delving into its history and the like. In fact, some of the lore surrounding particular herbs and the origin of their names is quite interesting and might factor into my decision to grow them.
Was this cataloging process terribly tedious? Not at all. I found myself really enjoying it, and I think I might even extend the directory to include a few more herbs of interest, perhaps working my way toward developing a personal herb compendium. But starting out with 10 was definitely a wise choice. Additionally, creating the directory had the effect I was hoping for: I've learned a lot, got answers to some of my initial questions (i.e. if it's better to start from seed or use seedlings), and all of the information I'm gathering seems more manageable and accessible. When I decided to start this project I never suspected that I'd be busting out the Excel sheets, but I'm really glad I did. However, if I start talking about making graphs--please--somebody stop me.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Advice and The Culled Books
Today was a very fruitful day. For starters, two representatives from the Urban Gardener got back to me. One gave me free advice, essentially recommending that I continue my research, thinking, and planning, and to remember as I move forward that "gardening is a process, not an event." (I think that statement can be applied to living as well!) She also reassured me that indoor growing is not an arduous task fraught with insurmountable perils and pitfalls along the way. The other woman gave me another resource lead: Allegheny County Master Gardeners. The program is a part of the larger Penn State Extension, which is also home to another great program I was excited to discover awhile back: an urban, community apiary called Burgh Bees. But, I digress. As part of their status as Master Gardeners, all Master Gardeners provide community service, helping community members involved in gardening maximize their gardening experience. A gardening hotline service is available that anyone with any type of gardening experience can call to discuss gardening topics, get advice, and have questions answered. The UG rep also told me that she knows at least one person on the hotline team to be an expert in herbs. Sweet!
My library trip was equally rewarding. In addition to the two books I had picked out last night, I decided on 2 other books: one that is basically an encyclopedia of herbs (along with information on growing, harvesting, drying, etc.) and one that is specifically for people growing in their apartments. I am quite impressed that I was able to narrow the selection down, instead of leaving the library with 10 different books. But I had to be mindful of how many books I left with since I walked to the library, and it's a 2-mile walk back. The four I lugged back with me already made for quite the taxing hoof back to my apartment. Luckily I had the foresight to throw a protein bar in my backpack before I left for sustenance on the trek back.
A little more about the books I picked and how/why I picked them. The encyclopedia-type book is called The Big Book of Herbs, and it is indeed aptly named. It's about 3 inches thick, and densely packed with useful, brainy information on herbs. It is not as visually-pleasing as some of the other encyclopedia-type books: it has very few color pictures, hand-drawn sketches of the herbs instead of photographs, and small print; it reads more like a text book. It seemed the most comprehensive of all the other books I looked at, and I decided that if I really wanted to get serious about improving my knowledge of herbs, this book was the way to go. The second book is called The Apartment Farmer. I think it's probably pretty obvious why I chose this book. Total jackpot. It got me even more excited about the project and conjured visions of a more grandiose growing project further on down the line (think salad greens, beets, green onions, etc. and hanging baskets).
It looks like I will be busy reading for awhile, which suits me just fine. In the meantime, I plan on calling the Gardening Hotline either this week or next. I forgot to mention that one of the Urban Gardener representatives also told me that they don't get their seedlings (supplied by Grow Pittsburgh) in until early May, which means that I won't officially start growing until mid to late May. But I actually think that works out for the best since I will be in Europe for a week and a half starting the end of April. I was concerned about starting the project and then leaving the vulnerable seedlings unattended for such a long period of time. Now it looks like I can take that worry off my list. Phew!
Okay, I'm off to start my reading.
My library trip was equally rewarding. In addition to the two books I had picked out last night, I decided on 2 other books: one that is basically an encyclopedia of herbs (along with information on growing, harvesting, drying, etc.) and one that is specifically for people growing in their apartments. I am quite impressed that I was able to narrow the selection down, instead of leaving the library with 10 different books. But I had to be mindful of how many books I left with since I walked to the library, and it's a 2-mile walk back. The four I lugged back with me already made for quite the taxing hoof back to my apartment. Luckily I had the foresight to throw a protein bar in my backpack before I left for sustenance on the trek back.
A little more about the books I picked and how/why I picked them. The encyclopedia-type book is called The Big Book of Herbs, and it is indeed aptly named. It's about 3 inches thick, and densely packed with useful, brainy information on herbs. It is not as visually-pleasing as some of the other encyclopedia-type books: it has very few color pictures, hand-drawn sketches of the herbs instead of photographs, and small print; it reads more like a text book. It seemed the most comprehensive of all the other books I looked at, and I decided that if I really wanted to get serious about improving my knowledge of herbs, this book was the way to go. The second book is called The Apartment Farmer. I think it's probably pretty obvious why I chose this book. Total jackpot. It got me even more excited about the project and conjured visions of a more grandiose growing project further on down the line (think salad greens, beets, green onions, etc. and hanging baskets).
It looks like I will be busy reading for awhile, which suits me just fine. In the meantime, I plan on calling the Gardening Hotline either this week or next. I forgot to mention that one of the Urban Gardener representatives also told me that they don't get their seedlings (supplied by Grow Pittsburgh) in until early May, which means that I won't officially start growing until mid to late May. But I actually think that works out for the best since I will be in Europe for a week and a half starting the end of April. I was concerned about starting the project and then leaving the vulnerable seedlings unattended for such a long period of time. Now it looks like I can take that worry off my list. Phew!
Okay, I'm off to start my reading.
Monday, January 23, 2012
A Bookworm Munching on Some Herbs and Other Minor Happenings
I am using this quiet Monday evening to do a quick lit search at my local library for books on herbs. The results for just my local branch alone yielded a whopping 494 results! At least I won't have to worry about a shortage of reading and research material for my project. Hopefully I won't get distracted and decide to write a thesis comparing and contrasting different cultures' histories of herbal healing. The breadth of topics represented in my search results was very wide, and the format in which the information was conveyed was equally varied, including the ilk of how-to manuals, herb encyclopedias, medicinal guides, and cookbooks. I have roughly categorized the types of books and their content into 2 families: Guidebooks and General Knowledge. The Guidebooks family includes more hands-on topics such has growing herbs, cooking with herbs, crafting with herbs, and healing with herbs. The General Knowledge family includes more cerebral content like basic facts about herbs, herbs in history, herbs in different cultures, and herbs in science and medicine. There were also some children's books with an herb theme (I especially liked the looks and sound of this one: The Gift). Other topics included herbal remedies for pets (I kid you not), herbal magic (Score!), and herb-inspired memoirs.
I am itching to dive into some of the books on herb history, cultural variants in the use of herbs, and the psychoactive properties of herbs, but once again, for the sake of manageability, I am going to limit myself to Guidebooks on growing herbs and two non-fiction works. I already have the non-fiction works picked out: Culpeper's Complete Herbal and Eve's Herbs. Nicholas Culpeper was instrumental in transforming the once arcane knowledge of herbs and herbal healing into common knowledge in the West; his work will give me a solid historical foundation. A scion (I couldn't resist the botany reference) of a previous work that traced the use of herbs in ancient times up to the 15th century by women as contraception and abortion-inducing substances to regulate fertility, Eve's Herbs postulates that the esoteric nature of this specific knowledge of herb usage actually acted as its savior, allowing the knowledge to be passed on throughout the centuries, despite persecution of its retainers and attempts to extinguish it beyond remembrance.
Earlier today I also began reaching out to the Urban Gardener, and another urban agriculture organization, Grow Pittsburgh. I failed to mention them in my previous post, but a good friend kindly reminded me of them (Thanks, Meg!). Grow Pittsburgh got back to me right away, and they suggested I attend a gardening seminar that they host in February and March. An interesting proposition, but sadly, there is a price to attend, and it isn't right. I'm holding out for Urban Gardener and hoping that their consultation services are offered gratis. Another resource I failed to mention is my chiropractor: she is also a gardener, and a mighty fine one at that. During the summer, I get tastyfresh cucumbers, zucchini, and squash in addition to an adjustment! I plan on asking her when I see her later this week if she has any tips and resources for herb-growing newbies.
So far, I think the information-gathering is going quite well. Tomorrow I will head to the library and check out my selected items. I am also going to work more on selecting the herbs I want to grow. I am getting close, so stay tuned for the Chosen Four (Five)!
I am itching to dive into some of the books on herb history, cultural variants in the use of herbs, and the psychoactive properties of herbs, but once again, for the sake of manageability, I am going to limit myself to Guidebooks on growing herbs and two non-fiction works. I already have the non-fiction works picked out: Culpeper's Complete Herbal and Eve's Herbs. Nicholas Culpeper was instrumental in transforming the once arcane knowledge of herbs and herbal healing into common knowledge in the West; his work will give me a solid historical foundation. A scion (I couldn't resist the botany reference) of a previous work that traced the use of herbs in ancient times up to the 15th century by women as contraception and abortion-inducing substances to regulate fertility, Eve's Herbs postulates that the esoteric nature of this specific knowledge of herb usage actually acted as its savior, allowing the knowledge to be passed on throughout the centuries, despite persecution of its retainers and attempts to extinguish it beyond remembrance.
Earlier today I also began reaching out to the Urban Gardener, and another urban agriculture organization, Grow Pittsburgh. I failed to mention them in my previous post, but a good friend kindly reminded me of them (Thanks, Meg!). Grow Pittsburgh got back to me right away, and they suggested I attend a gardening seminar that they host in February and March. An interesting proposition, but sadly, there is a price to attend, and it isn't right. I'm holding out for Urban Gardener and hoping that their consultation services are offered gratis. Another resource I failed to mention is my chiropractor: she is also a gardener, and a mighty fine one at that. During the summer, I get tastyfresh cucumbers, zucchini, and squash in addition to an adjustment! I plan on asking her when I see her later this week if she has any tips and resources for herb-growing newbies.
So far, I think the information-gathering is going quite well. Tomorrow I will head to the library and check out my selected items. I am also going to work more on selecting the herbs I want to grow. I am getting close, so stay tuned for the Chosen Four (Five)!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Vacant Sill, Move-in Ready, Herbs Welcome
As I predicted, the little cleaning task was a veritable breeze. But it's amazing how one little, seemingly inconsequential step toward a new goal can really leave you feeling empowered and with a burly confidence that you will accomplish what you set out to do. Here's what the clean sill looks like:
I haven't dusted yet, and I plan on giving it a good scrub down, but the difference is already very apparent. As you will notice, I couldn't bring myself to remove the growlers and Shiva from their perch, but even still, I am proud of this sill! And excited to get the herbs up there! Can't you just picture 4 pots of bountiful herbs, lined up shoulder-to-shoulder, on the sill in front of the middle window?
Now that I have my growing space prepared, what is next? I plan on doing some more planning. After doing some more reading last night, I think I might want to modify the suggested starter project a little bit, which really just means changing some of the herbs that I will be growing. A couple herbs they suggested do best in part-sun, part-shade, and when it's sunny here, there is NO shade when the sun is on the front side of the house. I already started investigating which full-sun herbs I'd like to substitute for the part-sun, part-shade herbs. I am trying to factor in use while being mindful of color scheme. In my previous post, I only mentioned the culinary uses I had planned for the herbs, but I also want to use them to create infusions (teas), steamed inhalations, and if I get really adventurous, ointments and balms.
I also want to find out if it's best for me to grow from seed starting out or if I should buy some starter plants. I know the latter seems like cheating, but if I'm going to do this, I want to do it right. Back when I first started thinking about herb-growing (and gardening in general), I came across a site for a garden center right here in the city that is specifically aimed at city gardening. The center is called the The Urban Gardener. At first blush, it seems like the center is geared more to actual outdoor gardening, but I plan on giving them a call to see if they can offer me some guidance; they offer consulting services, which I think is really neat. And hopefully they have seed or starter plants so I can buy from them instead of a larger supply chain (i.e. Lowe's, etc.).
In conjunction with tapping into this great, local resource, I think I might also get a couple more books from the library to supplement the one that I bought. My interest in herbs goes beyond mere fancy to enter the realm of fascination, and I really want to learn as much about them as I can, especially the ones that I will be growing. I am well on my way to becoming a crazy herb-lady: I've already got the crazy part mastered!
I haven't dusted yet, and I plan on giving it a good scrub down, but the difference is already very apparent. As you will notice, I couldn't bring myself to remove the growlers and Shiva from their perch, but even still, I am proud of this sill! And excited to get the herbs up there! Can't you just picture 4 pots of bountiful herbs, lined up shoulder-to-shoulder, on the sill in front of the middle window?
Now that I have my growing space prepared, what is next? I plan on doing some more planning. After doing some more reading last night, I think I might want to modify the suggested starter project a little bit, which really just means changing some of the herbs that I will be growing. A couple herbs they suggested do best in part-sun, part-shade, and when it's sunny here, there is NO shade when the sun is on the front side of the house. I already started investigating which full-sun herbs I'd like to substitute for the part-sun, part-shade herbs. I am trying to factor in use while being mindful of color scheme. In my previous post, I only mentioned the culinary uses I had planned for the herbs, but I also want to use them to create infusions (teas), steamed inhalations, and if I get really adventurous, ointments and balms.
I also want to find out if it's best for me to grow from seed starting out or if I should buy some starter plants. I know the latter seems like cheating, but if I'm going to do this, I want to do it right. Back when I first started thinking about herb-growing (and gardening in general), I came across a site for a garden center right here in the city that is specifically aimed at city gardening. The center is called the The Urban Gardener. At first blush, it seems like the center is geared more to actual outdoor gardening, but I plan on giving them a call to see if they can offer me some guidance; they offer consulting services, which I think is really neat. And hopefully they have seed or starter plants so I can buy from them instead of a larger supply chain (i.e. Lowe's, etc.).
In conjunction with tapping into this great, local resource, I think I might also get a couple more books from the library to supplement the one that I bought. My interest in herbs goes beyond mere fancy to enter the realm of fascination, and I really want to learn as much about them as I can, especially the ones that I will be growing. I am well on my way to becoming a crazy herb-lady: I've already got the crazy part mastered!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Preparatory Work
The first task I have to complete before I even set out to purchase all the necessary supplies for growing my herbs is prepare the space that will serve as the herbs' growing space and home. As mentioned previously, I have the perfect space in my apartment: huge windows with an ample and roomy sill.
You may notice from this picture that the sill is rather cluttered at the moment. Empty growlers, wine bottles, incense ash, a mini-shrine of Shiva, a layer of dust, and other miscellany riddle the sill unabashedly. How dare they!
I have been growing disgusted with this clutter anyway, so the herb-growing project will give me good purpose to finally get it under control. It's not too unwieldy though: I think it will be a fairly manageable task. In fact, I think I will get to it right now. As you can probably see from the pictures, it is a snowy, cold day in the Burgh, that kind of day that is perfect for taking care of menial tasks. Plus, once this is out of the way, I will be able to get to the good stuff!
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| The Windows |
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| Clutter, Up-Close and Personal |
A Long-Awaited Start
I have been wanting to start growing herbs for quite some time now. My interest was first piqued during grad
school, and at that time, the space I was living in was not conducive to growing herbs inside (small, no
good windowsills). But now that I live in an apartment on the top floor with huge windows and a spacious sill to put things on, the set-up is ideal, especially for full-sun herbs (which most of the commonly-used herbs are). So, it is time to stop lollygaggin' and plant some herbs already!
After grabbing a coffee at the bookstore before a chiropractor appointment on a bitingly cold January morning, I decided to quickly scan the sale items to see if anything good caught my eye. And behold: a lovely little herb book, full of useful information for an herb-growing neophyte, and a penny-pinching one at that. Without hesitating, I picked up a copy and proceeded to the check-out line. The purchase made it official: I was finally going to embark upon my herb-growing adventure.
I have a tendency to accumulate a lot of unfinished projects (either in the outside world or inside my mindworld), but I really want to follow through with this one, for various reasons:
1. I have started cooking more recently, and a lot of dishes I cook call for fresh herbs (parsley, basil,etc.). Most fresh herbs are sold at grocery stores, but in rather large bushels, especially for someone who is only cooking for one. I find that I either end up throwing away spoiled herbs, or I feel rushed to use them before they go bad. Growing my own herbs will be less wasteful.
2. Going along with Reason 1, growing my own herbs will also be more economical. Buying fresh herbs can be rather expensive, especially for this urban quasi-ascetic.
3. Utilitarian reasons aside, having fresh herbs growing around the apartment will add a visually-pleasing aesthetic to the atmosphere. Living in the steel-grey city of Pittsburgh, it will be nice to have more greenery in the apartment, in addition to the few house plants already livening up the place.
4. I am a sucker for the fragrant smells of fresh (and dried) herbs. Their uplifting scents soothe a restless, cranky, or melancholy soul.
5. An herb-growing project will be a fun, rewarding hobby. Of course their is the obvious reward of fresh herbs to harvest and toss into the dish du jour, but physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits will most likely follow suit as well. An anxiety-prone individual, growing and tending to my herbs will be a relaxing outlet. Spiritually, I might find myself growing along with my herbs.
With reasons aplenty, there is little room for excuses to delay an herb-growing project any further. In fact, my newly-acquired herb book outlines directions for a simple starter project. How much easier could it get!? The book suggests starting with 4 herbs, which I like because as I was reading the book last night, I was getting so giddy with excitement over all the possibilities, that I was starting to feel overwhelmed. And feeling overwhelmed is I think one reason I have not started the project sooner. As the all-too familiar saying goes: baby steps. Per the recommendations of the book, I am going to start with basil, dill, parsley, and spearmint (and I might add in some lavender. I know, I know... what happened to only 4?). More to come on the starter project later.
In an effort to further concretize my decision to start growing herbs, I have decided to chronicle my journey via this blog. Each step I take along the way and thoughts and observations that arise as part of my journey will be shared. Admittedly, this is partly for self-serving reasons because I think that if I document the process, it will help me to stick with it and follow through. But I'm also hoping that readers will enjoy the tale of this one little urbanite's (or HERBanite) daring venture into the wild world of growing herbs indoors.
After grabbing a coffee at the bookstore before a chiropractor appointment on a bitingly cold January morning, I decided to quickly scan the sale items to see if anything good caught my eye. And behold: a lovely little herb book, full of useful information for an herb-growing neophyte, and a penny-pinching one at that. Without hesitating, I picked up a copy and proceeded to the check-out line. The purchase made it official: I was finally going to embark upon my herb-growing adventure.
 |
| The book that will serve as my guide on the herb journey. (Yes, I left the price tag on: $6.98!) |
1. I have started cooking more recently, and a lot of dishes I cook call for fresh herbs (parsley, basil,etc.). Most fresh herbs are sold at grocery stores, but in rather large bushels, especially for someone who is only cooking for one. I find that I either end up throwing away spoiled herbs, or I feel rushed to use them before they go bad. Growing my own herbs will be less wasteful.
2. Going along with Reason 1, growing my own herbs will also be more economical. Buying fresh herbs can be rather expensive, especially for this urban quasi-ascetic.
3. Utilitarian reasons aside, having fresh herbs growing around the apartment will add a visually-pleasing aesthetic to the atmosphere. Living in the steel-grey city of Pittsburgh, it will be nice to have more greenery in the apartment, in addition to the few house plants already livening up the place.
4. I am a sucker for the fragrant smells of fresh (and dried) herbs. Their uplifting scents soothe a restless, cranky, or melancholy soul.
5. An herb-growing project will be a fun, rewarding hobby. Of course their is the obvious reward of fresh herbs to harvest and toss into the dish du jour, but physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits will most likely follow suit as well. An anxiety-prone individual, growing and tending to my herbs will be a relaxing outlet. Spiritually, I might find myself growing along with my herbs.
With reasons aplenty, there is little room for excuses to delay an herb-growing project any further. In fact, my newly-acquired herb book outlines directions for a simple starter project. How much easier could it get!? The book suggests starting with 4 herbs, which I like because as I was reading the book last night, I was getting so giddy with excitement over all the possibilities, that I was starting to feel overwhelmed. And feeling overwhelmed is I think one reason I have not started the project sooner. As the all-too familiar saying goes: baby steps. Per the recommendations of the book, I am going to start with basil, dill, parsley, and spearmint (and I might add in some lavender. I know, I know... what happened to only 4?). More to come on the starter project later.
In an effort to further concretize my decision to start growing herbs, I have decided to chronicle my journey via this blog. Each step I take along the way and thoughts and observations that arise as part of my journey will be shared. Admittedly, this is partly for self-serving reasons because I think that if I document the process, it will help me to stick with it and follow through. But I'm also hoping that readers will enjoy the tale of this one little urbanite's (or HERBanite) daring venture into the wild world of growing herbs indoors.
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