Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

My herb garden is already doing GREAT this spring. We had a very mild winter, and most of my herbs are already going nuts--especially the thyme, lavender, chives and cilantro.

I use the thyme, oregano, chives and cilantro in cooking all the time. Sage, occasionally. However, I also have a LOT of lavender and a huge spot of lemon balm--and I don't know what to do with it. It looks great in my garden and of course both plants smell great, but I feel guilty for not putting the plants to good use.

Suggestions?

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

Both are very aromatic and can be used in sachets and crushed or seeped in a tea ball to use in household cleaners. Or tossed in a bath. They have great anti-viral properties and lemmon balm makes a great poultice for chicken pox, cold sores or shingles. I use them in soap making. Both make calming teas for stress, anxiety or insomnia.

Lavender in vinegar makes a great salad dressing.... Oh there are so many more ways to use them... Plus they are just so beautiful and fragrant in their natural state. :)

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

Okay, lemon balm or lavender tea--I'll try that. My mother and I love to try different teas.

Sachets and herbal baths--great ideas.

What do you mean by "seeped in a tea ball?" You make a tea and then add that *tea* to water to make a cleaner? Or is the tea itself a cleaning agent? I buy Mrs. Meyer's all purpose cleaner in lavender, and I would love to make my own similar cleaner. Do you have a recipe?

Yes, I have been known to plop a large bunch of lemon balm into a pitcher and put it on the kitchen cabinet. I love the fragrance!

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

I use a BIG tea ball (made for adding herbs to soup stocks, etc.) in the bath to keep from having herbs plug up the drain. You can either use the ball or strain the herbs from strong tea for cleaning solutions.

I use 1/2 and 1/2 distilled water and white vinegar with a few drops of a 'green' type dish soap and EOs, and replace the water with very strong herbal tea when fresh is available. All put in a spray bottle for an all purpose cleaner. I use EOs when herbs are dormant. The tea or EOs hide the vinegar smell which disappears when dry anyway and they have their own antibacterial antiviral properties anyway. NO 409 around here. ;)

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

AWESOME, thank you! Good tip about the large tea ball.

What is an "EO?" Oh, Essential Oil, right? Got it.

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

While we're on the subject of herbs... (and I enjoyed the helpful info from T2W also!! Thanks!) I was wondering about a spice called Herbs Provenchal. My husband got me a spice rack for Christmas, and that is one of the spices included, but I have no idea what to use it for. Any ideas?

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

I was shocked that my sage survived the winter. although it was a mild one.

im happy about it though!

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

I love lavender. Can you make shampoo and conditioner T2W?

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

With all this hair? Of course ;)

Re: Paging Titus2Woman...and Other Gardeners!
 

It's a blend of herbs... ususally used on meats like some of our texas spice rubs... but if the herbs are delicate you could try fish or poultry too. I'd probably put a litte in some plain olive oil and ACV or rice vinegar and eat it over plain lettuce to get a feel for what it might be nice with.