Learning from Herbs

Herbs are long lasting. The plants contain special phytochemicals that protect them from spoilage such as vegetative deterioration. Herbs are also hardy and can withstand attacks from insects and pests, and diseases such as fungi and virus.

The uses of herbs are countless. The plants have been used by earliest civilizations and cultivated for thousands of years. Culinary herbs offer nutrition and make food more flavorable. Herbs are used in crafts. Medicinal herbs offer healing through their phytochemicals. And cosmetic herbs offer healthy nutrients for the skin.

There are domesticated and wild herbs. Herbs are not demanding of soil nutrients like other plants such as vegetables and fruit trees. They thrive in poor soil and still they offer the gift of phytonutrients.

Taming Wild Oregano

We grow many varieties of herbs at Happy Tonics. Some are domesticated, others wild, and some come from different parts of the world. The Mediterranean is the original source of many herbs including oregano. The Romans and Greeks once thought that oregano was strictly a medicinal herb. The plant is still used medicinally. Oregano has many healing nutrients and has been studied for its ability to aid toothache or aching joints. The plant contains carvacrol and thymol and both are antibacterial and antifungal.

Oregano is planted in the home garden often as a culinary herb. Our gardens have lots of oregano. We use oregano in all our tomato sauce dishes and Oregano sprinkled on top of pizza adds pizzazz.

The herb is a low grower in this northern climate and stands about 6" tall. Spring 2006, we will be transplanting some oregano plants from our gardens to the Minong Senior Center flower and herb garden, and the plants will be used in border plantings. Bees and small butterflies depend on the plant's nectar.

Echinacea Long Standing Flowers
In Wisconsin purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a native plant and medicinal herb. Western herbology uses the roots to treat colds and flu. The plant boosts the immune system when it is under attack from bacterial and viral infection. Echinacea contains volatile oil (humulene), Alkamides (antifungal and antibacterial), and Polysaccharides (inhibits the ability of viruses to enter and take over the cells).

The flowers and leaves can be dried and added to winter teas. This wild herb is now domesticated and sold at garden shops and nurseries. Echinacea is a wonderful addition to any garden because the flowers last a long time and the bloom heads attract butterfies especially the monarch. The flowers are like a beacon to hummingbirds, honeybees, and other good insects and invites them all to come and nectar.