COMMUNITY HERB GARDEN
The community herb garden is ready for use. Local residents can pick herbs for their own use throughout the year. There is an index of the herbs, with a picture of each on the back of the parish Council board.
Herbs included in the garden are rosemary, thyme, sage, chives, oregano, bay, lemon verbena, lavender, and more may be added as annual herbs such as dill.
Why not take a few home to put in a vase to have them on hand when needed. Just put them in water to have them there for a few days. In spring take a few to grow on for your own garden.
HERBS AND THEIR USES.
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HERBS |
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CULINARY USES |
HOME USES |
MEDICINE |
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ROSEMARY |
A small handful over roasting lamb Use in stuffing for flavour Add chopped rosemary in savoury biscuits As a tea. May help to boost your mood and improve memory
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As a natural insect repellent Used in some perfume products |
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MINT: Spearmint, Apple Mint, Peppermint, etc. |
Add a few chopped leaves to new potatoes Chop and add a little vinegar and sugar for mint sauce Mint tea, generally peppermint, but others can be used. Can help clear a stuffy nose, soothe a sore throat or with stomach upsets
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Said to be a mouse repellent Steep a cup of leaves in 3 cups of boiling water for 30 minutes. Strain and use as a spray to protect plants from common pests. |
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THYME: Lemon Thyme |
Flavouring of stews, casseroles, etc Use with other herbs for a bouquet garni |
Put leaves or flowers with linen give a pleasant smell Lemon thyme said to repel insects in gardens |
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SAGE |
Traditionally use in sage and onion stuffing Add to pork casserole Can be found in cheeses for flavour Sage tea, steep as normal tea and strain to drink, or gargle for a sore throat |
As an after-shampoo rinse for brunette hair. Steep a tablespoon of crushed sage in boiling water for 15 minutes, strain, and allow to cool before using. |
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OREGAN0 |
Alternative to marjoram: ½ teaspoon oregano = 1 teaspoon marjoram |
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CHIVES |
Use for sauces to give mild onion flavour |
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LEMON VERBENA |
Leaves and flowers are edible and used to flavour where lemon zest is used. Use in moderation in ice cream, pesto, salad dressing, etc. Tea used as a digestive aid. May soothe stomach cramps, period pain, and other disorders. |
Lovely smell, add to cupboards for perfume Lemon scented plants can be used as natural insect repellent |
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LAVENDER |
Use in savoury biscuits |
Good for wool clothes, keeps moths at bay |
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FLAVOURINGS |
Flavour vinegar: steep a sprig of the chosen herb in a bottle of vinegar for two weeks. Shake and remove the herb. Use in salad dressings or for marinades. Works well with rosemary. Drop some chopped mixed herbs on pizza, or add to stews or casseroles Bouquet Garni ingredients: parsley, thyme and bay leaves. Can add rosemary, peppercorns, tarragon, basil, chervil, oregano, etc.
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Building the Garden:
Preparation was key. Starting with a blank canvass and adding the troughs, with the square at the front having a bare patch to be filled with camomile. The troughs are build of scaffold boards, already treated, but painted with fence paint for added protection and to blend in with the hall.
The camomile was used as it spread well and can be walked on and will spring back and rejuvenate, leaving a continual green sward at two edges.
Along the fence pots were placed with various different herbs in each. To begin with Rosemary, Bay and Lavender.
