How To Grow And Cultivate Rosemary

Rosemary, or “rosmarinus officinalis” (dew of the sea) is a perennial herb which grows throughout the year.  Its distinct flavor is good on many dishes, and is especially used in Mediterranean cooking. It thrives in dry, sunny climates with well-draining, sandy soil and needs watering only when the soil is about ready to dry out once it is established. Patience is required, as it takes around two years for rosemary bush to mature completely.

When planting rosemary, it saves a lot of time if you start with cuttings rather than seeds. The seeds have an extremely low germination rate, and while the plant will grow from a seed effectively… it is very time consuming. Plant the seeds in April if you are going that route and plan on being very patient.

If you choose to use cuttings, make sure that it is from a new growth and cut to around…

How to Grow Your Own White Sage

White sage is a perennial, with plants living well past two years if properly cared for. This article will be a walk through as to growing this precious herb and how you can have your own on hand.

White sage seeds themselves are edible, and can be found in pods on a sage plant. They have a very low germination rate, so it is important to start a white sage plant indoors and keep the seeds close to the surface (no deeper than an eighth to a quarter of an inch) and place in an area where there is a lot of light. You will want your plant to get at least eight hours of direct sunlight. Florescent lights can be used, although sunlight is preferred.

The soil should be of a dry, sandy texture that drains water easily (cactus potting soil is a good choice) and put in a…

Preparing White Sage For Smudging

There are many uses for the leaves of the white sage plant, some of which are  medicinal. The leaf florets are the ones often dried and used for making smudge sticks for burning. Lay the leaves out and once dried, wrap them in a bundle using a natural fiber such as cotton and tie it in a knot… then take the twine and wrap it around the bundle from top to bottom. Make sure it isn’t so tight that the sage won’t burn or so loose that it will come apart.

In Native American cultures, preparing the sage for smudging is a ritual itself. First permission is asked to cut the stem… and a bit of another herb or a piece of hair is placed at the base of the plant as an offering in return. The prepared smudgesticks are placed in a bowl and lit. As the smoke swirls…

How To Grow An Indoor Herb Garden

If you love cooking and love plants and indoor herb garden is a great way to combine the two.

Many types of herbs can be easily grown indoors and require minimal space. Small pots can even be used to grow herbs on the windowsill in your kitchen.

Plants can be either purchased at a local nursery or you can start them from seeds in starter trays or peat pellets. Herbs can be grown in any type of container, glass, clay or plastic. If you use clay you will need to water them more often as clay pots allow the moisture to evaporate more quickly.