Discover the Power of Nature

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” Kahlil Gibran

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Discover the power of nature Photo: Thinkstock

Here's an idea to get you outdoors and actively involved in the process of making your own food. And the bonus is: you'll even save money! Why not grow your own fruits and veges? Even if you don’t have room for a full-sized vegetable garden, you can always squeeze in some time to grow some herbs to add freshness and flavour to your food. Remember to embrace each season, as the season changes, what you grow, the foods you eat, and the way you cook should also change. Here's a tip on how to get started with a simple herb garden:

Growing a herb garden:
The scent of herbs wafting through the garden on a warm, sunny day is the essence of summer. Even if you don’t have room for a full-sized vegetable garden, you can always squeeze in a few herbs to add freshness and flavour to your food. Some herbs also function as earth-wise insect controllers and many have medicinal properties.
Try growing basil, chives, dill, garlic, mint, oregano, parsley, rocket and thyme if you’re new to herb cultivation – they’re easy to cultivate, and ideal for beginners.

Choosing the right spot:
If you’re planning to use herbs for cooking, select an area that is convenient to the kitchen door. If you just want to enjoy their beauty and aroma, or to attract bees, consider these options: Plant herbs at random in the garden, whenever there’s a sunny spot, or create a dedicated area for them. You could grow them in beds of their own, arranged in rows, or in a geometric pattern

Consider planting herbs in rockeries where heat-loving varieties such as thyme will thrive. They can also be grown as borders along the edges of garden beds or paths, or in pots. Parsley, for example, looks great used in this way. To attract bees and other beneficial insects grow herbs such as rosemary, lavender, coriander, and dill in the vegetable garden

If space is limited, plant your herbs in pots. You could also use troughs, tubs and window boxes. For herbs with a cascading or trailing habit, such as thyme, mint and oregano, use hanging baskets.