I planted lavender plants in my back yard a few years ago. I didn't realize that they are actually bushes though. It was a pleasant surprise. They've gotten pretty big this year and they're beautiful. I'm planning to harvest some of it this year and dry it to use in tinctures and homemade lip balm.
Aside from the lavender I've planted organic thyme in a long pot. Thyme has a soothing effect on nerves and it is an antifungal. My thought is, due to extensive reading and reasoning, that the only things worth growing have to be organic, or heirloom. While you can't say for sure that non-organic seeds are genetically modified, you can't be positive that they aren't. So the only safe bet is to buy organic or heirloom. Oddly it's extremely hard around here (rural Ohio) to find organic or heirloom herb seeds. Since I'm not just growing them for ornamentation and I plan to actually ingest them in some fashion (seasoning for food, in tinctures or topically) I won't compromise on quality.
I also really wanted to plant echinacea, chamomile and calendula for medicinal purposes. But since I can't find the organic / heirloom seeds for these, I won't raise them this year. Not only do I not want to ingest GMO franken-herbs, I would feel it irresponsible to propagate the proliferation of Monsanto's mutant plants. I might buy some heirloom seeds online, but I really wanted to be able to find what I need closer to home.
You can use echinacea to boost your immune system. It's also good for dogs. My main reason for wanting to grow it is to infuse my dog's water periodically to help bolster their immunity. I'm anxious to get started on that. It's safe, I read a book by Richard H. Pitcairn D.V.M. that explains how echinacea can enhance your pet's overall well being (holistically).
I want to grow chamomile to make my own loose leaf tea. It's all the rage right now. And I'm a tea fanatic anyway. I drink tea everyday. When I'm not drinking water, I'm drinking tea. I read recently that if you haven't tried loose leaf tea, you don't know what you're missing. So I'm going to find out. Chamomile has a natural sedative property to it. Drink chamomile tea before bed to drift off in peaceful slumber easily. Or if you have complications of menstruation like cramps or irritability, chamomile tea can give you a light feeling of relaxation to ease you through the tough times. I've used chamomile tea in both these situations to great success.
Now, calendula is actually just Marigold and it's great for healing open wounds, burns and abrasions when made into a poultice. It's rich in lycopene. You can use the flower petal to create insect repellent spray. Planting marigolds around the border of your garden is said to keep deer out.
I'm going to research online to find a reputable merchant of heirloom herb seeds to order. I'll post here my findings.
