herb:herbs

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herb:herbs [2026/03/11 22:14] – [Related topics] Katja Durraniherb:herbs [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Herbs+This topic is part of [[gt:food|Food & drink]] and [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Herbs ======
  
  
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-## What are herbs?+===== What are herbs? =====
  
 In the home-use sense, a herb is a plant whose leaves (and sometimes stems) are valued for flavouring, food, fragrance or medicinal qualities (the botanical definition is a little different). With spices, a part other than the leaf is used – root, stem, bark, seed or flower. Spices are generally more potent than herbs, so less is needed when cooking. In the home-use sense, a herb is a plant whose leaves (and sometimes stems) are valued for flavouring, food, fragrance or medicinal qualities (the botanical definition is a little different). With spices, a part other than the leaf is used – root, stem, bark, seed or flower. Spices are generally more potent than herbs, so less is needed when cooking.
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 In some cultures, distinctive herbs have become a signature part of the cuisine (e.g. basil in Italy). In the modern world, herbs are one of the fastest growing horticultural industries due to increasing interest in diet and natural products as part of an holistic approach to health. The disadvantage of this rise in popularity is that herbs are sometimes intensively farmed in non-organic monocultures, highly processed (for example, in gelatin-encased capsules) and, in the case of the supplement industry, they divert money to corporations and away from small, local businesses. Buying plastic bottles of processed herbs off-the-shelf, although convenient, doesn't come close in terms of taste, sustainability and health & community benefits to growing or collecting herbs from nature. In some cultures, distinctive herbs have become a signature part of the cuisine (e.g. basil in Italy). In the modern world, herbs are one of the fastest growing horticultural industries due to increasing interest in diet and natural products as part of an holistic approach to health. The disadvantage of this rise in popularity is that herbs are sometimes intensively farmed in non-organic monocultures, highly processed (for example, in gelatin-encased capsules) and, in the case of the supplement industry, they divert money to corporations and away from small, local businesses. Buying plastic bottles of processed herbs off-the-shelf, although convenient, doesn't come close in terms of taste, sustainability and health & community benefits to growing or collecting herbs from nature.
  
-### Some commonly used herbs+==== Some commonly used herbs ====
  
 {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/herb-table.png }} {{ https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/herb-table.png }}
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-## What are the benefits of herbs?+===== What are the benefits of herbs? =====
  
-### Personal+==== Personal ====
  
 Herbs are a health-giving, low-calorie way of creating a twist, theme or accent in your meal, and improving flavour, aroma, texture and colour. Particularly when used fresh / raw, they can provide many vitamins, trace minerals, good oils and antioxidants in your diet, and many have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. As with most foods, the fresher and less-processed herbs are, the better they are for you. The health-conscious often add herbs to green smoothies. Herbs are a health-giving, low-calorie way of creating a twist, theme or accent in your meal, and improving flavour, aroma, texture and colour. Particularly when used fresh / raw, they can provide many vitamins, trace minerals, good oils and antioxidants in your diet, and many have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. As with most foods, the fresher and less-processed herbs are, the better they are for you. The health-conscious often add herbs to green smoothies.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Environmental+==== Environmental ====
  
 When it comes to herbs, you can reduce carbon emissions to zero and food miles to food metres, with a little herb garden near the kitchen, or herbs in pots already in the kitchen. Plants and flowers (like beautiful purple chive heads or blue rosemary flowers) can be colourful and serve as wonderful forage for bees. When it comes to herbs, you can reduce carbon emissions to zero and food miles to food metres, with a little herb garden near the kitchen, or herbs in pots already in the kitchen. Plants and flowers (like beautiful purple chive heads or blue rosemary flowers) can be colourful and serve as wonderful forage for bees.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Democracy+==== Democracy ====
  
 Providing things for ourselves in communities reduces the need for supermarkets, helps prevent extraction, decentralises power away from corporations (which makes it more difficult for them to corrupt democracy) and democratises work. Providing things for ourselves in communities reduces the need for supermarkets, helps prevent extraction, decentralises power away from corporations (which makes it more difficult for them to corrupt democracy) and democratises work.
  
-### Community+==== Community ====
  
 Exchanging home-grown produce strengthens community bonds, and in case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills the better. Exchanging home-grown produce strengthens community bonds, and in case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills the better.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 The best way to become confident around herbs is to practise using and growing them. Pick a common one (or a group - e.g. Mediterranean herbs) and experiment. You can also forage yourself for wild herbs. The most obvious example of this is ramsons (wild garlic), wonderfully prolific in early spring when there’s little else around. Garlic mustard (aka ‘Jack-by-the-hedge’) is also popular. The best way to become confident around herbs is to practise using and growing them. Pick a common one (or a group - e.g. Mediterranean herbs) and experiment. You can also forage yourself for wild herbs. The most obvious example of this is ramsons (wild garlic), wonderfully prolific in early spring when there’s little else around. Garlic mustard (aka ‘Jack-by-the-hedge’) is also popular.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:food|Food & drink]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/food). 
 + 
 +It is also in the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]] (Forum: [Gardening, smallholding & farming](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening)). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Step-by-step guides](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/plants/herbs/further-info/step-by-step-guides-to-growing-different-herbs/) to growing 20 different herbs - [Step-by-step guides](https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/plants/herbs/further-info/step-by-step-guides-to-growing-different-herbs/) to growing 20 different herbs
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 - [Encyclopedia of Herbs & Spices](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/encyclopedia-herbs-spices.pdf) - [Encyclopedia of Herbs & Spices](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/encyclopedia-herbs-spices.pdf)
  
- +===== Related topics =====
-## Related topics +
- +
-Li cooking +
-LI food & drink +
-Herbal rem +
-Urban/small-space +
-Seed sav +
-Hydroponics +
-Essential  +
-Food smok +
-Greenhouses +
-Vegetable growing+
  
 - [[lico:cooking|Low-impact cooking]] - [[lico:cooking|Low-impact cooking]]
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 - [[hydp:Hydroponics]] - [[hydp:Hydroponics]]
 - [[eoil:Essential oils]] - [[eoil:Essential oils]]
 +- [[fosm:Food smoking]]
 +- [[grho:Greenhouses|Greenhouses & polytunnels]]
 +- [[vegg:Vegetable growing]]
 +
  
  
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  • herb/herbs.1773267253.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/11 22:14
  • by Katja Durrani