The soothing smell of lavender, rosemary's piney flavor, the bright colors of nasturtiums . . . herbs are wonderful things! In this handsome volume, Mary Preus provides a delightful entree into the world of herbs with detailed instructions on how to grow 50 of the most popular herbs and create an herbal lifestyle. Easy and delicious recipes, herbal crafts and gifts, landscaping with herbs, traditional and modern medicinal use, aromatherapy--it's all here in The Northwest Herb Lover's Handbook.

Think of this book as your herb-seasoning master class, filled with simple secrets for capturing the power of flavor from your herb garden. Herbs are easy to grow anywhere, indoors or out, but do you know which ones do what in your foods and beverages...or how flavors play off of each other? This book shows you how to become an herbal tastemaster, whether you're a home cook or a gourmet foodie. It all starts in the garden with fresh-picked herbs. Let dedicated herb lover Sue Goetz guide you into the delicious world of 20 essential, flavor-rich herbs and the pleasures they offer. With over 100 kitchen-tested herb recipes and full-color photographs throughout, you'll discover how to: grow and harvest the best flavor cultivars for culinary use preserve and package complement herbal flavors with spices, edible flowers, garlic, citrus, and other botanicals prepare easy recipes for mixes, salts, rubs, pestos, oils, vinegars, butters, sugars, dressings, teas, herb-infused beverages...and much more!

With tips covering everything from artemisia to vetiver grass, What Can I Do with My Herbs? offers a fun and lively look at forty common herbs and the creative and useful things people do with them. Each herb description includes the plant's history and a list of popular uses, as well as helpful information about how to successfully grow them, how to enjoy them in the garden (watch the swallowtail butterflies and caterpillars that love fennel), or how to use them in the kitchen (substitute the yellow flowers of calendula for saffron). Judy Barrett even shares some of her favorite recipes, including lavender lemonade and thyme cheese rolls. Barrett also suggests uses for each specific herb outside the kitchen. Readers will learn how to bathe with basil, fight fungus with chamomile, fertilize with comfrey, clean house with rosemary, and much, much more. Gardeners, herbalists, and anyone interested in learning more about herbs will relish this compact and easy-to-understand practical guide to growing and enjoying these versatile plants.

“I think it pisses God off when you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.” —Alice Walker The Lavender Lover's Handbook provides a complete checklist of the color, fragrance, size, and foliage of the 100 easiest, most stunning lavenders available today. In addition to details about spacing, planting, pruning, Sarah Berringer Bader offers tips to harvest, cook, and craft with this wonderful herb. The abundant variety, hardiness, fragrance, and culinary opportunities make lavender one of the most popular and versatile plants, and with this practical and accessible guide, it's easier than ever to grow lush lavender at home.

“This fresh new masterpiece excites the senses!” —Rosemary Gladstar, herbalist and bestselling author Good cooks know that when it comes to herbs, there is nothing better than harvesting them fresh from the garden. The Culinary Herbal highlights 97 delicious varieties—like black cumin, fenugreek, lemon balm, and sassafras—that every food lover will want to add to their kitchen garden. In this gorgeously photographed guide, you will learn which herbs offer the most flavor, how to grow them at home, and how to put them to use. Plant profiles are organized alphabetically by herb type and include basic growing information, flavor notes, and culinary uses. Additional information includes step-by-step instructions for harvesting, preserving, and storing, along with techniques for making pastes, syrups, vinegars, and butters.

Capitalizing on the popular trends of edible, container, and small-space gardening, Complete Container Herb Gardening offers all the info needed to grow fresh herbs on balconies, patios, rooftops, decks, and even on the kitchen counter.