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The term herb is used to describe those plants which are commonly selected for their culinary, therapeutic, cleansing, and devotional properties. Throughout history, herbs have been associated with the cultural and religious practices of many influential civilisations. In ancient Greece, bay leaves were fashioned into garlands and presented as praise offerings to triumphant athletes of the original Olympiad events. In a similar manner, fresh and dried leaves were included as part of the ritual and sacred offerings to the ancient deities. Aside from these ceremonial applications, the Greeks appreciated the therapeutic and culinary aspects of this richly aromatic plant. For example, fresh bay leaves were steeped in jars of olive oil which were...

There’s a lot that’s been written about why we should – and for that matter why we shouldn’t – be eating organic food these days. I don’t intend to go into a monologue covering off on every one of these arguments. Instead, I thought it might be worthwhile taking a quick look at some of the chemicals that can find their way into our food chain. But first, let’s consider why they’re there in the first place. Fertilizers and pesticides are the two main sources of introduced chemicals into our food chain. Fertilizers are intended to increase plant foliage and generally to make plants appear larger and more healthy. Research has found that synthetic fertilizers lower the nutritional content of fruits and vegetables and also have...

With appropriate care and attention, there are many species of plants that can be grown indoors. An indoor arrangement may offer the best solution for an enthusiastic gardener living in a small apartment with no yard or balcony. Healthy indoor plants with luxuriant foliage are routinely used to brighten offices, hotel receptions, shopping malls and restaurants. And there’s no reason why, with a little thought and effort, organic principles can’t be applied to the rearing of plants indoors. Getting started Beginners might prefer to choose indoor plants that are easiest to maintain using organic principles. In general, plants with thick glossy leaves tend to regulate their moisture requirements, thus enabling them to better adapt to indoor...

I’m often asked the question, “What shouldn’t I use in the garden so as to ensure the fruits and vegetables it produces are organic?”. While I understand why people ask this question, I prefer to consider things from a slightly different perspective. Perhaps the question we should be asking ourselves is, “What should we be doing in the garden to ensure the fruits and vegetables it produces are organic?”. Addressing this question invariably leads to a discussion about the principles of organic gardening. By understanding and being capable of applying the principles that underlie organic gardening, you’ll become more involved. A well-formed intuitive understanding of why things are so will make you an active participant in the garden....

In many respects it is easier to work with natural ecosystems than attempt to fight or control them with chemical substances. For many decades, ecologists have warned against the tendency to view the natural world in simplistic terms. Unfortunately, these warnings have largely gone unheeded by mainstream elements of the agricultural industry. Commercial imperatives, often imposed by economic interests having little or no connection to the land being farmed, have precipitated the departure from agricultural practices that previously acknowledged and respected the land. In place of systems of agriculture that worked collaboratively with nature, agricultural scientists have been encouraged to provide short term “solutions” and to avoid the...