Introduction
Nothing is more rewarding than planning, planting, caring for, and harvesting plants from your garden. The entire experience strengthens our connection with the air, water, and earth around us and reinforces a cyclical relationship of mutual giving and receiving.
The fun. The frustration. The rewards. The disappointments. All make for a great gardening experience, whether your garden is intended merely for aesthetic pleasure or designed for purposeful use.
Planning the Garden
When planning your herb garden, first determine how much time and space you have to devote to its growth and guidance. The second most important question is, "What sort of garden do I want?" A neatly organized one? Something more wild, untamed, and free form? Culinary? Tea? Aromatic? Medicinal? Some or all of the above?!
Culinary herbs should be planted as close to the house as possible, since you will want to use them frequently. You may even plan to grow some in the kitchen in pots for easy access. And what a great way to bring a bit of summer inside! Some aromatic and medicinal herbs grow quite large and are only harvested once or twice during the season, so they may be planted further away from the house. Most herbs prefer a sunny location with well drained soil, but there are some which like the shade while others prefer very moist conditions.
