All herbs listed throughout this site are for Minnesota Hardiness Zones 4 and below.
How to prepare herbs for use:
Water Infusions: Place the fresh picked herbs from your garden into a pot. Boil some water; remove from heat & pour over the herbs. Place a tight fitting lid on the pot. Let the herbs infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain out all herbs,use them as compost or toss. This herbal infusion can be added to the bath water or the foot bath water.
Compresses: Follow the instructions above to make the herbal infusion. Find a cotton or linen piece of cloth & soak it in the herbal infusion. Squeeze out all the liquid & hold the compress on the affected area. When the cloth cools repeat the process.
Oil Infusions: Fill a pint size jar with fresh herbs almost full leaving about 1 inch from the top of the jar. Pour in extra virgin olive oil making sure there is about 1/2 an inch to an inch of oil covering the herbs. Place in a sunny window for 2 weeks. Shake the mixture daily. Strain out the herbs with a fine kitchen strainer and pour the oil through a coffee filter. Store the infused oil in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Hints: Make sure the herbs have no moisture on them prior to filling the jar. Make sure that the jar & the lid are completely dry before use.
Using herbs forFragrance
Annuals
Biennials
Perennials