Homegrown Herbs for Family Health Class Notes (PDF)

Folks with a newfound interest in herbs often find themselves wondering, “Where do I start?!” There are so many herbs to grow and so much to learn about them that it can be overwhelming. But there are a number of common, easy-to-grow and easy-to-use herbs that can address a wide variety of common household concerns like cuts and scrapes, coughs and colds, digestive ills, stress, and nourishing overall health.

In these class notes, you'll learn about different kinds of herbal preparations and how to make them (teas, tinctures, elixirs, oxymels, oils, salves, etc.). You'll also start building your own materia medica with detailed information about 8 common herbs: thyme, lemon balm, tulsi, dandelion, marshmallow, nettle, yarrow, and elder. Once you’ve had some practice with these basic but versatile herbs, you’ll be prepared to add even more to your gardening and medicine-making repertoire. (Watch out, it’s addictive...) Recipes include Nettle Vinegar, Summer's Kiss Elixir, Yarrow Infused Oil, and Bang Up Bruise Salve.

13 pages | 6,100 words | 4 recipes