Herb guides
Practical guides for growing, drying and using herbs in Canada. General information, not medical advice.
Starting a Herb Garden in Containers
Grow herbs on a balcony or patio. Pot sizes, soil, sun and easy combinations for a Canadian summer.
Essential Oil Safety Basics
How to use essential oils safely at home, including dilution, children, pets and why you should not swallow them.
Elderberries: How to Use Them Safely
Why elderberries must be cooked, which parts to avoid, and how to use them in syrup, jam and tea.
How to Harvest and Use Rose Hips
When to pick rose hips in Canada, how to prepare them safely, and how to use them in tea and jelly.
Growing Coriander, Methi and Curry Leaf in Canada
How to grow the herbs used in Indian cooking in Canada, including coriander, methi, mint and curry leaf.
Easy Herbal Tea Blends to Make at Home
Simple herbal tea blends to mix at home using mint, lemon balm, rose hips, chamomile and spices.
How to Brew Loose-Leaf Herbal Tea
How much to use, how long to steep and how to get the best flavour from loose-leaf herbal tea.
How to Dry Herbs at Home
Three simple ways to dry garden herbs at home, and how to store them so that they keep their flavour.
How to Start Herb Seeds Indoors
A simple guide to starting herbs from seed indoors in Canada, including timing, soil, light and moving seedlings outside.
Herbs That Survive a Canadian Winter
Which perennial herbs come back after a Canadian winter, which to treat as annuals, and how to protect them.