For thousands of years, man has been aware of the value of herbs and spices for their nutritional value, for their religious value, and for culinary and medicinal purposes. Thousands of years B.C., Greeks, Egyptians, Hebrews and Chinese were already putting their knowledge of herbs on paper. Through the centuries, the lists of useful plants for relieving all sorts of ailments and diseases grew longer and longer.
Biblical mentions
The ceremonial and religious use of herbs and spices is referenced throughout the Bible. God told Moses to make a holy anointing oil of myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia, and olive oil that was to be used to anoint the tabernacle, the ark of the testimony and other items in the Holy of Holies, and the priests (Exodus 30:23-30). The 2 Chronicles 16:14 description of the burial of Asa, king of Judah, states “They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes.” Myrrh played a role in the birth (Matthew 2:11), death (Matthew 15:23), and burial (John 19:39) of Jesus. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we see that Jesus mentioned common garden herbs in His teachings. Throughout history, herbs and spices have brought extra richness to life.
Grow at home
Today, many Americans are rediscovering the value of fresh herbs in everyday cooking, as so many have done throughout the ages. We may not all have a vegetable garden, but we can all have an herb garden — all you need is a window box! Remove the herbs from their containers and place them in the window box about four inches apart. Fill in around them with potting soil. Plants will need to be watered at least once a day and regularly fertilized with an organic fertilizer high in nitrogen. The best place for an herb window box is in a sunny area, ideally within easy reach of the kitchen. Possibilities for window box herbs include basil, chervil, chives, coriander, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, tarragon, bay leaves, marjoram, or oregano.
Of course, herbs may be grown in containers on a patio, balcony, or terrace. Container plants are easily transported and can be arranged in attractive groupings with containers of flowering plants. Herbs in containers also need watering every day. On hot sunny days, they need a second shower. During the growing season, pinch the plants back to keep them bushy and compact, and remove any dead or diseased leaves to keep them healthy. If you are a gardener, you may already have an herb garden. If not, consider planting one. Herbs are a beautiful and healthy addition to your flowering plants.
Fresh herbs are now usually available at most grocery stores and farmers markets for persons without the time or patience to grow your own.
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
