A herb is a plant that  is valued for flavor, scent, medicinal or other qualities other than its food value.

Herbs are used in cooking, as medicines, and for spiritual purposes.

Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, or in some cases even spiritual usage. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. In medicinal or spiritual use any of the parts of the plant might be considered “herbs”, including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, root bark, inner bark and sometimes the pericarp or other portions of the plant.

The herb garden is often a separate space in the garden, devoted to growing a specific group of plants known as herbs. These gardens may be informal patches of plants, or they may be carefully designed, even to the point of arranging and clipping the plants to form specific patterns, as in a knot garden.

Herb gardens may be purely functional, or they may include a blend of functional and ornamental plants. The herbs are usually used to flavour food in cooking, though they may also be used in other ways, such as discouraging pests, providing pleasant scents, or serving medicinal purposes (e.g., a physic garden), among others.

·         Herbs will grow in many locations providing they have sun. A herb garden can consist of pots of basil on your kitchen windowsill, tubs of thyme, aloe vera growing outside your back door.

·         A formal herb garden with herbs laid out in a uniform design is a fun project if you have the space, and gives you the opportunity of growing many different herbs.

·         The most important thing is to have a herb garden. Your herb garden will provide you with a supply of fresh herbs for most of the year. You can harvest and preserve a supply of herbs from your herb garden for those times, when some of the herbs are not available.

·         Herbs are so varied in their uses, you can decide to grow various types.

·         Most herbs love plenty of sun (except horseradish) and will thrive on well-drained soil. To make life simple, plant these herbs where you can pick them easily, like near the kitchen door or window.

·         Having your own herbs garden is the best way to get fresh and tasty herbs. Of course, when we talk about garden, it does not mean that you cannot plant the Herbal Plant in a pot or container.

You can, they are not fussy plants and most of them are easy to grow. They are normally nurtured by nature without much care and attention.

·         Planting the Herbal Plant: You might not need a garden. A small collection of unused containers will do. You can use old jars or buckets. As long as you can make sure these herbs receive sufficient water and there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, it should be okay. Just make sure you keep in mind the fact that the container must be able to hold the plant when it grows.

·         Soil for the Herbal Plant: Because they are basically wild plants, most herbs are easy to grow and will not demand too much from the soil

To Care for the Herbal Plant: Allow sunny but sheltered place to protect it from direct strong winds.

·        Drying the Herbal Plant: To store these herbs, you need to let them dry. You can do this by spreading the gathered herbs on a rack to let them dry in airy place. Just make sure there’s no direct sunlight.

·        Storing the Herbal Plant: Store them in airtight containers, preferably in glass jars and away from direct light. Don’t forget to label the jar and put the date. It will normally last for 6 months. Do not expose to moisture and direct sunlight or they’ll lose their quality.

·        Buying: Growing one yourself is the best way to enjoy herbs. And of course a unique way of having your own backyard Pharmacy.

Examples of herbal plants that will be discussed in the subsequent weeks are : Aloe vera, Moringa-oleifera and Lemon grass. Stay blessed and happy farming