Calendula – Calendula officinalis

Plants grow best with moderately rich soil, ample moisture and full sun.  Sow seeds indoors, February to March, out doors March to June.  Calendula reseed's freely.  When harvesting, do so in the heat of the day and harvest flower heads, leaving the stems.  Use for skin problems.  Therapeutic for burns, scalds, sun burns, bruises, wounds and slow healing sores.  Brings down swellings, and can be used for athletes foot and conjunctivitis.  Internally, it is a menstrual regulator and relieves cramps.

Chives - Allium schoenoprasum

Grows best in full sun to partial shades with moist rich soil.  Propagate by division.  Harvest by cutting about 2 inches from the ground.  Best used fresh, but can be frozen. 

Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis

Does best in rich moist soil and partial shade.  Plants reseed very freely, and can become weedy.  They will die down in winter, but will pop back up in very early spring.  When harvesting, cut near the base before blossoms form.  Handle gently.  Hang stems to dry in small bunches in a very warm, airy place.  Strip the leaves and store them in air tight containers, preferably glass or metal.  Use as a sedative, an insect repellent, antiviral or antibacterial.

Borage - Borago officinalis

Prefers lots of sun and moisture.  Reseed's freely.  Harvest leaves and flowers.  Does not store well, should be used fresh.  Is used as a cooling anti-inflammatory, a diuretic, and a mild anti-depressant.

Anise Hyssop - Agastache foeniculum

Anise Hyssop should be grown in full sun and rich moist soil.  It is Hardy to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  It reseed's rather freely, but does not become weedy.  It can also be propagated by division and softwood cuttings in spring.  To harvest, cut stems at the base of the plant and hang in bunches of 6 stems, fastened with a rubber and.  After 3 weeks, strip leaves from stems and store in glass jars with tight lids.  Use as an infusion for coughs, colds and indigestion.

Oregano - Origanum vulgare

Requires well drained soil and a sunny location, but adapts well to most any soil.  Can be propagated by seed, but cuttings or division is preferable.  Harvest from July to September.  When flower buds begin to form, cut plants back to the ground, fasten cut branches with rubber bands and hang to air dry.  Strip leaves from stems and store in tightly sealed jars.  Use as an antiviral, antiseptic, expectorant, to fix upper respiratory tract problems (as a tea or inhalant), to reduce muscle spasms, to ease digestive upsets, stomach aches, cramps.  Use as a poultice or lineament to reduce swellings and rheumatic joints.  Or, add to bath to reduce muscle aches and fight skin infection.

Sage – Salvia officinalis

Sage is very draught tolerant and likes very wells drained soil and lots of sun.  Most sages propagate best by cuttings or layering.  Cut back to 5 inches high in march and then fertilize and new growth will pop up at the base.  Gather leaves before flowering and dry away from other herbs.  Harvest a second time, 4-6 weeks later.  When leaves are brittle, rub them to a powder before usage.  Sage is astringent, antiseptic, and antibacterial, which make the infusions great as gargles or mouthwashes for sore throats, mouth ulcers, gum disease, laryngitis and tonsillitis.  Sage can be taken internally as a tonic or infusion to aid digestion and for menopausal problems and applied externally as compresses to heal wounds.  Sage tea can prevent night sweats and takes effect 2 hours after it is drunk.  It also decreases production of saliva and breath milk.