The Happy Herb Garden

Growing your own herbs is very rewarding. They typically don't take up much space so even people who live in apartments can give it a try. Start with an easy-to-grow herb like basil or lemon balm. Both are great options to start from seeds. Be sure to buy the best quality seeds you can afford. Non-GMO heirloom seeds are the gold standard. And once you've successfully grown your own, you can save seeds from your plants every year!

There are at least 32 known varieties of basil and several cultivars of lemon balm. Both are part of the mint family. Mint will spread aggressively so you might consider growing them in containers even if you have plenty of garden space.

Basil is well-known for its starring role in many Italian dishes but did you know basil has medicinal properties, too? Basil is full of antioxidants. It supports healthy blood pressure levels because the eugenol in basil acts as a calcium channel blocker. The essential oils in basil combat systemic inflammation. It is high in Vitamin K which is essential in blood clotting as well as bone strength. Certain varieties, like tulsi/ holy basil offer mental health benefits, too by lowering stress hormones/ cortisol. Fresh leaves contain the highest concentration of basil's medicinal properties so crush a few leaves and add them to all kinds of delicious dishes!

Lemon balm is known for being a wonderful calming herb and is a popular ingredient in tea blends. The volatile oils in lemon balm have a sedative effect and soothes anxiety. Lemon balm can help alleviate occasional insomnia. To reap the benefits of this versatile herb, add lemon balm to teas, salads and smoothies.