Growing Herbs in Your Garden is a Great Way to Brew Your Own Tea
While coffee, juices, and soft drinks are usually more expensive than other options, it can get expensive to buy boxes of teabags on the regular basis. The loose-leaf variety can get even pricier and some variations can be as expensive as $20 per ounce. Instead of purchasing it loose or by the box, consider growing your plants for brewing. You will be surprised at the variety of flavors you can get from fruits, flowers, and herbs. Organic herbal tea can be made from an organic herb garden, free of pesticides and chemical residue. Organic oolong may be more complicated to make on your own, but berry plants can yield leave that can be brewed to make a delicious concotion. This gardening season, grow a few of your favorite plants and enjoy the taste of a delicious beverage.
Herb gardening is simple. Most of the time, you can purchase the herbs already started in plant stores and nurseries. Herbs can be started from seeds if you are really ambitious, but this will take longer and may not be as successful. Keep in mind you will need to start seeds indoors a few weeks before it is time to transplant them into the garden plot. A time to begin planning your garden is in the winter before planting season begins. Determine what you would like to include in the garden. If you will be growing herbs, and fruits and flower, you may want to separate them into separate plots of land. Sometimes certain plants grow better in the presence of others, so research companion gardening and find out if any of your chosen plants will flourish when planted with their counterparts. Also understand if any can be damaged if they are in close proximity to one another.
Next, decide where the garden will be located. You will want to make a list of the things your chosen plants need to survive. If some require bright sunshine, locate their garden in a well-lit area. Others do better with partial shade, and some need a lot of space to grow. Typically, herbs are easy to grow and require very little maintenance. Many of them grow quickly and you may soon find your garden out of control. Just be sure to prune it regularly and you should not have a problem.
If you are planning to grow flowers and berry plants for brewing, be sure to check on safe methods of creating concoctions. Most of the time, if a berry is safe to eat, its leaves are probably safe to steep. However, it is important to be familiar with what you are growing and how it affects your body. Flowers are even more risky, so before using, be sure to understand what steeping does to the flower compound. If you are planning to use any of what you brew to treat illness, be sure to consult your doctor beforehand. Natural remedies are usually safe, but if you are taking medication or you have specific health problems, there may be a bad result. It is better to be safe than sorry.
A great way to enjoy cool, brewed beverages all summer long, and healing, warm brews all winter long is to grow the ingredients right in your own garden.
Muhammad Aqib