My Tiny Kitchen Herb Garden

There is nothing better than chopping up fresh herbs for a dish!

As we currently live in a rental town home, the only planting that I can do is in pots on the deck. Here are a few pictures of my tiny kitchen herb garden along with some links for planting your own herb garden and the top five herbs and their uses.

My Potted Herb Garden-Rosemary

Basil

Lemon Balm

I would like to also grow thyme, cilantro, and mint.
If you are like me and don't have the backyard space to grow your own herb garden, consider potted herbs or a kitchen window garden in mason jars like this.
If you do have the backyard space to grow your own herb garden, here's how.

My favorite, top 5 herbs and their uses (uses from The Top 100 Herbal Remedies):
1. Thyme

Uses:
If you are nervous, exhausted or depressed thyme can boost confidence, lift your mood and induce restful sleep. For adults and children alike, warming, gentle thyme is both expectorant and relaxant, and will help to soothe away bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Nervous coughs, asthma and even whooping cough can benefit, too. In the gut, thyme will relieve spasm and fight infections. If you have candidiasis, or after antibiotics, thyme will help to rebalance the bacterial population in your bowel. Arthritis sufferers can benefit from thyme's diuretic properties, which help expel toxins from the body. In lotions, apply thyme as a disinfectant for wounds, and to relieve muscular pain, and itching.

2. Rosemary
Uses:
Rosemary will strengthen the nerves, but soothe them too, making it wonderful if you are feeling low or anxious. The herb also stimulates the flow of blood to your head, improving mental clarity and concentration, and relieving headaches. Use the essential oil or take hot rosemary tea to fight infections. Rosemary will stimulate the digestion, as well as promote the production of bile in the liver. A rosemary oil massage will ease all manner of muscular or nerve pain.

3. Peppermint


Uses:
Peppermint stimulates the flow of digestive juices. It is also a circulatory stimulant, promoting sweating and helping to overcome flu and fever. It helps to keep you warm in the winter, yet cool in summer and, by increasing blood flow to the brain, to keep the mind clear. Its decongestant properties help to clear catarrhal congestion. Try inhalations of the oil to clear the sinuses and relieve colds. In addition, from stomach gripes and indigestion to headaches and arthritis, peppermint will ease tension and pain.

4. Lemon Balm
Uses:
This lovely, relaxing herb, with its pleasant taste, will hep to ease away headaches, migraines, insomnia and vertigo. Hot lemon balm tea is antimicrobial and decongestant, wonderful for colds, flu, chest infections, and coughs, and one of the best remedies for the cold sore virus. It will also help to lower fevers. Add a strong infusion to a child's bath to help calm over-excitement and induce restful sleep. Stress related digestive problems, PMS, painful periods, anxiety, and depression all respond well to lemon balm.

5. ParsleyUses:
Parsley is packed with nutrients, notably vitamin C, which improves immunity and assists the body's absorption of iron, making this a good herb for anemia sufferers. Parsley stimulates the kidneys, helping to detoxify the body; and soothes the digestive tract, relieving conditions such as colic, indigestions and wind. Use a decoction of the seeds to ease abdominal cramps and headaches. Parsley can stimulate the uterine muscles; avoid it during pregnancy unless you want to use it to enhance contractions during childbirth.