Herbal Fun in the Garden (Part 1):
Growing, Harvesting, Drying & Storing your Herbs
By Candice Brunlinger, Herbalist
I love the summer months because the plants are blooming and full of vibrant energy. It is a time to enjoy the fruits of our labor from planting and getting the garden ready during the spring season. The bees are buzzing, butterflies are fluttering and the birds singing and flying around with their young. All the outdoor critters are crawling around the garden looking for food, my favorites being the sweet lady bugs, caterpillars, earth worms and tiny rolly pollies. The varying colors of the garden captivate and bring serenity while the smells enhance the senses and can both calm and invigorate. It is just a wonderful time to be outside soaking up the sun and enjoying the beauty of the plants around us.
These upcoming months are also a good time for harvesting those medicinal plants in our garden to either use them fresh in food and tea, or to be dried for later use throughout the year. I also like to make various infusions with the fresh plants I grow and harvest--a great way to preserve their fresh quality and have medicine all year long.
Benefits of Growing Your Own Herbs
* Many plants are most potent when used fresh providing you with potent medicine.
* Growing herbs you commonly use and making your own medicine is more cost effective than buying it.
* Gardening has many health benefits including reducing stress, anxiety and depression, elevating mood, enhancing joy and happiness, regulating the immune system, improving circulation, is good for the heart, brain health, mental clarity, etc. Gardening also gets you outside in the sun and fresh air and is a form of exercise.
* Growing your herbs provides the opportunity to build a relationship and deeper connection with the plants you use.
* Seeing the plant grow and being a part of the process can give you more appreciation for the plant and the healing benefits it provides.
* Growing herbs helps provide food and a habitat for insects and helps to maintain the depleting populations of our important pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
* Brings beauty to your home and life.
Considerations for Growing Your Herbs
Most of these are considerations to think about earlier in the year when you are preparing and planting your garden.
* Research what plants are native to where you live and try to avoid using invasive species if possible.
* Grow herbs you use regularly.
* Provide the environment they prefer to grow in (i.e. shade, sun, type of soil, moisture, pH, nutrients, etc). Or grow plants that are known to thrive in the environment you have.
* Look into biodynamic farming practices and companion planting where you plant different herbs together that can support each other for an overall healthier garden. Some plants are natural repellants against harmful critters or even help support the nutrients and health of the soil for nearby plants to thrive off of.
* Optimize the space you have available and plan your garden before planting. Some plants do well in containers and some prefer to be planted in beds or in the ground. Leave enough space between plants so they have enough room to fully grow.
* Try and have a diverse amount of plants which grow and bloom during different times of the year, so your herbal garden is vibrant and beautiful for many months. Rotate between spring, summer, fall and winter plants permitting weather and the zone you live in.
* Look into the most beneficial way to prune your herbs to encourage their growth. Some plants like rosemary, thyme, mugwort, mints, calendula flowers, borage flowers, etc. like to be pruned or harvested regularly and continue to grow more if they are. Other plants may want to be left alone until they are ready to be harvested at the end of their growth cycle. Some plants may only produce one flower stalk and once you harvest it, the plant's cycle is complete.
* Many herbs are very easy to grow and the less you do the better while other herbs are very particular and need very exact conditions and environment to thrive.
Considerations for Harvesting Plants
* Be 100% positive of the identification of the plant you are growing and that it is safe to use.
* Be mindful of how to optimally harvest your plants to ideally continue growing it and stimulate newer growth unless you are planning to use the entire plant.
* Harvest the parts of the plants during their most optimal time when they have the strongest medicine (read below for more info).
* Be mindful of how your harvesting may effect all aspects of the ecosystem in your garden (other plants, insects, animals, soil, fungus, etc)
* Avoid collecting herbs that have been sprayed or exposed to chemicals, heavy metals, toxic run off, hazardous waste, etc.
* Avoid harvesting plants from an area where animals and pets pee and poop.
Harvesting and Drying Your Herbs
As a general rule of your "green thumb" you want to harvest the plant or parts of the plant when they are most vibrant and in their peak.
Leaves and Stems
When harvesting leaves, you can just individually pick them right off the stem or you can strip them for efficiency. Most often, stems are also ok to harvest and use along with the leaves. Just chop or break the stems into small pieces for medicine making and/or storage. Once dried, leaves can be stored and used whole or break them up into a "cut and sifted" (c/s) consistency.
Most leaves are harvested in spring but some plants will still have fresh leaves through the summer months. The most ideal time to harvest leaves can vary with the plant. Some leaves are most beneficial in the early stages of growth when the leaves are still "young" while other leaves may be best to wait until the plant is fully developed. Generally harvest them while still pristine with minimal damage before they start to rust, spot, brown or die back.
Examples of medicinal leaves to grow in the garden: Dandelion, Nettle, Oatstraw, Chickweed, Sorrel, Cleavers, Plantain, Violet, Vervain, Calendula, Mugwort, Motherwort, Lady's Mantle, Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Comfrey, Skullcap, Peppermint, Spearmint, Catnip, Lemon Balm, Lemongrass, Lemon Verbena, Red Clover, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Bay, Sage, Parsley, Basil, Tulsi (Holy) Basil, Blackberry, Red Raspberry, Artichoke, Echinacea, Eye Bright, Feverfew, Linden, Lobelia, Mullein, Rue, etc.
Flowers 
Since plants have different bloom cycles the most optimal time of year to harvest can vary anywhere between early spring to late summer. Generally harvest the flowers when in full bloom or right before when the buds are just starting to open. Since flowers tend to have a high water content it helps to harvest them in the afternoon on a sunny day to reduce the amount of their moisture. I like to leave the flowers outside in the shade or light sun for 20-30 minutes so any bugs residing in them have a chance to leave. The warmth of the sun and gentle breeze also helps with the drying process. It is crucial to have good airflow and gentle warmth when drying flowers to prevent molding and discoloration. Store dried flowers in a jar whole or slightly chopped. If you plan on continuing to grow the plant consider leaving some flowers to help the plant self seed and finish its life cycle.
Examples of medicinal flowers to grow in the garden: Dandelion, Violet, Calendula, Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, Borage, Evening Primrose, Red Clover, Echinacea, Elder, Hawthorn, Hibiscus, Hops, Passionflower, Jasmine, Mullein, Bergamot, St John's Wort, Yarrow (White), etc.
Seeds
Generally, most flowers go to seed in late summer and through the fall months. Harvest the seeds once they have fully formed and before they fall off the plant and spread. You can do this a couple of ways. Either harvest the whole seeded flower or pod and pick out the seeds or just shake off a few seeds without harvesting it. Leave some seeds if you want the plant to self seed and return another year. If you intend on replanting your seeds to grow again plant them within 2 years of harvesting.
Examples of medicinal seeds to grow in the garden: Fennel, Dill, Milk Thistle, Flax, Chia, etc.
Bark 
Never harvest all the bark from a tree or take a whole horizontal ring around the trunk; otherwise you will kill the tree. Only harvest vertical strips of bark from the trunk. I personally prefer to use small to medium sized branches from the tree or bush and strip or shave the bark from those stems. Wind and rain storms can knock off branches from trees making it a good time to collect and harvest medicinal barks. Bark is easiest to chop when wet and then left to dry.
Examples of medicinal barks to grow in the garden: White Willow, Wild Cherry, White Oak, etc.
Roots
Harvesting roots usually entails harvesting and killing the entire plant but it is possible to only harvest the small rootlets of many plants without having to kill or harm them. If you do harvest the entire plant, use all the parts of it you can and compost or offer what remains back to the earth. If the root has a main bulb with little rootlets you can harvest the rootlets and replant the main part of the root or bulb to grow again. The best time to harvest roots is in the fall when the plant is focusing its energy on root production to survive the winter dormant months. Harvest roots before heavy rains and before frost. Chop the roots into smaller pieces when fresh and let dry. You may need loppers for thicker roots.
Examples of medicinal roots to grow in the garden: Dandelion, Burdock, Yellow Dock, Chicory, Marshmallow, Comfrey, Echinacea, Valerian, Blackberry, Elecampane, Licorice, Solomon's Seal, Oregon Grape Root, Angelica, Horseradish, American Ginseng, Spikenard (Aralia), etc.
Berries 
Berries generally form in the fall and are ready to be harvested when fully developed and "ripe". Berries can grow in clusters in which case just harvest the tip of the branch right under where the cluster forms. Strip the berries off the stems and let dry or use fresh in medicinal preparations or food. Other berries like rosehips will be a single hip/berry where the flower once was. Keep in mind that when using your own rosehips you may need to cut the hip and scrape out the hairs inside as they can be irritating to the throat of many who eat or drink them.
Examples of medicinal berries to grow in the garden: Black Elderberry, Hawthorn, Rosehips, Vitex (Chaste Tree), etc.
Supplies for Harvesting Herbs
* Baskets and/or paper bags for collecting and drying
* Scissors, Pruners, Loppers
* String for bundling and hanging
* Towels for cleaning and drying herbs
* A fan or consistent breeze for airflow
* Jars to store dried herbs or for making herbal preparations
* Optional: drying rack, hanging pins or clothes line pins, gloves, dehydrator, dehumidifier, oven on very low temperature, etc.
Cleaning Herbs
It is good to try to avoid cleaning flowers, bark and seeds if you can but gently wash the dirt off the roots. Leaves should only be washed if needed. I usually dry by blotting with a towel followed by adequate airflow.
Drying Herbs
As mentioned above, some herbs can be left outside in the gentle breeze in the shade to aid in drying but generally avoid herbs drying in the direct sun. I have found drying flowers in the mild coastal sun to be okay for a few hours but I would not recommend it for climates with extreme heat under the intense sun. The length of time for herbs to dry will vary depending on the plant, plant part and environmental conditions but generally takes around 3-5 days. The lighter parts of the plant such as leaves tend to dry faster than the denser parts like the bark and roots. Flowers vary depending on the level of moisture content they have.
Baskets 
If drying in baskets (bamboo, grass or willow baskets work great), spread the herbs in a light layer with a fan blowing on them if needed. You can rotate the herbs every 12-24 hours to help them dry more evenly. If you do not have baskets, lay out thin layers of the plant material on paper towels or paper bags to dry, replacing the paper towels as needed.
Paper Bag
You can also poke small holes in a paper bag and place herbs inside. Fold over the bag and hang it from the ceiling with a fan blowing on it. Or lay the bag open on its side with the light layer of herbs spread around.
Bundles
Another great method for drying herbs is to bundle a few branches together using string, a twist tie or a rubber band. Suspend the bundle from a string/line or on a hook to dry. This works really well for sage, lavender, mugwort, oregano, rosemary, etc. This method is best for those limited on space as you can hang herbs from your ceiling.
Dehydrators
There are various styles and sizes of dehydrators which can generally make drying herbs fast and easy. This is my most preferred method for drying flowers as the dehydrator preserves their vibrant color. It is not the most ideal if you have harvested a large amount of plant material as it is limited on space.
Storing Dried Herbs 
Store herbs in a cool, dry and dark place away from moisture, heat and light. You can store them in plastic bags but jars, tins or even tupperware containers are best. When stored properly, most herbs maintain their freshness and quality for up to 12 months. As long as the herbs have not molded, you can still continue using them after that time, but you may need to use more to achieve the same flavor and medicinal effect. Keep in mind the more finely cut the herb, the more surface area of the plant is exposed so the shorter the shelf life (i.e. powdered herbs). Label all containers, bags or jars you use to store your herbs!
Storing Fresh Herbs
As soon as a part of a plant is harvested, it starts to loose moisture content, resulting in droopy looking leaves and flowers. In order to maintain their fresh quality, you need to maintain the moisture content by misting with water or soaking the plant's bottom stalks or roots in water as needed. This is good for extending the life of Mediterranean or other cooking herbs in the fridge or for keeping herbs fresh until you can take them to your place of processing and drying.
Herbal Infusions and Crafts 
Now that we have discussed considerations for growing your herbs, how to harvest them, use them fresh or dry, and store them for later use, please stay tuned for next months article: "Herbal Fun in the Garden (Part 2): Herbal Infusions and Crafts" where I will discuss a variety of ways to prepare the fresh herbs you harvested--from infused oil, tincture, vinegar and honey to a few fun crafts and projects using plants. In the meantime may you be delighted by the wonders of your garden!
About the Author:
Candice Brunlinger has been studying herbal medicine since 2004. She has studied with Christa Sinadinos through the Northwest School of Botanical Studies and with Jane Bothwell at the Dandelion Herbal Center. She has also had the honor of briefly studying with many other herbalists through small workshops and classes. She graduated Humboldt State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, has a small clinical practice and an herbal product line, Herbal Infusions. She has had the amazing opportunity to work at Humboldt Herbals over the last 5 years helping to bring herbal healing to the community. She has a passion for teaching and does Herbal and Qi Gong classes including the Intro to Herbalism workshop series at Humboldt State University. Candice is inspired by plants and integrating a holistic lifestyle. She loves to make medicine, cook, garden, be in nature, practice Tai Chi and Qi Gong and is enjoying the new and fulfilling experience of motherhood.
Arts Alive!, Saturday July 4th
Beatrix Potter's Birthday, Tuesday July 28th
