Let's start with a definition.  The American College Dictionary says:

Herb: 1. A flowering plant whose stem above ground does not become woody and persistent. 2. Such a plant when valued for its medicinal properties, flavor, scent, etc.  So when we write a flower show schedule, we put in a section for Herbs and the classes are culinary, fragrant, and medicinal.  Sometimes we are not sure which category a given plant belongs to, but the really important thing is to have like plants with like.

Do we say "an erb" or "a herb"  We usually say an erb, which possibly reflects our Anglo-Saxon roots - "erb" would have been the cockney, dropped "h" pronunciation of early settlers.  But if, like Mori Zeltner, you are married to one, you probably say Herb.  And if, like me, you grew up in the deep South, you would have heard country women who spoke of "yarbs."

Since we are a garden club, we should be concerned with growing things.  Herbs cover such a wide range of plants, there is no way to give absolute rules for growing them.  In general, however, herbs are usually easy to grow and not usually demanding of special conditions.  Most do well in part-to-full sun, and average soil. In fact, many perennial types are aggressive and need to be contained in some manner.  Mint, lemon balm, sweet woodruff and monarda are good examples of this. The annuals are often given to reseeding freely.  Borage is pretty, but quickly becomes a pest if not carefully contained.

Herbs have been used since the earliest recorded history - which makes sense since early man had to use whatever came to hand in hunter-gatherer societies.  We know that the ancient Egyptians used herbs in the process of mummification of the dead.  For instance, chamomile, rosemary, onions and black peppercorns were found in the mummy wrappings of Ramses II.  Elaborate garlands were placed in the Egyptian tombs, which often included olive leaves, willow leaves, celery leaves, red poppies and safflower.

Herbs appear in the Bible, and in Greek and Roman mythology. For instance, the Bible mentions that the Pharisees collected tithes in mint, dill and cumin, and there are numerous references to wormwood, or Artemisia.  Many Greek and Roman myths feature herbs or plants - many of which were created by divine actions or resulted from the misbehavior of those randy gods.

Verbena was a holy herb of the Greeks, who also used wreaths of laurel (bay) and garlands of parsley to adorn victorious athletes.  Romans wore sprigs of parsley to ward off intoxication.

Hindus consider Basil a holy herb sacred to Vishnu

Herbals, or books describing the virtues and uses of various plants, are among the earliest publications. Hildegard von Bingen, the first major German mystic, born in 1098, wrote a visionary dissertation on medicine and natural sciences.  The original of this work is lost, but parts of it were preserved in a thirteenth century manuscript, Physica, or The Book of Simple Medicine.  John Gerard (1545-1612) published the English Herball in 1597, which became the first plant catalog.  In 1653, Nicholas Culpeper, a London physician, published another Herball.  These two books were each immensely popular, and were republished in many editions - even available today. John Hill published another "British Herbal' in 1741, and this type of book continued to be valued until recent times.    A more modern reference is Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Medicinal Herbs and Preparations, first published in 1907, and even more recently, the beautiful book, Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden has delighted followers of the popular television series.  These books continue to be enjoyable reading, even when we don't rely on them for medical treatment.

In the 20th century, the medical profession in this country, led by the pharmaceutical industry, moved away from the use of any natural remedies to favor chemical compounds instead. In other parts of the world, however, herbal remedies are still widely used.  Germany, for instance is a leader in research in the use of natural substances.  A search of the Internet reveals an incredible variety of herbal resources - many of them in Europe.  American sites are usually devoted to horticultural information or culinary uses, but the Europeans continue to use herbal remedies for all sorts of minor illnesses and the movement toward natural remedies is growing in the U. S. For instance, The Complete Self-Care guide to Holistic Medicine, by Robert S. Ivker, which, incredibly, was published without an index, lists numerous herbal remedies.

Not only have herbs been used medicinally.  They were also important in witchcraft. Various herbal preparations were used in spells of all sorts.  To summon beings from the spirit world, witches burned a magical incense in a procedure known as a "suffumigation".  Various plants were used to attract spirits, including anise, amaranth, pipsissewa, sweetgrass and wormwood.  Wormwood (Artemisia) mixed with sandalwood and burned in a graveyard would cause the spirits of the dead there to rise and speak.  Lavender was also mixed with sandalwood to summon spirits. To draw beneficial spirits and to gain their blessing, offerings were made of lilac,mint, rose petals,purple heather, and violets.  All of these but rose petals were of a lavender color, so perhaps beneficial spirits preferred this shade.  Catnip, if grown near the house or hung over the door, will attract good spirits and good luck.  Althea is considered a 'spirit puller:' you place it on the altar to bring in good spirits during a ceremony.

  Many of the most commonly used herbs also had a dark side if improperly used.  For instance, parsley is one of the essential plants in a witch's garden.  Medieval legend said that parsley seeds went to the devil nine times and back before they would germinate.  This stems from the earlier Greek belief that parsley seeds visited the underworld nine times before sprouting.  Of course, the fact that parsley seeds are very slow to sprout supported this concept.  Parsley was dedicated to Persephone, the wife of Hades and Queen of the Underworld.  Ancient Greek athletes wore garlands of parsley, and wreaths of parsley were used to decorate tombs and to honor the dead at funeral feasts.  The Greek phrase 'to be in need of parsley' denoted someone who was close to death.  Romans wore sprigs of parsley to ward off intoxication (at funeral feasts?). Seneca described Medea gathering parsley by moonlight, in the same manner as the medieval witches were supposed to gather their herbs. 

Herbs have long been used for their fragrance as well as for medicinal and culinary purposes.  Pomanders were once carried by the populace because physicians thought they were protection against disease.  The wealthy carried intricately designed hollow metal balls filled with scented herbs, and ordinary people studded apples or oranges with cloves.  Later, Victorians used them for scenting gloves, underwear and handkerchiefs. Sachets are also popular uses of fragrant herbs. 

  The subject of culinary herbs fills many books.  In recent decades the popularity in America of herbs used in cooking has grown immensely, probably starting with oregano in pizza right after World War II.  Before that time, the most commonly used herbs in this country were mint, parsley, thyme, and bay leaf.  Now whole sections of specialty shops are devoted to herbs, and even the A&P offers fresh dill, basil, cilantro, fennel, and some others.

  Dried herbs have always been available, but the use, and cultivation, of fresh herbs has grown greatly.  My grandmother grew fresh mint - and she didn't even drink juleps - but that was the only one.  Most of us now grow a wide assortment of herbs, and dry or freeze them for year-round use. 

  The rule of thumb is that dried herbs are more intense in flavor than fresh, so you use less.  However, you want your dried herbs to be "fresh" as they lose flavor over time.  There are various ways to dry your own.  I prefer to air-dry them in bunches.  Pick the herbs in the evening.  If you pick them in the morning, they will be moist with dew, and not dry as well.  Form into bunches, secure the stems with rubber bands, and hang in a dark, dry place.