Is your partner complaining about the gardening gloves you wear all day?…. Are their gardening magazines on your night table? …… Have you started Latin lessons, to better pronounce the botanical names of plants? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you have "Garden Fever".

But don’t panic there is help………. plant a Kitchen Herb Garden. This way, you can relieve that pre-gardening anxiety and with a little care, enjoy these herbs all summer long.

Many culinary herbs are well suited to container culture. A small window box or planter about 12" in diameter or length will comfortably hold 4 to 6 different herbs. Be creative, use a berry picking basket or a small wooden crate, perhaps you have a favorite basket or clay pot. If your planter has a hole in the bottom place a few stones or clay pieces over the hole to allow for the water to drain out while keeping the soil in. A tray/dish underneath will prevent water spillage. Remember to line any baskets with heavy plastic to protect your container and place stones in the bottom for proper drainage.

Herbs generally prefer soil that is light and well drained, a soiless peat based potting mix works well. I find it easier to wet the soil in the new planter before planting. To transplant from the nursery pots to your container, gently tap on the bottom of the small pots to remove the plant and as much of the soil as possible, be careful not to damage the stems or roots. If the plant appears rootbound -a large mass of tangled roots, gently loosen with your hands before transplanting. Place them into your planter, spacing evenly and deep enough to make sure all the roots are covered with soil, gently firm the soil around each plant. You can add more dirt at this point if required. Place the planter out of direct sunlight for 12 to 24 hours to allow the plant to adjust. Then place it in your sunniest window, generally herbs need 10-12 hours of light per day, so a south-facing window is ideal.

To care for your Kitchen Herb Garden, keep the soil moist but not soggy-herbs hate having wet feet. Water by puddling in- this is where you water around the base of the plant until small puddle forms. Unless it is particularly dry in your home herbs should not be sprayed, as the wet foliage tends to encourage pests and molds. Apply an organic fertilizer approx. every 3 weeks during the spring and summer to keep the soil in good shape. To harvest, use clean, sharp scissors and never trim more than the top 1/3 of the plant. Not only does this ensure the plants survival, but it also promotes healthy bushy plants.

Some herbs that are well suited for containers include- Basil (Try a Rubin or Thai variety), Fern Leaf Dill, Sweet Marjoram, English Thyme, Oregano, Parsley, Chives, Garlic Chives, Cilantro/Coriander, Chervil (prefers a slightly shaded location), and Summer Savory. Rosemary and most of the mints also do well in containers but are best grown in their own container which should be at least 12" in diameter. Cayenne peppers are another option if you have a warm sunny location.

You can leave your container indoors or once all danger of frosts have passed, move it outside to a sunny location close to the kitchen. You might try placing it near the barbecue-you never know who it might infect with Garden Fever!

In early February Sue had an opportunity to speak at the

Commercial Production of Medicinal Crops Conference in Gander, Newfoundland.

This three day event was jointly sponsored by the Departments of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, National Research Council, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Horticulture Council. It was organized as a result of inquiries for information relating to the cultivation, processing and marketing of medicinal crops and herbal products, from growers, potential growers and others interested in the potential of a herb related business.

The conference attracted approximately 100 attendees from Newfoundland and Labrador. Many participants are already involved in growing alternative crops and others came to investigate the possibility of a commercial venture in this area. Speakers from both Canada and the USA presented a range of topics from Ginseng Production, Harvesting and Processing, to a thought provoking overview of the current issues and controversies pertaining to Herbal Medicines.

Representatives from the National Research Council, Department of Development and Rural Renewal and the Farm Credit Corporation were also on hand to provide information on financial assistance programs and other related resources available.

Newfoundland currently has in production five commercial Ginseng plots, four research Cranberry plots, one Echinacea trial plot, with eight more scheduled to begin this year and Seabuckthorn trials are also to begin this year. Last season a wild collection project of St. John’s Wort yielded over 2 tons of dried herb with an especially high level of hypericin content, which was sold to a Saskatchewan manufacturer of herbal products. Patridgeberry, another native plant, that can be found growing wild in many areas, is also showing promise as a phytonutrient.

The diversity of landscapes found in this area is breath taking, everything from forest to bogs to rocky shoreline. It is an area with a relatively short growing season. where adverse weather conditions appears to be the norm, so crop selection will be important and research into suitable species is well underway. Plant stress (surviving in less than ideal conditions), is often associated with superior plant constituents and add to this a province that boasts one of the cleanest environments in the world and you could have quite a winning combination for the production of medicinal crops in Newfoundland and Labrador.

During this conference participants had an opportunity to learn, question and network. Those in attendance also recognized the need for co-operation between themselves to share knowledge, experiences and marketing resources in order to successfully compete in today’s worldwide markets.

The hospitality provided by the sponsors was second to none and we all had a chance to sample one of Newfoundland’s newest agricultural successes, a selection of fruit wines from the Rodrigues Markland Cottage Winery including a Blueberry Wine and a Partridgeberry Wine. Also on display was a selection of Seaweed/kelp products from Newfoundland Aqua Products Inc., which included nutritional supplements, spice blends, animal feed supplements and fertilizers-all harvested and processed in Newfoundland.

The enthusiasm and interest of all who attended was evident and I believe we will be hearing more good herbal news from our most easterly province in the near future.

A special thank you to Roger Jefford and all those involved in the conference for inviting me and teaching me first hand the meaning of "Screech"! I had a fabulous time and hope to get an opportunity to return soon.

• The greenhouses are the hub of activity now, and are filling up fast!
• Our web page is now updated! It has now been formatted to allow us to update more easily, so for the most current information-new products, supplies, dried herbs etc. check it out! The "Shopping Cart" Internet on-line ordering service has been delayed and will hopefully be up and running by the fall.
• We have a new sign at the bottom of the driveway.
• In order to increase our selection and supply of Canadian organic grown herbs and seeds, the field production area is to be increased this year and as well, we have been working on establishing other sources from independent Ontario/Canadian organic growers. Anyone interested???? Please contact us.
• If anyone would prefer to receive our newsletters etc. by e-mail, could you send us an e-mail so we can put you on our Internet list. This helps us to reduce paper and postage. Thanks. We will try it with the next mailing in late August.