Jekka’s guide to increasing biodiversity and rewilding your herb garden

By Jessica Rogers March 19, 2023 20 mins read 182 Views

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This blog will explore why biodiversity is so important, and what benefits can be derived from letting your garden go a little wild. It's always a joy to see your garden flourishing with bees, butterflies and other insects. You also get the hidden benefit of biodiversity, which is the provision of healthy, delicious, nutritious plants and a strong soil. (See our last blog about the importance soil Health.

Jekka's has always used sustainable, organic, and environmentally-friendly methods to grow culinary herbs plants at our herb farm near Bristol in the UK. (Read about our approach ). The herb farm has a remarkable biodiversity. Our herb farm is proud to boast a wide variety of bees, insects and birds that help keep pests and diseases to a minimum. We have seen ladybird larvae eating blackfly this week, and we should have sprayed it. They will then form their own part of the natural ecosystem.

Ladybird larvae

What's biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the diversity of life. It includes all animals, plants, cells, and bacteria. You will find everything in your flowering Thymes and Mints, from tiny hoover fly larvae to large bumblebees. As they help maintain a healthy ecosystem, all forms of life are important to our gardens.

Why biodiversity is important?

You can attract pollinators by creating a diverse and rich garden. (Check out Jekka’s guide for pollinators), and provide shelter and food sources for all kinds of animals. Everything is connected in your garden network. The soil feeds the plants and the wildlife feeds them. This then feeds us. The circle can be completed by composting our waste. To function at its best, everything depends on something or someone else. This is why it is important to make sure that our balconies, gardens, and allotments are as healthy as possible.

Over the past several centuries, the landscape has undergone dramatic changes. Many aspects of the countryside have been dominated by humans with disastrous results. Many native animals are now in danger of extinction due to this. Your garden is now more important than ever, no matter how large or small. These gardens provide habitats for animals that have been forced from their homes. Many natural processes such as soil formation depend on biodiversity. Without them, our gardens wouldn't function properly. They are important not only for wildlife but also for humans as food sources, water purification, and our overall well-being. Check out our blog post Health and Well-being in Horticulture.

How about rewilding your herb gardens?

While neatly manicured and well-kept gardens are very popular, it is important to let your garden be messy. This can bring you many benefits. To provide habitat for wildlife, you don't need a large garden. A small pile of bark, wood, stones, compost, or bark placed in a corner of your garden or balcony can be enough. Water is another way to attract new wildlife to your garden, whether it is a pond or something as simple as a birdbath. It is vital that we all have access to water.

Sir David Attenborough's campaign for'rewilding the world' is inspiring us. He has created more forests and made it a point to become vegetarian in order to save the planet. Rewilding is often a large-scale landscape management project that is directly linked to improving our land use and how we farm.

We now know more about the local actions we can take to increase wildlife sightings and to create more habitats for all species to co-exist harmoniously. You can allow a portion of your garden to become 'wild' and invite all kinds of insects, birds, and bees into your home. Each of these creatures is beneficial in their own way, even the pesky pests! Each of these creatures have a place in the food chain. The atmosphere is full of carbon, and plants, trees, and soils are all able to absorb large amounts of it. We can help reduce climate change by planting more plants.

This quote is from rewilding Britain:

Rewilding a garden means to see the land from the perspective of nature and let nature take the lead whenever possible. Each little bit of habitat that is rich in nature helps wildlife, especially when it connects to other areas.

For some ideas on planting, check out Jekka’s top 10 herbs to grow in shade, sun, dry, and damp conditions

Jekka offers these tips for rewilding your garden:

You can take a break from mowing your grass.
Plant UK native herbs and wildflowers.
Perennials can be grown all year to provide food or habitat.
To support birds and wildlife naturally, let your plants go to seed.
Take care of your birds
Talk to your neighbors and council about wilding your verges, or including containers to create natural corridors between your gardens.
You can create a water source, such as a pond or bird bath.

Jekka's Top 10 Herbs to Attract Pollinators

We have launched Jekka’s Wild Herb Seed Collection as well Jekka’s UK Native Seed Collection to help you with your rewilding or pollinating journey. These collections contain some of Jekka’s favorite pollinating herbs.

Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Borage ( Borago Officinalis).
Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)
Chives ( Allium schoenoprasum).
Lavender Bee Happy ( Lavandula "Bee Happy")
Oregano 'Jekka's Beauty' (Origanum 'Jekka's Beauty')
Rosemary Jekka’s Blue ( Salvia rosemarinus "Jekka’s Blue")
Thyme Bee Haven ( Thymus "Jekka's Bee Haven")
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Variegated buddleia min ( Mentha Longifolia Buddleia Mint Group variegated, (v)).

Want more information?

We've only scratched the surface of why biodiversity and rewilding is so important for gardeners, but also for the well-being on the planet. We encourage you to get started in your garden, and we hope that you will also join us in creating a natural ecosystem. You will enjoy this blog. Please visit our blogs on organic garden and Jekka’s tips for sustainable gardening. Jekka’s Guide to UK Native Herbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make medicinal herbs?

There are many different methods to make herbs into medicinal products. The most common method is to dry the herbs in a warm, dark location before grinding them into a powder or extracting their essential oils. This can be accomplished by hanging herbs upside down in bunches, laying herbs on a drying screen, or using a food dehydrator.

Once dried and ground, herbs can be stored in airtight containers for future use. Other herbs may require special preparation, such as infusing herbs into oil or vinegar, making tinctures with alcohol, or distilling herbs to create essential oils.

Learning the correct techniques for preparing herbs can help ensure that they retain their medicinal properties and potency for optimal health benefits. Using fresh herbs is usually best, but herbs can also be grown in a pot or garden and harvested when they are mature. Herbs can be purchased at health food stores, online retailers, and specialty shops.

No matter where herbs come from, the preparation techniques remain the same; drying herbs in a warm location followed by grinding or extracting the essential oils. You can make your medicinal herbs with the right herbs and preparation techniques.

When making herbal preparations, it is essential to remember that herbs can vary in potency, so always dilute herbs before use or follow the directions on any product label. Additionally, herbs are best used fresh, as many of their beneficial components degrade over time.

Following safety guidelines and paying attention to the potency of herbs can help ensure that you get the most benefit from your herbs. With a bit of practice and preparation, anyone can make therapeutic herbs with medicinal properties. Remember that herbs should never replace any medical advice or treatments prescribed by a doctor. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before using herbs medicinally.

How to make herbal remedies at home?

Making herbal remedies at home is easy. All you need is fresh herbs, water, salt, and sugar. You can use any herb, depending on what you want to create.

For example, choose mint, basil, chamomile, or lemon balm to make a soothing tea. If you want to make a cooling drink, try rosemary, thyme, lavender, or eucalyptus.

All you need to do is put all the ingredients into a pot and boil them until they become soft. Strain out the herbs and serve hot.

Add honey to the boiling mixture to make a tonic drink. Honey is a preservative and will keep your herbal remedy fresh for longer.

You can also combine two or three herbs to make a more potent brew. For instance, you could mix equal parts of garlic and ginger to make a powerful antiseptic. Or you can combine equal amounts of turmeric and ginger to make a potent immune booster.

Soak a clean cloth in warm water and place it over the affected area to make a compress. Leave it for 10 minutes before removing it. Do this every day until the swelling goes down.

Make sure you consult your doctor first before using herbal remedies. Some plants may interact negatively with other medications. Also, don't take large quantities of herbs because they can cause side effects.

Is it okay to use dried herbs instead of fresh ones?

It is best to pick up fresh herbs whenever possible when using herbs.

Although dried herbs are convenient, they don’t provide the same benefits as fresh herbs.

Fresh herbs contain essential oils that give your food a unique flavor. These oils help preserve the nutrients within the herb.

Dried herbs lose all their flavor after drying, so they cannot replace fresh herbs.

You should only use dried herbs if you absolutely must. Otherwise, you should get your fresh herbs from the market.

Is basil good for kidneys?

The answer is yes. Basil is an excellent food for kidney health. It contains potassium which helps reduce high blood pressure. It also contains vitamin K, which is essential for bone strength. As well as this, it is rich in antioxidants which help protect against heart disease.

Basil is great for digestion too. It contains digestive enzymes that break down protein and carbohydrates. This makes it easier to absorb nutrients from your meals.

Basil is a wonderful addition to any diet. Try sprinkling some over pasta dishes, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Or add little stir-fried vegetables, chicken, fish, meat, and tofu.

It's delicious in pesto sauce and fresh in salad dressings. You'll find many recipes online where you can learn how to cook with basil.

Try making basil oil by adding a few drops of pure olive oil to a jar filled with chopped basil leaves. Let it steep overnight, and then strain out the leaves. Use the oil as a massage oil or rub it onto your skin.

It will leave your skin soft and smooth.

What is the difference between herbs and spices?

Herbs are used for cooking, and spices are used for seasoning.

Herbs have more intense flavors and can be used to cook dishes, while spices can bring out the flavor of foods without altering the taste.

Spices can also be added to food during preparation, such as curry. Spices may be bought individually, or whole packages may be purchased. There are many spices, including black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, garlic, ginger, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, parsley, rosemary, sage, salt, thyme, turmeric, vanilla extract, etc.

The best way to ensure that you are selecting the right spice for your dish is to read the label carefully. If there is an ingredient list, look for "spice" among the ingredients. A common mistake cooks make is buying too much of a particular spice because they do not realize how little they need.

There are a few basic rules to follow when choosing which herb or spice to use. For example, most herbs are fresh, whereas spices tend to last longer. Also, herbs are generally found in small quantities, while spices come in larger containers. Finally, most herbs are usually sold loose (or ground), while spices are packaged in jars or cans.

As long as you are careful to select the correct herbs or spices, you will find that adding them to recipes makes preparing meals easier. After all, spices add flavor to various dishes, while herbs can help improve the appearance and aroma of food.

What are the disadvantages of using herbs?

Herbs are a great way to keep your body healthy because they contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, phytonutrients, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, essential oils, carotenoids, sterols, and sterolins. Some even contain cannabinoids.

But there are also lots of side effects associated with herbal remedies. For example, taking too much herb could cause liver damage or even death. Herbal supplements may interact with prescription drugs, which means that they might affect how well the drug works.

Some herbs can interfere with blood clotting, while others may increase bleeding when taken with anticoagulants (blood thinners).

There are also safety concerns for pregnant women and children.

The bottom line is that herbs aren't safe for everyone. If you're considering trying them out, do your homework. Look up each product's side effects and warnings and read reviews online.

Statistics

The global herbs market is expected to reach more than $125 billion by the end of 2025.
For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplementation appears to reduce total and/or LDL cholesterol by about 10-15% (72Trusted Source73Trusted (healthline.com)

External Links

How To

How do I know if my herbs have been treated with pesticides?

If you see a pesticide label on your herbs, the plants were sprayed with chemicals before being sold to you.

These chemicals harm human health and could cause cancer or other serious illnesses.

Unfortunately, this practice has become common around the globe. Many countries allow farmers to spray their crops with pesticides without proper regulation.

In order not to harm themselves, consumers should always ask about the source of their produce. If it comes from a farmer near you, it’s safe to assume it was not treated with pesticides.

However, there are still ways to ensure that your herbs are free from harmful chemicals.

However, if you want to ensure that your herbs aren’t contaminated, you can purchase organic herbs directly from the farm.

This way, you won’t need to worry about the safety of your herbs. You can trust that they weren’t exposed to harmful chemicals.