36 May 1, 2014 2014 SPRING HOME AND GARDEN “OUT OF THE ORDINARY” LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.COM
Their policy of sharing was a
wonderful gift to the settlers.
Spices, at least originally,
were brought from overseas
and are generally a hard plant.
Some herbs were brought
from overseas, but many were
native to America. They like a
temperate climate.
“Herbs do not have as long a
shelf life as spices,” Buckles
said.
Herbs contain an element
called an essential oil that is the
foundation of their beneficial
uses. Herbs can be used for
medicinal purposes, culinary
flavorings for food, natural dyes
and as decorative effects for
the home, as well as for their
wonderful fragrances.
Historically, herbs were grown
by every farm family, and it
was a simple matter to snip a
leaf or two from the backyard
plants for use the same day,
when they were at the peak of
freshness. Today, herbs can be
grown in pots in apartments,
as well as in sunny backyards.
They still provide wonderful
additions to our lives, much as
they did hundreds of years ago.
While extolling the multitude
of benefits that herbs provide,
Buckles was very serious when
she said that knowledge of
herbs and the effects they can
have on us is vital. To use herbs
effectively and safely, a person
has to know what individual
herbs look like and their
specific fragrances.
While a violet is a beautiful
herb and is edible, it contains
an enormous source of vitamin
C. A person with an allergy who
unknowingly eats too much can
get a reaction.
“Herbs can be very potent,” she
said. This is true for all herbs.
Buckles said she has been a
member of the Illinois Herb
Association and the Illinois
Specialty Growers and has used
their wonderful resources to
educate herself about herbs. She
also became acquainted with
local herb guru Wilma Clark of
San Jose, whose knowledge of
herbs was legendary. Clark taught
classes on herbs and stressed full
knowledge of their benefits and
possible side effects. All of this
is to point out that education on
herbs is absolutely essential to
their safe use.
Buckles made everyone at her
presentation raise their right hand
and pledge that before jumping
into the herb garden or the woods
to collect wild herbs, they would
educate themselves about the
benefits and detriments.
Continued on page 38
