The Herb Challenge

Shortly after @riverflows posted the community challenge for Natural Medicine, I made a delicious fresh salad using basil! But it never occurred to me to take pictures or document my experience!

The moment was lost forever...

But the show must go on!

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The first time I used basil was when I made Ratatouille. I bought a little bundle of leaves inside a little plastic container that I spent more money on than I would care to share. But when I opened that baby up, our tiny home was filled with a glorious aroma! It instantly felt more warm and cozy...as if that's even possible with a delicious tomato based stew happening in the background!

Since then, I have tried without much success to grow it. I guess throwing some seeds down next to mature tomato plants and "hoping for the best" is not the right combination.

This year, however, we were blessed in using a greenhouse to start seeds, and by golly we started some basil! Now they happily live next to their companion tomatoes in the garden.

Now I need to learn how to harvest the seeds!

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So, after learning about this challenge, my curiosity was sparked about the medicinal properties basil might have. I had seen it in essential oil form, but honestly, any herbs that I can add to my favorite Italian foods seem more like an extract for lasagna than something I would put on my skin or an infuser haha.

And so the research began!

Did you know that basil can help with depression, migraines, vomiting and nausea? No wonder I felt so good the first I opened that package all those years ago!

Now, if you were so inclined to eat it, because let's be real, it's delicious, you'll also be getting vitamin K, vitamin A, calcium, iron and manganese! Dang!

Of course, it's something that is better used fresh and in season, which is summertime. But living in a place with long winters, I can't imagine waiting that long every year! I'll be dipping in all winter long haha.

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Thank you so much @riverflows for hosting this challenge, and giving me an opportunity to learn more about something I might have not done otherwise. And thank you everyone for reading!

Much love,
Stacie D

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