The Lemon Verbena Lady

Biography: A member at large of The Herb Society of America, Nancy Heraud is also known by her alias, The Lemon Verbena Lady.

Why The Herb Companion? "I have every issue of The Herb Companion and what I love most about it is the writers and their passion for herbs.  I have always learned something new from each issue."

What is your favorite herb? "Lemon verbena. Growing up I loved lemon flavors and my favorite drink was lemon coke at the soda fountain. I married a gentleman from Peru where lemon verbena grows on a small tree. It has the cleanest and best lemon scent of any lemon herb."

Visit her blog www.lemonverbenalady.blogspot.com.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by The Lemon Verbena Lady.

Cynthia Meredith

Biography: Cynthia Meredith has been gardening with herbs, reading about herbs and discussing herb gardening in Texas for more than 20 years. She has owned The Herb Cottage for over 10 years, selling herbs to people all over the state.

Why The Herb Companion? The reason I like The Herb Companion is because it's so varied. The articles cover the whole gamut of herbs. There is information for people newly discovering herbs and for more experienced herb devotees as well.

What is your favorite herb? Rosemary. It grows year-round in Texas and that's a plus. It's tasty and and attractive, decorative herb in wreaths and swags. 

Visit her website www.theherbcottage.com.  

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Cynthia Meredith.

Patsy Bell Hobson

Biography: Patsy Bell Hobson is a garden writer and a travel writer. For her, it's a great day when she can combine the two things she enjoys most: gardening and traveling.

Why The Herb Companion? I started my first herb garden with the instruction of this magazine. It even inspired me to take up basket weaving so I could make a harvest basket and a garlic basket. As I learned more, I even had a few recipes printed in The Herb Companion. These days, when it arrives in the mail I set it aside until I have time to to sit down with a cup of tea and reward myself with good writing and research. I always learn something and am inspired to try new ideas in my own kitchen and garden.

What is your favorite herb? Basil. I probably grow more of its varieties than any other herb. Of course, there is the perfect combination of tomato and basil both in the the kitchen and in the garden. Last summer, my new favorite, basil recipe was for Basil Mojitos. Also, lemon basil always finds it's way onto my grilled chicken. Basil is an impotant ingredient in the summertime and is a favorite on gazpacho and bruschetta. Frozen homemade pesto serves as an acceptable wintertime substitute in saues and on pasta. It makes a beautiful kitchen bouquet and the flowers are a perfect garnish.

Visit her personal blog www.patsybell.com and read her travel writings http://www.examiner.com/x-1948-Ozarks-Travel-Examiner. 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Patsy Bell Hobson.

Brenda Stansfield

Biography: Brenda Stansfield is a licensed massage therapist, certified clincial aromatherapist and the creator of the Clear My Head product line, sold in spas nationally at www.clearmyhead.com. She belives aromatherapy should be simple and easy to incorporate into a hectic lifestyle.

Why The Herb Companion? The Herb Companion, to me, evokes my senses. I just love the visuals—every photo is beautiful and inspiring. Paging through it I almost feel as if I can smell the exotic aromas, taste the flavors and touch the plant. With every turn of the page, there is something that catches my attention and makes me want to try something new. It is my source for trends and reliable information. Straight forward, no hype, great information and beautiful. The perfect "comfort" read.

What is your favorite herb? Do I have to pick one? The easy answer would be lavender  because it produces the mother of all essential oils, in my opinion. Bu my true favorite is rosemary. I love everything about that plant. I use it extensively in my aromatherapy work with clients for muscle aches, mental alertness, respiratory issues and hair care (just to name a few!). Although it's considered a stimulant, I find it to be personally soothing. I love to cook with it, add it to stews in the winter, add it to butters and dips in the summer; and have even concocted a rosemary/ mint infused martini when entertaining. When my son was small we used to volunteer at a Cox Arboretum here in Ohio and we would be in charge of the rosemary plants. We spent our summer evenings there tending to the plants (so many varieties!) and training them into topiaries. I loved those times—each time I use rosemary, I get a little slice of days gone by in the summer sun.

Visit her website www.clearmyhead.com.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Brenda Stansfield.

Desiree Bell

Biography: Desiree Bell is inspired by botanicals and natural materials. She is a vegetarian who has a certificate in herbal studies and a certificate from Australasian College of Health Sciences in Aromatherapy. When she isn't in her suburban garden, hiking or crafting, she is teaching pre-k with an emphasis on nature and gardening.

Why The Herb Companion? I use this magazine to keep current with herbal health news, find new information on herbs in the garden and learn different ways of cooking and crafting with them.

What is your favorite herb? There are so many herbs that could be my favorite. But, if I had to choose just one it would be lavender. It can be adapted to grow in many different geographic locations, it dries easily, it can be used in a variety of crafts and recipes, and the aroma is lovely. Last of all, the color is my favorite.  

Visit her blog www.beyondagarden.blogspot.com. 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Desiree Bell. 

Ramona Werst

Biography: Ramona Werst has a love for growing, caring for, and cooking with basil. There are over 30 different varieties of basil in her current collection, and she is adding to her collection all the time. She creates recipes to use with different basils and will teach you how to Love Your Basil!

Why The Herb Companion? I love The Herb Companion magazine! I get so many helpful tips about so many different herbs and it teaches me how to grow, care for and cook with them all. The pictures are so beautiful, it makes ou want to hang in your greenhouse to show your plants what they are supposed to look like!

What is your favorite herb? Basil, of course!

Visit her blog www.ramonasbasilgarden.com to download her free e-book, Love Your Basil. 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Ramona Werst. 

Dawn Robnett

Biography: Dawn is the owner of Seattle Hill Soap Company and formulates natural and safe soaps and skin care items that are enhanced by herbs, botanicals, or clays.

Why The Herb Companion? I use this magazine to expand my knowledge on herbs I already use and to discover new herbs and how to use them.

What is your favorite herb? I really don’t have a favorite, I love them all and to pick one would mean that the others mean less to me. What I use really depends on what I want to accomplish, i.e. color, healing, flavor, etc.

Visit her website www.seattlehillsoaps.com.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Dawn Robnett.

Jessy Rushing

Biography: Jessy Rushing is a Texas gardener who fell in love with herbs after tripping into a rosemary shrub one day. The scent on her clothes cheered her up all afternoon. Her curiosity was aroused and since then her herb gardening has been part investigation, part experimentation and most importantly, part delight. 

Why The Herb Companion? The magazine and its website is user-friendly. The articles cover everything herbal from health to culinary uses and to gardening. It makes the use and delight of herbs accessible to everyone.

What is your favorite herb? My favorite herb is rosemary. My mood is immediately lifted everytime I caress its sweet little leaves.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Jessy Rushing.

Silja

Biography: Silja is an herbal witch who grew up in rural Ireland, where her mum had an herb garden and taught Silja about herbalism and foraging for Mother Nature's bounty. As a witch, she has led a Celtic training coven in Ireland, but now lives in the U.S. with her husband and three kids in Arkansas. Silja is the author of The Green Wiccan Herbal . 

Why The Herb Companion? I love that the articles in the magazine are so varied. I first came across it when looking for a present for my mother, an avid gardener. Then I started reading it myself because I love baking with herbs and using them in alternative medicine and even magic. Even as a published herbalist, The Herb Companion has introduced me to new varieties of herbs and new ways of using herbs.

What is your favorite herb? That can change from day to day, depending on my mood and what I have planned for the day! I like sage because it has so many varieties and is so versatile. It can be used for cooking (Honeydw Melon Sage—YUM!), in drinks (Try pineapple sage!), for scenting clothes, smudging (Try garden sage.) and gargling when sick. I also like basil for both its taste—cinnamon or Thai basil are my favorites here—and its use in magic. (Basil is a potent money herb. Plant some basil near your front door to draw money into the home!) 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Silja.

Heidi Cardenas

Biography: Heidi Cardenas is a freelance writer and gardener in Lake County, Illinois, with a background in human resources. She has written about gardening for various online venues and enjoys The Herb Companion’s valuable resources. 

Why The Herb Companion? I LOVE the recipes and the resources. I love the beautiful photographs! I love the inspiration it offers to use herbs and natureal things in everyday life. I love getting the magazine in the dead of winter when there's snow and ice outside and I am trying to keep my houseplants and kitchen herbs hydrated and healthy, thinking about the gazebo and the garden.

What is your favorite herb? I absolutely love lavender. The plant and its fragrance are both so beautiful—in the landscape, in the kitchen and in perfumes. Fresh strawberry lavender lemonade, lavender potpourri, lavender sachets and dried lavender sprigs are all easy and delightful homemade items to make from the lavender you grow in your garden.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Heidi Cardenas.

Erin McIntosh

Biography:  Erin is the Communications Manager at Mountain Rose Herbs and an apprenticing herbalist at the Columbines School of Botanical Studies, where she botanizes and wildcrafts medicinal plants in the magnificent Oregon Cascades.

Why The Herb Companion? I’m always fascinated to read The Herb Companion’s in-depth herb profiles. The long and rich histories of plant traditions across cultures and throughout the ages surprise and inspire me every time. I also drool over the herb infused recipes and gorgeous photography. 

What is your favorite herb?  This is a difficult question! There are so many, but the herb that moved me to study herbalism was skullcap, so it’s always a beloved friend. I adore so many Pacific Northwest plants, especially Oregon grape (Berberis nervosa), red root (Ceanothus velutinus), oshala (Ligusticum grayi), California spikenard (Aralia californica), parrot’s beak (Pedicularis racemosa), great purple monkeyflower (Mimulus lewisii), sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), and of course, Oregon huckleberries! More, more, more!

Visit www.mountainroseherbs.com.  

Read more HerbCompanion blogs by Erin McIntosh.

 Susan Belsinger

Biography: Susan has been writing for The Herb Companion since 1989; she also has written for Ogden Publications Herbs for Health and GRIT magazine. Susan lives an herbal lifestyle—she is a culinary herbalist and educator; and she cultivates, cooks, photographs, crafts, and creates medicinal and aromatherapeutic herbal products. Her favorite pastimes are reading, writing and observing the plants and traveling about sharing the titillating sensory experiences of herbs with like-minded individuals.

Why The Herb Companion? I have been writing for The Herb Companion since 1989—I have a history with the magazine and have met a lot of herbies through it. 

What is your favorite herb? It is very hard to choose just one herb. I couldn’t live without garlic. However, for fragrance, flavor and overall wonderful garden magic, I love basil. From pasta to ice cream, standing tall in the garden or just a bouquet for the table, the basils delight me. For my signature scent, lavender is my essential oil of choice. It relaxes and calms me and also uplifts; I use it in the bath and boudoir. If you asked me my favorite medicinal herb it would have to be tea tree—it is my go-to for cuts and scrapes for its strong antiseptic and antifungal virtues. I could go on and on and can’t imagine living without our green allies. 

Visit her website www.susanbelsinger.com, or her blogs: www.iherb.org and www.vegetablegardener.com. 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Susan Belsinger.

Camille Leinbach

Biography: Camille is a licensed aesthetician and operator of Autumn Moon Aesthetics. Her holistic skin care practice incorporates natural, handmade products, herbal therapy, aromatherapy and energetic bodywork. She encourages individuals to become more connected to their body and the earth by creating natural products themselves at home.

Why The Herb Companion? I love The Herb Companion because the content is accessible to any herb lover—whether you have loved herbs for an eternity, or are at the beginning of a blossoming relationship with them. The articles are useful, thoughtful and full of information that empowers readers to develop their own personal relationship to herbal life.

What is your favorite herb? Lavender. I fell in love with lavender the summer I met my husband. His mother grew this amazing lavender that I’m certain can’t be replicated anywhere else on the planet. The smell of lavender reminds me of falling in love. It is such a gently powerful plant and beneficial in so many ways.  

Visit her blog at www.skincareforyoursoul.blogspot.com. 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Camille Leinbach.

Deb

Biography: Deb's family owns a small herb farm and herbal skin care business in Porterfield, Wisconsin. It is there that they play and work with herbs on a daily basis.  Deb is a Master Gardener Volunteer, organizer of a local herb group, and a teaches herb-related and soap-making classes for a local technical college, folk school, and right on the farm.

Why The Herb Companion? The Herb Companion offers information and articles on so many different aspects of herbs.

What is your favorite herb? My favorite herb is red clover because I have fond memories of this plant as a child; it smells sweet and earthy, and its bouncy pink flowers can be found in the wild in Wisconsin. 

Visit the family farm website at www.petermanbrookherbfarm.com.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Deb.    

Jaclyn Chasse, N.D.

Biography: Dr. Jaclyn Chasse, N.D. is a licensed naturopathic doctor and the Medical Educator for Emerson Ecologics, a distributor of dietary supplements to medical professionals.  Dr. Chasse’s clinical practice focuses on women’s health, pediatrics and infertility, with an emphasis on botanical medicine.  Dr. Chasse is also a master gardener and spends her free time cooking, playing in the woods with her family and taming her small yard into an urban permaculture oasis.

Why The Herb Companion? As a naturopathic physician, gardener, and cook, I find that The Herb Companion covers almost everything I love! I truly believe in “Let food be thy medicine,” and plants have played such an important role in health and humankind. The Herb Companion has just the right balance of stories on food, medicine, and plants in general. I love to read it and am so happy to be a part of the blogger community!

What is your favorite herb? First, I have to say that this changes almost monthly, as I get to know more about each botanical. Currently, my favorite herb is sacred basil (Ocimum sanctum). I love everything about this plant—the way it supports me during stressful times, the changes I see in my patients when they take it, and the amazing aroma and taste that make it delicious, sweet medicine from the moment you brew a cup! This is probably why I wrote my first blog about this plant!

Visit www.northeast-holistic.com.  

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Jaclyn Chasse. 

Randy Buresh

Biography: Randy Buresh (Registered Nurse and Herbalist), is the co-owner and founder of Oregon’s Wild Harvest. Oregon’s Wild Harvest grows, harvests and produces their own medicinal herbal products, many of which use the herbs grown on their certified Biodynamic® and Organic farm in Sandy, Oregon.

Why The Herb Companion?  As a strong believer in the medicinal and healing power of herbs, I appreciate The Herb Companion's content that is dedicated to offering herbal wisdom. As a farmer, I also appreciate the helpful gardening tips, and the emphasis on growing your herbs without the use of pesticides and herbicides. All herbs are not created equally. The healthiest, purest, most effective herbs are organic or biodynamic. The Herb Companion seems to understand this well-founded truth.

What is your favorite herb? As an aging baby boomer, the herb you'll always find on my shelf is ashwagandha. I believe this herb is one of the best herbs that I have ever used. I can really feel the difference when I'm not taking it. As they say in India, it gives you the strength of a horse—and what more can you ask for when you're 60 years old? During cold weather I also like to add astragalus to my arsenal; I feel that using the two herbs together helps me to stay healthy, strong, and ready to face any storm that Mother Nature can concoct!  

Visit www.oregonswildharvest.com.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Randy Buresh.

 Alisa Cook

Biography: Alisa is a Natural Wellness Consultant in Bisbee, Arizona, and has studied natural health and herbal protocols formally and informally for more than 15 years. She is working toward her credential to become a board certified Traditional Naturopath. Alisa has also studied holistic care for animals. She works with Bisbee Chiropractic and Natural Health Center and is the owner of Love Your Pet Natural Therapies.  

Why The Herb Companion? I love The Herb Companion because of the excellent tips on how to easily incorporate the culinary and healing aspects of herbs.  This magazine is truly one of a kind, and the information within its pages and on its website (and blogs!) is absolutely priceless for the beginner and master herbalist (there is always more to learn).

What is your favorite herb? Hmmmm...I would have to go with garlic - it is such a powerful medicinal (for hypertension, immune system support, anti-fungal, anti-microbrial, and more!) and a wonderful culinary.  Good thing I don't love it so much that I don't have any friends; or maybe my friends are just too kind to say anything.

Visit Brisbee Chiropractic and Natural Health Center and Love Your Pet Natural Therapies.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Alisa Cook.

Rhonda Hayes

Why The Herb Companion? I love The Herb Companion because it brings herb gardeners together as a community. 

 What is your favorite herb? Oh my. Tough question! I love basils for all of their culinary possibilities. I love agastaches for their wildlife habitat value.

Visit her blog at www.thegardenbuzz.com. 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Rhonda Hayes.

 Jane Chitty

Biography: Jane Chitty writes regularly for Healing Natural Oils , a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions using specially formulated essential oil blends. Jane lives in Cape Town, South Africa and frequently visits many areas of the world, comparing natural treatments and lifestyles—most notably in the areas of health, green living and nutrition.  

Why The Herb Companion? I love the passion that the website conveys and the holistic and community-oriented vibration that is associated with the herbal lifestyle and is so well exemplified with The Herb Companion. 

What is your favorite herb? My favorite herb.  This would have to be lavender, and not just because it has so many healing properties and forms a vital ingredient in some essential oils. I have different varieties of lavender growing outside my bedroom window - which I can see and smell - and the color scheme for the bedroom itself is lavender blue and white.

Visit Healing Natural Oils.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Jane Chitty.

Marguerite Dunne

Biography: As a city girl and a traveler, Marguerite Dunne is passionately committed to planting herbal seeds wherever she goes. She started down this garden path when doctors failed to heal her body after three years of pills, shots and tests. It was only when she began using herbs, the real roots, leaves, twigs, bark, seeds, berries, and flowers, that her body healed. And she'll always retell her story whenever someone asks.

Why The Herb Companion? I personally like The Herb Companion because I've always felt like the magazine has respected the history and the importance of herbs in our lives. I've learned about gardens, cooking, crafts, and folklore.  That's all connected to the great oral tradition of herbalism.

Visit her website www.herbs-on-hudson.com.

Listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Marguerite Dunne.

Pat Crocker

Biography: Culinary herbalist, cookbook author, writer and food photographer, Pat Crocker is passionate about food and herbs.

Why The Herb Companion? The Herb Companion is the best magazine for herb and herb-related information. I love the food features because they go into depth about the herb or topic. I learn not just about thyme, but about the varieties and their different nuances as they relate to cooking.

What is your favorite herb? My favorite herb is sage. I feel connected to the wise people of North America whenever I pull my hand along the leaves of sage growing in my garden. Its pungent essence is both uplifting and calming to me.

Visit her blog www.riversongherbals.com.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Pat Crocker.

Katrina Hall

Biography: Katrina Hall is a cook, foodblogger, photographer and passionate herb lover.

Why The Herb Companion? I am delighted with The Herb Companion online. I start at the home page and click, click, click.  There's always something there that interests me!

What is your favorite herb? My favorite herb? Horrors! You mean I have to choose? In winter, thyme always finds a way into everything I make. In summer, it's all those lovely tender herbs, from basil to lemon balm, from dill flowers to chives.

Visit her blog www.shesinthekitchen.blogspot.com. 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Katrina Hall.

Letitia Star

Biography: Letitia Star regularly contributes to two of The Herb Companion's sister magazines at Ogden Publications–GRIT and Natural Home. To date, she's written over 1,000 published articles, including features on gardening, green living, travel, home design, sustainability, healthy cooking and good eating.

Why The Herb Companion? The Herb Companion is the only publication that so beautifully provides all the herbal information and inspiration I need to support my active, healthy lifestyle. It's been a pleasure and privilege to contribute my herb travel and cooking articles over the past four years.

What is your favorite herb? I love lavender. Right now, I'm enjoying creating naturally-sweetened lavender jellies, desserts and teas. I was particularly interested to learn medieval views on lavender while researching my upcoming Herbal Escape artilce, "Herbs at The Cloisters. Another inspirational Herbal Escape is the Chicago Botanic Garden, which is filled with fragrant herbs, including lavender. Learn more from my blog, "Herbal Travels: Chicago Botanic Garden" posted on May 19, 2009 and my article, "Chicago Botanic Garden Inspires Creativity" published in the November 2007 issue (not online).

Visit her website http://LStar.vpweb.com 

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Letitia Star.

Theresa Loe

Biography: Theresa Loe is a freelance garden/culinary writer, book author and blogger who specializes in organic edible gardening and gardening with children.

Visit her blog www.gardenfreshliving.com.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Theresa Loe. 

Sarah Powell

Biography: Sarah Powell is an herbalist, medical anthropologist and proprietor of the natural bath & body business Lilith’s Apothecary. 

Visit her blog www.lilithsapothecary.wordpress.com. 

Visit her shop www.lilithsapothecary.etsy.com.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Sarah Powell. 

Dave Liske (aka Luna Pier Cook)

Biography: Dave Liske is a resident and chef in Luna Pier, Michigan, the small city of 1,500, where his wife, the current mayor, grew up. 

Why The Herb Companion? I cooked in various professional kitchens from 1979 through 1984, and have happily spent time since 2002 re-learning long-dormant cooking skills.

Visit his blog www.micuisine.com/lunapiercook.

Read more Herb Companion blogs by Dave Liske.