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Welcome to the herb garden! I thought I would do something a little different, as I wandered through my local nursery looking for herbal inspiration, something I wouldn’t normally look at struck me – Seeds!! In one graceful yet impulsive moment I purchased some herb seeds to get a greater understanding and experience of herbs.

In the Druids Garden (and my garden) this week is Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

I planted 30 of these tiny seeds in my seed tray and as I write this, the fresh new plants are just breaking the surface ready to start their life!

For me, thyme was a herb I had seen every where, but wasn’t exactly sure what to do with!

The ancients knew the value of Thyme not only for culinary benefit, but also for its cleansing capabilities. Thyme was burnt in the temples to cleanse and fumigate after an animal sacrifice. The direct translation of the word means to fumigate! Interestingly enough modern science has confirmed the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of this herb.

Want to give your bed of straw a little extra clean zing? It was good enough for Jesus! It was said that the bed of straw in the manger had Thyme through it. The ancient Egyptians even used Thyme in the embalming process, and the ancient Greeks believed that thyme baths and incense were a source of courage!

Thyme has a lot of this stuff called Thymol which interestingly enough is the main ingredient in many mouthwashes because if its antiseptic properties. Before the use of antibiotics it was used to medicate bandages, and is still effective for treating the fungus that infects toenails! As a tea its great for bronchitis and other respiratory ailments. The oil is said to be effective in treating head lice, but be careful if you have a sensitive scalp!!

In the cooking (and for me eating) arena, Thyme is use lots in Mediterranean dishes, but should always be used with caution, especially when using the dried herb. It has a distinct flavour, and its better to use less and then add more as cooking progresses!

Its perfect partner is red meat, in particular lamb, where its best used as a primary flavour. As for the hot herbal cooking tip for this month – try putting a sprig of thyme in your next casserole to really take the flavour to the next level. Just be sure to remove it before serving.

Thyme enjoys hot, sunny conditions and oddly enough is most aromatic when grown in soils that are low in nutrients and well drained. Once established thyme requires very little watering and happily grows from cuttings. For something a little different, try growing thyme as an effective and aromatic, drought tolerant ground cover in your garden!

We have just scratched the surface of the medicinal and culinary benefits of this truly magnificent ancient herb. So why not get some thyme and really make good use of your herb garden to help in everyday life!

Ben Sorensen /|\

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