HERBS AND FOOD.

 Judith Hann will be running half day courses in June to show how edible herbs can be used in mouth-watering recipes. Even the borage flowers, seen above, are used in several ways, from putting them in simple salads to making chilled borage and cucumber soup for a hot summer’s day. She explains how to prepare soft herbs like chives and chervil and then shows how hard herbs like bay and tyme are used very differently.She selects plants to transform wine vinegars, olive oil, spiced fruits, sugars and fruit jellies. There are recipes for herbs which may be new to you like lovage and scented sages and ideas for those old favourites like thyme, coriander and basil.

HEALTHY HERB COOKERY. Growing and cooking with healthy herbs, using low fat, low salt recipes.

QUICK HERB RECIPES. New food ideas for people with busy lives who still want to eat and serve high quality, healthy  dishes.

GROWING HERBS. Plants for sun and shade, poor soil and rich, pots or open ground. When to sow annual herbs and salad herbs like rockets, mustards and Japanese varieties. When to take cuttings and the best propagation techniques. When to cut back to keep plants healthy and fresh.

GARDEN DESIGN WITH HERBS. The best herbs for hedges and edging beds. Which thrive against walls or in the shade of other plants. Herbs for visual impact and for attracting birds and butterflies.

HARVESTING AND STORAGE. The right techniques and time of day for picking herbs to dry or freeze. Herb recipes like pesto and tapenade which can be stored for winter use.  

The herb classes start by tasting dozens of different herbs and learning more about them. Later we walk around the gardens, spending most time in the large herb garden which we hope will inspire you to grow a greater variety in your own patch.

 There have been rave reviews for the courses and many repeat bookings. Some people have been to several different classes. This is one typical reaction:

  " Many thanks for a splendid day and your warm hospitality. It was very entertaining and has given me many ideas and instructions to be getting on with. I loved the way the day was split into a number of different activities and locations ... and what a fabulous setting inside and out. Congratulations on creating such a good setup. I have only been to one other similar experience ( a day of cooking at Gordon Ramsey's - Royal Hospital Road) and today knocked spots off it.

  Thanks so much - Steve."

Have a look at this blog from a professional gardener: www.outofmyshed.co.uk. Search for Hann's Herbs in the search box which will take you to "Name that Herb" - telling you about a course she attended in 2012.