Herby New Year from Jekka and All of the Herb Farm team!
We're all really excited about 2010, because we've got so much happening this year, with five Open Days, our first ever Main Avenue trade stand at the Chelsea Flower Show, and Jekka's new Herb Cookbook being published in June!
December snow on the herb farm - note Aphrodite's snow cloak (and chilly nether regions)!
Silver birch, taken on Winter Solstice
Of course, Hampton (Jekka's dog) had to get in on the act and had great fun ploughing the snow with his muzzle!
Just before Christmas, the herb farm had its second sprinkling of snow for 2009 (we had a heavy dusting the previous Jan & Feb too). January 2010 sees us still beneath layers of snow and ice - it's jolly pretty but chilly work on the herb farm right now!
Jekka took this stunning shot of the Silver Birch (left) just after dawn on the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year.
Hampton is a doggy snow plough!
The 'Big Freeze' engulfs the herb farm
Horticultural fleece is a must at this time of year
Horticultural fleece is a must at this time of year to protect your herbs, and with temperatures plumetting to -20°C in some parts of the UK, it's essential to protect all but the largest, most well established and hardiest of herbs.
Gently brush the snow off your herbs in the daytime to relieve the pressure of heavy snow, before it freezes.
Claire and Josie gently brush the snow off our herbs before temperatures plummet further...
Fennel seed head (above) and
snowy Cardoon (below).
Our stoical staff, Louise (above) and Jill (below) brave the snow!
Did you know that 2010 is officially International Year of Biodiversity?
It's easy to encourage biodiversity
in your herb garden by choosing native herbs which attract bees and butterflies.
This is a drive to raise awareness and take steps to rectify the very real threat to our natural resources. Biodiversity in the garden encourages beneficial insects and wildlife, which will, in turn, increase your yield. Growing organically, and growing native herbs, particularly ones that encourage beneficial insects, is of particular importance to encouraging and increasing biodiversity. You can do it in your own back garden, in your herb garden, even in containers. And you will reap the rewards as bees, birds and butterflies achieve a high level of pollination and increased yields.
Native herbs are naturally acclimatised to our native weather, and help to provide a natural environment for beneficial insects and wildlife. All native herbs are indicated on our website by the symbol , and you can use our Search function to find them all (click on the 'Uses' drop down list).
Biodiversity herbs - those which specifically encourage bees, butterflies and beneficial insects - are indicated on our website by the butterfly symbol .See also our suggestions for Butterfly and Bee herbs in your garden. Our herb seed collections, 'Jekka's Biodiversity Collection', and 'Grow Native' (launched at the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show) are perfect if you prefer to grow from seed.
Our new 2010 'taster' catalogue is winging it's way to all of our regular customers throughout January..
Our brand new 'taster' catalogue is specially designed to help you choose amongst our 600 + herb varieties. E.g., if you're looking for great herbs to cook with, there's a chapter on 'Herbs for a Cook's Garden', or to create some really stunning herb displays in your garden this year, don't miss 'Show Stopping Herbs'.
If you haven't received a copy by the end of Jan, just send us 4 x 1st class stamps (with your address of course) and we'll pop it in the post. Or simply download it instead.
If you still prefer to see our whole 600+ varieties in catalogue form (not forgetting that they're all plain to see here on our website), you can order our Complete Herb List by sending in £2.50 in coins attached to a piece of card, together with your address.
We've recently heard that the RHS have awarded Jekka's 2009 Chelsea Flower Show display the coveted Lawrence Medal...
The Lawrence Medal is awarded by he RHS for the best exhibit shown to the society over the year. Jekka's Herb Farm is the first organic nursery and the first herb nursery to receive the award, so it's a tremendous accolade for organic farming.
Read more...
Jekka's Chelsea display, which has been awarded the RHS Lawrence Medal
Winter jobs in the Herb Garden...
Protect less hardy herbs with fleece,
bubblewrap or even straw...
...gently brush soft snow from your herbs before it freezes..
...look after the birds, and they'll look after your garden..
..brew up a fresh pot of rosemary tea, sit back, and choose your herb seeds for spring sowing.
Snow and heavy frost can quickly kill herbs if they're not sufficiently protected. Use horticultural fleece, bubblewrap, even straw to bed down your less hardy herbs.
If you're not sure which herbs are hardy and which aren't, read our Guide to Herb Hardiness, which explains the minimum temperatures your herbs will withstand.
In the daytime, brush the snow gently from herbs which are bowing under the weight, before the snow freezes.
Don't forget the birds! It's really tough for them when everything's covered by a blanket of snow and frost, and with a high metabolism, they need to eat constantly to survive. By providing nuts and seeds (even fruit such as apples - the natural sugar will help to keep them going) for them to eat when food supplies are low, they will remain in your garden throughout winter, and you'll be rewarded by their presence in the warmer months when they help to pollinate and increase your yields.
This really is the quiet time in the herb garden, and you can take advantage of the extra time by planning any additions or changes to your herb garden; by choosing and ordering those herbs you didn't get around to last year; constructing new paths, steps, arches etc.
Brew up a fresh pot of rosemary tea (revives and restores, and is also antiseptic so good for colds and sore throats), relax, sit back, and choose your herb seeds for spring sowing.
Don't forget to view Jekka's Herb of the Month, Rosemary
Rosemary is one of the most versatile herbs in the kitchen, in the home and medicinally.
A few twigs thrown on the fire will make the whole house smell incredible, and a brew of rosemary tea is the ultimate detox following festive excess! Read more...
That’s all of our news for now: please feel free to get in touch if there
, and you can use our 
.See also our suggestions for 
