Herb gardening isn't an art... Anyone can grow their own herb garden, whether its a "kitchen window garden"  or a comprehensive collection of medicinal, tea, and spice herbs in a plotted and planned garden area. Many herbs "cross over", or serve in more than one use area. If you decide to go the planted garden area route, remember that some herbs, such as any of the sages, are perennials, and will come back year after year. Therefore, herbs should be planted om a separated area from your regular garden vegetables.  (Herbs are also very good insecticides, keeping away many harmful pests, so... you get multiple benefits from planting them in or near your garden. Making several  small plots gives you better protection as far as the pests are concerned. As an aside, there are flower plants that are protective in this manner also. Marigolds is one of those, and pennyroyal is an herb that is an excellent animal pest deterrent, such as fleas and ticks~! Herbalists make flea collars out of this herb)

There are many and numerous herbs and herb garden collections that you can purchase in bulk, right here on ebay, or through your own garden center. Do remember, however, that herb seeds are normally only good for a year, or maybe two, so don't jump at the lowest price item. Make sure that your seeds are as fresh as you can get them, for better germination, and stronger, healthier plants. This is one area that cutting pennies will cost dollars.

The small window sill type herb garden that can be purchased as ready to go, or .. you build it, is something even a child can do. All it requires is a little attention to the watering, and fertilizing a bit doesn't hurt either. But they will grow, with just the basic attention to watering.  And for a wintertime project, imagine your childs happiness at being able to harvest these fresh herbs! It can be by carefully picking herb leaves, or by giving each variety a "flat top" hair cut. They will regrow, in a period of weeks, and are good for several months production in this manner.  You can bag your herbs and freeze them, or you can dry them, and store them in small jars, i.e. baby food, or even used spice jars that have been emptied. (Make sure they have been washed out and dried thoroughly to protect the essence of your own home grown plants) If you are placing dried herbs in jars, make sure they are truly dried, aging in fresh air for several weeks to remove the moisture. Placing them on layers of paper towels helps. When jarring, store leaves or bundles of leaves as whole as you can, so you can crush them when using. Crushing them and placing them in jars does, however, give you more space for the herbs, so whichever suits you.  Fresh frozen herbs, in small plastic bags, are wonderful! You can put a lot of little bags inside a snap tight lid plastic container as well. These are almost as good as the fresh herbs straight out of the garden. Storing them whole, on stems for stripping is best, but you can freeze just the leaves if you prefer)

Basic herbs, such as chives, sweet basil, thyme, cilantro, and sweet marjoram are found in the simple easy gardens. But if you choose to make your own window garden, in any well drained container you can find (even a deep dish plastic oblong container with drain holes poked in it, placed in another container with a shallow gravel bed, and the herb container placed inside it) will work.  Regular potting soil is fine to use, or the stepped up varieties that have some fertilizer added are good as well.

Once you have your seeds potted or planted according to directions for that specific herb (some require a little distance between the seeds, some don't. Some require more depth, but most of the time, 1/8" to l/4" in depth is plenty)  Plant your herb garden in "little squares", whether inside or outside, so you are keeping each herb in its own little area.

Balcony herb gardens can be quite prolific and are large enough that you can diversify and plant some of the medicinal or tea type herbs.  Below is a partial list of the herbs available, and in categories for easy planning. There are many books available on herbs, regarding their planting and care, but more specifically what each will do for you. Whether you are a connoisseur of the kitchen arts, and a gourmet cook, or you just want to do some experimenting in the kitchen, you will be pleasantly surprised by the magic of growing your own herbs. The taste sensation and difference between fresh grown and those purchased dried and bottled in the stores, is simply amazing. Its a whole new world~!

CULINARY (cooking) HERBS

Rosemary, thyme, chives, cilantro, oregano, parsley, sweet basil (and there are many different flavors of basil, from Greek, to licorice, to lemon so you may wind up planting several varieties) curled cress, dill, mustard, coriander, tarragon, sage, savory, lemon balm, garlic, lemon balm, fennel, mint, anise (which is sort of a licorice flavor) lemon grass, garlic chives.

TEA (brewing) HERBS

Angelica, Anise, camomile, catnip, rosemary, lemon grass, lavender, fever few, mint, Lemon bergamot, sage

MEDICINAL HERBS

Yarrow, Milk Thistle, St. Johns Wort, Echinacea, camomile, feverfew, comfrey, valerian, scullcap, cayenne, lemon balm.

***And some herbs, such as lavender, can even be used in potpourri! Remember that also, rose hips (from your rose bushes) can be used to brew a tea as well as the leaves used in potpourri.