Herb resources thread - feedback, please

Dave has been working with me on finding ways to let our forum regulars find and use the resources we provide in other areas of the site.

I put together this thread: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/696276/ which is "stickied" at the top of this forum.

Here's what we'd like to know:

1) Is it helpful (i.e., did you learn about a resource you didn't know existed, or how to better use one of the resources it described?)

2) How could it be more helpful?

3) Do you have favorite herb threads that should be considered for inclusion in the Member's Favorite Threads area?

4) Other feedback for us?

Woohooo! Thank you, Terry -- we've needed this! I'll go check out the thread, and I'll be back with some links...

Can we have a subheading under "favorite threads" for propagation information, please?

There are some threads I want to find that I think were over in propagation and are especially useful for propagating herbs from seed or cutting... DIY aero-cloner (from vbsparky, maybe?), "roots easily in water" thread (for basils etc.), and a couple of things that I posted with information from my favorite herb guru, Tom DeBaggio...

Oh, and we definitely need to find a link to a pesto recipe thread -- that topic comes up a lot during basil season!

I know there have been some good culture threads on this forum, too, especially for rosemary and lavender.

I'll see if I can hunt up some links this evening... and I hope everyone else will hunt up their favorites also!

Jill, when we have member threads to add, that's when I usually try to arrange them under subheadings. (It's a little like my living room furniture - I arrange, and re-arrange and re-arrange again..... ;o)

Good point, Terry... thanks for being willing to do subheadings! That'll make it easier to navigate the sticky.

Here's the link for VbSparky's DIY AeroCloner: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/498781/

Clump Transplanting and other Seed Starting Tips: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/589725/

Tips on Rooting Cuttings (Tom DeBaggio's methods): http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/597232/

Water Bubbler Propatator: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/617812/#top
(It seems to me there might have been a better thread with photos of various bubbler systems that people had made, but this was the one that I could find... maybe somebody else will have better luck... Although this thread was from the Vines forum, the method seems to be working out for a lot of varieties that otherwise don't root readily in water.)

Rooting in Water: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/523734/#top

Pesto Recipes -- I didn't just want to post a link to the recipes that I use, so I found some other threads also...
from Joy of Cooking: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/627811/
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/111425/
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/592995/
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/530035/,

I hope this is the place for links to other helpful sites about herbs.If not sorry.

www.henriettesherbal.com

That is a great site - I've used it often myself.

On these sticky threads (you'll find them on several other forums, too), I've steered clear of links to outside sites within the sticky, due to "maintenance issues" - we have no control over any other site, so if they shuffle or delete pages, our link to them can break; we have no way of monitoring them to make sure the links are always updated and working.

Wow, there's a ton of great information on that site -- and now I've got it bookmarked! Thanks, babe!

I think it might be helpful to include links to good outside pages -- if they break, they break, but while they're up and working they could be really useful. We could even have links to "favorite vendors"... or maybe we could do a "favorite vendors" thread and link to that instead, so the status of the links/vendors could be more easily updated. ?

If someone wants to start and maintain a thread, that's fine with us ;o)

That makes sense. :-)

I'm willing to do maintain a vendor's thread down the line... but before I try to start on that, I'm going to see if we can't drum up a little more participation as far as adding resources to the new sticky...

Big thanks to downscale_babe for posting a great link on this thread!

I'm just baffled by the relative lack of participation here, especially after all the people who have commented that the herb forum needed a sticky...

We're not trying to narrow it down to the top 10 best herb threads of all time here... We're just trying to round up some links for threads people found especially useful or informative, so that they're easy to find for ourselves and for other people... Sometimes the same questions get asked a lot, and there's already a really good thread that could be bumped up and added to if it were easy to find.

Did I offend people by suggesting that a couple of threads that I started be added to the sticky? It was easy to find my own threads, and those are ones that I frequently refer people to... It's harder for me to find other threads unless I bookmarked them, so I'm hoping that whoever started the thread on herbal teas will post a link to it, and whoever started one of the informative threads on rosemary or lavender culture will post a link, etc.

I've just found this. Jill you didn't offend me. I have used your threads ever since joining DG. I've copied the info and sent it to myself as an Email. that way I always had it handy. :)

Terry, what about one on herbal vinegars? I know that comes up a lot, also. .

Copy and email, hmmm. I didn't think of that but store to my DG journal, I try to add the link to the forum where I found the info too.
I think as the herb growing/using season begins, the suggestions will grow...

I think you're right!

Please remember that if there are threads you refer back to, it's important to mention them here even if they've already been posted... Terry isn't going to assume something should be listed under "favorite threads" just because one person posts it; I think she needs input from more people.

The resource "sticky" is something I think we've needed for a while -- but it'll only be as good as we make it!

:-)

As an herb lurker, I'd like to second the choice of threads that I'm familiar with anyway.... the pesto threads, and the seed starting and clump transplanting thread. Very helpful.

Also I'd like to say that at least some outside links are extremely valuable and worth any risk of them failing for whatever reason. I don't know any for Herbs though. (This is more of a general sticky comment than just the Herbs forum sticky.)
Thank you!

I'm new to DG and completely support a consolidated resource for herbs. This will be my third season with herbs and I'm always looking for new ways to grow, propagate, and use herbs, especially in this zone. Much of my collection is in pots.

Hey! A lot of us have very bad memories and do not know the proper names for spices. Can y'all speak English for us less edubacated? General over the counter spice plant names? Thanks!!!

Cyber, if you're looking for information on a particular herb/spice or plant, PlantFiles is a great translator! If somebody uses a scientific name you don't know, type it into the search engine (under genus & species fields, or try the general search). If you're looking for the scientific name of "dill" in order to find out more or to find its PF entry, just type "dill" into the top field for common name in the PlantFiles search engine, and see what you get.

I think most of the discussion on the herb forum does use common names.

OK, let's see if we can drum up some support for adding more links to our resource "sticky" thread!

PLEASE, if you have favorite threads that you think are useful references, post them so Terry knows you'd like them added to the sticky. Don't just say "that great herb vinegar thread" or "the pesto thread" (there are probably a dozen pesto threads), please post a link to the actual thread.

I'm going to suggest some of the articles I've written for DG be linked to the sticky, because they are resources that I know and can find easily. I'm sure people have a lot of threads bookmarked... please, find them and post them here!!

My thread on sowing and clump transplanting has evolved into an article, Seed Starting 101: Sowing and Clump Transplanting for Sturdy Seedlings. It has links to my other Seed Starting 101 articles, and I hope it will be added to the sticky since several people mentioned that they would like the propagation thread added.

My first DG article, Get the Most out of Your Herbs 1: Pinch, Pinch, Pinch! might also be useful, since it has step by step photos of how to pinch back a plant. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/106/

Pesto threads were mentioned above. I included 2 pesto recipes and some other suggestions plus links to a pesto thread and a bruschetta recipe thread in my second DG article last year, Get the Most out of Your Herbs II: Eat What You Pinch. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/110/

Herb vinegars were also mentioned as a topic that people would like to find easily. The third article in the series, Get the Most out of Your Herbs III: Save Some for Later, includes directions for making herbal vinegars as well as suggestions for freezing herbs. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/111/

As I've said before in this thread, Terry is not going to add links to the sticky just because one person nominates them, especially when I'm nominating articles that I wrote, because that just seems like I'm blowing my own horn. If we want links to articles or threads added to the sticky, we all have to participate in posting about them. Right now, there are only two links under "member's favorite threads"... I think we can expand that list! :-)

Thanks!!

o thanks critter for posting your articles. They're so great and I have trouble finding them.

I'm glad you find them useful! :-)

If you think they should be added to the resource "sticky" on the herb forum, please say so, and maybe Terry will put links there to make them easy to find...

YES PLEASE TERRY!!! Please add Critters articles to the resources 'sticky'. Some of us (well maybe just me blush) aren't too techie and I have a hoot of a time finding them again and they are a great resource!! I think it will be really great for new herbies too when they visit this forum for the first time to find them at the top. It's sometimes hard to find info by search when there's so much info (not that I'm complaining about the the search feature or the amount of info by any means!!! At LAST fellow herbienuts ^_^).

Would it be useful to include links to DG articles on specific types of herbs as well as ones with more general information? There have been several good ones already... plus, some of Sharran's "Aunt Bett" articles involve herbs, but are those more "folksy" than "resource-y"? I'm not sure how wide ranging we want to be... thoughts?

Garlic Chives (SallyG): http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/865/

Lemongrass (Tamara Galbraith): http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/738/

Rosemary (Kerri_Sue): http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/682/

Lavender (High Country Gardens): http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/25/

Basils (Critterologist): http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/752/

Creeping Thymes (Critterologist): http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1137/

O I think articles on specific herbs are a great 'go to' resource for those who haven't tried that specific herb. I leave it to others to comment on the 'folksy', or craft-orientated articles on herbs. I think they have value if there is enough members interested in those uses.

I like this site for medicinal herbs http://www.herbsguide.net/index.html

Terry, I know admin doesn't like to put non-DG links in resource stickies because of maintenance issues... but would you be willing to add a link to a thread where we all put in our favorite off-site herb resources? Down the road, when we get a lot of off-site links, I'll organize them into a thread of their own that I can volunteer to maintain for the forum (you said you'd be willing to sticky such a thread as long as somebody else maintained it)... (anybody else who's willing to volunteer would be more than welcome to do so!)

If we can't link such a thread to the resource sticky for an interim solution, I guess we could just create one and keep bumping it up. At any rate, I'll make one now...

If anybody has favorite non-DG herb resource links, please post them on this thread: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/853397/

oops sorry about that. Didn't know that non-DG links weren't allowed.

Not a problem at all! And they're encouraged on the other thread... I'd love to end up with another resource "sticky" for "outside" links... but I know Terry can't add them to the original sticky. I appreciate your sharing your favorite sites!

These are a few DG links that I had saved for info I considered useful.

DG threads ... this one had good info on germinating Stevia and herbal cuttings.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/742532/#new


Medicinal herbal link...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/363881/

Aloe vera link...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/368962/

Herbal seasoned oils...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/714309/

Lemon verbena & pineapple sage uses...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/730813/

Basil frozen in olive oil... (Info found in thread.)
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/834345/#new

I hope this is generally what you are searching for... pod

Thanks, Pod!

The stevia thread, aloe vera thread, and lemon verbena thread I though were especially good. I shy away from seasoned oils because of concerns about botulism, but that was discussed in the thread, and there were some other good recipe suggestions (seasoned vinegars) in that thread also. The basil in olive oil is useful but might be redundant -- although I don't know how obvious it is that the same info is in the "Save Some for Later!" article.

Jill
If you need votes on whether or not your herb articles should be added to the sticky, then I vote yes. :)

Please, Terry, may Jill's articles be added as a "sticky" as well as the others?

:-) I know Terry likes to see more than one person nominating a thread or article before admin deems it a "members' favorite" for the sticky... so being specific about what you'd like to see on the resource "sticky" does help!

I think the "top ten must haves" thread should be on the resource sticky. The lists and reasons behind them make a great starting point for people who'd like to start an herb garden or an herb pot but aren't sure where to begin.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/848647/#new

I second critter on the 'top ten must haves'. Great info!!

Candy using fresh herbs.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=3073370

I've added a link to all the articles containing the words "herb" and "herbs" here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=3226658

(Sorry, there are just too many articles for me to keep up with adding each of them individually, especially when you extrapolate this over all the resource threads ;o)

Thanks! That's a good way to have that section continue to update automagically. ;-)

Hopefully we can continue to get input and have some additional "member's favorite threads" added, also... that would be great!

Thanks Terry!!!!

Terry
These are some helpful links that have already been posted, but I'd like to nominate they be placed on the sticky. They were very helpful to me as a new member, and I continue to refer back to them.

Here's the link for VbSparky's DIY AeroCloner: [
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/498781/

Clump Transplanting and other Seed Starting Tips: [
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/589725/

Tips on Rooting Cuttings (Tom DeBaggio's methods)
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/597232/

Water Bubbler Propatator: [
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/617812/

Rooting in Water: [
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/523734/

An external link posted by Babe which is One of the oldest and largest herbal information sites on the web..
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/

I hope it's okay to request that these are placed on the sticky. I appreciate your hard work with all the herb articles and find them useful as well. :)
~Susan

I think the top non-culinary must have's thread should be included also. Thats been a good source of info for me.


http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/854953/

I've added these links. If there are others that are frequently referenced in the herb forum, please let me know.