Monmouth's Ask the Doctor May/June 2018

AQUAPONICS FOR THE HOME By Susan Heckler Herbs you can grow inside with just water If you have been loving your outdoor herb garden and want to keep those beauties coming, try aquaponics for the home. There are some herbs you can grow with just a glass of water. No matter what color your thumb is, fresh herbs year round are easy. All you need is a medium-sized glass jar and fresh water to start cultivating your 12 herbs that don’t require soil to grow. Your choice of jars can show your decorating flair as they will be visible, needing sunlight. • Cilantro is an ingredient used in delicious dressings, rice, pasta, and a variety of other dishes. Your cilantro supply will be plentiful if you place your plant in a sunny spot. • Peppermint is good as a fragrant herb, which makes a great tea, can be turned into an essential oil and tastes good. It will do well in a partially sunny or shady window. • Lavender smells amazing and can be made into a tea or oil. This sun loving plant is used to soothe depres- sion, ease migraines, and cramping, and promotes good sleep. • Oregano plants grow large, but you can snip at it with kitchen scissors to trim off the leaves. Toss it on just about everything. • Marjoram brings flavor to chicken and beef dishes, but is also used in lotions and bath soaps. It grows best indoors in full sunlight. • Basil can be used in sandwiches, sauces, and just about everything else. It needs 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day to thrive. • Chives are an herb/onion combination, which is also a popular choice to bring in flavor and texture to dish- es. Chives need a lot of water and sunlight for optimal growth. • Sage is used holistically. Great in egg, chicken, lamb, or pineapple dishes. Needs moderate sunlight. • Lemon balm relieves anxiety, improves digestion, and helps with better sleep. It likes a lot of sunshine. • Stevia is a great alternative to sugar when you need to sweeten things up. Stevia can grow in both sunny and shadier spots. • Rosemary is wonderful in chicken dishes and grows nicely in full sunlight.

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ASK THE DOCTOR

MAY/JUNE 2018