Herbs in Every Season with Bevin Cohen

This week on Down the Garden Path podcast, Joanne Shaw speaks with Bevin Cohen of Small House Farm about his latest book, Herbs in Every Season.

About Bevin

Bevin Cohen is an award-winning author, herbalist, owner of Small House Farm and host of the popular Seeds & Weeds podcast. He offers workshops and lectures across the U.S. on the benefits of living closer to the land through seeds, herbs, and locally grown food. Bevin is a food and garden writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications including Mother Earth News, Modern Farmer Magazine, and Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company catalogue. He's the author or editor of more than 10 books, including Saving Our Seeds and The Artisan Herbalist. Learn more about Bevin's work at www.bevincohen.com.

Here are some of the topics covered in this episode:

• Bevin’s book, Herbs in Every Season, which is available for sale on March 25th
  • He explores herbs from various angles, including history, folklore, medicinal uses, culinary applications, and growing/gathering/processing techniques
  • Suitable for both experienced gardeners and new herbalists
  • Emphasizes seasonal gardening and container gardening, as well as the ease of using herbs for cooking and other purposes
• The challenges of gardening, such as dealing with pests like squirrels, and the importance of learning from mistakes
• Tips for growing dill, including planting in partial shade, mulching, and succession planting
• The various uses for dill, such as making pickles, dressings, and infused vinegar, as well as its medicinal applications
• The aesthetic value of herbs in gardens, mentioning bronze fennel as an example of an attractive and versatile herb
• The benefits of introducing wild, native plants into landscapes for their low maintenance and diverse appeal
• How matching plants with their preferred environment and adapting to changing garden conditions are important lessons to learn from gardening
• Bevin's podcast "Seeds and Weeds" where he discusses various plant-related topics with guests
  • The current season aligns with the theme of his book, focusing on the seasons
• Joanne shared her excitement about starting seeds for luffa plants using a new "snail" method, which allows for extensive root growth and efficient use of space

Find Bevin Cohen online:

Websites: www.bevincohen.com and www.smallhousefarm.com