Julie's & The Herbal Garden Story
Hi, I’m Julie! Welcome to The Herbal Garden, my two-acre property in Selwyn District, just southwest of Christchurch, New Zealand. Here, I grow culinary and medicinal herbs that I use in my products.
The Journey
The Herbal Garden has evolved over time. Initially, I aimed to produce spray-free, organic fruit and vegetables for my family. This led to the creation of:
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A culinary herb garden
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A medicinal herb garden
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A flower garden for my heritage roses and my take on an 'English Country Garden'
These gardens follow the principles of permaculture, positioning what we use most frequently closest to the kitchen for easy access.
Practices
At the front of the property, we have a park-like setting with various large trees, a central pond, and a smaller top pond linked by a stream, providing sanctuary for wildlife.
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Organic and Sustainable: All gardens are built on organic/permaculture bases. We use no chemical additives, aiming for sustainability and natural well-being.
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Composting: We recycle everything in the garden. Trees, bushes, and branches are chipped for mulch, and garden waste is composted. Our chickens help compost weeds and grass, producing rich soil.
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Soil Enrichment: We use vermicast from our worm farm, compost tea, and biochar to energise the soil and encourage microorganisms, enhancing plant vitality.
Harvesting and Production
We harvest herbs at their peak, ensuring high volatile oil and natural property content. They are dried naturally in our drying shed, maintaining their quality. Harvesting is done by hand from spring to autumn, ensuring top-notch ingredients for our herbal teas, skincare, and herbal salts.
My Background
I trained as a Cordon Bleu Cook in the UK, owned a restaurant, and worked across Europe. This experience introduced me to natural products and the medicinal uses of herbs.
Moving to New Zealand with my family marked a new chapter. I studied organics at Lincoln University and completed a Herbal Medicine apprenticeship with Valmai Becker of Phytofarm.
Sharing Knowledge
Today, The Herbal Garden allows me to share my knowledge through workshops, garden tours and experiences, along with my blog and news letters. In August 2023 I was delighted to be awarded Gold and Overall winner of the Tourism category at the Selwyn Awards 23, along with being awarded Bronze in the Environmental & Sustainability section.
I believe in the power of growing herbs, fruit and vegetables in chemical-free soil to keep us healthy and strong, plus supporting and sustaining our environment.
Thank you for visiting The Herbal Garden. I hope you find inspiration and knowledge here!
