My stevia is long dried and stored for the winter. Since it is so easy to make my own simple sweetener, I don't buy the prepackaged varieties. I did however, try one brand and then blogged about my experience with it.

I am admittedly, a diehard fan of just growing and making my own, but for those who do like to use the little packages, here is another sweetener that looks promising:

Sun Crystals - What looks attractive to me is that it is made from simply blending stevia with sugar, so that you get the sweetness, without added chemicals. From the website, I pulled these points:

Made of sugar and stevia

Safe for Diabetics(up to 3 packets is still considered a Free Food)

Safe for Pregnant and Nursing moms

Can be used in baking and cooking

I have ordered their granulated blend(to try for cooking) and a box of packets. Let's see how it tastes!

If you have experience with this product, please post in the comments section. I have been unable to find it in any grocery store around here, and have to wait for my online order to arrive, before testing. Thanks!

They are the perfect addition to your home medicine chest; coughdrops. Making cough drops is a nice way to offer support and TLC for someone you love, while they are feeling under the weather. This cough drop recipe is easy to make and works very well. Play around with some of your favorite herbs, to create just the right combination. I prefer using elderberry juice to make mine. The kids love the taste, and they are getting the benefits of elderberry in each piece.

Tinctures can also be used to add more potency, but are not necessary. If you are feeling especially industrious, try wrapping each cough drop in individual pieces of wax paper after dusting with slippery elm powder.

Photo ©A. Jeanroy

Not all indoor gardens have to be fancy. Here is a shot of my herb gardens that sit on my desk. They are growing under my gooseneck reading lamp, lit up with a simple growlight bulb that I bought on a whim at the hardware store.

Share what you are growing indoors this winter. I would like to create a gallery of gardens for everyone who is looking for ideas.

Photo ©2008, A. Jeanroy

Just when I thought I had gone to heaven with my new ipod, I found three new apps that relate directly to us herbies!

The first one is called Herb Garden. It is available under Reference apps. This little gem is great for finding growing info, medicinal and historical uses for many herbs. A fun and useful thing that takes up little room on your ipod. It does require wifi to run though.

The next app is called Culinary Herbs and Spices(Reference). Although it may look a bit confusing at first, this app is packed with a LOT of herbs that you may have never even heard of. There are plenty of of the regulars; Sage, Anise, Mint, etc. included. This one is nice, because you can download it and go. No need to be near wifi for it to run.

The third and final app(so far) is called Medicinal Plants(Reference).It contains a lot of really interesting information about dozens of herbs and their medicinal qualities. It requires wifi to delve very deeply, but makes a thorough app for reference, even when not online.

I am still looking for more herb related apps for my new ipod. With so many available, it won't be long before I have a full screen of gardening apps to share with you. Do you have any favorite herb or gardening related apps to share with us? Please do!

Often, when a gardener thinks of the garden season, they only think in their own zone. I am guilty of this. Since I have always lived in zone 5 or less, my knowledge and training is strongest for this area. One thoughtful reader reminded me that there are many more zone to consider for a well balanced herb site.

I would like to offer just as many tips and tricks for southern gardeners, so I am asking for your help.

What are the topics that you would like to see here? If you would give me some ideas to focus on, I believe this site could be useful for every gardener in every zone. Do you suffer from drought? Particular diseases or insect problems that are specific to your zone?

Send your thoughts directly to me, or post a comment. Thanks so much!

With all of the flu and cold season talk, I thought it might be helpful to revisit oregano oil. This blog was originally posted last year at this time. I hope you find it helpful.

Vanessa Richins, About.com Guide to Trees and Shrubs, brought the latest research about oregano oil to my attention. These scientists isolated the compound carvacrol, as being a more powerful antimicrobial than 18 other pharmaceutical drugs tested.

In herbal healing circles, it is well known that oregano oil is a powerful substance. It is antifungal, antibiotic, and antiviral- extremely potent stuff. Here are two easy ways to use oregano essential oil in your home this winter:

• To make a sick room spray, combine 8 drops in a spray bottle of 2 1/2 cups of water. Mist the room, making certain to avoid anything that may become watermarked.
• Wipe down surfaces with 2 drops of oregano oil on a moist rag. Remember to include high traffic areas like phones, keyboards, doorknobs and light switches.

This time of year is perfect for saving your herb seeds. When the herbs are nearly finished flowering and they have turned brown and dry, tie a paper bag over the top of the herb to catch the seeds. Then cut just below the bag and catch any seeds that will jar loose.

Once you have your seeds captured in this manner, it is easy to remove the seeds by hand, by rubbing the dried seedheads, still contained in the bag. Once this is finished, you can sort out the seeds from the chaff if desired.

My favorite tip for seed saving is to store any seeds in dried milk powder. You can keep your individual seeds in small handmade envelopes. Then place these envelopes inside of a glass container with at least 1/4 cup of dried milk powder. The powder will ensure that the seeds remain perfectly dry throughout the winter.

Fall is a great time to add a lot of bulk to your compost pile. While you are clearing up the finished garden items and other chores, be sure to follow these simple composting tips.

• Only add plants and other natural waste that is not diseased.
• Do not forget to mix up any remaining compost to *fertilize* your new addition with good bacteria.
• Now is the time to add more coarse material, as it will break down all winter. In the spring, if there is anything left, you can easily remove it.

More on composting:

• Composting video
  

• More Composting Info
• Plastic Storage Bin Composter




Photo © 2008, A. Jeanroy

I am considering adding a second weekly newsletter. From the feedback I have been receiving about my Friday Herb Highlight posts, readers seem to enjoy finding ways to cook with the herbs they grow. I would like to offer a second weekly newsletter(sent out on Friday mornings), that highlights a single herb and includes links to recipes and more information on how to use it. This would require no change on regular subscriber's part, I would simply set up the second newsletter and away we would go.