It Started With a Simple Realization
There’s something funny about planting a garden.
You spend months choosing seeds, planning beds, and imagining what everything will look like when it finally starts growing. Then one day you’re standing out there looking at all these beautiful herbs… and you realize something.
You know how to grow them.
But you don’t really know them.
That realization stuck with me this year.
As I planted herbs throughout my garden, I found myself wanting more than just the basics. Not just where they came from or how much water they needed. I wanted to actually understand them. Not just the name. Not just what someone on the internet says they’re “good for.”
I wanted to know their history. How they’ve been traditionally used. What conditions they love. What parts of the plant people work with. The folklore surrounding them. What makes each one genuinely unique.
I found myself standing in the garden looking at plants like lemon balm and calendula realizing I knew they were useful, but I couldn’t confidently tell you everything I wanted to know about them. That bothered me. Not because I needed to know everything, but because I wanted to understand the plants I was spending my time growing.
The More I Learned, The More Questions I Had
The more I learned, the more I realized just how much information is out there. Books, websites, videos, courses, research studies, social media posts… all sharing different perspectives. Sometimes those perspectives agree. Sometimes they really don’t.
It can be a lot.
I’ve noticed this pattern in a lot of areas of my life. Whether I’m researching herbs, gardening, cooking from scratch, or just trying to live a little healthier… there is rarely one perfect answer. What works for one person doesn’t always work for another. What one source swears by, another one questions completely.
That’s exactly why I think it matters to stay curious, keep asking questions, and never stop learning.
Not because I want to become an expert.
Not because I think I have all the answers.
But because I believe there’s real value in understanding the things we bring into our lives.
Building My Own Herbology Book
So I decided to build something for myself.
My own herbology book.
Not a textbook. Not a certification program. Not some complicated collection of information meant to impress anyone.
Just a place where I can gather what I learn, organize it in a way that actually makes sense to me, and slowly build a deeper relationship with the plants growing right in my own backyard.
One herb at a time.
As I work through each one, here’s what I’ll be exploring:
- Plant identification
- Growing conditions
- Harvesting and storage
- Traditional uses
- Historical and cultural significance
- Folklore and energetics
- Preparation methods
- Safety considerations
- Personal observations from my own garden
One Herb at a Time
Some herbs will get a few pages. Others might send me down a rabbit hole and end up filling an entire section of notes.
And honestly… I don’t expect this project to ever really be finished.
There will always be another herb to learn about. Another source to dig into. Another growing season that teaches me something I wasn’t expecting. Another question I hadn’t thought to ask yet.
That’s part of what makes it exciting.
More Than Just a Collection of Notes
Some of these herbs will eventually become teas, tinctures, salves, oils, and other projects around Owl & Sage. Others may simply become plants I enjoy growing and learning about. Either way, I think there’s value in slowing down and getting to know them beyond a recipe or a product label.
As I put these herb profiles together, I’ll be sharing pieces of what I learn here on Owl & Sage. You’ll find herb spotlights, garden observations, traditional information, preparation ideas, personal notes… and probably a few mistakes along the way too.
Why I’m Sharing This Journey
Because this isn’t about becoming a guru.
It’s about becoming a student.
And honestly, I hope I never stop being one.
I don’t want Owl & Sage to be a place that tells people what to believe, what to buy, or how to live. I want it to be a place that encourages curiosity. A place that reminds people they are completely capable of learning, growing, and making informed choices for themselves.
My goal isn’t for you to live your life the way I live mine.
My goal is to help you figure out what works for you.
Take what helps. Leave what doesn’t. Keep asking questions. Keep learning.
And most importantly… keep moving toward the life you actually want to build.
What’s Coming Next
The first herb I’ll be diving into is Lemon Balm. A cheerful little plant that has already earned a permanent place in both my garden and my heart.
I hope you’ll join me for the journey.
I’d Love to Hear From You
If you could learn one herb inside and out… which one would you choose?
Because something tells me I’m not the only one who’s curious.
Coming Soon: Lemon Balm
We’ll explore its history, growing habits, traditional uses, folklore, energetics, preparation methods, and the lessons it’s already teaching me in the garden.
