Herbs on the Homestead: Growing and Using Nature's Medicine
I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be drying bundles of lavender in my kitchen or making salves from calendula grown in my garden—but once I planted my first patch of peppermint, I was hooked. There’s something quietly powerful about herbs: they don’t demand much space or fuss, yet they offer so much in return. My herbal journey started small—with a few pots on a porch—and now they’ve become a cornerstone of our homestead.
Herbs are incredibly versatile. In the kitchen, they flavor meals and create comforting teas. Medicinally, they offer gentle support for everything from sore throats to sleepless nights. Cosmetically, they transform into nourishing skin salves, bath soaks, and natural cleaners. And when it comes to crafts? Think herbal wreaths, sachets, and even natural dyes. Their usefulness feels endless.
Whether you're just planting your first mint cutting or have dreams of running an herbal apothecary, herbs are a low-lift, high-reward addition to any homestead. In this post, I’m excited to share how herbs have shaped our land, routines, and homemade products—and maybe inspire you to grow a few of your own.
Choosing the Right Herbs for Your Homestead
If you’re new to growing herbs, the good news is: many of them are surprisingly low-maintenance and high-reward. Whether you’ve got raised beds, a full garden, or just a few sunny containers on your porch, herbs will happily find a home.
Start with forgiving, multipurpose plants that thrive in a variety of conditions. Some of my favorites for beginners include:
Mint – Grows aggressively (plant it in containers unless you want a mint takeover), great for tea, desserts, and cooling remedies. Seriously, I have an entire flower bed dedicated to my peppermint, and it is thriving but would decimate my vegetable garden if allowed.
Calendula – Bright orange flowers with skin-soothing properties; perfect for salves and teas. This makes a garden look bright, happy, and magical! (Great for pollinators too!)
Lavender – Aromatic and drought-tolerant, ideal for crafts, relaxation, and natural cleaning. I hang lavender in my kitchen and it smells amazing! Though, it can be temperamental based on your climate and soil-type.
Basil – Loves warmth and sunshine; perfect for cooking and making herbal oils. Paired with some fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, you can’t ask for a better snack!
Rosemary – Hardy and fragrant, great in cooking, aromatherapy, and as a natural pest repellent. I don’t want to say I have a favorite…but I have a favorite and it’s rosemary.
Some herbs, like oregano, thyme, and sage, will come back year after year, making them great long-term investments. Others, like basil and cilantro, are annuals that need to be replanted each season. A mix of both keeps your herb garden productive and varied throughout the year.
Most herbs love full sun—about 6–8 hours a day—but a few like parsley and mint can tolerate partial shade. Well-drained soil is key, especially for Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and lavender. If your native soil is heavy or clay-rich, raised beds or containers can make a world of difference. Bonus: herbs don’t need a lot of space to thrive, so even small plots or windowsills work beautifully.
I plant some of my herbs that are shade tolerant under my pea trellis to make the space more usable and it’s really pretty! (Pic below)
Herbs aren’t just useful for humans—they can support the rest of your garden, too. Basil helps tomatoes grow strong, chives repel aphids, and mint deters cabbage moths. Strategically tucking herbs among your vegetables can reduce pests naturally and support pollinators at the same time. I always plant oregano, basil, and thyme with my tomato plants, and they have always thrived!
How to Grow and Harvest Herbs
Once you've chosen the herbs that best suit your homestead, it's time to get growing. Whether you're aiming for a lush medicinal garden or a few fresh sprigs for the kitchen, herbs are forgiving, flexible, and perfect for beginners and seasoned growers alike.
Starting from seed is cost-effective and offers a wide variety of plant options, but it does require a bit more patience and planning. Herbs like basil, chamomile, and parsley are fairly easy to grow from seed if you have a sunny window or grow lights.
On the other hand, purchasing starterplants (aka “starts”) from a nursery gives you a head start—especially with slower growers like rosemary or lavender, which can take a while to establish. For many homesteaders, a mix of seeds and starts is the sweet spot. I’ll be honest, I’ve never had much luck starting rosemary, lavender, or sage from seed—no matter how hard I try. So instead, I make a trip to our local greenhouse each season to pick up healthy starts of my favorite herbs. Not only does it guarantee a better harvest, but it’s also a great way to support a small, locally owned business that puts real care into their plants. If you’ve struggled with certain herbs, I highly recommend checking out your nearby greenhouse—you’ll be supporting your garden and your community.
Choosing Your Setup: Raised Beds, In-Ground, or Containers
Raised beds offer great drainage, easy access, and control over soil quality—perfect for perennial herbs.
In-ground gardens work well for large herb patches or when you’re integrating herbs into existing vegetable rows (hello, companion planting).
Containers are ideal for herbs like mint, which tend to spread aggressively, or for those short on space. Bonus: they can be moved to chase the sun or avoid frost. (Please take my advice and use containers or create your own raised bed for mint, it will never surrender once established.)
No matter your setup, make sure your herbs have good drainage and plenty of sunlight—most thrive with at least 6 hours of sun a day.
To get the most flavor and healing properties, harvest herbs just before they flower, when their essential oils are at their highest. An herb’s flavor can change significantly once it begins to “bolt” (flower), often becoming bitter or less vibrant. To keep it tasting its best and extend the growing season, regular trimming is key—harvest often to encourage new growth and delay flowering. For leafy herbs like basil, mint, or oregano, use clean scissors or pruners and cut above a leaf node to encourage bushier growth.
Morning is the best time to harvest—after the dew has dried but before the sun gets too hot and starts to evaporate the oils.
Drying herbs is simple and rewarding. Here are a few easy methods:
Air drying: Bundle herbs with twine and hang them upside down in a dry, dark, well-ventilated space. I also love the look of drying my herbs in my kitchen, and you can see a picture of my setup below. It’s a simple strand of twine, some small command hooks, and voila, my kitchen looks magical and smells amazing! (Pictured below)
Dehydrator: Speeds things up, especially in humid climates. I personally love using my dehydrator when I’m attempting to dry a large batch of herbs at once to store or use in a project I’m currently working on.
Oven drying: A quick option when you're short on time—just keep the temperature low (under 180°F) and check often. Be cautious, though—ovens can go from drying to scorching in a matter of minutes, leaving you with crispy herbs better suited for the compost pile than your spice jar.
Once dry, strip the leaves from stems, crumble if desired, and store in airtight glass jars away from heat and light. Properly stored, dried herbs can retain potency for up to a year or more.
Everyday Uses for Herbs
One of the most satisfying parts of growing herbs on the homestead is actually using them. These little powerhouses can flavor your meals, soothe your skin, support your immune system, and even add beauty to your home. Whether you’re reaching for lavender or oregano, herbs bring both practicality and intention into your daily routine.
Herbs are a homesteader’s best-kept kitchen secret. Use them fresh or dried to elevate even the simplest meal. A few favorite uses:
Tea blends: Combine calming herbs like chamomile, lemon balm, and mint for a custom herbal tea that supports rest and digestion. We have a cup of chamomile and lemon tea nightly!
Herb salts & seasoning blends: Mix dried thyme, basil, or sage with coarse salt or spices for rubs, soups, and roasts.
Infused oils or vinegars: Steep rosemary, oregano, or garlic chives in olive oil or apple cider vinegar for flavor-packed pantry staples.
Many herbs have a long history of use in folk and traditional medicine. With proper research and care, you can create your own home apothecary. Here is my favorite book with recipes for herbal medicine.
Salves: Use infused oils with beeswax to make skin-soothing salves from calendula, plantain, or comfrey.
Tinctures: Alcohol-based extracts of herbs like echinacea, lemon balm, or valerian can be used to support wellness throughout the seasons.
Infusions & decoctions: Simple herbal brews for sleep, digestion, or immune support—ideal for daily care and connection to the plants you grow.
Herbs can transform everyday rituals into moments of self-care. Here is my favorite book with recipes for skin care products.:
Soaps and scrubs: Add dried lavender, mint, or chamomile to homemade soaps or sugar scrubs for gentle exfoliation and aromatherapy.
Bath soaks: Combine Epsom salts with dried herbs and essential oils for a relaxing, skin-loving soak.
Aromatherapy sachets: Tuck dried rose petals, lemon balm, and lavender into cotton pouches for closets, drawers, or sleep pillows.
Herbs aren’t just practical—they’re beautiful too. Seasonal projects bring a creative element to your homestead harvest:
Smudge sticks: Bundle dried sage, cedar, and lavender for natural cleansing Note: be mindful of cultural origins and use respectfully.
Herbal wreaths: Make fragrant kitchen wreaths from rosemary, thyme, and bay.
Pressed herb art: Use dried herbs to decorate cards, bookmarks, or framed botanical prints.
Whether you’re stirring herbs into soup, infusing them into oil, or simply enjoying their scent on your windowsill, herbs are one of the most rewarding ways to make homesteading feel both useful and deeply connected to the natural world.
Final Thoughts: What Herbs Teach Us
If there’s one thing herbs have taught me, it’s to slow down and pay attention. You can’t rush a seedling, and you can’t force a bloom. Growing herbs is a quiet kind of patience—a reminder that small, steady efforts can yield powerful results. A few sprigs of thyme in your pocket, a jar of dried mint in the pantry, a homemade salve in your medicine cabinet… they don’t just represent usefulness. They represent presence, care, and trust in the natural process.
Herbs invite us into a deeper rhythm of living—one that’s more sustainable, more intentional, and more connected to the earth beneath our feet. They’re grounding when life feels chaotic, and empowering when you realize just how much you can create with your own hands. In a world that often values speed and excess, herbs whisper something different: that enoughness lives in simplicity, that healing can grow right outside your door.
Whether you're just beginning your herbal journey or you’ve got mason jars full of dried wonders lining your shelves, I’d love to hear what you’re growing. What are your favorite herbs to use? Do you have a go-to tea blend, a healing recipe passed down, or a daily ritual that includes your garden’s bounty?
Feel free to share in the comments—I’d love to swap ideas and continue learning from one another, just as we learn from the plants themselves.
Happy growing 🌱