—Lancaster Farming, Saturda: 42 Things are just starting to turn green from Winter's dormancy, and most plants will be transplanted in the next few weeks. Mrs. Buck waiter and her whole family get involved with this project. Her sons built the stone wall in the background. Herbs are her business By SUSAN KAUFFMAN Feature Writer Warm weather this week has brought many gardeners out of their homes and into the sunshine to plant peas, potatoes, spinach and lettuce. Rebecca Buckwalter, QuarryviUe R 4, however, is busy with chives, dill, and sage as she continues to establish the worldng herb garden at her family’s : new homestead, having moved there last year from Eden Road, Lan caster. An avid herb enthusiast for many years, Mrs. Buckwalter had to leave many of her plants behind and is now energetically engaged in planting the new garden which will provide plants and many dried herbs she uses in her shop called Herb Craft. Typical of the family’s cooperative lifestyle, her sons, Marc, 6, and Timothy, 10, were busy this last weekend helping with their mother’s enterprise by building a stone wall along the back of the herb garden. At the same time her husband, Willard, was doing carpentry work in the new shop in the basement of their home. “My husband always does the heavy work in the garden like digging and roto-tilling and putting in the topsoil,’’ Mrs. Buckwalter explains. “I do the planting. We mulch with fine wood chips to reduce weeding, then I care for the plants. You really have to work with them through all the seasons because they are used at different growing stages for different things,” she notes. “This is really a family project,” Mrs. Buckwalter continues. “Last year we went to Long Park during the Bicentennial exhibition of crafts. The boys dressed in colonial costumes just as I did. They take a lot of interest in the herbs and my husband really helps out a lot. Sometimes in the Summer I am so busy with the shop, the mail orders, and the garden that I haven’t even thought of what I’m going to have for supper when he arrives home. He steps right in and gets something started anyway.” What attraction is there about these herbs that keeps the Willard Buckwalter family so well occupied? In answer to this query, this herb enthusiast said she became interested in working with them when a neighbor gave her plant slips several years ago. “It really grows on you!” she says by way of ezplaing her pursuit with these innocent looking plants. “I grew tired of sending so far away for supplies that I decided to establish a wholesale and retail business at our home. I had the shop at Eden Road for eight years. When we moved here last year we had so much to do with moving into our newly built home that we didn’t know where to begin.” she noted. “It takes at least two years to establish an herb gar den,” she explained. Besides working on her own garden she is presently creating one at Rockford. Visitors there this Summer will cna (h* (lor/lan /Imralrmtnrr in fnnnf nf fVio cfnno tx oil of tho April 16. 1977 _ Samples of her beautifully handmade, .wares are strawberry and linen closet sachets. A strawberrysachet is a rose-lavendar scented potpourri fashioned into a strawberry shape and made from red polka-dot material Inaddition to actually growing manyherbal palntsMrs. trinunedwith green felt leaves. The linen closet sachetis Buckwalter fincbtime and energy to share her knowledge ejght-inch-by 11 inch sachet complete with wide, white of, herbs and-their uaesi4p .PTA’s, .w«meiL , » t «rQups r , . ey«et ttinirßhas an innerlihingwith pockets to keeptfie schools, and at various community activities such as the intents f rom falling into the bottom when hung upright Bicentennial celebration at Long Park and the Holly,Trail , crafts display at lind|m, Hall ja?t, December. > Remembering an all-day project at Elizabeth Martin Elementary School last year during the school’s “Culture ’ Comer” program, Mrs. Buckwalter said, “The kids were fantastic. They were so interested in the herbs I had on display and the information I had to tell them about ’ Pioneer’s use of herbs. The children were really curious and appreciative.” Homestead bam. Trying to recreate the garden of years ago, Mrs. Buckwalter plans to establish three sections according to use: fragrance and beauty, medicinal, and culinary. Mrs. Buckwalter’s extensive knowledge of herbs ranges from the interesting history of many herbs, herbs men tioned in the Bible, herbs used in teas, herbs used specifically for dyeing materials, pioneers’s uses of herbs, culinary uses, growing of herbs, and the making of pot pourri from dried herbs. “Just this last year I had slides made from pictures I had taken over the last few years. In Winter, I can now show slides much more effectively than carry potted plants back and forth,” she explained. “During our vacations we travel and of course stop at many sites which have herb gardens! There is always so much more for me to learn about them. There is no end to it!” she continued. Recipe themes for \Home on the Range 9 APRIL rto “Italian Week” JdO Deadline April 13 ryr\ “Crock Pot Cookery” OU Deadline April 20 MAY fj “Low Cal Meats” * Deadline April 27 . “Easy on the Waistline Desserts” JL4 Deadline May 4 “Conscience-easing Vegetables” «<5-a. Deadline May 11 “Berry Desserts” 2o Deadline May 18 Notes Mrs. BudnvaMsr scoops lavendsr into a glass decanter atthe counter in her shop (above). Behind her are the pscfcsgss of dried hsrbs she sells. She also keeps her herbs in view of the customers by putting them in gallon stood jars (left). flao&eptes moth chasers. A mothchasefis a four inch round sachet from a small print cotton material with rickrack trim and a loop for hanging. It contains a pot pourri which repells moths. u , ; Well aware of the fun one has making sometHtfig by oneself, Mrs. Buckwalter offers a number of craft kits using herbs. One is a holiday spice cone kit which contains eveiything needed to make a Christmas tree ornament or ■> table favor - a five to seven jnch pin* \d lots of a . .ut avor - a five to seven inch pine cope am. different spices which are to be glued onto the' scales. The craftsperson must supply the glue. Mrs. Buckwalter also stocks oils which she purchases to resell. “It takes 125 pounds of leaves to make one ounce of oil,” die explains. “It would be impossible for me to grow the quantities necessary for that!” The herbal oils are used as fixitives in potpourri, as scents in wax for candle making, and as a bath oils. Just a sample of the many herbs and their interesting histories, uses, and names are shared here from a publication by Mrs. Buckwalter with her permission. She cautions that medicinal prescription of herbs is illegal and she simply relates the traditional use rather than actually prescribing something in particular. Angelica - a member of the parsley family. Stems are candied for confectionery. Powdered seeds may be used as vanilla substitute. Basil - plant with tomatoes to enhance their taste and deter tomoto worms and flies. Bay leaves - used by Greeks in making wreaths to crown Olympic heroes, Repels silverfish in books. Caraway seeds - reputed to strengthen memory. Cloves-from Madagascar-used in spiced drinks, pickled fruits.* Coriander seeds - ingredient in a love potion. Savory - slightly peppery taste; excellent seasoning for people on a salt-free diet. Southern Wood - nicknamed “Lad’s Love”-promotes growth of beards in youth. Used to repel moths. Also burned as incense to destroy cooking odors in the house. Tansy - slightly bitter taste. Ant repellent. Costmary - mainly to scent linens. Called Bible-leaf, was used as page markers. Santolina - (Lavendar-cotton) deters moths. Burnet - brings taste of cucumber to salads or wine cup- Nasturtiums - flower, buds, stems and young leaves - eaten in salads. t r v [Continued on Page 43]
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers