Herbs

[Anonymous]

I've decided to start doing more herbal magic. The problem is, I don't know where to get different herbs I need. The only herbs I'm likely to get are things like those jars of parsley and sage you get at supermarkets.

Does anyone know where you can get herbs? Online would be preferable. The shops in my area are limited, and it would mean travelling to the nearest city.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[RedRonin]

My best suggestion would be to do some research on what you're wanting and try growing your own.  That's about the only way you're going to know for sure what you're using and that it's both reasonably fresh and not full of contaminants.

Getting stuff online tends to be a crapshoot.  You have issues of price, quality, nosey postal people and who knows what else to deal with.

[NachtSorcier]

I agree with Ronin, although there are some things that aren't practical to grow on your own, like sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, and trees in general, unless you have a lot of time and a lot of patience.  

I've only bought herbs online from www.paganshopping.com but I only give it three stars out of five; the items themselves were fine, but it took like three months for them to arrive.

If all else fails, you might just have to deal with a trip to the city and seek out a store that carries bulk herbs, such as a new age shop or a health food store.  I live in a small West Virginia town and I managed to find a health food store that carries a huge variety of herbs for dirt cheap.  

Good luck.

[Fillionous]

Growing your own is by far the best, not only do you know exactly how they are raised but you can do long term rituals with them, dedicating the whole plant to a specific spell/use/ritual... plus you have the joy of nurturing them and watching them grow.

But this does have problems of time, space, avalibility of seeds/cuttings etc...

So I can see why you would want to buy at least some. My recomendation for on-line herbs/essances/resins/gums etc would be PansPantry http://www.panspantry.co.uk/ I use them IRL and have always found them to be friendly, knowlegable and respectful.

Good luck
Be bright, be bold
Fillionous

[Rowan CedarWolf]

I agree that growing your own is optimal,but it isn't always an option, I know Magickware carries osme herbs, also you can order form azure green and believe it or not, I have found some hard to find herbs on e-bay. Although I must admit finding herbs via internet or mail order is a matter of trial and error as to what quality of herbyou will recieve, but I must admit I have been pretty lucky. Once you find the quality you want from someone I would begin to soley deal with that person. Hope it helps.

[Shadow]

While I agree that growing what you need is certainly a worthwhile and fullfulling way to handle it I wouldn't dismiss the stuff in the jars at the super market either.  I grow some herbs that I prefer to have fresh for cooking, but I also know when I can just add a pinch-o-this or a dash-o-that out of a jar and get just as good results.

We had a bit of a situation once with a house that had a found itself the residence of a rather malicious entity (ghost, spirit, what-ever).  Jennie whipped up a potpourie out of the commercial herbs from the available spice rack that was not only pleasant to the senses but did a rather nice job of "clearing the air".

Remember, a guy can spend fifty thousand dollars on tools at the local sears, but if he doesn't know a rotor cap from a filler cap those tools will mostly take up space in his garage and be useless to him. You can accomplish more by learning about the properties of herbs and how to use them and then knowing what substitutes for what than you can by having a ten acre herb farm and simply reading recipes. I'd suggest that you study hard and after you have done so you will be better able to focus your energies on the specific herbs you will need to grow.

[Anonymous]

Woah, lots of replies and a lot of varied opinions and good advice. Thanks for all the responses.

I have actually considered growing herbs in the past, but I was concerned about the soil quality around here. During the summer I was asked to dig the garden and there was enough clay out there to build a whole new house.

I can understand Red's aversion to buying things online. There are some really unreliable sites out there, and I, generally, won't buy anything from a website unless it is recommended by someone who has used it before.

I'll take all the suggestions onboard and see what I can do about growing at least some of the herbs.

[Anonymous]

I've only bought herbs online from www.paganshopping.com but I only give it three stars out of five; the items themselves were fine, but it took like three months for them to arrive.

I probably should have mentioned that I'm in England, so it's more practical for me to buy from UK sites.

Thanks for the suggestion though, it's at least a fall back position.

[Anonymous]

I'm just looking at Magickware and the link to Branwen's Cauldron links to .com rather than .org.

[Beith]

....... there was enough clay out there to build a whole new house.

I think pots are the best option for lots of herbs anyway, gives you the option to bring things inside to overwinter them and you can get the drainage right, most herbs like lots of drainage!

I do agree that growing things has to be the best possible option!  If not there is a teensy shop in Glastonbury high street ( yes I know) that has a fairly good supply.  NOT Starchild or the other one on the main street, this one is tucked away down a side street.... will have to try to dig out his card for you.  I got a nice energy from the guy who runs it, think he would be worth a try and he did say that he was going to start selling stuff online, that was last December so he may be up and running with that by now.  Will let you know!

BB

[Gryphon]

Which page? I thought I had updated all of them. Fer #$##@@$% out loud!  

[Fillionous]

Given that I am in the UK too, I might be able to do you some cuttings of some hardy/common herbs for the spring and post them to you if you are interested...

If you are wanting me to do this, drop me a pm... and we will discuss contacts, requirements etc.

These would be cuttings from my own herb garden which is in part magically dedicated (and also much appriciated in the kitchen) and includes my heredatory rosemary... I'll tell the story about that if anyone wants.

be bright, be bold
Fillionous

PS PansPantry is UK based too

[Anonymous]

Which page? I thought I had updated all of them. Fer #$##@@$% out loud!  

http://www.magickware.com/newmissing.html
and all the herbal table pages. The banner and link at the bottom.

[Anonymous]

Given that I am in the UK too, I might be able to do you some cuttings of some hardy/common herbs for the spring and post them to you if you are interested...

If you are wanting me to do this, drop me a pm... and we will discuss contacts, requirements etc.

These would be cuttings from my own herb garden which is in part magically dedicated (and also much appriciated in the kitchen) and includes my heredatory rosemary... I'll tell the story about that if anyone wants.

be bright, be bold
Fillionous

That's VERY VERY kind of you.  I'll PM you.

[Zenon]

a lot of useful herbs grow in the wild.  an herbal catalog with illustrations might help you recognize them.  a lot of household vegetables are also useful for healing.

you should try growing your own, if you have the time and space at home.