Gardening Note 1: Herbs to compliment Strawberries

Other than mint, as you thought, my first suggestion would be ginger. The sweet of the strawberry would work very well with the sharp bite of ginger - perhaps candied ginger with strawberries in the yogurt?

In addition to mint, you may also consider complementary herbs such as lavender, tarragon, rosemary, angelica, fennel and lemon grass.

Not an herb or a spice, per se, but balsamic vinegar is traditional with strawberries. Balsamic vinegar and black pepper intensify the flavour of strawberries and bring out their sweetness. Enjoy this with plain yogurt or cottage cheese on occasion.

Strawberries in Balsamic vinegar:

Tip: The better the quality of the balsamic vinegar and berries you use, the better this recipe will be.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 500 gr ripe strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and sliced
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons good-quality balsamic vinegar
• Freshly ground coarse black pepper

Preparation:

1. Place the sliced berries in a medium non-reactive bowl (such as glass).
2. Sprinkle the berries with the sugar and balsamic vinegar, and toss gently to coat. Allow the berries to macerate in the vinegar and sugar mixture for about 15 minutes.
3. Add 4 to 5 grinds of coarse black pepper to the berries, and toss to coat. Allow the flavors to blend about 5 minutes more before serving.
4. Serve the berries over salad, ice cream, or toasted pound cake. Or, try them in shortcakes, or serve in dishes with a bit of whipped cream or lightly sweetened mascarpone.

Growing strawberries is easy and rewarding as long as you make sure that they are grown in full sun, well composted soil and give them organic fertilizer every month.

You may also consider some companion plants to help improve the growth:

• Friends are beans, borage, lettuce, onions, spinach and thyme.
• Foes: Cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kohlrabi.
• Allies: Borage strengthens resistance to insects and disease. Thyme, as a border, deters worms.

Gardening Note 2: Gardening is value for money

• When you consider the benefits of gardening, giving us a space of beauty and inspiration, reducing stress and improving overall well being, its popularity comes as no surprise.
• Even more so when you consider that you can add plants to your collection that has the same value as the family’s weekly take away menu but will give you joy for  years to come, while the take-away meal will give satisfaction for about twenty minutes.
• If you buy vegetables and herbs to the same value you will even add nutritional and health benefits to it all, not to mention the satisfaction of a home grown and home-made meal.

Value your Family - Value your Garden.

Gardening Note 3: The right time to add herbs

Herbs vary in terms of when they can be added to a dish. Some herbs like bay, thyme or oregano can be added at the beginning of the cooking process and they will flavour the whole dish. Others like parsley, chervil and basil should only be added at the end as they lose their flavour if cooked for a long time. If you are not sure, add the herb at the end.

When using fresh herbs in dips or sauces allow a few hours for the flavours to develop but if using herbs in a salad add them at the end of the salad making and leave for about 10 minutes. 

Gardening Note 4: Asparagus - The Supreme Vegetable

• When the Roman emperor Augustus wanted something done quickly he commanded it to be done "citius quam asparagi coquintur" (quicker than you can cook asparagus). This admonition from Augustus describes for us the manner in which most asparagus aficionados believe asparagus should be cooked: the quicker the better. There is nothing quite like a fresh bunch of plump, straight stalks with flower buds tightly closed, right out of the garden and into boiling water. Cooked al dente, seasoned with salt and fresh cracked black pepper, and coated lightly with melted butter, it's no wonder that asparagus has enjoyed such a long and noble history,
• Asparagus was actually a medicine long before it was considered a food. Galen, a Greek Physician, described it as "heating, cleansing, and desicative. It relieves inflammation of the stomach, relaxes the bowels, makes urine, and helps the weak. It removes obstruction of the liver and kidneys." A variety of medicinal concoctions were produced from the sprouts, stems, roots and seeds of asparagus.
• Apart from its medicinal value it is also rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. 

Source: epicurean.com

Gardening Note 5: Herbal Dryer Sachets

Dryer sachets are sealed fabric pouches filled with dried herbs and flowers and scented with essential oils that you throw in the dryer with each load. The heat and movement from the dryer releases the fragrances from the herbs and oils, leaving leaves your clothes with a lasting, gentle aroma.

Dryer sachets are a natural and sustainable way of freshening up your washing and you can use dryer sachets for multiple loads. Once the sachet smells faint, you can either add a few drops of the corresponding essential oil to renew its scent, or you can use it to freshen up your drawers, a hamper or even your car. Sachets are also great for people with perfume sensitivities or allergies because the contents are all natural—just herbs and essential oils. 

They are very simple to make at home. 

1. Fill a cloth pouch with dried herbs and flowers. Popular choices include lavender, mint and chamomile. (You can either use a premade pouch, or you can sew two squares of cotton muslin together on three sides, leaving one side open.)
2. Customize a scent by combining the natural fragrance from the herbs with five or six drops of a complementary essential oil, such as lavender and cedarwood. Some essential oils—ginger, lavender and lemon to name a few—have natural antibacterial properties and make great sachet choices.
3. Sew the remaining side shut.
4. Throw into the dryer and enjoy!

Information: Natural Home