HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-19, Page 38PAGE A-18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1997.
Agriculture '97
Wide selection of herb varieties hardy, marketable
FEED & ANIMAL
HEALTH SUPPLIES
New beginnings
Birgit Hillier of Highgables Farm tends to some of the seedlings in the sunny front room of
her Holmesville-area business, which are awaiting spring planting. Hillier offers a wide
variety of herbs, and provides information on each one’s multiple uses.
* BRUSSELS
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BRUSSELS 887-9391By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
They can heal, soothe, scent and
flavour.
The varied uses for herbs are as
many as the varieties which exist.
And for people with an interest in
their properties and with the knowl
edge to utilize them, they are a
hardy, marketable commodity in
the ever-growing world of agricul
ture.
Birgit Hillier is the owner of
Highgables Farm outside
Holmesville on County Road 18.
An artist and teacher, Hillier decid
ed on the idea of an herb farm after
enrolling in courses for an Ontario
Diploma in Horticulture through
the University of Guelph. One of
the classes was on managing a
small rural enterprise for which she
needed to devise a business plan.
The question Hillier asked herself
was what was unique that interest
ed her, the answer — an herb farm.
Through the distribution of a sur
vey she discovered that few people
realized the potential of these
plants. "A lot didn't even know that
they were already growing herbs in
their gardens and flower beds, like
lavender and yarrow," says Hillier.
So what exactly is an herb?
According to Webster it's "a soft-
stemmed plant that usually withers
and dies each year. An often pleas
ant-smelling plant used in medicine
and cooking." Hillier’s definition is
"a plant considered useful by a par
ticular culture, and which usually
has multiple uses."
For example, while lavender is a
pretty border plant, commonly
thought of as a fragrance for
sachets, it also has medicinal and
culinary uses, says Hillier. Making
a tea from lavender treats anxiety
and headaches, while the flower
water can be used as a skin toner
against acne. Hillier has even used
it in making shortbread.
With many people searching out
natural alternatives for everything
from recipes to health, herbs are
becoming an increasingly popular
commodity. Hillier's plan for High
gables is to help people uncover
their many mysteries. In readiness
for the growing season her sun
room addition brims with pots,
greenery and heat lamps. She has
started with some standard perenni
als such as honey eucalyptus and
tea tree plants, known as a
medicine chest in a bottle. Its
essential oil, she says, has antisep
tic agents that are allegedly
stronger than carbolic acid. For this
reason it can be used in soap or as a
salve for wounds. It too, however,
can be brewed as tea.
"Education is the main thing
about this business," says Hillier.
To this end, visitors to Highgables
will be able to take herb walks
through the gardens to learn about
specifics plants which may be. of
particular interest to them and their
needs.
The main thing that Hillier wants
to avoid is to have people over
whelmed by the scope of her prod
uct. "I get very excited when
discussing herbs and I have to be
careful I don't give people too
much, too soon. Basically people
want something attractive when
they start their garden and will like-
Continued on A-19
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