'I know a bank wheron the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows; Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine: There sleeps Titania some time of the night, Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight;'

How many herbs did you count in this passage from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'? Thyme, perhaps, is the obvious one....but how about:

*Musk Rose - the petals can be added to water to make a refreshing and fragrant face wash

*Woodbine - better known as honeysuckle, a divine fragrance never to be confused with the 1950s high tar cigarette!

*Oxlip - a delicate woodland flower, of more interest to the botanist than to the pharmacist, though at one time it shared with its cousins the cowslip and primrose the name Herba paralysis, and had, like them, a considerable reputation as a remedy in several diseases

*Violet - an edible flower that can be eaten in salads or crystallised and sugar coated on cakes and sweets

*Eglantine - also known as dog rose or sweet brier, its hips (or fruits) are beneficial for the digestive apparatus and produce a diuretic effect without irritating the kidneys.

The term "Herb" covers many different plants from several botanical families.

When Shakespeare wrote these words some 400 years ago, Ireland and Britain enjoyed a rich hedgerow herb culture, where all the abundance of plants around us in our everyday lives were used and understood for a range of different purposes.

Herbs relate to health, their aroma delights the senses, they are rich in vitamins, minerals and natural antibiotics, they aid digestion, strengthen the immune system and support the innate healing process.

If you would like to grow some herbs yourself here is what you can do in 30 minutes.

THE HALF HOUR HERB GARDEN

This circular herb garden can be created by three people, in (exactly) half an hour.

It can be built directly onto grassland (a lawn) as an example of how easy it is to create a new growing space from scratch, without too much digging or backache.

You may like to try it yourself. Here are the instructions.

*Decide on your site and size. (I suggest one meter in diameter, preferably a sunny spot and well drained). Also choose your shape and building materials. You could use stone but wooden boards or brick would also be good choices.

*Lay down a thick layer of newspapers on the grass. Make sure that they overlap well and that they protrude well beyond the intended shape. This will prevent weeds poking up from under the stone. Later you can lay down gravel or paving stones, between the grass and the herb garden wall, to make mowing easier.

*Build the containing wall up to 60cm (2ft).

*Put a thick layer of composted manure into the enclosed shape. Make sure that it is firmed down well and poked into all the corners. Use four full wheelbarrows.

*Fill the remaining space with good quality top soil. Firm it down and push it into all corners. (You probably need up to 10 wheelbarrows of soil.) The bed looks much better if generously filled.

*Enrich the top soil with seaweed dust. Also add lime and grit to the quarter planned for the Mediterranean herbs.

*Plan your planting. Plant. Water and enjoy.

(I suggest the following herbs to start off: parsley, chives, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, dill, lovage, mint, lemon balm and fennel)

Herb Day at The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim is this Sunday 17th June 11am -5pm.

Staff, students and lecturers of the Organic Centre will present talks, walks and demonstrations and explore the health benefits of herbs. There will be an official opening of the new mint spiral and open air tea-bar with a selection of more than 20 mints.

The guest speaker this year is Judith Hoad, honorary member of the Irish Association of Medical Herbalists, who has widely written on herbs and herbal remedies:

"I hope that exploring the plant life around the fields, city parks, cottage gardens or window-boxes amongst which you live will enrich your life, as it has enriched mine."

The theme of Judith's talk will be 'Eating your way around the weed patch'.

The Grass Roof Café will be open with herbal dishes and entrance fee is ¤5.

Other events about herbs:

Friday June 15th 7.30pm: Herb Extravaganza Night in the Grass Roof Café, ¤35pp

Multi course meal with an incredible array of herbs from Thyme to Tarragon, Mint to Marjoram in dishes from soup and starters to dips and desserts.

Sunday June 24th, 10am -5pm: Herbs for Life - Using Herbs Medicinally with Gaby Wieland and Liz Longworth with practical sessions on making tinctures and ointments, ¤90 pp

For more information please call the Organic Centre on 00353 719854338 or email editor@fermanaghherald.com.