Llewellyn's 2005 Herbal Almanac

The book is what I wanted, I looked forward to receiving it, I am pleased to have it, it arrived on time and I have never been disappointed with a Llewellyn product.

So you wanna plant some herbs, maybe a few spices ... but you need to know when is a great time to plant as well as what goes good with what. So you wanna harvest and be able to use these herbs for things other then for food prep. This book tells you the when's, why's, where's, and will keep your interest. You will find yourself referring back to this book and using it as a reference guide. Would of given 5 stars but as a almanac, I didn't find it as useful.. but as a reference book for herbs when, where and why for planting and harvesting ... it doesn't get much better then this.

Each year Llewellyn produces a selection of themed Almanacs that spotlight both old and new authors. Each year, the Herbal Almanac had treated us to some wonderful authors and some great articles dealing specifically with herbs, their magical and mundane uses and advices on growing and caring for them. This year is no exception. While I noticed some well known authors such as Ellen Dugan and Elizabeth Barrette there are also some gems by some new authors worth noting. But first, the almanac. The actual almanac information begins on page 316 through page 332. It includes the quarters and signs of the moon and moon tables and is intended to guide the gardener in planting and growing seasons and aid in harvest. It is very detailed and worth the price of the book alone for those who take growing and harvesting herbs seriously. But the additional material is what draws attention. The book is divided into topics and there are articles applying to each. We have Growing and Gathering Herbs, Culinary Herbs, Herbs for Health, Herbs for Beauty, Herb Crafts and Herb History, Myth and Magic. The introduction of the book contains the most sought after information I look for in any herbal reference book: "The old-Fashioned remedies in this book are historical reference used for teaching purposes only. [...] The contents are not meant to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or substitute consultation with a licensed health-care professional." Words from the wise! Continuing, there are many articles dealing with the topics chosen. I highlight the following for their content and style. A hard choice, believe me. The article on Traditional English Gardens by Chandra Moira Beal is a well researched and put together article dealing with those quaint English style gardens we see in movies and garden magazines. She goes into detail about the various plants you might want to add to your garden from various periods of English gardening. If you ever considered adding this element to your garden, her choices of plants and the stories behind them are an interesting read. Elizabeth Barrette's article on Herbal Pot Luck is a good look at container gardening and would make a good starting place for amateur gardeners or those who are confined to small backyards or apartments. Chocolate by Sheri Richerson will set you drooling with the many recipes included. She covers some history, qualities and, for those who are daring enough to try it, explains how to make your own chocolate. There are some recipes for the daring, and for those who like their chocolate on the traditional side. She also includes some chocolate beauty tips. There is a fascinating article on Chinese medicine by Lynn Smythe, focusing on the Red Herbs of Chinese Medicine. Excellent research and a woman who is obviously very knowledgeable in this area highlight this look at the fire element of herbs in Chinese medicine. Another look at alternative healing and herbs is Rudruksha: India's Power

This yearly almanac is such a pleasure to browse through. I love a book where you can start anywhere, and it's filled with great small articles, tips, and lessons. The variety of information is wonderful. Learn about kodo, the art of Japanese incense, how to grow a loofah sponge, read a story of nutmeg, that includes a mouth-watering recipe for old-fashioned cream pudding pie! Get brewing tips for dandelion and chicory coffee! Refer to this book as you're placing spring orders from seed catalogs, you will have dozens of extremely fun, healthy, and delicious ideas.