One of my favourite plants in our polycultural permaculturekitchengarden, a mini food forest, is this perennial basil, holy basilor Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) because it has so many beneficial uses for us and the ecological system of our garden:
it is very hardy, drought tolerant and low maintenance.
it is almost constantly flowering which attracts pollinators and other beneficial insects
its dense form provides protection for small birds that help with pest management - picking of bugs from other plants.
it is a beautiful in-garden hedge with aesthetic structure.
it provides a year round supply of flavour and nutrients for all kinds of meals - from it's leaves and seeds.
the flowers are attractive as table flowers, but they are also edible, the scent they release into the room promotes clear breathing.
it provides a year round supply of garden medicine - for coughs and colds, to fight infections, ease congestion and headaches, improve digestion and strengthen the immune system.
A favourite garden tea of mine is: this tulsi, mint, lemon myrtle, lime, turmeric, ginger & a dash of honey. Delicious. If I am feeling a little croaky, this certainly helps a lot. Tulsi is very easy to take cuttings from, simply trim a section, remove the bottom leaves and plant directly into good soil, or put in a jar of water until roots form. I must have given away hundreds if not thousands of cuttings from my plants over the years. Giving herb cuttings is a great idea - sharing the abundance. Most herbs need to have a regular good trim anyway. (Image by Evan Raymond, taken in our garden yesterday)
