News & Articles

Healing Salves

Discover the power of herbal salves to soothe scrapes, burns, and more. Registered Herbalist Diane Tait explains how to make these healing balms and ointments using garden herbs, oils, and beeswax.

Fairy Gardening

Marthe Hook, owner of The Fairy Garden, guides you through creating your own magical fairy garden, sharing design tips, ideas, and supplies for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

For the Love of Tea

Explore the history of tea and learn how to select, determine quality, grow, pick, blend, and prepare varieties like white, green, black, and scented teas.

Industry Watch: The Kava Ban

In April 2014, Health Canada issued its first license for a kava-based product, ending a long-standing ban initiated in 2002 over concerns about liver damage linked to kava use. Despite these concerns, studies and historical use suggest minimal risk with traditional preparations. Germany lifted its kava ban in 2005.

Why Artemisias are Important for Health

Artemisias, used for thousands of years, are known for their digestive, liver-stimulating, and immune-boosting properties. Learn why bitters like wormwood, santonica, and mugwort are essential today.

Useful Artemisias to Grow

Explore the diverse uses of artemisias like tarragon, mugwort, and wormwood. Learn how these hardy, drought-tolerant herbs can add beauty, flavor, and serenity to your garden.

Growing Hops for Brewing

Nicholas Schaut, owner of Bighead Hops and President of the Ontario Hop Growers' Association, shares insights on growing hops commercially, supporting small-scale growers, and marketing locally grown hops.

Lacto-Fermentation: The Secret of Healing

Discover the benefits of lacto-fermentation for gut health. Learn how fermented foods like kombucha, sauerkraut, and kimchi boost immunity and promote digestion.

Organic Pest and Disease Management

There’s an organic solution for every garden challenge. Growing food without chemicals is possible, and with the health and environmental risks of chemical farming, it’s time to return to natural methods.

Rooftop and Balcony Gardens

Learn how to micro-farm a rooftop or balcony vegetable garden in an urban setting using square foot and sub-irrigated planter methods to create optimal growing conditions for beautiful, healthy food.

Home Crops That Wow

Learn to grow a colorful variety of veggies like red okra, purple beans, and rainbow chard, along with exotic crops like bitter melon and Malabar spinach, for a unique harvest you won’t find at the supermarket.

Xeriscaping: Water-Efficient Gardening

Learn how to create a water-efficient garden with xeriscaping. Grow drought-tolerant plants, prepare soil, and protect your garden over winter for a low-maintenance, water-saving space.

Wonderful Wheatgrass

Learn why wheatgrass juice, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, is a powerful natural health boost. Tom, a daily user, explains its benefits and why you should consider it for better health.

How to Grow Brugmansia

Brugmansia, a wondrously fragrant, exotic-looking tropical plant with trumpet-shaped flowers, makes a striking addition to your garden. Learn how to grow and overwinter this beauty in temperate climates.

Praising the Artemisias

Artemisia, Herb of the Year for 2014, is used for cooking, drinks, medicine, and more. Explore popular and rare varieties, from French tarragon to sagebrush, and learn their diverse uses, from martinis to malaria treatment.

Elderberry for Health and Healing

Learn about elderberry's health benefits in this presentation from Richters' Herb Day 2013 celebration. Discover how traditional uses align with modern research, and elder's ability to fight cold and flu viruses.

Growing Elderberry for Food and Medicine

Learn how to grow elderberry for food and medicine in this presentation from Richters' HerbDay 2013 celebration. Conrad Richter discusses varieties, growing tips, and uses for drinks, foods, and medicinal purposes.

Elder for Food, Fun, and Magic

Koidu Sulev speaks on how to make jam, cordial, vinegar, and oil from elder flowers and berries. Koidu also discusses the folklore and magic of elder, as well as some of the fun uses of elder wood.

Figs A-Plenty: Growing Your Own

Steven Biggs, Ontario’s chief advocate for growing figs, shares tips on growing figs in temperate climates. Discover how to overcome cold challenges and cultivate figs, as Steven draws on his experience and research.

Seabuckthorn: Ontario's Local Citrus

Learn about sea buckthorn from Marlene Wynnyk, who operates Ontario's first sea buckthorn orchard. Rich in vitamin C, carotenoids, and antioxidants, discover how this 'super berry' is used for its health benefits.

Permaculture and No-Till Gardening

Learn about permaculture, a system that creates self-sustaining, bountiful gardens by emulating natural ecosystems. Discover how no-till and forest gardening promote sustainability.

More or Less Herb Crops: Should You Add More, Drop Some, or Change Some?

Discover the challenges herb growers face when deciding to add, drop, or change crops. Conrad Richter shares insights on production and marketing decisions for herb growers.

Making Your Own Tinctures

Learn to make tinctures with herbs from your garden. Discover how tinctures concentrate the healing power of herbs and can be conveniently stored for years.

Why Seed Zoo?

Discover SeedZoo, Richters' initiative to preserve plant biodiversity. SeedZoo encourages gardeners to grow rare and endangered food plants from around the world.

Prospecting for Herbs

Discover how Richters finds new herbs for North America. Learn how to spot promising plants with insights from Conrad Richter, featuring past finds and exclusive varieties for 2013.