Herbs a growing hobby

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 556, 4 October 1994, Page 14

Herbs a growing hobby

By

Michele

Monaghan

If you are into herbs and titillating your taste buds then Collecti ve Thinking in Waiouru would have been the place for you last Friday. Trish Budd of Herb Haven in Te Kauwhata held a free tasting of her range of pickles, mustards and chutneys amongst other things and took time out to explain to The Bulletin how a small home-based hobby can turn in to profitable cottage industry . Mrs Budd had baked

bread for her family for 20 years and started experimenting with herbs in her bread. It didn't take long and the bread went by the wayside to make way for her growing interest in herbs. "The more you grow and use herbs the more you learn." Mrs Budd said her interest in herbs started with family health in mind and she had to start educating herself about the use of herbs in various products.

With her experimenting and through word-of-mouth her industry started expanding. Her herb garden now covers about three acres and she distributes products through 70 shops in New Zealand as well as Australia . and more recently New York. Surroundedby herbs, Mrs Budd says she has no trouble with insects. "We companion plant," she explained, saying that if you plant garlic and chi ves with roses you won't have any trouble with aphids.