Beginners Guide to
a Herb Business
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It is surprising that with so
many gardeners and the high prices
of
herbs on the shelves of the supermarkets, that many more haven't gotten
into the lucrative field of herb growing and processing.
Herbs and spices have been around for centuries -- they were used in
ancient times to mask "funny" tastes in meats that could not
be refrigerated, "people odor" before
deodorants were invented and of course, to add a little variety to the
same foods eaten day after day, because all that was available was what
was in season.
Spices were discovered and brought in by caravans to liven up otherwise
drab diets and making living "up close" more tolerable.
Winters in the European areas were limited to foods that would keep;
potatoes, salted meats, turnips -- but nothing green or fresh!
When spring came, everyone welcomed the new vigor they
found in such "magic" plants as spinach, celery, and various
"greens."
We now know they were replenishing their supplies of vitamins (especially)
and minerals that were missing from their winter diets
-- but they only knew that by eating certain plants, or drinking their
juices or "wonder elixirs" they felt better! We
also know a healthy patient recovers from almost any aliment better
than a frail one -- but in those days, "magic" plants were sometimes given credit for healing all sorts of things:
even broken bones (boneset)!
In the 18th and 19th centuries (before refrigeration), there was a thriving trade in herbs to rejuvenate, cleanse the
blood and cure just about anything.. To this day,
the difference between herbs and spices is mainly that spices can be
dried for long, overland camel caravan trips; while herbs are fresh and
ready use!
To be successful in the herb and spice business, grow things that do
well in your area -- that you have adequate facilities and room
for.
Of course, you can expand the list of possibilities with a greenhouse
and various climate control devices, plus soil manipulation. At the
least you will probably need a small greenhouse (or hot frame) to start
your plants and perhaps a screened area for growing and/or drying that
is secure from insects and other pests.
Not only can you market plants and seeds as individual items, but
there is also a lucrative market in blends of herbs and spices. Fortunes
have been made with these!
Once you establish a market, make agreements to buy from other
growers (even out of state) at wholesale rates of course to
enable
you to offer a well rounded selection to your customers.
You can also buy or compile booklets on herbs and spices (their
history, uses, reputed therapeutic properties and folk lore) that can
enhance your sales and profits. (Our web site provides the backbone of
this information.)
To get started, the first thing to do is some HOMEWORK.
Get several books from the library, local (new, used, half price)
bookstores, and mail order. Find out which plants will do well in your
situation by studying their climate, soil and sunlight needs and
estimate the market that might be created. When you decide which ones
you would like to try, Learn something of their background (history,
medicinal value, folklore, etc.). This is very
important in herb farming - people may not be interested in the history
of a turnip, but mints once used to "clean" eating boards (no
dishes) for royalty might catch the fancy of a customer or two.
Although it would be worthless as a learning aid for
growing herbs, Culpepper's Complete Herbal is a copy of a 17th century
book outlining the uses and powers of the various herbs. This, and
others that tell about their "magical" powers are no longer
considered factual, but nonetheless, fascinating -- they will help
create interest in your herbs!
Make arrangements with a local printer or desktop publisher to make
nice (and unique) labels for your jars, bundles and packets. Have little
folders of information on the more interesting ones -- this will help
raise the price. When you ship packages of herbs or spices, always
include some of this type of literature -- these are some of your more
profitable sales, and you want them to order again!
Some herbs, such as basil are notorious for attracting white flies, a
perennial greenhouse pest. They don't do all that much damage (unless
they are really bad), but they are a nuisance and extremely difficult to
eradicate. One way to help control them is to keep herbs that attract
pests away from each other as much as possible; another is to move the
plants to an outside location where the wind help control the size of
the colony.
Herbs generally do not need fertilizing. In most cases, a good
compost and a little processed (purified)
manure
is fine. If you need an easy way to apply fertilizers on a large scale,
consider a syphon attachment on your watering hose.
Marketing your herbs profitably is a matter of finding those with a
need (gourmet restaurants and cooks), and coming up with something that
is different and interesting. Check with small stores, health and gift
shops. Ask them to try your products -- even if it is on consignment.
Ordinarily, you can offer a special introductory price to entice shop
keepers to try them.
Exposure of both your name and herbs is what you are after at this
early stage. Work with a printer to have a display package to show off
your products to their best advantage. A poster with a tray of products
underneath would be a nice window display.
Meanwhile, advertise in your market area and write some "news
release" items for the local paper to help introduce yourself and
your products.
Herbs and their accompanying
folklore lend themselves well to this approach. Of course, your little
articles will also mention where one can get such interesting things!
Put magnetic signs on your car and call on as many retailers and
restaurants as you can to establish a wholesale route. Leave samples of
your best products with the large, gourmet cooks. When building a route,
it is necessary to keep calling on prospective customers -- even when
they haven't bought anything. This tends to prove your reliability (why
buy from an out of town supplier and pay freight if they can get the
same quality delivered?).
Remember that some retailers have been "burned" in the past
by those who SAY they are reliable. Since very
little actual space and weight is needed for herb delivery, your family
car (with magnetic signs, of course) will do
nicely as your first delivery van.
Tip: offer a plan to place and periodically replace, live, growing
plants such as basil to restaurants. This will allow them to advertise
that they use fresh herbs!
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