Tussie mussies, sleep pillows at herb fair

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 20

Tussie mussies, sleep pillows at herb fair

Tussie mussies, posies made up of a flower and herb foliage, and fragrant rose petal beads are some of the novelties that will be offered at the Canterbury Herb Society’s first fair, to be held at the Canterbury Horticultural Hall on November 26.

There will be sleep pillows stuffed with rosemary, pine needles and rose petals to go under ordinary pillows for inducing slumber. With Christmas in mind herb welcome wreaths will be available for decorating front doors during the festive season. Pomanders, made from oranges stuck with cloves then rolled in cinnamon and orris, could also be regarded as gift suggestions.

For growers there will be a good stock of plants and seeds. Dried and pressed herbs and flowers on cards and book markers will be on sale. So will lavender sticks, fans and bags, pot pourris and a variey of herb lotions, hair rinses and toilet water. The use of herbs goes far back into history- They were used for medicinal purposes (and still are), as a protection against the evil of bad smells and as aromatics. In recent years there has been an upsurge of interest in herbs for cooking. Mrs Avice Hill, a cofounder of the society in 1969, said yesterday that she believes modern cooks like to use them to boost the flavour of frozen foods. And, she added, many New Zealand tourists have acquired a new taste for herbs after

eating in overseas restaurants. In the food line at the fait there will be candied violets, bouquet garni bags, jellies, scones and savouries as well as herb salts, sugars, vinegar, oils and butter.

Charts on the use of culinary herbs to enhance particular dishes and recipe cards will be available. For newcomers to herbs, Mrs Hill recommends that they try first those with delicate flavours in salads.

“That is the simplest way to introuce them,” she said. “A little lemon balm and a few chives really lift the lettuce.”

But, she warned, an overdose of thyme or sage (the strongest in flavour) in a dish might well put a family off herbs for ever.

Mrs Hill has been growing herbs for about 20 years at her Lavender Herb Garden in Memorial Avenue. Until about two years ago she distributed seeds and plants throughout New Zealand.

The fair, which has been organised by Mrs Elsa Holmes, will be open from 10 a.m. on Firday of next week. Most of the proceeds will go to the New Zealand Society for the Intellectually Handicapped.