A Bounty of Basil: Free Seeds for Growing Classrooms

Your students may link this common herb to green specks in spaghetti sauce, but are they aware of its rich and fascinating history? Basil has been alternately maligned for dulling the sight and revered as a holy herb. Its aroma was once believed to take away sadness and its oils were thought to draw out poison from venomous beasts. And that's only for starters. Today, this Far Eastern plant (named, say some, for Basilik, king of dragon-snakes!), plays a starring role in herb gardens and in Asian, Italian, and other cuisines. With a resume like that, imagine the opportunities for engaging students in aromatic basil investigations.

Since it is The Year of the Basil (according to the National Garden Bureau), we are offering to send packets of lemon, Thai, purple basil to growing classrooms. In return, we would like to hear how your students have used the herbs to enhance your gardens and learning. Click on the topics below to learn more about basil history, botany, growing and cooking tips, and ideas for student activities.

Ordering Free Basil Seeds [subhead]
To request three packets of basil seeds, while supplies last, e-mail us with the words "basil offer" in the subject field. Be sure to include your name, title, and complete mailing address.

Basil Through the Ages
Basic Basil Botany
Growing Tips
Creating Culinary Delights
Activities for Growing Classrooms

 

 

Some material on these basil pages was excerpted from The National Garden Bureau's Year of the Basil fact sheet, Eleanore Lewis, author