I credit my mother for my love of herbs. I have fond childhood memories of our summertime forages for the wild berries, forest mushrooms and medicinals that grew in abundance in the fields around us. Her kitchen garden was a joy to play in. Sweetly-scented flowers, pungent herbs, and sun-ripened vegetables filled the yard of our suburban Montreal home. I didn't relish the occasional chore of weeding, however, she wouldn't have to ask me twice to pick fresh garden produce for dinner.

Herbs were an important addition to my mother's cooking. Parsley, chives and dill were staples and were used liberally when in season. Lovage and elephant garlic occupied a back corner of the garden and found their way into some very tasty soups and stews. During the winter months, her store of mint, chamomile and fennel teas would battle colds and tame our tummy troubles.

As a young woman, I enthusiastically collected recipes for homemade herbal beauty and bath preparations, some stemming back from the 15th century! Many years of experimentation were followed by a series of informative courses on soapmaking and bodycare crafting. My home is presently overrun with bags of dried botanicals, bottles of essentials oils and a miscellany of mysterious liquids, powders and solids that make up the myriad of bodycare and cleaning products that I lovingly craft for myself and others.

Photograph by Brian Bury Photography