Business of Herbs Blossoms

There is a story about every crop at the Mari-Mann herb farm: feverfew cures migraines, lovage is an aphrodisiac and pennyroyal repels insects.

But the real value of the 100 varieties of herbs growing on this reclaimed landfill is their appeal to the senses: sight, smell and taste.

Silver king and white yarrow are woven into wreaths; blossoms and leaves are blended into potpourri; dill and tarragon are bottled for seasoning.

“We harvest almost every day,” said owner Mike King, stripping the lower leaves off decorative yellow yarrow. “That way we get the plants at their peak.”

Variety of Uses

They will be sold fresh to restaurants, dried and packaged for store displays, incorporated in dip mixes and sauces, and made into colorful arrangements for decorating.

The products fill a tiny gingerbread house on one corner of the 23-acre farm, located at the end of a quiet country road southwest of Decatur.

The herbs grow in neat plots covered with straw and wood chips. The bright green coriander grows close to the ground, while the malva is tall and topped with purple flowers. Bees swarm over the horehound.

A second house is used for cooking, packaging, teaching craft classes and feeding frequent visitors. One special is a sandwich made of layers of crepes, cheese and vegetables and topped with dill dip and chive blossoms.

‘Little Old Weed Lady’

In the basement, an old claw-foot bathtub is used to mix an occasional batch of potpourri. Most is now packaged for world distribution by disabled workers in Decatur.

Maribeth Dewein, King’s mother, moved her backyard herb business to the country nearly 10 years ago. She still delights in strolling through the herbs, describing their folklore to guests who arrive by the bus load from as far away as Japan.

“I used to be known as the little old weed lady,” she laughed. “But now, herbs are really in.”

There is little information available about this kind of farming, so success depends on “a lot of trial and error,” she said. Each herb has its own requirements, and some are difficult to maintain. Only natural insecticides like cayenne pepper can be used.

‘There Aren’t Enough Herbs’

“We only raise what does well here,” said King. “If it grows better somewhere else, we let them do it for us.”

King, who also has a retail store in Springfield and a franchise outlet in Tuscola, said he cannot raise all the herbs he needs. Some are bought from as far away as Europe.

He said raising a few acres of herbs might be a way for financially-troubled Illinois grain farmers to boost their incomes. Globe amaranth and silver king are popular but in short supply, he said.

“It’s hard to make money with corn and soybeans because there are too many, but there aren’t enough herbs,” said King. “I can’t raise enough, so I’d like to buy them from local farmers.”