Once upon a thyme...

"Across New York City, gardens and miniature farms--whether on rooftops or at ground level--are joining smart boards and digital darkrooms as must-have teaching tools.... The roof at P.S. 41 in Greenwich Village aims to introduce students to green technologies. The elementary school already had container gardens at ground level, but it wanted to expand on the roof. On Sept. 21, the school opened a 15,000-square foot green roof, which uses trays with four inches of soil to grow sedum, a drought-resistant perennial, as well as herbs and other native plants." -- Lisa W. Foderaro, New York Times Saturday, November 24, 2012 I am going to start a research project on herbs with an eye toward publishing am illustrated book for kids 9-12 called ONCE UPON A THYME The Magic of Herbs . First, the Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary definition of herb \(h)erb\ n, often attrib [ME herbe, fr. OF, fr. I, herba] 1: a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of the growing season 2: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities Next, a short history of herbs' medicinal, savory, and aromatic qualities.... Random thoughts on how to capture kids' attention: What makes roast turkey smell so good? What gives that cool, refreshing feeling to peppermint? What's that green grass that makes your cat so frisky? Sage, mint, and catnip! What do they have in common? They're all herbs. They're just three of hundreds of herbs that flavor our food and drinks, can help us feel better when we're sick, and give off scents that affect our mood.