Costa Rica’s tropical climate provides a year-round opportunity to enjoy working with nature in the garden. Creating a green pharmacy is one good example of what you can do. Imagine having the herbs you need at your fingertips to prevent and treat those common health issues we all have to deal with at times. Sound like a fantasy? Not at all. 

For more than 30 years, my family and I have used our green pharmacy with great results. For readers who would like to start a green pharmacy, I’ll be writing a series of articles on how to create one at home. You don’t even need a lot of space. Most of these wonderful herbs can be grown in pots or containers, both indoors and outside on the patio. 

To begin our green pharmacy, let’s start with a Mediterranean potted kitchen herb garden. When the Spanish colonists arrived in the New World, they brought with them four of their cherished herbs from the Mediterranean region: basil, rosemary, thyme and oregano. Centuries later, the tradition continues of growing and using these versatile herbs in the kitchen.