Jekka’s Herb Farm is a specialist organic nursery, growing
the country’s most extensive range of culinary, aromatic, decorative and medicinal herbs.
Jekka's Herb Farm was born from a passion. Jekka and Mac McVicar first started planting organic herbs in 1984, on a small patch at their home in Bristol. A passion that outgrew their garden resulted in the move to Alveston in 1987, at which time the farm was growing 26 varieties of herbs; this has now increased to over 650 varieties, each one expertly hand raised and benefiting from years of experience in growing high quality organic herbs.
Our reputation goes from strength to strength. Since 1993 we have achieved 62 RHS gold medals exhibiting herbs at flower shows around the country, including 14 gold’s at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and two consecutive Tudor Rose Awards, in 2007 and 2008, for the best floral exhibit at the RHS Hampton Court flower show. Our 2009 Chelsea exhibit was also awarded the RHS Lawrence Medal, for the best floral exhibit shown to the RHS during that year. Although we now no longer exhibit in the Floral Marquee we still attend the major RHS flower shows.
We also contract grow for the UK's top garden designers, flower shows, celebrity chefs and award winning restaurants.
Whilst many people come to see us at shows like Chelsea, more and more come along to our Open days, the perfect opportunity to visit our nursery in South Gloucestershire, meet Jekka and hear first hand about how to grow herbs organically.
Jekka McVicar
Crowned the ‘Queen of Herbs’ by Jamie Oliver and a Rick Stein’s food hero, Jekka McVicar’s passion for herbs started in early childhood when her mother taught her to make fresh mint sauce.
Jekka first started growing her own organic herbs in a small back garden in Bristol over 25 years ago, and organic herbs have been her life ever since. In 1987 Jekka and her family established Jekka's Herb Farm, producing herbs for mail order, from its present location in South Gloucestershire.
As well as the day-to-day running of the farm, Jekka is also well known for her regular appearances on TV and radio gardening and cookery broadcasts.
She is also an enthusiastic writer on herbs, having published five successful books: Jekka’s Complete Herb Book, Good Enough to Eat (reprinted as Cooking With Flowers), Seeds and the New Book of Herbs. Jekka's Complete Herb Book and Seeds have also been reprinted in association with the RHS. Jekka's latest book, Jekka's HerbCookbookwas published in June 2010.
Jekka is an elected member of the RHS Council, the governing body of the RHS responsible for its strategic direction, and sits on a number of RHS committees. Jekka is also President of the West of England Herb Society.
