Illinois gardener plants medical herbs

FREEPORT, Ill. (AP) — When Bethany Nagel moved with her husband, Dave, from the Chicago suburbs to rural Shannon seven years ago, she knew they would have a better life. She wanted to find fresher, healthier foods and knew a little about the benefits of buying local produce. Having an herb garden was her dream.

The couple isolated and cleared about an acre of good ground between their house and old barn. They built raised beds and filled them with good topsoil. Bethany Nagel learned which plants would thrive in northwest Illinois and began to plant. That was the beginning of the Stone House Herb Company, 4865 S. Bolton Road.