I will be attempting my first garden of any type next spring. I plan to start doing the lasagna layering this fall to prep the area. I want to have a small herb section in my garden. The whole area will be 12 feet by 24 feet. Should I do one particular area of herbs or is there a science to putting certain herbs next to certain vegetable plants to keep them free of bugs, worms, bacteria, etc...??? I have heard alot about dispercing garlic. Thanks for any insight to this or any other suggestions for an "organic virgin".

Yes Jeff: There is an organic vegetable and herb plan!!!
I've been practicing it for a number of years.

"AROUND" your vegetable garden (not "IN THE VEGGY GARDEN BECAUSE THE HERBS TEND TO INVADe But the deer don't eat")
"Around" Plant mints, tansy, garlic, chives, fennel, and lemony herbs and basil (all kinds) In the veggie garden plant Nasturiums & dill. Nasturiums protect beans and most of the garden from worms. Pepper plants do fine with nothing except they need protection from deer. Many savory herbs can to grown anywhere. I have experienced problems with Dill, Cilantro in an area where whitetail deer roam. But Cooking and Tea Herbs do protect Vegetables from everything but Deer.

The only thing you need be careful about is the different soil requirements of different plants. Some herbs, especially, grow most bestest in poor, infertile soils. But there is a host of information around about inter planting vegetables and herbs as well as vegetables and flowers.

I mix everything, mostly accidentally because my herbs and flowers keep reseeding all over the garden. The result is visually very pleasing, but you may want to avoid certain herbs near some veggies, if these herbs and flowers attract butterflies which can generate "pests" in the form of caterpillars.

I've got a book by Rodale press, that is "Great Garden Companions" by Sally Jean Cunningham. It elaborates on what these wonderful Garden Genius's at this message board have told you. It has made my garden a success by my standards. What a great thing to plant some great smelling herbs and flowers in (and around) your garden to keep you from spraying nasty chemicals! I planted herbs I have never heard of before! LOVE IT! :x
Gina

Chef has a good idea. If you don't want to spend the money on that book, sign up for the OG newsletter(lower rigth corner on the home page) and download the companion planting guide.

BTW, where abouts are you located. Sometimes that info on the boards here is regional, so it helps to go to your p[ersonal info and put something about your locale in you signature line.