Jekka McVicar

Jessica "Jekka" McVicar is an English organic gardening expert, author and broadcaster, particularly on the cultivation and use of herbs.

Jekka was brought up in Chew Magna, Somerset, and learned about the use of herbs from her grandmother, the writer Ruth Lowinsky,^[1] and her mother.^[2] At the age of 17, after leaving Cranborne Chase School in Wiltshire, she joined the progressive rock band Marsupilami as a singer and flautist under the name Jessica Stanley Clarke. The band released two albums, appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival and the first Glastonbury Festival, and toured in Europe.^[3]

After working for a time at the drama department of the BBC, she began working at a herb nursery in Somerset. She married Mac McVicar, and in 1987 they established a herb farm - now known as Jekka's Herb Farm - at Alveston near Bristol. They have the largest collection of culinary herbs in the UK, with more than 500 different varieties.^[3] Jekka has been awarded 62 Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medals for her organic herb displays, including 14 at the Chelsea Flower Show, and Best Floral Exhibit at Hampton Court in 2007 and 2008. Jekka was awarded the RHS Lawrence Medal (2009), for the best exhibit shown at any RHS show during that year.

Jekka has published several successful books, notably Jekka’s Complete Herb Book and Seeds, which have been reprinted in association with the Royal Horticultural Society. She also regularly contributes to a number of national publications: BBC Gardener’s World Magazine, BBC Good Food; Gardens Illustrated and the Guardian Newspaper. As well appearing on many television programmes, recently in the Great British Garden Revival (December 2013) and Mary Berry Cooks (Spring 2014).

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. She is also President of the Herb Society (2013-); President of the West of England Herb Group (2006-) and is a Member of RHS Council (2005-); the RHS Nominations, Appointments and Governance Committee (2009-); the RHS Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Committee (1998-), the RHS Horticultural Board (2010-); the joint Chairman of the RHS Three Counties Agricultural Society Joint Committee (2011-); and is a founder member of the RHS Herb advisory group (2011-); RHS Judge (1999-) and chaired the judging of the Great Pavilion at the Chelsea Flower Show (2012 and 2013).

Jekka was awarded the Garden Media Guild, Lifetime Achievement Award; ‘for services to horticulture, design, education and communication and excellence in the field of organic herb growing.’ (December 2012)

Jekka's first major cookbook, Jekka's Herb Cookbook, was published by Ebury Press in June 2010.^[4]

Bibliography

The Complete Herb Book (also published as Jekka's Complete Herb Book) (1994)

Herbs for the Home: A Definitive Sourcebook to Growing and Using Herbs (1995)

Jekka's Aromatic Herbs: A Guide to Growing and Enjoying Aromatic Herbs (1995)

Jekka's Cottage Garden Herbs: A Guide to Growing and Cooking Delicious Herbs (1995)

Jekka's Medicinal Herbs: A Guide to Growing and Using Medicinal Herbs (1997)

Jekka's Culinary Herbs: A Guide to Growing and Using Herbs for the Kitchen (1997)

Good Enough to Eat: Growing Edible Flowers and Cooking with Them (also published as Cooking with Flowers) (1997)

Seeds: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Successfully from Seed (2003)

New Book of Herbs (2003)

Jekka's Herb Cookbook (Ebury Press, 2010)

References