I tried to grow licorice, the medicinal plant, from which the candy was based, last year. It is an outstanding anti-viral.  It's possible that nearly everyone could use this.  How many people don't get the flu or colds in the winter?  I tried to grow it last year, but it died in the winter.  I talked to others who tried to grow it, and theirs all died except for one guy, who made a rain shield for his and had it growing on a slope.  My wife also mentioned that Thyme always dies for her in the winter, as it did for me.  I also grew ginkgo seeds one year into plants, but since then, they haven't sprouted.  I added ag lime to the soil to make it more alkaline and I added gravel throughout for drainage. 

Then I made this rain shield.  Yes, I know it looks trashy.  The plexiglass was already that shape and someone was getting rid of it.  I figured I would have a use for it some day and it seems that I have.  I will take the rain shield off in March or April probably.  I like rednecky projects like this and it seems to be doing ok so far: