How Close Should Herbs Be to Grow Lights?

Have just viewed your web site. Great! Am in the process of starting an indoor herb garden. Lighting is not the best in my house so I will be using grow lights. I have a very warm basement and am putting two 48" long grow stick lights into my workshop light. Bulbs are each 40 watts. What is the distance from top of herb to the light? Don't want to burn them. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also what kind of potting soil is best and fertilizer?

Put most herbs as close to the lights as you can without burning them. With most herbs that will be within 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters). Most herbs art high light plants and need all the light you can give them.
Use the tropical plant soil mix available in stores for most herbs and use an organic fertilizer on them at every second watering.
Did you see the articles are growing herbs indoors in the "Magazine Rack" section of our website? There are two articles that will give you a lot of useful tips.