Herbs for eating.
There was much to say about the meal planning earlier this week. I should clarify about our food buying habits. I buy groceries one week at the grocery, one week at the coop and in between I get stuff at the farmer’s market. So we do buy food every week, but I’m only doing the grocery store run once every two weeks. What has also helped a crazy amount, besides planning out meals day by day, is having herbs on hand. We eat so many fresh herbs in our food + drinks I can’t imagine the cost of buying them if we didn’t grow them.
I started this herb box last year and now grow all that we need. We don’t have any actual yard space so the only space is what’s on our back stoop right off the kitchen. I have one raised planter box and several pots. The only thing that didn’t last our winter was the basil. Surprisingly, this small amount of planting space supplies all the herbs we need. And, most recently, lettuce for our sandwiches + salads. Though, I never seem to have enough parsley. I need ours to get a little bigger but I keep having to use it. What I’ve planted…
- aloe
- catnip
- chives
- cilantro
- dill
- lavender, french
- lemon balm
- lettuce
- mint
- mint, chocolate
- oregano, cuban
- parsley, flat leaf
- parsley, curled
- rosemary
- sage
- stevia
- sweet basil
- thyme
When I was at my mom’s helping out in her yard, I noticed she used her electronic labeler to create names on her metal plant markers. Brilliant. I made my own version using my Brother P-Touch labeler.
Someone had given me some old plastic tongue depressors years ago so I used those along with the labels. We’ll see how these hold up. Honestly, it’s not that I really need the markers. But it looks lovely and let’s just say you ask someone to go grab some lemon balm, having the stuff labeled means I don’t get any blank stares or giggles at the request. And it means I don’t accidentally get a handful of catnip instead.
Photograph from avocado & papaya.
Here is another idea for making plant markers yourself. I recently saw these over at avocado & papaya that are awesome, too! Jackie used wooden tongue depressors and adhesive vinyl letters. I need to get some vinyl letters. I looked at Michael’s but they only had 3″ ones. I need to check an office supply store. They are amazing. I mean, this project is right up my alley, too!! Vinyl letters are so cool.
Photograph from Nina Gibson Designs.
And on Etsy, these german silver plant markers by Nina Gibson Designs are so sweet! I might have to start buying sets for using in all my pots. I love them! Or maybe just the pots I will bring in the house. Or maybe I need these for something else around the house. Need to ponder because they are so beautiful. Now, if we could only grow some lemons and limes on our stoop, we’d be set!
9 Comments Add your own
1. Trace Matthews | May 21st, 2009 at 11:04 am
I really enjoyed this post! After starting my garden a few weeks ago my mom said that her and her family would just put the packets that the seeds came in to mark the plants. However, it rained the very first day and damaged the markers, so I’ve been looking for an alternative. I really like the vinyl letters. Thanks for giving me some ideas!
2. jackie kersh | May 21st, 2009 at 11:48 am
thanks for including my project, sara! one thing is to be sure to put some mod podge on the tongue depressors to seal the letters and help with the moisture. happy gardening!
3. Miss Fruitfly | May 21st, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I need to get started on a herb box. Thanks for the inspiration.
4. Jane | May 21st, 2009 at 8:35 pm
You always manage to combine cute with practical. Your herb garden looks beautiful.
I never seem to have enough cilantro or basil. I like to use broken pieces of terra cotta pots to mark my herbs. I confess to buying a strange gadget-the automatic salad dressing maker from the folks who bring you that indoor table top garden. Battery operated I can toss in whatever herbs look good. It works like a mini food processor. Then in the same gadget I can add mustard, oil, vinegar, and honey or jam and boom, amazing salad dressing or vegetable marinade.
5. Alison | May 22nd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Interesting that after my first attempt at using my home-grown mint for the first time that I should find that you were writing about herbs! :) And thanks so much for the great plant marker ideas!
My herb attempt didn’t turn out so good - my tea didn’t taste minty (but rather like a leaf). I wonder if your stuff taste’s like it is supposed to? This is my first time growing + using anything fresh, so I don’t know if it is me or the plant lol.
6. Rachelle | May 27th, 2009 at 12:34 am
I love growing herbs. I just pulled off tons of basil leaves tonight to dry. Love your ideas!
I posted info about my new Ribbon Box on my blog, it’s so neat! If you’d like to see details, please stop by!
7. Suzy | May 30th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I love reading about other people’s gardens! Something I discovered with my lettuce plants (not sure if it was a freak thing though) was that if I kept pulling the bottom leaves off regularly, it forced the plant to grow upwards with a puffy top like a tree and I got lettuce from the same plants all summer. Enjoy all your greens!
8. geek+nerd | June 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
Just curious - what do you use your lemon balm for? I’ve grown it many times, because I love how it smells, but often it’s sits there languishing and unused because I don’t have enough purposes for it!
9. bella | June 5th, 2009 at 9:38 am
delicious! i’m missing a couple of my favourites which are both perennial in the right climate:
1. french tarragon - i LOVE this stuff!
2. lemon verbena - such an incredible fragrance. great for baking and it makes the best herbal tea.
bon appetit!
I'm curious about your two cents. You smart cookie!
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