My Garden of Herbs

Five years ago--on Mother's Day--my husband and 2 children (then 3 and 11 months) planted me my very first herb garden. At the time, I had been talking about wanting fresh herbs for at least a year. I was an avid watcher of the Food Network... and one day on The Naked Chef... Jamie Oliver talked about using fresh herbs.  He said (in loose quotes... this was at least 6 years ago... so this is the gist of how I remember it),

"Using fresh herbs is great, but the idea of fresh herbs is that they're FRESH... not drive to the store 'fresh'... fresh does not come in a package."  

What he said, has been morphed over time... but the meaning of what he said has held strong for me for the past 5 years.  Using fresh herbs should be an organic process of cooking where you reach for herbs that are growing from the soil...when they're supposed to be growing... the idea of fresh herbs as a packaged product really undermines what using "fresh" is all about.   

So... that year, my husband got a big half wine barrel and various other pots and planted my most used herbs: Thyme, rosemary, parsley, chives (didn't use quite so much), dill, and basil.

5 years later, a cross-country move to St. Louis and back to Wilmington...I still have an herb garden... it's just in a different form. No longer contained to a wine barrel (it's now home to a contained forest of mint)....now my herb garden grows along the side of my house. It's also grown in the variety... I now have planted an unconfined forest of mint, rosemary, oregano, flat-leaf parsley, dill, thyme, lemon thyme, chives, sage, "Italian" basil, lemon basil, cilantro, chocolate mint, and a bay bush.  The only original plant that I have from that original Mother's Day herb garden are the chives. They've doubled and quadrupled in size... and while I don't use them as much as some of my other herbs... I LOVE having the ability to use them when I choose to :)  As with all my herbs, I cut what I need, when I need it and leave the rest to grow.  No plastic container, no rubber-bands, no twist-ties needed... and that means no waste.... because it takes nothing more than me and a pair of scissors.

My favorite thing about chives is their flowers.... ;)

Here's some Parsley and Dill growing from seed...

A little of my Mint forest and some Sage....

Rosemary and Thyme,

Cilantro,

Oregano,

and Basil.

What to do with all those herbs??  Get cooking (or let them grow and flower for the pollinators ;)).  

Over the past couple of years, I have made the commitment to only use fresh herbs from my garden.  That means that I only use what herbs are growing in my herb garden during a given season.  I'm able to reap the bounty of Thyme, Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, Mint and Chives through all seasons.  Parsley comes and goes throughout the year.  I only use basil in spring and summer... yes... I make loads of pesto to keep in my freezer to last me all winter.  I try my best to center my cooking around what is growing...if a recipe calls for an herb that's not growing, then I make a substitution for something that is... the best flavor comes from the freshest ingredients... and you can't get any fresher than your own backyard (or patio or windowsill).

Here are a few photos of some recipes that I've tested for The Blissful Chef using herbs straight from my herb garden....

Since I'm recipe testing, I can't give out recipes.  BUT...  Magical Raw Tacos (above) were featured on The Blissful Chef Blog... SO make them...with whatever you have growing... they are absolutely AMAZING Magical ;)

Throw It In the Compost Bin

With the onset of warmer weather, I have been itching to get my garden going... so much so that I'm even not minding the idea of pulling weeds.  Yes, I'm missing the garden that much!!  Of course, it's too early to plant anything yet... but in order to feel like I'm moving in that direction... I just have to get outside and get dirty.  So...yesterday, we pulled the finish compost out of our compost bin and added about a 2" layer of compost to our garden site.

When we first moved into our home nearly 3 years ago, one of the first things we decided to do was to start composting.  At first, we didn't have a bin so everyday we saved all of our compostables-- things that will biodegrade and turn to compost-- and buried them in our future garden space.  After a couple of months, we started our garden and built a compost bin.  Now I must confess that from the moment we started composting I have had this LOVE for it!!!  The reasons vary, such as: Not having to use trash bags because I have no "wet" garbage; saving a valuable resource from going to the landfill; reduction in my overall trash; I never have to buy a soil amendment... my compost is FREE; and, of course,  experimenting!!  Every time we turn it, I am amazed at what I see...(like the time I turned the pile and saw a paper plate that looked like it had been burned or a corn-based plastic cup that had melted-- I used to have a picture, but I can't seem to find it).  I think it is so cool.... yes, it's so dorky to say;)... but it IS so cool.  I'm just amazed by the fact that we can put in all of these things... kitchen/table scraps, paper, Ben & Jerry's ice cream containers, corn-based plastics, leaves, and more.... and by the wonder of nature it turns into the most beautiful dirt (yes, in my world dirt can be beautiful).  It's so dark and rich and full of everything that our gardens-- vegies, flowers, herbs-- need to grow and thrive.

So... whenever people come to my house... it seems like they are most intrigued by the compost bin-- several friends have started their own... YAY!!  Also, when we have parties or when family and friends come to stay with us... I have to give a lesson in composting because if you come to my house... yes, you will have to partake in composting. :)


Also... let me say... don't dismiss the idea of composting just because you live in an apartment or have a small yard... trust me... you can still compost!  My friend, a super hero in disguise, LOVES vermicomposting-- oh yeah... that's worms!  She keeps a small rubbermaid tub under her kitchen sink!  And, nope... it doesn't smell.  If you just have a small yard check out the compost tumblers :)


Composting: The non-expert... keep as much as I can out of the trash can...girl that likes to experiment... throw it in and see what happens way ;)


What you can compost is very simple.  If it came from the Earth-- paper, cotton (e.g: dryer lint), vegies, fruit, leaves, etc, etc.-- give it back to the Earth.

Things I compost include (but definitely are not limited to):

All table/kitchen scraps (moldy bread, milk soaked cereal, fruit/vegies, and so on), ice cream containers (as long as they're paper... they have a plastic coating that once the paper biodegrades I can just toss into the garbage), parchment paper, butter wrappers (paper ones), dryer lint, facial tissues, Q-tips, paper (especially if it's been soiled with food and left unrecyclable), pizza boxes, plants that have died back and are disease free, plant-based plastics (I've come across cups, gift cards, salad boxes, and bread bags), egg shells, our chickens' bedding, coffee grounds, Subway wrappers and cups... basically if it has the ability to biodegrade-- or I think it has the ability to-- then I throw it on the pile and wait and see what happens.  Like I said, Experiment.

"What can't you compost?" 
Often when we have parties (or extended stay visitors), I just tell people what NOT to put in.  The list is much shorter than what can go in.  I usually stick to the phrase "No metals, no plastics."  If they get in... not a big deal... they won't break down in the pile and I just have to fish them out.  Of course, there are other things to keep out such as animal products.  They, obviously, have the ability to attract animals to your bin.... which can be annoying.  That being said... I don't really follow that rule very well.

"How do you do it?"
Think about it like this... composting is nature's way of recycling.  All you need are greens (kitchen scraps, grass clippings, etc.), browns (leaves, paper, cardboard, tissues), water and oxygen.... it's really not rocket science.  Just throw it all in a pile... keep the ratio of greens to browns fairly even... turn the pile to add oxygen and if the pile is dry... add a little water ;)

Wanna give composting a try?

You can build a bin or  buy a bin.

And, of course, I am always here to lend my experiences to help ;)

The Freshest Food

From the moment I started this blog, I have been asked when I'm going to talk about my garden.  I think I've been putting it off because my fall garden was rather lackluster this year.  Sure I had some green beans and sweet potatoes, but the weather was wacky so my lettuces, cucumbers, and squashes didn't grow... not to mention the fact that my chickens ate all my broccoli!!  But as I was going through some pictures, I came across this:

 Leeks--the only thing that actually survived my fall garden-- picked fresh on Christmas day!  The story is a simple one... I was in the middle of making scalloped potatoes when I realized that I didn't have any onions... oops!  Then I remembered that I had leeks growing right in my backyard... a Christmas miracle!  One of the greatest benefits of having a garden... the convenience.

However, my desire (my need) for a garden goes way beyond convenience.  My Grandparents had a garden that fed their family of 13... not to mention loads of grandkids :)  I can't remember a time in my life when I thought food was so good.  Fresh everything... the sweetest carrots, tomatoes, green beans, etc, etc, etc... pickles made by my grandma... and she even made her own rhubarb jelly (ok...I wasn't much for rhubarb, but everyone else liked it).... I can close my eyes and I'm taken back to their kitchen table.  For me, there has always been something comforting about all of that.  I give 100% credit to my Grandparents for instilling in me this love for fresh food...this food that has all the flavor it's supposed to have.... this notion that

*I* can sow, grow, harvest and feed my family with only my two hands... 


that is what having a garden is all about.

Now honestly, I'm no expert.  I view my garden as an experiment and if I get something to eat out of it... the experiment worked... if I don't.... well, at least I tried!  So as spring approaches, and my garden is (hopefully) kickin' I'll post some more... until then...

Wanna grow leeks?

They're easy... I just sow the seeds in the spring.  Keep an eye on the weeds and leave them be.  They're ready to be picked in late fall all through winter...AND they even survive frost!!!

(Oh, and if you don't know what the heck to use them for... you can use them to replace onions in ANY recipe.  Seriously.)