New Raised Garden Box
My garden keeps growing… pun intended.
I was given a new raised garden box for my birthday in February 2013. Now, my garden is three and a half times as big as when I started four years ago.
Sons Matt and Adam hatched the new box plan. Adam, his father-in-law and 3-year old grandson Graham built and delivered it.
Only Herbs
Since the box was fairly shallow (just eight inches deep), I decided to use it solely for herbs. It was a good idea. The herbs have been thriving in it. The box contains basil, cilantro, marjoram, arugula, parsley, sage, thyme, oregano and tarragon. In another area of the garden, there is rosemary, salad Burnett and fennel… lots of herbs!
Way Too Many Herbs
An issue with the herb garden that I had not anticipated is that most herbs grow like weeds!
I don’t have enough friends and relatives to use the amount of herbs produced in a 4-foot by 8-foot box. Just to keep the herbs under control, I have had to thin them regularly. I hated to do it, because, most often, the cuttings went into the compost pile.
What to Do? What to Do?
What can you do when you have so many herbs, you don’t know what to do? Give them away, of course!
Gardening partner Bill (Jacqie) Jackson sings in several local restaurants that serve fabulous food. He let the chefs know that there were fresh herbs available regularly from an organic garden, and the over-production problem was solved.
Cut, Wrap, Deliver
Transporting the herbs in good condition is not as difficult as it may seem. Bunches of herbs are cut an hour or so before they are delivered. They are washed and laid on a thick, absorbent towel to dry.
Once dried, each bunch of herbs is laid on a dry paper towel. To keep them neatly bunched, the sides and bottom of the paper towel are folded around the herbs… sort of diapering-style… and the bunch is tied loosely with string.
The herbs are placed in a container… a large bowl or a roomy grocery bag… so they can be transported without having them move around too much. That’s it.
Best part of all… put your face very close to the bag opening and inhale deeply. I guarantee, the scent of fresh herbs is better than any perfume you have ever smelled.
If this problem presents itself with your garden, get to know your local chefs and share the abundance. They will thank you.
Tags: above ground garden · arugula · Basil · Cilantro · fennel · herbs · marjoram · oregano · parsley · Raised Garden · rosemary · sage · salad Burnett · tarragon · thyme4 Comments