Saturday, August 20, 2011

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

I've started drying herbs this year a lot earlier than I have before. Usually, I wait until the first frost is predicted....and then I head out to the garden to harvest. I like to dry my own and mix my own Italian seasoning. I think dried herbs at the grocery are rather expensive! Occasionally, I will give them as gifts, too.

The herbs had all been looking a little leggy, so I decided to cut them back and dry what I cut. I'm hoping the haircut will spur some more growth, too.

As for drying methods, I usually hang them upside down in the garage. I'm thinking about making a screen that I could hang high up in the garage to lay the herbs out for drying. I've not tried freezing them.

Here are the herbs I cut....clockwise from upper left: sage, rosemary, oregano and thyme.


Rosemary...


Thyme...


Here you can see the sage and the oregano tied in bundles to hang. I made a few herb bags to hang also, using some fabric remnants and my sewing machine. The thyme and rosemary will go in those. The thyme, especially, is too small and bulky to bundle. I'll follow with a post about the bags.


Hanging in the garage...


Do you grow herbs? If so, how do you use them and do you dry them? If you don't, why not give it a try? Herbs are very user-friendly. : )

Linking to these parties...
Time Travel Thursday at the Brambleberry Cottage
Simply Creations at Simple Home Life

2 comments:

Tulip and Turnip said...

Great harvest! I think I might freeze half and dry half. We'll see how motivated I am. :)

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

Ummm; fresh herbs are the best! My very favorite is basil. I could eat it on just about anything. I haven't tried to dry any of mine before, but I really should.

Thanks for linking to the party again this week, Jennifer.

Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/