During a recent gardening geek out session, someone asked me if I had any mint to spare. Resisting the urge to double over in laughter, I asked how many garbage bags he wanted. Okay, maybe not garbage bags, but mint is one of those plants that will sprawl like a poorly planned city so a hard pruning won't hurt it.
I went home and cut off several handfuls of mint for him, stood up, looked around the garden and realized I had plenty of other herbs to spare. There's no way I could use all the rosemary, thyme, and oregano that were encroaching on my tomatoes, and don't get me started on catnip. Thus was born my new favorite way to unload, ahem, give away herbs that grow crazy.
What you need:
- A 6-pack carrier for bottled beer (or soda)
- 6 small jars
- An abundance of herbs (I had thyme, oregano, rosemary, basil, and enough mint to fill 2 spots)
- Tongue depressors to label each section, label the types of herbs with waterproof ink
If you don't like the graphics on the 6-pack holder, cover it with kraft paper. I happened to like mine, it emphasized the seasonality with a gift of fresh herbs.
Put each jar in a separate section of the 6-pack holder, and fill halfway with fresh water. The water will keep the herbs fresh and perky until the recipient can use them (or get them to a fridge!)
Pinch the lower leaves from the herbs so no leaves will be below the water line. Leaves under water for a couple of days will make for stinky, slimy water-- not appealing. {Bonus: the pinched leaves from my bouquets are now drying on the counter for winter use.}
Make little bouquets of individual types of herbs and tuck the stems in the water. Repeat one type of herb per jar for all 6 jars and you're done! Tuck a tongue depressor label between the jar and the cardboard, slightly sticking out.
Give the package to your favorite gourmand. Sit back and gracefully accept the accolades from your generosity all the while knowing you were really just doing a little garden maintenance.
Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.
What a fun and thoughtful idea!
Posted by: Dawn | Jul 08, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Awesome idea! I wish you were my neighbor, I'd never have to buy these ingredients again! :)
Posted by: Carolyn Cochrane | Jul 08, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Brilliant! I wish I'd read about this last summer when my herb garden really was out of control. Now we're moving so I'll have to start again but, next summer, look out friends!
Posted by: Naomi Bulger | Jul 11, 2011 at 09:15 PM