Posted in Hitting Paydirt
As the summer winds down and the garden begins to fade just a bit, I find my thoughts drifting to an evaluation of what worked for us this summer and what we would do differently. Lacking the discipline of a life-long farmer or even serious gardener, I overlook the weeds that got away from me these last few weeks and see a new area with new potential to jump into: herb baskets.
The September issue of Country Living Magazine has a great little article on herbal teas and the benefits of all types of both wild and domestic herbs and flowers. The photo that accompanies the written piece is an inspiration all by itself, with four or five different little herb plants tucked into a beautiful basket, all available to be plucked and pinched and steeped into a healthy cup of warm goodness for mind, body and soul.
Pick up a book on herbs, either online or at used book stores in your area (or, check with your local library to see what they have and do your research for free!) Get an idea of what flavors work together or compliment each other, and then start those plants from seed in little containers that can be combined later in a basket or terra cotta pot for a "complete tea in a basket" product to sell to your market customers. Include a little jar of local honey to round out the wellness aspect and you have an artful, healthy product that is appealing on so many levels.
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Denise Burns is the wife of Mike and the mother of Cooper, William and Eston. Their family farm website is Burns Best Farm, and she blogs at Homestead Blogger at a blog by the same name. She hates to buy packaged fresh herbs at $2.00 a pop so she's learning to grow her own. As usual, it's a learning experience.
