By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

This time of the gardening year is full of chores that need to be done before the winter wind blows.

But as autumn’s crisp breath seems to be earlier this year I am being very diligent with my herb preservation.

In the past I have let Mother Nature take her course as far as my Kitchen Herb Garden but not this year.

I plan to give herb baskets as gifts this year so every herb counts.

My first task is to survey my Kitchen Herb Garden. What will I keep for winter and what will I just let be. Next I need to decide which method of preservation will work for the herbs I want to preserve. The choices I have available are as follows: growing them indoors, freezing, drying naturally, drying in the microwave, making a jelly, making a sauce, making a flavorful oil, vinegar, or butter.

Part 1 covers preservation that does not require cooking and creates herbs that traditional used during cooking while part 2 covers forms of preservation that creates additions to meals to enhance the cooked product such as jellies, sauces, oils, vinegars, or butters.

Grow Herbs Indoors

Bringing herbs indoors can Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

You had fun growing some herbs in your yard this year, and now you would like to save some for later.

All you need to do is dry them – much cheaper than buying dried herbs at the store. There are five basic methods.

1) Air Drying
This is the most popular method of herb drying. Simply snip off a few stems – approximately 10 or so – and tie them together into a bundle. Cover with a paper bag and hang upside down in a warm, dry place. Make sure they are not in direct sunlight. It takes about 2-4 weeks for the herbs to dry out.

2) Drying Tray
You can make a drying tray by Read the rest of this entry »