Off The Grid: Growing, Preserving And Mixing Your Own Herbs And Spices (Part 1)

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Growing, Preserving And Mixing Your Own Herbs And Spices (Part 1)

Herbs and spices make a world of difference when it comes to cooking. Herbs and spices both contain antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and natural oils that are beneficial to our overall health. They also give normally bland food a superb taste.

Growing your own herbs and spices is surprisingly easy, fun and can really save you money while giving you a superior product. This guide will take you through the basics of growing and preserving beginner-friendly herbs as well as a few DIY seasoning mixes you can put together easily.

We’ll begin with growing herbs, since herbs are often the most forgiving and grow in a wider range of climates compared to spices. (We’ll look at spices in the next installment.)

Easy and Useful Herbs to Grow
There are a huge variety of herbs that you can grow depending on the zone you live in. When it comes down to usefulness in the kitchen, the following herbs really are the most versatile. They’re also among the healthiest.

Basil
Oregano
Thyme
Rosemary
Cilantro
Mint
Parsley
Sage
Chives
Lemongrass

These herbs also tend to be fairly easy to case for and grow well in a large range of zones.

There are many varieties within these herbs, so taking some time to shop online or through catalogs is a great way to pick the right variety for your needs.
Getting Your Herb Garden Started

Herbs can be grown within garden beds, in containers or right out in your yard as edible landscaping. They tend to be easy for new gardeners to grow and are ideal for those who are short on space. Though most herbs are very hardy and will grow even in poor soil, here is how to get the most from your plants.

Use a Loam to Loam-Sand Soil
These herbs listed above will all grow well in loamy to loamy-sandy soil. Loamy soil is characterized by being a fairly dark, rich soil that can form a ball in your hands but will crumple easily. Loamy soil offers enough drainage that your herb’s roots won’t be kept too wet, but it also holds in moisture and nutrients. Very leafy herbs like basil do best in loamy soil, whereas stalky herbs like thyme thrive in a sandy loamy soil. Sandy loamy soil simply contains more sand and allows for further drainage which keeps the plant drier…..More Here

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