My pantry is stocked with common dry spices and herbs, but when I want to splurge, I go for the fresh stuff. When you purchase herbs from the produce section you'll pay as much as $2-5 for green herbs. What better way can you reduce food mileage and serve the most savory dishes for less than growing your own spices? If you'd like to plant your own garden like Mrs. Godfrey but don't have the resources, you can still make it happen with some sunlight and a few pots.
I hike up two flights to reach my home and space is at a premium, so tilling land and farming the earth is not an option. The best alternative for my space is to grow herbs on the patio. Make sure whatever outdoor space you have gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. Some varieties such as rosemary, oregano, mint, and thyme are a bit greedy and tend to dominate the pot—plant them in separate containers.
Fill the bottom of each pot with rocks or gravel and add composted soil and sand (mixed in a 2 to 1 ratio). Saturate the pot with water before planting your herbs. Continue to water and fertilize until tasty leaves pop out. As you need them for dinner, pluck a few. Never deplete the plant from all leaves at once as it will weaken and possibly kill it. The best time to trim an herb is just before the plant flowers.
You can be fancy with decorative pots and designs or strictly utilitarian, as mine are. If you are blessed with an actual plot of land, an herb garden adds beauty and value to the space. If you are stuffed inside with no outdoor area whatsoever, you can still grow herbs indoors with the Aerogarden. These Herb Kits are easy-to-follow, space saving pots, but you can achieve the same results on your own for less money.
Next: Food Sharing
