Home and Crafts

Herb planting in your backyard garden can be a fun and beneficial project. Not only will the herbs planted be available to eat, they can also be used in various ways from growing catnip for your feline friends to growing plants to use in craft projects. Regardless of the reason for planting herbs, once they beginning to bud, blossom or bloom, it’s time to harvest and preserve the plants.

Herb Planting Harvest Time

Harvest the herbs only if the plant has enough foliage to sustain itself. Meaning, do not harvest a plant if it has not established itself. Always harvest plants in the morning after the dew has had a chance to dry and do not harvest plants in the middle of the day. Always use sharp scissors to ensure a clean cut. Snip flowering herbs once the first signs of buds appear and if they are to be used in crafts projects, snip them once the flower has begun to open.

Herb Planting Preservation

Now that the herb planting and harvesting portion of the growth cycle is over, it’s time to decide what to do with the harvested herbs. There are several methods that can be use to preserve the plants and these include freezing, drying and microwave.

Freezing

Rinse herbs in cold water then use paper towels to remove excess water. Spread the herbs on a cookie sheet and allow them to dry completely. If you want whole herbs, leave them in tact but if you want smaller pieces, cut/chop the herbs into the size you want prior to freezing. Once dry, place the herbs into the freezer. Remove from freezer and place herbs in individual zip lock freezer bags.

Drying

Rinse the herbs, shake out the excess and lay them out to dry. Once they are completely dry, holding them by their stems, create small bundles of herbs and tie together with string. Take the bundles and hang them in a dark, cool, dry location such as a closet, basement, attic or anyplace where there will be no sunlight. The area also needs to have good air circulation. There is always a chance that even utilizing your best efforts, the plants might get moldy.

Microwave

Another option for drying the herb planting bounty is by microwave. Place the herbs between paper towels and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. The herb leaves should be brittle, if not, repeat the process. Place leaves in zip lock bags.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Growing culinary herbs is an excellent way to provide fresh, flavorful and healthy food for yourself and your family. Other than buying seeds or herb plants for the garden, potting soil, stones and containers if you’re planning an indoor or container garden, the initial cost of herb planting is minimal but the payoff is huge.

Reasons for Growing Culinary Herbs

Growing culinary herbs provides a supply of herbs and flowers that have many uses. One of the main uses is to have fresh herbs at hand to use when creating meals. Home grown garden herbs have no preservatives or additives and are healthy ingredients that can be added to any recipe. Not only can the herbs be used in cooking, they can also be used for medicinal purposes such as brewing a steaming cup of spearmint or lemon verbena tea to soothe a sore throat. There are edible plants such as fennel, coriander and borage while others are toxic such as wormwood and tansy. Many herbs are used in craft projects including santolina, yarrow and artemisia to make flower arrangements, wreaths and potpourri.

Harvesting Herbs

Now that you’re efforts at growing culinary herbs has produced fresh herbs, it’s time to harvest the crop. First and foremost, always allow new plants to adjust to their garden setting before harvesting. For most plants, once they are ready to harvest, do not cut more than a third of the stem so the plant can replenish itself and have time to re-grow before the next harvest.

Herbs for Cooking

If you’re going to use herbs from your garden in a meal, do not harvest the herbs until the day you plan to use them. This ensures they will be the freshest growing culinary herbs in the garden. Use a sharp pair of scissors to snip the stem. Do not cut the leaves.

Herbs for Drying

It’s important when cutting herbs for drying that the plant be cut prior to the first bloom so that the leaves retain a high oil content.

Herb Maintenance

When herb planting, it’s important to know whether the plant is an annual or a perennial and what to expect as its season ends. All herb plants should be snipped, pruned or cut back to encourage growth and to maintain a healthy plant. Growing culinary herbs is not only beneficial to you but it also provides a source for attracting bees and that’s good for the environment.

Popularity: 12% [?]

In today’s economy, growing fresh herbs to use when creating meals is a good way to save money and provide fresh, wholesome food to your family. Growing fresh herbs takes only a little time on your part but the rewards of growing culinary herbs that can be sliced and diced and added to a favorite recipe are well worth the effort.

Best Choices for Growing Fresh Herbs

If you’re growing fresh herbs for the first time, start off by selecting the herbs you plan to use the most often. For example, if Italian cooking is your forte then oregano would be a good first choice as it complements tomato based recipes. Other choices to consider would be caraway, parsley and chervil that go well with soups salads and stews. Basil, marjoram and tarragon work with meat dishes while cilantro adds zest to soups and beans. Rosemary and sage add savory flavor to stuffing and chamomile and sweet woodruff make fragrant teas.

Options for Growing Fresh Herbs

There are several options for growing fresh herbs and it all depends on how much time you can devote as well as how much room you have for the garden and how many herbs you want to plant and harvest.

Traditional Garden

If you have room in your yard for a traditional garden and you have a variety of different herb plants to grow, then creating a traditional garden area in your yard would be the best route. Keep the herb garden close to the house so it’s convenient for you to step outside and quickly snip some herbs. Make sure the garden is in an area providing direct sunlight and is well-drained.

Indoor Garden

Growing fresh herbs, in an indoor environment, works well if you plan to grow only a few plants that can survive on a windowsill or any other sunny part of the house. Other than the occasional watering and checking for pests, the plants should thrive and produce flavorful herbs.

Container Garden

This option allows you to grow a larger number of herbs in separate containers that can be placed outside. The containers can be anything that can hold the plants as long as they can provide good drainage. This type of garden is considered portable as the containers used for growing fresh herbs can be moved whenever necessary. Container gardens are convenient for anyone who does not have the time to maintain an actual garden but wants to grow more than a few herb plants.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Creating a container herb garden for your home not only allows you the opportunity of growing fresh herbs year-round for a variety of uses, it also provides an eco-friendly way of decorating your patio, sunroom or balcony. Using decorative ceramic pots, clay urns, wooden window boxes or any unique item that can serve as a plant holder for your container herb garden will add color and fragrance wherever you decide to place them.

Benefits of a Container Herb Garden

There are plenty of reasons for having a container herb garden versus a traditional herb garden in your yard. Besides having the ability of growing fresh herbs throughout the year right at your fingertips, the container herb garden, once set up with the proper supplies, requires little care. With proper light, soil, drainage and water, the plants tend to take care of themselves. Additionally, herb plants tend to be mostly pest free. A container herb garden can be a convenient way of growing fresh herbs without all of the work a traditional garden requires. The containers should be portable so they can be moved inside during cold weather, they’re decorative and fragrant, they take up little space and they’re good for the environment.

Creating a Container Herb Garden

Creating a container herb garden for your home can be easily achieved with just a few supplies. Basically, the main item to be concerned with is the container itself. It must be large enough to accommodate the plants, stones and soil but it must also be a size that is easily moved from the outside to the inside during cold weather. If you plan to have a container herb garden only during the warmer months that are conducive to gardening, then how large and how portable the container is will not be an issue. Regardless of the portability of the container, it must provide excellent drainage for the plants.

Putting Together a Container Herb Garden

Once you’ve selected the type of herbs you want for your container herb garden, depending on the size of the container used, place several small rocks or stones inside the container which will help with water drainage. Fill the container with an appropriate amount of soil, place the herb plants inside, add a little water if the potting soil is very dry and then add more potting soil. Place the container in a location that will provide full sunlight and water only as necessary.

Popularity: 13% [?]

For those folks who live in an apartment or condo and are interested in planting a garden but have little or no gardening space available to them, growing herbs indoors is the perfect solution. And for those who want to have fresh herbs throughout the year, growing herbs indoors whether it’s one plant or five, can provide what you need. Whether you’re growing herbs as a food additive or to have an abundance of flowering and fragrant herbs to display on the windowsill, balcony, patio or screened porch, growing herbs indoors is easy to do and requires little maintenance or time.

Successfully Growing Herbs Indoors

Growing herbs indoors can be very successful but in order to achieve this requires several specific steps in order to make it possible. First, the herbs need to be planted, either from seed or a plant, in a large enough container that will allow the plant to grow and expand. Next, the soil needs to be a high quality potting soil and there needs to be good drainage within the container. For growing herbs indoors that will be healthy, it is vital that they be placed in a location that provides at least 6 hours of full sun. Grow lights can be used to aid in prolonging the light needed. It’s also important that the temperature be moderate for the plants. Some herbs are better suited for indoors such as rosemary, chives and oregano while others, such as basil and fennel, are not well-suited to growing indoors.

Options for Growing Herbs Indoors

For ornamental herb plants such as sage and scented geraniums, growing herbs indoors is possible but there is also the option of creating a container herb garden. A container herb garden works well when there are areas available such as a patio or screened porch where large containers can be filled with different types of herbs as well as flowering herbs. While the indoor herbs are usually in smaller containers and regulated to windowsills, container gardens can use larger vessels such as clay pots or even window boxes that are not only decorative, but will also allow for a larger number of herb plants to be grown year round. As the weather changes, container gardens can be easily moved inside. Container gardens are an asset when it comes to having little or no yard space for a traditional garden.

Reminders for Growing Herbs Indoors

In order to have the best tasting and most fragrant herbs, keep in mind when growing herbs indoors that they need a lot of sunlight, good drainage, moderate temperatures, watering only when needed, a quality potting soil and depending on the type of herb, a minimum of plant food.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Growing herbs can be an easy process and the results can be used to add flavor to meals, make soothing and relaxing teas or for making fragrant sachets, potpourri, scented candles and oils. Whether you’re growing herbs in a garden for food purposes or as ornamental flowers following a few simple steps will ensure you have a successful and bountiful harvest.

Where to Plant Growing Herbs

The first step in planning an herb garden is to determine what types of herbs will be grown. Once this has been decided, what section of the yard will be used for growing herbs will be the next decision. If the herbs are to be used in cooking, it is a good idea to have a variety of growing herbs planted nearby so they are easily accessible. If you’re interested in having only one or two growing herbs for cooking or for display and fragrance purposes only, you also have the option of growing herbs indoors.

The Basic Herbs

There are many varieties of herbs and which ones you choose will depend on the type of cooking you do and the flavors you like. Some of the basic and easiest growing herbs include thyme, garlic, oregano, basil, dill and chives. For making delicious and soothing teas, add lavender, peppermint and chamomile to your herb garden. Some herbs are best grown directly from seed as they do not do well when transplanted. Other types of herbs should be purchased as established plants and then transplanted to your garden.

Growing Herbs in a Garden

One of the most important steps for growing herbs is having proper sunlight for the better part of the day. The majority of herbs do best in sunny locations and only a few do well in the shade. Good soil enriched once or twice a year with compost along with proper drainage will provide flavorful herbs. Too much water and too little sunshine can affect the growth of the growing herbs as well as the taste. Do not plant in an area where water tends to accumulate and stand and if necessary, raise the beds so there will be good drainage. To help conserve moisture, place a covering of mulch around the plants. If pests become a problem, use an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Do not use pesticides. The point of growing herbs is to have fresh and flavorful varieties straight from your garden without any additives.

Popularity: 13% [?]

A home schooling group is something every community needs, no matter who decides to start it. Support is great no matter how you get it, and frankly there is no better way to get it than by participating in a home schooling group.

If there isn’t a group for home schooling children and their parents in your area, consider creating one to share with your community. Keep reading to learn the basic steps to go about doing this.

Make a List, Check it Twice

You will want to make a list of everything you can think of that a home schooling group can offer, and what other home schooling parents are looking for. This list should include everything you’ve ever wished you had support with while home schooling your children, and should also include anything you’ve heard other home schooling parents wish for in regard to support and information.

You should also compile a list of the information you need to obtain from your State’s department of Education so new home schooling parents can have access to it when joining your home schooling group.

Do the Footwork

You need to put your list into action by first getting a handful of other parents to help you launch your home schooling support group. Once this is done, it’s time to figure out how to put your list in place. Many of the things on your list will work themselves out easily while others will require a bit more work and dedication.

Look to public and private schools, the Department of Education, Online services and teachers in the community to help you with your efforts.

Fundraising

In order to make some of your home schooling group goals come true, you’ll need to earn some money. You can do this in the form of garage sales, craft fairs or a fundraising party. Be sure to create a sales flyer to entice people to show up and sped some money for your cause!

Pick Your Spot

If you don’t have a building dedicated solely to your home schooling group, there are a couple of options you have otherwise. First of all, consider sharing meeting rotations with other parents, who will take turn housing visitors during weekly meetings. If you happen to live in an area with temperate weather, consider holding home schooling group meeting at a park! Other options to consider are the clubhouse of an apartment complex, a local fast food restaurant and online.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Home schooling can be hard on both parents and children, especially if all aspects of home schooling aren’t laid out properly and evenly. Many aspects come into home schooling such as education, responsibility, socialization and study schedules to name a few.

Many parents find that the most challenging aspect of home schooling is socialization opportunities for their children. There are some effective ways to combat this problem, let’s take a look at them:

Home Schooling Groups

In order for home schooling to work, organizations such as support groups have been put into place for direction and help throughout the process. Home schooling socialization is just one aspect of home schooling, but a very important one. By participating in home schooling support groups, you are able to open many doors when it comes to your children making friends.

The Boys and Girls Club

Offering many daily programs and even weekly club meetings, bringing your child to the boys and girls club is a great supplement for home schooling socialization. The opportunity for your children to meet new friends on a continuous basis is only one positive experience to be found by attending this organization.

Public School Functions

Letting your child attend regular public school functions such as fairs, dances and field trips is another great way to expose your children to home schooling socialization. Their ability to interact with other children their age is crucial, and something that’s not replaceable with something else. Because of this, even if you prefer to educate your child at home, public school functions are a great resource.

Home School Supplemental Schools

Similar to a daycare but suitable for all school aged children, these supplemental schools offer not only time for parents to get things done on their own, but time for children to have a great time, meet friends and continue learning. Implementing this kind of school into your child’s schedule whether it be daily, weekly or monthly, is sure to raise the bar when it comes to home schooling socialization.

Additional Tips

When offering opportunities for your children to engage in friendships, it’s important not to push them. It may take multiple visits to a particular function of meeting before your child starts to feel comfortable with making friends.

An important part of home schooling socialization is to make friends with other children’s parents to make it easier for play dates to be set up.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Along with learning how to actually home school a child, things like home schooling socialization and home schooling laws need to be considered. In fact, without considering these things you aren’t going to get too far legally when it comes to your child’s education. Many parents even end up in jail for ignoring things like home schooling laws. This is why it’s important to realize that there are laws in place, and to know where to find the information needed to follow the laws.

Are Home Schooling Laws the Same Everywhere?

Although many of the rules and regulations put into place for home schooling are similar from State to State, there may be small and even bigger differences depending on where you reside. You will want to check with your specific State’s department of education to obtain a copy of their home schooling laws. You should also be able to find additional resources and information to help get you started through the department of education.

What Happens if I Don’t Follow the Home Schooling Laws?

The first thing to realize is that home schooling laws are put into place in order to help insure all children get a quality, well rounded education. Usually, the only way to get around following all home schooling laws put into place by a State is to become registered as a private school. Once this is done, you are free to experiment in the ways you prefer to educate your child.

If you are not registered as a private school, you are subject to your State’s home schooling laws. This means that if the laws aren’t followed, penalties such as fines and orders to enroll your child in public school are put into place. In some cases, parents can find themselves doing some jail time.

How to Make the Best of Home Schooling Laws

When it comes to working within the home schooling laws of your State, support groups can be of much help. In fact, many parents find that participating in a home schooling support group has helped to keep them motivated and successful. It also provides camaraderie among other home schooling parents and yourself, and provides a medium for introducing your children to new friends.

Being able to understand home schooling laws from the get go helps to make following them easier, especially when they may be rules you don’t agree with. It’s also a good idea to check with your department of education from time to time to learn of any updates that may have been made to the home schooling laws, some of which could be in your favor.

Popularity: 13% [?]