May 11th, 2017

I've always wanted an herb garden.  There is just something about the idea of stepping outside my own door to snip just a little bit of whatever herb I need to use while I'm cooking that is so appealing to me.  It is somehow a very romantic concept, in the way that cooking and baking is. I mean the real cooking and baking, not throwing something frozen in the microwave and calling it food. 

That is, by the way, not a shot at anyone who does that.  I've done it too.  But while that sort of quasi-food preparation fills an empty belly, it's not really cooking.  Neither is slicing off a few rounds from a tube of store bought cookie dough and putting it in the oven really baking.  I'm not certain what it is but honestly, no it's just not.

Now that I have the time, I am back to actual cooking and baking again and enjoying it so very much, the desire for an herb garden is back.  Yesterday while at the farm market purchasing my weekly fruit and veg, I noticed that they were also selling potted herbs.  Two pots for five bucks!  Woohoo!  That is my kinda price tag!  There was a lot of sage, which I don't use much of, a little dill, which I considered, some chive, also considered, and a wee bit of cilantro and thyme, which I purchased.  Gotta start somewhere, right?

I actually have been thinking about this for months now in anticipation of spring.  I did a lot of reading, which ultimately was very confusing and ended up reaching out to oldest son's S.O. She is smart, very sweet, incredibly patient with me and, the best part, an organic farmer!  She is my go-to girl with all things green.  She gave me some awesome advice which I am now putting to use.

I brought home my wee new treasures and put them under a tree in the courtyard.  Went in the house to put away all my other groceries, came back out and contemplated.  My little herbs did not look happy yet.  I was concerned primarily with how unsubstantial they looked next to such well established and much larger things. And, perhaps the ground is not especially level. I know!  They need a flatter surface area.

The bricks I found when I cleared out the new bicycle parking area and an old piece of shelving waiting to be taken to the dump will do! 

It's better, but still those little pots look wobbly.  I feared that a bit of wind or the breeze of lizard races in the vicinity might tumble those little babies off their new perch. Hmmm. So off I go to my favourite place to shop, the Dollar Store! I found a container that suits  and a bit of decoration that I didn't know I needed until I saw it.  And now they are tucked safely into their new home.

There is room to grow, to add more plants,  assuming that this dream of mine actually works out.  And I have more bricks, more boards and I know where the Dollar Store is.  The bunnies don't seem to be bothering my little herbs and I haven't seen any lizards so much as look at it so I think it's all good for now. Hurrah!

And last night, while preparing dinner, I was able to just step outside and snip some cilantro from my own little miniature beginner herb garden exactly as I've always wanted. And yes, it just tickled me to bits and pieces. Sometimes, I just sit back and think, "Life is good". Best cilantro ever.