Much Virtue in Herbs, Little in Men

"Much virtue in herbs, little in men" is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac. I guess he knew what he was talking about. Nothing like a fresh herb. Can you imagine if Benny were alive today and witnessed this new direction of growing and eating one's food? What would he think? What great thing would he have to say? How about "much virtue in she/he who grows their own herbs and who cooks farm fresh and I've gotta get home to watch Adam Lambert on American Idol." All this hoopla on growing what you eat is really not a new direction when you think about it. I like to think it is a homecoming- a return to our roots as farmers, which is what this great nation was founded on--it's roots--so to speak.

Growing herbs in a planter box is the easiest thing to do. Seriously. Even if you cannot plant anything else, plant herbs. Take a trip to your local nursery this weekend and purchase an organic planter box for growing food (something safe that has not been treated with chemicals). It could just be one little pot for one herb. At least it is a place to start. Once you feel confident that you will not kill it, you can go ahead and expand. You can purchase basil, thyme, dill, parsley, sage, or whatever is available and grows well in your area. Just ask at the nursery. Just imagine that you are cooking something delicious and you can go and snip a couple of leaves of fresh herbs to add to it.

All you need to grow herbs, is water, sun and air. If the leaves start to get too yellow you are probably over watering and if they become brittle you are probably not watering enough. So go online, check in with your local garden nurseries, see if there is a weekend special and get started. Tell them, Benny sent you!