Tip Tuesday: Harvesting Herbs for the Freezer!

Why not use the last few Indian summer days of Fall before frost hits to harvest your herbs. Harvesting your herbs and freezing them for the winter will save you some money at the grocery store later as well as make some tasty, winter meals for your family. Surprisingly, it is easy and well worth the hassle.

When I grew herbs in my garden a few years ago, I found an old cook book, The Herb and Spice Cookbook: A Seasoning Celebration, that explained how to freeze and save your herbs over the winter. I tried it, finding it to be a simple way to add flavor and dressing up my boring winter menu, that I have been doing it since and saving some money at the same time.

Perhaps you did not grow your own herbs this year. You can still use the leftover herbs from the bunches you bought at the store or farmers market, preparing them to freeze, before letting them go bad and throwing them out as we often waste them.

1. To get started, take your bunch of herbs (whether cut from the garden or from the store), and remove bad leaves, roots, large sticks, etc.

2. Soak the herbs to clean in a large container of lukewarm water. Never wash under running water as this will crush the leaves but rather immerse them in water to remove dirt.

3. After soaking for some time, remove a small amount at a time and place on paper towels, even laying them. Pat dry and shake slightly any access water. Let sit to finish drying.

4. Tear off individual leaves and spread out onto a cookie sheet so leaves do not stick together.

5. Place cookie sheet into freezer.

6. Transfer frozen leaves into freezer bags and place back into freezer to save in a spot they will not get crushed.

7. Label and date bag.

8. Pop the amount needed to into the dish. When ready to cook, use frozen as the heat of your dish will defrost them quickly. For cold salads and recipes, defrost before adding them.

Herbs will keep from six to eight months frozen. My example in the pictures is oregano. Likewise, for basil, sage, mint, and any other herbs with large leaves, remove them from the larger stem freezing the individual leaves. For rosemary, cilantro, chervil, tarragon, dill, thyme, and marjoram, retain the thinner stems. For chives, chop before freezing.

For a seasonal dish using your harvested thyme, try Sauteed Pork Chops with Thyme and Apples!

For more frugal tips, visit Learning the Frugal Life Tip Tuesday.

Tip Tuesday: Start a Garden from Seeds!

Since the weather has turned nice, Judah and I decided it was time to start our seedlings for our garden this year. Our purple hyacinth and yellow daffodils have already graced us with spring fragrances and blooms. Our rose bushes are turning green and our mums show buds peeking through the soil. All we need is some annual plants to complete our garden.

We have a town home but being on the end has allowed us to grow some vegetables on the side of the house in years past. In previous years, we have done bush beans, snap peas, broccoli, lettuce, and peppers here to help save some money at the Farmer's Market. The front of the house we save special for flowers like rose bushes, hydrangeas, hostas, and my all time favorite, snap dragons. We usually even display hanging baskets of geraniums from the porch ceiling to complete our homey landscape.

Most years we also plant herbs. Herbs can be expensive directly from the store. Also, you end up wasting your herbs before you can use them all. So in the past we have maintained cilantro, oregano, rosemary, parsley, basil, and many others in window boxes that hang on our porch railing.

To start our garden this year, we first need to pick out some herb seeds. Most people are intimidated by starting seeds, not knowing what to do. Seeds though can be a frugal way to start your garden if you keep in mind simple precautions. Then anyone can start seeds no matter where you live.

To select the right seeds, you must consider the following tips I learned long ago from my days in 4-H in order to help you be the most decisive and economical.

Know your temperate zone. Your seed package will explain to you when you may start planting seeds in the ground depending on frost dates. You may get a head start by planting the seeds indoors and setting the box outside on warm, sunny days. Later you will transplant these mature seedlings into the ground when they are hearty enough to withstand the current temperatures.

Know how much sunlight your designated area receives during the day. Choose seeds that require the proper amount of sunlight that your garden will receive. For instance, I plant my "sun" plants on the side of the house where they will receive the most light. I learned to plant seeds that require shade in front due to a large tree that limits sunlight during the summer daylight hours.

Check to see what the anticipated growth will be. You do not want to have vine plants like squash growing in a small area. Likewise, you do not want to transplant smaller plants behind taller plants where they cannot access light or water.

Determine how far apart you may plant your items. Knowledge of space will help determine how many seeds you are allowed to plant in your designated area. You do not want to start too many seedlings without no where to plant them. Also, you want to check to make sure you have enough space for a bountiful harvest.

Choose seeds you will actually use and enjoy. Do not waste your space with tomatoes if no one will eat them. Choose items your family will use.

Your goal proves you can not only exhibit a green thumb but provide some economical value in your harvest. Gardening can be a hobby but also lead you to a life of more simple living. Have fun choosing the right seeds for you and your family this year.

For other frugal living tips, visit Frugal Tip Tuesday at Learning the Frugal Life.

Make Monday: Creating a Flower Garden!

Over spring break, Judah and I went to the local botanical gardens for some fun activities celebrating spring time. While we were there, we made a rainbow garden ourselves with paper. What fun to talk about the different textures and colors as we created flowers and grass. Even though we squished it on the way home, Judah was excited about his garden for days afterward.

Making this garden allowed imaginative play with Judah. Kids of preschool and elementary age will have fun with endless possibilities of creating flowers in various colors and textured paper. Add some pipe cleaners and grass for a complete flower garden sample. And watch the flowers bloom all spring long!

Supplies you will need:

foam paper plate
green pipe cleaners
green paper for grass
colored foam board
colored tissue paper
colored and patterned baking cups
scissors
tape
pen

Creating a flower garden:

1. Make flower petals by using a number of paper techniques. Cut out flower shapes onto foam paper. Flatten muffin tin baking cups into layers for simple flowers. Use a circle and square template to cut out tissue paper pieces.

2. Attach flowers petals to green pipe cleaners by using tape or bending the end of the pipe cleaner. Tape your foam flower to the pipe cleaner. Punch a hole into the middle of the baking cups to create another flower. Seal the cups in place by bending over the pipe cleaner in the center. Layer the circle tissue paper pieces and punch a hole in the middle to slide the pipe cleaner through and bend to seal. Cinch together layered square tissue paper pieces together in the middle of the paper with the pipe cleaner for a butterfly effect.

3. Push bottom of flower stem pipe cleaner into the foam paper plate. Add a variety of flowers to the plate spreading them around. Bend the pipe cleaner stems as desired to make the flowers stand upright.

4. Add green grass to finish the garden. Use filling for Easter baskets or shred your own green paper into pieces for grass. Pat the grass around the flower stems onto the foam paper plate.

Not only will this project be fun for the kids but would make a cute spring decoration for the house this Easter. Enjoy!