🌿 Herb Growing & Preservation Guide
A Simple Way to Grow, Harvest, and Store Herbs for Year-Round Use
There’s something truly special about stepping outside, brushing your fingers across a row of fragrant herbs, and gathering a handful to use in your kitchen or apothecary. Herbs connect us to the seasons, our food, and the rhythms of nature—and best of all, they’re easy to grow no matter where you live.
Whether you have a sunny kitchen windowsill, a few raised beds, or a small backyard garden, growing herbs is one of the simplest ways to live more intentionally and bring fresh flavor and healing right into your home.
🌱 Getting Started with Herbs
If you’re new to growing herbs, start small. Choose a few that you already use in your cooking or tea-making. Most herbs thrive in full sun (around 6–8 hours a day) and well-drained soil. Container gardens work beautifully if space is limited—just be sure your pots have good drainage and keep them watered regularly.
🌿 Best Herbs to Grow at Home
Each herb carries its own story, flavor, and benefit. Here are a few of my favorites to grow year after year:
Basil – A warm-weather favorite perfect for pesto, pasta, and fresh summer salads.
Thyme – Hardy and low-maintenance; adds rich, earthy flavor to soups and roasted vegetables.
Oregano – A Mediterranean must-have, delicious in sauces, pizzas, and stews.
Rosemary – Evergreen and aromatic; pairs beautifully with bread, meats, and roasted potatoes.
Sage – An old-fashioned herb that shines in stuffing, poultry dishes, and calming teas.
Mint – Refreshing for teas, desserts, and cold drinks. (Pro tip: plant it in a pot—it spreads fast!)
Lemon Balm – Bright and citrusy, perfect for soothing teas and homemade salves.
Calendula – Sunny orange blooms that heal skin, color salves, and brighten your garden.
Chamomile – A gentle, floral herb that promotes rest and relaxation in evening teas.
✂️ How to Harvest Herbs
Harvesting herbs at the right time keeps their flavor and aroma strong.
Pick herbs in the morning, once the dew has dried but before the afternoon sun hits.
Snip just above a leaf node (the spot where leaves meet the stem) to encourage new growth.
Never harvest more than one-third of a plant at a time—give it time to regrow and thrive.
A little love and patience will reward you with lush, fragrant plants all season long.
🌞 Preserving Herbs for Later
One of the best things about herbs is that they can easily be preserved for use throughout the year. Here are a few of my favorite ways:
Air Drying – Tie small bundles with twine and hang them upside down in a warm, airy space. Once the leaves crumble easily, store them in glass jars away from light.
Dehydrating – Use a dehydrator or your oven’s lowest setting to quickly dry herbs like basil, mint, and lemon balm.
Freezing – Chop fresh herbs and freeze them in olive oil or water in ice cube trays—perfect for soups, sauces, and sautés.
Infusing – Steep herbs in oil, honey, or vinegar to create flavorful dressings or soothing skincare remedies.
🌾 Saving Seeds for the Seasons Ahead
Herbs are generous plants—they’ll often reseed themselves if you let them. To intentionally save seeds:
Allow some plants to flower and go to seed.
Once the seed heads dry, gently shake or crumble them into a paper bag.
Label with the herb name and date.
Store in a cool, dry, dark spot.
Most herb seeds stay viable for two to three years, giving you a head start for the next growing season.
🌸 A Few Final Thoughts
Growing herbs is about more than flavor—it’s about slowing down and reconnecting with nature’s rhythm. As you care for your plants, dry bunches for the pantry, and tuck away seeds for next spring, you’re participating in a timeless tradition of stewardship and creativity.
Start where you are, use what you have, and grow a little more each year. Whether it’s a pot of basil on the windowsill or a garden full of rosemary and sage, your herbs will bless your home in more ways than one.
Check out this week’s Handmade Happiness podcast episode to hear more about the ways I grow and use herbs and download the free pdf Beginner Guide to Growing and Preserving Herbs.