| It can be really frustrating to get half way into a | | | | wrap from a pre-stuffed pot and adding water. One |
| recipe and suddenly discover that you need two | | | | option for the botanically inclined is to transplant |
| leaves of fresh basil, or that you need fresh cilantro | | | | shoots. If cut off pieces of herb are planted quickly |
| for a garnish. Stopping in the middle of dinner | | | | into a proper mixture of topsoil and compost, then |
| preparations to run to the store is rarely an option, | | | | they will take root and begin to grow just as if they |
| so you end up serving a dish that is good, but could | | | | had been seeded. You may also find it helpful to use |
| have been so much more if you had all of the | | | | a hormone rooting powder. This will aid your new |
| ingredients. | | | | plant as it begins to grow roots out of what used to |
| One way to ensure that you have a ready supply of | | | | be leaf nodes. |
| fresh herbs on hand at all times is to grow your own. | | | | If you are going to be potting your own herbs, |
| It's not as hard as it sounds, and you don't need a | | | | whether by seeding them, transplanting them, or |
| tilled garden plot to do it. There are many | | | | trying to get shoots to take root, then you need to |
| commercially prepared planters that make growing | | | | make sure that your pots are safe for food. Stay |
| your own herbs an easy option. These pots and | | | | away from any pot that may have lead in its |
| trays come pre-filled with the seeds already placed in | | | | composition. For that matter, you want to stay away |
| the correct kind of soil for the herbs to grow well. All | | | | from any pot that is painted with a bright color, as |
| you really need to do is follow the instructions about | | | | these pigments usually contain lead as well. Your best |
| sunlight and water. You can even make it fun and | | | | choice is found in using plastic or terra-cotta pots. |
| get the kids involved in watering and caring for the | | | | These are always food safe. |
| "herb garden." | | | | Enjoy the process, as well as the fruits, of your new |
| Some find that they enjoy the gardening process as | | | | herb garden. The ability to walk out of your back |
| much as they do having the herbs at hand when | | | | door and snip off your own fresh ingredients is very |
| they need them. These folks often possess a bit of | | | | fulfilling. Check one more item off of your stress list |
| a green thumb and are looking for a little more | | | | knowing that you'll never serve an incomplete recipe |
| gardening excitement than just removing the plastic | | | | again. |