Building and tending to your own herb garden can be a wonderful hobby that leads to many culinary creations. Whether you have only a kitchen window ledge or a large plot available outdoors, you can grow incredible herbs to add a beautiful freshness to your dishes. Keep reading to see the benefits of having a sustainable home herb garden.
Culinary Benefits
Freshness and Flavor
Having fresh herbs at arm’s reach is perfect for adding the freshness only picked herbs can provide. They add an amazing flavor that dried or even store-bought fresh herbs can’t match.
Plus, they will enhance any dish from flat to bursting with life. Parsley, rosemary, thyme, and cilantro are bright and bursting with a freshness that can go with almost all cuisines.
Nutritional Benefits
Herbs not only taste great but offer incredible nutritional benefits. Oregano, for example, has antimicrobial benefits similar to those of prescribed antibiotics. Many other popular herbs, like rosemary, thyme, and parsley, have an abundance of vitamins and minerals and are full of antioxidants.
Creative Cooking
Having fresh herbs growing at home allows you to do some creative cooking. Add some rosemary to your mashed potatoes for dinner. Place some fresh thyme on your steaks as they hit the grill. Fresh cilantro on your corn on the cobb—yes, please. There are so many ways you can kick up your cooking with these amazing little plants.
Convenience and Accessibility
Having freshly grown herbs prevents you from having to run out to the store and grab some shelf-stable herbs. Plus, you’re reducing your plastic waste intake by skipping on those bags and little plastic containers.
This is also great if you’re a spontaneous cook who never really knows when you’ll be in the mood to create a new creation.
Taking Advantage of Any Space
Container Gardening
Container gardening is the most popular method for herb gardens, regardless of the space available. This is due to the compact size, the ease of growing, and the ability to plan out or switch herbs at a moment’s notice.
You can place a container garden on a large plot of land, on your apartment balcony, or on a large sunny kitchen window sill. This is the most popular option because of its extreme versatility.
Outdoor Gardening
Herbs can grow anywhere, so if you already have an outdoor vegetable garden, you can easily plant your herb garden alongside it. If you are more of a flower gardener, you can even nestle some herbs in and around your flower beds. So not only are you getting delicious fresh herbs, but they are also beautiful to look at among the other foliage!
Wrapping Up The Benefits of Starting a Home Herb Garden
Herbs are easy to grow, taste great, enhance your cooking, are inexpensive, and offer some pretty amazing health benefits. You can grow them almost anywhere, and they will thrive! So why not start that new hobby today?