🌿 Growing Goodness: What My Herb Garden Is Teaching Me

A new natural living habit that’s nourishing our meals, our budget, and my joy!

My newest hobby is caring for my little herb garden. I started small, choosing herbs I knew we already used often in our home: oregano, sage, basil, rosemary, and thyme. Nothing too fancy, just the familiar, everyday flavors that make food feel like comfort.

I found a small raised bed by VegTrug that was the perfect size for this new little adventure. It sits in a sunny patch, tucked close to our kitchen door, which makes harvesting easy and satisfying.

🌱 A Daily Ritual I Didn’t Know I Needed

One of my favorite parts of the day is heading out to the herb bed in the late afternoon. The sun’s a little lower, the breeze is soft, and the herbs are fragrant in a way that makes me want to slow down. It’s become a rhythm…trim what we need for the meal, take a deep breath, and return inside with something fresh and beautiful in hand.

There’s something grounding about using herbs you’ve grown yourself. They’ve been part of your home’s rhythm…from watering and weeding to snipping and stirring into dinner. We’ve used ours for:

• A lemon-oregano vinaigrette tossed with greens and roasted veggies

• A sage and browned butter topping over pasta (cozy and rich and so simple)

• Fresh mint in cold water or herbal teas

• Simmer pots that make the house smell like a mountain lodge in fall

🍋 Simmer Pot: Cozy Citrus & Herb Blend to try

Here’s one of my favorite blends:

Ingredients:

• 🍋 1 lemon (sliced) – for clarity and brightness

• 🌿 A handful of fresh sage – grounding, cleansing energy

• 🌿 A few sprigs of oregano – earthy, comforting, antimicrobial

• 🍎 A few apple slices – soft, sweet warmth

• 🪵 A cinnamon stick – for cozy, calming vibes

• 🌲 Optional: A cedar clipping or a dash of vanilla (for that PNW forest feel)

Place everything in a small pot of water and let it gently simmer on the stove. Add water as needed. Inhale deeply every time you walk by ✨

🌿 Easy Herbs to Start With

If you’re curious but don’t know where to begin, here are a few herbs that are easy to grow and incredibly versatile:

• Basil: Great for summer! Use in pasta, sandwiches, vinaigrettes, or blended into sauces

• Thyme: Hardy, subtle, and lovely in soups, potatoes, and roasted veggies

• Oregano: Bold, flavorful, and perfect for Italian or Mediterranean cooking

• Parsley: Bright, fresh, and surprisingly grounding in grain bowls and salads

• Sage: Earthy and cozy! Pair with butter, roasted squash, or even simmer pots

• Mint: Fast-growing and refreshing in drinks, teas, and fruit salads

You don’t need a garden plot to start… just a sunny pot on a windowsill can bring these flavors to life.

If you’re just starting and want to learn how to actually use your herbs (in teas, recipes, and remedies) I’ve been loving this herb book (I have the more recent copy). It’s easy to follow, herb specific, and walks you through how to cook, brew, and blend your own herbs in simple, grounded ways.

🌾 Drying & Storing

Recently, the herbs just took off and I realized I could start drying some of the extras. I’ve been air-drying small bunches and storing them in labeled mason jars. It’s a simple process, but so satisfying. I love seeing them lined up in our pantry: little glass reminders of something we tended, day by day.

And come winter, I know those jars will bring not just flavor, but memory of soil, sunshine, and barefoot afternoons in the summer.

💚 Why It Matters

This tiny garden has become more than just a hobby. It’s a way of nourishing my family while staying rooted in our values:

• It saves us money. Store-bought herbs (especially fresh) can really add up.

• It reduces waste. No more plastic clamshells of wilted greens.

• It deepens our connection to food. Meals feel more thoughtful, more alive.

• It brings daily joy. Even a minute outside shifts something inside.

🌿 A Gentle Invitation

If you’ve been thinking about starting an herb garden, this is your sign to try. It doesn’t have to be big or perfect. Start with one pot. A few sprigs of basil or thyme. Let it become a rhythm that’s as nourishing to your soul as it is to your kitchen.

Because natural living doesn’t require acres or expertise…it begins in the small, rooted moments we choose to grow right in our backyards.

🌱 In the rain, we root. In the wild, we grow.

This was just the beginning. It’s wild what happens when you stay rooted.

In the rain, we root. In the herb garden, we grow.