How about a delicious and healthy winter project?

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Herbs are delicious and health-promoting. Make it a point to eat more herbs in your diet daily. And better yet, grow your own, so you have FRESH, organic herbs available right at your fingertips!Here are some easy steps to get you started on growing your own indoor herb garden…a delicious

project that will give you joy.

Herbs grow very well indoors. They take no more time and

effort than a regular houseplant once you decide on the best location for them.

Use the different areas in your home to grow herbs with different needs. You

will soon have delicious herbal additions to your home with little fuss. Don't forget the lettuce...and you'll have fresh salads too.

Why it makes perfect sense to grow your own

Whether you have a full-sized garden

or a window box, you can enjoy the fruits of your labors by growing your own

vegetables, herbs and flowers. Starting your own plants from seed:

You can cut your grocery bill in half by growing your

own produce! Gives you access to an endless variety of plants You're in control of what you want to grow, and

when--No waiting on the garden centers to make the decision for you! Save more money! A pack of 500 lettuce seeds cost the same

as a head of romaine. What's more, that same packet of 500 lettuce seeds

will produce 500 bags of pre-washed, bagged salad greens! Raising your own plants is one of the most satisfying

aspects of gardening

Choose

your Seeds from organic suppliers:

http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/browse_category.asp?category_id=104

http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/category/buy-organic-herb-seeds

Choose herbs that don't grow too wide or

tall. Chives, basil, lavender, parsley, mint, sage and thyme are good choices.

Ideas for your culinary tastes:

Italian — Garlic, Basil, Oregano, Flat Leaf Parsley, Garlic Chives.

Asian — Thai Basil, Lemon Grass, Lemon Basil, Cilantro, Chives, Garlic

Chives, Garlic, Mint.

Greek and Middle East — Garlic, Oregano, Marjoram, Mint, Rosemary.

Mexican / Southwest — Garlic, Epazote, Mint, Cilantro.

Cajun — Garlic, Thyme, Oregano, Chives and Parsley.

Caribbean — Garlic, Chives, Garlic Chives, Sorrel, Cilantro, Parsley, and

lots of Thyme.

The "Pickle Pot" — Garlic and Dill.

Classic "Herbs de Provence" — Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary,

Marjoram, Oregano, Basil, Savory and Fennel.

Everyday Use, The "Simon and Garfunkel" — Parsley, Sage,

Rosemary and Thyme.

Classic European — Tarragon, Thyme, Marjoram, Rosemary, Sage.

Jumpin' Juleps — Peppermint, Spearmint, Chocolate Mint, Pineapple Mint.

The "Roast Chicken" — Tarragon, Sage and Thyme.

Kitty Capers

- Don't forget your feline friends. Plant a container with Catnip, Cat Mint,

and Cat Thyme and watch the antics begin! You will probably need to keep this

in a location where you can decide who gets what and when, otherwise they will

likely destroy it unattended on the first visit.

Growing herbs

12 to 14 weeks: chives, oregano, mint, yarrow, parsley 8 to 12 weeks: thyme, chamomile, feverfew, valerian,

catnip 6 to 8 weeks: dill, chervil, coriander, lemon balm,

sage, arugula, savory, basil

Containers for starting seeds--save those yogurt cups

Nearly any shape or material is

acceptable providing it has drainage holes and a soil depth of 6" to

12".

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Take a look around the house and you'll discover

great seed-starting containers like yogurt cups, cottage cheese tubs, and

plastic salad trays from restaurants.

Just make sure you create the drainage holes and place on a tray, or

plan on transplanting to larger containers.

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I don't recommend using egg cartons. They don't

hold enough soil and they dry out too quickly. I'm also not keen about peat

pellets. When soaked in water, these compressed wafers expand into fist-sized

blocks. This might seem convenient, but cost per seedling is pretty high. Also,

the outer mesh bag doesn't break down very well, especially in cool soils, so

plants often become root bound.

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The scoop on dirt

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After collecting your containers,

the next step is to fill them with soil. Buy a good quality seed starting mix,

available from any good garden center or nursery. Seed starting mixes are

blended to drain well, yet retain moisture.

·

Here's an important tip: Avoid using

soil from the garden. If placed in small containers, garden soil packs down and

drains poorly. By using unsterilized garden soil, you also run the risk of

introducing "damping-off," a disease that causes seedlings to rot at

soil level and keel over. It's not a pretty sight. Seed starting mixes have

been sterilized. (Seeds contain enough food to nourish themselves through the

first stages of germination).

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HOW TO PREVENT DAMPING-OFF DISEASE

1) Rinse your containers with a mild bleach-water solution.

2) Spray plants & soil with chamomile tea (1 tea bag/2 cups water).

Moisten the planting mix before you fill your containers. Seed starting

mixes are mostly peat moss, so allow time for it to absorb water. Scoop pre-moistened

mix into the containers to within 1/2 to 1 inch from the top, then tap it

gently to settle it in. Smooth the surface but don't pack it down.

How to sow seeds, or a

pinch to grow an inch

To sow seeds, make individual holes or tiny furrows with a pencil, chopstick

or plant marker. Drop or sprinkle seeds onto the soil. Check your seed packets

for specific sowing recommendations.

Cover the seeds to a depth of about 3 times their thickness by sprinkling

them with dry seed starting mix. (Tip: Shake dry soil from a parmesan cheese

container). Spritz them with water and press down gently. Write a label for

each kind of seed you plant and put it in the flat or container as soon as the

seeds are planted.

Place the containers of planted seeds in a warm place where you can check

them daily. You can cover them with plastic, but be sure to keep an eye on

them. As soon as they germinate, remove the plastic.

How to raise a healthy

litter of seedlings

Seedlings, like children and puppies, need constant attention. By providing

the right amount of light, heat, air, and moisture you'll have a healthy crop

of seedlings that will thrive in the great outdoors. Here are some helpful

pointers:

Light

Lack of light is the single, most common problem when raising seedlings. And

it's probably the #1 reason why people become discouraged over starting their

own seeds. Seedlings need more intense light than full-grown plants--14 to 16

hours a day is ideal. If they don't get enough light, or if the light isn't intense

enough, they become spindly, leggy and weak. Herbs need at least 6 hours of

direct sunlight each day. (Exceptions are parsley, rosemary, thyme, and mint,

which can tolerate partial shade). Supplement with flourescent lighting if

necessary. A simple, inexpensive shop-light arrangement works just fine. Hang

the lights about 6 inches above the plants and give them 14 to 16 hours of

light each day. Turn the plants, especially if they're on the windowsill, so

they enjoy even lighting conditions.

Windowsills are popular for starting

seeds indoors, but they actually don't provide enough of the right light for healthy

seedlings. Direct sun from a southern exposure can be too harsh, resulting in

wilted plants. In northern latitudes, light might be in short supply, or the

windowsills are too cold.

I prefer low-cost fluorescent shop

lights over the coslty grow lights for raising seedlings. Suspend the lights

from chains, keeping them 2 to 4 inches above the tops of the seedlings,

adjusting the lights as they grow. You can also add aluminum foil reflectors.

If you do use a sunny windowsill, remember to rotate your plants every couple

days so they don't have to stretch and reach for the light. Seedlings that are

pale and weak are light-starved.

Moisture

Water is the highway that delivers nutrients and seedlings need a steady supply

of it. Since dry air in a house or office can draw moisture right out of soil,

check your seedlings often. Poke your finger into the soil or lift the

containers. A container with dry soil weighs noticeably less than one that's

well watered. Also, when seedlings have matured, water from the bottom to

encourage roots to "reach for it." Last but not least, nobody likes a

cold shower, so use tepid rather than cold water!

Temperature

Seedlings thrive in an average room temperature of 60 to 70 degrees during the

day and dropping by about 10 degrees at night. Cool weather plants such as

lettuce and parsley prefer cooler temperatures after they reach 2 to 3

inches in height.

Air and Ventilation

Proper ventilation is important for a number of reasons. It helps plants

"breathe" by circulating carbon dioxide and oxygen and it prevents

damping-off disease. Moving air also keeps pests at bay and it helps strengthen

plant stems, getting them ready for outdoor breezes. If necessary, set up a

fan. Generally a small one is all you need. Finally, if your containers are

covered with plastic or other covering, remove it as soon as the seeds

germinate.

Fertilizer (no junk food served here!)

When seedlings have developed their second set of leaves, also called their

true leaves, this is a good time to give them small doses of plant food.

Organic fertilizers such as fish and kelp emulsions, compost tea or PlanTea are

ideal. Apply fertilizers half-strength directly to the soil or as a foliar

spray. Fertilizing indoor herbs is a little

bit of a balancing act. On one hand you want your herbs to be healthy and

productive, but not so leggy that they lose their flavor and scent. Feed them monthly

with an organic plant food.

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Tickle your plants! Brush your seedlings occasionally with your hand to

strengthen your plants and get them accustomed to air movement.

A few more tips: Mist plants

occasionally, provide good air circulation, and don't crowd the pots together.

Herbs are extremely sensitive to dry, stagnant air. Stale air sets up the

perfect conditions for pests and fungal diseases. Try to keep your herbs happy

with fresh air by cracking a window, setting up a small fan, or by opening

doors for good ventilation.

Growing herbs indoors also presents

a wonderful opportunity to start new plants from cuttings. They make great

gifts, plus you'll have a crop of seedlings ready to transplant in the spring.

When it comes to watering, herbs can

be a little finicky. As a general rule, water most herbs thoroughly when the

soil surface starts drying out. Here are some other helpful guidelines:

+ Use room temperature -- not shocking cold -- water.

+ Let marjoram, oregano, sage, bay, and thyme dry out between waterings.

+ Don't let rosemary completely dry out.

+ Lemon balm, mint, and scented geraniums enjoy moister conditions.

Herbs work hard as houseplants. They

add a certain charm to the indoor environment, giving you flavor, fragrance,

and sometimes flowers. With a little extra space, you'll never have to be

without fresh herbs again.

Isn't that a wonderful thought? Have fun!