grow green and save - a DIY project

The sun was shining this morning and I realized that, believe it or not, spring is coming. Ok, maybe not soon-soon, but soon. Before I know it I’ll be heading back outside and looking for something to do.

The only problem? Gardening can be an expensive hobby, and we all know money doesn’t grow on those trees we buy (and replace, after the first dies $$) and plant (in premium top soil: $) and fertilize (with expensive chemicals: $$$) and prune (wearing our new gardening gloves: $$ and using our brand new pruning shears: $$.) Besides, I know I don’t have time for anything that labour-intensive.

A DIY potted herb garden though is easy and inexpensive. It’s a great project for kids too, and the only costs are a couple of plain terracotta pots, some basic acrylic paints, and a couple of stickers. You can probably scavenge most of the other materials from past crafts or around the house.

Believe it or not, this project can actually save you money in the long-term too. The herbs you grow in your hand-painted/stickered/buttoned pot can take items off of your grocery list all summer long (snowflaking, anyone?) and the maintenance is all but free. Once you’ve got the plants started, they’ll provide you with flavours for your cooking all season long (and into the fall, if you dry them.)

Looking for some yummy dishes to spice up? Check out these websites.

Epicurious has great seasonal recipes that incorporate the herbs you’ll grow in spring, summer and fall.

Kalyn’s Kitchen has recipe posts from blogging chefs all over the world sorted according to their favourite herb.

And Care2’s green living section even has some herbal bath recipes to help you soak away the last of your winter blah’s.