How to Dry Herbs

Believe it or not it is that time of year again.  I know some of you are buried under a mountain of snow but here it is 70 degrees.

We may have a few more cold days here and there but it is definitely time to plan and plant.

While you can get all kinds of herbs in capsule form at the health food store you can also make your own herbal teas.  I like the convenience of the capsules but the herbal teas satisfy me more.  I mean, to be able to plant something, grow it, harvest it, dry it and then use it for healing purposes?

Ah…Sustainability at it’s best.  Hand me that copy of Mother Earth News and my bowl of Granola will ya?

One of the easiest ways to dry herbs is to cut the stalks, bind them together in small bundles and then hang them upside down in a dry place.  If you have a pot rack on your kitchen ceiling that is about perfect.  It looks great too.

You can also spread the chopped leaves and usable plant parts on a dehydrating tray and dry them that way.

Of course, on a warm summer day you can place them between pieces of screen out in the sun but take them in at night so that they don;t pick up dew.

There are lots of ways to dry plants.  Give one or two of them a try.

image: morguefile