Beginner's Guide to Drying Herbs

You should know on the front end that drying herbs is super easy. If I can do it, so can you.

This is the first year I have actually had any kind of success growing herbs on my balcony. We don't get much sun on our side of the apartment complex, so last year's cilantro grew from seed to an impressive 1 1/2 inches tall before wilting and turning brown. It was a sad day.

That's why I call this post a Beginner's Guide. I am definitely a beginner myself.

This year though, Old Man Mike who lives around the corner gave us a big stash of full grown herb plants. We love Mike. He sits outside his house every day with his guitar and his tomato plants. He knows every single person that lives on his block. And he's been kind enough to give us plenty of invaluable advice about growing things.

I recently harvested some mint, spicy basil, and bee balm from my containers.

I had to buy new pants.

I wasn’t even trying, but I had lost a few inches around my middle and my thighs. So when it started to become obnoxious to hike up my pants all day (but let’s face it, who wouldn’t prefer to have that problem instead of having buttons popping OFF their pants?), I bit the bullet and went to the store in search of new clothes. (Of course, being the bargain shopper I am, this required scouring the clearance racks for a while!)

My body was just responding naturally to changes in my diet (simple changes really, but ones that required an overhaul of our kitchen cabinets and a complete change in perspective). My family and most of my friends think we’re crazy (ok, they found us out. ha!), but I’m not complaining when I slide on pants that used to be tight on me, only to find they are now saggy and baggy. Kind of a nice feeling with bathing suit season just around the corner……just a thought.

I realized that the food most of us eat really isn’t food at all.

Coming Home

First post. A rather daunting task.....I'm wanting to say something incredibly witty and clever to set the tone and make you come back and visit again. But i figure this post will eventually get lost in the archives anyway and we can move onto more important things...

...like living a thriving, vibrant life to 120 years old.

...like how to afford to eat organic.

...like why it's so cold in my apartment.

I tried. I really did. I put on another pair of socks, another blanket on the bed. But I just had to turn on the heat today! I complain (often) about being cold in the winter (ask my husband. or my co-workers. or anybody really), but when the weather makes one turn toward spring and the unit goes off, i like to keep it off. The thought of saving a zero or two on the utility bill inspires me to suck it up and just keep shivering.

But I know that in the end, being able to feel my fingers to type out this post is worth the few extra bucks. After all, I have big plans to spread the Truth about our health, our food, and all the other things that go along with that.

So I'd love it if you'd follow me on the journey. I'll even turn the heat on for you....