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By Mary Helen Day
The finest and freshest ingredients are key to Chef Emeril Lagasse’s cuisine. On Emeril Green, Emeril shops and cooks on location at Whole Foods Market with everyday cooks finding the best ingredients to make an extraordinary meal. What better way to add flavor to a meal while taking care of the environment than by growing your own fresh herbs?
Start your own indoor herb garden with little effort and a long-lasting impact on your meals. Follow these easy guidelines for those who want immediate gratification (begin using herbs in your dinner tonight):
1. Start with clay pots and fill with potting soil. If trying to green your life and eliminate waste, recycle Styrofoam or plastic cups in lieu of clay pots, but be sure to poke a hole in the bottom of the cup for drainage. Place pots or cups on a plate to catch excess drainage.
2. Purchase fresh herb plants from your local farmers’ market or any place close to home that carries herbs.
3. Place the indoor herb garden with plenty of access to sunlight. A sunny southern or western window works well. If you are like me and geographic direction is perplexing, just focus on a sunny location in or near your kitchen for ease of use.
4. To maintain the herbs, pinch off old plant growth to stimulate new growth and water daily so soil is moist to touch, but not soaked. Do you have too much water in your measuring cup for a recipe or getting ready to poor a glass of old water down the drain? Conserve and use that water to freshen your plants.
5. Cut herbs as needed for recipes.
So you were born without green thumbs? No problem. Here is another option for the novice gardener. AeroGarden® is an indoor smart garden that tells you when to add water and nutrients. The garden delivers nutrients and water to the herbs and vegetables as needed. Worried about energy use now that you are trying to live a greener life? The AeroGarden® system uses less energy than a single 60-watt light bulb. I gave this as a gift to my parents as a healthy hobby and they have made great use of the herbs in numerous meals.
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