A culinary herb basket

Kitchen Garden in a Junk Basket

For a Flea Market gardener, finding a large-weave rattan basket can be useful as a kitchen garden in a small garden or where deer abound. Having a basket of herbs close by the kitchen door, will remind you to use fresh herbs in your recipes.

Search for the large twig baskets popular in the 80s!  I’m always looking for these,…a good price is a few dollars at most at yard sales.  To make the basket last as long as possible fit a piece of heavy black plastic, with some dra inage holes cut, inside before adding soil.

 

Thyme, chives, parsley and sage are the most used herbs in my cooking,  just the right amount for this 20 inch wide basket. These colorful and pungent chive flowers found themselves in a salad, surprising Tractor Man a bit.  I particularly like to grow chives and Italian parsley because they come back each year in my Zone 7 garden.

Since this basket has been sturdy enough to leave outside for several years, when I move it, I’m careful to hold it from the bottom. I know it will eventually wear out, so I’m always looking for replacements and keep these sturdy baskets on my mental list when going to thrift shops and Flea Markets.

A favorite recipe: Roasted Herb Potatoes

Cut red or white potatoes in 6-8 wedges each. Mix 1 T olive oil for every three potatoes with a mixture of chopped rosemary, chives, thyme, parsley and sage. Add potatoes and toss. Spread on a baking sheet and roast at 425 for 30-40 minutes. I stand the potatoes on their skins, or mix them halfway through.

More on easy edibles:

10 Flea Market Seed-Starting Tips

Volunteer dill peeks in window  lots more recipes here!

My galvanized wash tub garden

My green onion farm

Galvanized tomato garden for one

Grow the 7 most profitable vegetables in your garden