Fresh Farmer's Markets are gaining a lot of popularity compared to Supermarkets for the simple reason that people want fresh vegetables and herbs. Fresh herbs are wonders of the culinary and medicinal plant kingdom because they are fresh, pungent and the minerals, nutrients are all intact. Grow your own herbs indoors or outdoors easily all year long and stop paying fortune to big malls. Getting started with your own indoor herb garden is easy and satisfying. You don't need a big back-yard to keep a constant supply of fresh herbs all year long. A sunny location in your balcony, staircase, deck or a patio is good enough for the tasty and easy to grow herbs. Once you have an abundant yield, you might want to store the fresh aromatic herbs from the harvest and enjoy it in the summer or throughout the year.

Drying Fresh Herbs from Your Garden
Home dried fresh herbs are as flavorful as the ones bought from the stores. However there are guidelines to handle the harvest for retaining them without causing damage. Herbs have peak flavor just before flowering hence this is the right time to harvest. Mornings are best for pruning the herbs. Cut annuals herb fully at ground level as their life span is over and the perennials about one third roughly including side branches. Wash the herbs thoroughly with the leaves on the stems in cold running water to remove dust, soil and grime. Gently pat the herbs and drain the water with absorbent towels. You can also hang them in warm sun till the water evaporates. Prune leaves from the stalk and remove any blossoms. Some herbs, like mint and basil with high moisture content need rapid drying otherwise fungus will be formed. Best method is to dry the herbs in the dark by hanging them upside down in bunches or in paper bags to retain the green color of the leaves. Hanging also allows essential oils to flow from stems to leaves. Tie the stems very tightly in small bunches in a dark, warm and well-ventilated dust free area at around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The leaves will be ready and fully dry within a week or two.

Drying Seeds from Your Herb Garden
Generally seeds take longer than leaves to dry and larger seeds may take more than 2 weeks. Wash the seeds and spread them in thin layers in a clean cloth or paper. You can also dry herb seeds by hanging the entire plant upside down inside a paper or cloth bag. The seeds will fall from the pod as they become dry and collect at the bottom of the bag.

Rapid Drying Herbs and Seeds in Oven or Microwave Oven
You can place leaves or seeds in a shallow pan not more than 1 inch deep in an open oven at low temperature which is less than 180 degree Fahrenheit for about 2 to 4 hours. You can also put the leaves in microwave oven for 1 to 3 minutes, mixing every now and then to expose the surface of leaves evenly. You have to pay particular attention lest you may lose flavor or color if heated for long duration.

Freezing Fresh Herbs from the Home Herb Garden
After harvesting herbs, wash them thoroughly and blanch them in boiling, plain water for 50 seconds. Take out and cool them quickly in water mixed with ice. Rinse, package and freeze them. Fresh dill, chives, and basil can be frozen without blanching.

Storing the Seeds and Herbs
This has to be done only when the herbs are completely dry. Store the herbs, seeds separately in airtight containers such as canned jars with tightly sealed lids. Watch for any sign of moisture in the jars, the herbs will quickly form mold if not fully dry. If you see moisture on the walls of the jar, take the herbs out and dry again. Store them in a cool place once they are dry, away from direct sunlight. Do not use paper or card-board containers as they absorb the aromatic oils and flavor.

Most of us think gourmet cooking is a skill required to learn and best left to advanced chefs but there is no secret about it. The mystic aromas are due to the seasoning and flavors of fresh herbs. With just a handful of curry leaves, coriander and a snip of chives and thymes plucked from your windowsill herb garden, you can turn simple dishes into memorable gourmet meals. You will be surprised with your newly acquired culinary skills and fast growing reputation.