Honey honey

When I first started preserving herbs I picked some stalks and hung them upside down in my parents living room which is heated by a wood stove. Good wood heat, the dry warm kind of air circulation that is perfect for drying plants.

I was so in love with how they looked hanging there I kept them there the whole winter. A little memento of the wild of outdoor life inside, reminding us winter-enclosed people that spring will come someday and bring back with it that riot of life.

I don’t recall what those first herbs were. Possibly mint, more likely weeds taken from the back field that happened to have flowers.

I do recall that I left them there, in their wild glory, so long that my mom decided that three months of dust had rendered them useless, and she threw them away.

While drying herbs is still my fall back way of preserving herbs, I am now exploring others, like tinctures, salves, and honey!!!

 Pretty much whatever prevents those pesky little things like slime and rot getting in. This includes alcohol (Yay!!!), salt, and also sugar.

I guess freezing also can be included. I did freeze a few basil leaves last year. But they mysteriously disappeared, maybe thanks to my basil-hating sister. How can you hate the smell of basil?

I’ve been enjoying preserving herbs in different ways lately. Especially honey.

Who doesn’t love honey, that sweet, sticky golden goodness that reminds you of liquid sunshine. Even if you don’t care for honey in particular, when thinking about it, I can’t help but think about Winnie the Pooh and get a happy little smile on my face.

So last week I made Lemon Balm honey. Or started it, it’ll probably take at least two weeks to finish.

 But think about it, lets say you put honey in your black tea as a sweetener. Lemon Balm helps to even out the highs and lows of your emotions and keep you overall more happier.

Now your tea sweetener is doing double duty as an emotional pick-me-up as well as a caffeine fix. Lemon Balm sugar for coffee, you say? That can be done too!

Tonight I started Sage honey.

Sage soothes sore throats, for those of us who are public speakers, teachers, or just have a hard time adjusting our vocal cords to the crisper fall air.

Not to mention, honey coats your throat to provide a barrier and give a chance to sooth the sore, raw parts of your throat. I think we might have something here!