As a cook, it is important to have my reserve of fresh herbs. Nothing beats the taste of freshly cut herbs. I am currently looking at a simple way to keep fresh herbs indoors without using space on my floor or the counter. An extra small Sky Planter could be it.

The Sky Planters remind me of hanging fixtures. Patrick Morris came up with this design. You hang the plants upside down. Upside-down gardening is not a new concept. It is often used for tomatoes and cucumbers to save space. Some people are successful with that technique while many seem to fail to produce good vegetables.

Going back to the design, a locking disk holds the plant and soil in place. A reservoir gradually feeds water to the roots. You normally need to fill the reservoir once or twice a month. In theory, it seems quite simple to use. Since I am not tall and that I need to hang the pots high (due to the space planning of the room), I feel that the herbs would be easier to reach for cutting if I plant them upside down.

How it Works?

The pictures show the plants as they were freshly put in the planters. Since I care about the taste and not what the herbs will look like in the long run, I would like to try with my cooking herbs. Plus, we cut the herbs at a regular basis. Keep in mind that cooking herbs need lot of sunshine to flourish before selecting where to put them.

The Sky Planter comes in three formats. Like I said, the extra small is ideal for fresh herbs. Getting 2 or 3 extra small planters would make a wonderful gift for someone who loves to cook. When you buy a Sky Planter, you receive a stoneware ceramic, a stainless steel wire, a ceiling hook and a plastic plug. They are available in black or white.

SOURCING:
+ Sky Planter by Patrick Morris for Boskke extra-small $25 USD, small $35, classic $75

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I bought for the first time a package of Kumato yesterday. Called the brown tomatoes, the fruits exhibit darker green, brown up to a darker red. It is sweeter than the red tomatoes that we are accustomed. The producer of Kumato, Sunset says it has an intense aroma and surprisingly sweet, juicy flavor.

The Kumato grabbed my attention because the color is perfect for a fall table. Serving a Caprese salad is a time saver but a Caprese salad feels like summer. Plus, the classic row presentation is too simple for a chic sit-down dinner. Not anymore. Look at how Sunset dished up their Kumato Caprese salad. I would slightly modify their recipe by adding some basil in the middle of the stack.

You could mix two or three kinds of tomatoes in a stack to add even more dimensions to your salad. If you do, make sure to select tomatoes with the same diameter.

Three Mozzarella Slicers and an Egg Slicer

We all experienced it. Making consistent slices of mozzarella with a knife is hard. This is where a mozzarella slicer comes to your rescue. I listed three slicers that people seem to appreciate. Except for the Tomato and Mozzarella Slicer by Rösle who catches juice in the base, the other mozzarella slicers on the market look like high-end egg slicers. I am curious to know if we can do both with one slicer. Does anyone know the difference, if any, between a good egg slicer and a mozzarella slicer?

1. Mozzarella Slicer at Williams-Sonoma $25 USD
2. Rosle 12755 Tomato and Mozzarella Slicer $29.95  USD
3. Mario Batali The Italian Kitchen Collection Mozzarella Slicer $24.99 USD
4. Leifheit Pro Line Stainless Steel Egg Slicer $13.99 USD

MORE:
+ Sunset Kumato Caprese Salad recipe

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Old cooking traditions are hot again. According to an article on the Globe and Mail, the younger generations enrolled in canning workshops. I feel that it is simply a continuation of the grow your own vegetable garden movement and the desire to eat better.

My mother was running her own business when I was a kid so she did not have the time. Now that she works less, she takes the time to pickle fresh cucumbers and make her own ketchup. Since she lives 130 km from me, I do not think of asking her to show me the proper technique of canning.

What is stopping me is that I am afraid that my jars will not be sterile enough or that I would not sealed them well. Plus, I need good proven recipes.

For first timers look for canning workshops and books. A book that shows the basics, including which canning supplies we need, is Complete Book of Home Preserving. Depending on where you live it will be related to the Ball brand or the Bernardin brand.

Join the Canning Revolution

Canning Across America is a nationwide, ad hoc collective of cooks, gardeners and food lovers committed to the revival of the lost art of “putting up” food. The weekend of Aug. 29-30, 2009 they had a series of how-to classes, demos and home canning parties in cities around the country. The Canning Across America’s blog provides great information and recipes. For an overview of the process, watch this video by Seattle chef and veteran canner Diane LaVonne, of Diane’s Market Kitchen. You will see if it is for you or not.

SOURCING:
+ Top collage: photos by TheBittenWord on Flickr
+ For Americans: Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving by Judi Kingry $15.61 USD
+ For Canadians: Bernardin Complete Book of Home Preserving by Judi Kingry $17.61 CAD
+ Canning Across America

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Sunset magazine is a West Coast lifestyle magazine that I enjoyed reading every time I went to California. I love it so much that I became a subscriber a few months ago. The Sunset gardens are open to the public. The gardens are located at their headquarters in Northern California. I marked it down for my next trip to San Francisco since they are less than 1 hour from there. In fact, I like to go to their Celebration Weekend next year.

If you are lucky to live in a warmer climate, it is not too late to get inspired by these grouping of pots. They would make a statement on your front door. Every time you do a grouping, you must repeat elements. You can vary the heights and shape of the pots but it is usually best to keep your containers all in the same color, same finish.

If you wish to learn the art of pot planting, read:

+ Learn how create a wow factor with a triple decker composition.
+ An easy lesson on selecting pots and flowers that harmonize with the rest of your garden
+ Benefits from experience. Sunset tells you which are the 12 dwarf lavenders that they prefer from all the ones they test in their own garden.
+ Explore fall favorite hues. I love these aqua glass containers.

Putting plants in containers can allow you to rotate the plants that you put inside to create seasonal arrangements. If you are new to gardening, watch this 1-minute video that show you how to plant a container.

PHOTO CREDITS:
+ By Thomas J. Story for Sunset magazine

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One cool space saving garden accessory featured on the August 2009 issue of Living etc is Etcetera Hanging Garden designed by Vincent Vandenbrouck for Edition Compagnie. It holds vertically 3 rows of 3 terracotta pots. Perfect for plants or fresh herbs.

This design is a few years old. I like the concept behind Etcetera. It is also available as a pot holder set of 3 pots. The innovation resides in the opening that allows the pots to be hanged on sticks.

SOURCING:
+ Etcetera Hanging Garden £199 at Lifestyle Bazaar

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I told you before about Fairmont Hotels initiatives to bring back bees in our cities to spread pollination. We can also do our part. And to do that in style, Jason Neufeld produced an outstanding collection of ceramic shelters to to attract bumblebees called Bombus Shelter. The nest of bumblebees are in ground. They often use tunnels built by other animals. Each Bombus Shelter artifically and artisfully recreates an environment for a bee hive.

Housewarming Gift Idea for Apartment/Condo Dwellers

If you are looking for a cute housewarming git ideas, here is something handy to carry to a friend’s home. Plus, you can bring the desired canvas bags inside when you are cooking. On drawback visible from the pictures is that you must accept that it will not stay perfectly clean. Therefore, it is not for everyone. In fact, it may be better suited for growing your plants inside.

Like I said for his Honeycomb Toast and Tea Set, contact the designer Jason Neufeld by email to order them since they are no other information on his Web site. There no price information either.

MORE:
+ Jason Neufeld

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The Netherlands are a country where talented and creative designers flourish in a good number. Sadly, most of their design products do not cross the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, most of the Dutch products are exported when a dedicated retailer wishes to carry them and import the goods directly from The Netherlands. This is the case of the UK retailer Dutch by Design. And it is good to know that Dutch by Design will ship their orders internationally.

I was looking for cool and unique design products for Father’s Day when I thought of revisiting Dutch by Design online store. I like what I see. They have affordable stuff that will impress and please your dad. My favorite gift ideas are:

+ Back in Time Radio/Alarm Clock $40 USD
+ Cheese Board $16.50 USD
+ Sandwich Bread Board $16.50 USD

More Gift Ideas for Everyone and All occasions

+ Tree Watercan $20 USD
+ Love Birds Salt & Pepper Set $21 USD

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Today, my husband and I went to the farmers’ market to get our flowers and cooking herbs. For me, my terrace is not ready for summer until I put plants on my garden pots. I opted for low maintenance flowers: marine blue Riviera, white Diamond Frost Eurorbia. I did not keep the tag for the yellow flowers. On each side of the step between decks, I simply put a purple fountain grass.

Cooking herbs are acclimated to the arid sunny Mediterranean climate. This means that do not require a daily watering. In fact, you are best to wait until the soil is pretty dried before watering them. Use a soil that drains well.

What are my Must-Have Cooking Herbs?

Wait until the last minute to cut the herbs. I promise you that will taste the difference especially if you are preparing a salad.

Thyme: The most exquisite is the lemon thyme. It smells like lemon. Most leaves are yellow but you will get green ones once in a while. For times where the citrus flavor will not be desirable, I bought a big bunch of winter thyme.

Parsley: I always both kinds: the curly leaf parsley and the flat parsley.

Rosemary: I love this herb. You can use rosemary sprigs as a skewer for cooking on the barbecue.

Chives: Super easy to grow. The plant can withstand several winters in a pot. For that reason, do not remove it from your pot this fall.

Sage: I buy the green one.

Moroccan Mint: Perfect to prepare mojitos this summer.

My other favorite herbs are basil, origano and summer savory when I can find it. Otherwise, I will buy winter savory.

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Forget the typical floral arrangements this year and be original with your Mother’s Day gift. I spot three ideas that would make a lasting impression. The focal point of a courtyard garden designed by Floral Grubb is this succulent vertical garden. Sempervivum and a little horizontal bed with Myers asparagus and echeveria create an amazing vertical garden. What is more impressive with this view is that the courtyard has a concrete deep soaking bath.

Floral Grubb also did the succulents planted in china cups. If you wish to do-it-yourself visit a flea market to find an assortment of fine China cups and saucers. You can also use teapots or cream and sugar pots. Either bring your vessels to your florist or plant the succulents yourself. Tie a nice handmade tag to the handle. Write on the tag how to take care of the plant.

Growing your own vegetable garden is all the rage. Why not give your mother a potted garden filled with leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, fresh herbs and edible flowers? As a premise to her gift, you can serve this salad made with arugula, feta, pine nuts and edible flowers. It is the salad recipe by The Lylah Blog.

CREDITS:
+ Vertical Garden: Flora’s blog
+ Succulents in a tea cup: Apartment Therapy San Francisco
+ Edible flowers salad and Flower Beds: The Lylah Blog

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Prolonging the Life of What Used to Be Trash

The products I selected are green because they are made with reclaimed materials or the recycled parts. The Misprint lanterns are a perfect example. The designer found a few sheet-metal factories that were willing to supply her with their colorful misprint remnants. She transforms what used to be trash into Moroccan inspired print lanterns. This type of collaboration is  part of the equation in reducing our footprints.

Going back to VivaTerra, these items feels like a soft breeze. Modernize your gardening area with:

• Beach Striped Reclaimed Rug $49 – $119 USD
• Recycled Glass Terrarium $49 – $79 USD
• Misprint Garden Messages $49 – $69 USD

Decorate your outdoor dining room with:

• Misprint Hanging Lanterns $14 – $69 USD
• Reclaimed Indigo Oriental Rug $49 – $119 USD

It is cold and rainy today. Thinking about planting and how to decorate my patio for a summer party adds warmth to my day.

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+ Brand new for Spring 2009, Klaus Rath has designed for Stelton a folding Shopping and Picnic basket called Shopnic. This is from the same Danish company and designer that brought us the useful bread bags. Shopnic can carry of to 22 pounds of food and drinks. Via inredningsbloggen

+ The trends towards eating organic and local food mean that more and more people wish to grow their own vegetables. This restaurant owner in Paris demonstrated that you could grow not only herbs but also vegetables in flower boxes; I may use pots than our deeper but even Jamie Oliver talked about it on Jamie at Home. Via Little Brown Pen

+ Holly of Decor8 introduced Kerstin of Domestic Candy. I like her Tree stand to hang notes. It is a cute alternative to note boards. You can have a peek on decor8 of the craft studio of Kerstin who works as a product and interior designer in Hannover, Germany.

SOURCING:
+ Shopnic Sand/Pistachio $99 at Lekker
+ Baum aus Holz, weiss by Domestic Candy seller on DaWanda

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I grow my own herbs in the summer but I have a problem in winter because the ways my windows are position I do not get enough sun inside. So I am back at buying fresh herbs or using dry herbs for cooking half of the year.

I am thrilled of this product by Prepara, the maker of the Herb Savor. The Power Plant Professional is basically a bigger, electric version of the power mini except that only the Power Plant Pro automatically rotates. The Power Mini does not use electricity and fits three sponges. The Power Plant Pro fits 6 containers that are bigger than in the mini.

The system enables us to grow greens and herbs inside in less time. And they taught of people like me you need artificial grow light. The Grow Lamp is sold separately.

What I like about this Power Plant Pro is that I can grow several herbs or salads in a container that fits easily on a corner of my counter. The diameter measures 10 inches. The grow lamp can be used with any pots.

How it works?

So watch the video to see how easy it is to grow your own herbs, salads and chili peppers inside. Everything is included in the box, except the seeds. Prepara sells a seed kit but you can use your own seeds. Basically the 7 steps are:

1. You attach the A/C adapter to the container
2. you fill the nutrients and fill with water
3. you remove the sponges, humidify the sponges and plant your seeds in all sponges,
4. labels your plants with the seed covers, put the humidadomes on and plug the container 
5. A few days later, you remove the seed covers
6. When you see the plants, you the humidadomes
7. Wait until the herbs are bigger enough for you to eat them.

Indoor Gardener is a blog by the design director at Prepara who was a newbie a few months ago on indoor growing. You get experiences and findings while testing and using the latest Prepara’s Power Plant products. I think it is interesting to see a brand that does that. If you look at their first attempts, the crops were not always successful.

SOURCING:
+ Prepara Power Plant Professional $79.95 USD on Amazon.com
+ Prepara Power Plant Mini $39.99 USD
+ Prepara Power Grow Lamp $49.81 USD
+ In Canada, Ashton Green carries the line – $119.95 CAD power plant pro, $49.95 grow lamp, $59.95 power plant mini

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