I love harvest season. Some things, like a perfectly ripe heirloom tomato, can only be enjoyed in their own season. But others can be preserved and treasured when green and growing things have long since retreated into their winter slumber, tucked beneath a snowy blanket.
We discovered some sort of minty plant, lemon balm I think, growing on the side of the house. Throughout the summer we used it in drinks and salads. Sad to see it fading at the end of the year, I decided to gather as many leaves as I could and string them up to dry.
I just used a regular needle and thread and strung the leaves along the length of string, leaving a bit of space in between them such that air could circulate as they dried.
The garland was hung in the spice cupboard (which used to house one of those old fold-down ironing boards) and left to dry. After only a few days it was nice and brittle, ready to be moved gently into a jar and stored for winter tea.
