Going through winter without freshly dried herbs is a no no and if the thought of purchasing commercially dried herbs is a turn-off, then consider this simple to make DIY herb dryer. Now you can eat fresh herbs through summer and dry the excess for winter.

When spring approaches and your thoughts turn to an easy and efficient way to dry herbs for the following winter, make this so simple DIY Herb Dryer from either dressed pine or recycled box pine (packing timber), some wire offcuts or discarded flyscreens.

The Herb Dryer is made up of four 5 x 2.5 cm (2 x 1 in) pine trays (dressed or box pine), 30 cm (12 in) square with fly wire bottoms - Use metal flywire for its rigidity. The trays can also be made from recycled and resized aluminium flyscreens from the dump. 

Each tray should have a small wooden knob on the front for ease of handling or get some discarded handles at the dump. The trays are set in a pine frame (similar to a small chest of drawers) and each tray is spaced 7.5 cm (3 in) from the next to assist ventilation.

The whole unit can be painted with a couple of coats of Estapol and will look attractive sitting on the kitchen bench. Timber can also be left natural or can be lightly oiled. Careful what lacquer or oil you use as the fumes can be toxic and may contaminate your herbs.

Most herbs dry overnight with the exception of rosemary, chamomile and other flowers which take a couple of days.

Collect the herbs mid morning and chop or strip them of the tougher stems before placing them on the trays. This method preferably to drying whole sprigs which take longer and consequently lose more of their colour and flavour.

The herbs retain their colour far better than when dried by any other method I have used (hanging etc).

Keep the Herb Dryer where you can observe  the drying process closely and put the dried herbs into sealed containers as soon as they are ready. Replace them with fresh ones constantly during the growing season.

"The smell of basil is good for the heart and the head, that the seed cureth the infirmities of the heart, taketh away sorrowfulness which cometh of melancholy...maketh a man merrie and glad". John Gerard - General Historie of Plantes 1597

Original article at: http://ecobites.com/component/content/708?task=view