Rebuilding My Kitchen Herb Bed!

Today I take out an old unproductive and unused bed and replace it with a prominent tall kitchen garden herb bed. I show you how I fill a bed Hugelkultur style and how I place and use herbs for kitchen inspiration. This bed will be a prominent feature of my summer cooking plans as I move into fresh garden cooking!
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[@ab7567]

I worked at a restaurant that had a tarragon vinaigrette on one of the salads and it’s my favorite vinaigrette ever. Heat up some mild vinegar (rice, white wine, apple cider would be good too), add a big handful of tarragon and let it infuse off the heat, let cool and strain, blend with a neutral oil plus shallot, garlic, fresh tarragon and other herbs if you’d like. You can add an egg to help thicken and emulsify or leave out for a thinner/vegan option. It’s great for salads, dipping veggies, drizzling over roasted veggies/meat/tofu, on sandwiches, etc. Can’t wait to see how this bed progresses through the season!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Oh dang that sounds delicious, I for sure want to try making a tarragon vinaigrette!

[@teresakelly7571]

Sounds delicious

[@emkn1479]

Growing tarragon this year but without any clear goals….til now. Thanks for sharing!

[@cathysteele924]

Thank you for sharing!

[@canadianlogic4099]

Looking awesome. Hugel also breaks down into humus which is amazing for soil. In the old days the poor used to have the worst of the land. So this is how they were able to tranform that crappy land into awesome fertile soil!

[@HS-qf5of]

I love this video because it’s elementary. I have a fairly nice garden but it comes at the expense of CONSTANT obsessing over what is the exact right thing to do. So, this sort of video feeds my need for detail. Plus, you have really pleasant energy. Thank you.

[@helenmcclellan452]

Jacque, this is the best video on filling a raised bed that I have seen, especially since you go into what you have plantef and how it will be used. Thank you!

[@sherylwhited7380]

So you know we’d love to see finished dishes you prepare with herbs…and recipes!

[@thomassmith6344]

Hello Sheryl

[@bflogal18]

I planted parsley in a window box near my kitchen. Not far from there is my butterfly garden. Turns out that swallowtail caterpillars LOVE parsley! They didn’t touch the cilantro, oregano or tarragon, but they decimated the parsley. Because I love butterflies more than parsley, I let them have it! I grow it every year and end up with huge butterflies in late summer.

[@terryberg2077]

Really enjoying your channel. Especially like when you tell us how you use different plants.

[@nancycowell-miller4321]

Oh yay! New video from The Garden Hermit!

[@Beautifulhousewifesstyle]

Hi Jacques that herb garden looks great. That must be so nice to have fresh ingredients for cooking. I wish I had space for that also in my yard. I can't wait for you next video! Your teaching style is so relaxing 👍👍👍

[@tonyg8973]

I have an herb garden Housewife. You can borrow some from me any time for your delicious cooking.

[@yeevita]

You can grow quite a few herbs just on your window sill or in pots just outside your door or along outdoor stairs. My mom used to have pots along the corridor outside our door and down the stairs when we had a tiny apartment a long time ago.

[@Beautifulhousewifesstyle]

@@tonyg8973 Thank you so much. Send me some LOL 😆

[@Beautifulhousewifesstyle]

@@yeevita That is a good idea. Will try. Thank you and have a great evening. ☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@gtrgenie]

Lemon Thyme and Tulsi are some of the best smells in my garden. Great video!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Yes they are!

[@BrunaBertagni]

I love the way you get into every detail while not being boring or overwhelming. Great work! The bed is looking nice 🙌

[@heathermiddleton4958]

Jacques, looking forward to learning how to grill pizza.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I am very excited to share that, its one of my favorite things to make and eat!

[@heathermiddleton4958]

@@jacquesinthegarden We're big campers so can't wait to try it out.

[@domesti-city]

I bought myself two metal raised beds for my birthday in March, and just put them together and filled them right before the same rain, but we got more than you did. I had to put hardware cloth under mine to deter those dastardly gophers, and I put an inexpensive metal garden arbor anchored with re-bar in each one to give myself a structure to trellis with. We have an old sycamore tree and a liquid amber tree which gave me an abundance of leaves and seed pods to use as filler in the bottom, and I added the greens from pulling up my winter brassicas and root crops. Then soil from when I leveled the space, and some not quite finished compost that had been turned well, brought it up to where I added raised bed mix. After the rain I have a good 6 inches from the soil to the top of the bed, so I will finish that with compost and planting mix. I also ordered a Boogie water filter, and now need to take a serious look at drip irrigation. This is my busiest season at work, so doing this is what gets me through all those hours at the computer. Thanks for the video; it was inspiring!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Sounds like you have been putting in some serious work! It is fun to experiment with all these different things and I feel you on leaf and seed litter, the jacaranda definitely adds a whole beds worth every year.

[@domesti-city]

@@jacquesinthegarden Yes, they are messy, but I love a Jacaranda in bloom on top, and covering the ground below with purple. I grew up in the Midwest raking leaves in the fall, so it doesn't seem like a chore, but a bit of normal.

[@tannisadam1946]

My sister taught me to add parsley to rice. I love it! It makes it taste so fresh

[@meagantrout2127]

I’m jealous of those rosemary bushes. I think my two year old one died this winter 😩. Also nice door!

[@808.ladybugs]

Like the new bed. Hopefully in the future I will be able to afford birdies bed🤞🏼

[@intuitlife]

My rosemary is now 16x18 . crazy!

[@HS-qf5of]

Yes! On the door! I noticed that too. Plus, the house. I grew up in Pacific Beach and I’ve always loved that Spanish style house but I couldn’t manage to afford to purchase one. Jacque hit the jackpot!

[@goranbreskic4304]

Yes, why do they die? Where I live people have whole hedges of rosemary that survive -20 C degrees (4 F) in the winters while my rosemary that's planted close to a sunny wall of a warm part of the house dies after a few cold nights. So disappointing. I planted a new one this spring and I will cover it during the winters until it's big and strong. (If Putin will allow us to live for more winters. Sorry to bring it up, but recent events here in continental Europe make me not take anything for granted. NOT looking for political discussion.)

[@smleach5400]

Mine died this last year too. I was so sad!

[@panko97]

Timely video 💖 I ordered my 3rd Birdies bed just to plant herbs. You took away all my stress on how to plant it. One is full of garlic and one is asparagus and strawberries

[@mvrckmace2946]

Jacques! This has been, by far!, The most informational video I’ve watched since going down the horticulture / permaculture rabbit hole. I appreciate your logical & scientific approaches to gardening. Thank you & the Epic Gardening team for all you do.

[@carriezerafa1659]

Parsley makes a great chimichurri sauce...one you make it once, you will wish you planted more!

[@ampicado]

Relatable Gardening. :) you are great at explaining processes for us with not quite ‘epic’ gardens :)

[@harveybraswell9440]

Inspired! I also throw edible flowers in my herb bed…great for drinks and finishing touches on salads…

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Wonderful to see that old is new again with heugelcultur. In the modern era we are used to regular trash collection, but it didn't exist for farmers a 100 years ago. Of course they didn't have the plastic waste we have now either. A number of gardeners are trying to make sure that plant materials don't leave their property unless diseased. We are trying to make use of branches and other debris like you are. Good job!

[@hazeysgarden]

I like using unfinished municipal compost in the bottom of my beds. I have a bunch of trees that we cut down but I don’t have the tall raised beds so I don’t need to add logs. One day I’ll be able to afford some tall birdies beds and I’ll be pumped. It’s time for me to build an herb bed. As soon as the rain stops I’m adding one. Your video has inspired me to finally do it, bc I’m tired of my herbs being in the middle of one of my 4x8 raised beds lol

[@klashmar13]

I bet the pineapple sage would be great with hawaiian chicken

[@nathansquires5551]

Jacques pythons getting checked by that shirt, lol. Great video, loved the detail.

[@dannellivery2021]

This is perfect timing. Taking a break, this Sunday working on my garden with the kids. And you pop up on my feed.🤩🤩😃

[@biffycotter3121]

Thanks for going over all the herbs with us, I never know what to do with them! You gave some great tips 😍

[@rebeccavalicoff1581]

Parsley attracts monarch butterflies!

[@rchic09]

Thai basil with a few dashes of fish sauce and a chili is such a great combo for Thai drunken noodles or eggplant stir fry

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Making me hungry just thinking about it!

[@la1163]

Hi Jacques, you should grow some eau de cologne mint. That's my favorite of all the mints. I'll crush some leaves in my bath, put it in my drinks, but not a lot or rub it on my legs and arms to keep the mosquitoes at bay as needed. Happy gardening and may your herb garden be bountiful.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That sounds interesting I will definitely keep an eye out!

[@la1163]

@@jacquesinthegarden Please do, it smells amazing. It's better for cooking though. Have a wonderful week.

[@myancey9573]

Great herb bed! I like the way it acts as sort of divider between your patio space and your garden; also, being next to your picnic table the height puts the herbs right at nose level so one can enjoy the wonderful scents coming off the herbs. I think textures and scents are important in the garden. I am always touching and smelling plants in my garden.

[@kermitdafrog444]

Tarragon pesto for a chicken salad is 🔥🔥🔥

[@piconano]

Lived in Del Mar for over 5 years. Loved San Diego.

[@cheriekalel9578]

Thank you for taking us along! For the last few years I've been gardening I've been paying more attention to how I garden, and realized the same thing that you did, that I was much more likely to use my herbs fresh if I grew them on my porch, where I could just pop outside and snip them, instead of having to get shoes on and go out to one of the gardens. So while I will still grow a lot of my herbs in the big gardens (to grow huge amounts of basil for pesto, for instance, or others for dehydrating), I also want a smaller version on my porch for cooking. I've kept flat leaf parsley and rosemary plants growing over two winters outside on my porch here in middle Georgia, and they are still growing strong, simply because I pick from them semi-regularly.

[@lauriesmith7517]

Worm pizza! Yum! Gotta love captioning!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I did some with cal this past December and it was easier than I thought!

[@JChalant]

Nice project! I should be so lucky to have my herb garden be so nice!

[@dianacrow7730]

For tarragon, downshiftology has a recipe for breakfast sausage that's amazing in her new book!

[@pang-ngiavang1956]

Use the holy basil (tulsi) for Thai cooking, especially stir fry recipes. You need to deadhead (seeds and flowers) to encourage more growth and larger leaves.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That is interesting, we actually like using the flower heads in drinks a lot and have never focused on the foliage, will give this a try this year!

[@susanriggs8896]

We use parsley leaves in salads to add more interest to the lettuce mix. We also like basil leaves and mint leaves in a salad mix.

[@creative_grassrootsgarden]

New Subscriber! You have a beautiful garden. My family and I have also recently started a backyard garden! Less than 2 years in our new home and we've completely transformed the backyard into a beautiful space. We are beginner gardeners, growing and learning along the way. Recently I started a gardening channel to help encourage others to start growing as well. No time better than now to learn self sufficiency. 💚🌱

[@gammayin3245]

Hey Jacques - a classic green goddess dressing has tarragon in it.

[@jasonandjennifervilbig2151]

I love saving Christmas trees for hugelkultur. They don't use chemicals to grow them so they make a great addition!

[@kelrune]

i would love to know about the flat bread. with those herbs

[@StefaniStevensBand]

Thank you from Oceanside! I have some of those herbs in my raised bed and I’ll get herbs you planted that I don’t have….

[@D3Misty]

I really like his yard.

[@intuitlife]

I have oak and willow Willow helps things root better

[@Junzar56]

I have herbs in containers outside my front door, you are right, being convenient so you can step outside and get what you need and add the herbs into your meal quickly is wonderful. ...you wantit high enough that you don't have to bend over to gather the herbs.

[@borracho-joe7255]

Great job on the bed. It’s going to be full in a month!

[@nancycowell-miller4321]

Wow. Just finished the vid. Great info and I totally agree: Proximity to grill *and* kitchen are crucial! I'm getting ready to refresh my (potted) herb garden, and you've given me inspiration for what to plant this season (Mine are mostly Annuals that re-seed themselves!).

[@redgingerbreadpam]

What a beautiful herb bed!!! Really enjoyed seeing it all put together.

[@carriezerafa1659]

Tarragon is great in a chicken salad with green grapes.

[@colleenwnek3404]

This is the best explanation and demo of a Hugelkultur bed, and I've seen a lot on KZbin!

[@pandorafox3944]

I really need to get a Birdies Bed. That's it! Getting one!

[@jcking6785]

You’ll love it! Easy to put together in a very short time. The hardest thing is deciding where to put it. Happy Gardening!

[@louise2209]

I use tarragon in a creamy pasta dish with butternut squash and Serrano ham x

[@mariannesison2608]

Love the video considering I have two tall dogs. I saw a black and brown dog hanging out in your backyard. Pls consider doing a video for dog parents and aspiring plant parents!

[@okpen1234]

I hope to see more videos this year from your garden

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I am going to be focusing more videos now!

[@shihtzusrule9115]

Pure Leaf had a little bottle of Blackberry Sage Tea. It is really good and I don't usually like the packaged flavored teas, I like their raspberry but it has way too much sugar in it, so I dilute it with my tea.

[@colbr06]

I loved your full garden tour last year. I am looking forward to seeing what you do this year too!

[@PlantObsessed]

I just put on a 6in1 and used the old wood bed inside the new birdies. Great idea to put the herbs near the kitchen door. Can you grow lemon balm? It is amazing lemon smell and taste. It's slightly invasive but makes great mojito and tea too.

[@Iceycube1404]

Lemon thyme is also really good on fish.

[@treehouse9713]

I recently, Happily, bought a "Birdie Raised Bed". Still, I chuckle @ This descriptor of "A Raised Bed". I need a 'Birdie' now, as I've full spinal fail & can No longer get on the ground, bend, etc. However, 40 yrs ago, my 1/8 acre garden consisted of wide rows, with ~6"w x 7" h of rich, healthy, Mounded Soil. Just like my GranMum's gardens , These were considered "Raised Beds" (Multi Grins). My, then, 6 + 8 yr old daughters (now in their 40s) raised 6 rabbits in 4-H (while remaining vegitarians). The girls also sold buckets of rabbit 'droppings' for "fertilizer & composting" to neighbors. Also sold buckets (bring your own contianer) @our rural street corner. (They accrued more $ than all 'Lemondade Stands' .) The 'bunnies' lived in hutches @night (we live in 'Coyote land' @8k' in the Colo. Rockies) . During they day, they laid in the cool, earthen rows, rarely, Barley munchin' on a leaf or 2. (Will try to upload a photo. So stinkin Cute). The crew lived till 8-9, for their 'expected' 5 yr life span. They eventually moved indoors, becoming Nuzzle buddies w/our 2 cats & a Sweet 'Pittie" dog.. Ahhhh; Such Good memories.

[@pattyriggs651]

Enjoy ya garden ! Ya grow some / ya kill some stuff off! So iam not the only one !

[@buckeyethor]

Can’t wait for outdoor cooking! Still in the 40s at night here in zone 6a. Might even get 1 more frost!

[@greenecrayon]

When I dream about the garden I want (when I have a house and space) that herb bed is the first thing I think of. I really want a nice kitchen garden.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

The herb bed will definitely add more to your cooking experience than pretty much anything else including new kitchen tools.

[@Dillson01]

Jacques has been hitting the gym! Great bed setup.

[@BritInvLvr]

This gave me some great ideas for updating my herb garden. Thanks!

[@MStrickkk]

I'm glad I found Kevin's channel, I mean "plant daddy". I think I'm more glad that I found you through him. You both are amazing for different reasons but I enjoy your presentation more.

[@tinaadair7632]

Tarragon chicken is amazing!

[@lesfibresfantastiques7265]

Tarragon is really good paired with blueberry in a savory sauce

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Ooo, I can for sure see that combo working well!

[@skynet40433]

So excited for the cooking videos XD

[@jennifersalmon4650]

Chimuriri for parsley!

[@lifelovelettuce]

There is nothing as wonderful as having herbs on hand and so close to the kitchen. It took me years to get my kitchen garden beds by the kitchen! I'm so pleased to see Pineapple Sage in your herb garden. It's so underrated and such a wonderful addition to the home herb garden. The flowers are wonderful in drinks and so pretty. We love lemon thyme in our salads. It's so much softer than the other thymes and the new growth really adds a special 'zing'.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I haven't tried lemon thyme in salad or raw really, will definitely give it a try!

[@Dreamzz101]

I love Tarragon on my porkchops.. 😋.. I just use reg tarragon but give it a try ..🌿

[@BrightestBlessings7899]

Looks so kewl!! My husband and son and I dug down 14" and put in another Hugelkultur garden! I had not had plants grow so well, until we started redoing our gardens into Hugelkultur gardens! So much abundance!! Speaking of summer, a friend of mine was just telling me about how she freezes sunflowers in blocks of various shaped ice and gives it to her chickens to keep them hydrated and give them a bit of a treat. Brightest Blessings.

[@SHARONSHORTOrchidsandGarden]

🤔🤔, Still waiting for summer and cooking out here!!! Promises, promises!

[@redechelon37]

I'm very excited to see those "cooking out of your garden" videos, I think that could be extremely successful. It sounds dreamy. Gardeners love their food.

[@adamsadventuresof2da]

Looks good , can't wait to see the "Pizza Tyme " episode lol

[@VaultDwellerGal]

You did a beautiful job on the herb garden, with no stone left unturned. I love it!! Tarragon is so underrated, but it goes great with cranberries in chicken salad. It makes it out of this world delicious, and perfect for a spring or summer lunch.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That does sound like a wonderful combination actually!

[@MrEzekiel1982]

I’m a little jealous of your rosemary. I never get them that big before they die or melt away in our wet MD climate

[@a.l.a.7847]

super inspirational!

[@daisyguzman7720]

Love the video gives me ideas for my next patio garden. But I also want to add and you’re dog was so focus I thought it was a statue 😂

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Haha she is very serious about focusing when she fixates

[@lianamurphy6955]

I would like to see an update on this bed at its 1 year mark.

[@09echols]

I already have 2 different types of thyme growing. Now I want that pizza thyme to go with it.

[@ProHomeCooks]

love this idea, Ive been planning on what to do with my new birdies!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Nothing beats a well placed herb garden! It will definitely be fun to see how it affects your recipe creation especially for the quick off the cuff meals.

[@gardengatesopen]

Very nice! 👍

[@CreaticityIsLife]

Great video!! You've inspired me to build a similar bed right outside my back door. I was curious about the Bulgarian honey garlic - I'm a fan of obscure edible alliums. Turns out it's also called Mediterranean Bells, and I planted about 25 of them in my ornamental beds just last fall. I have several getting ready to bloom, but the leaves are also edibles. I have some leaves drying to make a batch of honey garlic salt. I had no idea I planted this awesome edible! Thanks for raising my consciousness!

[@jacquesinthegarden]

No problem! It seems to run by many names like Sicilian honey garlic, a pretty plant with an interesting flavor!

[@justinest-jacques4376]

Hello. If to want to explore terragon flavor combination, I would suggest a terragon and Dijon mustard sauce for chicken.

[@mybelovedchaos]

Just throwing it out there, I LOVE your kitchen door.

[@user-nx7wf1qb2g]

عمل رااااائع وتفاصيل ونصائح مهمة جداا بارك الله جهودك انا من المولعين بالزراعة وقد وجدت في قناتك مااحتاج هل بالامكان وضع ترجمة باللغة العربية؟ فبعض المصطلحات تحتاج الى ترجمة

[@skyehutchens6222]

I have just bought the exact same bed but different colour

[@wdsjrmd1]

i like this video. great advice to help me put in the same thing at my home. planning for home made pickles so i need a lot of dill. thank you sir

[@StevenLeBlanc918]

You description of parsley is spot on.

[@Jedimaster4840]

Nice guns my dude. 💪

[@jaclo3112]

Love pizza thyme. Ive been growing it in my garden for almost 5 years. It dries wonderfully and great to sprinkle over everything.

[@rutabagastuff6953]

This is a great video full of information about gardening AND cooking! Thanks! Try your tarragon on freshly steamed green beans-I think they’re perfect together

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Green beans and tarragon actually sound fantastic together.

[@gammayin3245]

If you pick every flower on the chives plant then they won't take over your beautiful mixed herb garden. Well done Jacques!

[@thomassmith6344]

Hello Lynn

[@moirad6579]

Your garden is so beautiful!!! Winter savory is my favourite but i never see anyone growing it

[@mariorosas6364]

I love it!!

[@janenewley6539]

I reckon it will settle quite a bit yet…my hugel bed certainly settled well over its first year. I hope the plants you,ve put in won’t mind if/when you need to top up the soil around their stems…jinxy

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I suspect it will settle more but the thing I really like about raised beds is that its easy to just pull up the plants and reset them in more soil, perfect task for fall when things start to slow down.

[@brookeethier7279]

Add parsley to your salads!!

[@kristinpagan2361]

You didn't mention the nasturtiums! lol It's coming into winter down here in New Zealand and my nasturtiums have loads of flowers which the bumblebees and bees are loving. They have quite simply exploded everywhere. Excellent video as per usual.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

They likely won't be used for cooking haha but since Alaska is a trailing variety it will produce strands of flowers running down the bed.