Drying the Harvest

Bundling and hanging: This is one of my favorite ways to dry woody herbs as well as flowers like lavender. It is a tried-and-true method people have been using for centuries. Make bundles of herbs and tie the stems tightly with garden or butcher’s twine, leaving about 1 foot (30cm) of extra twine to use for hanging and tying. Once bundled, hang them in a room where humidity is low to avoid spoilage. This method takes time but yields the best results as the herbs dry slowly. Shrinkage is minimized, and the color is preserved. This method works well for drying flowers (including when harvesting seed) and thin-skinned peppers like cayenne and Thai chilis. Thick-skinned peppers should be dried in an oven or dehydrator.