Storing herbs: my old canning jar addiction.
If I try to buy any more old canning jars, the boy is going to have a stroke.
But the thing is, there’s nothing better for storing herbs and dry beans and grains and such. The blue tint keeps some sunlight out, which keeps things fresher for longer (you still don’t want to store them in direct sun), and they’re just so pretty!
Try yard sales or flea markets or auctions in areas where canning hasn’t completely died out. (Southern Appalachia is a paradise for this sort of thing. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone.)
(I don’t use the old jars for canning so much because they’re more likely to break, and they often have little chips on their “lips” that would interfere with sealing.)
laura said,
September 9, 2008 @ 9:02 pm
Um, I was wondering what to do with the lavender that I have that is not blooming?
Rob said,
September 9, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
I love these jars as well. The unfortunate thing is that around here the antique stores and such sell these babies for $5-$10 a pop and that is just a bit too pricey for my tastes.
LB said,
September 10, 2008 @ 10:13 am
Hey, your back!
I just got a small bunch of old jars from Starrhillgirl. They are very pretty, I use them for dry goods. Who could resist that pale blue?
The Herbwife's Boyfriend said,
September 11, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
They ask $5-10 in antique shops here, too. I once saw a railroad spike in an antique shop for $8, though. A friend of mine used to work in an antique shop up in VT. Someone was going to buy a half gallon milk bottle that one of the dealers had out, and he told her that she could buy the exact same bottle, except full of milk, for a dollar less across the street at the coop. She bought it anyway.
We get most of our jars at auction, don’t generally pay more than $1 or two.
crabappleherbs said,
September 11, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
Laura: I’d check with a local garden center that understands your soil and climate conditions.
Rob: Yeah, antique stores are a ripoff. Sometimes you can get them on ebay for cheap, though you do still have to pay shipping.
LB: Yes and yay and yes and perfect and who indeed?
Boyfriend: You overestimate. Most of these were fifty cents each. (Though it’s true, my policy is that I will pay up to $2, which is the price of a new 1/2 gallon jar.)
Sarah Head said,
September 16, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
I save just about every glass jar/bottle of any colour which arrives at our house. I also get moaned at by hubby, but as he’s been around my strange habits for 32 years now (it’s our 30th wedding anniversary today!), I guess he’s used to it . A couple of months ago we were staying with friends and they returned all the ticture bottles I’d given them the year before and some wonderful brown glass jars they’d had smoothies in from their local healthfood shop. The following weekend I strained a whole bunch of tinctures and used up all their jars – it was great! I love recycling!
crabappleherbs said,
September 19, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Congratulations on your anniversary, Sarah! There’s something so satisfying about a whole shelf of good jars, isn’t there?
Heidi said,
September 27, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
Wow, gorgeous!
Therese said,
October 14, 2009 @ 11:07 am
Nice collection!
I feel like I struck gold. The other day I asked the boyfriend if we could stop at a estate sale. In looking around, I did see some jars like yours that a appraiser had put out with $15 price tags on them. Don’t know what possessed me to ask if there was any more canning supples. The gentleman said follow me to the basement with a gleam in his eye. Lo and behold, there against the wall was bushel baskets full of jars lids and rings. He said he would take $20 if I would just get it all out. The boyfriend was stunned when I fill up the back of his truck. He was so excited for me when he counted over 300 jars!