Hello! I’m Aubrey from Real Housemoms, where my friend Stacey and I share easy recipes, crafts, and DIY projects. I’m excited to share a simple indoor herb garden that’s perfect for the kitchen. I started gardening about a year ago after a few false starts, and I love being able to grab fresh ingredients for family meals right from my home. Living in Arizona gives me two growing seasons—spring and fall—and I’ve even learned tricks to keep some plants producing through the intense summer heat.
I get a lot of creative ideas from Target’s dollar section. On one trip I found unfinished wooden boxes that I couldn’t stop imagining projects for. I used three of those boxes to make a compact, inexpensive herb display that hangs on a board and holds mason jars. The whole project was easy, affordable, and looks great in the kitchen.
Ingredients and materials I used: three unfinished wooden boxes, a 41″ piece of wood, six screws with matching nuts, a picture-hanging kit rated for the weight, three mason jars, three sprouted herbs (or small potted herbs), potting soil, and gravel. For the aged wood finish I made an oxidation stain (steel wool and white vinegar), used strong black tea, and rubbed with #0000 steel wool.
To get an aged, weathered wood look, I followed a simple oxidation method. Tear a piece of #0000 steel wool and place it in a glass jar, then cover with white vinegar and let it sit for a few days until the steel wool dissolves and the liquid turns rusty. This creates a natural solution that reacts with tannins in wood for an aged tone.
Before applying the oxidized stain, steep strong black tea (I used four tea bags in boiling water for several minutes). Wiping the wood with tea first adds tannins and deepens the final color, reducing orange undertones and creating a richer, more natural finish.
Use a paper towel to apply a single coat of tea inside and out on each box and on the 41″ board. Let it dry completely in the sun if possible. The color change will be subtle at first—the tea prepares the wood for the stain.
Wear gloves and apply the oxidized stain with a paper towel. Use sparingly so the stain soaks in without running. Initially the wood may look light, but a darker color develops within minutes as the reaction happens. I stained the outsides and bottom first, let them dry, then stained the insides and edges.
After the stain dried, lightly rub the wood with a clean piece of #0000 steel wool to even the finish and remove loose particles. Do this outdoors—steel wool residue can scatter.
Arrange the boxes on the board to plan placement. Trace the top and bottom of each box with a pencil, then drill two horizontal holes centered on each box location. Mark and drill corresponding holes in the boxes themselves. Fasten boxes to the board with screws and nuts, checking alignment and security as you go.
Install a hanging kit rated for the combined weight and follow the kit instructions. I used a wire hanging kit, which worked well and held the piece securely.
For the plants, you can use small potted herbs from the grocery store or larger sprouted herbs from a garden center. I placed about an inch of gravel in the bottom of each mason jar for drainage, added potting soil, and planted the herbs. Some of my plants were larger than the jars, so I trimmed or divided them to fit. Because herbs need good light, choose a sunny kitchen wall or spot where you can easily rotate or remove the jars for more sun when needed.
I labeled my herbs simply by writing the name on a wine cork and attaching it to a bamboo skewer—small, practical, and removable. You can also use chalkboard labels or paint the jar lids with chalkboard paint if you prefer.
This vertical herb garden is compact, attractive, and functional. For beginners, choose hardy and frequently used herbs like basil, rosemary, and chives. Plant herbs you enjoy cooking with so you’ll use them often—fresh herbs make meals taste better and make it convenient to pick what you need right from the kitchen wall. Enjoy your garden, and feel free to share which herbs you choose!
You can find Aubrey here as well: Real Housemoms