Gathering Marigolds

The growing season is winding down on the homestead, and this morning I heard the weatherman say those three inevitable words:  Hard Freeze Warning.  

As a gardener, I take that as my cue to get out to the garden and harvest the last of my herbs and flowers before the killing freeze finishes them off for the season.  Today's chore was to gather the last of the marigold blooms. 

I like to grow marigolds because first of all, I think they're pretty.  But they also are great companion plants in the garden because they help deter pests.  In addition, they have antiseptic properties and can be used medicinally if needed.  The best part about marigolds, though, is that they are edible--at least the petals are.  They don't have a very strong flavor, but I like to toss them in a salad or on top of a casserole to add a unique punch of color. 

As much as I like eating my marigolds, there are some who enjoy them even more than I do...

You guessed it, it's my chickens!  Notice that gorgeous yellow color on those marigold flowers... well, when fed to the flock, they actually increase the yellow color of the yolks in the eggs they lay!  

It's for that very reason that marigolds can actually be found in the ingredient list on many commercial chicken feeds.  In South America they grow massive fields of marigolds that are designated specifically for chicken feed!  That sounds like my kind of country...

My chickens free-range throughout the warm months, and so they have an endless supply of bugs, grubs, and greens to forage from around the homestead.   The yolks of their eggs are naturally a dark orange color because of their healthy food choices.  But their winter meal options are a bit more limited, so I spice up their feed mix with these lovely little flowers. 

But in order to have some to feed them, I first have to get them harvested.  
It's a simple process, but there are a few necessary steps involved...

First I head out to the patch and scope out the best flowerheads.  The biggest blossoms seem to dry the best, and I look for the ones that are in the midst of full bloom.  Any that are tiny or past their peak I leave for the birds. 

It's really easy to snap off the flower head, and I don't even need to use clippers.  I just grasp the stem in my fingers and use my thumb and index finger to pinch off the head in one quick motion.  It makes a nice crisp snapping sound that's somehow very satisfying to me.

I like sound effects.
Call me crazy.

Then I transfer the whole flowers into trays, make sure the flowers are spread in a single layer, and set them in the greenhouse to dry.  Sometimes I take my scissors and snip off the petals before spreading them out to dry.  It just depends on what kind of mood I'm in.  The chickens don't mind to peck at a whole flower with seeds intact, but if I'm going to use the marigolds to make potpourri or a body scrub, I only need the petals.   It just works better that way.

After about a week, I check the petals to make sure all the moisture has evaporated.  

The final step is to fill up any spare mason jar I can find with these lovely flowers.  I store them with all my other dried herbs and seeds, and I use them as needed throughout the winter. 

And since marigold petals retain their hues even after being dried, they add a nice cozy pop of color to my herb shelf.  When I glance that way on a cold blustery day, I feel a little warmer inside.  Every little bit helps, right??!

At least the chickens seem to agree with me.