The question was, “How do I fit a garden in a can?” While working on plans for my own vegetable garden, I was inspired to create this little project. I enjoy my garden so much, I wanted to make something complete, that I could give as a gift.

I love the challenge of repurposing things, and I happened to have three cannisters that I had taken the labels off and saved thinking, “I can use these for something.” So, creating a garden in a can became a thing. The cannisters aren’t very big, just less than 4 inches (10.1 cm) in diameter, and 6 inches (15.2 cm) tall.

I imagined the recipient was beginner gardener. Someone, who maybe had a little interest in gardening, or even just the idea of gardening, but beyond that had little knowledge about how to get started. Also, since this person was new to gardening, the investment in time and space would be limited. And, mostly everything needed had to be included. Lastly, this beginner needed something that ultimately would prove easy to grow and maintain with culinary as well as visual benefits.

The solution? A starter herb garden. Small, easy to maintain, visually pleasing and useful in the kitchen. Getting started requires only water and time.