what to do with all that backyard basil?

Every summer, my little backyard patch bursts with basil—just like my mother’s garden did when I was a child. Back then, she’d handpick the leaves, filling the kitchen with that sweet, peppery scent. We’d make jars of pesto, but she’d also dry some for winter soups, a trick her mother taught her. Now, I see younger neighbors turning basil into trendy cocktails or freezing it in ice cubes for Instagram-worthy drinks. Sometimes I wonder: are we losing the old ways, or just making new memories? My daughter laughs at my giant mason jars of dried basil, insisting fresh is best, but I can’t let go of the tradition. Here in the Midwest, basil can be tricky—one cold snap and it’s gone. Some folks cover their plants with old sheets, while others let nature take its course. My neighbor, Mr. Lee, says the community garden has rules about how much you can harvest, which stirs up debates every season. Shouldn’t we be free to pick what we grow? This year, with drought warnings and talk of water restrictions, I wonder if it’s even responsible to keep growing so much basil. But then I remember my mother’s hands, stained green, and the taste of her summer pasta. Maybe there’s room for both old and new—if we’re willing to listen to each other. #basildebate #gardenmemories #midwestgardening #Gardening