growing herbs on your patio: old wisdom or new trend?

When I was a child, my grandmother would kneel in her backyard, hands deep in the earth, tending to her rows of mint and basil. She believed that herbs belonged in the ground, close to the heart of the garden. Now, I see my neighbors setting up sleek outdoor tables with built-in herb gardens—no digging, no dirt under the nails, just snipping fresh parsley while sipping coffee. Is this new way better? Some say it’s perfect for our unpredictable North American weather and smaller yards. Others argue it’s just another gadget, missing the soul of traditional gardening. I remember the smell of wet soil after a summer rain, the pride in a harvest grown from scratch. But my daughter, who juggles work and family, loves the convenience and clean look of her tabletop herbs. There’s tension in our community, too. Some folks worry these modern setups clash with the classic look of our neighborhoods, while others welcome the innovation. And with drought warnings and water restrictions, is it more responsible to grow herbs in compact, controlled spaces, or should we fight to keep our sprawling backyard beds? I’d love to hear—do you cherish the old ways, or embrace the new? #herbgarden #familytradition #modernvsclassic #Gardening