Here’s a situation many of us have encountered: shopping with someone and being persuaded to buy something we did not need. While at an antiques show, a friend and I spotted an old Chinese carved granite trough (originally for holding farm animals’ drinking water). My friend looked at me, and out came “so cool, Loi!” “You’ve GOT to buy that!!” Really, but I don’t have any horses or pigs??!! After a brief chat, I ended up hauling this massive and heavy-as-heck trough home.

For a while, the trough sat upside down in a hidden corner of the garden 🙁 I thought of converting it into a powder room sink. But, it was just too heavy – both physically and visually.

One morning in the midst of watering all my individual pots of herbs, the idea of using the trough as an herb planter came to me. Yes!!! I now plant it with various herbs, and experiment with different combinations each season. Having most of the herbs in one pot is handy, and easier to water. I also have separate pots for rosemary and mint. The rosemary prefers it drier, while the mint is very aggresive.

 Placed on the sunny terrace outside our kitchen, the herb trough comes in handy.
 Even though our trough already had a hole in the bottom, I placed a layer of gravel to improve drainage.
 I love the scent and taste of thyme! Two varieties here.

 Together with this prolific fig shrub and pots of rosemary and mint (both not shown), this is our mini urban kitchen garden.
 While we were on vacation, many of the herbs flowered. After these photos, I quickly removed all the flowers. Herbs allowed to flower and seed can die back or develop bitter leaves.
 
In addition, soapstone sinks, marble wash basins, oversize mortars, and galvanized tubs would make wonderful herb planters. Just make sure to cut / drill a drainage hole. An architectural salvage yard is a great source for such pieces. Also, search online with the following keywords:
– Chinese granite trough
– Stone trough
– Old soapstone sink
– Turkish marble basin
Happy planting!
Loi