How to Tie Wild Sage

Wild sage is a perennial plant that is cultivated in home gardens in addition to growing wild across North America and Europe. The stems are woody and the leaves are very aromatic. When it's time to harvest your sage, you may want to dry it for either culinary, aromatic or spiritual purposes. In addition to flavoring meals, bundles of sage or smudge sticks have been used for centuries to cleanse areas of bad spirits. In any case, tying sage for proper drying requires a simple technique.

Fresh sage branches
Garden shears
Embroidery floss
Sushi mat or soft, kitchen place mat
Scissors
Drying rack

Instructions

- 1
  Cut each sage branch to about 10 inches in length. Line up the woody ends on one side and the leafy ends on the other.
- 2
  Measure a piece of embroidery floss that is two and half times longer than the sage bundle. Cut to length.
- 3
  Wrap the floss around the woody end of the bundle and tie a knot to hold it in place.
- 4
  Hold the woody end, and start wrapping the floss tightly around the bundle. When you reach the leafy end, wrap back in the other direction. The floss should be zigzagging up and down the bundle.
- 5
  Wrap the floss several times around the woody end, then tie a double knot to secure it. Snip off the excess floss.
- 6
  Place the wrapped sage bundle in the center of the sushi mat. Bring the bottom of the mat over the bundle, then press and roll. As you roll, the sage bundle will compress and tighten into a tubular stick.
- 7
  Remove the sage from the mat and, if desired, groom it by snipping stray leaves and stems. You should be left with a tight, tidy sage bundle.
- 8
  Place the sage flat on the rack or hang to dry. It should take about one week to dry out completely.

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