Back on December 20, 2008, I started the Great Basil Experiment of 2008. We bought a little planter box and followed the directions on the seed packet perfectly. I figured with the HOT, humid weather of Palau, that the basil would stand a better chance if kept inside. I got all excited when my first basil shoots erupted from the soil. I had visions of pesto in my head as I watched them grow bigger each day.

On January 1st the basil began to wilt. By January 4^th all the little basil shoots were lying face down in the dirt. It was time to order little teeny basil-sized caskets. It was evident that my basil plants would be leaving this earth for a far, far better place.

On January 5, 2009, only 15 days after it began, I officially declared the basil dead and the Great Basil Experiment of 2008 came to a close. I resigned myself to not having pesto or fresh basil for the remainder of our time in Palau. The jarred pesto they sell here was just a big No for me, being a vegan and all. It has all sorts of cheeses and stuff in it. I figured that Palau just wasn't the place for basil.

On February 18th we went to Kramer's for dinner, and got into a conversation with Rene, the owner. Somehow we got into talking about growing veggies and herbs in Palau. He said he grows all sorts of things . . . basil being on that list. He told me how to grow the stuff here. So on February 20, 2009, the Great Basil Experiment of 2009 commenced.

I am thrilled beyond description. I am happy to report that my basil plants have been growing and thriving for 17 days now and they are doing great! No wilting or anything at any point.

Rene is a genius (and he runs a damn good restaurant too) He told me to plant them in a pot outside (a deep, 5 gallon bucket actually), give them tons of water, and let them have some sun. The biggest trick is not to let the leaves get wet. If that happens, the sun fries the daylights out of them. I planted them back in my little planter, afraid that the basil was going to die anyway. I didn't want to waste the effort of finding a bucket, and buying more potting soil.

Renee gave me a cutting of his mint plant that night as well. It is growing and thriving right next to the basil. He also told me that they do sell basil in the stores in Palau - locally grown even. Huh! How could I have not seen it? I had looked for it every time we went to the store. Well it turns out I was looking for it the way I was used to seeing it back home - loosely packed in large bunches.

Here's how it looks in Palau - smashed into small little baggies.

I'm now just this side of heaven. I have been making basil pesto and using basil leaves in my cooking. Total heaven will be the day I can use the basil I've planted. Stay tuned for further updates on the Great Basil Experiment of 2009.