advice wanted: kitchen window herb garden

I'd been thinking of growing some vegetables this year. When we moved in, I got the landlord's approval to get some outside planters, put them on a bit of pavement behind the house, and grow cucumbers or tomatoes.

That's looking less feasible, between the social distancing and not having a car, but I think we could put in the kitchen window herb garden cattitude and I were also talking about. I need either one of those herb garden kits I'm seeing online, or pots (probably), soil, and of course the seeds. Does anyone have recommendations, either "get this" or "don't get that"?

That probably means mail ordering, under the circumstances, though there's a hardware store in walking distance, once I'm done with this round of self-distancing. (In a normal year, I'd be calling Pemberton Farms and asking do they carry the things I need, but it takes two buses to get there from here.) Thus, I'm also looking for suggestions about places to order from, either by mail or a store that will deliver locally, where "locally" is Belmont, Mass. Not Amazon, not while the workers are on strike/talking about a strike.

One thing about the pandemic is that not having a car, nor even a driver's license, is a problem rather than an inconvenience. Having carefully found an apartment in easy walking distance of a good bus line (what the MBTA call a "key bus route") doesn't help much when we're being told to avoid taking buses if possible.

optimism, Spring 2020 version

Governor Baker just extended the order shutting down non-essential businesses through May 4th. Gatherings of more than ten people are also banned until then.

That (obviously) cancels my appointment to get my hair cut in mid-April, so I re-booked for May 5th. (The salon uses a web interface for scheduling haircuts; I haven't actually talked to them since I got my hair cut in February.)

Good things in the mail

Today's mail included a check from USC for the index I finished a few months ago; I expected it to take about this long, and was just starting to think about pinging either the author or the office manager in his department to ask about it. Instead, I sent the author a note saying that having received the payment I am refunding the deposit he sent by Paypal, and asking how he's doing in these odd times.

I have also received the picture postcards I ordered--I paid for two, and they sent three, saying the extra was for me to enjoy; the art supplies I mentioned a few days ago; and some more of the hair coloring conditioner.