I think this would be much the same answer as deep cupboard solutions. There are home forums here at Houzz you could try for that type of answer.

FataMorgana

Thanks

Get one of those grabbers they sell for reaching items on high shelves.

If the herbs are being grown in big enough pots I'm thinking it would be very difficult to pick them up with any kind of grabber as they will be quite heavy. If the pots are small enough for a grabber I suspect they would be too small for the herbs.

How about a kids' step stool?

Do you have a picture of your setup?

Thank you all for trying. I am including a picture. The idea is for the plants to sit on the stones in the trough by the window. The depth from the edge of the counter to the trough is 42". The trough is about 11". The stones will be approximately the same level as the counter so I will try to slide the pots from one to the other. The counter is so deep we use a remote control to open the windows.

I have a grabber or two but they don't open large enough for or handle the weight of the pots. I can climb on the counter but I want a better solution than that. I'm thinking of using a flat shallow or edgeless pan with cork on the bottom (to protect the counter) so I can use a pizza peel to slide the herb pots onto the pan and then pull the pan towards me. While this may work, it is certainly less than ideal which is why I'm reaching out to the creative minds here for ideas.

Go out and cut the herbs from outside??? Or is this room upstairs?

I think you'll also have trouble cleaning the window and keeping the stones clean of dust, fluff, leaves and dead flies ;-) Not a very practical piece of design. A smooth surface would be much easier to work with.

Two other thoughts: There are self-watering pots that require adding water only every few months. Haven't used them, but you could try one. Or, can you attach one of those small, collapsible hoses to your faucet with a watering want to extend your reach?

I think I'd make some trays with wheels (probably more like castors or rolling balls), so the pots can be rolled into place and just pulled back. I don't think I would do it by pot, because they would be more susceptible to tipping, but instead make manageable sized trays that hold several pots.

Again, thanks for your thoughts. While the design isn't perfect, there are many reasons it evolved this way and I am pleased enough with the benefits to be happy with the results. Using the herbs for cooking and taking care of the plants is more of an issue than watering as there are many watering methods available, but it will be a pleasant byproduct. Drmbear, this is certainly the direction I am leaning using wheels or a soft tray bottom that will slide easily and not mar the counter.

I posted this here to get the additional insights and ideas before I tackle this. A community of problem solvers is great fun.

What about a cut and hold flower gatherer? You can snip the herbs and then the blades hold the cut stems while you pull them back towards you. Cut and Hold Gatherer

Wow. Great idea. I will definitely look into this. Thank you.

I'm picturing a rolling pin, soup can, wine bottle, or other round item to use as a lever. Actually, something much more narrow, like a permanent marker or screwdriver handle, would be better. Then place the lever on a towel or other thin cloth, to protect the counter. If you can get a small, thin enough "pizza slider" to slip under the pots, you can just lift them up and pull them toward you. There are also grabbers designed that open as you squeeze them. I've only seen them for test tubes in chemistry lab, but I could make one out of a coat hanger that would work for a decent sized pot, if you wrap rubber bands around the wire to prevent slipping. Those are the ideas off the top of my head. Hope they give you some more fuel for thought.

Martha