Big Boxes - The Before

When Michael got the bug to garden about four years ago it was in raised beds. He converted the back yard of our home in a neighborhood HOA into a lovely garden - full of raised beds midst a little winding walk way and a charming chicken coop just perfect for our six hens.

Today, he added four more raised beds to our farm.

They're in a spot that seemed to 'cry out' for something and yet we felt the ground and area just would be way to much work to plow it out - thus four big boxes.

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited - more places to plant.

As of yet, we don't know exactly what will be seeded there - but for sure - something  wonderful.

Don't you love those "before" and "after" pictures?  You'll have to wait a bit for the "after."

Cooking With Mustard Greens

While walking around our farm, I'm always picking and eating the greens - especially mizuna. I LOVE that stuff! It has a nice nutty flavor with a gentle kick. It's not at all like salad or arugula...it's well...like mizuna. 

I snip fresh mizuna and make a salad - the mizuna as the only green - drizzle it with some good olive oil then sprinkle it with a tinch of sea salt and pepper THEN add Michael's raw chevre to the top. 

I found another way to enjoy mustard greens {here} at Epicurious. The addition of cumin sounds wonderful!

We still have a bit of mizuna to offer at our farmer's market tomorrow! 

Enhancing Your Life with Aromatic Herbs and Essential Oils

When I saw Anita's copy of Fragrant Herbal - I knew I needed a copy. It's one of those books that you linger through its pages with a second or third copy of tea or coffee. 

I was captured by such things as: Moroccan Mint Tea (we grow tons of different kinds of mint here at the farm) and Monastery Gardens . . . 'the eternal popularity of the cloistered garden reflects a widespread appreciation of secluded tranquility . . .'  

Who, today, is not longing for that peace - that sense of secluded tranquility?

 and the fennel pictured in a monastery in Germany (lately, I have been compelled to grow fennel).

The pages of descriptions and pictures and usages of culinary herbs caused me to slow down . . .basil, chervil, chives, dill, parsley, tarragon - (all are growing fresh here at the farm) with eggs (...our farm fresh eggs) and cheese (my husband's chevre').

Romantic Herbs & Oils . . . 'the unbidden smile . . . these scents are gentle and relaxing, as they generate a smile of well-being and openness; they are the light-floral and sweet-green scents . . . ' and the subsequent pictures of roses, peony, orange  blossoms all within a French garden.  

We have just planted our French garden at the farm - which I love showing to and describe what its beauty will look like as herbs and lettuces, peas and beans grow up and when we plant a pair of those delicate climbing English roses this month.

. . . a lovely book for a day when you just need to slow down because life is going by too fast. 

Here's a Sneak Peek at Our . . .

. . . gourmet garden on day 1.