Carolee's Herb Farm

Carolee's Herb Farm

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 Carolee’s May E-Newsletter 2010

     After such a lovely April, May has been a bit challenging with extremely strong winds, occasional frosts, and several cold, blustery days that have delayed planting.  Work in the gardens halted off and on, forcing me to catch up paperwork and label printing.   As all of you know, I’d much rather be playing in the dirt than working on a computer.  So far, May weather hasn’t been very helpful for Indy racing, graduations, or weddings.  We hope it settles and behaves in time for Memorial Day remembrances.  Hopefully we’ll be able to move hundreds of plants outdoors soon, and get those tomato and basil plants in the ground!
  
Herb Society of America Conference
     I’ll be attending the national conference of the Herb Society of America in Nashville, TN. the end of this month, and setting up a booth with lots of herbal treasures!   Hopefully, the area will be dried out by then, and we can help their local economy recover from the historic flooding they’ve endured.  I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of herbal friends from around the country and attending some great presentations. 

 

Herbal Choices!
     The second book, a sequel to Herbal Beginnings, has gone to the printer!  We should have the galley copy within two weeks!  I’m very happy with the story, as Callie’s adventures and challenges continue.  If you’ve been eager to see if Daniel, Callie’s wayward ex-fiancé who returned on New Year’s Eve gets a second chance, or if the charming veterinarian Dr. Glenn, the sweet UPS driver, Mike Shipley, or elusive Deputy  Morgan Wright  wins her heart, you’ll soon find out!  Learn more about the colorful characters of Heartland as they work together to show how much heart the little town really has.  There are new plants in Callie’s expanding gardens that are tended by two new employees, Amish girls who add a different dimension to Callie’s outlook on life.  And a mysterious new stranger comes to town that causes rumors to fly!  Callie has lots of hard choices to make in her second season.  And, there are over seventy delicious original recipes for the second course…a choice of herbal soups and salads!  Order your copy in advance by e-mail or by calling the farm during regular business hours (765-348-3162.)  The book will be available at the farm during “Country Thyme in the Lavender Field”, June 25 & 26, and after that date at the farm and on our website.  If copies arrive earlier, we’ll put a notice on the website.

 

Stevia
     It has taken a long time for this no-calorie sugar substitute to be accepted in this country, but it suddenly seems to be main stream.  Before WWII, acres of stevia were grown in California for its pretty white flowers that are similar to babies’ breath.  The airy flower sprays were added to bouquets of long-stemmed red roses.  When war broke out the acres were plowed under and stevia was replaced with more “valuable” food crops.  And sugar was rationed.  Had they only realized that those acres could have proved extremely valuable since stevia is much sweeter than sugar.
     Stevia is an easy-to-grow tropical plant.  The leaves can be used fresh, generally steeped in a hot liquid to release the sweetness, or chopped finely to add to fruits or most recipes.  Leaves can easily be dried and ground into a powder that is even easier to use as a sugar replacement.  The green leaves of stevia are 15 times sweeter than sugar. In either of these forms, stevia’s many health benefits can be obtained.  Stevia has long been prescribed by herbalists to help regulate blood sugar levels, and it is thought to help strengthen the heart and vascular system, and to aid digestion.  Also, stevia has been shown to actually inhibit the growth of some strain of bacteria, so in other countries, it is often used in mouthwashes and toothpastes.  Unlike sugar, stevia may actually be good for your teeth! However, in most stores, stevia is sold as a white powder.  Unfortunately, the healthful benefits are lost when the plant is processed to the white powder form.
     Consider growing your own stevia in a container on a sunny deck or patio.  It grows quickly in warm weather and is an attractive upright plant.  Clip off flower buds so the plant will use its energy to produce leaves rather than flowers, and move it indoors to a sunny window before danger of frost.  Leaves can be harvested continually, as long as you never remove more than 1/3 of the plant.
      

Does Your Garden Style Reflect Your Eating Style?
     Recently, I attended a gardening conference that included a large buffet luncheon.  It was interesting to watch.  Some people filled their plates neatly in a single layer of a variety of foods.  Some people built a mountain on a plate, piling food upon food.  One person took several plates but only put one food item on each, saying “I don’t like my food to touch one another.” 
     After they were seated, some people chatted and ate.  Some ignored other people and totally concentrated on devouring their food.  Some mixed different foods on each forkful that entered their mouth, while others ate a bite of this and then a bite of that.  The “I don’t like my food to touch one another” person ate all of one item before beginning another.
     I know two other people who don’t like different foods to touch one another.  In their gardens, they also don’t like their plants to touch one another.   I know one of the “mountain makers” has a jam-packed garden where the plants often topple over one another, too.  I made me wonder.  Does a person’s preferences for eating mirror his/her gardening style?  Can I perceive what a person’s garden will look like from watching how they put food on a plate? 
     So, this month’s question is:  Does your garden match your eating style?  Email your response to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Entries will be put into a hat, a winner will be drawn, and the winner gets a $10 gift certificate.

Garden Tips for May:
1) Shear thymes right after they bloom
2) Shear summer savory to keep them from getting too leggy.
3) Time to watch for the tiny striped beetle that sucks juice from mint leaves, making tiny 
     brown spots….spray with insecticidal soap.
4) Plant sweet alyssum close to seating areas now to enjoy its fragrance, and let it self-seed, so you can enjoy it again later.
5) Keep pansies deadheaded to prolong bloom, and remember they are heavy feeders, so
   fertilize when you water.  Move containers of pansies into partial afternoon shade when
   the days get hot.
6) Dead head daffodils and other spring bulbs, but allow the foliage to ripen and turn
    brown before you remove it.  Fertilize finished bulbs, so they have lots of nourishment
    for producing bigger bulbs and flowers next spring.  Mark clumps that will need to be   
    divided the end of August.
7) Feed emerging lilies with a bloom booster fertilizer (big middle number).
8) Scissor mums every two-three weeks, so they will get really bushy and sturdy.  Stop trimming July 4th.
9) Keep an eye on hollyhocks for those nasty little worms that skeletonize their leaves.  Spray with insecticidal soap, being sure to get the undersides of the leaves where the insect eggs will be hatching.
11) Stock up on Japanese beetle traps…all the other insects have been early and they may be, too.

 

Here’s a colorful, tasty, quick soup to enjoy on a balmy spring day!
Minted Green Pea Soup
     Heat 1 14 oz. can chicken broth to boiling in a heavy saucepan.  Add 3 c. green peas (fresh or frozen.).  Cover.  Bring to boil over medium high heat.  As soon as it comes to a boil, remove from heat and allow to stand for 10 min. Peas should be cooked and tender. 
    Place hot peas and broth into a food processor or blender (You may need to divide soup into smaller batches to safely process.)  Add 1 tsp. mint jelly and ¼ c. spearmint leaves.  Process until smooth.  Add 1/3 c. half and half, and freshly ground pepper.  Serve immediately with a sprig of fresh mint as a garnish.  4 small servings.
     I prefer “Cook’s Choice” or “Lebanese Spearmint” for this dish, but any mild, sweet spearmint will do.

 

Upcoming Events:
“Hedgehog & Hollyhock” Day—Saturday, May 22—talks, refreshments, Hedgehog display, sale on hollyhock plants.
Saturday & Sunday, June 5 & 6. Garden Fair at  Minnetrista, Muncie, IN. Look for our booth filled with plants, books, troughs, and garden treasures.
“Bountiful Basil” Day—Saturday, June 12:  talks, cooking demos, basil refreshments, sale on all basil plants and basil containers.
Saturday, June 19—Ambassador House Plant Sale & Heritage Garden Tour.  I’ll be bringing a truckload of plants & garden goodies!  9-1:00.  10595 Eller Rd., Fishers, IN.
“Country Thyme In the Lavender Field”—Saturday & Sunday, June 26 & 27.  U-Pick lavender, demos, talks, garden tours, great garden vendors, refreshments.

That’s it for May!  We will start having a cart of “free” plants this week, as a thank-you for our customers.  We’ll begin with cabbage and broccoli plants, and add other things as I begin to sort out the greenhouse and finish planting the gardens. 
     Remember to take a few moments this Memorial Day weekend to remember your ancestors and departed family members.  I took one day off last week to put flowers on family graves, clean grave sites, and visit with other family members.  It’s important to remember your roots.   Herbal Blessings,  Carolee

*************Carolee’s e-coupon for May**************
 20% off  pepper plants….choose sweet banana, jalapeno, habanera, cayenne, black, purple, or variegated varieties! Valid through June 15, 2010 or while they last!

***********Carolee’s e-coupon for May*****************
20% off one perennial plant of your choice!  Choose from hundreds!  Valid through June 15th, 2010.

*************Carolee’s Barn Gift Shop coupon***************
10% off one of our T-shirts!  Choose either the herb or lavender design!  One coupon per customer.  Valid through June 15th, 2010.

***********Carolee’s Cottage coupon***************
20% off any wood item in our Herbal Cottage.  Valid through June 15th, 2010