Gardener to Farmer

Gardener to Farmer Relocates

2008-06-28T15:39:00.001-07:00

Hello my friends...I am sending this post out to let you know that Gardener to Farmer has relocated to www.gardenertofarmer.net .if you signed up for a feed with feedburner, you will continue to recieve those feeds...if there is a hiccup, tho, you will want to resubscribe to the new feed.

Thanks for following...more exciting things to come!

Jean Ann

Sunshine and Raspberries and Eckhart Tolle

2008-06-24T20:46:00.001-07:00

Today, I spent quality time in the garden. It was about 75, crisp and sunny...the raspberries and strawberries are just starting to ripen. I rolled along on my little garden cart, leaning over to weed the berries...and noticing a really ripe one here and there. I had a child-like urge to reach out and grab one and deposit it directly into my mouth. I could only see one that was ripe, so I leaned over, slipped it off of the vine and tasted the beginning of summer. It was a small berry, but I truly tasted it. I turned to start weeding the raspberries, sun on my back, listening to Oprah interview Eckhart Tolle and noticed that a few berries were really ripe...Again, I took off my glove, reached my dirty hand (yes, but it is God's dirt, as my friend Susan would always say when her son would pick up a grape he had dropped on the ground outside, somehow making it ok) out to the berries and pulled slightly. I think raspberries are the most delicate of the berries. Truth be told, I can't imagine how they are picked and packaged. Many of mine were on the verge of falling apart in my hand. It was clear these were not berries intended for sale...they were intended to be eaten by our family. And so, I put my grubby little hand to mouth and tasted liquid sunshine. I have always hated raspberry flavored things...ick, there are just some tastes that don't do as well when created artificially...actually, most things don't taste as well when created artificially. So, when I finally tasted a fresh ripe raspberry, it was as if I had never had it before...magnificent! But this was even better...this was absolutely the freshest raspberry I had ever eaten...grown in my yard, with my organic methods, on my land...picked by my hand. I was with this little guy before he was even a berry. And yes, I could actually taste the time spent pruning the canes in November. I could taste the organic fertilizer that built huge, strong canes, some shooting to the sky, some lazily flopping over. I could taste the time spent weeding and the hours spent researching cane berries in Rodale's Organic Encyclopedia. In short, I could taste the love and care. And as I listend Oprah interviewing Eckhart Tolle, I had a glimpse of what they meant by releasing the ego...getting "me" out of the way, shutting down the thinking and processing and simply embracing the moment. There was nothing more important to do, no place to be, nothing happening that I needed to be a part of, except this. And I realized that this moment, this experience, is exactly why Gardener to Farmer is so important to me. Whether I am teaching someone to grown their own food or selling produce from our network of growers to local restaurants, I am helping to bring this experience to someone's life. And by documenting the stories of the veggies and fruit I harvest, then sharing that with the cafes and their customers, I am helping them connect to the real meaning of food... And right in that moment, I couldn't fathom anything more important.

Green Thumb Sunday!!

2008-06-22T07:22:00.001-07:00

For many years, I have generally avoided petunias. Once in a while I would plant, mostly as a cascading container plant. There are other plants I avoid, too, like brown wax begonias...probably because they were so overused in the area where I grew up, that I could go the rest of my life without seeing one and be happy. Recently, my nephew and I were at a local garden center, perusing the goods, when he pointed out a flower that he really loved. I looked at it, and for a minute I wasn't sure what it was...as I got closer I saw the leaves..."that can't be a petunia", I said. The color and form were so interesting that we decided to buy it, not knowing (based on the picture above) what it would look like when it opened. WOW! Are you kidding me?? Is that a petunia??? I couldn't believe my eyes! These blossoms are real stunners. Has to be one of my favorites this year. So many stages of interest, keeps you checking to see what will happen next. I have never grown Osteospermum. I don't know why, it's just another plant I cruise right by at the market. I have always loved the crayon colors of the flowers, though. Looks like a year of purple-flowered containers... And here is a little mystery flower...do you know what it is? I had never actually seen it in bloom until I bought this one this year... You may recognize the leaves...it is Lemon Verbena! The white flowers have a purple tinge to them...it is a very sweet and dainty flower...just like me! Ok, stop laughing, maybe not "just" like me...ok, not at all like me, but it's sweet and dainty nonetheless! Have a wonderful day and happy gardening! Check out Green Thumb Sunday for yourself at As the Garden Grows...maybe you can join us every Sunday!

I Have Seen the Future and it is Evernote

2008-06-21T09:16:00.001-07:00

This is an absolutely amazing application, and paired with Jott, might actually make my life easier, rather than eat up my time, which is what most new applications do... Evernote is a site that allows you to collect all of the important data in your life and keep it in one place. Like a clipboard, or a filing system. You can upload all kinds of media, photos of white board presentations, notes, in addition to clip web information to save for later. What is more amazing than the aggregation of all of this data is that it is all searchable. You can search for graphic images from the words that are on them...so gardeners, you can create a garden journal without having to constantly log in every item you are planting. And you can create a note on each picture to remind yourself of your experience with the plant (good germination, planted too early, etc) I am sure that this application will be a great organizing tool for me, can't wait to get started....again, email me if you are interested and I will send you an invite.

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Quick Social Media Update

2008-06-19T08:25:00.001-07:00

Hi folks, I want to let you all know about three new sites that I love...and you will, too! www.plurk.com This site is crazy fun! I am sending a call out to my gardening peeps to come over and join the other gardeners chit chatting about plants, life, etc...my profile name is jeanannvk www.ping.fm This site is in beta and you need a login code to join...it is a great site, lets you post quick notes to twitter, plurk, pownce, etc simultaneously...reduce the time you spend updating your social networking sites, but still stay in touch! www.flock.com This browser is really great...it aggregates all of your social media sites, and blogs and pics and film...in the sidebar, you can see all of the people you have as friends from multiple sites...and you can blog to all of your accounts at the same time...which is what I am doing now...this will update all three of my blogs, across two different platforms...are you kidding? I heart flock...we are in love, I think I want to marry flock... Come and join us!

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Lettuce Gather Together

2008-06-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

Lettuce is one of the few veggies that will grow in part shade. Try sowing seeds in part shade in summer so the plants don’t bolt when temps are above 80 degrees. For continued harvest, sow seeds in succession or use crisp headed or loose leaf varieties instead of varieties that form a head. With these guys, you can remove the outer leaves repeatedly and the plant will grow new ones. A continues harvest of lettuce!

Little t Bakery received their first order today...and in the order was one of my favorite lettuces, Rouge D'Hiver....Listen, this stuff is so tender and light it is like eating sorbet...well, a lettuce sorbet...okay, that's gross, forget sorbet all together...let's just say it is tender...

If you are interested in more information about this heirloom french variety, visit our friends at Peaceful Valley...and today's post on Portland Foodie...

All That You Have Ever Wanted to Know About Beans

2008-06-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

This is a great article on beans and the various types...my beans aren't ready yet, but believe me, when they are, there posts a plenty! http://www.edibleportland.com/2008/06/what_is_a_bean.html

Green Thumb Sunday and Garden Blogger's Bloom Day

2008-06-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hi Kids...It is Green Thumb Sunday and Garden Blogger's Bloom Day...all in one! I am putting up a quick post of all that is blooming outside...quick because we are having our FOURTH day of sun! I have almost caught up on gardening chores. Today, we will work on the largest border...hooray! So, here we go... Who says veggie flowers can't be beautiful? These are the flowers from one of the potato varieties I am growing... And how about these lovelies? Snow peas...isn't the color absolutely gorgeous? I have 4 delphiniums now...my mom and I picked them out last fall...I have several starts of the Pacific Giants strain and a couple of seed packets, will be working on that today. Hello, nasturiums! They are finally starting to fill in... And a not so great pic of one of my gallardias...I also started burgandy gallardia from seed this year. Yesterday, I finished planting my "hot" border...all gallardias go there... And yarrow...this wonderful fuschia color almost makes up for the fighting I will have to do to keep this thing in check... A beautiful rosebud...isn't the color exquisite? And remember those senior class photos from Olan Mills? Remember the ones where the person is highlighted and the room around them black? I give you the Olan Mills rose shot! Have a wonderful day and happy gardening! Check out Green Thumb Sunday for yourself atAs the Garden Grows...maybe you can join us every Sunday!

Keep it Small and Local...and Safe

2008-06-12T23:05:00.001-07:00

Gardener to Farmer is an idea whose time has come!

Edible Communities Co-founder on Salmonella in Tomatoes

Edible Communities Co-Founder, Tracey Ryder, Speaks on Fda's Warning of Salmonella Outbreak From Tomatoes

"This week's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning regarding salmonella contamination of tomatoes is a reminder that eating from sources close to home is one way to avoid exposure to widespread foodborne illnesses," says Tracey Ryder, co-founder and president of Edible Communities, Inc., the network of publications dedicated to the local food movement across North America.

"If there is a problem with a locally grown crop, consumers can trace their food back to its source very quickly," Ryder says. In the current case of salmonella in tomatoes, FDA officials have been trying to locate the origin of the outbreak since May. "We've seen this exact situation before with industrially produced food, and we're likely to see it again."

Ryder says the FDA's pronouncement that homegrown tomatoes are safe to eat resonates with "locavores," proponents of eating locally grown and raised food. "For many locavores, the next best thing to homegrown is food that is locally grown on a small family farm," she says. "Our publishers in more than 40 communities across the U.S. and Canada have definitely seen the interest in their publications grow as more folks lose confidence in the industrial food system and look for local farmers they can know and trust."

Edible Communities is the leading network of publications dedicated to the local food movement. Edible Ojai, launched in 2002 by Tracey Ryder and Carole Topalian, was lauded by Saveur magazine in 2004 as the model for what a regional food publication should be. That recognition led the two to start Edible Communities, Inc. to help other local publishers explore the foods farmed, raised, tended and produced on family farms and by small growers. Edible Communities now licenses 44 locally owned and operated titles across the U.S. and Canada. Information about Edible Communities and its publications is at www.ediblecommunities.com.

Chervil: Not a Small, Rodent-Like Pet for Children

2008-06-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

Seriously, everytime I see Chervil, I think of Gerbil...and that just goes to show you how my brain has turned to mush since children have invaded, err, I mean, lovingly joined, my life... For you more advanced (?!?) and serious gardeners (???!!!???), you probably think of fine herbes, the standard combination of chervil, parsley, chives and tarragon often used in French cooking. Chervil is an absolute beauty in the garden...not to mention, it is one of the few herbs that can be grown in shady, damp areas. These little guys popped up early in the season...I seeded them outside in March. I hadn't grown chervil before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. They are diminutive, even when fully grown. Chervil has a short life, quick to germinate and quick to bolt...If you want to harvest it for any length of time, succession planting is a must. The leaves are intricate and lacy, reminiscent of carrots, to which they are related. The ferny texture of the leaves makes it a perfect plant for the shade. They shoot up flowers relatively quickly. If you want to extend your harvest, pinch these back. If you want to save some seeds for next year, let the flowers mature. Chervil is one of those herbs that tastes best when used fresh...add it at the last minute if you are using it in a hot dish. Don't waste time drying it for storage...it loses flavor. I am going to try harvesting and freezing to see if I can extend the life of its usage... For recipes using Chervil, check out my new blog at www.portlandfoodie.com.

Bonus Post: Itoh (Intersectional) Hybrid Peony, Stunning!

2008-06-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

Just take a look at this beauty...Really a stunner...I saw it at a local nursery and knew immediately it was one of the first Intersectional Peonies to make it to market. This new hybrid is a cross between a white herbaceous peony and a yellow tree peony. It combines the best of both peonies, having gorgeous, huge yellow blooms and shrub-like structure with strong foliage. It dies back to the ground each winter. This gem sells for about $80, so unfortunately, I had to pass it up...but only for this year. I am hoping that by next year, more will be available and affordable! White Flower Farm has them for sale if you are an early adopter...let me know if you get one!

Cornichon: Small Cucumber, BIG Attitude

2008-06-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

While out for a Sunday drive, my partner and I stumbled upon a tiny farmers market...Locavore that I am, I hoped I would find someone from another part of the state who had actually been able to grow something in this horrid wet, cold spring we are having. Uhhhh, no...sad to say, it looks like we are all in the same boat. Not one to be phased by adversity, I took some time to see what veggies and herb plants might be available. Although I start most of my own seeds, a girl only has so much room...at least this year, next year I am thinking of taking over the basement AND the greenhouse... As I am meandering through selections of herbs, I see this... What looks like a regular cucurbit of some sort, is identified by my expert eye (ok, by my reading the tag) as a Cornichon Cucumber!!! I scream, then faint dead away...when I recover, I snatch up the only one in sight and immediately start babbling to the grower about how excited I am to have found this variety and how I have never seen it for sale before. She smiles and says she had a customer beg her to grow this for her, so she finally gave in (my doppleganger?) I rush home and place it in a sheltered spot to wait for enough warmth to plant it. I am sitting at the edge of my chair even now...we are supposed to have 4 or 5 warm days in a row this week...so I think it might be time. A Cornichon is a tiny cucumber that packs a BIG punch...it has been pickled and is very tart... They are absolutely the best with high brow specialty foods like pate, smoked salmon, brie...really amazing! I suspect that some people might find using this french cucumber to be a bit intimidating, what with the company it keeps and all...If you scoot over to my new blog Portland Foodie, you can find out recipes, buying sources and other tidbits in today's post.

I Saw the Sun

2008-06-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, I saw the sun today for the first time in I don't know how many weeks...I immediately dropped everything and ran outside to plant...I planted 5-6 varieties of tomatoes, 3 varieties of eggplant, french filet beans, and 2 kinds of squash. I also added more Worry Free slug bait and I am trying to save the cole crops from the dreaded white butterfly...it looks so innocuous, but the next thing you know, little caterpillars are eating giant holes in the brussel sprouts...So, I added a little Bt to the mix...both are organic methods for controlling pests. Needless to say, I didn't get the pictures and post ready for Green Thumb Sunday... I am also redesigning my Edgy Entrepreneur blog and will be unveiling a new foodie blog...jeesh! More on these exciting new developments later in the week... It is supposed to rain again tomorrow...

Gardener Discovers New Organic Pest Management Method?

2008-06-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

Remember waaaaay back in March when I brought the strawberries into the greenhouse, hoping to have an early treat? As the plants started warming up and growing, some hateful insects started eating the leaves... I didn't know what it was or what to do about it...You all gave me suggestions, and several of you identified the problem as weevils. In fact, strawberries have their own special weevil...called, wait for it, the Strawberry Root Weevil, dun, dun, dun....Aack, what a gross pest...anything with larvae really freaks me out. Anyway, I grabbed up the plants and put them out into the yard...away from my seedlings. They sat outside for the next two months or so... During that time, we had a couple of freezes (which is ridiculous...Mother Nature is seriously acting up)...didn't kill the plants, but they stopped growing. As we moved into the spring, I noticed the new growth on the plants had no notches in it... I kept an eye on it, waiting to see the evidence of my strawberries turning into a buggy snack... but nothing happened. This week, I upended the container and dug through the soil and roots...no sign of any buggies...maybe one lonely slug...but that was it. So, I decided to divide them up and plant them anyway... Did the freezing weather kill the adults before they could lay eggs? Did I just happen to catch the pest in the time during its lifecycle when it is inactive? Did I just infect my strawberry bed with larvae?? If a train leaves New York at 5 am, going 60 miles per hours, how many Strawberry Root Weevils will it kill? For the answer to these questions and more...stay tuned! We won't know for sure until fall/spring of next year. In the meantime, I will probably go ahead and dowse the whole bed with beneficial nemetodes, just in case I have not actually created a new method of organic pest management...

The Portland Thymes Headline: Determined Woman Struggles to Overcome Herb Addiction

2008-06-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

It took me at least two and a half days to renovate this bed that sits outside our kitchen window. This is an after picture...I wish I had a before...The landlord had planted about 8000 grey ornamental thyme plants and this little Japanese Maple in the plot so it wouldn't be bare. And that was unfortunate for two reasons...one, I couldn't stand to have the perfect herb garden right outside of my kitchen and NOT use it for herbs and two, when it was planted, weed seeds were disbursed throughout the bed...shortly thereafter resulting in a lovely crop of weeds all mixed in with the thyme. So I, in my "I am the best tenant in the world, please let me do this" persuasive voice convinced him to let me rip it all out and start over. In hindsight, I realize I was committing to a LOT of work...and might have let my enthusiasm get the better of me...nonetheless...I did what every good gardener does, went out and bought a bunch of herbs to motivate me to clean the mess up... Now, just look at this picture...doesn't it make YOU want to plant? This is a variegated basil called "Pesto Basil" next to a yellow (!) pineapple sage. This variety has to be the most fragrant...seriously, it smells of pineapple all around it...I wonder if the scent will carry through the kitchen window? This rosemary is called Golden Rain...if you look closely, you can see the leaves are green down the center, with yellow edges....WHAT??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Who knew rosemary could be such a hottie? I mean, come on people, what will they think of next? Of course I couldn't leave out one of my faves of all times...Lemon Verbena. It has to be one of the most fragrant of the lemon scented herbs. I have to confess I rarely use it for cooking...usually just for smelling. But this year, I am turning over a new leaf (boos and hisses from the crowd...I know...that was corny)...I want to experiment with using it to flavor ice cream or sorbet... And, here is the finished bed...using landscaping cloth and some re-purposed black plastic. Hopefully, this will do two things...one, keep the weeds down and two, help the bed warm up and start producing soon. The other herbs in the bed include: French and Spanish Lavender, regular culinary sage and purple sage, lemon thyme, sweet italian basil, spicy globe basil, dwarf greek oregano, lettuce leaf basil, arp rosemary and barbecue rosemary. I also bought ginger mint and orange mint...both of which are heavenly in the scent department...but those will go in pots...can't have a world takeover from rampant mint. Here are their close ups:

Today, it is raining, again. So, my work will have to be inside...maybe it will let up by the weekend...

Green Thumb Sunday!!

2008-06-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

Yes folks, it's time for Green Thumb Sunday, once again...I have been working in the yard the past couple of days...we finally had sun again. Although a little worse for wear, I got a lot accomplished. Haven't had time to pay much attention to my flower beds since I have been out planting veggies in the Back 40. But by next weekend, I should be able to focus on my little pretties... Another couple of shots of my iris by the front door...I couldn't resist, the color is intoxicating!! My pink roses are just starting to bud... But the reds are way ahead! I have no idea which these are...they came with the house...and a rose by any other name would smell as sweet! Finally, I wanted to capture a picture of my Guem, but the rain drops caused their little heads to bow...so, here is the best I can do with a blackberry as a camera, in the rain, on a Sunday morning, after working outside for the last 48. Have a great Sunday! Hope everyone get's lots of gardening (and grilling!) done today! And if you want to join me in posting on Green Thumb Sundays... Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday,visitAs the Garden Grows for more information.

Social Networking Update

2008-05-31T06:36:00.001-07:00

just found Lifestream.fm...it is a media and social aggregator that keeps you and your friends informed about what you're doing online at a glance and in realtime. It has some unusual social networking sites...one that I just discovered...a twitter counterpart called FoodFeed...You report on what you are eating...ok, this is not Weight Watchers, I am not reporting EVERYTHING I am eating...But I will report when I eat something spectacular, particularly when I made it or it came from my garden...

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Peas and Thank You, or Proper Legume Etiquette

2008-05-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

In the right conditions, peas can be quite polite...easy to grow, very productive, always yummy...And here in the Pacific Northwest, I simply pop them in the ground in the garden and let them grow up the trellis...These are the first Sugar Snap Peas I have harvested, aren't they adorable? I can't bring myself to eat them...they have been sitting on my counter for three days...I walk by occasionally, lovingly glancing at them...so beautiful and well-behaved... But they can be quite hateful, when grown in conditions that are less than optimal...When I lived in Oklahoma, the little buggers had all kinds of diseases...mildewy yucky stuff and miscellaneous bacteria and fungi attacks. The yield was hardly worth the effort...nonetheless, I tried to identify and treat them every year. If the diseases didn't spark poor pea behavior, the heat most certainly did. Peas are very temperamental about temperatures. Bud set and pea production are decreased, to say the least. More often than not, the bud production happened right about the time the first heat wave set in causing a catastrophic pea disaster...rude, to say the least! I am confident that the four different peas I am growing this year will treat me kindly...I have certainly gone to great lengths to help them brush up on their etiquette. A lovely tripod shaped trellis, good soil, water, love...I mean, what else could a legume want?? And as a thanks to my current, well-behaved, podded friends...here is a quick recipe for a yummy concoction I created. Fresh Sugar Snap Peas Ravioli Half and Half (can use non fat) Parmesan Cheese, grated Butter (can use butter/olive oil blend) Flour Salt Freshly Ground Black Pepper Nutmeg Prepare ravioli according to instructions, set aside. Place a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp of butter, let melt and start to brown. Add 1 Tbsp of flour, let cook for a minute or two. Whisk in 1 cup of half and half, add peas, bring to a simmer and let thicken. Add parmesan, salt and pepper. Let simmer on low for 2-3 minutes, whisking occasionally. Add ravioli and a tiny bit of freshly grated nutmeg. Take off of the heat and let stand for a minute or so. Serve. Enjoy!

Hello, My Name is Jean Ann, and I am a Social Networking Addict

2008-05-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

OK, seriously, people...Since I got a laptop and ditched the family computer, I have become engrossed with all of the new ways to connect and build community online. I hate to say it, but I am addicted to social networking and social network marketing. Sites like Facebook and MySpace are usually the first things that come to mind when people think about social networks. But, as I have discovered, there are so many more. One of my new favorites is Twitter. It is a "microblog" that asks you to answer the question "what are you doing?". I know, this sounds odd...and it did to me, too...until I started "tweeting" regularly. I found a group of gardening folks, started "following" them, and now I get updates about who is planting what, what kind of weather is happening, who is having pest problems, etc...This format is particularly great for gardeners...it allows us to be connected to a community, with little time investment...and everyone knows that is important during growing season. I particularly like to follow Kate Smudges...she has a wonderful way of writing... I am also excited about sites like Stumble Upon, Reddit and Digg. These are sites that allow you to identify cool posts, pages, sites,etc, review them and post them to a publicly viewed page. For those of us who have businesses attached to our blogs, or if you are trying to build readership, these sites are great ways to get the word out there. They are generally easy to use, and (this is big) they are fun! I particularly like the feature on Stumble Upon where you click a button and go to one of the higher rated sites...it lets you "stumble" around the net, randomly unearthing cool sites. Finally, my most used site is Flickr. I post all of my pictures here. I am able to share photos with friends and family and also easily upload them to my blogs and other sites. A certain amount of storage is free, but I use the paid membership version. It essentially gives me unlimited storage and other options, like on line photo editing. Believe me, this is not an exhaustive list. There are plenty of other ways to connect. These social networks are built around all kinds of themes, bookmarks, photos, even gardening (find me at Gardener to Farmer on Blotanical and MyFolia). There are also blogs that have their own social networks on site. Amazing...and just in case this seems too overwhelming to follow, there is a site that collects all of your sites... Friend Feed is a great place to keep tabs on your friends...and your teen aged daughter who just got a laptop...no more searching for all of her, I mean, your, postings...this aggregator has it all in one place. Check me out at http://friendfeed.com/jeanannvk. And what I like the most about social networking and social network marketing, and really all emarketing, is accessibility. In a way, the internet has become the great equalizer. We have the opportunity to reach readers just as effectively as the big guys. We only need an internet connection and a computer (now found at local libraries) and we are ready to take on the world. Do you use any of these networking sites? Do you use others? Are there some I should join? Let me know!

A New Business Model

2008-05-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

Wow, this week has really flown by...I was so busy I didn't have time to blog...for shame! I have another appointment next week with a potential produce partner, which will make three...and I have realized two things. One, there is a market for the type of produce I provide and for the marketing methods I offer and two, I do not have enough space to grow for multiple restaurants. This is a good problem to have...much better than not having anyone buy produce. After much stress and general thrashing about, I think I have developed a new business model. I will find "growing partners". These partners will be people who already know how to garden, who already have gardens, and who would like to make extra income. I particularly want to work with stay at home moms, helping them become mompreneurs, like me. So, I will be looking to recruit my partners in the next couple of weeks. I am excited about the prospects and feel like I finally have a clear enough vision to start my business plan...If you would like to follow the business side of Gardener to Farmer, be sure to check out The Edgy Entrepreneur, my business development blog. Whew, that said, I am taking a much deserved long weekend away from the computer (gasp!). I will return bright-eyed and bushy-tailed early next week. Have a good Memorial Day weekend!

My Second Produce Partner! Little t Bakery

2008-05-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

First, let's start by saying Little t Bakery is adorable and so is the owner, Tim Healea. Tim is an amazing baker...internationally renowned, even...he was a part of the US team in the 2002 World Cup of Baking, where the US took a silver medal. In any case, Tim will have a wonderful, and no doubt successful, bakery...especially if I have anything to say about it! Since the bakery opens next week, he is in a frenzy getting things set up right now. Which works well for me since the 4 days of raging heat we had this past weekend stressed the veggies... It is raining today, so everything should be fine by the weekend...I just have to get used to the fact that it is a later season here in Oregon. A long, cold spring, followed by a blast of heat...ok, I can work with that. Right now, the garden is alive with new growth. The peas all have little white flowers on them....I have four varieties...one is a sugar snap, one a snow pea, another is dwarf grey and the last is the no stake variety...And, I have to tell you, even though I planted them around a neat tripod kind of growing thing, they are all growing straight up, using each other as supports...don't you wish we (as humans, or at least I am assuming) would do that more often? Some of the peas are up to about 2 ft or so...and haven't flopped...we will see what will happen as they shoot up from this rain. Please welcome Tim to the Gardener to Farmer family and stop by his blog or restaurant when you have a chance!

Green Thumb Sunday

2008-05-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned last Sunday, I am now participating in Green Thumb Sundays...I think I should have done this yesterday...still learning the ropes...in any case, here are my artistic attempts at showing you what is blooming now... This is a pair of beautiful white ranunculus and on the left, you can see the bottom of an iris about to bloom. This is the virtual arrangement my mom received for Mother's Day...we are too far apart to see each other, so I created a bouquet of most of the things that are blooming right now. In this arrangement there are woodland hyacinths, white, lavender and pink rhododendrons, 2 different lilacs, one a double, and a tulip or two. Between the hyacinth and the lilac, the whole house smelled like heaven! And, since we moved this winter, I wanted to include a retrospective photo of one of my beds from our previous house...taken around the same time last spring. Now, scoot over and check out my blog annex, Gardener to Farmer, Too for growing information on some of today's plants! Also...join me in GTS! Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday,visitAs the Garden Grows for more information.

Publishing for Profit and Influence: It’s All About th

2008-05-17T15:18:00.001-07:00

Very nice article by DoshDosh on blogging for passion rather than profit.DoshDosh is always worth the read....good stuff

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Edgy Entrepreneur Blog on Networking

2008-05-17T08:22:00.001-07:00

A great primer for network and relationship building in business. The blog contains pithy, well written information about entrepreneurship.

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Falstaff; Brussel Sprout or Shakespearean Character?

2008-05-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

Seriously, even I can't believe I am about to compare a brussel sprout to Shakespeare...but that's the name of these cuties...Falstaff Brussel Sprouts...I've written about them before, so you may remember that they are purple, one of the reasons I am so nutty about growing them. Here is a not so great pic of when I first transplanted them...weakly looking, aren't they? But why the name Falstaff? I mean, what's that about? I vaguely remember Falstaff as a character from Shakespearean plays...and I am embarrassed to say I don't remember more than that...note: the author has a degree in English from a private college...and the student loans to prove it... In my shame, I decided to do a quick search on just who this Falstaff is...Suffice it to say, Falstaff is a scoundrel, with a dicey reputation...and apparently, one of Shakespeare's funniest characters...this is all starting to make sense to me. Brussel Sprouts have had a bad reputation for years...children run screaming from the room when they hear they are being served for dinner. Parents use them in punitive ways, "If you don't eat your brussel sprouts, you won't be able to eat dessert." What???? No one stands between me and dessert... So, it seems these little cuties are aptly named...their reputation for general yucky-ness coupled with the comedic value of a purple vegetable, definitely makes them eligible to be a character in a Shakespearean play...not the tragedies, the histories, which is weird, because I would have thought the comedies, but I digress... These little guys grow best in cool weather, so theoretically, they should do really well here in the Pacific Northwest. We have had a really cool spring, but now suddenly have 90 degree weather. Hopefully, it will cool down so they don't fry... And speaking of frying...well, really sautéing, that's one of my favorite ways to cook them. Check out my new blog, Gardener to Farmer, Too for more growing information and other ways I love to prepare them. How do you eat your brussels?