Let's Begin....Again

Each January it seems that many of us like to start over. Whether it is a new diet, new book, new hair style, new journey or moving to a new part of the country we all like to start again. I was just saying to a friend the other day that I love new calendars. I have three in my house. One for the family located where they supposedly see it, one that works as a planner for the farm and one that acts as a place to jot down appointments and reminders. Probably overdoing it a little but all three are nice, clean, and crisp and most of all, ready to be filled. With all the ways to keep up with appointments in our modern world I still like the simple method of writing down that appointment with an ink pen.

You may be wondering what my little homestead looks like and why in the world am I calling it that in the first place? And if you aren't wondering, please bear with me for a moment. A few years ago it seemed fitting to fling open the gates and have visitors come to see what I had growing in the greenhouse. As time travelled forward it became obvious this just didn't work with our lifestyle. Farmers markets became the normal way of doing local business and it has worked very well for the past seven years. My little homestead consists of our home. Nothing fancy but we like it and it suits our needs well. I grow all of my herbs in three greenhouses that are within walking distance of the house giving me a little exercise each day on my commute to work. There is also a very large two story shed that once was The Herb Barn, the farm's shop back in the day. Now sitting slightly unused but always ready to house whatever I need it to. There is land that surrounds my little homestead with lots of trees. As the years have gone by the trees have become so numerous that they often shade out garden areas. I have had to get very creative as to where I grow the vegetables and herbs we love to eat. Bartering at the farmers markets helps supply us as well. I often grow herbs or provide a much needed herbal tincture in exchange for tomatoes, apples and yummy canned goods.

I have a cozy office where the business is operated from, where articles are written, where blog posts are agonized over, where the bills get paid and where I may just curl up in a chair and read a good book for an hour. Its walls are painted green apple and are showing their age but for now it suits me. The overstuffed bookcase needs a good cleaning and maybe some book recycling but I know that if I start that project I will spend too much valuable time reading the discard pile and not getting work done in the greenhouses.

So, let us begin, here at the homestead. Let us begin the seed starting, the garden planning, the work that is the business of Possum Creek Herb Farm and the journey of another year.

Herbal Homesteading

Elderberry Growing at Possum Creek Herb Farm

Frugally Sustainable Blog Hop! 

Here on the farm thoughts turn to how will we manage during the winter, whether that's financially, emotionally or physically. There are three of us. I have two strapping boys that are growing so tall that the eight foot ceilings are becoming boundaries when these two stretch out. I, on the other hand, am not getting any taller and I wasn't strapping to start with. Health issues in our house fortunately are few. We've had a few scrapes and broken bones, but (knock wood) so far that seems to be it.

I spend a great deal of the late summer and early fall preparing for winter health issues. Colds, flu and just general malaise can run a family down very quickly. In our herbal first aid kit are my "go to" herbs of elderberry, echinacea, ginger, goldenseal, holy basil and spearmint. There are others but like I said, I reach for these herbs first. Most of the time I have a little platoon of tincture soldiers all lined up shoulder to shoulder in the cabinet. They are easy to make and quick to take. The kids have been raised on them and don't find the fact that there may be a cloudy substance in the morning juice very odd at all. Elderberry tincture is well known for its attack on the germs that cause flu. Science is proving what we already knew for years that it will knock down the flu and colds faster than any chemical prescription could.  Echinacea and Goldenseal are often used in tinctures or in capsules because their taste is pretty rooty (tastes like dirt). Again, here we use tinctures. Both of these herbs can be used when the flu and cold is upon you and you just have to get out to do your day's work. I can promise that in a couple of days with those tinctures you won't taste the rooty flavor anymore. Ginger and spearmint are our herbs of choice for stomach issues. Tea is the best way to get these into your system and a nice way to comfort the symptoms.

This year, after much thought and planning, I wanted to share some of what we use here ourselves. While yes the main portion of the farm is devoted to growing herb plants for wholesale and retail many have asked "what else do you do?"  I thought that creating an Herbal CSA (community supported agriculture) was the perfect answer. I am already making what we need for the seasons so why not just make a little more. It is becoming apparent that it was a good idea by the amount of response I am receiving. If you want to see what it is all about please click on the link above and scroll down a little on the page for all the details. Please don't hesitate to email me if you have questions.

We just came through a very long election season and the country has chosen. I feel the need to keep working hard taking care of my family and running my business to the best of my ability. Praying for the best to happen to this country but preparing for whatever comes.  Possum Creek hosts a farm page and its sister page Herbal Homesteading on Facebook. We talk about herbs, of course, but I think delving into preparedness even lightly has become a hot topic.

Michele Brown is the owner of Possum Creek Herb Farm located in southeast TN. She has been in the herb growing business for fifteen years.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XDZ2dzJ8kHA/TsEtvzW6vPI/AAAAAAAAAbA/YZb-BQ4EQPo/s1600/frugaldaysad1.jpg

The Love of Herbs....blog hop!

The Love of Herbs....blog hop!

We're on a roll now!  Possum Creek Herb Farm is hosting a Blog Hop all day today. Please feel free to link up with us. It's easy. Just visit Possum Creek's Facebook page often during the day. As each blog hopper writes his or her blog entry for the day, they will put the link on our Facebook page and link back up here with my blog post as well.

The love of herbs started out pretty simply for me over twenty years ago. A small backyard garden (and I mean small) was filled in with whatever herbs I could find locally. Back then it was chive, parsley, sage and maybe a lavender or two. Once I found the few herb companies that were even on the internet back then I would save up a little money and place an order. When we moved from that house in 1996 I dug up over 100 herb plants out of that garden and brought them with us to Soddy Daisy where they lived on the front porch for several months until beds could be built.

What those first few years of growing and playing with the herbs did was give me time to really learn what each herb offered. Back in the early nineties information was found in books and those books were often scarce. The best to learn was to actually find an herbalist, an herb grower, or an herb business owner which around our part of the country was severely lacking. We often travelled to North Carolina stopping at little herb farms along the way. No one was shy in sharing info so notebooks were filled and gardens grew larger. That really was how the farm came into being. The gardens were so full that I had to take cuttings and start sharing (hubby thought it best to be SELLING not sharing) and Possum Creek Herb Farm was born in 1998.

Fast forward (incredibly fast actually) and Possum Creek is an operation that my family can be proud of. We help other herb businesses by providing many of their stock via wholesale, we ship all over the United States through our retail site and here just recently we have started an Herbal CSA (community suuported agriculture) which offers shares of the farm's bounty for either a half of year or an entire year. Please visit our website and click on the Herbal CSA link for more info. This is an important project for us here and we hope you will join us on that journey.

There are many more plans for the farm in the years ahead. There doesn't seem to be a lack of ideas and I often find myself going back to those notebooks from the early nineties and bringing that idea up to date. I guess the sky really is the limit.  

Remember, if you are a blog writer, link this post to your blog and drop the link to your blog on our farm's Facebook page. Keep it rolling.....

An Herbal Halloween

 

Think of Halloween and what comes to mind? Jack O’ Lanterns, black cats, witches riding their brooms across a moonlit sky, bats? Not too far-fetched actually. Many traditions that we use to celebrate the autumn holiday comes from superstitions and the medieval use of herbs and charms to ward off evil spirits used for centuries.

So, pull up the quilt, turn on the light, bolt the door and read on…

Centuries ago, the village herbalist would often brew up a concoction to provide relief from whatever disease happened to be plaguing the folk at that time. However, as time passed and as other religious beliefs took over, the lowly herbalist was forced to hide her gardens and her tools of trade. Witches they were called back then and for many who were caught they often were punished for creating what was thought to be dangerous or even were accused of calling upon the devil himself while dancing around their cauldrons. What we have found out about these women and men who tried their best to take care of those folks who came begging for help is that many herbs and plants were most beneficial in healing or repelling diseases or the cause of the disease.

Juniper, rosemary and thyme were hung at each doorway of the village homes to rid the house of vermin. Today we find that the antiseptic properties of these herbs help repel mice, ants and other little critters that want to make their home our home. The twigs of Ash, Willow, Hazel and Elder were reported to be protection against snakes and warts. Apparently no snake worth his skin would cross a line drawn with an ash twig. Even today the juice from the Hazel twig is helpful as in antiseptic for wounds, warts, bruises and bumps. Of course, we call it Witch Hazel.  Mugwort, of the Artemisia family, offered protection from evil spirits, lightning and bad fortune. It was placed under the bed, in the shoe, or sown in a dress hem to be carried everywhere.  Mandrake, considered a powerful aphrodisiac, was said to shriek loudly as it was being harvested. And then there is good old common parsley. Believe it or not, legend has it that parsley was the devil’s special favorite. And apparently only the wicked and bewitched can grow it. Uh oh….

But there were some herbs of saving grace back in medieval times. Rue stood for repentance and was an antidote against poisons. Rosemary grew in the gardens of the righteous. A symbol of faithfulness, love and purity, it kept away bad dreams.  A bountiful sage plant growing in the garden meant prosperity and good health to the household. St. John’s Wort was used as a protection from illness and made one think they were invincible when going into battle and Yarrow banished all fears.

A legend that began many years ago which has thankfully gone by the wayside was that giving of a cutting or a start of a plant was considered unlucky and it was thought unlikely that the plant would ever grow. Friends refused to offer a cutting and often turned their backs so the other could “steal” a piece from the desired plant. What work that would be today.

So, enjoy the full autumn moon in your herb garden.  Carry a little rosemary, mugwort, garlic, sage and thyme in your pocket and whistle a little tune. Just because…

 

mmmwwwhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa........from Possum Creeeeeeekkkkkkkk!

CSA from Possum Creek Herb Farm

A PSA about a CSA from Possum Creek

 

 

Sometimes it's the little things that make a person really happy. Sometimes it takes something really big that has been a part of you for a while and that thing just falls into place like it was meant to be. I think this may be just that thing.  After several months of planning I am happy to say that I can now offer shares in an Herbal CSA here at the farm. What is an Herbal CSA you ask? Please read on and I hope you will join me in this endeavor.

Herbal CSA

 Herbal CSA (community supported agriculture) Full and Half Shares are an easy way to have quality herbal products at your fingertips all year long from a company you have trusted for almost two decades. As part of the herbal community you help the farmer by prepaying for a full or half share of the herbal bounty. A full share is an entire year (four quarters) of herbal products while a half share is a half year (two quarters).

Nov./Dec. 2012 Readying for Winter: An assortment of herbal tinctures to combat the cold and flu season (Elderberry, Echinacea, Holy Basil), Winter Thyme Tea, Basil Roasting Mix Seasoning, current issue of The Essential Herbal Magazine, lip balm, recipes and handout explaining how to use everything you receive. 

Feb./March 2013 Spring Cleaning: An assortment of helpful cleaning kits that you can add simple household ingredients to in order to create healthy products to rid your home of winter's blahs, Tinctures of Nettles or other springtime tonic tincture, laundry sachets, tea, current issue of The Essential Herbal Magazine, recipes and handout. 

May/June 2013 Planting Thyme: An assortment of seeds and 10 plants to get your garden growing for the summer, full color garden plan to inspire you, current issue of The Essential Herbal, recipes, tea and soap to wash off the dirt at the end of the day. 

Aug./Sept. Harvest Thyme: An assortment of products to enjoy all Fall long. Teas (2), Bonfire Chai, Seasonings or dried herbs (2), a kitchen wreath to snip from when creating wonderful Fall soups, a cookbooklet written by Possum Creek Herb Farm, and some good smelling stuff such as a room spray or potpourri.

 Disclaimer: there is always a possibility that one or more items may not be available. However, I shall insure that you are satisfied with each share that you receive. Weather and other life events do sometimes throw a wrench in the works. You will be notified of any changes to the current lineup of shares.

 What does it cost?  Full Shares are $200.00 and half shares are $110.00.   Shares can be mailed or picked up with prior notification at farmers markets during the regular season.

 Only twenty full shares will be sold so please order soon.   

Thank you for your support of this new endeavor! 

Michele Brown

www.possumcreekherb.com

The Colonial Garden

A History of  Past Gardening Styles

Article written for The Essential Herbal January 2005

Herbs and herb gardening have been around this country for more than a few centuries. Our foremothers and forefathers brought from the old world, along with their new political ideas, plants and seeds that would be needed to sustain them. Yes, herbs were grown and harvested for seasoning the meals, dying fabrics, making soaps and other household helpers such as brooms, but more importantly they were utilized as medicines and for the prevention of diseases.  Today, there has been a reconnection to our past and herbs seem to play a major part in the reconstruction of the old gardens that worked so well before. Here at Possum Creek Herb Farm we have recreated what we think would have been a working herb garden used by the Colonial housewife during the period of 1690-1780.

CREATING THE STRUCTURE

            The Colonists would have placed their gardens near their home preferably behind the kitchen for easy access. Many would have fenced in the gardens to protect the precious plants from animals. A fence of twigs, small branches and trunks of small trees would have been tied together and pounded into the ground. Fortunately for us, fencing is a little less work intensive. Our Colonial herb garden is surrounded by a weather resistance white picket fence with gates for easy access. The Colonists would have dug out their gardens with crude shovels, axes and possibly with the use of a horse or mule. They would have created long rows with paths intersecting each section of the garden. The house wife would have interspersed vegetables in with the herbs. Each section of the Colonial herb garden here at the farm is enclosed in pressure treated lumber “boxes”. They range in size from 8 feet by 4 feet to 8 feet by 8 feet. There are six boxes in all with gravel paths leading the visitor from one garden to the next. The Colonists would have used the rich soil that they built their homes on probably removing large stones and utilizing them for building walls. We too have rich, well-draining soil here at the farm which we amend yearly with compost. Full sun and moisture were all that was needed to promote the lush growth of the herbs for use all throughout the spring, summer and fall.

THE DYE GARDEN

            Several herbs lend themselves very well to dying fabrics. The Colonial housewife would have boiled the foliage, bark and roots of Rosemary, Sage Yarrow, Chamomile and Woad, which were among others, to dye their homespun fabrics such as wool. Herbs such as Soapwort and Lavender were added to the daily wash water to freshen and clean the laundry. Many herbal blooms lend themselves well to the dye pot. Blooms from herbs such as Marigold, Onion, Goldenrod, Madder Oregano, and Foxglove just to name a few were also used in the dying process.

THE CULINARY GARDEN

            Many herbs were grown for seasonings. The Colonial housewife would have tended her culinary herb garden each spring and summer, harvesting what she needed on a daily basis. And what she didn’t use on a daily basis she would bundle up and hang near a dry cool spot out of the sun for future use. Herbs such as Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Chive, Dill and Roses were grown and harvested. Rose petals were often saved for potpourri which wasn’t used to fragrance the home but to mask unpleasant smells from the inhabitants that lived their. Many herbs were made into jellies and jams if sugar was available. Or dried and pounded into powders for seasoning during the winter.

THE MEDICINAL GARDEN

            Herbs played a very important role medicinally. The housewife was usually the family physician back in the very early days. She often gathered herbs from her gardens or from the wild to treat her family. Often diseases such as malaria, typhoid, measles, malaise and dysentery were treated with herbs such as Willow, Mint, Echinacea, Dill, Ginseng and Yarrow. Unfortunately, many of these herbs have fallen out of favor over the years due to the creation of more modern chemical medicines. Many herbs were strewn on the ground of the homes to prevent diseases from forming. Herbs placed in strategic places would keep insects and vermin out of the homes as well.

            As the knowledge of the Colonial housewife increased so did her gardens. Many Colonists raised bees for honey for their families and to sell. The blossoms of many herbs attract honeybees and other beneficial wildlife to the gardens. Many Colonists also learned that certain vegetables grew well along side their herbal counterparts increasing the harvest for the family. And they learned to utilize compost from their farm animals to improve the soil. We could learn a lot from those early settlers that discovered our country. Many of these gardens have been lost do to the sprawl of our cities but a few have been kept intact for visitors such as the gardens of George Washington at Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.

 9-2012:  The Colonial Garden that was created here six years ago is long gone with only its fence and raised beds left behind. It has since become the veggie garden that produced peppers, onions, tomatoes and soon, a few pumpkins. It is being taken over by a crop of Sweet Annie I thought long gone. After reading through the above article again I think the Colonists had mad prepping skills but then, they had to, didn't they?

 

  

Tuesday Update

 

Yesterday was one of those days no one wants to have repeated. My website was one of the millions that crashed for about nine hours. Not by anything I did though I thought I broke it when I loaded the Paypal software (wait for it) but no, it was actually something that GoDaddy did. Professionals that they are I was up just as quickly as possible with no loss of data. You know that sinking feeling that something or everything was going to be gone? Yep...in spades. Luck was on my side and everything was pretty much in place.  I was hopeful that Tuesday would be a better day.

 

Tuesday seemed to start off quickly as the hours spun by. I know that I had a cup of coffee and watched about an hour of morning tv. Today was special as it was the anniversary of 9/11 and I try very hard to watch some of the footage to remind myself how lucky my family and I to live in this country. I hear you too....USA! USA! USA!  After that one quiet hour it seemed everything just flew by. Dad stopped by and we worked putting back together one of the greenhouses that had been cleaned. We rearranged tables and tossed out some broken pots and trays. Now it's ready for the potting and seed starting that will commence in a few weeks. Found out the riding mower is sort of broke but a plan is in place to get it fixed. Clock spinning faster. You know what I mean? 

 

Spent a good portion of the afternoon updating the Wholesale portion of the website. Quite a nice selection of plants will be offered in the 2013 season, if I say so myself. I spent a lot of my time on the page that really explains the entire process. Hopefully it will answer a lot of questions and speed up the process for those that want to place wholesale orders.  Started updating the Retail page as well. Still need to add some products and pictures and will finish that before the week is over. I did add PayPal to the payment options which I hope folks will like. Just email me if you have questions.

 

Don't forget to order your copy of our new ebook "An Elder Gathering". It is available on the website on the Retail page. We are all very proud of this project. I am hoping we can do something like this again someday.

 

Hope everyone had a good day. Tomorrow will be another busy day.  Michele

 





The all new Elder Gathering e-book!



Possum Creek Herb Farm is very excited to announce the collaborative effort of some of the herb industry's  most talented women in the culmination of An Elder Gathering e-book. Available on Possum Creek's website this e-book is so full of information on that all important herb, the Elderberry, that it is bursting at the seams.  Clicking An Elder Gathering e-book will take you directly to An Elder Gathering in our cart.

Come along and join us, a group of long-time friends, as we share our favorite uses for elder flowers and berries.
We've even got a few uses for leaves and wood! Learn about growing, harvesting, preserving, making medicine, delicious dishes and tantalizing teas all using this very versatile native plant.
Over 30 recipes, remedies and crafts are included, along with light-hearted folklore and good lots of pictures to
help you identify Elder.
We're certain that soon you'll love the Elder as much as we do, and be finding a place for one (or more) in your yard or garden.
40 pages, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2. S5.00
Written by Michele Brown, Susanna Reppert Brill, Susan Hess, Betty Pillsbury, Tina Sams and Maryanne Schwartz

What's New...

The summer season is still hanging on but there is a difference in the light and in the air. There is actually a hint of a breeze from the north. The summer has been hot. Okay, it has been hell hot but September is finally here and that means here in the south "something's got to give".

It has been a summer of change and of new opportunities. A change in the partnership here at the farm has also put a change in my perspective on how the business is doing and where is it that I want it to go.  Funny how things get into a rut and then when you give it all a little shake it brings things to the top that should be or could be changed.  Some of the changes won't be too obvious except to those who follow me religiously (my stalkers as I like to call them). Some may notice a cleaner, crisper logo. Some may notice new products in my booth at the farmers markets and some may notice that the farm is in a new venue.  If you have been snoozing through my Facebook posts then here's your chance to catch up.

This fall's lineup of new products that will make their way to the website but can be found on Sundays at the Chattanooga Market and starting Friday, September 7th at the General Store at Warehouse Row (Market Street, downtown Chattanooga) includes a wide variety of teas some of which you may be familiar with and some you may not.  The Herbfarmer's Fruit Tea is full of goodness straight off the farm. Rosehips, lemongrass, hibiscus, peppermint and a dash of orange peel gives the tea a fun, fruity flavor that can be drank hot or cold. Last year I introduced Autumn Apple Spice Tea but tweaked it ever so slightly for this year's fall season. Larger chunks of local dried apples, cinnamon and lots of clove blended with green tea.  There are so many new varieties I can't pick just one favorite but this one comes close. Bonfire Chai Tea, 4 ounces of yummy spicy goodness with ingredients such as organic ginger root, cinnamon, Red Rooibos tea, Assam Tea, cardamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla bean. Contains caffeine but with flavors like that WHO CARES?  Soaps, seasonings such as Curry Thai, and Herbs De Provence along with tub teas (yep, tea you can throw in your bath) round out some of the first introductions for fall. More to come. I have discovered new labeling and packaging ideas that I am having fun using. Check out the booth on Sundays and soon online at www.possumcreekherb.com

Some of you will notice a new lineup of plants that will be available for the Wholesale 2013 season. Pricing is a little different too. It has been levelled off so everything is now of similar pricing. The procedures in place are a little different but makes more sense for you and for me. A lot of it is now automated so you can click on a link to take you to the online cart for wholesale and order there quickly or download a pdf link of the order form that you can email back to me. Anything to make it easier and faster for all of us.  Retail is undergoing a change too. Some of the plants that did not sell or hold up in the heat are going away with new varieties taking their place. Stay tuned. I almost have that done.

Oh and lest I forget, big announcement is coming on Tuesday so be sure to check back here and on Facebook.

Until Tuesday, have a great Labor Day weekend!

What's New at Possum Creek Herb Farm

Facebook seems to have become the "go to" place for many of our updates. I feel like we have let our blogging friends down and hope to spend a little bit of time here each week talking about what we're doing and letting you all know what is growing.

Fall has really been beautiful this year. Just outside my office window the hickory trees, maples, dogwoods and sassafrass have been just breathtaking. Even on a gloomy day like today, the golden light that is shining in the windows brightens every task I set out for myself today.  The greenhouses are all snug and secure for the winter with new plastic and I await anxiously the arrival of new heaters that will allow me NOT to have to walk to the greenhouses in the dark and cold to turn them on. Woo hoo!

A couple of points of business here to help us all keep straight with spring ordering: 

Wholesale orders: We are now charging a deposit of 30% on all wholesale orders.

Retail orders:  There has been a price increase effective with all new retail orders for Spring 2012 shipping.

Shipping Options:   We offer UPS, USPS and UPS 3 Day Select. Wholesale orders are manually calculated . We are also offering a flat shipping fee for orders $50.00 or more . You must choose a zone to correspond with your order.  It sounds complicated but when you check out of our cart and have to choose a shipping option, just read through them and see which one applies.

Okay, I said lastly, but this is really important....we have begun taking steps to start the process of certifying our plants organically. This is a huge undertaking and one that will be more than a year in the making so there may be little hiccups as we go along.  So, if you see us walking around mumbling strange codes under our breath, just know that we are learning the rules and doing our best to follow them according to the National Organic Program of the USDA.  You know us....rule followers to the end.

For those of you that have been following the new puppy named Belle saga I just want to let you know that she is starting to settle into our routine. She has doubled in size. Has an impressive bark and sweet disposition when she isn't trying to eat my fingers or chew my hair. We think obedience training is in her future but a good farm dog she will be.

Let us hear from you!

5 tips for using medicinal herbs - timesfreepress.com

We love to talk about herbs. Here our local newspaper, Chattanooga Times Free Press featured an interview about medicinal herbs.
5 tips for using medicinal herbs - timesfreepress.com

Herbal CSA

Seriously? I haven't blogged since August? Well, let's change that right now. Months have gone by but they haven't been idle months. Okay, December was fairly idle after the Holiday Market at the Chattanooga Market ended. I did take a little time off to prepare for the holidays and get the greenhouses ready for what is turning into a very cold winter. But, in and amongst that downtime there was definitely some planning going on. I will share a little bit of what we're planning in 2010 in the next group of blogs. Hope you are as excited as we are....

Beginning this year Possum Creek Herb Farm is offering the opportunity for local and not so local folks to enjoy a very unique venture. We have created an herbal CSA for those who would like to subscribe. An herbal CSA is a community sustainable agriculture solely based on herbs. It begins in April with the offering of organically grown herbs to each subscriber. As the months progress herbal offerings such as teas, bath brews, seasonings, balms, salves, jellies and other herbal products will be available.

The herbal CSA will run for six months which will include April, May, June, Aug., Sept. and October. The fee for the entire subscription (once a month pickup or delivery) is $250.00 payable at the time you subscribe. This fee will enable the farm to have working capital that will be used for seeds, supplies to create the products, soil and so on. In a way, you as the subscriber are buying into a share of the farm. It's like having your own little piece of Possum Creek Herb Farm without actually getting dirty and sweaty working in the gardens. Subscribers will be able to pick up their box the first Saturday of each month (delivery option is available) or you can pick up your box the first Sunday of each month at our booth at the Chattanooga Market.

We are in our infancy with this new program and while we expect things to go fairly smoothly, stuff does happen. We will keep our subscribers informed as to any changes that may occur. We are really looking forward to this program but we can't do it without you. We do also have a plan for our internet friends that would like to join us so don't let distance keep you from joining up.

Details are available at our website or if you have questions please feel free to email us at herbfarmer@bellsouth.net and we will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Chattanooga Market....summer is at its best

July was such a gentle month in the way of weather. Cooler than normal temps and several days of rain made for weird gardening or no gardening at all. Tomatoes stayed green, squash didn't well make squash and zucchini was missing from the family table. But oh how things changed when temps heated up again. We're baking in the upper 90s now but the gardens are producing like gain busters. Dozens of tomatoes and peppers are being harvested several times a week and even the weeds seem to be behaving in the heat.

We're still going strong at the Chattanooga Market. Oh sure, plant sales are trickling off, but we would be surprised if they didn't. Seasonings and tea sales have been brisk which gives us the motivation to create more blends for the fall. And the bath brews are making a comeback as they always do about the time kids are heading back to school. I had to laugh today when I looked at the calendar and realized that in four months we'll be doing our annual Holiday Market. Last year it was in the low 30s for the entire weekend. Maybe that will keep me a little cooler tomorrow when my shoes stick to the pavement on the way out to the car. "Jingle Bells...Jingle Bells...Jingle all the way..."

For those of you who like a daily dose of Possum Creek Herb Farm check out the Facebook pages. Just type in Possum Creek Herb Farm and you will find us.

See ya Sunday....

Busy Spring Season

I can't believe how fast the time has gone since I last blogged. It has been a mad circus of keeping plants healthy, processing orders, pulling plants for orders or taking to the Chattanooga Market and then shipping plants early each week. Take a breath and then let it all start all over again the next week. Normally wholesale plant season wraps up by the middle of May. All of the nurseries have their orders in and shipments are usually on their way no later than the first of May even to the farthest portions of the country. This year is different. We are getting more last minute orders or orders that need to turn around in less than a week. We have several of these orders yet to go with the last one going out the middle of June. The greenhouses are going to look mighty empty after that. A good thing.

We have been having a grand time each week at the Chattanooga Market. We began the season on April 26th with a double booth. Expectations were high for opening day but the crowds even impressed the market manager with their huge numbers. We capped out for the first time since we started there. Capping out is when you reach the sales number set by the market. After you cap out everything you sell is all profit. The three weeks since then have set record sales for us as well. We're just shaking our heads in amazement. The number one herb that everyone is buying? Why, basil of course! Followed by Rosemary, Pineapple Sage, Tarragon and Bay. There are going to be awful lot of pretty herb gardens in Chattanooga and the surrounding area in a few short weeks. We're looking forward to the rest of the spring season and the surprises it seems to be holding for us.

Thyme to Plant the Herb Garden

Herbs...herbs...herbs....orders have been coming in since January for everything from Basil to Thyme and we're so happy to see them finally go out of the greenhouses and into the mail or into the brown truck. Being that herbs are so easy to grow we often wonder why everyone doesn't grow them. They don't require an enormous amount of space and they thrive on benign neglect. They just need sun, some afternoon shade and water along with some well draining soil. Herbs will often grow in rocky soil and some even prefer that.

In the southern region of the country many herb gardens are already in and are giving their owners a daily fragrant harvest. Here in the mid-south we're still waiting on some drier weather before beginning the planting. If you have been reading our blog you know we're working on revamping the backyard into victory gardens. Well, the raised beds are built, dirt has been delivered and the kids will be wheelbarrowing the dirt into the beds on Saturday. We added an additional bed for just herbs such as Parsley, Sage, French Tarragon, Lovage (love my Lovage), Chervil and so on. I will have a couple of pots full of mint and want to start a Bay once again since my ten year old Bay died last fall.

Up north the weather is much improved since a few weeks ago. Garden centers are opening up and many offer our herbs in their selections. Planting begins after the last frost date which can vary depending upon where you live.

So, from our farm to your garden Possum Creek offers some of the healthiest and strongest herb plants on the market. Try some in your garden this spring. www.possumcreekherb.com/shop.html or if you live in the Chattanooga area come see us at the Chattanooga Market every Sunday from 11:00-4:00 (eastern) beginning April 26th.

Mail Order - Gardens in a box

Mail-order Herb Plants….Garden in a Box

By now the avalanche of seed and plant catalogs has tapered off to a trickle. The mound of magazines beside the chair pulled up close to the fireplace is almost all in the recycle bin and your orders are winging their way via mail, internet or phone to your favorite herb and perennial companies. And you are sitting back and waiting on the boxes of lovely plants to come to the door. Let me ask you something. Ever been disappointed when you opened that box of plants that you paid a lot of money for? Sure you have. We all have. We have all fallen under the spell of the plant catalog with those big, glossy pictures of full size plants and the sexy description that always follows. And we are so sucked in to buying those pretty pictures. We anxiously await the UPS or FedEx dude to bring our treasures only to find very small and very UN-like the picture plants. Ah yes, we have ALL been there before.

Here are some tried and true suggestions when ordering from mail-order plant companies to insure that you are receiving healthy and happy plants. And that said plants will grow and prosper in your garden or in pots on your deck. First and probably most importantly, get to know the people who are growing the plants for you. That may mean letting go of the well-known plant company and finding a small, family owned company. Chances are when you call a smaller company; the owner will most likely be the person answering the phone. If not, there is without a doubt, that if you will leave a message, the owner will call you back as soon as she can wash the dirt off of her hands and get to the phone. Ask questions about the plants such as will they grow in my zone? How big are the plants at the time of shipping? This is important because in your mind you are seeing those slick pictures of full size plants and that’s what you want. Full size plants will not be what are in the box upon arrival. Plants should be, on average five to size inches tall if you had ordered say Rosemary for example. If you ordered Thyme the pot should be quite full and lush. Ask how the plants will be shipped? Which carrier is bringing it and what will they charge? We all know shipping rates are expensive and I truly do not see that changing anytime soon. However, be aware that some plant companies charge shipping and HANDLING which will be added to the total. Or some companies will add a few bucks to the total to cover the cost of the packing materials. Not all companies do this and the ones that do should indicate their practices somewhere on their website or in their catalog. Find out too, if the company you are ordering from is using recycled material. Getting a box full of packing peanuts can be quite irritating. But if plants are gently but firmly wrapped in newspaper and laid in a cardboard box sturdy enough to withstand the worst UPS driver’s handling then that might be more environmentally friendly.

Timing is everything when ordering via mail-order. We all get antsy in January and start placing our orders. Disappointment sets in when we find out we are not going to get our plants until the weather is just right in our part of the country. And that is as it should be. If a plant company is shipping plants in January then they had better be packing those babies in fur booties. Some companies do ship plants in winter but for the most part they are shipping to greenhouses and the greenhouse operator is aware they are coming and are willing to pay for the quicker shipping. Usually in that case an order was placed many months ago and the order has been divided up into multiple deliveries. When ordering from a website, utilize the comments section. Tell the company when you would like your order and if you will accept substitutions. Plant companies do not hire mind readers. So, if there is nothing noted in the comments section very likely someone is guessing when you would really like your plants.

Okay, it is now March going into April. The weather is balmy in much of the regions of the U.S. and the UPS and FedEx drivers are starting to make their deliveries with your precious plant orders. Now what? First, if you are expecting a plant order keep an eye out for a box. You never know where the driver might stick it. Front door, back door, basement door, garage door is all the same as “to the door” with delivery drivers so look for your box. Carefully pull or cut the tape away from your box using a knife or scissors. Don’t stab into the box. You might stab into a plant. Find the packing list or a copy of the order. There should be one attached to the outside of the box or tucked inside on top. Begin pulling out the packing material and unwrap every plant. Do this the same day it was delivered. Make sure you got what you ordered. Each plant should have a tag or possibly the name of the plant is written on the material used to wrap the plant. If it is fairly warm outside, put the plants in a shady area like under a deck or on a shady porch. Give them all a little drink and leave them alone for a few days. If it is brisk and cool outside, do this in your basement or garage. Look at each plant to be sure that there is a good stem with several leaves. Some plants hate to be in the dark, hate to travel, and are really fragile. The plant company does everything they can to insure a plant will make it to your house, but there are those times when stuff just happens. The stem breaks or there might be other damage. Yellow leaves do not count as damage. That’s the plants defensive mechanism kicking in. The leaves will fall off and new growth will not be far behind. Once the plants have settled in to their new environment and have hardened off they are ready to plant. Recycle the packing material and enjoy your new plants.
You may be wondering why we know so much about the mail-order plant business. It’s because that is what we do. For eleven years Possum Creek Herb Farm has strived to grow, sell, and ship healthy plants that will survive a trip in the back of the brown truck and arrive alive at your home. We are very conscientious of what it takes to wrap and pack one plant or a hundred and one plants so that breakage is at a minimum. You will not get over fed, over watered or plants sprayed with non-organic pesticides from us. Dinky little plants do not get shipped. It is just our rule and we hold ourselves to it. We do answer the phone when it rings and we do return messages if they are left on our voicemail or email. And we love to answer questions about the plants you want to purchase so ask us. And use that comments section on our website. Get to know us. You might just throw all of those catalogs away in January knowing that when you are ordering herbs and perennials from Possum Creek Herb Farm you are getting a little bit of Pat and Michele in every plant you purchase. Article excerpt March/April 2009 issue The Essential Herbal Magazine

Lemon Verbena

Lemon Verbena

Aloysia citriodora
Family: verbenaceae
Shrub to 8 feet
Hardiness Zone 8

In the language of flowers, Lemon Verbena, means “enchantment”.

History:
Highly favored by Victorian ladies during the heat of summer, they placed leaves in handkerchiefs so they could inhale the lemony scent to ease the symptoms of heat. Leaves were also placed in water bowls to scent the air bringing about the “finger bowl” which is passed around the dinner table between courses to refresh and cleanse the fingers.

Lemon Verbena is a shrub with arching stems that branch out to narrow, sharply pointed pale green leaves that are whorled in groups of three and four. Blooms are not scented and though small, appear in July and August to give a clear white color to the top of the plant.

Lemon Verbena was named in 1784 to honor Maria Luisa, wife of King Charles IV of Spain and refers to the perfect lemony scent of the leaves. Possum Creek Herb Farm considers Lemon Verbena to be the best of the lemon scented herbs. It has such a true lemon scent that it lends itself to a multitude of tasks.

Cultivated for perfume, essential oil, absolute and concrete’. Leaves are cultivated for tea, potpourri, sachet and flavoring of food. Extracts and tinctures are used in the formulation of liqueurs. Lemon Verbena oil is considered GRAS (generally regarded as safe).

Constituents: Antifungal, analgesic and anti-diarrhea

Cultivation:
Hardy to Zone 8. Frost and wind protection is needed. Most gardeners treat Lemon Verbena as a tender perennial and bring the plants inside during the winter months. Plants grown in cool greenhouses lose their leaves through winter only to leaf back out in the warmth of spring. A neutral ph and well draining soil is best for this plant which does best in full sun. Susceptible to spider mites and white fly in hot, dry conditions.

Propagation: Cuttings from new growth. Layering has also been successful.

Lemon Verbena Potpourri
30 drops of Lemon Verbena essential oil
20 drops of Lemon Balm essential oil
5 drops Orange essential oil
5 drops Lavender essential oil
1/3 cup Orrisroot or oak moss sifted
3 cups Lemon Verbena leaves
2 cups Calendula flowers or yellow rose petals
¾ cup dried lemon peel ribbons
½ cup lemon scented geranium leaves

Add oils to orrisroot or oak moss and blend. Oils should rest for several days with the orrisroot or oak moss. Add oil blend to botanical and gently mix. Store in covered container for three weeks being sure to mix gently each day.

Finger Bowl
Small, pretty glass bowl
Several clean Lemon Verbena leaves
Water
Float three to four leaves in a bowl of water. Pass around the dinner table between courses with a clean towel.

Tea Blend-by the cup
6-8 Lemon Verbena leaves
2-3 Lemon Balm leaves
2-3 Orange mint leaves
½ teaspoon dried Ginger
2-3 whole cloves
Place blend in tea or muslin bag and place in mug. Pour just boiling water over the bag and let bag simmer for five to six minutes. Creates a very warming tea that is great for winter. For summer simmer the tea for ten minutes, remove bag and add ice.

Creating an Herbal Wedding Bouquet

Herb gardens are indeed magic and with some special planning a very aromatic and symbolic bouquet can be conjured up from the earth. All brides dream of a bouquet that is unique and different and a herbal bouquet fulfils that desire. The herbs that we want to use are not readily available at your local florist, so we will have to grow the herbs ourselves. A homegrown wedding bouquet will keep the guests talking for months while they remember the fragrance, beauty and folklore.

The flowers and herbs have their own language:
Rosemary- for remembrance
Sage- virtue and esteem
Lavender- best wishes
Myrtle (Myrtus communis microphylla)- a symbol of love and fertility
Ivy- friendship
Globe amaranth- unfading love
Mint- virtue
Roses- love
Even the colour of the rose has meaning:
White roses signify simplicity
White and Red roses together- unity
Multiflora rose- grace

There are a number of great books about "The Language of Flowers," although after reading many they sometimes contradict each other. All of the herbs and flowers for this project should be harvested early in the morning or in the evening, when they are full of moisture. Take clean containers of water with you out to the garden. Use a sharp knife to cut the stems on a slant. Remove any lower leaves and thorns. Let the floral material stand in clean tepid water for at least two hours, or ideally, overnight. This conditions the flowers so they will not wilt. The old fashioned fragrant roses are the best, but if you feel uneasy about the blooming time and the quality, order them from the florist. You will also need two or three stems of baby's breath. There are many different types of bouquets, tussie mussie and cascade styles are the prettiest with herbs. Tussie mussies are round, easy to design and very attractive. The bouquet begins with a rose bud in the middle that you carefully surround with circlets of the wedding herbs- rosemary, lavender, more roses, mint, myrtle, ivy, baby's breath and a circle of leaves (perhaps scented geranium or woolly lambs ear). Add a lace bow and place the flowers in a special tussie mussie holder or wrap the stems in an antique handkerchief. The traditional shape is a cascade design. Cascade is basically a round circle with trailing material at the bottom to create a vee shape.

What you will need:
1 colonial type oasis posy holder (at any florist)
3 feet of lace
1 antique handkerchief / tatting / special article that can be added to the bow
1 florist wire
1 florist pick
1 dozen roses
10 to 15 sage stems (I like to use a fruit- scented sage)
10 to 15 rosemary stems
15 to 20 lavender blossoms on long stems
3 to 5 stems of myrtle
3 long sprigs of ivy (12",15",17")
6 shorter sprigs of ivy (approx. 6")
3 or 4 stems of baby's breath (approx. 5")
Start by fashioning the bow. It can be made ahead of time. If you are having difficulties, have someone else make it for you. Just keep in mind the size of the finished bouquet- you don't want the bow to be overpowering. Incorporate into the bow a lace handkerchief from Great Grandmother or an antique ribbon or tatting done by a family member to give that special flavour of heritage. Tie "Victorian Love Knots" in narrow ribbon; as you tie in the knots repeat the bride and groom's names 3 times which is a symbol of luck for the bridal couple. Now the fun begins! Soak the posy holder in water until saturated. Place in a bouquet stand so the holder will be off the work area. If you don't have a store bought stand use a tall, narrow vase to get the posy holder up into the air.

Have all your conditioned floral material gathered in separate vases or jars. When I harvest the herbs and flowers I gently secure the stems with an elastic band. When it's time to work with them, the elastic is cut making the stems easy to handle. Place the greenery first. Rosemary sprigs can be gently pushed into the oasis (about 1/2"). Do this at quarter intervals around the posy holder. Repeat with the other green herbs each time in a new section: be very symmetrical. Always balance the stems opposite each other. To give the bouquet depth start in the outside perimeter. Then when the outside perimeter is full, start placing the greens in the middle. Insert the 3 long pieces of ivy into the bottom to establish the length of the cascade. The shorter ivy is to be placed throughout the top circle space. The shorter roses should be placed into the middle area to form a pleasing circle. Make sure there is a rose just off the centre point and all the rest will fall into place. Save 3 or 4 longer roses to repeat the line of the cascade with the ivy. Gather together 3 stems of lavender at a time and place throughout the bouquet. Use the baby's breath and any other herbs and flowers you wish to add to fill in any gaps.Mist the bouquet well and add the bow that has been attached to the florist pick. Carefully push the pick into the oasis about 2/3 down the design, until it feels well secured. Place your finished HERBAL WEDDING BOUQUET in the refrigerator until picture thyme!!

If you feel that you have more of a green thumb than a creative one, why not grow the herbs and flowers and ask a florist to design the bouquet for you.
Oh yes, and after the wedding you may want to root some of the ivy, myrtle, mint and rosemary for the next HERBAL WEDDING BOUQUET.

SUGGESTED READING
· The Victorian Language of Herbs & Flowers, by Kathleen Gips, TM Publications, Chagrin Falls, OH 1990
· HERBS for Weddings & Other Celebrations , by Bertha Reppert , Storey communications, Inc. 1993
· Tussie - Mussies , by Geraldine Adamich Laufer , Workman Publishing, NY. 1993
. Planning an Herbal Wedding, request by emailing us at herbfarmer@bellsouth.net

Gardening with Kids

Earthworms, dirt and kids. Nothing is more fun than gardening with a child. Whether it is creating an elaborate sunflower bower or a bean teepee or a zinnia zoo, children gravitate to the soil and let their imagination take over.

Herbs lend themselves well to gardening with children. All of those textures, shapes and scents give children hours of enjoyment. What child hasn’t come running to a parent or grandparent and said “I know where the fairies live” and take you to look under the lamb’s ears. Some herbs that children find enjoyable are lavender, pineapple sage, mint, Johnny Jump-ups, Love in a Mist, Thyme and Scented Geraniums. Little girls love using the leaves to make little dresses or cups to hold tea for that special party. Little boys love sailing leaves down a stream or making airplanes.

There are no special tools when it comes to gardening with children. A little time and patience, some large seeds or sturdy little plants and a shovel is all that is needed. Children love to see things grow and to be able to take care of something that is all theirs. Remind them to water and tend their seedlings and plants and watch them nurture that plant until it is grown. Make sure to put a tag with the child’s name on it next to the plant to remind everyone whose it is. You will indeed make them proud.

To make a sunflower bower sow several tall growing sunflower seeds around each leg of a tripod. As the sunflowers grow gently wind them around each pole all the way to the top. The tripod will fill in with the leafy sunflowers and the flowers will cover the “roof”.
Here at the farm we are growing our sunflowers all around the little green playhouse. Won’t it be pretty? And we will make the birds happy too.

Swamp Water
A large cooler
Lots of ice
Lots of fresh herbs…mints, pineapple sage, anise hyssop, lemongrass, lemon verbena, rose petals (unsprayed), monarda and edible flowers
Early in the morning add ice and fresh herbs to the cooler. Let it all steep together for several hours. A delightfully cool drink loved by kids and adults too.

Fairy Gardens

A Fairy Garden

Whether large or small, creating a fairy garden is the perfect activity for the creative gardener. We chose to make a small one that a child would enjoy playing with and rearranging. We took a large but shallow terra-cotta container with a drainage hole in the bottom. If your pot doesn’t have a drainage hole, drill a few smaller holes with a masonry bit attached to a drill. Fill the container with a good light-weight soil mixture. We create our own blend here at the farm which is a mixture of a light soil less blend, a few handfuls each of vermiculite and perlite, and a handful of sterile sand and composted worm manure. Make sure it is moist before you begin planting. The soil should come to just below the top of the container.

Now for the fun part. Herbs incorporate themselves well into a fairy garden. They do not grow too quickly and if they get straggly, a little trim is all that is needed to keep things neat. Fairies require places to hide so incorporate some taller bushy herbs and plant them at the back of the container. We chose Rosemary 'Arp' and Rosemary 'Cascade' as the “forest”. They also enjoy soft places to rest upon after play. We chose ‘Magic Carpet’ Thyme and ‘Elfin’ Thyme for the carpet and planted it near the shade of the Rosemary. Johnny Jump Ups and Pansies added color and gives the fairies material for their skirts and caps. We added a few garden tools, a bench and tiny pots so the fairies could complete their gardening chores. A pebble pathway leading to a little clump of lavender completes the miniature garden. Gentle watering of the container is needed daily. Container should be kept in partial shade to be enjoyed by the wee folk and the larger folk.