Sheila

I must confess that though I’d happily made arrangements to visit local Love Farms, there was a teeny holdout part of me (the flower fiend, no doubt) that was second guessing opting for a tour of a vegetable farm, even though it is organic. As soon as I emerged from the car those last doubts vanished as I was greeted and completely enchanted by Sheila, an enormous ostrich who was nibbling greens at the edge of a very very large strawberry bed. Hi, Sheila! What a wowzer! [Click on Sheila link to learn of her adventure arriving at Love Farms!]

One of the gardeners in the strawberry bed let me know my host, Bibiana Love, would soon be down from the main house, and sure enough, along she came with a warm welcome.

Apparently I’d arrived at a very opportune moment, as the various gardeners were assembling boxes of freshly harvested vegetables to be trucked into town to the small produce market Love Farms runs, where locals who have signed up for a weekly box would be picking up the week’s produce. Each week the box is different, depending on what is in season. I have seen co-op’s do this in the past, but had never heard of a farm that provided this weekly handy service. What a luxury, and how fun to go through your box and see what was freshest this week for your weekly food calendar!

Locavores will be glad to know that Love Farms only serves their own small town of Healdsburg. So the lucky citizens of this town have access to farm fresh organic produce on a weekly basis, always at the height of season, delivered with minimal energy output. Wow. Not only that, within minutes of my time with Bibiana, I was well assured that Love is not simply the last name of the owners of this wonderful farm. It’s in the produce!

Cucumber and melon seedlings

Bibiana walked me around the various sections of the farm, pointing out the many different crops that were planted, all at various stages of growth. The cucumbers and melons above had just recently been planted from seedlings they had grown in their large greenhouse. Further on was this wonderful stretch of garlic. I found that section to be a very peaceful, lovely corner of the farm.

Right about then a dog, clearly part Border Collie bounded up with half a yellow frisbee in her mouth, and headed straight for me. There is always room in my heart for a Border Collie and I welcomed Tiller’s bouncy good company on our walk.

Tiller–isn’t she cute?

One thing that struck me was the numbers of “weeds” or wildflowers that abounded in between the rows. Some I was well familiar with: mustards in yellow and purple; foxtail (yikes). But one caught my attention as particularly pretty and found myself thinking, “Why can’t I have a pretty weed like that in my garden?” Bibiana must have noticed. She pulled one out of the ground and commented on how beautiful the lamb’s quarter is, and explained to me that people ate this plant as a green during the depression. Fascinating.

We talked, then, about what the top priorities were on Love Farms–to grow expansive, healthy, beautiful plants, and to not fret about weeds or bugs, but to put the focus on good practices, good intentions, and good results. We spoke briefly of biodynamic farming and of Rudolf Steiner, whom her husband reads, and about whom I know a bit, having been involved in Waldorf Schools here and in Europe. I knew I could learn much from these farmers.

“…it is possible after all to come to an understanding of the experience of the spiritual world through one’s soul only if one’s process of thinking has reached such a form that it can attain to the reality of being which is in the phenomena of nature.”
–Rudolf Steiner

Spring mix

Everywhere I turned rows of beautiful vegetables stretched out before me. It was uplifting to be there. The energy emanating from these plants is exquisite. What a great food source! And how inspiring to do the same! Where to start? Most likely with preparation of the earth.

One tactic being used by Bibiana to enhance the earth on which she is living her wonderful life is through her mobile chicken coop, about which I had read several years ago when I had chickens and was researching their living options. As the earth becomes saturated with the chicken droppings the entire coop is moved to a new location where they continue to enhance the earth. I love this!

As we wrapped up our walk together I reflected on how smart the folks at Love Farms are, and how creative they are at handling their business. They have a retail nursery at the front of the property, along the roadside, where seedlings from their greenhouses as well as large plants are available.

Siobhan selling plants to a customer

And they have the boxes of veges and loose veges available in town at their produce market, reaching out to downtown customers. Smart!

farm fresh produce (for real!) from Love Farms

luscious, organic strawberries!

I have great respect for Bibiana and Ron Love and Love Farms. They have a fan and a good customer in this blogger, and I hope to learn more from them in the future.

Love and gardening blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

Posted on May 2nd, 2009 by Kathryn
Filed under: Field Trips | 26 Comments »

Photo by Michele Lee Willson, courtesy Sunset Books from Patio & Stone, p. 189

I don’t know about you, but I see a photo like the one above, and I just want to get busy! I want to figure out what they used and see how I can somehow incorporate even a smidgeon of the beauty into my garden even if it’s a humble rendition. I do. I mean, look at this! The boxwood. The fountain. The walls! The wall beyond! The doors! Where did they get those doors?? And then to have the brilliant creativity to add the lumber on the top. I mean, it’s orgasmic. Really.

Can you tell I’m into hardscape?

The truth is I haven’t done a whole lot of work with hardscape but it doesn’t diminish my passion. I did one flagstone walkway to the rose arbor; one large brick sidewalk to my guest cabin on my old four acre property; and one mini-sidewalk, that barely counts. But I am fascinated, nevertheless. So this post gave me the perfect excuse to examine hardscape more closely. I headed out for Nickel Creek Nursery, as owner Dawn excels at this sort of thing. Sure enough, look at this.

Tumbled flagstone. It looks so doable, right? It is. It’s heavy, no doubt. But what a great way to build summer muscle! If I can do it, you can, too. It’s actually very fun to fit the pieces together like a puzzle, and then to fill in the spaces in between with tiny rocks or something low to the ground. In the area I built to the rose arbor there is a hodgepodge growing of violets, some teeny succulent and a blue star creeper. I do have to weed out invaders, but it’s not that hard and I enjoy it so much. It’s a precious corner that I dearly cherish.

Poking around Nickel Creek a bit more I found this lovely used brick walkway that runs around one side of the nursery. I look at this and say, “I can do this.” How about you?

One thing I learned living in Arizona was to consider using large rocks in my landscapes. Dawn has these wonderful basilite stones she gets from East Washington state. I think they would add so much to a creative project, don’t you? And I love how she offers up a plate of river rocks for you to consider for your building palette! Yes, thank you. I’ll take a big bunch. (How do you order rocks? By the pound??)

Worse. How do you order big rocks? By the flatbed?

Clearly out of my element, I came home and turned for some good practical advice from Sunset Books’ brand new Patio & Stone: A Sunset Design Guide by Tom Wilhite and the experienced Sunset editors (published March 2009). It is rich with both photos and details to take you from start to finish. And now is the perfect time to be planning this sort of project with our weather patterns finally shifting allowing out of door time in our beloved gardens. Look at this inviting spot featured on the cover. How luxurious. A cup of tea? A nice book in the morning sun, enjoying the chirping of neighborhood birds and the buzzing of bees? How relaxing. This is the way to live.

Patio & Stone is thorough and well organized. It examines many materials you might consider using then turns to the likely projects at hand: patios, paths and steps, walls and raised beds, boulders, water features, and entryways, side yards and driveways. That about covers most of the possibilities, right? There is clearly something for every gardener aspiring to create a destination garden. The 400 beautiful photos alone make this book a valued addition to your library. Patio & Stone is the kind of book you will pour over again and again for years to come, I guarantee you, kindling your inspiration and imagination to create something wonderful and new. Enjoy, dear readers!

Love and gardening blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

Posted on April 18th, 2009 by Kathryn
Filed under: Book Notes | 14 Comments »