A quick notice to let you know that the Wake Forest Farmer's Market will be open during the herbfest this year, both Saturdays. In the past, because we both occupied the same municipal parking lot, the Farmer's Market would skip that weekend but this year they will be back and bigger than ever.
Produce and baked goods grown and baked locally are available every Saturday. The Wake Forest Farmer's Market also has wonderful theme days with live free entertainment, such as Garlic Day. Come see them every Saturday until Thanksgiving starting at 8 a.m.
Bookmark this web site so you will know what is happening.
www.wakeforestmarket.org
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Organic Vegetables and Herbs
We've just posted the first of 9 videos on the use of herbs and history of Herbfest to help educate our customers on the herbs. Video little grainy but does have some information you may find helpful.
First three videos deal with how herbfest started, what it's about and third one on why use organic seeds for our organic herbs and vegetables.
First three videos deal with how herbfest started, what it's about and third one on why use organic seeds for our organic herbs and vegetables.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Jim Long's Blog
Jim Long is old time friend of mine from the days we served together on the International Herb Association (IHA) board. Over the years we've stayed in touch although not as much as we should have.
Jim is an outstanding educator on herbs and lives a lifestyle that incorporates the best of that world. I would invite you to sign up for his blog which is full of great information and very well presented.
http://jimlongsgardentalk.blogspot.com/
Jim is an outstanding educator on herbs and lives a lifestyle that incorporates the best of that world. I would invite you to sign up for his blog which is full of great information and very well presented.
http://jimlongsgardentalk.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 24, 2008
What/How to Use Herbs, Holland Bulbs, Perennials in your Lifesytle
What do I do with all these Herbs, Holland Bulbs and Perennials? That's a common question we hear at HerbFest and we provide Herbanite Bob to help on herb answers as well as Kathryn Spiegel, a Wake County Master Gardener, to help with your perennial questions.
In addition to having help on site we offer free courses to our customers on many topics from preserving, harvesting, crafting, perfumery, medicinal, cosmetic classes so you can learn more about what to do with the bountiful herb harvest that is forthcoming.
Also included are free classes on landscape desing, xeriscaping, drought tolerant perennials and Meditteranean herbs for your landscape.
On several pages of our website are specific areas of interest that you may want to know more about so browse around and sign up for free information on the areas that the Herbanites are interested in.
In addition to having help on site we offer free courses to our customers on many topics from preserving, harvesting, crafting, perfumery, medicinal, cosmetic classes so you can learn more about what to do with the bountiful herb harvest that is forthcoming.
Also included are free classes on landscape desing, xeriscaping, drought tolerant perennials and Meditteranean herbs for your landscape.
On several pages of our website are specific areas of interest that you may want to know more about so browse around and sign up for free information on the areas that the Herbanites are interested in.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Creating Microclimates For Non Native Herbs
One of the problems we have with herbs at HerbFest is due to our numerous varieties we have herbs that do not do as well in our zones 7 A/B climates.
As an example take the common name French Tarragon, Artemisia Dracunculus, var. sativa. If you are from the New England area this plant will flourish and become a very fragrant and beautiful bush loving the cooler climate and becoming a wonderful perennial for your garden. In our zones we are lucky to get it to grow a foot and hardly ever will it become anything more than an annual due to our hot weather and humidity.
Don't despair as you don't have to forgo the pleasures of this # 1 seasoning herb of the French. We instruct our HerbFest Herbanites to create a microclimate to prolong the life of the plant for harvesting enough leaves to last the year.
This is done by planting a plant such as Colocasia esculenta or as we know it..."Elephant Ears". The elephant ears loves our heat, humidity and sun and thrives while providing shade, sun protection, and lower tempeature under it's large leaves for the French Tarragon to grow. In zone 7 A/B elephant ears is a perennial, lives all year round - but goes dormant in winter, which stays consistent with our lifestyle theme of minimal work, most enjoyment of your yard/garden. In New England the same plant is an annual due to it not being able to withstand the cold.
All our bulbs, Elephant Ears is a bulb, are direct from Holland and will outperform most bulbs you will find anywhere. HerbFest 2008 will be our first offering of Dutch bulbs and one of the main reasons for doing so is to allow you to companion plant for microclimate creation for your cool weather herbs.
When you visit HerbFest we always welcome you telling us where you live and asking for suggestions for your climate. Here in North Carolina we run the gamut due to our beautiful beaches and mountains so basically any herb does well in one of our climates.
As an example take the common name French Tarragon, Artemisia Dracunculus, var. sativa. If you are from the New England area this plant will flourish and become a very fragrant and beautiful bush loving the cooler climate and becoming a wonderful perennial for your garden. In our zones we are lucky to get it to grow a foot and hardly ever will it become anything more than an annual due to our hot weather and humidity.
Don't despair as you don't have to forgo the pleasures of this # 1 seasoning herb of the French. We instruct our HerbFest Herbanites to create a microclimate to prolong the life of the plant for harvesting enough leaves to last the year.
This is done by planting a plant such as Colocasia esculenta or as we know it..."Elephant Ears". The elephant ears loves our heat, humidity and sun and thrives while providing shade, sun protection, and lower tempeature under it's large leaves for the French Tarragon to grow. In zone 7 A/B elephant ears is a perennial, lives all year round - but goes dormant in winter, which stays consistent with our lifestyle theme of minimal work, most enjoyment of your yard/garden. In New England the same plant is an annual due to it not being able to withstand the cold.
All our bulbs, Elephant Ears is a bulb, are direct from Holland and will outperform most bulbs you will find anywhere. HerbFest 2008 will be our first offering of Dutch bulbs and one of the main reasons for doing so is to allow you to companion plant for microclimate creation for your cool weather herbs.
When you visit HerbFest we always welcome you telling us where you live and asking for suggestions for your climate. Here in North Carolina we run the gamut due to our beautiful beaches and mountains so basically any herb does well in one of our climates.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Drought Gardening or "Xeriscaping"
You can go to this site by Dr. Perry, from the University of Vermont, to learn more on general water conservation gardening tips.
We will add the herbs and perennials to not only save water but to grow plants that are personally usable and fun to be around.
We will add the herbs and perennials to not only save water but to grow plants that are personally usable and fun to be around.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Rosemary Stems - Let's Make 'em Useful
For those of you who have signed up for our enewsletter you received a hint at how to use rosemary as a shampoo as well as flea tick repellent for your pets. As promised now what do we do with those leftover stems we took the leaves off of.
Those stems, I'm talking the woody kind here, are perfect for skewers if you like to grill, or cue out as some prefer. Simply use the stem as your skewer and this is great with lamb or veal as the stem does have the essential oil in them and will impart that heavenly rosemary fragrance and taste into your food while cooking. Nice thing about the skewer method is the oil is being released into the middle of the meat since the wood is touching there.
Another use is to use the stems as kindling for any fireplace you may have. Collect and save so when you light up the chimney you can also add the delights of the scents to your home.
How's that for being an environmental recycler????
From one Herbanite to another.
Those stems, I'm talking the woody kind here, are perfect for skewers if you like to grill, or cue out as some prefer. Simply use the stem as your skewer and this is great with lamb or veal as the stem does have the essential oil in them and will impart that heavenly rosemary fragrance and taste into your food while cooking. Nice thing about the skewer method is the oil is being released into the middle of the meat since the wood is touching there.
Another use is to use the stems as kindling for any fireplace you may have. Collect and save so when you light up the chimney you can also add the delights of the scents to your home.
How's that for being an environmental recycler????
From one Herbanite to another.
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