Hello Friends,
I hope that your week is off to a great start. I have always been a multi-tasker. When a situation serves multiple purposes it makes me so happy.
So, when you combine charity with sustainability, it makes me do a little dance. The VNA Rummage Sale was this weekend in Far Hills. I popped in there, and found some amazing things to use on the farm.
First up, my new friends Carolyn and Clare were fixing a Singer Sewing machine from 1906. Yes, this 106 year old sewing machine still works! It's an old hand crank machine, but they told me about a guy in Flemington that's gonna tune it up for me and maybe update it just a bit.
I also scored some vintage doilies and fabric. Can you see where this is going? We are going to take some of our dried herbs and flowers like lavender, rose and mint to create sachets from vintage material using this antique sewing machine.
Lastly, I got a small fan for those hot August days in the duck house, a spice grinder for $4, because we grind a lot of herbs for culinary blends, and a $7 crockpot for melting wax for our mushroom inoculation projects.
Don't get me wrong, I love doing deep Spring cleaning this time of year, but who else loves a good rummage sale find?
We just started soaking our mushroom logs in order to get regular production throughout the growing season. Once we soak them it takes two weeks for the mushrooms to fruit. We laugh because Farmer Sam's livestock are the bees and mushrooms on the farm. Both are a bit more passive than the chickens, ducks and geese, but you still have to check on them daily, otherwise things can go a bit sideways. Here's our first forced flush.
We've also been busy crushing and packing all of the dried herbs and spices that we harvested last Fall. Tonight I donned swim goggles, gloves, and a KN95 mask to crush our Cayenne Pepper Medley. We were able to make both crushed cayenne pepper powder, and pepper flakes for more heat loving folks. We have our Greek Oregano (the closest to oregano from Greece according to friends), Gray Sage, and Parsley Flakes. We also are looking forward to firing up our new freeze dryer, so that we can create even more blends using herbs that don't normally retain their color well when dehydrated. I'm looking at you basil.
We still have a few of our Mother's Day Gift bags available for those of you who are last minute shoppers. Some customers asked for a Friday pickup, so we are happy to accommodate. Our store will be open this Friday from 2:30-5:30.
Here's the list of our Mother's Day Offerings. We also have bouquets, and our delicious baked goods in case you need to bring anything to the celebration.
Breakfast in Bed Gift Bag includes:
One Dozen of our Rainbow Pastured Eggs
4 oz Spring Equinox Tea (just launching now!)
Ingredients: Holy Basil (has been found to relieve anxiety and stress), Rose, Lemon Balm and Lemongrass; refreshing and bright cold or hot for Spring
1 lb. River Valley Community Grains Einkhorn Pancake Mix
4 oz. of our own first year Maple syrup (it has notes of French Vanilla)
Spring 10 stem Bouquet grown here on the farm
Plantable Greeting Card
All of this is packed in a heavy duty reusable cotton and beeswax coated grocery bag.
Total: $120.00
Tea Time Gift Bag includes:
One jar each of three of our 4 oz herbal teas:
Spring Equinox Tea Ingredients: Holy Basil, Rose, Lemon Balm and Lemongrass; refreshing and bright cold or hot for Spring
Summer Solstice Tea
Ingredients: Strawberries, Lemon Balm, Lavender, Hibiscus
Peace Tea
Ingredients: Rose, Chamomile, Mojito Mint, Lavender
8 oz of our own Beekeeper's Cut Honey
Spring 10 stem bouquet
Plantable Greeting Card
All packed in a white gift bag with tissue paper
Total: $85.00
Self Care Gift Box includes:
Our own Loofah, provides soft exfoliation
Gorgeous Goat Oatmeal Honey Soap
Our own Herbal Healing Balm
One Lavender Sachet, made from
white vintage embroidered tablecloths
Spring 10 stem Bouquet
Plantable Greeting Card
All packed in a white gift bag with tissue paper
Total: $80.00
Lastly, I wanted to share this picture of a beautiful magnolia tree that just started blooming next to our duck pond.
I love Spring, don't you? Wishing you, your families, and the special Mother figure in your life a very special Holiday. God bless.
Sincerely,
Michele & the Maranatha Farm Team