Hello Friends,
I hope this note finds you well. Today was Day One of our Riverside Silvopasture conversion 100 feet above the Raritan River here in the Pleasant Valley. Our friend Greg Culberson is using his Forestry Mulcher to remove the invasive plants that have been growing here for decades. He will use the debris to create berms to manage the run-off during rain events while the pasture gets established. Next up, our Forester Heather Gracie will assess the viability of the remaining trees, and then we seed with native savannah and pasture grasses. We will also see what grows from the seed bank that has been there all along, albeit suppressed by the invasives. Then, we wait up to two years before we can put our future sheep flock on the pasture to help restore the soil as part of our rotational grazing plan. They say patience is a virtue.
It is amazing, though, how fast time flies. How can it be that May is next week? This reminds us that Mother's Day is right around the corner. We are excited to share with you that we are offering a limited number of three special Mother's Day Gift bags from the farm and our collaborators. Please consider us your one stop shop for a local, beautiful and delicious sustainable gift for your favorite Mom. With every gift bag we will include a Spring 10 stem bouquet, and a plantable greeting card that includes annual and perennial wildflower seeds embedded in the paper, so Mom will have flowers for years to come. If you need to bring food along to your celebration, please consider bringing some of our muffins, cookies, or our fan favorite Rosemary Thyme Shortbread. Everyone will be happy!
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
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
All Mother's Day gift bags will be available for pick up on Wednesday, May 8th. Please note that we have a wide assortment of gift cards that you are welcome to choose when you pickup your gift bag. Please contact me with any questions at michele@maranatha.farm. Consider us your Farm Concierge!
Lastly, for a short time longer ramp leaves will be available, and our watercress is taking a break for a little bit to rejuvenate due to popular demand, but will return soon. Ramps are wild leeks, and their leaves add a Springtime oniony deliciousness to an omelet, or any vegetable sauté.
We are busy seeding and planting every day in our growing spaces so that very soon we will have much more to share.
We know that you have many choices for where you buy your food and gifts. We are grateful for you to consider buying local and supporting the work we do here on the farm. God bless you and your families.
Kind regards,
Michele