This week has been a bit of a scramble to get a fence around the veggie garden, hack back some of those poesky damn forsythias (am trying to figure out how to make use of those whip like flexible branches I have trimmed - masses of them. No success at basket making with them, though they may make a passable low fence around the herbs...), have been anxiously awaiting the grape leaves! For stuffed grapeleaves that is - you can can your own then you don't have to buy them :) I noticed the grapes have masses of flower buds on them already - a very exciting prospect! They are wild grapes and folks complain about them, but I rather like them! Leaves, vines, fruit - you can use the fruit for jelly (add extra pectin or even better, cook the fruit down with some apples or it won't set properly) or a nice sweet wine late inthe season. But the smell of grapeflowers is an absolutely sublime scent like nothing you have ever smelled - very sweet and floral and airy - sooo pretty! I suggest seeking them out if you happen to come across them :)

Other than that I have been planting planting planting! Got a wonderful lemon verbena - oneof my favorite herbs. Planted tons of herbs! :) I have really been into my herb garden this week. Am currently dreading having to replace canning supplies...where do all those jars go and extra lids and rims? The garlic I planted last week is poking up nicely! We are  hoping for rain tonight !!

As far as farm stuff...this year we are clearing out a path to make the orchard more accessible (apples, pears and maybe a few surprises), getting ready to make my son's memorial grove and preparing the soil for the heirloom roses :) !! which will serve a couple of purposes: heirloom roses for the farmers market, rose nectar for varietal honey (please please please!!! Buy LOCAL honey!!!! It is vital and essential to your local ecosystem to do that!! And it's great if you have allergies - more on that another time :)), and possibly some rose water and such :) We will see...it's still in the planning stages!  The plants won't be going in until next year. We are scouting hop varieties too - specialty hops for small scale brewers :) yea!! so that's all in the works and I have to say - it is all a bit overwhelming.

I have been reading a neat booki from the library - much of it is just eye candy, but the text resonates with me, The Country Store, by Stephanie Donaldson. "Store" refers to the pantry, not a mercantile, it is your store of preserves and remedies and such. It has given me some good ideas for getting myself organized :) But here is a wonderful bit excerpted from the introduction: " Our constant search for progress has resulted in a world where, for many of us, the seasons have become largely irrelevant, except as a backdrop for a change of clothing and spoting activities. We can eat fresh cherries from Chile in January, avocados from Israel throughout the year and, like spoiled children, indulge our every culinary whim regardless of the time of year. The price we pay for this progress is not just the cost of these unseasonal foods, but it is also an alienation from our deepest instincts to sow and reap and store, to mark the change of seasonsin festivals and thanksgiving and to pass on the knowledge of these things to future generations. "

Right. On. Anyway,  it's a really good book and I have been taking plenty of notes. If you can find it in your library (or bookstore) I recommend it - it is very much eye candy, as I said, but it's informative and practical as well.

Hope you are having a great week!!!

Love

Niamh