The Spindle Tree from Powder Spring to the Fall Nature Table

 

 

No Noodles Needed

A delicious dinner of Maitake Mushrooms and "Green "Meatballs." Maitake, Grifola frondosa, is one of my favorite edible healing mushrooms.

Green Meatballs- organic, grass fed local beef, kale, parsley, garlic, parmesan, onions, shredded carrots.

 Maitake.

Simmering meatballs in tomato sauce, paste and fresh tomatoes from the garden. Lots of Basil, Sage, Rosemary, Oregano...

Maitake simmering in cream, ready to serve.

 Green- enhanced meatballs served over Maitake in cream. Everyone in the family was happily satisfied.

A Trip from Town to Powder Spring, in Peak Leaf Peeping Season

Motherwort cottage, Protected by an old Black Cat

Heading South

Milarepa Stupa

Whitcher Mtn

Groton

Powder Spring Farm view from above

Turkey Feather

Very late blooming Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

The view North

Spindle Tree- Euonymous 

Late Summer Garden

Calendula Bee

Looking South from the North Garden

Mint

Between the brook and the road, filled with mint and willow

Powder Spring Brook

A very late blooming Hypericum

Looking South, across the brook towards the house and barn

Highland Cattle on the Powder Spring Rd

Winter, Today

The essence of Autumn~Beeswax dipped leaves and Staghorn Sumac tea.

Heat beeswax in a double boiler and dip colorful autumn leaves, allow to drip, and place on wax paper.

Sumac tea tastes like lemonade, and has a lovely pink hue. We gathered the ripe red berries of Staghorn Sumac and stripped them from the stem, bruising slightly. The acidic flavor comes from little hairs on the berries. Cover about 2 bunches with 1/2 gallon cold water, and leave overnight. Strain through cheesecloth or a coffee filter, add sweetener to taste (we used Vermont Maple Syrup!)

The Merry Month of May

May is so divine in Vermont. The birds are singing, the lilacs are blooming- the air is filled with the heady scent of blooms. My yard is adorned with lilies of the valley, violets, and my friends the dandelions.
We have been hiking in the woods and searching for land for our farm. We have been looking at a parcel, and we went for a walk there the other day and saw bear tracks, Trillium, and a lovely creek.

































In early May we opened our showroom in ST Johnsbury, Green Mountain Organics, next to my friends yoga studio, Heart Space Yoga and
Movement Center. It is so nice to have a beautiful space to have people come to view our wares. I have a Savvy Rest mattress set up there, bedding, a smattering of other things and a kids play area with playstands and a few toys. I am still getting the hang of working from home, and having most of my inventory in the shop, where I am open during some yoga classes and by appointment. It is so nice to have all of that out of my house though! I have no idea how it all fit here in my house, as I am still overflowing!



I have been hearing from friends and astrology buffs that mercury is going retorgrade again this month- from about today (May 26th) through the end of June. Not a good time to make any major purchases, there may be communication breakdown, etc. I wanted to find out about some positive things to do during Mercury retrograde, so I read Susan Millers astrology zone, which was recommended by an online friend. This is a good time to go through drawers and closets, get rid of clutter and donate useful goods to charity. You may even find something that you have been looking for.

Just the other day, right around the full moon, I made a divine new body butter- "Vermont Sun Butter" . I am really excited about the formula and the fact that it is chock full of the gifts of the green world, harvested by me here in VT or purchased from organic growers.
http://www.greenmountainorganics.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=22_39


Ok, off to the garden, and perhaps for a walk in the woods.