Sleepy Girl Gardens

Did you know that each calendula petal is plucked to go in our soaps? The whole calendula head has resins that support skin health so I keep it intact when I dry them and for infusions. However, the receptacle and sepal (base of flower) are sharp, so they must be removed for the soaps. Petals are used in the actual soap and on top just to make it pretty. It’s these details as a grower and maker that bring me joy. I love the details.

Just a little rainy day making things I love.

My markets for September are booked! I only have a couple scheduled for October so I can bulk up inventory for Christmas markets. This will be my last month at Nampa Farmer’s Market for the season. It is crazy we are already thinking holiday markets as vendors but here we are. Cheers to a lovely September!

It’s been a hot summer of growing, drying, and getting my homegrown herbals into jars for infusing the rest of the year. It is so satisfying knowing what I give you is what I am part of from the sprouting seed, picking each blossom or leaf, the infusion, and to the final product.

Sunset picking is my favorite.

Plantain is great for itchy spots including bug bites. I use the salve as an under eye cream as well because of its anti inflammatory properties. I infuse it into the majority of my products because it is just that good.

And as a bonus, it literally grows as a w**d here. You probably have it in your backyard. You can eat the leaves, sauté the tender young fronds, and eat the seeds like you would amaranth, but it might be a little tedious to grind the tiny seeds into flour at home.

I believe in using found objects for my garden. I got this livestock panel that was bent from a neighbor after seeing it lean against his barn for years and he wanted to get rid of it. I grew honeysuckle for a year in it, then moved to the garden for my luffa gourds. It’s now my favorite spot in the garden, all for the price of a few seeds and a couple metal stakes and one great neighbor.

Come down to the Nampa Farmer’s Market. There is going to be a watermelon contest, car shows, live music, and a huge amazing market.