Pesto with Stinging Nettles? If you know that pesto is made with fresh herbs (usually basil) and you are familiar with stinging nettles, this might sound impossible or very painful. Nettles make great cooked greens and tea (cooking deactivates the sting.) They are super nutritious and easy to grow. But fresh nettles have tiny hairs … Read more
Great Expectations Spring is full of hope, imagination, and great expectations. Now that we are reasonably sure that Denver’s last frost has passed, everything is greening out. And gardens seem to be popping up everywhere when I walk through my neighborhood. Very cool! In my yard, the pear tree is adorned with … Read more
Happy Earth Day 2021! How do you Spell Earth? H-O-M-E – Yes, we know it. But we don’t always hold this knowledge in our awareness. And based on some of the behavior on the planet, many don’t seem to understand this fact. And it is the only home we have. So in honor of Earth … Read more
I recently finished reading a fascinating book by Judith Flanders – A Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order. If you are laughing at the idea that alphabetical order can be fascinating, stay with me. (And this is absolutely related to weeds and medicinal herbs.) Alphabetical order was not always a “thing”. … Read more
Mindful Garden Intentions for 2021 Embrace Wholeness. If you are a gardener you already know a garden is much more than the visible plants. Soil, pollinators, fungi, micro-organisms, the elements, and green plants are an interconnected web. Find ways to hold that connectedness in your awareness throughout the day. Share the Joy. Introduce someone to … Read more
Flax Adventure In January I set a goal to grow and process flax for fiber – as in fiber for linen. I don’t think I could be any happier with how this project turned out. My last blog post brought you up to date with the adventure. I had just harvested, dried, and begun soaking … Read more
I’m happy to announce that my book, Growing Mindful – Explorations in the Garden to Deepen your Awareness will be published by Llewellyn Press on January 8, 2021. If you have enjoyed my blog posts I hope you will check it out! And please consider adding it to your Goodreads list, and … Read more
Lately, I have been immersed in three different historical books, and the long history of misery inflicted by other humans is sad and unsettling. It can make one weary of the behavior of other people, and in need of a respite. That’s when I head to my garden sanctuary. Humans have created all kinds … Read more
Equinox as a Time of Balance Autumn equinox occurs at 7:30 MT on Tuesday September 22. Day and night are equal at this moment as the earth jouneys around the sun. Traditionally it is a time to celebrate and be grateful for the harvest, but equinox is also about balance. A successful garden is a … Read more
As many of you know, I have been growing flax this summer with a plan to turn it into fiber for spinning (or at least attempt to.) You can read the previous posts about my experiment here and here. Harvesting Because of COVID-19, I’ve been working from home and have been … Read more
