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Hilltop Barn houses a small herb shoppe and offers workshops May through October. This barn, the original granary put up sometime between 1884-89 has on the walls remains of handwritten storage records of grains & wool and sits on a hill overlooking a restful view of the Holloway Reservoir and adjoining farm lands in Marathon Township.
When the Barn is open, the owner, Cassey Mieslik features Wildgathering Walks on a system of paths that are marked to identify wild herbs and food, and teaches a variety of gardening projects and garden crafts. |
| CLASSES |
Memoryware is scheduled at Frankenmuth and Davison schools for the fall. Please call the school to schedule. |
| SPECIAL EVENTS |
On the Road for 2008:Copper Trellis at Grand Oak in August. |
| THE 2008 SEASON |
The shop holds new and used books on gardening, crafts, herbs, cooking & health; baskets (some handmade); garden jackets; some lovely jewerly made by a local artist; wreaths, decorated and plain; antiques which include vintage linens, aprons, dishes, bric-a-brac, furniture, silver-ware; birdhouses & birdcages and many other items. You are welcome to browse anytime, just call ahead. Workshops and programs are listed monthly, hope to see you at some of them. Please register ahead for all activities, workshops/programs or if you would like to just come out to walk the paths or browse in the shop. July 15 Be My Guest Evening 6:00 PM Eat Your Weedies, this program will cover the nutrients in wild food, found in yards and gardens. Includes a Summer Wildgathering Walk, samples & recipes. You must register ahead. No Charge August 7 St. Fiacre Feast Day 6:00 PM A 6th century monk who cared for all that came to him with the herbs from his chapel garden. You'll learn to make herbal products for people & pets. Handout & sample to take home. Cost $15 August 12 Be My Guest Evening 6:00 PM Herbal & Natural Remedies to Use for Common Aliments. You have a drugstore in your yard & garden, this program will cover alternatives for acne to wounds. Wildgathering Walk and handout included. You must register ahead. No Charge September 6 Hildegard von Bingen Feast Day Born in 1098, gifted with vision and healing, this saint tended to the sick of mind & body surrounding her abbey. A Fall Wildgathering Walk to find plants for colds & flu followed by a light lunch featuring Spelt. Cost $15 October 4 Create a Scarecrow You can design a fearsome or fun figure for this ominous season with a base made of wire. Call for suggestions of clothing & items to bring. Seasonal tea & treats included. Cost $20 Your group may schedule any of the workshops offered during the year on your own date, call or email for available times. The Greenhouse room and outside area are available for groups to bring their own sack lunches if you wish to come out for a Wildgathering Walk only. Tea & herbal dessert can be provided, fee dependant on size of group. |
| SOUP'S ON |
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Simple Herbal Syrup
2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, fresh herbs, 1 cup fruit base* Mix sugar and water in medium saucepan over high heat, stir until sugar dissolves & it reaches a boil, remove from heat, add fresh herbs, cover and let cool. Strain herbs and add to fruit base. Can be stores in refrigerator for up to 2 months or may be frozen for several months. Use on ice cream, pound cake, waffles/pancakes or as a base for salad dressing. Can be add to sparkling water for a great summer drink or over crushed ice for a cool desert. *Fruit base: you can use uncooked or slightly cooked fruit, mash well and strain out fruit Some combinations that work well: Blackberries and raspberries with pineapple sage, peaches, apricots, nectarines & blueberries with basil & a dash of cinnamon, strawberries with lemon verbena, mints or thyme. |
| DID YOU KNOW |
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that: There is enough energy in the sunshine that falls on the earth in ONE hour to meet the energy needs of the entire human race for ONE year. from: Dr. Mercola Newsletter June 21 issue |
| TIPS AND IDEAS! |
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I attended a presentation this spring given by Carol Czechowski, a former member of the GLHBA, on Fairies. It was most delightful and informative, plus it gave me some ideas for adding Fairy houses to my garden beds and along the paths. I have made fairy houses and gardens in the past and found it great fun, little whimsical buildings, gardens with tiny furnishings and plants made my imagination spark. To add to that spark a book titled Fairy Houses by Barry & Tracy Kane came home with me and set me to building fairy dwellings to add to garden areas and the paths. I'm also considering making fairy dwellings into a workshop here next season or perhaps an add-on for the end of this season in October. Check the website later for this.
If you can't wait for a workshop and feel enticed to start now, try Carol's idea that she gave out, combined with some of mine: Bury half of a clay pot (8-10") or use a toad house in a garden area that can be seen but also is sheltered by herbs or flowers or even among the roots at the base of a large tree (maples are great for this). Carpet the ground inside & out a little in front of the pot with moss, make a path to the 'house' with flat, smooth stones. Furnish the indoors with tiny furniture, you can make some from twigs, bark, shells, pods, leaves, etc. Check craft stores or dollar stores for doll house furniture too. I've made tiny fences with twigs & hot glue, tables with bark, topped a roof with hickory nuts shells and acorn tops and created signs with Popsicle sticks. Allure the fairies in your garden or yard to linger a little longer this summer. Cassey |
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