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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 |
Rustic Pouch, Garden Hanger and Moon Beam Trellis are scheduled at Lapeer, Davison and Frankenmuth schools plus at Mott Community College in Lapeer and at For Mar Nature Center in Burton. Please call them to schedule classes. |
| SPECIAL EVENTS |
On the Road for 2008:Goodrich Garden Club, April 8th Hypertufa Container |
| 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. The Barn will be opening the first part of May, depending on the weather. 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. May 17 Herb Gardens Easy to grow & maintain, herbs have many uses. This program will answer your questions on starting, harvesting and uses of herbs plus ideas for where to plant. Handouts and refreshments included. $10 May 31 Memoryware A mosaic art form that recycles bits and pieces of dishes, glass, jewelry, buttons, etc. from the past and turns them into new creations. Call for suggestions of a base to bring, other materials provided. Cost $30 June 7 Copper Trellis (Repeated July 8th - 6:00PM) This project will enhance your garden for years and can be used to grow vining plants & flowers. It's about 5 ft. high and you'll complete it in one workshop. Call or email for supply list. $20 June 10 St. Elizabeth Feast Day 6:00 PM This program includes a Spring Wildgathering Walk to gather plants for tea along with other herbs of spring for tonics. We'll look for wild roses, Elizabeth's signature flower and sit down to tea & treats afterward. Cost $15 June 17 Be My Guest Evening 6:00 PM Making Herbal First Aid Products. Program includes a Wildgathering Walk, demo w/ sample & recipes. You must register ahead. No Charge June 21 Garden Tool Hanger This project is made with copper pipe & tubing, can hold tools, gloves, or decorative items. Call or email for supply list. Cost $15 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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It's spring cleaning time; this soup will 'spring clean' your body and taste great too! 4-6 Cups of chicken stock (canned or homemade) 4 cups of spring greens, chopped (sorrel, spinach, parsley, endive etc.) 1/2 small onion, chopped 1 clove of garlic, minced dash of Bragg, Worcestershire, or soy sauce Olive oil Sauté onion and garlic in oil in soup pot on medium, add stock, bring to boil, reduce heat to medium/low, add greens and Bragg, cook for about 5-10 minutes until greens are soft. You can puree the soup with hand-held blender, or serve as is. Great with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt and rye bread. |
| DID YOU KNOW |
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that: Household cleaners contain chemicals that linger long after using them making indoor air toxic. Consider cleaning this spring with environmentally healthier products. From: natural awakenings |
| TIPS AND IDEAS! |
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You can add herbs in with your veggies and flowers if you want small amounts of them instead of devoting a separate area just for herbs. Companion planting also helps plant growth and repels insects. Try Borage with squash and tomatoes, Basil with tomatoes, Chamomile with onion and cabbage family veggies, also Nasturtium with the cabbage family plus cucumbers and melon. Rosemary will go with beans and carrots, Sage with cabbage & carrots, Tansy can be planted with raspberries, rose, grape and fruit trees. You can plant potatoes by your horseradish plants, Dill with the cabbage family and Chives with carrots and tomatoes. Don't put strongly scented herbs by your cukes, keep dill away from carrots while lovage, marjoram, tarragon, thyme, and yarrow can be planted with veggies to improve flavor and stamina. You can also grow herbs in 'strawberry pots' and place them in your garden area, they are easy to grow and harvest, plus add an accent. Make sure the herbs planted in pots need the same sun, water and soil to grow, don't plant mints or Johnny-jumps with full sun herbs, thyme and oregano need drier soil than some herbs, don't put tall growing herbs, like dill, lovage, tarragon etc. in strawberry pots. They could be use as a background in large pots with lower growing herb plants. Also, when you grow herbs in pots they will need to be watered and 'fed' more than herbs planted in the ground, watch them a little closer. Experiment this growing season with where you plant herbs and try some that you haven't grown before, it will keep your garden interesting. Think spring!!! Cassey |
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