tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33397873699876004762024-02-22T11:08:04.094-08:00Buttercup Farms Garden BlogButtercup Farms Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03016398445716798889noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339787369987600476.post-25893649355763393472012-10-11T13:04:00.000-07:002012-10-11T13:05:17.484-07:00The Dish: Creamed Spinach<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXOjmyIW2bbeNl-oq5qpOr7VgnMBlmVWzqTcbeIGAeYGt3hSC8V86HT2riJDoghEgB_JZeai6lkTt6b-9BaJ2VvcSkjja-GD1B2-kMi62yQfD__M1iFUJ7uvkcuEPzCDjbMiOCOVwsMQU/s1600/Creamed_Spinach_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXOjmyIW2bbeNl-oq5qpOr7VgnMBlmVWzqTcbeIGAeYGt3hSC8V86HT2riJDoghEgB_JZeai6lkTt6b-9BaJ2VvcSkjja-GD1B2-kMi62yQfD__M1iFUJ7uvkcuEPzCDjbMiOCOVwsMQU/s400/Creamed_Spinach_web.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A side dish of our freshly made creamed spinach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Spinach is such a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. It can replace or add to lettuce in a salad or it can be cooked down and added to any number of dips, side dishes or entrees.<br />
When we are looking for a nice, comforting side dish to accompany a meal, it is hard to look past creamed spinach. It has such a great blend of rich flavors that really satisfy your appetite. Here is a recipe for creamed spinach that is one of our favorites.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<ul>
<li>2 Cups Cooked Spinach (roughly one full bag of uncooked spinach)</li>
<li>1 Tbsp Margarine </li>
<li>1 Onion; chopped</li>
<li>3 Toes Garlic; minced</li>
<li>1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper</li>
<li>Salt and Pepper to taste (Start with 2 tsps each)</li>
<li>1 Tub (8 oz) Cream Cheese</li>
<li>1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream</li>
</ul>
Directions:<br />
<ol>
<li>Cook spinach in a large pot until it cooks down, stirring frequently. Then pour into a strainer and using a towel, press all of the excess water out of the cooked spinach. </li>
<li> In a large sauce pan (or high-walled skillet) on medium-high heat, sauté onions, garlic, salt, pepper and cayenne in a little margarine. Cook until onions they sweat and soften.</li>
<li>Add cream cheese and stir with rubber spatula until the cheese is a uniform softness, this should still seem like a paste. Add cream and whisk (or using a blending wand) until the mix feels like a thick sauce then reduce heat to low or warm.</li>
<li>Add the cooked and drained spinach to the cream mixture and stir until well mixed. </li>
</ol>
Buttercup Farms Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03016398445716798889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339787369987600476.post-6526119742116179882012-09-27T19:35:00.000-07:002012-09-27T19:43:41.497-07:00A New Volunteer<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2Wjhlt022eYdF7t05IDQzuGD1J6BnwmbkrxUPp8EiyKfP-gPYrnnrq8P6Z79tYfTegSxq4Abb2QXiuPG9PlYEFAmpqVo5mjRpGFvwwTOGvVam_7ZOoUoUSOQGSNS6O_SzyDm4gYZe1j8/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2Wjhlt022eYdF7t05IDQzuGD1J6BnwmbkrxUPp8EiyKfP-gPYrnnrq8P6Z79tYfTegSxq4Abb2QXiuPG9PlYEFAmpqVo5mjRpGFvwwTOGvVam_7ZOoUoUSOQGSNS6O_SzyDm4gYZe1j8/s320/IMG_1863.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wayne taking a quick photo break from harvesting summer squash</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We
have a new volunteer at Buttercup Farms. Wayne, who has lived in both
California and Texas, brings a little cowboy culture to the farm. </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Wayne
has been visiting us a few days a week for nearly a month. His
willingness to tackle any task has been invaluable and we've enjoyed his
help with our horses and his hands on approach in the garden. We are
glad to have Wayne and his ten-gallon hat give us a Texas-sized hand on
the farm. </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One of Wayne's lifelong dreams is to become a rancher and we are so grateful he chose to hone his skills with us here on the farm. As any farmer or rancher will tell you there is always work to be done and at Buttercup Farms we're no different. We have many diverse projects going on at any given time; we may need to walk a fence line, repave a portion of our driveway, clear out beds in the garden, or walk the horses to a pasture on the hill, and these are just a few that come to mind this week. Having a volunteer who is eager to learn about all aspects of farm work and life is a blessing for us. So when we have anything come up, we know we can ask Wayne for some help and he will attack it with gusto. While we are definitely glad to have his helping hands it is even more rewarding to help him gain some farming experience so he can pursue his dream of someday becoming a rancher. </span></div>
Buttercup Farms Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03016398445716798889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339787369987600476.post-80463061751936718182012-09-27T13:07:00.000-07:002012-09-27T14:12:52.075-07:00Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW5CYB16lBDVw1BRFuu6jmhmC8SFEy13ZZDnRbrlmXoJoRA10_pDRhckKpGNxh0BZhbn-srR1QlfMoqJprjR3-KfxXFVWI1NftZZRK_iAZj15qGxZwtEKe6dPyQIcs3RkxEB5RX9OGvRo/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiW5CYB16lBDVw1BRFuu6jmhmC8SFEy13ZZDnRbrlmXoJoRA10_pDRhckKpGNxh0BZhbn-srR1QlfMoqJprjR3-KfxXFVWI1NftZZRK_iAZj15qGxZwtEKe6dPyQIcs3RkxEB5RX9OGvRo/s400/IMG_1871.JPG" style="cursor: move;" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
When we included this recipe we had an abundance of red peppers in the garden and we decided to roast the peppers so we could use them in sandwiches, wraps, salads, side dishes and sauces.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We scoured the web to try and find an interesting way to use our roasted red peppers and we found a recipe on <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-red-pepper-cream-sauce/" target="_blank">allrecipes.com</a> for a roasted red pepper cream sauce. We tossed some whole-wheat penne in our sauce and served it to a hungry crew on the farm and the smoky, sweet creaminess of the sauce turned out to be a hit!</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Below is the recipe for a Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce: </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ingredients:</div>
<ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<li>2
Large Bell Peppers</li>
<li>2
Tbsp Minced Garlic</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
¼
Cup Fresh Basil</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
3
Tbsp Olive Oil</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
2
Cups Half-and-Half</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
¼
Cup Grated Romano Cheese</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
4
Tbsp Butter</div>
</li>
<li>Salt
and Pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Directions:</div>
<ol style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal;">
Preheat broiler.
Lightly coat the red peppers with olive oil. Grill peppers under the
broiler until the skin is blackened, and the flesh has softened
slightly. Place peppers in a paper bag or resealable plastic bag to
cool for approximately 45 minutes.</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT">
Remove the seeds and skin from the peppers (the
skin should come off the peppers easily now). Cut peppers into small
pieces.
</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT">
In a skillet, cook and stir the garlic, basil, and
red peppers in 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Cook for 10
minutes, so that the flavors mix.
</div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT">
Place mixture in blender (careful it is hot), and
puree to desired consistency. Return puree to skillet, and reheat to
a boil. Stir in the half-and-half and the Romano cheese; cook and
stir until the cheese melts. Add the butter, and stir until melted.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes. Toss with pasta and garnish with any remaining cheese.</div>
</li>
</ol>
Buttercup Farms Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03016398445716798889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339787369987600476.post-79307432304628859722012-09-13T15:02:00.000-07:002012-09-13T15:02:08.182-07:00Our Visit to the UCSC Farm and Garden<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnXNq2Yo8JNPtjNNlAaE4iKItU8sGNw1gL_h9Xb3M-DPkFbqN6gj06knyF61qFhIB90fq7U_iYncuWJo1rF3ZAhOvWZ5g8OTMhL8RRN0h5TKmQj2ssPfWYYbysfc8ufOBhSGefKX6AolP/s1600/1_ucsc_fg_field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnXNq2Yo8JNPtjNNlAaE4iKItU8sGNw1gL_h9Xb3M-DPkFbqN6gj06knyF61qFhIB90fq7U_iYncuWJo1rF3ZAhOvWZ5g8OTMhL8RRN0h5TKmQj2ssPfWYYbysfc8ufOBhSGefKX6AolP/s320/1_ucsc_fg_field.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crops growing in the raised beds at the UCSC Farm and Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently we took a trip from Clayton to Santa Cruz to visit the UCSC Farm and Garden to learn about their facilities and how they operate. The Farm and Garden at UCSC runs a full-scale organic farm that supports a produce stand and a seasonal CSA for the Santa Cruz community.<br />
<br />
I was impressed at the scope of their operation, since I am accustomed to our half-acre of raised beds and their garden seemed to stretch on forever. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Despite the difference in size, I found the similarities between our two gardens comforting in that Buttercup Farms Garden felt like a more compact version of the university garden. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWT85EUGFw4IE3nz-OS1I5Oq__nRuEz88-2r3dd27Rd1grjoCs0KibeM2x4ZlL6_8pZsdxHj3zEPRDmTfFXUuQLM7gmtdZhzSf6FeZ1Btosoe68Repn_FDsj7Ev0bP_8IR59t2YNRDqQ7o/s1600/Garden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWT85EUGFw4IE3nz-OS1I5Oq__nRuEz88-2r3dd27Rd1grjoCs0KibeM2x4ZlL6_8pZsdxHj3zEPRDmTfFXUuQLM7gmtdZhzSf6FeZ1Btosoe68Repn_FDsj7Ev0bP_8IR59t2YNRDqQ7o/s320/Garden1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttercup Farms Garden in the Foothills of Mt Diablo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to Gary, who manages the Buttercup Farms Garden and was an apprentice at the UCSC Farm and Garden, we operate in very much the same way, using the same techniques, equipment and concepts to run our garden. Visiting the university garden also inspired us to see the ways in which we can grow even as a small-scale garden and even in what we can grow for our community and ourselves. All-in-all the visit to Santa Cruz taught us a few things, inspired us to try some new ideas and left us excited to return home. </span></div><br />
Buttercup Farms Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03016398445716798889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339787369987600476.post-39083995830469039592012-06-14T21:39:00.000-07:002012-06-14T21:39:03.679-07:00A Box of Possibilities<br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">I've
always seen fresh fruit and vegetables as ingredients, a box of
possibilities to try a new recipe or share a meal with family and
friends. Now, for the first time I looked at a box of produce and saw
my hand in its creation and not just a box of ingredients. I've
experienced pride in creating culinary dishes that people enjoyed,
but I never truly appreciated how it all comes together until I took
part in the growing process. </span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiM1pL4nc6O5YQ1xCFMaPUJia1dqu1_yNxgE_SVBz4l3hkKj6lpV2er2jGJjJJqSlFBkMNUiJtuzwS_ZO5vPngxOH3CwlrpH1GliAzDNXIgvytMmrkN15t2Bo76U_AntxAl6XgyZeqVOiN/s1600/csa_contents_june.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiM1pL4nc6O5YQ1xCFMaPUJia1dqu1_yNxgE_SVBz4l3hkKj6lpV2er2jGJjJJqSlFBkMNUiJtuzwS_ZO5vPngxOH3CwlrpH1GliAzDNXIgvytMmrkN15t2Bo76U_AntxAl6XgyZeqVOiN/s320/csa_contents_june.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Our June boxes feature lettuce, onions, strawberries, carrots, radishes and rosemary</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">One
of the joys of working in a garden is watching your hard work yield
tangible results. A few short months ago, I started here helping Gary
(our head gardener) plant out various types of produce and learned
how to care for each different plant depending on it's life cycle,
the weather and other factors. I learned how to properly water and
feed certain types of plants, how to prepare the beds and how to
transplant newly germinated plants into pots and then move seedlings
into the beds. Each type of vegetable and fruit requires it's own
unique form of care and it is satisfying to see all of the nuances
for each item create such beautiful and, more importantly, delicious
food. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbR6lM9-f7xYpRpJwjNnT8QgrmSZMQHkUV4ONGi-JkHoSWNIOXUSDspW_iGWt1MWfwtDCeo_B-7POo9n877UzEkFsklMWpVvZfnnSA1k34ktCk4ivUY13O_Bx7akYOVzOskQCcKe9cZO5/s1600/csa_box_june.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbR6lM9-f7xYpRpJwjNnT8QgrmSZMQHkUV4ONGi-JkHoSWNIOXUSDspW_iGWt1MWfwtDCeo_B-7POo9n877UzEkFsklMWpVvZfnnSA1k34ktCk4ivUY13O_Bx7akYOVzOskQCcKe9cZO5/s320/csa_box_june.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Our CSA box ready for delivery</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">Our
CSA is in full swing now and each Monday I help harvest the produce
that will go into our boxes and deliver them to our members. I can
look in each box and have a connection to it that goes beyond simply
planting and watering. When I see the heads of lettuce I vividly
remember sowing the seeds in trays and watering them at each stage,
transplanting them into the beds and spending time making sure the
water puddles in the right amount when they are young in the beds.
Later inserting hoops and protective cloth over the lettuce beds to
protect them from predators and too much sun until they matured and
were ready to harvest. I have similar memories of our carrots and
radishes, which were sowed directly in the bed and required many
hours of thinning to make sure that as they grew, there would be
adequate room for each vegetable to reach its optimum size. Each item
in the box has a unique story that I was a part of and that gave me a
new perspective. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;">On
top of that revelation, I also delivered our first batch of boxes to
our Clayton location and got to witness the happiness others had at
receiving our boxes, which made me even more satisfied about the work
we all put into getting everything ready. I have to say that the best
part of process of growing food in our garden is the joy in other
people's faces when they get their box; I can see the community in
community supported agriculture and I can pass along the box of
possibilities to the next person. </span>
</div>Buttercup Farms Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03016398445716798889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339787369987600476.post-48841044674789999052012-04-07T21:52:00.001-07:002012-04-08T19:46:46.800-07:00The Garden as Life<style>
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<u><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></span></u><span style="line-height: 200%;">As the manager of the
Buttercup Farms Garden I notice that many natural processes serve as metaphors
for what’s going on with people and the organization itself. The garden may have been overused as a
metaphor for a lot of concepts, among them stewardship, renewal, potential and
resilience. But it’s rare to feel that your metaphors and reality are
one-in-the-same. Such is often the case for me at Buttercup. Here are some examples:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Composting</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
Composting is a great metaphor for turning one’s liabilities (waste) into
assets (fertilizer). At Buttercup Farms our motto is “Helping people help
themselves”. We take some people who would be difficult to employ at
traditional jobs and give them a chance to work in a supportive environment. My
main helper at the garden is such a guy. He can only follow the most
basic instructions for the most simple tasks. But not only are his liabilities
offset by his energy and enthusiasm, his limited cognitive abilities have made
him focus on, value and excel in tasks that many others find tedious and
exhausting. He recognizes his situation
and how he is lucky to be at Buttercup. His exhilaration at digging a trench or
rototilling is instructive if not inspiring for many of us. So what many view
as his deficiencies become both his and our assets. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 0.25in;">
<b><span style="line-height: 200%;">Managing a garden:</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">As a garden manager I am a
steward of growth and production. Organization, timing,
attentiveness without obsession and sustenance without excess are each aspects
of my job that have direct parallels to the raising of children, animals and
societies. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Potential of a seed:</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%;"> <br />
There is amazing energy and life in a seed. I see it everyday in the
greenhouse as the seedlings push their way up through the soil, transforming
into complex organisms from nondescript granules. The first time this lesson was
expressed in literature may have been when Jesus comments on the potential of
the mustard seed in the New Testament. Engrained in any seemingly insignificant
seed is the DNA to become all the traits and functions of a plant. If I see the
seed as depicting the unformed potential of some people my life, it makes me realize
how I may be underestimating what they can truly be.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Renewal every season:</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">Without the perspective of
experience the winter garden can seem to be a depressing landscape of death and
inertia. But with the spring comes the sun and the longer days. The detritus of
the past year nurtures the soil and the plants begin to emerge. Life begins
again. So a new year or a new direction in life can be seen as a new season in
the garden- having potential because of the “composted” past failures which “fertilize”
or inform the present. The potential for new beginnings is always there. All it
needs is the same nurturing that some might unconsciously give the failures of
the past. You can decide to water the old weeds of negative self-talk - or start your garden anew, watering the healthy
crops and reaping the bounty of affirmation. It’s your choice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">At least part of each day at
the garden is spent in this strange, sometimes frustrating, sometimes wonderful
place between where metaphor ends and reality begins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">When I’m at my best and open
to the garden’s “teachings”, working in the garden is living out a poem that I
write with nature’s help. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<br />
Gary Crandall</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>Buttercup Farms Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03016398445716798889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339787369987600476.post-64602774883675363552012-04-04T18:47:00.003-07:002012-04-04T18:56:21.869-07:00Raised Bed Fundraising Project a Success<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
We
did it! Thanks to the benevolence of so many people Buttercup
Farms
Garden met its goal for the Kickstarter fundraising project to
expand
our garden with new raised beds. For anyone who is unfamiliar with
Kickstarter, it is a “crowd funding” website for creative
projects that range from music to food and just about everything
in
between. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">We
would like to extend our deep and heartfelt gratitude to
everyone who
supported our efforts. Because of your generosity we will be
able to
expand our garden and make full use of our one-acre space.
Construction will begin shortly on several new raised beds,
which
will enable us to grow more delicious produce. These new
beds are a big step towards becoming a Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA), which we hope to start in May of this year. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While
exceeding our goal was thrilling, a wonderful bonus of our
fundraising efforts was meeting many new people. We were able to
grow our network and meet people with similar interests, thanks
in a
large part to old friends and many new ones! Once more we say
thanks and we will keep you posted on our progress! For more information about the Buttercup Farms Garden Please visit us at <a href="http://www.buttercupfarms.org/garden/">http://www.buttercupfarms.org/garden/</a></span></div>Buttercup Farms Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03016398445716798889noreply@blogger.com0