It's all about your point of view

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." 
-Abraham Lincoln

More on Shepard Farms

I just discovered the Shepard Farms website where you can get all the latest on their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), special events and classes. How about this one: Pickle workshop with Julia Crookston of Bona Dea (the best pickles you've every tasted) on July 3rd at Shepard Farms from 11am-3pm. Sounds like fun..here's the link:
Shepard Farms website

Here are Michael Crookston and Patty Berns manning the "Pickle booth" at Shepard Farms recent open house. I bought the pickled carrots and the pickled turnips. (The pickled carrots were gone in less than a week)

A Taste of Shepard Farms

Last Saturday a crowd turned up to the open house at Shepard Farms in Carpinteria. Music, food, hayrides and farm animals, that's a combination sure to please anyone and it was a perfect day for a festival. Tom Shepard was there of course as well as Premier Pickler, Julia Crookston.  Michael Escobar was there with his portable wood-fired pizza oven baking up pizzas to order.

Chef Edie Robertson (congratulations to Edie for her win in the recent local BBQ contest!) was there cooking up vittles from the SB County kitchen on wheels along with Nancy Weiss, director of food service in Santa Barbara County Schools. Very exciting what she is doing, but more on that some other time. Enjoy the photos of this super fun event and be sure to check out Shepard Farms CSA, and their farm stand. Until next time, fill your garden with joy!
 (left) Patty Berns and Chef Julia Crookston














Chef Edie Robertson in portable kitchen (right) There were plenty of kids enjoying the sunshine, goats and baby chicks
Below is Mike Escobar with a coveted Fava Bean Pizza fresh out of the wood-burning oven on wheels.

Spring Musings

"I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth?"
~Edward Giobbi~

Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah

I highly recommend a garden tour vacation. There are beautiful gardens in every area of the country and sometimes quite unexpected. Take Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. I never thought that just a few minutes south of Salt Lake City there would be a beautiful public garden the likes of this. Founded by the people who developed Word Perfect, this garden is their gift to the community in thanks for their good fortune! And what a wonderful gift! Boasting the largest man-made falls in North America, it happened to be Tulip time when I visited and we strolled for two and a half hours transfixed by the beauty of this place. Don't miss Thanksgiving Point if you travel to the Salt Lake City area. It is well worth the trip.

There were endless beds of Tulips and when the Tulips are over the beds are planted with something else.
The snow-covered peaks in the back ground made the views even more spectacular. Click on this link for more info. Thanksgiving Point website

Garden Gossip Newsletter

 Click on link to view the latest Garden Gossip Newsletter! It is our special 40 year anniversary edition! 

Garden Gossip Newsletter

The Story of Rose Story Farm

This week's guest on Garden Gossip was Danielle Hahn, the creative force behind Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria. Danielle is a Rosarian, coming from generations of Rose-lovers you could say it's in her blood. She calls herself a gardener and one attribute gardeners have in common is passion. Rose Story Farm is the materialization of this passion and a dream, a dream of growing the most beautiful roses in the world. Specializing in "old roses" (European and pre-1950 American roses) and the fact that the farm is organic makes Rose Story Farm a very special place indeed.
The roses are beautiful, fragrant and unlike any commercially-grown roses I have ever seen. Since Rose Story Farm is a family affair, husband, kids and Mom are all active in the business. Rose Story Farm has tours that include lunch in the gardens and they have a nursery where you can purchase the same types of roses that are grown on the farm. When I made my tour reservation on line, Dani's Mom called to confirm! You can schedule a tour, order your roses or just peruse the Rose Story Farm website right here: Rose Story Farm Website
Until next time, fill your garden with joy! Lisa