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tips for growing herbs

i have been growing herbs for a few years now, and though i am no expert, i find these tips to be helpful. living in southern california, i could grow herbs year round and it was luxurious! here in colorado, i have been growing them inside for a few months, but have had a few mishaps with bugs, or simply leaving them by a very cold window for too long. i recently bought a new batch and am back in business with the little gems. they are currently sitting in the front window and so far so good! when i first moved here, i cringed at buying a $4 box of herbs when it is so easy to grow them yourself. there really is no excuse not too!

there are many books or even tutorials online about your herbs. these are just a few simple helpful hints for flavorful herbs.

1. learn where your species are from in order to mimic their preferred environment. lavender, rosemary, thyme, savory, and sage are Mediterranean herbs and like lots of sun, sandy soil that drains well, keeping fertilizers to the minimum. all this will help keep the flavor in the leaves. herbs like basil, mint, lemon verbena prefer lots of water and rich soil, maybe some compost. an easy way to distinguish is by the leaves. the softer the leaf, the more water it will want! perhaps, you plant your mediterranean herbs together and your more delicate herbs together so your watering doesn’t get mixed up!

2. harvesting: new leaves tend to have the most flavor vs. the leaves at the bottom. some say harvesting in the morning is also the best time! when herbs like basil and dill have flowered, that means they have matured…no more leaves. for basil, cut down just above the last branch and new leaves should begin to sprout again!
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rosemary: year round if you live in a frost free area. dry soil, full sun. companions: beans, broccoli, carrots, hot peppers. keep dry.

sage: grows in brisk dry summer, dry soil, full sun. companions: cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, rosemary, broccoli, don’t over water-likes it dry!

cilantro: grows in spring/summer.cool nights, sunny days.rich soil. companions: anise. adequate water.

chive: spring summer. well drained average soil, 4-6 hours of sun. companions: parsley, broccoli, eggplant, mustard, rhubarb, strawberries, tomatoes. water: once a week. these babies will keep coming back!

thyme: brisk days of summer. well drained, sunny airy spot. companions: everybody! keep fairly dry, don’t overwater.

dill: grow in summer. plant early spring. average light. companions: cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, onions, beets. lots of water.

basil: grow in summer. plant when soil is warm. full sun. companions: tomatoes and asparagus. adequate moisture.

mint: grow mostly in summer. plant anytime. open airy spot with room to grow. companions: cabbage, tomato, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli. needs lots of moisture.

tarragon: winter in some zones. well drained soil and sun in the mornings. if too hot, place in shade in afternoon. companions: anything. pests don’t like tarragon. keep well watered.

oregano: spring/summer. full sun and well drained soil. companions: cabbage, cucumbers, grapes. moderate watering, but more while young.

now, these tips are simple and again, i am not an expert. i just thought this would be fun post to do to inspire those who may be timid to start a garden. there are so many different great websites out there for growing herbs. not only are they great for cooking, but have been used for centuries in many medicinal purposes. one day, we might just discuss that! we didn’t go over a few great ones either like anise, lavender, chamomile, but you can easily find this info online. check your thrift stores too for garden books! it is one of my favorite places to look!

i can’t wait to get started on my garden outside. i was hoping to dig into it before i left for three weeks, but that might not happen. another tip, is to check about local growing. different areas will have different species of bugs, critters, or animals that will pester your herbs or garden. for example, the squirrels were a pain in the ass last spring in LA. apparently, growing tomatoes here in colorado is best done next to chervil (i believe, i gotta check that one again!) i also can’t plant any fruits or the bears will eat em up! another fun tip about tomatoes, if your leaves are turning a bit blue green, producing lots of leaves and no fruit…clip back your leaves as the plant is being too taken care of. the fruit grows in order to procreate. it is where the seeds are they will germinate the next batch. i found that to be so exciting! sometimes, you want to make the plant thrive in order to get it to produce. but more to come on the garden beds and veggies! i can’t wait!

fancy flowers

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i have discovered the fun of flower arranging. there are some very talented modern florists out there these days and i constantly find them inspiring. like the ladies of frolic and emmersonmerrick. (both of whom do classes if you live in portland or NYC) i am always falling in love with their work and it makes me want to fill my life with flowers (something i need to do more often). i was inspired to a try a little of my own with simple generic flowers you can find anywhere. certainly, those grocery store bouquets could do for a little sprucing up. sometimes you get that bouquet of flowers wrapped in plastic and although the flowers are pretty, just putting them in a vase seems a little blah. here are a few very simple creative ideas anyone can do.

1.cut the flowers down to a small stem and place in a small vase or jar. makes a simple small arrangement. nothing fancy, but cute!

2. i think greenery goes a long way. you can find bundles of this at your grocery store or florist. baby’s breath is another favorite of mine! just a vase of that i think is pretty. or go out into your yard and look for branches with green leaves, twigs, bushes. i use to do this in california in the spring. lemon tree leaves are great. pine branches. a simple twig too. don’t underestimate the power of what is in your yard. you could just do a bouquet from that too!

3. is your jar too short? or you want to make the flowers bunch together. some fishing line tied right underneath the flower head will do the trick!

4. one of my favorites is grabbing a bunch of jars, placed down the center of the table or maybe a window sill and each jar/vase gets one or two flowers.

Sun and Glory Winter/Spring Lookbook 2013

http://sunandgloryshop.com

i have been talking of it for a while now…and it is finally all finished!!!!! i powered through yesterday like a champ, and when it was finally finished , i will be honest, i felt a little sad. like now what? this was so much fun to shoot with my friends, edit, put together,obsess over, and watch it work out so beautifully.

i tend to overanalyze most things in my life, except when i am creating. i realized this last night. it seems the process is the one time i don’t look to far ahead, or stress out, or generally even think about the outcome. i just let it all be, and watch it lay out in front of me as it happens. i knew i wanted to do a shoot, but didn’t have much of a plan until the day before or even day of. the only image i had in my mind was winter white. amanda and i talked a bit about where we should shoot. out of the blue, i noticed the barn that sits up above the house. never before had i noticed its rustic charm and that day it came alive for me, for all of us. the stick idea evolved from the craft fairs. they have come in quite handy, thanks to my brother’s backyard. the one thing i knew i wanted and hoped for, were the snowy shots. considering there was no snow on the ground, except on the river, amanda suggested getting down on it where the river was frozen and we could actually stand on it. brilliant! the white on white, the way amanda’s hair was perfectly put up (unintentionally) for the feather necklace (one of my favorite shots), or the color of donna’s lips and the contrast of her hair with white.. watching it unravel on itself and work out in more ways than i could have imagined, well, i can now see it came out of the calm presence of creating, no stress, beautiful and very talented friends, and love. i didn’t want to boss the boys around, or tell them what to do (maybe only a few times). they nailed it! everyone did their thing and to me, it is simply perfect.

i couldn’t stop making things either. i did this when i started creating things last may for the first craft fair. as i am making one thing, i come up with an idea for another, and then i can’t stop until my vision comes through. of course, running into knicks along the way, but i always see a way to take that problem and turn it into something else. in the end, i end up with a million pieces. i am not the kind of creator whom spend days on one piece. it’s just not my style. i wish i had more patience, but as soon as i make one thing, i have an idea for another and i have this immediate sense to do it. a good thing or not, i don’t know. i never expected to be a jewelry designer. for the future, i don’t know what my intentions will bring either. i just know i am the happiest and in the moment when i make something, travel, or eat. i suppose i am sharing this, because i am happy to have had the realizations of my process. i moved to the middle of nowhere to focus, and i feel through this experience, i am starting to find it.

as far as the product for this season, i didn’t make that many new macramé pieces. i did try some abstract macramé, which IS my new favorite. i am waiting for more leather to do a few more wall hangings like this as well. i got busy with some new chain and wool pieces. i was inspired by medieval adornment,chain mail, and unconventional uses for traditional supplies. i was also inspired by snow white and the huntsman, yeah i know…i was obsessed with charlize theron’s costuming,. i also started a line of wall hangings and dream catchers as well as plant hangers and terrariums. teaming up with my friend marianne, over at birdandfeather.com where she sells amazing supplies and air plants.

i might be overdoing it in too many areas. however, i can’t seem to stop myself.

check it all out:

http://sunandgloryshop.com

i can’t thank you enough for being a part of this: amanda, chris, zach, and donna.

photos by: chris vinopal and zach driscoll

models: donna goodrow and amanda scholl-vinopal

styling: annie rocchio

curiosity spaces: my colorado cabin

is it narcissistic to do a curiosity space on my own house? perhaps, but i do find my own house curious. i find it curious how quickly it can become a mess, how fast dishes pile up, how cleaning is so hard for me to start to do. maybe thats why i moved away, so i didn’t have to clean for guests, because i rarely have any. just kidding. i did however think how, really, i am kind of creating my own art residency. i don’t consider myself an “artist”, but maybe one day i would like to. really, i just want to work on the things that make me happy. i felt distracted in LA, and besides my kitty being terribly sick the past week, the distractions are on a much smaller scale here. i have a work room where i can actually set everything out, leave it out to come back to, and just somewhere that feels like i am doing something right. i think besides my work room, the living room is my favorite. i love the fireplace, although from time to time i feel ultra guilty using so much gas. i love the saddle blanket i found at an antique store down the street (have i mentioned the plethora of antique and thrift stores around here? amazing!) that sits by the fireplace, i love looking out the window and seeing the horses across the street. i did buy a few new pieces when i got here since i lost all those built-in’s in LA.

the kitchen, has taken some getting use to for me, coming from the one i had in LA which i am pretty sure that one will be hard to beat out for a long time. i don’t have as much storage and i have not been as inspired to cook yet, but i think that will just take some time. i do however, have a lovely window that brings so much light in. i have a few herb plants basking in the sun there ( i need more!!! i do miss my year round garden terribly). i also now have a kitchen table. something i didn’t have at my last place in LA. it doubles as a work space for cooking and general dumping grounds when i walk into the front door.

the bedroom has also become my office. my long desk sits in front of windows that overlook the river. in a way it is kind of nice, not just because of the windows, but because the computer is like having a tv in the bedroom. except, i can’t stream anything because my satellite internet sucks big time, not because it won’t stream, but because it uses too many gb. let me say it again, satellite internet sucks big time! moving on, luckily, all my clothes fit in the closet. however, a pile still generally accumulates on the floor. the bathroom is tiny, but has a claw foot tub. my first home to have one! the house also comes equipped with a laundry/mud room that leads into the side yard that is fenced in. i have the tiniest little washer and dryer and a place to store all those odds and ends. i haven’t set up the back porch or side yard yet. it’s not that it hasn’t been warm enough, but i think once spring comes around and i can start planting things again, it will be fun to spruce up these areas! so, that will be a post to come a few months from now. i miss having a california yard, not gonna lie. i miss my garden, but i am excited for the prospects of one down the road. i am excited about the seasons,and the changes they bring.

on a lola update, since many of my friends know about my life through my blog, wink wink, she has a really horrible deep ulcer. it is not cancer, thank god, but we just need to get her to eat. the girl is slowly coming back to herself. it has been such a stressful time for me. lola and wylie are my babies, and its so hard to see her suffer. she seems to be doing well in general though and wylie has been a pretty good boy too, leaving her be and letting me give her attention, for the most part anyway.

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harvesting california white sage

as i mentioned in my last post, i may or may not have illegally picked some california white sage on my adventure to ojai last week! once, i discovered it growing on my first day of hiking, i immediately began a hunt and a mission… to hoard as much as possible. it was so fun to forage this beautiful treasure, and couldn’t help but to think of mushroom or truffle foragers. how fun to be on the search ending in an instant gratification of triumph! the prize is yours. kind of like thrift store shopping! i have always felt this sense of peaceful accomplishment when finding my most prized possessions in nature. some sort of natural instinct turned frivolous vs. survival?

california white sage, only grows in southern california, but you can find it for sale in many places. there are other types of sage that are harvested and sold for the same purpose. sage is used in many global indigenous practices to cleanse the body, the soul, sometimes tangibles,and mostly negative feelings. the sage can be burned taking the smoke cupped in ones hands and and rub or brush it over the body. when harvesting it is best to cut at the soft part of the stem, not the woodsy part. this will allow the plant grow two more branches the following year, otherwise it will grow none. traditionally, indigenous people would leave a gift like a piece of hair or a seed to honor the gift they have been given. if you wrap your own be sure to use cotton or hemp, other unnatural products will smell awful.

after doing some research on the internet, i have come across some negative feelings about the new age connotation of using sage amongst “rich white people”, or the misleading use of native american culture. we are clearly currently seeing this in trendy clothing stores and boutiques. pendleton blankets are a commodity, even my jewelry line is inspired by native americans. i couldn’t help but to ask if this is a shame for the native american culture? i can see where people might be taking advantage of such and not respecting the true context of the culture. for me, it has always felt personal. i have always identified and extremely admired the indigenous tribal traditions of this land. as a child we were always taking trips to the mountains as a family. i would buy all the indian trinkets and children’s books. to this day i can remember vividly reading a story about a young boy sent out on a journey at the coming of age. the book was bought in jackson hole, wyoming and and am still on the hunt for it again (even scouring my parents basement). it inspired me so much as a child. my mom loves to bring up how i am channeling our sioux ancestor. now, this was a long time ago, but we love to talk about it, much like we love to talk about being italian, even the small amount we are. it is said that my dad’s uncle looked truly native american. this is when i wonder about past lives and the link to our ancestors. perhaps, this is where it begins for me subconsciously.

i do believe the founding fathers deeply wronged the natives to america, i do believe they suffer to this day and their cultures and lifestyle are badly badly bruised as a result of our ancestors. i do believe this is spiritually their land, unfortunately, like many things, violence won. such beautiful traditions and beliefs destroyed and i hope that my love and inspiration only helps to keep it alive and perhaps help in the future through education and respect. check below for some links i have looked into for donating or volunteering.

PLANET YOUTH

RE-MEMBER

ST JOSEPHS INDIAN SCHOOL

morning light

the morning light is the most pungent light i get throughout the summer. on a clear day, i wake up to this bright energy urging me to start the day. it makes the house glow with life and i wish it would stay all day long. but the sun has it’s own way. by mid afternoon, the rays have left a raging heat, often 10 degrees hotter inside than outside.

lots of little projects in the works. working hard on my online store, a curiosity space post, and a road trip this weekend to joshua tree! not to mention the million and 5 other things i have on my list of things to do. when did time start going by so fast?

drying garden herbs

it is getting to be that time of year when the garden will slowly start fading away. even if living in socal gives us year round gardens, the summer garden is the most exciting for me! i am sad to see her go soon, she gave me such smiles and warmth on a daily basis. i love watering her soil and discovering the treasured buds her plants would give life to.

i attempted a winter garden last year, but somehow forgot to tend to her. i have started research on what to grow this fall, but if i book it out of LA soon, i won’t have the ability to garden. i will have to forfeit until next summer. that is one of the many beauties of southern california, the lack of harsh winters and distinct seasonal changes, allowing for year round gardens. it can still get pretty chilly and rainy here, and i have gotten use to the mediterranean climate. i keep thinking about the winter i might be about to embark on, and wonder if i will frolic in the snow, or have a minor breakdown? i have always been nostalgic for winter ( i grew up in northern indiana where there is plenty of it) and believe the seasons have a great purpose and lesson for rebirth. i will have to let go of her until next year when i can give her life again. drying the herbs might just be a way of holding on to the luxury of being able to grow such wonderful specimens…and not letting her bountiful beauty go to waste.

this year i am growing two kinds of basil, oregano, two types of thyme, mint, rose geranium, and parsley. a bay tree already grows tall in the yard sharing many, many leaves for use. my dad took home a bag full on his last visit. everyone might just be getting jars of bay leaves for christmas this year!

harvest your herbs before they flower. this will need to be done throughout any growing period. once annual herbs flower, they have gone to seed and will produce no more leaves. cutting back allows you to grow more! lots more! cut back basil to above bottom two sets of leaves. thyme, at about 1/2 to 1/3. you can use what you cut back to cook with or this is when you start drying or freezing.

smaller leaves, like thyme, oregano, and even the bay leaves can be dried on baskets or even screens(window screens, perhaps purchased from the thrift store?). if you need to wash off dirt, do so and pat dry before spreading them out on the basket/screen. store out of sunlight with good air circulation until dry, possibly up to 7 days.

some leaves with a lot of moisture content, like basil, mint, and tarragon, can not be laid on top of each other to dry (sometimes oregano too, but mine worked out fine. if you live in a humid environment i would try this method for any tender herb) instead, you can make a bundle of stems (3-5) tied together with gardeners string to hang upside down.

if the leaves are not quite dry, like sage, you can pop them in the oven at the lowest possible temp for 5 minutes. you do not want to store any herbs in a jar with moisture, as this will cause mold. if you have a dehydrator, you can also use this. check out the website at the end of the post for more info on using the dehydrator.

to test if the herbs are dry and ready for storage…check the crumble and the crackle. if the leaves have turned brown they are not good for culinary purpose. you can find other purposes for these brown herbs on the web.

store the leaves whole, away from light and heat. crumble at time of use to release the essential oils, giving a more intense flavor.

this is a great website for gardening tips!

the garden grows.

this was the harvest from my garden a few weeks back. i was quite proud, even if it is a bit on the smaller side. i feel like a kid on christmas when i walk outside and peak in my garden to actually find things growing. currently, there are some baby cucumbers that look so cute and frankly, fake. i harvested another squash a few days ago, and the basil is looking large and luscious after a bit of a trim! sadly, two of my tomato plants aren’t producing. i have tried a few things to fix this, but i will just have to learn the lesson for next year. sometimes, i dream about learning to farm and garden! just one of the many things to add to the list of what i want to be when i grow up!

i am out of town again next week for work, meaning it will be hard to blog. i have some fun posts coming up though!! stay tuned. have a great week!

freshly spring

my travel italia post was featured on freshly pressed today! what an honor! and what an amazing adventure this day has been reading all of the lovely comments and nice words. to inspire people through my own desires or my own eye (that of the iPhone camera at the time) is quite a glorious feeling. i will try and go through to respond to most of your comments. too bad there isn’t a “like” button on each comment like good old Facebook. just to let each and every person know i read, heard, and appreciate their comment. and thanks to all the new followers. i hope you enjoy each post as much as the italy post!

i had a few different options for posting today. i try to do as much original content as possible. i have been inspired by all the little green things popping up around my yard. living in southern california there is always some new kind of plant or flower i have never seen before or noticed. i also finally replanted my herbs yesterday. looking forward to starting the garden sometime soon.