growing grace farm
gardening + spirituality + homesteading + creation care
Tag: summer
Lessons Learned: Be Love
On Friday, we promised the younger gardener-in-residence that we would take a trip up to Graveyard Fields on the Blue Ridge Parkway and pick blueberries. Hiking to pick mountain berries is a tradition for many families in our area, and now that the word… Continue Reading “Lessons Learned: Be Love”
Nourish then Flourish
I have recently joined a collective of artists, writers, and practitioners who trust in the therapeutic aspect of nature and creation. Each in our own way, we believe that intentionally spending time with nature creates opportunities for growth, healing, inspiration and restoration. Rebecca Lefebvre… Continue Reading “Nourish then Flourish”
lessons learned: hydrangeas and healing
Last night as I transplanted a hydrangea my mom gave me for Easter, this meditation came back to my heart. Thought I would repost it this morning. ~cameron We human beings are like plants. We need to be cared for in order to grow and… Continue Reading “lessons learned: hydrangeas and healing”
feb 2017, dear cameron. . .
February 2017 Dear Cameron, I know you are busily approaching Spring 2017 with much excitement and anticipation of a full summer garden. You are dreaming of expanding your homestead even bigger, maximizing sun space and growing plants vertically. You are imagining arms full of… Continue Reading “feb 2017, dear cameron. . .”
healing
Some days when the scars in my soul remind me they are there, I go out into creation and just be with my God. I am reminded that there is beauty in each and every living thing, even myself.
a story to tell
After I arrived home from work tonight, I journeyed my away around the gardens. It is amazing how an early afternoon shower then warm sun can perk up the plants and stimulate new growth. As I made my away around each bed, I reflected… Continue Reading “a story to tell”
Tagore’s A Moment’s Indulgence
This is the first opportunity I’ve made to sit and write for awhile. It’s like coming home to an old friend, actually. I’ve been missing her but have befriended some new practices that I have been hanging out with recently. Sometimes, I find myself… Continue Reading “Tagore’s A Moment’s Indulgence”
lessons learned: grapes and intentionality
This morning, at our Celtic service, I preached on the next in the I Am series: I Am the True Vine. I was delighted that this one happened to come my way as it was a perfect opportunity for me to revisit this post… Continue Reading “lessons learned: grapes and intentionality”
John Birch’s prayer for winter
There is a winter in all of our lives, a chill and darkness that makes us yearn for days that have gone or put our hope in days yet to be. Father God, you created seasons for a purpose. Spring is full of expectation… Continue Reading “John Birch’s prayer for winter”
lessons learned: simple living
Living simply was something I experienced as a child but lost somewhere on the journey to adulthood. It included playing in the backyard, gardening with my dad, cooking with mom, and loving on my grandparents. We climbed trees, visited with the neighbors, picnicked on… Continue Reading “lessons learned: simple living”
growing grace farm’s honey citrus slaw
I love me a good fish taco. Seriously, I have tried fish tacos from the coast of SC to TX, and from FL all the way to WI. What I have found that makes or breaks a good fish taco (besides the freshness of… Continue Reading “growing grace farm’s honey citrus slaw”
lessons learned: grapes and intentionality
Several years ago, I decided I wanted to try my hand at grapes. As you may have read in previous posts, every year, I pick out a new vegetable or fruit and see if it will thrive in our part sun/part shade gardening space. … Continue Reading “lessons learned: grapes and intentionality”
recipes: growing grace farm’s favorite tea blends
Even thought winter has ended, I am gearing up for a season of iced teas in mason jars out while lingering outside. For a quick treat, I make them ahead, put in jars with lids then grab and go as needed–less expensive and healthier… Continue Reading “recipes: growing grace farm’s favorite tea blends”
recipes: winter weather, summer salad
My daughter’s school chorus sold citrus to raise money this season. We recently received our order and are overflowing in tangelos, oranges, and red grapefruit. I’m looking forward to making this salad as a light and cleansing option after all the holiday treats. Enjoy!… Continue Reading “recipes: winter weather, summer salad”
freezing herbs for a taste of summer all year round
Every autumn, I make a lot of pesto with my sweet basil and put it up to freeze. This year, I’ll be freezing fresh basils and oregano as well for soups and such in the winter. Before freezing herbs, there’s some prep work that… Continue Reading “freezing herbs for a taste of summer all year round”
end-of-summer rainbow salad
I posted this one last Labor Day weekend and came across it the other day. A great change I made to the recipe was marinating finely cubed yellow squash and zucchini in balsamic vinegar for a day before adding to the salad. Oh my! … Continue Reading “end-of-summer rainbow salad”
lessons learned: sun, rain, blight and balance
This farming season began in late January with Mason jars, soil, a sunny spot in the den, and hope. By mid spring, plants warmed their toes in my newly cultivated soil, and the first of the early vegetables graced our table. I’ll admit, I… Continue Reading “lessons learned: sun, rain, blight and balance”
lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship
I’m reposting this one today as I’ve recently been meditating on the impact friendship has had on my life lately. ~Cameron Last night, a handful of us headed over to the community garden at our church. You see, our woman’s group decided to become… Continue Reading “lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship”
a southerner’s tale of her ginger peach jam
Life is better than death, I believe, if only because it is less boring, and because it has fresh peaches in it. ~Alice Walker Once upon a time there was a little girl who, every summer, was surrounded by peaches. That was a delight… Continue Reading “a southerner’s tale of her ginger peach jam”
growing grace farm’s award winning zesty marinara recipe
Last year, I submitted blackberry and blueberry jams, my blue ribbon pickled okra, and spaghetti sauce in the NC Mountain State Fair. Though I had spent time getting the recipes just right on the jams and okra (a girl’s gotta keep up her reputation),… Continue Reading “growing grace farm’s award winning zesty marinara recipe”
blueberry lavender jam: a taste of summer
So, I’ve had some requests for the blueberry lavender jam recipe I mentioned in the “we’re jammin’” blog post. Just a note for those who are new to the blog–I don’t really use measuring cups or spoons so I will estimate best as I… Continue Reading “blueberry lavender jam: a taste of summer”
celebrate cinco de mayo: tex mex turkey burgers and fruit salsa
Will be reposting a few ideas from the homesteading and recipes sections over the next couple of days in prep for Cinco de Mayo. Muy delicioso! Even as a committed locavore, I do get a hankerin’ for summer tropical fruits now and again. A… Continue Reading “celebrate cinco de mayo: tex mex turkey burgers and fruit salsa”
a little bit of summer–tex mex turkey burgers and fruit salsa
Even as a committed locavore, I do get a hankerin’ for summer tropical fruits now and again. A Spring Break trip to DC also introduced me to a new turkey burger recipe so dinner tonight took all those favorite things and voila–a delicious dinner… Continue Reading “a little bit of summer–tex mex turkey burgers and fruit salsa”
recipes: winter weather, summer salad
While I love winter, I am completely over cold rainy weather. If this is going to be another winter without snow, then so be it. Bring on Spring and fill my kitchen with Summer! After a long week (and it was only Wednesday), I… Continue Reading “recipes: winter weather, summer salad”
lessons learned: letting nature take its course
In the summer, I like to hang potted plants from my house. My kitchen faces the backside of our home so I typically have a basket hanging in front of the window for part of the year. Before my daughter was born, I noticed… Continue Reading “lessons learned: letting nature take its course”
lessons learned: hydrangeas and healing
We human beings are like plants. We need to be cared for in order to grow and thrive. It’s not always a perfect formula. In general though, we need to be watered, fed, and sometimes pruned. And just like plants, without enough nourishment, we… Continue Reading “lessons learned: hydrangeas and healing”
lessons learned: mint and gumption
This morning on my brief stroll to pick kale for the girls, I glanced around the veggie beds. How empty everything seems, even with greens and cover crops. I miss the bright red tomatoes and climbing green beans that welcomed me each morning as… Continue Reading “lessons learned: mint and gumption”
judith a. lawrence’s autumn offering
Autumn Offering I shall be Autumn this Halloween, with leaf draped skirt, and folds of boysenberry velvet wine flowing to the ground. Brown stained face, eyes rimmed in gold, nails dripping sunset, a crown of twigs to cover my head. You may gather from… Continue Reading “judith a. lawrence’s autumn offering”
feeling hot-hot-hot: harvesting the jalapeno peppers
When my jalapeno plants became so heavy with peppers that they keeled over, I knew it was time to harvest. With only 3 leggy bushes, I ended up with close to 60 emerald green spicy treats. After putting a few aside for my spicy… Continue Reading “feeling hot-hot-hot: harvesting the jalapeno peppers”
growing grace farm’s award winning zesty marinara recipe
This year, I submitted blackberry and blueberry jams, my blue ribbon pickled okra, and spaghetti sauce in the NC Mountain State Fair. Though I had spent time getting the recipes just right on the jams and okra (a girl’s gotta keep up her reputation),… Continue Reading “growing grace farm’s award winning zesty marinara recipe”
end-of-summer rainbow salad
As luck would have it, my folks invited me to a party at their house to celebrate the end of summer with all of their nearest and dearest friends from Sugar Hollow. I was looking forward to the event and had planned to take… Continue Reading “end-of-summer rainbow salad”
freezing herbs–a taste of summer all year long
My sweet mom bought me 4 plants of Thai basil back in May, and they have gone wild! Along with my regular sweet basil, I have used it in a multitude of recipes but also want to savor it this winter in some Thai… Continue Reading “freezing herbs–a taste of summer all year long”