Thoughts to Ponder . . .
from Bill Varney, URBANherbal

August 2005

Your source for herbal advice about plants, recipes using herbs, personal care products and much much more . . .

Dear Farm Family,

August Heat!
Any damn fool can have a garden in April and May. It separates the men from the boys when you've got an interesting place in August.
-- Allen C. Haskell, nursery worker, quoted in
"Allen Haskell's Way," Horticulture, May 1991

I am sure we can all relate to this quote with our gardens in August! Between the heat, the pests, deer and watering and weeding, this is a rough month.

On a personal note, my son, Roy and I just returned from the International Fancy Food Show in New York City, we were gone for a week, and my poor Father had to come over to the Herb Farm and help hold down the fort while we were on the East coast . . . he was glad when we returned!

We currently have rows of basils, tomatoes, tomatillos, squash, peppers, and about every kind of other herb you could dream about, but not without lots of elbow grease. We were fortunate to get rain last weekend and the week before that, so what a blessing that moisture was to us.

Even though it is hot in August, we have a cool restaurant and spa to refresh you along with our refreshing personal care products!

Our Herb of the Month for August is the very unusual, but interesting Borage. Be sure to read all about it!

Don't miss our refreshing recipe for Cool Cucumber & Dill Soup with a Borage blossom garnish!

We will be taking a few days off this summer. We will be closed August 22, 23, 24 & 25th to give all the Fredericksburg Herb Farm Family a much needed rest!

Wishing you a relief from the heat this month.

Blessings,
Bill Varney & All the Herb Farm Folks

A Refreshing drink for the summer

Apple, Celery and Ginger Juice

This juice is an excellent cardiovascular and heart tonic. The celery is high in potassium, which helps to regulate blood; and the apple contains pectin, which helps to reduce cholesterol levels. Ginger has many properties but is used here to add a flavor zing.

Process all the ingredients in a juice extractor.
Mix well. Makes 1-1/4 cup, serves one.