Man in the Moon Herbs

This is a quick and easy recipe that shows sage isn't just for poultry in the autumn! Fresh sage leaves are emerging now in upstate New York and this is one of my favorite ways to use them. The earthiness of the sage really brings out the sweetness of the corn and sauteing it gives it a totally different texture! Hope you enjoy it! ~Gail! Corn with Sage 2 cups of frozen corn kernels 2 teaspoons butter 6-8 fresh sage leaves fresh ground black pepper Stack your sage leaves and roll into a cigar shape, then slice to make ribbons. Melt the butter in a saute pan and add the corn. Saute over medium high heat for 4-5 minutes or until the golden color of the corn deepens. Add the sage and black pepper and saute another 2-3 minutes to release and combine the flavors.

"How can a man grow old who has sage in his garden?" is a much quoted ancient proverb. The name "salvia" is from the Latin salvere, to be in good health, to save or to cure. It was so valued by the Chinese, that the Dutch would trade one chest of sage for 3 chests of tea! Sage is a long lived perennial shrub that requires little more than light, dry, well drained soil to thrive. It is a good addition to your perennial border as it is well behaved and adds a nice silver-gray leaf and pretty purple flower. To harvest, pick the leaves when they are young and just before the plant flowers. You can use the dried leaves in sachets to put in your linens to discourage insects and make them smell wonderful. I like to make an infusion in vinegar along with rosemary to use as a hair rinse. It really makes dark hair shine! Simply put the herbs in a glass jar (a good handful for each cup of vinegar), cover with a good vinegar and let steep in a warm place for a couple of weeks t...

I finally slowed down enough from the hectic pace of the past month to take the time to peak at my garden. Everything is waking up and calling to me to tend to its surroundings. I don't clean up until spring which is not what the gardening experts tell you to do, but it fits my schedule better. There, next to the front steps, was a bright green patch of chives! Chives are a happy plant. It is one of the first herbs to appear in the spring and thrives on benign neglect. They are member of the allium family and grow well in full sun to partial shade. While they prefer a rich soil, chives do well in poorer soil so long as it's well drained. When harvesting, cut the leaves leaving two inches for regrowth. They are best used fresh but you can freeze them for later use. I haven't had any success in drying them. However, in the fall it's easy enough to put some in a pot to bring inside for the winter so you have fresh all year long. Just put your chives in a sunny window and k...

The craft show this past weekend was amazing! It was like a Christmas show. While it was quiet on Sunday, Saturday was booming. About 80 vendors participated and their product lines were varied and top notch for the most part. It was so nice to see my regular customers and meet new ones! It seems most people have regained their hopefulness, which is half the battle, in my humble opinion! While this photo is of my furry daughter, Princess Heidi Bear Whiny Butt (on her personal couch), it is exactly how I felt after the show was over. :) ~Gail~