Herbs and Roses

Julia Child Rose

sign out front of house

Basil

Mint

Oregano

Terragon

Parsley

Sage

Cilantro

French Thyme

Redwood Table and Benches with Dog Che' Underneath

Bar, grill, pizza oven and Skeena the  dog

Herb Garden

Rosemary Bushes

                                                                 Herbs and Roses

About 4 months ago we began a complete remodel of our backyard, which I have mentioned before I
in previous blogs. The goal was three fold. One to have a more functional atmosphere for the dogs. Second,  a place that us humans, myself, Geri. and friends can use. And lastly a space for an herb garden.
We got rid of all the ugly buildup of dirt, put in flagstone, built  a bar with a grill and sink,  constructed the pizza oven,  and added more green space for an herb garden.
The herb garden was as important as the other newly incorporated elements.
We love the backyard now.  Before we hated it. When the fog burns off each day I'm out there. We have  bar stools so I can sit, read or write, or just hang out with the animals in the California sunshine.  But lets face it, I'm not going to crank up the grill or the pizza oven everyday, but the herb garden I can use all the time.
What we planted are herbs that we use on a daily basis. These are the same herbs that I purchase at the market. I get the herbs from a couple who I work with each week, Pilar and Rick, who own and operate Sunnyside Organic Seedlings LLC in Richmond CA. They sell seedlings to nurseries, and at farmers markets around the East Bay. Two of the most industrious people I have ever met. They are part of the movement for sustainable organic farming in this country. They are amazing, and have more energy than billy goats in the fall.
So, we now have rosemary, sage, French thyme, tarragon, parsley,  mint, cilantro, cat grass, sage, oregano, and a number of varietals of basil. I need marjoram, and a few other things. Some of the herbs are planted in the back and some, like the rosemary, are in the front of the house, or on the west side that gets lots of sun.
I'm going up to our property in June, and I'm going to bring back some sage brush, which is my favorite sage to use for cooking, especially cooking foul. We have 80 acres of sage after all. Why I don't have any in the yard is still  a mystery to me.
We tried growing some tomatoes and other things over the years, and we don't have the room or the proper amount of sunlight, and it's just not cost effective. But herbs are something we all need, and it's something we can all grow with very little effort or space. You can grow herbs right out your window in a planter box, or in your kitchen. Growing  food gets us closer to the earth, and it gives us a sense of pride to use something that we actually put in the ground, and nurtured to maturity. Not to mention it makes our food taste great, especially when it's fresh.  Herbs take our food to a whole other level of sophistication. You pick it, and it goes right into or on what your eating.
My wife brought home a dogie bag of salmon from a dinner out last night with friends, and I made an omelet with it and fresh basil. I also made a potato pancake to accompany the omelet,  and added a few chopped leaves of parsley. It made all the difference in the world.
Now the Rose, I just threw that in to give the title of this blog a little more pazazz,  sorta like Guns and Roses. This particular rose was given to Geraldine when her grandma Elsie passed away almost three and a half years ago. The reason I included the rose is that it is named the Julia Child rose. Named after the grande dame of cooking herself. What a beautiful tribute to an amazing woman.

Peace,

Make Food, Not War