Author: Cara St.Hilaire

I have found heaven: Rosaly’s Garden

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It has been a completely psychotic few weeks.  If I were to be granted one wish, I think I’d wish for life to slow down just a wee bit. I’ve been trying to convince Chris that I could be a great stay-at-home kitty mom, but I don’t think he’s buying it.  It is the most intense time in garden land and I haven’t written in over a week! When I was little, I wanted to be an author. Though that dream still lingers somewhere in my subconscious, I have a new dream.  When I grow up, I want to own my own vegetable farm.  I can imagine picking fresh veggies and herbs on Saturday mornings and working my stand at a farmers market, selling beautiful organic tomatoes, celery root, string beans, and more.  I can also sell herbs (both potted and cut) and gorgeous summer bouquets.  Not the overly-flashy types of flowers you’d see in a flower store.  I mean the true summertime flowers like zinnias, dahlias, amaranthus, loosestrife, black-eyed susans, sunflowers (I could keep going…calendula, Queen …

and I shall have some peace there

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And I Shall Have Some Peace There: Trading in the Fast Lane for My Own Dirt Road by Margaret Roach My rating: 4 of 5 stars As someone working in the corporate sector in the world who spends her days longing to be in her garden, this was an absolute must-read for me. Here you have successful Margaret Roach with the job that many women/people would die to have–at Martha Stewart Living–who found a way to let all of the pressures go to live in a secluded place with a very slow pace…just to be one with nature. This story isn’t gardening 101 or any form of a self-help manual, but rather a story that belongs to the author. Her story and her journey of leaving the high-powered position at Martha Stewart and taking a huge risk and a huge gamble (something everyone would fear and second-guess to no end) is inspirational to say the least. She asks herself time and time again, “Who am I if I am not mroach@marthastewart.com?” At first she is overwhelmed …

leaning string bean trellis

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All of a sudden, I saw the numbers going up–quickly–on my blog readership.  I realized that tons of people were searching for things like “cucumber trellis” and “twine trellis for pickles” and things like that.  It was rapidly becoming my most popular post in terms of random Web searches.  I called the man responsible for that post (dad-the handiest of the handymen) and told him.  He didn’t say much, but I could tell that he was proud. I also realized I still haven’t posted our (ha – I say “our”) green bean trellis how-to, which is working out quite nicely I might add.  But…if I find the bug who is treating my bean leaves like a free all-you-can-eat-buffet, he or she is going down. If you are just getting around to planting your green beans, or the seeds have sprouted and the plants are looking for a place to grow on, we’ve…um…my dad has just the thing for you. This trellis is meant to be placed in a spot where it can lean against something.  …

UK trip: London, Brighton, and Lewes

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Just arrived home yesterday from a business trip to the UK.  Normally, I grumble when work travel comes up.  But…going to England and hanging out with utterly cool people is a far cry from a typical work trip. I had a really great time! A few observations.  First, I wanted to stuff every garden I had the opportunity to see in my suitcase to take home with me.  English gardens are inspirational and have a beauty all their own, taking on characteristics of both formal and cottage-style. Next, though England seems like the antithesis of vegetarianism (just try a proper English breakfast or look up blood pudding and you’ll know what I mean), I was surprised to find that it wasn’t that hard to find vegetarian food.  Plus (as you’ll read below), there are great veggie restaurants. Last, English people have a better balance than we do in the US.  I’m sure I’m oversimplifying, but it all of my experiences traveling to the UK, this statement seems to have some truth. They take lunch breaks.  They leave work …

cold berry soup

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I have big news from our little urban “farm.”  Yesterday was our first official harvest.  I’ve been using a bit of thyme here and some chives there, but yesterday was different.  I filled a bowl. I picked my first hydrangea bouquet! I also got to see the cutest sheep on the side of the road between Stoddard and Peterborough, NH. Ever since my friends came over for a vegan feast, I’ve been craving the cold berry soup I made.  Guess what everyone in New England?  It is strawberry season!  Instead of buying the bland, too-perfect strawberries from the store, you can get the really red, ripe, juicy beauties from somewhere local. There couldn’t be a better time to try this recipe out. cold berry soup *I used “Fresh Berry Soup” from Moosewood Cookbook as a sortof basis for this vegan version. Ingredients 2 cups of orange juice 1 carton of So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer 1 container of So Delicious Coconut Milk Plain Yogurt 1 tbs agave nectar 2 tbs fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 …

a perfect father’s day weekend

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Happy Father’s Day to the best dad a gal could ask for!  He has passed to me–among many other things–a obsession for gardening, a desire to be surrounded by nature and solitude,  and a love for animals. dad with one of his other daughters: Amber Joy I spent this past beautiful weekend with my parents.  It was one of those times in your life that you stop right in the middle of what you are doing and think, “I’m having a really great time.”  It started with taking Friday off to spend the day with my mom in Keene doing really girly things like nails, lunch, and shopping.  When we returned home, we covered our skin and put mosquito nets over our heads to go for a walk.  They don’t just have extreme weather  and animals (yes — there have been bear and moose sightings in the short time they’ve lived there) in the mountains of New Hampshire, they have extreme bugs too.      What a beautiful walk!  The landscape is stunning.  There were ferns everywhere, cute …

cage free is the way to be

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“They will come running when they think you might have a treat, learn to eat out of your hand and some may even allow you to stroke them. If you talk to them, treat them well and handle them gently you’ll have faithful followers. However, for a truly bonded pet that will seek out your company, follow you around the yard and nestle in your lap for a nap you may want to hand-raise a baby…” Sounds like a cat or any other normal domestic pet doesn’t it?  Guess what? The excerpt above (from this article) is actually talking about chickens.  Yes, I wrote that right–chickens.  According to more sources than I could list here, chickens do have emotional capacity.  In this article from Psychology Today, hens showed signs of distress and fear when a mere puff of air was blown on them.  When this same activity was performed on their chicks, their heart rate went up and they became more vocal.  They are intelligent, empathetic, and according to my own father (who spent lots of time …

spring fiddlehead pasta

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Fiddleheads are a seasonal treasure only available to us in the month of May.  They quite literally are ferns that have not yet opened.  In New England, we are lucky to have the right climate for these beauties. Perhaps it is their exotic appearance, short window of availability, or their asparagus-like taste, but every time I see fiddleheads in the store I get so excited!  The past few years, I’ve merely steamed them and then sautéed them with garlic, olive oil, and salt as a side dish.  This year, while scooping these violin-shaped vegetables out of the bin at Whole Foods Market, I had a conversation with a man who was as enthusiastic as I was.  He let me in on his secret that he puts fiddleheads with ziti or penne as a main course.  As a vegetarian always on the lookout for a new dish, I had to try this. I decided to make a pasta dish that would utilize the spring wonders that I have available in my garden: parsley, thyme, and chives. spring fiddlehead pasta ingredients …

building a cucumber trellis

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Pickles are an obsession of mine. I’ve been known to eat a whole jar in one sitting.  The absolute best in my opinion are Woodstock Farms Organic Kosher Baby Dill Pickles.  This year, I’ve decided to make my own baby dill pickles. I have tons of dill sprouting. Lots of garlic growing. There are also plenty of harmonie cucumber seedlings thriving that were started indoors and transplanted outside just yesterday.  This cucumber variation is meant for baby gherkins. Thanks to my dad’s handy skills, I also have two big trellises made of birch scavenged from my parents’ house and lots of hemp twine. These trellises are space savers and they can handle many cucumber plants, which is a good thing because I will need a ton of cucumbers for pickles! step-by-step First, you’ll need three long branches from a tree of your choice. I’d suggest at least four feet depending on how tall you’d like your trellises to be and how big your pots are.  The branches we used were somewhere around six feet long. step 1: Push the three branches down a few inches …

the very first bouquet of 2011

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There is nothing like picking your first bouquet of the season.  The spurts of color around our yard such as creeping phlox, myrtle, pansies, and primrose are admirable, but unpickable.  Yesterday, I finally got to grab my pruners and head outside to cut flowers: a purple tulip, grape hyacinths, and a few sprigs of broom. Even Stevie is captivated by the colors.