Turning Your Front Yard Into A Garden.

I got Dreams.

Glorious Garden Dreams in the middle of the Winter.

Sigh.

I have been pouring over photos from the lovely book I received for Christmas. "Edible Landscaping With a Permaculture Twist: How To Have Your Yard and Eat It Too."

Michael Judd is a local boy (from Frederick County) who spent many years in Mexico and Nicaragua learning  about and experimenting with Permaculture. He is a genius at turning Yards into low-maintenance Gardens and Orchards. No weeding, no watering (except for in the beginning). Seriously, why Garden any other way?

He's transformed the Gardens at Volt.

You may have heard of that place.

I listened to him speak at the Holistic Family Health Conference in Frederick, last Spring. He's a dynamic speaker. When he mentioned an upcoming book, I was thrilled.

The book didn't disappoint.

Gorgeous photos. Clear directions. And, brilliant ideas.

I am all about digging up that grass and planting useful and beautiful plants.

Even though, I was familiar with a lot of what was in the book, it was great to see more examples of "Herbal Spirals," learn about growing Mushrooms and be given so much information of Uncommon Fruits that grow well in this region.

Judd's section on Rainwater Harvesting, Swales and Rain Gardens may completely change your relationship with your Yard.

I had never heard of a "Hugelkultur" (which is a shame because it's a terrific concept and would have been helpful to know about when my Sister had all these fallen down trees in her Yard).

If you are in Maryland or Northern Virginia, you are in luck. He does 1 1/2 hr-2hr consultations starting at $175 (depending on where you are located). His schedule fills up fast, but now is the perfect time to have him come out and brainstorm with you on how to transform your Yard into a beautiful, edible Landscape.

Early Mother's Day present? Or maybe forget that fancy bouquet and expensive dinner this Valentine's Day? Hmmmm....

We will be moving from one rental house to another this Summer, so planting much is out of the question. But, there are always Mushrooms...

Our Anniversary Getaway in Frederick, MD

 

 

 

 

Working out at the Gym. Acupuncture. Gorgeous weather. Eating tapas in the Sun. An amazing Toy Store. A Nap. A Bath in Claw-foot Bath-tub. Walking hand-in-hand. More delicious food by Carroll Creek. A Charming Inn. An uninterrupted Night of sleep. A killer Break-fast by a Fire. A 1/2 hour Massage. Hello Kisses and Hugs from My Girls

Seriously, I don't know how we could have added any more of my favorite things to our Anniversary Celebration. It was 24 hours of re-connecting and enjoying my Husband's company. It was a blast.

We hadn't done very much for our previous two Anniversaries, so it was extra-special to really celebrate making it through these last intense three years.

Here are a few photos from our lovely time in Frederick on Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecologia Design Tours June 22nd, 23rd and 29th. Month of Beauty.

 

If you are interested in Sustainability and Local Food and live near Frederick County (Maryland), write down June 22nd, 23rd and 29th from 5-6:30 pm on your calendar.

These are the dates of the tours Michael Judd from Ecologia Design will be giving of his wonderful Homestead near Frederick. His beautifully designed Gardens, require no weeding and almost no watering.

He is interested in re-introducing fruit trees and bushes that thrive in this climate, as well as introducing new edibles like the Hardy Kiwi. You can grow Kiwi in Maryland or Virginia? Who knew?

During the tours, you will learn about creating Food Forests, Herb Spirals, Raised Bed Gardens, Rainwater Harvesting Gardens and how to grow Gourmet Mushrooms among much, much more.

Michael Judd is a dynamic speaker and is doing really great work. (He designed all the gardens at Volt).  He learned a tremendous amount working with indigenous farmers in Central America. His book will be coming out soon...I can't wait.

Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will go to Project Bona Fide, a program Judd started in Nicaragua.

I have written about Ecologia Design before in this post and this one.

Barmstorming Tour This Saturday, June 8, 2013, 10 am - 4 pm

 

 

 

One of my favorite things to photograph is an old Barn. I love the textures and shapes and the light you can find when inside a Barn. If you are like me and think such things beautiful, you are in luck because this Week-end in Frederick County, MD there will be a Barnstorming Tour.

 



 

 

 

 



 

According to Frederick County Landmarks Foundation's website, "Frederick County Landmarks Foundation will present the 7th Annual Barnstormer's Tour and Plein Air Paint-Out on Saturday, June 8, 2013, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This popular annual self-guided tour calls attention to these beautiful old structures and their importance to our agricultural heritage. The tour provides a rare opportunity to gain access to some of our most scenic and private farm properties. This year's tour will feature barns at seven farms in the Urbana, Monrovia, and Ijamsville area, south of Frederick, Md."

 

Here is my blog post about the Barmstorming Tour from last year.

 

All photos courtesy of Priscilla Rall.

 

 

Growing Power's Will Allen is Coming to Frederick On April 11th

Hoop Houses on Raised Beds (Photo credit: Chiot's Run)

I wrote about Growing Power, way back in January of this year. Growing Power is a 3 acre farm in the middle of Milwaukee that has grown 1 million pounds of organic food using Hoop Houses and a Aquaponics system.

The founder of the organization, Will Allen, is coming to Frederick, MD. He will be giving two free talks on April 11th.

Frederick Reads is sponsoring both readings. The first one will be at FCC at 11 am and the second will be at 7 pm at the Weinberg Center. Two chances to meet this inspirational man who is changing the way we think about Urban Farming. Mark your calendars!

The Gratitude Month. A Free Acupuncture Clinic for Veterans

Day 72/365 (Photo credit: SuperFantastic)

In honor of yesterday being Veterans Day here in the United States, I wanted to share a wonderful organization with you. "Annapolis Veterans Acupuncture Clinic" is a FREE clinic for those serving in the Armed Forces, their families, Veterans and folks working with these populations.

Every Thursday from 5:30 pm -7 pm, Veterans can walk into AVAC and be treated with the NADA (Ear) Protocol. Five tiny needles are placed in both ears, while the person sits fully clothed in circle with other people receiving treatment. Treatment usually lasts for 30-45 minutes.

Acupuncture is being used at Walter Reed Medical Center to help returning Vets deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and flashbacks. NADA Protocol has successfully helped people dealing with trauma sleep better and experience less irritability, stress and anxiety.

My hat goes off to those volunteer Acupuncturalists providing this wonderful service to those who have sacrificed so much for this Country. Pretty inspiring stuff!

If you know of any Vets (or their families) living in Maryland or Virginia, please let them know about this program. Spread the word. Much appreciation...

Keeping Busy Before, During and After Hurricane Sandy

The Day Before Sandy. Bringing in the newspaper during her morning ritual with Papa.

During Sandy. Making noodles for Slippery Chicken Pot-Pie with Ra-Ra and Aunt Mimi.

During Sandy. So much fun rolling out the dough.

During Sandy. Helping Ra-Ra with her Holiday Clove Ball.

After Sandy. Making Elderberry Syrup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Sandy. Driving around the area, assessing the damage. Thankfully, not as much as there could have been if the Hurricane had moved slower through our area.

 

 

 



After Sandy. Getting some much needed fresh air.

 

 

After Sandy. Who can resist a giant pile of sawdust? Not Nye-Nye. She had loads of fun exploring Papa's Cabinet-shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Sandy. Helping Ra-Ra again on this Never-Ending project.

 

 

 

 

After Sandy. Getting a good look at all the fields. Thankfully, Papa got in all the soybeans before Sandy arrived.

 

 

After Sandy. A much deserved nap.

 

 

We Survived My Daughter's First Auction

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, my daughter went to her first Auction. My Mama had gotten some news in the morning that a friend in his nineties had died. She started beating herself up for not having called him back recently, so I agreed to go to the "Emmitsburg Auction" and help distract her.

 

We didn't exactly start off on a great note. As soon as we pulled up to the Auction, Nye-Nye threw up. Thankfully, I had an extra pair of clothes....but no extra coat. Even after a fierce scrubbing, her coat still smelled like vomit the entire afternoon.

 

Taking a toddler to a place where there is tons of breakable things within reach was NOT the easiest thing to do. There was a huge section of matching dishes displayed inside. Needless to say, I carried her quickly through the interior space to outside where there more space to run around. She was definitely the only child under the age of 5 at the Auction. If you plan on taking a toddler to an Auction, I definitely DON'T recommend going by yourself.

 

Nye-Nye and I slowly meandered through all the aisles, eventually giving most things (especially the furniture) a once over. There was tons of junk...but I pointed out the pieces I liked to my Mama and gave her a limit on how high I wanted to go.

 

Nye-Nye and I were both cranky after an hour, so we headed to the car and let my Mama try her luck. She came back an hour and 1/2 later with lots of goodies.

 

 

The first photo is of the child's tool bench Nye-Nye decided makes an excellent perch. I think my Mama paid $3 for it.

 

 

My favorite item is the giant Persian rug bought for $25. It's in amazing shape and is going to look lovely in our new Living Room. Can you believe the size of this rug?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am also excited about the mirror side-table I found. I've been spying similar pieces on different design blogs for hundreds of dollars. How much did I pay? $18. There is a minor issue of having to replace one piece of glass. The photo was taken after my Step-father had patiently removed the cracked piece. Even with the cost of replacing the damaged mirror, it's still a steal.

 



 

 

 

 I'm probably going to cover the ottoman with a different pattern...but that project will wait until after our move and after the Holidays. If I can't clean the chair sufficiently, I going to attempt to re-upholster it. For $20, I couldn't pass it up.

 

 

 

 

 

I bought a few more items but didn't get any photos of them. All-in-all it was a very successful Adventure. Stressful for me. But....totally worth it.

 

 

The Calmest Revolution Ever Staged

I having been meaning to share this lovely short film. It's called "The Calmest Revolution Ever Stage" and is about the Community Acupuncture Movement. The film does an excellent job explaining the idea behind the Community Acupuncture Movement and the potential the movement has to change lives and entire communities.

 

If you have ever had an acupuncture treatment, you've probably experienced the amazing calmness and well-being you feel afterwards. If you haven't, do yourself a favor. Turn off the T.V. for 35 minutes and watch this video. And then check out POCA's website.

 

Since my family has been working on cultivating a bit more calmness and peace in our lives, I thought this would be a nice time to post this video....Enjoy...

 

 

Slip N Slide and Plantain Part I

On Saturday, my Step-father celebrated both his birthday and 10 years of married life with my Mama. Luckily, the heat didn't meet the forecaster's expectations and it was only 96 degrees (Fahrenheit) or so. We were able to have a lovely celebration. Most of the adults stayed inside, while my four nephews broke out the Slip N Slide.

My fearless 15 Month old HAD to join in on the fun. Papa Bear and I took turns holding her hand as she walked down the Slip N Slide..AGAIN and AGAIN. This girl loves herself so water. Waiting for her turn...not so much.

It was a rather relaxed day (which was a good thing) because I was able to spend some time making some fresh peppermint tea for the nephew who vomited upon arrival and minister to a few bloody knees, one serious spider bite and and an infected cut.

More on that later.

(And, yes, I can't spell...it wasn't until I was finished painting the sign that I realized I had forgotten the "d"...whoops)

 

Do You Like Shooting Photos of Old Things?

If the answer is yes and you live in the D.C./VA/MD area, then this Saturday, June 9th may be your day.

Frederick County Landmarks Foundation is sponsoring their 6th Annual Barnstormers Tour. From 10 am until 4 pm, ten historic Barns in Buckeystown will be open to the public for self-guided tours.  

Here's your chance to waltz right into some amazing old buildings and explore to your heart's content. (Make sure you bring your camera). Several volunteers will be camped out at each barn - willing and able to answer your questions about that specific barn. (How do I know this? One of them will be my Mother, who took all these photos by the way).

There will be Plein Air Painters at each Barn merrily painting away throughout the day (all the paintings will be for sale at the Art Show from 5 pm-7pm).

If you are interested in history and have a thing for taking photos of stone, weathered wood and metal, think about attending the Barnstormers Tour this Saturday.

This article has all the details. Enjoy!

Making Lizards My New Friends

I got bit by a Deer Tick a week ago. I've become paranoid about developing Lyme Disease. Each ache and pain I've felt has me wondering whether or not that tick was infected. (I saved the tick, just in case).

So, I was very intrigued when I stumbled across this older article. I found the article through Ecologia Design which is a very talented landscaping company based out of Frederick, MD (do yourself a favor and check out their site...they have some truly fanastic ideas).

According to the article, there are less rates of Lyme Disease out West due to the large lizard population. Scientists have discovered a protein in lizard's blood that kills the Lyme Disease causing bacterium. When a tick bites the lizard, the bacterium "cleanses" the tick's blood. Nature is pretty amazing.

What should we folks do East of the Mississippi River? Help protect lizard populations by providing more lizard friendly habits (lot of mulch, ground covers, rock piles and walls).

The photo above is a habitat wall for lizards at the RBC New Wild Garden built by Nigel Dunnett & The Landscape Agency (photo from Ecologia Design). The wall looks very sculpture and seems like a beautiful and smart solution in the battle against Lyme's Disease.

I love the mix of rock, metal and wood. It looks you could find the materials at a place like the Loading Dock or Community Forklift. I'm definitely adding "Build a Habitat Wall for Lizards" to my list of future projects for our future house.

I am definitely looking at lizards in a new light.

The Geniuses at Liberated Movement

I am so jealous of New Yorkers. They can take dance classes a place called Liberated Movement.




According to their website,

"Liberated Movement® is a non-profit organization that provides donation-based dance instruction classes to the public. We have a suggested donation of $5 per class, but any amount is welcome. We operate exclusively off of the donations people give in class and via our website.

Liberated Movement® classes are for everyone. The primary purpose of the company is to make dance more accessible, both financially and socially, to both experienced dancers and beginners. We especially want to offer a supportive, welcoming environment, where anyone can gain a basic knowledge of different dance styles without having to spend extensive amounts of money or make serious commitments. Teachers conduct classes to address the varying levels of students, catering to anyone who may attend a class."




I think this idea is genius. It seems like the idea of Donation-based Services is really growing. When I lived in Baltimore, the "Community Hot Yoga Classes" were PACKED. They were $5.

There is a chiropractor in my hometown who has a donation box. He is always busy and is making some decent money.

Recently, I've noticed an explosion of "Community Acupuncture Clinics" in MD and VA.  I'm planning on writing a post soon about the amazing people at POCA  and my awesome experience at several of the clinics.

I'm really hoping idea of "Donation-based Dance Classes" catches on across the country. I know this little family would be very happy.

30 Places This Summer

Here are "30 Places in the Northern Virginia/Maryland/D.C. Area"

I hope we can visit this Summer (in no particular order)...

1.  Memorial Pool


2. The Yards Park


3. Jazz in the Garden


4. Watkins Regional Park


5. Old Maryland Farm.


6. Cabin John Train


7. Clemyjontri Park


8. Building Zone at the National Building Museum


9. Gravelly Point Park


10. Claude Moore Colonial Farm


11. Mount Vernon


12. Launch Zone at National Harbor


13. imagiNATIONS Activity Center


14. Cunningham Falls Lake


15.  The National Zoo


16.  Rose Hill Manor


17. Catoctin Mountain Orchard


18. Storytime at My Hometown Library


19. Big Slide


20. Brookside Gardens


21. National Arboretum


22. The Children's Garden at the U.S. Botanic Gardens


23. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens


24. Glen Echo


25. Lee District's Spraypark


26. Walkersville Southern Railroad


27. Old Town's Nature Center


28. Port Discovery


29. Lil Omm


30.  Land of Little Horses

Traditional Spring in the Village

According to Catoctin Banner

" The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. is hosting a Traditional Spring in the Village at the ca. 1810 Collier's Log House, located at 12607B Catoctin Furnace Road.

On Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 9am to 5pm, the public is invited to visit the log house, which will be decorated with spring flowers, plants and herbs, and filled with traditional crafts and foods.

Craft demonstrations will include pottery making, basketry, plein air painting, leather work, and weaving. Traditional music and foods will complete the ambiance of a village spring celebration, more than 200 years ago when Catoctin Furnace was in blast.

Spring fruit punch and baked goods made from village recipes handed down over multiple generations will be available for sale, as well as handmade crafts, such as soaps, baskets, pottery, crocheted and sewn items, spring wreaths, plants, herbs, and flowers in handmade small garden pots. Period furniture and reproductions will also be for sale.

Admission is free. Proceeds from the event will be utilized for the replacement of the hand split cedar shake roof on the historical structure, a critical need."

This is the kind of event that puts a smile on my face. Unfortunately, I won't be in my hometown this weekend to check it out. I love the fact that the Historical Society is using old family recipes and that they will be all sorts of craft demonstrations. If you are in the area and enjoy history, why don't you head out to the Catoctin Furnace. Oh, and please send photos!

Yard Sales Are in My Blood...

Yard Sales are in my blood. The frantic split second decision of whether or not to pull off the road, the first glance over the goods, the casual questioning of pricing, the potential negotiation and the glorious feeling of the Find. I've always loved Yard Sales but now that I have a baby, they have taken on a whole new meaning.

Last year at this time, I did my share of yard saling but I was still weeks away from finding out the sex of my baby. So, I bought a slew of gender neutral clothes. At $1 a pop, it was okay if the baby never wore something. This year it's a lot more fun having an actual little person here when shopping.

For those in the NOVA area, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. You need to get yourself to the Catoctin Mountains the second weekend of October. That's Colorfest weekend and that Friday is your chance to yard sale until you collapse. Hundreds of yards sales offer countless chances to walk away with a smile on your face and some amazing stuff in your bag. I am convinced that as thrift stores continue rise their prices, yard sales are more and more the way to go. Yards sales are also really wonderful if you are a family creating a Montessori "prepared environment" for your child. It's easy finding small, beautiful trays, bowls, baskets, etc... all for a dollar or two (sometimes even less).

Here are some things to remember when Yard Saling (I forgot 3 out of 4 of them this go-    around...whoops)...

1. Bring those $1 bills and change (dig into that change jar)
2. Bring a few grocery bags or reusable bags
3. Don't forget your bottle of water and granola bars
4. If you can, leave your children behind (the one thing I remembered)


These are the things I bought this Colorfest that made me smile...

Snowpants- $5 (I'm determined that we are going out to the playground unless it's pouring)
Melissa and Doug wooden frog- $2
Melissa and Doug wooden stacking and sorting set- $3
Shoes- 25 cents
Preschool Cooking book from Moosewood Restaurant- 25 cents (never too early to build up your library)
Children's chair- $5

What have you bought at a Yard Sale that has made you smile?