Growing organic cherries has been a staple of our farm since the beginning. Our orchard is home to full-sized cherry trees anywhere from 25 to 40+ years old, and they’re still producing delectable fruits. Aside from simply being delicious, cherries are a rewarding fruit to grow. Unlike peaches, which also thrive in our high desert…
Have you ever wanted to distill your own herbs at home? What about doing your own herbal infusions? Distilling herbs at home is fun and rewarding. Even with a small still, you can enjoy a little essential oil and lots of hydrosol, or floral water. And if you don’t have access to a still (yet!)…
Roasted Carrots with Anise Hyssop and Lavender White Wine Glaze Print Roasted carrots are sweet and grounding, perfect for spring. In this recipe, they’re topped with a heavenly white wine reduction that’s kissed with floral and savory notes of anise hyssop and lavender. Author: Inspired by Kitchen Cultures Ingredients 8 small to medium carrots…
Before a lavender plant goes into the ground, we’ve first got to prepare a bed. And since lavender often thrives for ten years or more, it’s important that we prep the best possible beds for this adored herb to grow in. You know what they say: Every $5 plant deserves a $10 hole. Whether you’re…
Seared Salmon with Strawberry Basil Relish Print Brushed with lavender honey and topped with a tangy, savory mix of strawberries, basil and black pepper. Author: Inspired by Taste of Home Ingredients 6 salmon fillets (4 ounces each) 1 tablespoon butter, melted, or 1 TBS olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground pepper…
Farmers live by the seasons. When summer fades into fall, we roll right into the flow of harvest time, ebbing and flowing through long summer days. When fall brings a crisp, cool air, we welcome the shift after working so hard through the growing season. This time of year, as winter becomes spring, we feel…
Print Nothing tastes quite like the fresh, tender asparagus shoots of spring. Get your hands on some freshly picked asparagus and spring onions for a dish that’s light, deep and everything in between. Serves: 8 Ingredients 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon finely grated Meyer lemon zest 1 teaspoon chopped fresh or dried…
Lavender blooms in every color except orange. It grows in the misty mountains of Hawaii, across the rolling hills of France, in the temperate landscape of California – and in the high desert and Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This versatile plant can call so many places home. But not all lavender is alike. Choosing the…
Flourless Chocolate Lavender Torte Print Prep time 15 mins Cook time 30 mins Total time 45 mins This easy recipe makes a silky-smooth, chocolaty torte that’s kissed with floral notes of lavender. It’s a great desert for any day – You can even make it ahead of time and freeze it! Author: Inspired…
This time of year, I spend lots of down time flipping through seed catalogs. And they all have me day dreaming about flowers. In my mind, edible flowers and fresh-cut flowers are already bursting in my garden and on my farm. I love incorporating flowers into my crop production areas to invite beneficial insects, and…
Roasted Beet, Fennel, and Citrus Salad Print There’s so much wonderful citrus to be had this time of year! Sweet, earthy beets and tangy citrus and crisp fennel make a perfect trio. A honey-citrus vinaigrette pulls everything together, and the colorful mix sits on a bed of fresh greens. Author: Inspired by Splendid Table…
What plants starts do you want us to grow this year? We love growing all the classics, as well as annual and perennial plants that are otherwise hard to find! We grow ALL our plants starts right here at our farm — and all our plant starts are certified organic. What are your old favorites?…
Pork Chops with Roasted Apples, Lavender and Juniper Berries Print Prep time 30 mins Cook time 30 mins Total time 1 hour Using juniper berries as a spice is so much fun during winter months! Harvest them fresh from juniper trees, or find them dried at natural food stores. Piney, citrusy juniper berries…
Now that the leaves have fallen from the trees, the air is quiet and the cold is setting in, I’m beginning to reflect on the last growing season. Winter is a natural time for reflection, especially for a farmer. Just like the plants we tend to all spring, summer and fall, we people get to go…
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Lavender and Sage Print The flavors in this sweet potato dish are warm and inviting. Luscious citrus butter, soft cream cheese, sweet dates, fresh, savory sage and toasted pecans surround and compliment the deliciousness of sweet potato in every bite. Author: Inspired by Taste of Home Ingredients 6 medium sweet…
When it comes to gift-giving, nothing beats a gift from the heart. Especially if it smells like lavender. Do you just love the calming, soothing, floral scent of lavender? We do, too! Share that love of lavender with the people in your life with these 3 DIY gifts. These DIY lavender crafts are inspired by…
Apple and Browned Butter Tart with Lavender Crust Print Author: Inspired by Better Homes & Gardens Ingredients 1½ cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon lavender ¾ cup earth balance 1½ tablespoons cold water ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons butter ½ cup sugar 5 Honeycrisp apples, cored and cut…
The more we distill lavender hydrosol, the more we realize how wonderful it is. Over the years, essential oils and their many uses have become more well known. Hydrosol, however, also known as floral water or distillate, is still making its debut in the public eye. Back in the early days of distillation, hydrosol –…
The air’s getting cooler and soils are still warm. Autumn offers us an array of reasons to get back to the garden for one final planting. There are both pros and cons to planting lavender and other perennials in the fall, rather than in the spring. Deciding which season to plant depends on factors like…
5.0 from 1 reviews Cherry Tomato and Gruyere Cobbler Print Prep time 50 mins Cook time 2 hours 20 mins Total time 3 hours 10 mins An abundance of cherry tomatoes available this time of year makes this dish extra satisfying. With Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and a healthy serving of butter, this cherry…
5.0 from 1 reviews Honey Roasted Peaches with Lavender Print Kissed with lavender, ripe peaches are transformed into a an even more delicious treat with a turn in the oven and a honey drizzle. Author: Inspired by Laura Martin Zapalowski, myrecipes Ingredients ½ T unsalted butter 4 large, ripe peaches, halved and pitted ¼…
On our high desert organic farm, we’re growing nearly 5 acres of lavender, and 50% of the lavender we grow is Lavandula x. intermedia. In other words, we grow lots of Lavandin. As a late-season species, this is the last of the lavender we harvest in the summer. We harvest ‘True Grosso’, ‘Super’, ‘Impress Purple’…
Orzo with Summer Squash, Basil & Feta Print Author: Inspired by Country Living Magazine Ingredients 3 tbsp. olive oil olive oil 3 medium summer squash Salt and freshly ground pepper 1 large shallot 1 lb. orzo Zest and juice of 2 lemons (about 1 tablespoon zest and ½ cup juice) 2 tbsp. chopped fresh…
Basil is a classic tender herb loved by many. For gardeners, growing basil is a delight – Picking fresh basil just before adding it to a dish is such a treat. With a few tricks, growing basil is easy, even in our high desert heat. And it is possible to keep basil producing in abundance…
Cherry and Goat Cheese Bruschetta Print Ingredients 3 cups pitted and halved dark sweet cherries 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil A few fresh thyme sprigs Coarse salt 10 ounces fresh goat cheese, room temperature Twelve ½-inch-thick slices of toasted rustic bread Directions On a rimmed baking sheet, toss cherries with olive oil and a…
The 8th annual Colorado Lavender Festival is just around the corner! Every June, amidst cherry harvest and lavender harvest, we gear up for a weekend that is packed full of lavender. This year, we’re focusing on hydrosol as our theme for the festival. Hydrosol is a product of the distillation process. It’s the floral water…
Roasted Golden Beet Salad with Pea Shoots and Fennel Print Ingredients 2 pounds baby beets, scrubbed, tops and root ends trimmed ¼ cup olive oil, divided Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 tsp crushed lavender buds Pea shoots (tendrils), fennel fronds, and…
Before I was growing lavender, I was growing tomatoes with a passion. It’s a skill I learned back in California when I was working on organic farms. Through the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that make a big difference. Planting, pruning, trellising and other techniques go a long way when it comes to growing…
Community-supported agriculture. You may be more familiar with its acronym, CSA. As farm-to-table ideas and experiences enter the mainstream, CSA programs are also becoming more familiar and more popular. Whether its quality of taste, personal connection, ethics or nutrition that’s guiding people towards CSAs, it seems that everyone – both farmer and consumer – is…
Roasted Carrots with Chimichurri Print Author: Inspired by Martha Stewart Ingredients Small carrots ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley ½ cup cilantro leaves 1 tsp red chili flakes 1 minced garlic clove ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar Salt and pepper Directions Stir together parsley, cilantro, red chili flakes, garlic, oil, and…
