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When the rains come to swell the soil and darken the skies, the trees breathe in. When the droplets fall and the air is damp, the plants inhale. All of their leaves (and even some of their stems) are covered with structures called stomata, a fancy word for a system that is their breath. Breath is something my mind wanders to often. I named my farm and business after it. People often seek out water, shelter, and food as things that sustain live, but often overlook breath. That act we do without thinking...but we can also control it...to a point. It is simultaneously automatic (we breathe without thinking to) and manual (we can hold our breath). We can only last a few minutes without taking one and even that requires dedicated practice. If you have ever had the experience of a panic attack, you know the intense fear the body and mind feel at not. getting. enough. breath. And so, when it rains and the air is damp, the plants and trees, mosses and leaves, open their stomata and breathe. A breath they have been holding since winter. With the leaves unfurling, the sun warming, and the weeds growing ever higher, spring is an intense time on the farm. A breathe I have been waiting for all winter. It is easy to begin rushing to complete the tasks, barely slowing for a breath or a meal or a break. So this is me taking a breath. This is me slowing down and controlling my breath. This is me choosing to just 'take a breather' I won't be at either market this week but look for my return to the hustle and hurry of the farm and market on June 8th. And maybe, just maybe, we all (tree, leaves, and humans) will be breathing a little deeper.  You may have seen the new salve packaging this season but may I also introduce the Bud Blood Salve! All those sticky red, resinous Cottonwood Buds that plump in the last vestige of winter are infused into Organic Sunflower Oil. They are strongest with the sticky substance right before the leaves unfurl, birthed into the world to breathe and pull in sunlight. I use it when I feel stiff, like winter won't leave my bones. That ache, soreness, pain, or swelling that lingers and has out-stayed its welcome. When I feel the need to breathe deep again, expand, and stretch in the sunshine.
 The Weeds! Oh my gosh, did I mention the weeds? When you see a task that needs done but you don't wanna do it, what do you often do? *sigh*, with exasperation. A quick inhale before a drawn out exhale. Breathe before all. Future Learning OpportunitiesAre you ready to step into the wilderness? Early Summer Foraging Class: Dragon's Breath Farm: June 18th Come learn about commonly available seasonal edible plants in our region. We'll meet the plants, learn about their edible and also medicinal qualities, proper foraging etiquette, and taste the wonders of the wilds. Join me on the farm on the afternoon of June 10th to see what the wilds can provide! Sign up here! HIKE: South Fork of Ross Creek: FSPW: July 2nd Leave the summer crowds behind as we make our way through the ancient Cedars, following the creek up to a waterfall. It’s 9 miles roundtrip with 1300 feet of elevation gain, a small price to pay for getting away from the hustle and bustle along the nature trail. Sign up here! Relational Farming: Dragon's Breath Farm: July 9th Our discussion will focus on the 'why' and 'how' behind the systems and methods I have used to develop farming practices that sit within a worldview that recognizes the sovereignty of the land and all the non-humans that live on it. Going deeper than the popular concepts of permaculture to reset our place and belonging as humans in our relation to land. Sign up here! HIKE: Foraging Hike at Spar Lake: FSPW : July10th Embark on a magical journey through the lush forest, as you discover the hidden treasures nature has to offer. Follow your senses and collect wild edibles, vibrant berries, and fragrant herbs. The crackle of leaves beneath your feet and the sweet scent of pine needles in the air makes this foraging hike an unforgettable adventure.Join staff member Juli Thurston and board member Megan Leach for a fun day on the trail foraging. We will meet at the Big Spar Lake Trailhead. Bring lunch, snacks plenty of water, and a bag to carry your foraging finds! Sign up here! Where to find it all?
I'll be back June 8th at the Farmers Market at Libby and June 10th at the Kalispell Farmers Market. Until then, just breathe! Find me and all the spring farm goodies both Thursdays and Saturdays. Thursdays from 3-630pm at The Farmers Market at Libby & Saturdays from 9-1230pm at the Kalispell Farmers Market
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Flower growers, florists, and wholesalers around the country have been spending months preparing for Mother's Day. It is the biggest flower selling and buying holiday, even more the Valentine's Day. It matters a lot to growers to make an early income, but I was gifted with a reminder by a stranger yesterday about flowers, generosity, and how both combine to help us speak our heart to the world and I would like to share it with you as well. Halfway through The Farmers Market at Libby, an gentleman stopped in front of my display of Mother's Day flower full of bright, vibrant tulips and sweet-scented daffodils. He spoke gently and swiftly as he handed me cash and said, "This is the first year that my mother is no longer here to give flowers to. I would like to buy flowers for you to gift to mothers throughout the market in honor of her." He did not mention his mother's name and I had not time to ask before he went away seemingly in a flash. I was touched by his generosity and care, by his thoughtfulness and remembrance, and by the obvious love he had for his mother. I was also surprised by the feeling of joy, solemnity, and connection that I felt as I wrapped up and delivered the anonymously gifted bouquets of flower to the mothers around me in honor of one mother, gone but most definitely not forgotten. The memory of her care, kindness, and devotion wrapped up alongside those blooms. Flowers sometimes seem frivolous and a luxury not always easy to afford, but they help us speak our words when words fail us or we fear to speak them. They can carry thoughts of care and connection when we are not present. And they can give solace in times of pain or sorrow. Flowers are maybe the gift of life, presence, and beauty that this world needs most.  It's green! not white with snow or brown with last years downed grass. The green lets my eyes rest without squinting as all the plants get to absorbing the sun's rays for growth instead of reflecting them back up into the sky If you missed me yesterday at The Farmers Market at Libby, you'll have one more chance to grab some flowers for the mother, grandmother, or mother-to-be in your life at the Kalispell Market this Saturday. All my flowers and food are grown using organic methods and beyond (because, frankly, the standards have been weakened so much over time to allow big growers to qualify for certification). So you can be sure that your mom is getting the best quality, safest, and longest-lasting blooms for her special day! If you would like to learn what all these little plants are, and if you can eat them, then you've signed up for the right newsletter! There are on-farm classes, free hikes, and workshops all designed to help you meet new plant friends and connect to the land you live one. See below for the on-farm schedule and stay tuned for updates on free hikes and workshops happening later this summer.
Future Learning OpportunitiesAre you ready to step into the wilderness? Spring Foraging Classes: Dragon's Breath Farm: May 14th Come learn about commonly available seasonal edible plants in our region. We'll meet the plants, learn about their edible and also medicinal qualities, proper foraging etiquette, and taste the wonders of the wilds. Join me on the farm on the afternoon of May 14th to see what the wilds can provide! Sign up here! Early Summer Foraging Class: Dragon's Breath Farm: June 10th Come learn about commonly available seasonal edible plants in our region. We'll meet the plants, learn about their edible and also medicinal qualities, proper foraging etiquette, and taste the wonders of the wilds. Join me on the farm on the afternoon of June 10th to see what the wilds can provide! Sign up here! What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
Find me and all the spring farm goodies both Thursdays and Saturdays. Thursdays from 3-630pm at The Farmers Market at Libby & Saturdays from 9-1230pm at the Kalispell Farmers Market It's that time of year again! It's time to boogie on down with your favorite Wookie or droid to the farmers markets! Spring has caught up fast. Blooms are popping, greens are growing, and us vendors are ready to show up with the goods! So dust off those light sabers, shake out those old cloaks, spit-shine that beskar and swing through the markets this Thursday from 3-630pm at The Farmers Market at Libby and Saturday from 9-1230pm at the Kalispell Farmers Market! Baby Yoda will be angry if you miss it  With the winter's long lingering snow, I doubted having any fresh flowers at the first market but the heat wave had other plans!
Future Learning OpportunitiesAre you ready to step into the wilderness? Tuesdays in May: Troy Adult Education Program I'll be teaching a Spring Wildflower & Native Plant ID class on Tuesday evenings in May and early June. Two indoor classes to cover the basics and two outings to meet all the wonderful spring plants around Troy. Sign-up here! Seasonal On-Farm Foraging Classes: Dragon's Breath Farm Come learn about commonly available seasonal edible plants in our region. We'll meet the plants, learn about their edible and also medicinal qualities, proper foraging etiquette, and taste the wonders of the wilds. Join me on the farm on the afternoon of May 14th to see what the wilds can provide! Sign up here! What's available this week?
Where to find it all?
Thursdays from 3-630pm at The Farmers Market at Libby & Saturdays from 9-1230pm at the Kalispell Farmers Market |
AuthorI'm Farmer Megan with a life full of cackles, clucks, quacks, weeds, crazy kitten, and one tiny, senior, blind dog. Archives
May 2024
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