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Open
April through June,
Tuesday through Saturday,
10-5
 
 

 

 

Greetings from Honey Rock!

“A garden is a grand teacher.
It teaches patience and careful watchfulness;
industry and thrift; above all, entire trust.” 

Gertrude Jekyll 1843- 1942

                         It’s hard to believe that 2013 begins our 26th year for Honey Rock. You’ve heard the story of how I started with a sprig of mint, and how herbs took over me just as mint took over my garden. Before that, about 35 years ago, you couldn’t find herbs except maybe parsley and sage. I wanted to support my habit, so in 1987 on my birthday Jim and I marched up to the Blount County courthouse and got our business license. From there we did the craft show circuit selling herb related crafts and products; wreaths, vinegars, tussie-mussies, mixes, etc.  When we weren’t at the shows, we displayed these wares on the dining room table. Many of you remember this. When our old garage fell in we built the Herbal Cottage. We bought a small hoop house from a Knoxville friend who was moving and knew plants were what we wanted to do.

            Before that I started plants on the back porch and we sold them in the back yard. I know many of you remember this who have been with us from the “get go.” We’ve taken various routes on our journey, picking up new ideas and dropping some old. It’s been a wonderful 26 years. Thanks for sharing them with us and making it possible.   

In the Garden 

We’ve enjoyed lettuce, kale, turnip greens and mustard from our garden all winter, as well as canned green beans, tomatoes, salsa, sauces and picked peppers. Our potatoes lasted us until Christmas in our root cellar and we still have garlic. There is one bag of corn left in the freezer. Most of our herbs we gather fresh from the garden except for frozen pestos and butters and a few dried herbs handy in the kitchen cabinet. The cabbage I planted last fall is about as big as a softball. I guess I didn’t feed them enough.  

In the Kitchen 

            This is a savory cheesecake. If you take it to a function, be sure to explain to family and friends it is an appetizer not a dessert.

Herbal Cheesecake

1 Tbs. plus 1/3 cup butter, 1/3 cup bread crumbs, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 Tbs. chopped parsley , 3 8-ounce packs cream cheese, (softened,) 2 cloves garlic, (finely chopped,) 1 tsp. oregano leaves, 1 tsp fresh basil leaves, 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves, ½ tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 4 large eggs, (at room temperature.)

            Heat oven to 350 degrees. Using 1 Tbs. butter, grease bottom and halfway up side of 9 inch springform pan. In small bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Press mixture into bottom of greased pan. Set pan on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Remove pan to wire rack. Leave oven on.

            Melt remaining butter over low heat. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in melted butter, garlic and herbs until well mixed. Beat in Worcestershire sauce, then eggs, (1 at a time.) Pour filling over crust in pan. Bake cheesecake 1 hour. Turn off heat and leave cheesecake in oven 30 minutes with the door ajar. Cool. Cover.

Farmers Market 

          Our Maryville Farmers Market is starting 2 weeks early this year. Opening Day is April 20. Yea! We can’t wait. There is a farmers market almost every day of the week in this area. There is no reason not to buy fresh and local. Some of our vendors are full time farmers, others are back yard growers. The important thing is it is a producer only market. So you know where and how your produce, eggs, honey, bread and plants are produced. In this day and age you know how important that is.  

Elderberry Herb of the Year 2013 

            The International Herb Association has chosen this deciduous shrub for the 2013 herb of the year. They choose an herb for its many uses. Elderberry has many. Medically it was said to be a mild laxative and to promote sweating. Many people use the wine or juice to treat the flu as well as coughs and colds. Water from the elder flower is said to be a mild astringent. The elder wood was once used to make shoe maker pegs, flutes, kitchen skewers, and needles for weaving nets.

  I once made elder flower fritters by dipping the white fragrant flowers in tempura like batter and frying them. I served the fritters with syrup like pancakes. I felt like this was a waste, because I love the jelly and syrup made from the berries. (If you could get them before the birds do.) Daddy and I used to pick elderberries from the road side. He made the best elderberry wine, used medicinally, of course. The berries shouldn’t be eaten raw. You can find elder flowers on the road side blooming, I think around May and the berries around September. We have a couple growing, and we’ve ordered 3 more from the Blount County Soil Conservation Tree Sale.  

From the Bee Yard 

            I just watched the “Secret Life of Bees” for about the 100th time. They talked about how good elderberry honey was and how people would pay good money for it. I don’t know how the bees get elderberry honey. It seems they would just work the flowers. Oh well, what do I know? Our bees are having a hard time, or should I say we’re having a hard time with the bees. We had a great crop last year, but we’ve lost 6 hives since and don’t know why. Don’t give up on us. I told Jim we might need to change our name to “Rock Rock” instead of Honey Rock.

In the Greenhouse 

            At the end of every year I vow to work more in the gardens the next growing season, but I never seem to get out of the greenhouse. Don’t get me wrong, I love working in my greenhouse, but come spring I would like to dig in the soil as well as “potty soil.”

I’ve been dividing, taking cuttings and sowing seeds. We hope to have lots of healthy, happy herbs, vegetables and flowers for you to take home.  

In the Cottage 

            Take in our Cottage for garden tools, organic supplies, bees wax products and hopefully honey later.

Honey Rock Hours 

            Beginning April 2, we’ll be open Tuesday thru Saturday, 10 to 5 thru June. After 5 by appointment. We’ll also be at the Maryville Farmers Market starting April 20.  

Spring Fever Day 

            Saturday, April 13, 10 to 5. If you remember, we use to call our opening day Cabin Fever Day when we opened the first of March. I would never let anyone buy plants because it was too early. It got to be a joke so we decided to open later. We still serve sassafras tea and Cabin Fever cookies and we’ll even let you buy plants!          

Conclusion 

          We’re looking forward to seeing you and starting our 26th year at Honey Rock. We hope you’re enjoying your herbs as much as we do. Until we see you take care of yourself and be kind to each other.

Peace & Plenty
D. & Jim
(download the pdf of our newsletter which includes our Happenings by clicking on Newsletter in the sidebar to the left.)
 

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Welcome to Honey Rock Herb Farm via our web site!

We'd love to have you visit us at our farm in Louisville, TN, where you'll find hundreds of organically grown herbs, flowers and vegetables.  We also have topiaries, planters and "gardens in a pot." 

Inside the Herbal Cottage you'll see dried flowers, herbs, potpourri supplies, herbal soaps, books, and gifts for the gardener and good cook.  We've chosen the best gardening tools, gloves and organic gardening supplies.  You'll love our own "3 B Honey" named for my father (Gerald Bailey,) us (the Browns), and of course, the Bees!

The Little House on the hill is our meeting room where we have classes, workshops and celebrate special days such as "Lavender Day" and "Christmas at Honey Rock."

Stroll through our "always in progress" Display Gardens.  Feel free to touch, smell and (if edible) nibble as you go.

We've been growing and enjoying herbs for nearly 30 years.  We'd love to share the joy of herbs with you!

 
"If the day and the night are such that
you greet them with joy, and life emits
a fragrance like flowers and sweet
scented herbs...That is your success."   
Thoreau
 
Celebrating our 26th season......

    

 

 

Honey Rock Herb Farm,
PO Box 23, Louisville, TN 37777
 865-984-0954
email
  Location: 113 Honey Rock Way

 

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