Eat what you grow. Grow what you eat.
I feel very lucky to have a loving brother with a farm and a beautiful family with which to experience the cycle of life and death in nature so closely. When I’m not in the city, I’m on the family farm. It’s one of my favorite places to be. SOOO MUCH NAAAATUUUUUREEE.
Paradise: It’s a lot of work
Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my Italian grandparents in their garden; their kitchen. They had EVERYTHING growing in their tiny Chicago backyard! It’s nuts to think that I would eat fresh figs off Nonno’s fig tree in the yard that he’d bury every year to withstand the frigid Chicago winters. I’m sure he brought it here from Italy, too.
There was a peach tree, an abundance of tomato plants all in a row, zucchinis (the flowers are my absolute FAV), cucumbers, onions, lettuces, grapes vining over a trellis… With Nonni’s beautiful bleeding heart hanging baskets and hibiscus blossoms exploding all over the fence blocking out any nosey neighbors, it was paradise. You’d forget you were in the City of Chicago.
Love: The Invisible Ingredient
There’s something so fulfilling about growing what you eat. It’s the love you put into growing the plant, the care you put into each fruit or vegetable forming that makes such a difference when you bring it to the kitchen, and eventually the dinner table. This love, this massive production is just something Italians have in their blood. I’m convinced.
My brother grows a lot of vegetables, fruits, and herbs on his farm. Even Vinny, the farm cat has several catnip patches to choose from while defending his lair from rodent invasions. But there are so many awesome natural unadulterated things happening all the time on the farm, too. Like these dandelions.
“Highly nutritious with antioxidants that fight inflammation, control blood sugar, lower blood pressure and promote a healthy liver.”
Eat Your Invasives
Most people get so annoyed with dandelions! They call them invasive weeds! I tend to look at things differently than most people though. If your objective is a perfectly green lawn, so be it, but these little flowers pack so many good health benefits. I did some research! It’s crazy!
There was an abundance on the farm. So I taught my little toddler niece and nephew how to forage for dandelions and pick them. We collected a TON of them. I dehydrated all of the blossoms, mixed them with lemon balm, chamomile, lemongrass, lemon peel, and some blackberry leaves and made the most glorious tea blend. It’s great hot or on ice!
Not Just a Winter Thing
Tea is one of those things that’s an all year ‘round thing for me. I like making sun tea in the summer time the most. I do that with all of my tea blends. This one was particularly delish with some lavender simple syrup over ice. :)
While supplies last, all my orders through July will get a bonus tea bag so you can try it out for yourself.
xo