The grasshoppers are simply a plague this year; they devoured our pepper plants, and are taking a liking to my herb seedlings. Unfortunately, the Chinese red sage was their favorite, and not a single tender little plant is left. I will have to cover up the rest of the seedlings if we are to have any kind of crop.

The astragalus seed arrived, and I will plant them in the next day or so. My window of opportunity for planting is narrow now with the first frost date in October. All of the herbs are perennials, but they will need time to germinate and harden off before any heavy freezes. Astragalus is a vetch, and looks like many of the wild vetches that grow here in North Carolina. Unfortunately, there are not common medicinal values and uses known about our local vetch. We use astragalus in our immune system formula, Chi energy formulas, and cancer formula as it is endowed with polysaccharides that support the immune system and the production of T cells.

Husband Bill is busy building new shelves for the new line of products for Swan Creek Farm. It's fun launching a new product line, and my time is a bit crunched with 'the season' approaching quickly. Around here, it already feels like Christmas with boxes of essential oils, packaging, and ribbons arriving daily. I think the acupressure kits, therapeutic baths, and meditation candles will be well received.

The Nature of Farming

Driving by the local wine vineyards earlier this morning, it was reassuring to see the vines hanging low with abundant plump grape clusters; last year at this time, there were but a few shriveled grapes on those same vines. I view farming and agricultural pursuits as the oldest form of legal gambling. My late father-in-law was a tobacco farmer here in the Piedmont of North Carolina, and when asked what he would do with the millions if he won the lottery, he replied, “I’d keep farming ‘til it’s all spent”. It’s easy to become addicted to the plants, and the earth, and interacting with the fickle seasons.

The rain continued through the night with thunder showers around 3AM; the rain gauge measured 2.5 inches this morning. We have grown accustomed to the dry conditions that have dominated the last two years and it seems unusual to see water puddles throughout the property. My two little ponds are full to the brim, and the cool rain drops have revived my weary fish.

With the promised moisture imminently approaching, I thought to sprinkle some lettuce seeds and beet seeds in to a prepared bed. The potted herb seedlings seemed to benefit from the steady rainfall. I was disappointed to see that the germination rate of the astragalus was very low, and will have to order seeds from a new supplier before the temperatures drop to low to germinate the seeds.

Welcome Rain

This morning we woke to a steady drizzle that must have been going on all night. We are benefiting from what was hurricane Fay, now just a rain storm working its way up the East coast. This is not yet enough rain to end the drought that has affected our area for over a year, but I am hopeful that our water tables will recover with the promise of yet another hurricane on its way.

Each day the seedlings grow stronger, and my hope that this third crop attempt will be successful, also grows stronger. The beds are rich and ready for these medicinal perennial herbs to be planted this fall.