Saving Seeds

Hi everyone!

We are coming to the end of the farming season now at DTL Herbs Farm. It was an interesting season as well as a learning season for our first year actually having a farm to work with.

Besides planting, harvesting and selling our produce this year, we also made sure to do a lot of seed saving. We are specializing in all heirloom veggies (and hopefully fruit in the coming years) so, we made sure to harvest as many seeds as possible. This helps consistency from year to year.

Our dining room became seed saving central this past season. I think I might actually see our table in the near future! LOL

Did you know that there are Seed Banks all over the world? Some of the world’s largest Seed Vaults are right here in the United States!

The reasons for storing seeds may be varied. In the case of food crops, many useful plants that were developed over centuries are now no longer used for commercial agricultural production and are becoming rare. Storing seeds also guards against catastrophic events like natural disasters, outbreaks of disease, or war. Unlike seed libraries or seed swaps that encourage frequent reuse and sharing of seeds, seed banks are not typically open to the public.

Source: Wikipedia

Of course, this too has taken up the table since Spring! The dehydrator. I don’t think we have had a single day in about 3 months that this thing wasn’t running. Honest! We definitely need to get several more for next year.

We have dried a lot of various veggies this year. But, without a doubt the biggest time has been concentrated at drying our hot peppers. We have grown several of the world’s hottest peppers this season and are developing a new product. Our customers at DTL Herbs have been asking us for some hot and spicy mixes. We listened and dedicated a lot of time this year to grow these peppers in order to fill this need.

Oh, and in case you are wondering what those “sticks” are in the above picture, they are dill stems. Did you know they are filled with flavor as well as the leaves? Yup, I use them to flavor my oils and vinegars for here at home. They don’t look as pretty so, I don’t use them for products. but, for home use, they are just fine.

Do you save your seeds?

Feedback Friday #1

Hi everyone!

Welcome to our first “Feedback Friday”! We hope to to feature this a couple times each month.

What is Feedback Friday? It is post written by one of our DTL Herbs customers. The customer will share with us all how they use one or more of our products.

If you would like to write a post, just drop us an email and we will be glad to answer any questions you have!

Now, I would like to introduce to you Lorie, a customer from one of our Farmer’s Markets.

Now, here’s Lorie…

We continually hear what chemicals are added to food. For instance, margarine is a few molecules away from plastic. A fast food chain has decided to remove a harmful chemical that they add to their "fresh bread".  A red slime was previously added to fast food burgers, of course it was labeled as safe for human consumption. MSG has been linked to Chinese food menus and I'm sure other menus.

We eat foods that have been labeled as GMO, which is defined as,

Genetically modified organism (GMO) an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

My son asked me, "why do they have to add all that junk to the foods we eat."  I'm a Registered Nurse and a Certified Herbalist. I'm convinced that our poor health conditions in this country are a result of the chemicals that exist in our foods.

Thomas Edison said, "the doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care and prevention of disease."

Hypocrites, Greek Physician and Herbalist, Father of Medicine said, "Let your medicine be your food and your food be your medicine."

I was introduced to this fantastic small business, DTL Herbs, 3 years ago. Their attention to growing and harvesting herbs free from chemicals and pesticides is exactly what I look for in products. The research and development of herbal combinations is amazing. When shopping during the "warm" months at Farmer Markets where DTL Herbs sells merchandise, their fragrant herbs are intoxicating and freshness is apparent.

Many people are nervous in using herbs to cook. DTL Herbs has taken out any guess work when it comes to using the dried herbs. The combination of herbs is perfectly incorporated to produce a taste explosion that cannot be produced by store bought products. Herbs not only provide great tasting foods but also make your food healthy.

I enjoy making Chicken Soup loaded with fresh vegetables and I add, DTL Herbs (and all naturally dried, and grown, peppers from another local business The Garden Hoard).

I add All Purpose Seasoning Blend, to my soup the last 45 minutes of the simmering stage. The smells coming from the stove,  a warm bowl of soup, during a furious winter snowstorm are more than I can wait for completion.

I have never been disappointed in products purchased from DTL Herbs. Be adventurous, cook with herbs. Be healthier and get rid of the chemicals in your food. DTL Herbs is my choice for my food.

Thank you Lorie for sharing with us and for being such a wonderful DTL Herb customer!

Power of Three Giveaway! CLOSED!

Hi everyone!
A couple of days ago we hosted a fun Halloween event called “Potions and Powders” at the MSU extension offices in Macomb County. We had such a fun time with this event. We talked about the magical, mystical and some folklore regarding the use of herbs.

We talked about the fact that the Power of Three is very important when creating charms, potions or spells.

We had a “Potions” table set up to create your own blend of tea.

Keeping in mind the “Power of Three” when mixing up your brew.

We had some treats and learned some tricks.

We all learned some new things and had a great time.

We decided to have a fun little giveaway with the Power of Three in mind.

GIVEAWAY

We are giving away Three packages of our Toasted Herb Pumpkin Seeds to Three winners. And you will have Three different chances to win!

Here is how to enter:

1. Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment. If you are already a follower, leave a comment stating that.
2. Be a Friend at our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dtl.herbs and leave a second comment on this post telling us you are a fb friend.
3. “Like” our DTL Herb Fan page at https://www.facebook.com/dtl.herbs.ltd and leave a third comment here that you liked us.

That’s it! Three different chances to win Three packages of Toasted Pumpkin Seeds.

This giveaway ends on November 9, 2013

Good luck everyone!

It’s All About Pumpkins!

Hi everyone!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Since we are not pumpkin farmers but, one of our favorite products for this time of the year is our Toasted Herb Pumpkin Seeds, we need LOTS of pumpkin seeds!

We start working with local growers and communities early in the summer to get pumpkin seeds.

Another pumpkin seed source is from local Pumpkin events. The Trenton Cultural Center hosted a pumpkin carving and lighting festival this past weekend.

Kids created their own spooky pumpkin face.

There were a lot of pumpkins carved to be lit that evening!

And this would be the part we are involved in! LOL

We were thrilled and thankful for buckets of pumpkin guts!

Of course that means HOURS and HOURS of cleaning and gathering pumpkin seeds! And then many more hours seasoning and toasting them before they are ready to be packaged for sale.

We are dedicated to offering all of you the best quality and tasting toasted herbed pumpkin seeds possible!

Quarter Mania Charity Event

Hi everyone!

Last night we participated in a charity event held by a local church group raising money for their charity, “House of Joy”.

When you entered the event you could buy a “stick paddle” for $4.00 or a “Super Paddle” for $15.00. Each paddle has a number on it and there are ping pong balls with the same numbers. When you pick your paddle the coordinating ball goes into a big box.

So here is how it worked:

At each of the tables there was a jar to put quarters in (the honor system). If you bought the $15.00 paddle, you didn’t have to add any quarters. Basically you paid ahead of time to enter each auction.

If you bought the $4.00 paddle, you would add however many quarters they assigned to an auction you wanted to bid on.

For example, the first auction item maybe a $50.00 gift card to a salon and they placed a 3 quarter bid on it. So, me, with the $4.00 paddle decides I want to bid on this item. I add 3 quarters to the jar and hold my paddle up.

All of the paddle numbers are in the box. They pull out a number and if it is your paddle number you win the item. If they call your number and you did not have your paddle up, you did not win.

All of the vendors donated. We did two baskets filled with all of our products for the auction.

Lots of very generous vendors and businesses donated!

The House of Joy is a facility that will offer support to 14 surrounding villages in Romania. Local residents will be able to take English classes, get job skills, make use of the running water for showers, and have a place of hope in their community where they can learn about Jesus Christ

So, we now know what a “Quarter Mania” auction event is!

A Fall Festival

Hi everyone!

Last night we had fun attending and selling at the 3rd Friday event in Wyandotte! It was a special Fall Festival night!

There was a chili cook-off and many tents had their chili for sale or, like us, for sampling.

Food and drinks were available.

Of course, lots of fun vendors showed up for the party!

A Haunted old store was there for those who dared!

“That 80’s Band’ rocked the night with lots of awesome music and dancing.

It was another fun and successful night. We had a great time and enjoyed talking with all the folks who came out to have fun and support the Wyandotte businesses!

We want to thank the Wyandotte Business Association for hosting this wonderful night!

Busy Few Days Ahead!

Hi everyone!

The next three days are going to be busy but lots of fun!

Tomorrow is the October classes at MSU Extension!

 http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county/info/macomb

Friday:

Oct. 11 classes are:

1-2:30 "The Herbal First Aid kit" (beginner), 

3:00-4:30 is "Tinctures & Tisanes" (Advanced)

6-7:30 is "The Herbal First Aid Kit" again! It's not to late to call and reserve your seat!

Saturday:

October 12 from 10-6:00 we will be at the Gibraltar Fall Festival! It is going to be a blast! There will be crafters, food, music, hay rides and lots of fun family entertainment! The weather looks like it will be a beautiful day as well!

Sunday:

October 13 10-3:00 is the last Farmer’s Market at the Marquee in Redford!

It is going to be a blast! There will be all the wonderful vendors, food and music!

That’s right! There is going to be a Chili Cook-off!

We will have our Herbed Chili Seasoning available and we will have delicious samples available! Oh, just in time for this fun event we will have our Herbed Cornbread mixes available AND we will be selling individual servings of the cornbread already made up! Can’t have chili without the cornbread!!

So, you don’t want to miss the last day at Redford this Sunday! Lots of fun and yumminess happening!!

Let the Pumpkin Seed Harvest Begin!

Hi everyone!

We have our first patch of herbed pumpkin seeds ready for sale!

Yes that would be a trailer loaded with a bunch of pumpkins!

Since we are not pumpkin farmers, we put out the word to all our friends, family and associates that we needed pumpkin seeds!

We are fortunate to have made so many friends from the different farmer’s markets, Troy came home with all these pumpkins Sunday evening!

When Troy was at the Redford Farmer’s Market, he spread the word around regarding the need for pumpkins. Melinda, one of the most amazing Farmer Market managers, told Troy they had a bunch that were part of a pumpkin painting event and that he was welcome to them! Woohoo!

Monday was spent gutting, cleaning and roasting pumpkin seeds!

Once seasoned with our herbs and roasted, I had to snitch some for home!

So all you good folks at Wyandotte Farmer’s Market, we will have the herbed pumpkins seeds available! And this Thursday is the last Farmer’s Market in Wyandotte! So, make sure to stop by and stock up on your favorite DTL Herb products!

Coming Soon! Herbed Pumpkin Seeds!

Hi everyone!

It is officially Fall and we are working on our seasonal products.

One of the popular items we carried last year was our herbed pumpkin seeds. We sell them in a little bag designed to munch on while you walk around and visit other vendors.

We hope to have the first patch ready in the next two weeks.

Did you know that pumpkin seeds have a lot of healthy properties to them?

 

Pumpkin seeds or pepitas, also contain a number of a vitamins and minerals, including manganese, magnesium and iron, and have a variety of health benefits, from protecting bones to treating arthritis. Studies have also shown that pumpkin seed oil can reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), or enlarged prostate.
Read more: http://www.motherearthliving.com/natural-health/5-health-benefits-of-pumpkins.aspx#ixzz2g72HMT66

Well who knew?!

Just another good reason to snatch up some of our yummy herbed pumpkin seeds when you can. They are seasonal only and quantities will be limited!

C.O.R.N. Pasta Salad

Hi everyone!

Nope, this pasta salad has nothing to do with “corn”. It is:

C. = Clean

O. = Out

R. = Refrigerator

N. = Night

Pasta salad is one of those dishes that is very forgiving. You can just gather little bits and pieces of different leftovers, chop them up and add them to cooked pasta.

I decided to cook up this box of “Trio Italiano’ pasta for our salad tonight.

I had several different color bell peppers that were needed to be used up so, they got chopped and into the bowl they went.

I had a handful of black olives in the fridge, 3 pickled banana peppers in a jar, half of a purple onion, some tomatoes that had some bruised spots. a dab of feta cheese and some leftover ham. So, that is what was chopped and added to the mix.

Any fresh veggies will do in a pasta salad. Along with meats such as pepperoni, salami or ham. Bits and pieces of cheese is great in this type of salad as well.

Besides the pasta, the other key ingredient is, of course……

DTL Herbs Italian Dressing & Marinade!

The bottle above is the bottle we sell at the market. The bottle below is what we have on hand all the time at home. Which is about twice the size! LOL

We use this dressing all the time for different recipes!

Once you have coated all of the salad, put in the fridge for a couple of hours so all the flavors will combine. At that point you will want to add more dressing because the pasta will have soaked up quite a bit.

Now you have a quick meal or side dish all ready.