Nature Diary - Express your creativity, enjoy some quiet reading time & document your love of nature by keeping a nature journal. Use whatever medium inspires you; take photos, sketch, paint, write & collect to create a diary of your experiences with nature.
Tea For Two
Did you know that black, green & Oolong tea all come from the same plant? Camellia Sinensis is it's name and can be grown in most gardens. Or nurture it inside and enjoy its aromatic winter blooms. Starting from seed takes a few years so you may want to consult with a nursery for a full grown plant.
Harvest, dry and indulge yourself in raw sun tea. The process for each type of tea is different:
Green Tea
Made with the youngest leaves and leaf buds.
Blot the leaves dry, and let dry in the shade for a few hours.
Steam the leaves on your stove for about a minute.
Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in a low heat oven for 20 minutes.
Store the dried tea leaves in an air-tight container.
Oolong Tea
Made with youngest leaves and leaf buds.
Spread them out on a towel under the sun and let them wilt for about 45 minutes.
Bring your leaves inside and let them sit at room temperature for a few hours.
Make sure to stir the leaves frequently.
The edges of the leaves will start to turn red as they begin to dry.
Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry in a low heat oven at 250F for 20 minutes.
Store the dried tea leaves in an air-tight container.
Black Tea
Pluck the very youngest leaves and leaf buds.
Roll the leaves between your hands, and crush them until the leaves start to darken and turn red.
Spread them out on a tray, and leave them in a cool location for 2-3 days.
Dry them in the low heat oven for 20 minutes.
Store in an air-tight container.
Once you get the hang of it, try experimenting with different drying times to get different tastes. Mix your teas with jasmine or hibiscus flowers for a lovely summer tea right from your garden.
MoonFlower - Enjoy each day at home with fresh tropical garden scents from your own window box. eco-culture offers earth friendly growing kits for indoor/outdoor gardening. Our favorite is the
Fragrant Moon Flower & Multi-Colored Sunrose -
White Moonflower is a fragrant night bloom native to tropical regions. The Sunrose, native to Cental and South America, is known for its extremes of color and its resiliant nature. more info
Green Scene Anderson Valley in Mendocino County California lies on the southern border of Mendocino County. The scenic 25-mile drive from Yorkville to Navarro winds past grazing sheep, apple orchards, olive groves, roadside stands selling fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables, and vineyards and wineries surrounded by wooded hillsides. Anderson Valley is home to wineries recognized throughout the world for pinot noir, chardonnay,
sparkling wine and zinfandel. Visitors to Anderson Valley can take a leisurely drive, stopping along the way at tasting rooms for award-winning wines and refreshing grape juices.
Until you can visit, let the guest writers at the Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission take you on a Imaginative Tour of "America's greenest wine region." with descriptive weekly wine country postings.
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