I’ve spent much of the past year in the blahs. A lot of reasons, I’m sure. In a new house (that I love) but it’s still not “home” like the one I lived in for 14 years alone was. I’m in that middle age muck where you wonder whether what you’ve been doing for over 20 years is still what I want to be doing or do I want to sell everything, leave the cats at my sister’s and join the Peace Corps or move to China. We’ve all been there at some point. Or will be if you haven’t had the joyful experience yet.
But a realization came to me this morning of why I wasn’t moving through the muck as easily as I usually do. I had stopped bringing something new, spiritual, motivational into my life and when that stopped, my creativity went as well. At the old house I had my “room”. Actually I had an entire large house to myself, but this particular room was my haven. The shelves were lined with books that had made a difference to me or looked as if they could become part of that collection. There were decks of cards I had used to inspire me…..hate to use the phrase tarot cards because many were really more than that….perhaps inspirational cards would be a better term. There were items that friends had added to the room…..a smudge dish and feather from Tina…a Tibetan Prayer Wheel from Diane….a beautiful framed print of Grandmother Moon I’d fallen in love with as I sat in a booth at a trade show next to the artist…and a very comfortable chair. I’d sit and read almost every morning for a time…..sometimes 10 minutes….sometimes 30. But I read something that made me think and feel and start those creative juices flowing.
It was never herb books or website design books or anything to do with business. I got those read in the evening or as needed during the day. These were books where the author shared wisdom…..”The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron….anything by Sark like “Succulent Wild Women”, Wayne Dyer’s latest inspiration. Books like this inspired me to scramble up to my office and do something I felt passionate about….herbs and the people that were trying to make a business working with something they were passionate about as well.
And the new house didn’t have that cozy warm room where I could find that inspiration. So over the past couple weeks I thought I’d try to recreate that space. Not to look like the old room, but something that fit into who and where I am now. I purchased an incredible chair that was big and roomy where I could put my feet up. I lined the walls with a set of prints of the four seasons I found in China that brought me to tears. There was a different bookcase, a good light, lots of windows and a return of the cats which hadn’t spent much time in the room before. And after a few days, voila, my mind started seeing possibilities again. “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert was devoured. I’m now in the middle of “Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion” and have every other page turned down because there’s so much I know I’ll want to refer back later to. (How I screen books later to pass on…..if the book isn’t dog-eared, it didn’t work for me.)
So if you’re in a malaise right now and you need a lift, create that sacred spot where you can be alone with your thoughts and read only what makes you think and laugh and cry. It will help you “Make Your Creative Dreams Real” (another wonderful book by SARK.
November 7, 2007
When creativity wanes…
November 1, 2007
Deciding what to grow
There are many options in growing herbs. You can grow for the culinary market. This includes selling to restaurants or farmers markets. It also includes growing for manufacturers. And there’s money to be made in all three markets. If you’re just getting started, farmers markets can be your best test market. If you purchased Sandie Shores’ book that I mentioned in the previous post, you’ll have a good solid start. To be wildly successful in a market as well as selling to chefs, you really do need to love people and love showing them how your quality material will enhance their lives. Any great business person is a bit of a show man. If you’re walking along the rows of a market and you have your choice of visiting a booth where the salesperson looks bored and tired or visiting one where the owner is laughing and giving samples to their customers, where would you go? I personally go to the vendor that seems enthusiastic over their goods. I want to see what’s so great. If you’re one of those people that would rather dig in the dirt than ever talk to a customer, you best be finding yourself a partner, spouse, sister or friend that feels differently. Passion and enthusiasm is the most important part of sales. I don’t care how much you “feel” it internally, if it doesn’t come across to the customer, it won’t work.
Growing for a farmers market gives you the opportunity to try various herbs and how they’re accepted by buyers. It’s a way to introduce new ideas into your community. Successful vendors have given samples of something made with the exotic herbs and even recipes. If you’re consistent with your recipes you can even come up with a booklet that can be sold at the market along with your herbs. You can add potted versions of what you’re offering in the spring and bring up your sales even more. This is a great way to get your feet wet in herb growing without a tremendous investment in land and labor. At one of my local markets there are probably 10-15 produce stands. Most are small but their produce is so outstanding that many pass up the mega-vendors to buy from them. And my special favorite is a young man whose products are organic and even though his selection is limited, it looks (and tastes) so luscious that he always has a line waiting to buy.
To get started, pick a selection of herbs to grow for the market. Start with a good assortment of between 10 and 20 herbs. Pick ones you’re in love with yourself and try some others you think your locale will support. You’ll need to have a good seed source (or plugs….small plants that have already started to grow). Look for sources that are reputable. Many growers choose Johnny’s (www.johnnyseeds.com), a good source if you’re on the west coast is Wood Violet Herb Farm (email herb.farm@yahoo.com). Richters (www.richters.com) and Companion Plants (www.companionplants) are other excellent sources. Get all the growing information you can find on your choices and get a notebook started. Every good grower I know keeps a diary of their work. Details include what seeds and their sources they choose. If there’s a lot number on the seed package, record it. When each type is planted and conditions (weather, soil, etc) on the day the seeds/plants put in the ground, amount of rain or water, fertilizer or other additions, growth rate….these should all be recorded religiously. This recording provides so much information you’ll be grateful for not only later that year but in future years when you’re trying to remember whose seeds didn’t produce or what you did that made the basil especially flavorful.