a few photos of the straw bale/lasagna garden experiment. Planted tomatoes in the lasagna part, and will be planting in the rest of the straw bales (peppers and tomatoes) early next week.

Just got word from the Downtown Des Moines Farmer's Market folks re: our stall location. We will be on Court Avenue, in front of Dos Rios - same as our last 2 markets. Look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Freebie Friday!

Last week's Buzz Off Wand winners are: Darb, Jennifer VM, and Michelle! ! Please email us at shop at prairielandherbs dot com with your full name and mailing address and we'll send those right out to you!

Today's giveaway - a bar of Hands and Heels Scrubby soap. Because it is the only think that keeps our hands and feet in any sort of reasonable condition during this gardening season. :) It's got loads of pumice and walnut hulls in it, to exofoliate and scrub. Feels so good!


If you'd like to win a hands and heels scrubby soap, leave a comment on this week's post.

Rules:
1) One entry per person.
2) You must have a registered ID to post - if your post shows up under "anonymous", we don't know who you are, and therefore you can't win.
3) You have until the next Thursday at midnight, CST, to enter your comment.
4) Winner will be announced the following Friday - you must check back to see if it's you!
5) International folks are welcome. We ship Prairieland Herbs items all over the world, so we'll ship our "Friday freebie" anywhere too!
6) Each eligible post will be assigned a number, and we'll use a free online random number generator to determine the winner.

I have no idea where the phrase "working like a dog" comes from.

(top photo - Lexi, with her new spring haircut, and Jake is shown at the bottom photo).

So. After a couple of weeks of super-shop-busyness, we finally managed to get out in the garden and get some stuff planted. On May 14th. Frost-free date for our area is May 15th. May 16th - yeah. Almost had frost. Mother Nature has a wacky sense of humor....fortunately all the plants survived the cold temps. What's MORE of a problem now is the massive gusting winds we have had for a few days. That's really hard on the new little plants, especially combined with temps in the mid 80's. All we can do is keep them watered, and wait.....


We're trying some new things in the PLH garden this year. My mom's house needs a new septic system (groan) and it's going to have to go right in our biggest, oldest, main herb bed. *sigh* at first we were majorly freaking out about this. But then, after thinking and looking, we decided that it was a good thing. The bed had gotten weedy and really needed to be totally overhauled anyway. So we decide to simply tranpslant the few plants we really wanted, and have a much smaller, more compact, and hopefully easier-to-care-for herb bed this year. That's the plan, so....let's hope it works out that way!

So here we have, left, a beginning of a straw bale garden. This is six bales...I have 20 more being delivered today. I'm going to grow all my veggies (tomatoes, peppers, spinach and swiss chard) in it. They are just for personal use, so if the whole experiment is a failure, I'll just rely on the farmer's market and our local CSA. Right next to the straw bales is the beginning of a lasagna garden. It sounds really easy in the books. Just put down a layer of old newspapers or flattened cardboard boxes, then pile layers and layers of compost, mulch, wood ash, peat moss, etc. up, and plant your garden right in the layers. However, hauling wheelbarrowload after wheelbarrowload of all that stuff gets old...so I'm hoping the results are worth it. I have more pictures of the bed in progress - I'll try to post them all after it's finished.



Yesterday we employed the Automatic Lawn Mowers. They're very happy to be hard at work. :)

We also fenced off a large portion of the PLH acreage - the section behind and to the south of our shop. Donna's six mini horses need alot more pasture than they had, so we're trying to accomadae their needs. While cutting down on mowing at the same time - awesome!

And here's your gratuitous cute kitty pic. Violet LOVES this weather - she is naturally shy and cautious by nature, but when the weather allows us to leave the shop door open she gets brave and wanders outside to see what's happening in the big wide farm world.

Violets are still gorgeous and lush here - time to make some violet syrup!! Here's my favorite recipe and method , and an awesome variation that my friend Tina from The Essential Herbal makes. That's what I love about making herbie stuff. There's really no one right way, and, you can always experiment with ingredients and methods!

Sorry to inundate you with blog posts today - just wanted to post this neat article the Des Moines Register did on our market booth.

We're looking forward to being at the farmer's market tomorrow - if anyone wants us to bring anything in particular please let us know!

Happy Freebie Friday, everyone!!!


Last week's winner is Linda D! Linda, drop us an email at shop at prairielandherbs dot com and let us know what type of hair vinegar you'd like (we have three kinds) and your mailing address, and we'll get it shipped right out!

This week we'd like to give away THREE Buzz Off Wands. Because, frankly, they're just great. :) Our Buzz Off Wand comes in a convenient, pocket-sized tube and is easy to apply. It contains a blend of essential oils to help repel bugs. Safe for use on kids and pets. I couldn't get through summertime without one!

If you'd like to win a hair vinegar, leave a comment on this week's post.

Rules:
1) One entry per person.
2) You must have a registered ID to post - if your post shows up under "anonymous", we don't know who you are, and therefore you can't win.
3) You have until the next Thursday at midnight, CST, to enter your comment.
4) Winner will be announced the following Friday - you must check back to see if it's you!
5) International folks are welcome. We ship Prairieland Herbs items all over the world, so we'll ship our "Friday freebie" anywhere too!
6) Each eligible post will be assigned a number, and we'll use a free online random number generator to determine the winner.

A Prairieland Herbs Product review... in Portugese. :) (the author assures me she said lovely things!! haha!)

We are having mysterious phone issues...so if you are trying to call us today? Um, yeah, you can't. until we can get somewhere to buy a new phone. Drop an email to shop at prairielandherbs dot com if you need to get a hold of us. Thanks, and sorry!

Awesome! We found out that the Des Moines Register is going to profile us this Friday (!!!!) - I guess they do this once a week for market vendors? So anyway, we have a BONUS day at market this Saturday, May 16th - we'll look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Freebie Friday!!

Before I start with the freebie - just a quick "housekeeping" note. We will be vending at the Downtown Des Moines Farmer's Market tomorrow - I'm so excited to be there! We do not know our location in advance, so, you'll just have to enjoy wandering the market to find us. We bring a very very random assortment of products (whatever I stuff in to the van late on Friday afternoon) - so if you want any item in particular, PLEASE call or email us to let us know and we will gladly bring it for you! See you tomorrow!!



This week's Friday Freebie - an 8 oz. bottle of your choice of hair vinegar! These viengars add shine and body to your hair, while helping with the tangles. To use: dilute 2 tbsp. vinegar to 1 cup of water, and use as an after-shampoo rinse. We use an organic apple cider vinegar and infuse it with herbs. And the vinegar scent fades after your hair dries, so you won't smell like a pickle. :)

If you'd like to win a hair vinegar, leave a comment on this week's post.

Rules:
1) One entry per person.
2) You must have a registered ID to post - if your post shows up under "anonymous", we don't know who you are, and therefore you can't win.
3) You have until the next Thursday at midnight, CST, to enter your comment.
4) Winner will be announced the following Friday - you must check back to see if it's you!
5) International folks are welcome. We ship Prairieland Herbs items all over the world, so we'll ship our "Friday freebie" anywhere too!
6) Each eligible post will be assigned a number, and we'll use a free online random number generator to determine the winner.

The violets are going crazy....time to make Violet Jelly!

It's simple, beautiful, and tastes yummy. Tutorial here: http://prairielandherbs.com/violetjelly.htm

Some photos from yesterday's Sample Sunday - the weather was GORGEOUS, we had a fantastic crowd, and I think everyone had loads of fun! We already have four guest vendors lined up for the June event......oh, and check out the La Vida Locavore blog for a wonderful review of the day's events!

It's the fifth and final day of blogging about tomorrow's Sample Sunday! Today, it's all about US.


We have DOZENS of varieties of herb plants for sale - $4.00 per 4 inch pot. Many kinds of basils, thymes, mints, lavenders, sages and rosemaries. We have exotics such as patchouli, lemongrass, stevia, pineapple sage, lemon verbena, white sage and vanilla grass. Plus all your tried and true favorites - parsley, oregano, marjoram, savory....a wonderful selection!

We also have peppers and heirloom tomatoes, many varieties, available in both singles and 4-packs.

Guest vendors: Zoko Jewelry with beautiful affordable handmade sterling silver jewelry.

Sally Kilkenny will have her delicious homemade jams - they are divine!!

Local reflexologist Lisa Carstens will be on hand offering mini-reflexology sessions.

Fiber artist Traci Leff from Triple Moon Farm will be doing weaving demonstrations, and will have some wonderful hand-woven goods for sale!

Our sample basket is jam-packed with assorted samples - try our soaps, shampoo bars, bath salts and more - for FREE!

Our MAY LUXURY SOAP OF THE MONTH - a spectacular, feminine Rose Geranium soap - will be available for purchase starting tomorrow.

We have a fantastic selection of Mother's Day gifts, and as always, are offering free gift-wrapping on all items!

Kiddos can pet the mini-horses, cats and dogs - the weather is going to be gorgeous, so come on out to Woodward for a great afternoon!

Day four of blogging about the wonderful stuff happening in Woodward this Sunday, May 3rd!
Today, we'll talk about Flowers by Donna Jean....a great business located in the heart of Woodward. It's a gorgeous business and well worth a visit!

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Join us in our renovated 1800s Building, complete with restored tin ceilings and wood floors. Browse over 3000 sq. feet of Period & Shabby Chic furniture.

Antiques & Collectibles

Beautiful Garden Art

Large Selection of Willow Tree Angels

Blue & White Pottery, Green & Blooming Plants Featuring local artists......

Native American Lakota art work by Michael "White Feather"

Moon Dance Jewelry by Kelly Moore

Hand Blown glass by Art Ciccott, and others.

We will be handing out a Touch of Spring and Free popcorn for the Kids.

Mothers Day is just around the corner!! Order your Outdoor planters or Hanging Baskets. More than just a full Service Florist!

For more information, call 525-438-2557.

Happy Freebie Friday everyone!

Torchsong Studio will be hosting the 10th and final week of our blog contest.

Maryanne is offering something a little different to close out the contest.

A lead free pewter garden pin with a little glass ladybug charm in the middle and garden tools on either side.

Just comment on this, or any of the other blogs participating for a chance to win one of ten pins to be given away. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A CONTACT email.

Remember all of the blogs below are participating, so visit all of them and post to increase your chances of winning.

The Essential Herbal magazine subscription
Garden Chick - fairy cookie kit
SunRose Aromatics - facial exfoliant and liquid soap
Herbs from the Labyrinth - tea sampler
Patti's Potions - lip balms
PrairieLand Herbs - healing wand
Aquarian Bath - lip balm and soap
The Rosemary House - Bertha Reppert's "Twelve Month Herbal"
Nature's Gift - purse-sized inhalers & inhalation blend
Torchsong Studio Our final contest - check back on May 8 for the list of winners!

Thanks everyone for participating and for playing!

Day 3 of bloggin' about the May 3rd Sample Sunday. Today, let's talk about Lake Robbins Ballroom. Yes, it's true. One of the finest ballrooms in Iowa is located on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere, near Woodward, IA. Strange, no?

They are only a short drive from Picket Fence Creamery, and are offering some cool stuff this Sunday. Check it out!

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Sample Sunday at Lake Robbins Ballroom 1.00pm - 4.00pm

FREE Samples –
Food
Some of our Wedding Choices
Picnic Specials
Banquets
Sample Wedding Display & Information.

FREE sample dance lessons 2.00 - 3.00pm
Regular dance lesson – basic Swing, 4.00 - 5.00pm, $5 per person
Dance Big Band, 6.00 - 10.00pm, $8 cover (Al Wells)

We’re open every weekend! Fri. & Sat. varies (dances, weddings, banquets)
BUT every Sunday is Live Big Band Music, 6.00 - 10.00pm
New ballroom dance lessons 3.00 - 4.00pm Basic, 4.00 - 5.00pm Basic II
$5 each dance lesson per person

Just show – no signing up

For more information, visit their Website

Today's May 3rd Sample Sunday blog post is all about Picket Fence Creamery, our fantastic neighbors to the south.

Join us for a 3-Farm Tour and Mother's Day

SAMPLE SUNDAY

May 3 Noon to 5 p.m.

Admission is FREE!

FRESH SPINACH AND LETTUCE! (Grown in Woodward - no chemicals!)

FRESH IOWA RHUBARB CRISPS!

Local food samples: Strawberry ice cream, buffalo ring bologna, Neva's cheese ball, fresh made natural and honey roasted peanut butter, tortellini, creamed honey, salsa, Iowa wines, and more!

Guest vendors: Prairie Moon Winery of Ames, and Taste of the Town Salsa, Waukee. Music provided by HB Productions of Altoona.

Lunch is served! Picket Fence sloppy joe or grilled brat, kettle cooked chips, milk, and ice cream - ONLY $5!

Kid's meal, $3.

Kids! See the bottle calves, cats, Jack, and take a pony ride in the pasture!

Super Deals: Fresh rhubarb or apple crisp and quart of ice cream, $10; Our own ham loaf, $5.99 for 1 1/2 lb. loaf; our own 90% lean ground beef $3.49/lb. with 10 lb. puchase, buy a local salsa and get a bag of fresh tortilla chips for $1. More in-store specials!

Featured Foods: Fresh local spinach and lettuce, deviled local eggs, sweet breads, fresh local black walnuts, fruit crisps, 9" deep dish lard crust pies. breads, Pella Dutch letters, Kalona noodles, wines from 10 Iowa wineries, and more!

Mother's Day All-Iowa Food Baskets - Build your Mom a gift basket she will truly appreciate! The basket itself is FREE!

We have a fantastic Sample Sunday coming up Sunday, May 3rd. FIVE different businesses are participating! (Remember to bookmark our new Central Iowa Small Farm website and check back each month for new details). Each business has their own specials, events, guest vendors and samples, so I though I'd blog about one per today.

Today - Northern Prairie Chevre.

Celebrate Spring with Northern Prairie Chevre

All of the kids have been born, our short respite is over, the girls are back in milk, and we’re in cheese production. So, it must be time to begin open houses once again!

· Cyd from Cyd’s Catering in Johnston will have items she makes with our cheeses for you to sample. She’ll have recipes as well!

· Relax in the front yard while listening to Saturn V, a jazz band from Valley High School. They’re great!

· Visit with Larry and Barry from Quilted Gardens Nursery about your flower garden needs. They’ll have bulbs, plants and many unique items for sale.

· Chris from Snus Hill Winery has samples of their award-winning wines, the newest is made with their own grapes – all for sale in Miss Tillie’s!

· Stevie from Tassel Ridge Winery will sample several of their award winning wines – also available in Miss Tillie’s.

· Louise, our “Chicken Chat” note card creator will be available to show you her note cards with women to women social expression messages. They’re delightful!

· Milton will be selling grilled hamburgers topped with our chevre for just $4!!

· Sheeder Farms meats and eggs are available. Check out the selection.

· Mary Boyvey, Hoopnotica Certified instructor will be offering free classes on the hour, and have hoops available for all ages to try and/or purchase

· Pat from Randol Honey will be sampling her delicious creamed honey.

· Various cuts of elk from Skeeter Creek Elk

· We now have Denison Mustards in several flavors.

· NEW – Café Diem Coffee House coffees and chai

· Kids – enjoy the swings and sand box in the front yard and be sure to visit all the babies!! They’ll amuse you with their sweet personalities and antics!

· Come on in to Miss Tillie’s for samples of our cheese and MUCH MORE!

When: Sunday, May 3 12-5 pm, Rain or shine!!

Where: 1247 310th Street, Woodward

The wild plums are blooming! They smell SO INCREDIBLE.

And our buckeye tree is about to leaf out. This is my favorite tree on farm. It's so beautiful and interesting.

Tammi, from My Organized Chaos, has Prairieland Herbs product review and giveaway on her blog - check it out, and be sure to enter to win a free lotion bar and shea butter balm!!

Welcome to this week's Friday Freebie, sponsored by Marge at Nature's Gift!

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At Nature's Gift we have been pleased and excited about hosting this week's contest. The hard part has been trying to decide what to offer as the prize!



We chose Deluxe Personal Inhalers from our new shipment, filled with the winner's choice of several healing synergies.


We'll ship one of these pretty purse-sized inhalers filled with your choice of our SineEase Synergy, for easing sinus pain and congestion, Happy Morning Synergy, recommended for easing the nausea of morning sickness, but also helpful for motion sickness, etc., or our research based depression fighter "Citrus Smile."

To be entered in the contest, respond to this post, here, and at all the blogs listed below.

To make the contest even more exciting, ONE lucky entrant, drawn from one of the listed blogs, will receive a signed copy of Marge's Book "Essential Oils and Aromatics".

You may check these links for some of the reviews, from the Journal of the Northeast Herbal Association, or from The Massage Therapy Journal.

Remember all of the blogs below are participating, so visit all of them and post to increase your chances of winning.

The Essential Herbal
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti's Potions
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
SunRose Aromatics
Garden Chick

Just a few pictures of our farm as it wakes from winter's slumber.

Our 2009 Farmers' Market dates are posted! A mere 3 weeks and we will be at the Downtown Des Moines Farmer's Market for the first time this year. Chocolate croissants and Java Joes breve, here I come!

Bertha Reppert (1919-1999) was the founder of The Rosemary House and our mum. She was a Renaissance woman ahead of her time when she opened a herb and spice shop in a conservative East coast town in 1968. Convinced that once everyone learned about herbs they would love these plants as much as she did, she became an avid educator about the secrets of herbs. Lecturing, writing and always promoting herbs, Bertha Reppert became a mentor to many. This weeks prize is a copy of her last herbal and one of our very favorites.

Bertha Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal features 365 herbal essays one for each day of the year. Written like she is speaking to a friend this book is fun, informative and easy to read. Many folks have told us they reread the book every year and make their own daily notes in the margins. Be sure to leave a comment to this post and at the other participating herbal blogs (see the links below) for your chance to win this clever book (an $18.00 value) filled with herbal lore, recipes and crafts (priceless).

Sisters Susanna, the herbalist, and Nancy, the culinary artist, continue to share their Mother's love of all things herbal at The Rosemary House, the herb and spice gift shop, and at Sweet Remembrances tea room.

The following blogs are also participating, so stop over, post a comment on these blogs for additional chances to win this weeks giveaway AND the chance to explore some cool blogs. To be entered to win this fabulous book, simply comment on this blog entry, and PLEASE note you must leave your email address so we can contact you!

Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
The Essential Herbal
Garden Chick
SunRose Aromatics
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti’s Potions

Aquarian Bath

The Rosemary House (where a list of winners will be posted on the 24th)

Check back we have a couple more weeks of give-aways!

The picture above is a pretty accurate visual representation of how Donna and Maggie feel after paying taxes. We though perhaps some of you feel the same. So we thought a little sale might cheer us ALL up!

Everything on our website is 15% off, now through April 22nd. Yes, the discount applies to our in-store customers too! Enjoy!

Victoria's secret "organic natural vegan" bodycare - truth in advertising FAIL. (are we surprised?)

Read the article!

We have a new website specifically to promote our Sample Sundays and other 3 farm events! Please bookmark this site and check back monthly! We will be updating with info about each Sample Sunday as it becomes available.

http://centraliowasmallfarms.com/

(photo of one of last year's Sample Sunday events at Prairieland Herbs)

People in the shop are ALWAYS asking about natural headache relief. Marge Clark from Nature's Gift wrote this great article about using essential oils to help relieve headaches. enjoy!

Aromatherapy for Natural Headache Relief

Check out our friend Tina's blog for some AMAZING pictures of distillation with her gorgeous glass still. (We're going to get one of these pretty glass stills this spring, I think.....)

is it true? could it really be...spring?!?!?!

Week 7 of the Herb Blog Contest Featuring Aquarian Bath

Week 7 of the Herb Blog Contest Featuring Aquarian Bath

Welcome to week 7 of the herbal blog contest! This week we are featuring Aquarian Bath your source for all natural gentle soaps, herbal balms, salves, deodorants, and spa pillows. Aquarian Bath's soaps, balms and salves are either unscented or lightly scented with only pure essential oils. This week, enter to win you choice of a Lavender Spearmint Lip balm in a 0.15 oz tube OR a Lemon Lime Lip Balm in a 0.25 oz slide tin, and 20% off on their next order with Aquarian Bath.

The Lavender Spearmint Balm is made with Extra virgin olive oil, Shea butter, Beeswax, Castor oil, Spearmint and Lavender essential oil.



The Lemon Lime lip balm is made with Coconut oil, Shea Butter, Castor oil, Beeswax, Jojoba, Lime and Lemon Essential oils, and Zinc Oxide, a mineral used in sunscreens.



To win one of these lovely balms, enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning! Entrants must include their email address to be eligible to win. US and Canadian residents are eligible. You can receive additional chances to win in the following ways:

* Tweet about this blog contest on twitter.com including @aquarianbath in the tweet. Come back and log your tweet with a comment to receive 1 additional entry.
* Visit and join Aquarian Bath's fan page on Facebook. Leave a comment so we know you joined to receive 1 additional entry.
* Make a comment about your favorite item from Aquarian Bath's etsy or 1000markets stores to receive 1 additional entry.
* Make a purchase with Aquarian bath to on etsy or 1000markets to receive 3 additional entries.

*The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.
Aquarian Bath
Make a purchase from one of these 9 host blog's online stores to receive 2 additional entries and leave a comment at the host's blog's contest:
The Essential Herbal
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti's Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
SunRose Aromatics
Garden Chick

One lucky winner from one of the 10 host blogs will be contacted to receive 2 free soaps of their choice along with their lip balm and 20% off coupon, so be sure to visit and enter at all 10 blogs.



The winners will be announced at the Aquarian Bath blog when the results are in from all participating blogs. Enjoy.

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May!

Last Week's Winners:

The Essential Herbal - Linda Grant
Herbs from the Labyrinth - emrosser
Patti's Potions - Amanda Huye
PrairieLand Herbs - Heather Anne
The Rosemary House - Julie Dees
Nature's Gift - - Jody Sullivan
Torchsong Studio Green Womyn
SunRose Aromatics - Julie Dees (lucky girl!)
Garden Chick - Cherry Devereaux
Aquarian Bath - Comfrey Cottages

Our friend Roe at Sun Rose Aromatics is offering the most AMAZING giveaway on her blog.

Here's the info:

This month in honor of Easter, our Give a Way::
which represents 'new beginnings', new growth ..

Our Happy Easter Give-A-Way this month ::

Post and leave a comment on this blog post before April 8th, 2009 for your chance to win.

Our drawing this month will award 1 lucky winner.

Please be sure to include the following:
- your email address (so we may contact you)
- your name

The winner will receive:

- Chakra Balancing Beginner's Guide
& the Chakra Synergies

The drawing will be held on April 7th, 2009, the winners will be announced on April 8th, 2009. Please visit her blog to sign up!

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We have a copy of Roe's Book "Chakra Balancing, a Beginner's Guide" and it's an amazing book - small but packed full of great information. TRULY worth purchasing, if you haven't already. And all of her essential oils are top-notch!