Exceptional Travel Writing
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Richard and Jacynthe divide the work according to aptitude. In a double role reversal (Richard is a native of England and Jacynthe is French Canadian), Richard does all the cooking, runs the cooking classes and creates the culinary herb products. He also looks after the three greenhouses and the actual herb farm and garden. Jacynthe operates the gift shop, does the bookwork and ordering and formulates and prepares the herbal bath & beauty, cosmetic and medicinal products such as salves and creams. |
ROSEMARY AND ORANGE CHICKEN
Heat
oil in a skillet: sauté chicken breasts on one side for 2-3 minutes,
turn over add the wine, garlic and orange juice. Bring to a boil then
reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes.
Remove chicken and keep warm, bring the liquid back to a boil and add
the jelly and vinegar. Reduce the liquid by half. Add the rosemary, and
then swirl in the cornstarch mixture, stirring until it thickens. Add
salt and pepper. Serve chicken sliced with the sauce and pasta. Serves
four.
And Richard's favorite herbs? Rosemary (Tuscan Blue), Greek oregano and
basil. Jacynthe also lists basil among her favorites, but reflecting her
penchant for healing she names comfrey and chickweed as the top two. In
addition to Jacynthe's healing herbal studies and creations, she has just
completed her studies to become a medical intuitive.
One of Jacynthe's most admired remedies is her
Lemon
Balm Cold Sore Salve:
She first makes a sun extraction by placing a half-cup of tightly packed,
clean lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) leaves in a glass jar and
covers them with 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil. The lid is then tightened
on the jar, which is placed in a warm sunny spot such as a windowsill
or greenhouse. The jar is shaken daily to ensure that the oil is always
covering the herbs. After one month the infused oil is strained and used
in this recipe:
Over
a low heat the oil is warmed and the camphor crystals are stirred in until
dissolved. The beeswax is added and the mixture stirred until it is melted.
It is then removed from the heat and the honey and lemon essential oil
are added. It is then poured into containers and allowed to cool before
being covered. Instructions are to apply several times daily at the first
sign of a cold sore.
Richard and Jacynthe picked this particular property, four miles north
of the town of Ladysmith, BC, for two reasons: one was the abundance of
excellent water on the property. Says Richard, "I used to drill wells
for a living so I know the headaches associated with poor quality or insufficient
well water." The other was its peaceful, quiet location while being
sufficiently close to the main Vancouver Island highway to make it easy
for tourists and visitors to find.
They bought the 30-year old house on 4.3 acres in 1985. It required extensive
renovation, most of which they did themselves. Richard's skill and expertise
as a millwright was also put to use building the three greenhouses. They
named it the Hazelwood Herb Farm after the two hazel nut trees on the
property. Within the first year they were selling 30 varieties of herbs.
Then came the nursery, gift shop, display and working gardens. Today their
shop boasts a huge variety of their own products, including potted plants,
fresh cut herbs, gift baskets and culinary, medicinal, cosmetic and bath
& beauty herbal preparations. They also give classes on gardening
and cooking with herbs and Jacynthe shares her herbal soap-making talents
with enthusiastic students.
Complimentary garden tours are held - rain or shine - on the first and
last Saturdays of the month from June to September. Guided tours for groups
are available by appointment.
Special events at Hazelwood Herb Farm throughout the year include Mother's
day complimentary Tea and Cake in the Gardens (held in the kitchen if
the weather is disagreeable); Father's Day Barbeque; Sampling Saturdays
(for Richard's culinary creations); Tea Thyme every Sunday afternoon with
fresh baked herbal treats and the annual pre-Christmas "Shopping
by Candlelight" event every November. This popular affair involves
lighting up the shop, kitchen and garden entrance with hundreds of candles
to create an inviting, cozy ambience. Complimentary food and drinks are
served and Richard and Jacynthe showcase their new products.
The Hazelwood Herb Farm and the town of Ladysmith are located at the northern
edge of the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. "Cowichan"
means "The Warm Land" in the language of the native Coast Salish
First Nations people. The rich, fertile valleys and mild climate here
have spawned a burgeoning viniculture and the region is being hailed as
the "New Provence." To the west a rugged spine of mountains
bisects the whole of Vancouver Island. A scenic drive through this heavily
forested vista will bring you to the rugged west coast and pounding surf
of the Pacific Ocean. The region is bordered to the east by the Strait
of Georgia. These waters are rich in Pacific salmon, Dungeness crab, prawns
and oysters and local restaurants pride themselves on their own unique
ways of preparing these regional delicacies.
The
picturesque hillside town of Ladysmith - with stunningly beautiful views
over the strait - sits precisely on the 49th parallel, which marks the
US-Canadian border across most of the continent. The town - nicknamed
"Heritage by the Sea" - was bred from the coal mining industry,
which dominated central Vancouver Island around the turn of the last century.
By the 1930s coal mining had fallen victim to exhausted seams, crippling
labor problems and the Great Depression. Slowly forestry and fishing become
the economic linchpins of the region, but now even these once dominant
industries are in decline. Today cultural and eco-tourism (e.g. kayaking,
scuba-diving, sailing, fishing, hiking etc.) are increasingly important
and the area has much to offer. Ladysmith itself has recently undergone
a remarkable renaissance; the town has done an admirable job of restoring
its quaint fin-de-siecle ambience, winning a national Mainstreet
Canada Award for the revitalization of the downtown. Harrowsmith Country
Life magazine recently named Ladysmith one of the "10 prettiest towns
in Canada."
Ladysmith is about a 90-minute drive north of Victoria, British Columbia's
capital and famous for its very English colonial tone. The drive will
take you over the beautifully scenic Malahat Pass with stunning views
of the Saanich Inlet and BC's Gulf Islands. Three ferry terminals in greater
Victoria bring visitors from mainland British Columbia and from Seattle,
Anacortes and Port Angeles in Washington State. Victoria is also home
to the world famous Butchart Gardens. A 20-minute drive north of Ladysmith
brings you to the city of Nanaimo with two more ferry terminals servicing
mainland BC.
HOW TO GET THERE:
The Hazelwood Herb Farm is open daily April-September from 11.00am to
5:00pm and from October-December, Fridays-Sundays, 11:00pm to 5:00pm.
It is located at 13576 Adshead Road, Ladysmith, BC V0R 2E0 Canada. From
Ladysmith drive north on the Island Highway three miles and take the Cedar
Road exit to the right (east). After one mile turn left on Adshead Road.
Hazelwood is 600 yards down this road on your left.
From Nanaimo drive south on the Island Highway to the hamlet of Cassidy,
about seven miles. Immediately after crossing the bridge over a creek
to the south of Cassidy turn left on Haslam Road. After one mile Haslam
Road forks left. Take the right fork, which is Adshead Road. Hazelwood
is another mile along this road on your right.
Contact
Richard and Jacynthe via phone: (250) 245-8007
Email: info@hazelwoodherbfarm.com
Or log on to their website: www.hazelwoodherbfarm.com.
