one-pot creamy tortellini with spinach, mushrooms & sun-dried tomatoes

It’s been a chillyyyyy week here in North Carolina, with lots of freezing days + nights and hints of flurries, but no real snow accumulation… fingers crossed we get some proper snow days this winter!

It was just too dang cold/wet to do much work outside this week, so not much to report there. Instead, I’ve been focused on lots of crop planning for next season, buying seeds, etc.

…and let’s be honest, I’ve been spending lots of time stuck inside this week cyanotyping my little heart out. (ICYMI, I’m kind of obsessed with an alternative photography art form called cyanotype, and apparently it’s become my whole personality?) Last weekend I had the BEST time at the Saxapahaw Holiday Market (a bustling holiday market extravaganza in our little village of Saxapahaw featuring 100+ local artisans, visited by thousands of people every year), and I still can’t really believe that my original cyanotype pieces are being sold at the wonderful Riverside Collective.

Speaking of which…

last call for holiday gifts!

• My healing herbal salve – This salve is made from an organic coconut + olive oil blend that is gently infused with medicinal plants grown on our farm (calendula, comfrey, and plantain). The infused oil is then blended with beeswax and fortified with Vitamin E and high quality essential oils. Basically, it has magical healing powers. Keep this luscious salve for yourself, or they make great gifts for the holidays. Get yours here.

• A *virtual* private garden consultation – Each season I accept a limited number of consultation clients, and I will personally guide them through goal setting + problem solving for the upcoming growing season, with the option of having me create a customized planting plan. Because these consultations are virtual, the consultation recipient can live anywhere. More info here.

• Farm to table cooking class – My workshops are very hands-on, include a full tour of the farm, and everyone helps harvest fresh produce that we use to make (and eat!) several vibrant, seasonal dishes together… all while learning tons of handy gardening and culinary lessons. It really doesn’t get more *farm to table* than this! 2026 workshop calendar here, and gift certificates available here.

• A 1-year subscription to this newsletter – Give the gift of good cooking + growing! Print a gift card that you can wrap here.

• PS – Here’s a