Basil and tomatoes are match made in heaven. They go extremely well on the plate and absolutely adore each other on the ground. This year we are growing both of those crops together in a high tunnel and they are thriving. And while the tomatoes still need a couple more weeks to ripen, the basil is at its prime this week. This year we are growing a Genovese-type called Prospera from Jhonny's Selected Seeds. It has proven an extraordinary variety in flavor, color, and disease resistance. We lost two fairly large crops of basil to downy mildew last year. But this variety is being advertised as mildew resistant and so far so good. So, while we wait for tomatoes, this might be a good opportunity to try some new, or old, basil recipes. Perhaps some basil and carrot-top pesto? or in your salad? omelet? martini? Basil is simply great. And that was probably in the minds of the bishops at the Council of Chalcedon back in the fifth century as it was then that Saint Basil received the title "the Great".
Back to Farm Happenings at Saint Isidore Homestead and Permaculture
For the love of Basil
About the farm
We are a small family farm located in Grottoes, Virginia, serving the city of Harrisonburg and the counties of Rockingham, Augusta, and Greene. We produce high-quality food using sustainable practices and ethical principles of care for the common good. Having witnessed the healing power of good food in dealing with family health issues, we started farming in 2015 in an effort to sharing with others the benefits of fresh, nutritionally-dense food, grown in a clean environment, using integrative agricultural methods. We believe that in order for food to be healthful, the environment in which it grows has to be healthy. To that end, we integrate animal and plant systems in ways that, in their natural interactions, they create an ecological balance leading to abundance and quality.
We grow over 50 different vegetable crops, perennial vegetables and fruits, and raise pastured pork, as well as ducks and chickens, for meat and eggs.
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We grow over 50 different vegetable crops, perennial vegetables and fruits, and raise pastured pork, as well as ducks and chickens, for meat and eggs.