Happy Thanksgiving from High Hand
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
FROM HIGH HAND
Time sure does go by fast, doesn’t it? It seems like yesterday we were talking about drought and today we are on the tail end of our fourth storm. A warm fall has given way to a cold, wet start to winter.
As a cold winter settles in on Maple Rock, it gives way to brilliant sunsets.
I’d like to thank all of you personally who have come to Maple Rock this year for a visit. We have enjoyed hosting events. Maple Rock, our test garden, will always be transforming. We have hosted several events over the past few years and this coming year we will be hosting a few less. You can say we’re taking a break, making changes and evolving. We will most likely open the gardens around Mother’s Day. The farm will be planted as usual to provide food for the cafe. Our watermelon festival will most likely move to High Hand Nursery, as we will spread the watermelon tasting over several weekends as varieties ripen to a peak.
Currently, the farm is planted with kale. High Hand Cafe’s menu (as you can imagine), is currently very kale centric. I had no idea how impressive kale actually was. Not only do we find it to be deer proof, but it is among the most nutrient dense foods on our planet. Vitamin A – 206%, Vitamin K – 684%, 9% Calcium, 134% Vitamin C, 10% Copper (too bad it’s not 10% gold), and many more. All this coming with a total of 33 calories, 6 grams of carbs, two of which are fiber and 3 grams of protein. Pile on the fact that it has very little fat, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B3, iron and phosphorous, makes this a great component for making metal tools. Just kidding. We have an acre of kale planted at Maple Rock. Come to High Hand Cafe and try some for yourself.
Let me set the record straight. Yes, that is me in the picture as depicted in some of the social media blurbs I have read. We cancelled Christmas. We cancelled our tree lighting ceremony this year. Now I say to you, “How could I cancel Christmas? Surely, that is not true.” We did not cancel Christmas. The High Hand Flower Market is full of great creative Christmas items unique to High Hand Nursery.
From hand painted Christmas gourds to the magic of flowers blooming in the winter, the gift shop offers unique, handcrafted gifts for the person who’s hard to buy for.
Did you know High Hand has an olive oil company? In the historic High Hand fruit sheds, in addition to the Vintage Bricoleur, the magic carpets of the Truckee Mountain Rug Company, the Tin Thimble, Leo Eleven Designs (handcrafted jewelry), and the High Hand Art Gallery, the High Hand Olive Oil Company boasts the best selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars to be found.
Visit High Hand Olive Oil Company located next to High Hand Art Gallery. Come and experience for yourself flavors from around the world. From truffle to fig to mandarin, passion fruit and flavors beyond, you’ll find a great gift for your favorite home chef.
Holiday gift cards are available online at www.highhand.com for purchase. The gift cards may be used at High Hand Cafe, or perhaps for a beautiful plant or Japanese Maple at High Hand Nursery. The gift card can also be used at the High Hand Flower Market as well as the High Hand Olive Oil Company, both located in the fruit sheds. One gift card, four great choices. Solves a lot of problems for the person whose hard to buy for.
For the record, I’m not a grinch. I will explain. I am blessed to have an amazing group of people to work with. I never thought that our relationship could span decades, but it has. In the nursery business, we are always moving a year ahead, choosing and growing plants, sometimes two years ahead. So, we are always in the starting blocks like a runner waiting for the gun to go off. Year after year, running a race in our heads, before the race is actually ran. The yearly Christmas lighting is no different. Adrian and his helpers spend upward of three months hanging and preparing for the one day when the switch is flipped. The cafe spends a lot of time preparing for holiday events and meals. All of this while foregoing events and meals with our own families so that we can be here to host your family. We are very thankful and opportunities to host you and your family for the holidays at High Hand. I’ve decided to take ourselves out of the starting blocks so we can spend time with our families this year. Shouldn’t the holidays be about people and not profit? I think so.
It all began when Adrian started to hang lights. I knew he needed a break when he asked me to test the lights because he was finished.
We have a lot of plans in the coming year at High Hand Nursery. By taking a step back it allows us to breath, spend time with family and regain a fresh perspective. We hope you understand and we thank you very much for your friendship over the years.
Our nursery and cafe will be closed Thanksgiving Day. We will reopen the day after Thanksgiving. Closing Christmas Eve at 2:00 p.m.. Closed Christmas Day. Opening the day after Christmas to welcome you and serve you.
We wish you and your family a warm Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.
Warmest holiday wishes,
Scott and the High Hand family
