Suzie's Farm

It may sound pathetic, but since Bob and I are not doing our usual brewery hops and beer tastings or meeting friends for happy hours, dinners, and evening drinks, we have been trying to think of things to do. You know, good ol’ wholesome ways to spend our time. Luckily we live in San Diego where the weather is almost always perfect. Coming from Seattle, I realize how spoiled we all are. But HEY—we pay a sun tax here in So-Cal, haven’t you heard? We have spent some time walking along the beach in the evening to cool off after these unusually long, muggy 80 degree days we have been having.

This morning we drove down to Suzie's Farm (a USDA- certified organic farm, spanning 70 acres that grows over 100 different kinds of crops), which is about 13 miles south of downtown San Diego, for a tour. It’s funny – it was KIND OF similar to the many brewery tours Bob and I have experienced. The tour was over an hour. It was fun and we got to taste a bunch of different kinds of sprouts and vegetables they are growing. 

 

Wheat Grass

My favorite part of the tour was trying a sunsho button for the first time. This flowering herb is a tasty shock in your mouth. As you eat the tiny petals your lips and tongue begin to tingle. The flavor in the forefront is grassy. The tingling sensation gets stronger after a few moments and it almost has a hoppy flavor. This is where your mouth just starts salivating! I am telling you it’s bizarre. The tingling lasts longer than expected, but it is pleasant and leaves your mouth and throat cool. The sunsho buttons are native to Brazil, where people traditionally have used them to treat toothaches, throat problems, and oddly enough, speech impediments.

 Sunsho Button

Currently, there are some chefs that use them in food and craft cocktails to open up one’s palate. If you get the chance to try one of these, you will understand. After Whole 30 Bob and I are going to try to get a hold of these suckers and take them beer tasting with us! They let us take some seeds. Hopefully Bob’s green thumb gets lucky with these guys, so that we will have our own growing in the backyard.

At the end of the tour we got to pick out a couple boxes of sprouts, a few heirloom tomatoes, eggplants, bell peppers, and spicy peppers to take home with us.

 

All of that for only $10 per person! I thought that was quite a deal! A cheap, fun, and healthy way to spend our time.

 

On our way back up to San Diego we stopped at City Farmer's Nursery, an outdoor garden and garden supply shop. Bob bought broccoli and cauliflower starts. So hopefully soon we will be eating more home-grown veggies.

 

There were turtles, chickens, and a kitty at City Farmers Nursery!