Apr 29

Written by: Sandra Simpson
4/29/2006 5:32 AM

     There are some people that dream of creating and some people that create their dreams. Lisa Treadaway, proprietor of The Little Herb House, is definitely a dream creator. With the knowledge she gained from reading herb books, and a big leap of faith, she carved out her own niche in southern Wake County. By converting an old stable into an office and gift shop and plowing up a part of her horse’s pasture to grow “weeds” she has made a successful business of growing, drying, and selling herbs and all of their accoutrements. And it all takes place in one of the most charming settings around.
     South of Raleigh, near the intersection of rural highway 1010 and Old Stage Road is Holland Church Road and Holland Church. At Holland Church take a right off highway 1010 onto Holland Church Road. You can’t miss it, Holland church is an old-fashioned red brick structure with a large white steeple. Driving down Holland Church Road you start to notice the remnants of times past. In one of the curves is the little white house where I bought my $10.00 bunny (a previous trip to buy herbs). Lisa’s family’s 30acre farm (which is home to The Little Herb House) is sandwiched between other farms on Holland Church Road. As soon as you see her neighbor’s goat farm, look for the sign for The Little Herb House. Turn right onto the dirt path. You will follow this path past a pond and around back of the barns you will see horses grazing behind Lisa Treadaway’s whimsical 10,000 square foot herb garden, her green house, and office.
     When you visit The Little Herb House, keep in mind that Lisa has accomplished all of this in only a few years. In the spring of 2000 Lisa planted her first herbs in a small 5X5 raised bed that her husband made for her near their home. That same fall her husband sprayed roundup and killed everything in the beds. He said “I thought it was weeds”. The next year (with no complaints) he made her a new herb garden near the vegetable garden. This doubled the size of her last herb garden.
     Lisa now has an office with a sign that reads “weeds”. Her herb garden is 10,000 square feet and is one of the most unique designs I have seen. Her garden fans out from a circle into 8 pie slice-shaped sections. Each section has a theme with herbs and garden art specific to that theme. The healing herb section has an old, zebra-striped, bathtub with medicinal and aromatic herbs in and around the tub. Then there is the “geezer’s garden” with grumpy, smelly, sticky herbs with names like walking stick and soap wart. The bee and butterfly section and the kitchen herb sections are my favorites. The flower arrangers and the potpourri sections are filled with herbs that keep on giving, long after the frost has come, but Lisa says that the majority of the questions and comments she gets come from the section with herbs from the Bible. Along side these herbs Lisa has planted stone Bible verses and inspirational sayings.
     Inside Lisa’s barn you will find some great ideas for gifts; dried flowers, home-made soaps, home-made aprons, and wonderful herb teas. These are some of the items that Lisa includes in her gift baskets. Of course she adds her own special touches. For example, if you are getting one of her “relaxation baskets” with herb tea, she will include one of the vintage teacups and saucers that she has collected. With Mother’s Day right around the corner, this is a great idea for gift giving and getting.
     Normally The Little Herb House is open to the public only by appointment but on Thursday, May 4th through Saturday, May 6th Lisa Treadaway is hosting her Spring open house. At Lisa’s open house you will get to hear the story of each and every section. If you attend her 10:00 AM tour ($3.00 per person) you can ask her why she has oyster shells in the lavender beds and how to dry hydrangeas for flower arrangements. Self-guided tours are free. After the tour, look to be inspired! Lisa says if she can do it anyone can! Many of the herbs you see in the garden are for sale in Lisa’s green house.  The prices start at $3.00. You may contact Lisa by email ltway@bellsouth.net or call at (919-772-3543).
     Here is one of Lisa’s favorite recipes, Saint-Tropez Chicken, as you can see it uses a lot of the herbs that you would find in a garden like Lisa’s. The original recipe credit goes to Nigella Lawson, but Lisa and her girl friends have made it so much they call it their own. It serves 4 to 6 people. But plan ahead…….it is best if it marinades overnight!

Ingredients
10 Chicken pieces
¼ c. Olive Oil
¼ c. Honey
½ c. White wine
Juice of one lemon
1-2 Tbs. fresh copped parsley
1 C mixed dried herbs
1 Tbs. lavender
Lemon slices (garnish)
2 Cloves garlic, mashed (garnish)

Directions, day before
1. Put chicken pieces into a large freezer bag.
2. In a bowl, squeeze lemon juice, olive oil, honey, and wine: stir until honey is dissolved. Pour mixture into bag of chicken, add garlic and herbs.
3. Seal bag, mix contents well, refrigerate overnight. (HINT! I do NOT refrigerate things in a plastic bad over night, I put them in a covered casserole dish.

Directions day of:
1. Heat over to 325 degrees. Put chicken, skin side up, into a roasting pan with marinade; cover pan. Cook 2 hours, then remove top, cook until at 425 degrees (around 15 minutes) until skin is browned. Check often, this will burn easily.
2. To make sauce, place chicken on a warmed platter. Spoon the excess fat from the cooking liquid in the pan. Move pan onto a burner over medium heat (or pour sauce in skillet). Add ½ cup of water to the, stir until golden brown & pour over chicken before serving. Garnish with lemon slices and garlic.

Enjoy! For more recipes and past Southern Secret articles in The Holly Springs Sun go to: www.southernsandra.com

Copyright ©2006 Sandra Simpson

Tags: