The History of Barbolian Garlic

I am not sure when my love affair with garlic began, but I started growing it in earnest in 1976 and have been growing it ever since. Garlic keeps the blood flowing. There are just too many interesting varieties to stop at just one or two. So – a victim of creative descriptions in seed catalogs – I now grow a lot. Actually, I’ve cut back to 23 varieties to be exact (and also Elephant Garlic, which is actually a kind of leek), totaling about 1000 bulbs. Hey – my family is Sicilian. What can I say. I am willing to share.

We are a small family farm, so our crop is by some standards, somewhat limited. By keeping small, we ensure that each bulb gets individual attention; all weeds are hand-pulled; we use absolutely no pesticides; and although we are not jumping through the hoops to become organically certified, rest assured all our garlic, herbs, and other plants are grown using organic methods.

Our latest endeavor has been to transform our traditional garlic and veggie garden into more of a polyculture / permaculture / food forest sanctuary, where we look more closely at ways we can conserve resources, enhance ecological functions among plants and animals and the environment, grow plants with multiple functions, including a huge variety of food for ourselves and our feathered friends, and at the same time, create a space for creative expression and relaxation. A lot to ask from our back acre, perhaps! I will keep you posted on this little horticultural experiment….

Thanks for visiting!

Blythe

Blythe Barbo
Barbolian Fields
Located on Woodcock Rd., just outside Sequim, WA
email: blythe @ barbolian . com (without the spaces)