La collardière in the morning.

Alchemilla mollis

Corky

Daisy

Eric

Katie and basil sacré

Tonight is our last at Michael and Renate Hewitt's organic herb farm, le potager des gourmets, in Normandie. We've experienced first-hand the work and passion required for growing plants and herbs organically -- and have enjoyed the delicious results. 

Many discussions at this farm have revolved around the issue of genetically modified foods. To learn which GMO products to avoid, check out the Greenpeace Canada shopper's guide. 

After six weeks of WWOOFing, we are now off to meet up with some friends in the Netherlands - with a weekend detour to Belgium for a pint or two. 

Cheers,

Katie and Eric

lettuce!

In the background: magenta spreen which has been potted. In the foreground: lettuce sown by Katie last week.

Young lettuces in the tunnel.

The tunnel in the morning.

Moving rogue red dandelions ('pissenlits rouges') from the tunnel to an outdoor bed.

D-Day beaches

Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-mer

Juno Beach

in a machine-gunner's bunker

on a destroyed bunker on Gold Beach

at the military cemetery for Canadian soldiers killed in action in Normandie

We apologize for missing Saturday's post. We were eating.

spaghetti with Eric's red pepper and tomato sauce, garnished with oregano thyme from the garden

Katie's chocolate almond espresso cake with crème fraîche and strawberries

Katie and Eric's salmon en papillote with lemon risotto

Michael and Renate introduced us to the 'trou normand': distilled cider with apple sorbet

Our first taste of farmer's Calvados. This local specialty is made from apples and pears -- and 60%+ alcohol.

Today Michael and Renate kindly took us to visit Juno Beach. That post tomorrow. Happy Victoria Day!

We've been told the weather in Normandie can change suddenly. Today was proof.

walking east

facing west

walking into Beauchêne

returning 15 minutes later

the road from Beauchêne to La Collardière

Normandie cows, with their characteristic brown on brown spot colouring.  These specific girls provide the milk we drink every morning.

Eric befriends a cow.

picking magenta for the morning restaurant delivery to Flers

and other herbs ("Michael, what is this called again?")

nettles ... always nettles

rain = potting

Eric trying a rocket (arugula) flower

tractor, greenhouse and apple tree

Katie learning about herbs. This is a herb farm, after all.

After two hour-long delays

and one, erm, cozy final leg from Paris to Flers,

we arrived at La Collardière, near Lonlay-L'Abbaye in Normandie

safely and soundly. Stay tuned!