About

Welcome to my BlOG:  The Country Orchard!

The Country Orchard is located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  Renton-Maple Valley is about 40 minutes South East of Seattle... 40 minutes from Microsoft!...10 min. from Boeing!

I absolutely love learning and exploring almost anything!!!...A Business professor once called me a serial business person because I have so many business interests!

TCO first began as an organic blueberry "orchard".  I have now branched out to other interests. I share many anecdotes about "life on the orchard".

My passions include nutritional foods, nutritious and medicinal native plants, and whole food preparations.  I began learning and grinding my own wheat and other grains since 1998.  My latest grain is Emmer. There is an emmer farm located in Washington.  

My concern about our health care system motivates me to learn about local medicinal plants...and wild edibles.   I'll share about organic products, local edible & medicinal plants (some look like weeds!) and foraging.  I will share how to process the products. 

Growing up in Hawaii has given me a love for flowers.  My daughter and I create floral arrangements, Christmas swags and wreaths and Prom/ Homecoming "flowers to wear".  We have also done wedding florals.

 Saving money is a passion! The blog includes money saving tips, deals, couponing and ""how to live" the "frugal" life style.  I also will share "tried and true" lessons of life...such as what did people do to survive during the depression.

I have a Masters in Education in Special Education specializing on the Gifted/Talented child.  My B. Ed was in Early Childhood Education.  My 3 children are all in college now and are all National Merit Scholars  (Less than 1% of HS grads).   People often ask my husband and I what we did to raise NMS kiddos.  So I may share tips on "Raising Engineers" and activities & resources I used when they were growing up as well as "the college maze" navigation.

Thank you again, for joining me. I hope you enjoy this blog and become part of the conversation.

Anne  M.,  TheCountryOrchard@gmail.com   Please feel free to contact me by e-mail for information or comments.  I will usually get back to you in 48 hours.