Agape Farms North & South

09/06/2026

THE SPICE RACK: Paprika💜

You know that red powder in the back of the cabinet that the recipe says to sprinkle on top of the deviled eggs?

It’s peppers.

Paprika isn't a separate plant or some mysterious spice. It's made from dried and ground peppers in the *Capsicum annuum family - the same species that gives us everything from sweet bell peppers to some pretty spicy chiles.

But here's where it gets interesting.

Sweet paprika is mild and fruity.
Hot paprika brings some heat.
Smoked paprika gets its flavor because the peppers are actually dried over smoke.

So swapping one paprika for another can completely change a dish.

And if your paprika has been sitting in the cabinet since approximately 2009? It probably won't hurt you - but most of what made it paprika has left the building.

Go check your spice rack.

What kind of paprika do you have - and how old is that jar? Be honest.

Agape Farm South💜

09/05/2026

💜THE SPICE RACK: Is your oregano actually oregano?

Maybe.

Researchers testing commercial oregano found something surprising: in one large study, about 1 in 4 samples was adulterated.

What did they find mixed in?

Olive leaves. Myrtle leaves. Sumac. Even hazelnut leaves.

It makes sense when you think about it. Once a leafy herb is dried, crushed and stuffed into a little jar, most of us couldn't identify the plant by looking at it.

But here's another twist:

Mexican oregano isn't actually the same plant as Mediterranean oregano.

Mediterranean oregano generally comes from the Origanum family.

Mexican oregano can come from Lippia - an entirely different group of plants that happens to give us a similar flavor.

So next time you reach into the spice rack for oregano, there are apparently two questions:

Is this actually oregano?

And…

Which oregano? 💜

The Spice Rack | Agape Farm South

09/01/2026

Mark your calendar for our next market!

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

Much fun was had and many plants went home💜

08/22/2026

THE SPICE RACK 💜

Cinnamon isn't a leaf, seed, or root. It's tree bark. Meanwhile cloves are flower buds, black pepper comes from fruit, and ginger is an underground stem. Your spice cabinet is basically a collection of plant anatomy.

08/18/2026

Good news! Starting this Friday August 21st Oakgrove Nursery will now be operating FULL TIME at the festival marketplace!

Now you will no longer need to schedule an appointment to the nursery! Just stop by anytime during hours and buy all your plants! Visits to the nursery can still be scheduled if you can not make it during hours!

Hours will be 10am - 4pm Wednesday through Saturday (last minute closure are likely due to private events occurring at the Pavillion. Be sure to follow Oakgrove nursery to be updated on last minute closures!)

This is the next step to providing better service and easier access to low priced quality plants in Dillon county. One of the most common comments I have gotten from multiple customers is "I did not realize there was a nursery in Dillon, I have been having to drive all the way to Florence for my plants" And now that drive just got even shorter!

As always Thank you everyone for all your support and comment below what your favorite plants are and what you'd like to see growing at the nursery next!

08/17/2026

The Spice Rack💜
When you chop basil, you're doing chemistry. Cutting or heating herbs releases aromatic compounds and essential oils - which is why tearing/chopping an herb suddenly makes the kitchen smell wonderful!

You just broke open its chemical storage system.