Woodside Gardens

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays...

2011-12-26T20:01:00.000-09:00

To all of you out there who take the time to read this blog, I hope this season has been good to you... more good posts to follow sooner than later, I promise!

A blustery day...

2011-10-25T10:55:00.000-08:00

The wind here is crazy today. It reminds me of last year when we lost power for close to a week! The trees are having an incredibly hard time staying upright, and the 6 foot high chain link garden fencing is threatening to topple over at any minute. Give those power lines a dose of heavy snow and they are going to start snapping, and we had our first snowfall a few days ago, so this is a real possibility.

This year we are better prepared for the inevitable power failure (see last years post here). We have a generator, a stocked pantry (no electricity required,) and a game plan. The house will stay warm thanks to the propane fireplace that doesn't require any electricity to function... (the fan won't work, but it will still heat). We have talked to the kids about what to expect if the power goes out for a long period of time, and we have plenty of baby wipes, anticipating not being able to take a shower for several days. We have books and crayons and craft projects, as well as lots of warm blankets and some comfort foods like hot chocolate. The small television can be plugged into the generator, and we have kids music on my iPhone (which can also be charged via generator.)

Last years power failure was really an eye opener for me. Grown-ups might know what to expect when it happens, but children have lots of fears about the unknown, and its important for us to show them that there is nothing to worry about. A few familiar things can make them a whole heck of a lot more comfortable, and when the kids aren't freaking out, EVERYTHING goes a lot smoother.

Are you ready to go several days without power? What do you do to prepare your home and your family?

Goodbye to the Greenhouse...

2011-10-12T15:11:00.001-08:00

After looking at the pictures of the 2010 tomatoes and cucumbers compared to what they looked like this year, and in 2009, I have decided to say goodbye to the greenhouse. Well, not goodbye, exactly. It will be transformed into next years potting shed! Last year, the greenhouse was out of commission, so I erected a hot-house of sorts. I bent some old tent poles into one of the raised beds and covered the whole thing with clear plastic.

By August, this is what it looked like in there...

2009 and 2011 the tomatoes and cucumbers were planted in the greenhouse. There isn't a consistent temperature inside at all, and although I have a fan system set up, it doesn't seem to make much difference. I don't have raised beds installed, so the plants are in large plastic rubbermaid buckets. They were all spindly, putting out few branches and only providing 2 or 3 fruits per plant. Seriously, it was so pitiful that I didn't even want to take any pictures in there this year!

So, the ~~greenhouse~~ potting shed, will be put to much better use next year, giving me a small area for transplanting etc., but more importantly, a place to store all my assorted pots and containers, as well as garden tools, or anything else I can fit in there! Instead of growing the tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse, I will build a moveable frame (I practice crop rotation) to which I can attach plastic each year. Then I can plant them in one of the raised beds and attach the frame over the top. Hopefully, the harvest will be much more bountiful in 2012!

It doesn't have to be new...

2011-10-07T06:26:00.000-08:00

What was old...

... is new again!

This project cost me exactly $3.00 in paint. (Sunflowers courtesy of my wonderfully artistic Mother). Just because it has seen better days doesn't mean we can't make it beautiful again!

Are you a consumer, or a creator?

2011-10-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Reading my blog roll this morning got me thinking about something important. To the food companies, and the government, we are all just "consumers". We buy whatever they put on the shelves, whatever they tell us we need to spend our money on. New cars, huge houses, gadgets and gizmos that are outdated a week after we purchase them. Buy this, buy that, work 80 hours a week so you can buy more of our products... after all, your neighbor has one... so don't you need one too? My answer is a resounding NO!!! Why should I spend every hard earned penny on pre-packaged crap and things that will break after only a few uses. Why should I spend $50K on a new vehicle when my 11 year old truck is functional and already makes me happy? Why should I trust a food company who just recalled a bunch of their "kid-friendly" meals because they are full of bits of wire, or feed my children from a package that has to shout out what is healthy about it, because when I look at the ingredients list, most of it I can't even pronounce, let alone know what it is? Because my government tells me that spending all my money on this crap is the "American Way"? NO!!! NO NO NO!!!

I refuse to be defined as a "Consumer" any longer. I am a creator! I created a beautiful, bountiful garden where there was just a pile of large rocks. I create the most beautiful garden soil by being conscious of my waste around the house and yard. I grow amazing tasting vegetables that have no unpronounceable ingredient lists. I can create cheese, butter, beautiful jams and jellies, sew a $50 curtain from $5 worth of material, crochet a warm blanket for my children from the scrap yarns that were given to me, knit scarves and hats and gloves, bake rustic loaves of bread, build most of the garden tools I need... the list just goes on and on! I am limited in my creations only by my own imagination, and for the government to tell me that I am an irresponsible citizen for not going out to spend spend spend is simply assinine.

If the price of consumables skyrockets, (ha... "if". Its happening right now, folks), I will be ok. I'm not 100% self sufficient, but between me and my family, we can mostly take care of ourselves if it is required. I have neighbors that I can count on to lend a hand, even though we all mostly keep to ourselves in our day to day lives. I live in a small community which chooses to self fund their projects through raffles, community donations, and volunteers, (most recently a sports arena/hockey rink,) rather than asking the government for money. I am a creator, and I choose to create a healthy, happy, anti-consumerist life for myself and my family. And guess what... you can be a creator too! There are people out there that will help you, teach you, guide you. Its not as hard as the big corporations who want your money would like you to believe! Reach out... try it... you can make it happen! Your bank account and your quality of life will thank you!

Why you should start a compost pile... right now!

2011-10-03T14:33:00.000-08:00

We were discussing compost at my garden club meeting today, and it got me thinking about how many folks seem to be "afraid" to start composting. There are so many different formulas out there, and so many people preaching this way or that way being the only way to make it happen. Let me just say this right up front... there is no right or wrong way to make compost! Put a bunch of plant matter in a pile and ignore it, and eventually you will have amazing compost! You don't have to have exact ratios of green to brown, you don't have to turn it every day, and you don't have to add any starters or additives to make it happen!

What is compost? All it is is broken down (rotted) plant material. In nature, when plants die off, there is nobody there to remove all the dead material, clean up the space, and till the soil. The plants die, the dead material falls onto the ground, it rots, and the rain pushes the rotted bits into the soil where they protect and fertilize the plant. Mother Nature provides the earthworms to break down the bits into smaller bits, and the occasional animal to hoof through it and mix it up. That's all it takes!

So, where do you start? If you have some spare chicken wire or old pallets lying around, build yourself a small enclosure. If you don't have an enclosure, don't worry! Just make your pile wherever you want it (out of the direct sunlight is best, but NOT necessary,) and add your scraps as you get them. I add all my kitchen scraps (no meat, just plant material,) all the vegetation that comes out of the garden, and any leaves that are floating around the yard. Each time I start a new pile, I add a garbage bag of straw and chicken manure I get from a friend when she cleans out the chicken coop.

I like to start a new pile every fall. I pile up the chicken manure, add anything else compostable that I have laying around, water it down really good, and ignore it! This gives it the winter to start breaking down. I don't turn it for the first time until the following spring. When spring comes, I mix it all up and start adding my kitchen scraps. I add to this pile all summer, bit by bit, and turn it whenever I feel like it. By late July, my compost is ready to screen.

I save the screened compost for adding to new plants the following spring, and the bigger chunks get spread on top of the garden beds. There they sit for another winter, and in the spring I turn it all into the beds and start the whole process over again. Don't worry if not everything breaks down right away. Anything that is still recognizable ends up buried and it finishes composting right there in the garden.

This year I was fortunate enough to acquire some earthworms, meant for a worm bin. I gave up on the bin fairly quickly, and just dumped all the worms into the compost pile. When it came time to screen the compost, I pulled out literally hundreds of worms and gave them to my Mother, who keeps a worm farm. The compost was beautiful! The worms helped break down the pile much faster, and I will be adding them every spring from now on. But if you don't have access to earthworms, don't worry! If your pile is on the ground, the worms will find it, and work their magic on it without your help. Adding worms yourself just makes the process happen a little faster!

Yes, you can turn the pile every day, monitor the temperature, carefully measure the ingredients, and otherwise fret over this garden gold, but honestly, why would you? Pile it up, add to it, give it time, and Earth's natural processes will take care of the rest!

Funny how we develop routines without even realizing...

2011-09-27T18:40:00.001-08:00

If you will look at this blog post from almost exactly 1 year ago, http://woodsidegardens.blogspot.com/2010/09/you-know-its-fall-when.html , you will find almost my exact dinner for tonight! I just added some chicken to the pan this time! Some things never change!

I made Crabbapple/Wild Blueberry Jam today, with apples from my sister's tree and berries my mom picked up north. I also managed to make a batch of Mint Jelly, with the last of the mint from my herb garden. We added some food coloring, at my son's request, and it is a very yummy emerald green!

The garden is officially put away for the year, as we have had a hard frost the last two nights in a row. All the raised beds have compost and steer manure covering them, which will be turned into the soil in the spring. The new compost pile has been started, and I covered the clematis, which isn't supposed to make it through the Alaskan winter, with old leaves from the edge of the yard. I also put some of the leaves in a burlap rice bag and put that over the top of the whole thing. I'm not holding my breath, but we will see if it works!

I didn't post any pictures of the garden this time, as I'm not sure you all want to see a bunch of bare raised beds full of compost and steer crap, but I'll take some if you want them!

A quick, photographic update on Woodside Gardens the last 2 months...

2011-09-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

Garden Friends

2011-07-20T15:38:00.001-08:00

Just a quick picture of one of our garden visitors today...

Tiger Swallowtail has always been one of my favorite butterflies. This one had an injured wing, but it didn't seem to affect it much.

It doesn't get much better than this...

2011-07-19T17:32:00.000-08:00

These are the ingredients from last nights dinner:

Coho (Silver) Salmon I pulled straight from the ocean 2 days prior,
Turnip, Broccoli, Garden Peas, Radishes and Summer Squash, all fresh from my garden, mixed with a little olive oil and herbs from the herb garden.

I grilled the whole thing, and served it with some Basmati Rice.

My son thinks I'm the best cook in the whole world!

Harvesting the garden...

2011-07-07T11:03:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that we are eating out of the garden already! Last night, we ate our first head of Broccoli with dinner! Broccoli is so yummy when its fresh from the garden!

Lily and I decided to do some more harvesting today... Lettuce, Turnip, Radishes, Lemon Balm and Cucumber for lunch, and more Broccoli for the freezer.

The tomato plants have all set fruit, and some of them are getting rather large already. The squash has the biggest blossoms I have ever seen, and the little squashes are dark green and beautiful! I'll follow up with some more pictures soon!

Garden Progress (with photos!)

2011-06-16T20:45:00.000-08:00

My good camera died a slow, pathetic death. The following are taken with my iPhone, so please bear with me!

Snap Peas, with Kale in front that you can't quite see yet.

Broccoli and Red Cabbage

4 types of Summer Squash, Onions and Cauliflower.

Spinach, Turnips, Kohlrabi, Red Cabbage, Radishes and Lettuce

Carrots and more Radishes

Impromptu Willow Trellis with Sweet Peas

The Potato experiment!

The new Herb Garden

And last but not least, what's left of my bush beans.

I discovered the little visitor that was decimating my beans was none other than the cutworm. This is all that is left of the 80+ bean plants I had in here. The survivors are now protected by some bottomless plastic cups, sunk about 2 inches into the soil. I killed approximately 40 cutworms today, and although I'm sure I didn't get them all, this should solve the problem. Fortunately, I have more little bean seedlings available, thanks to my Mom's garden, so all is not lost.

Bean Killer

2011-06-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

SOMETHING is in my garden, enjoying all of my bush bean seedlings. Half of them have been chopped off, right at the soil level. Anyone local have this problem, or a solution to this problem? At this rate, I won't have any green beans at all this year! :(

The garden is in and growing!!

2011-06-11T20:32:00.000-08:00

This years inventory:
Carrots
Broccoli
Cabbage
Spinach
Turnips
Kohlrabi
Radish
Lettuce
Bush Beans
Summer Squash (4 types)
Cauliflower
Onion
Sweet Peas
Potatoes
Large Herb Garden
Snap Peas
Kale
Tomatoes (2 types)
Cucumber
Rhubarb

All the seeds have officially sprouted, and everything looks happy and healthy. What's growing in your garden?

Its Alive!!!!!

2011-05-14T19:52:00.000-08:00

I have potatoes, lettuce, peas, spinach and turnips all breaking ground!!!

Getting ready for this years garden...

2011-05-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

So much is happening around here, I am finding it hard to sit down long enough to post about this years garden happenings! The snow is all gone, and my raised garden beds are thawed out and warming nicely! I have prepped all the garden beds, and so far have planted lettuce, turnips, spinach and snap peas. I have also planted potatoes for the first time ever! I am trying the black garbage bag method, as this is the cheapest, easiest route for me this year. Also, I have officially started a worm farm! Vermicompost will be nourishing my tomatoes this year, and I am very excited about it! I don't have any pictures yet, but I will work on that for all of you yearning for a little garden porn! What are you all doing in the garden right now?

Sigh

2011-03-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

I wish this was a post about starting seeds for the garden. Unfortunately, due to an impending house remodel, (the little one is so big she needs her own room!) I will not be starting any seeds in my house this year. I have a ton of seeds which will be planted directly in the garden this year, but my tomatoes, cukes, and most likely summer squash, will have to come from the local nursery this year. I don't feel too bad, because the local nursery is not a chain store, and the owner lives (and starts his seeds) only about 5 miles from my house. I am looking at this as an opportunity to support a local small business. But of course, if anyone close has extra seedlings that need a new home, I would be happy to be a foster-gardener!

I have been watching the snow melt, ever so slowly, and my garden is starting to come into view again. It is making me ache to get my hands in the dirt! I have so much to do this spring, and waiting for that snow to melt is a slow torture for me! Fences have to be moved, compost needs to be added, and I need to get the greenhouse ready for its new beds! At least the greenhouse will be productive this year! Last year it was out of commission due to it needing a new location in my yard. Now I just have to build the new beds inside, and fill them up from the lovely compost pile I have been nursing for a few years now! I'm so anxious to see the green and smell the plants, I can't hardly contain myself! Hopefully my next post will be about getting those garden prep chores out of the way.

Bring it on, Spring.... I'm waiting!

Wonderful, Glorious, Sunshine!!!

2011-03-01T16:53:00.000-09:00

The sunshine is pouring into my living room right now. I can feel it warming the back of my neck, which means that the sun is actually close enough to feel warm again!!! Spring is coming, people... what are you planting right now?

Weary of Winter

2011-02-07T12:41:00.000-09:00

Its that time of year again. The days are getting longer, the sun feels warmer, the weather starts to warm up... then you wake up the next morning and its -10F and you are knocked right back into reality. This is February, in Alaska. Spring is NOT just around the corner, although it is only about 2.5 months away now.

My mind is already on my garden. I'm thinking about what I will be growing, where everything is going to be planted, how will the greenhouse be set up this year etc. I have several things that I am sure will be in the garden, but I always try to plant one or two things I have never grown before. Its not always a success, but its fun! And that's a big part of having a garden, the fun of it!

What will I be growing for sure this year?

Tomato
Cucumber
Broccoli
Beans
Snap Pea
Summer Squash
Cabbage
Turnip
Lettuce
Radish
Kale
Carrot

Any suggestions from my readers for the "Something New" column? What's your favorite "fun" plant to grow in the garden?

Holidays and living a frugal life...

2010-12-08T11:38:00.000-09:00

First off, let me apologize for how long it has been since I have written anything here... sometimes life just gets in the way!

Today finds me thinking about the holiday season, and the very commercial way that it continues to evolve. It amazed me that I could find Christmas things in the stores at the beginning of October this year. Now, this is certainly not a new phenomenon, but it perplexes me nonetheless. I am not a religious person, and Christmas to me signifies the time to remember and appreciate family, and anyone else that has put a bright spot in my life that year. With two young children in the house, we do the tree and the gifts, of course, but I always try to show them that there is more to Christmas than those pretty packages hiding amongst the foliage.

My son, who is turning 7 in a few weeks, always wants the latest "it" toy. But half the time, he doesn't really even know what it is or what it does. Am I bad mother because I sometimes say no, we are not buying it, you don't need it? Quite the opposite, in my opinion. I want my children to learn that things are simply material objects, and they usually won't make any difference in the grand scheme of things.

This week, a friend of mine put out a call to help a struggling family that she had met. They had absolutely nothing. A single mom, with 2 children close to the same age as my own, she is working long hours for little money, and couldn't hardly afford food for her children, let alone give them a "commercial-grade" Christmas like so many of us take for granted. They had only a few cans of soup in the cupboard, and some blankets on the floor to sleep on. I donated some things, including a crib for the little ones, and many others poured donations in as well. Because these people understand the giving vs. receiving philosophy, this family is going to have an amazing Christmas, even though they don't know a single one of us!

My son and I had a long talk about this, about why we gave and what it means to both us, and this family. He is learning that the reason I don't want Christmas gifts every year, and that I usually don't give many, is because I am content with what I have and don't think my relationships are based on what others can do for me, but how they make me feel about myself. When I give a home-made gift, even if it cost very little, it is a personal thank you to the recipient, something that took thought and preparation. I refuse to go spend money on "stuff". We practiced "No Spending on Black Friday", like we do every year. I am proud to say that my children are learning that money doesn't make things better, in the long run, and that they are going to grow up understanding that even though we don't have everything, they have so much more than most, simply because we choose to look at things a little differently.

What lessons do you try to teach your children this time of year? Do you fall into the commercial Christmas trap, or are you trying to show them that there is a better way?

Homemade Laundry Soap

2010-10-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

I just made up another batch of my homemade laundry soap. I bought my original supplies over a year ago, and still have enough for at least 6 more batches! This stuff is amazing, and I love the fact that I haven't spent ANY money on laundry soap this past year!

Here's a link to my original post, with the recipe, if you're interested in trying it for yourself!
http://woodsidegardens.blogspot.com/2010/02/homemade-laundry-soap.html

Snow on the horizon...

2010-10-06T10:07:00.000-08:00

Looking out my window this morning, I can't help but notice the snow that is slowly creeping its way down the mountains. Although the last few days of rain and cloud cover have produced some warmer fall temperatures, there is no denying that winter is knocking at the front door. Its time to finish up the garden, clean up the yard, and make any repairs to the house that have been pushed to the back burner. Its the time for baked squash, yummy fall soups, and the family favorite around here, pot roast with roasted root vegetables.

I have mostly stopped eating red meat, as I find that it sits in my stomach like a rock for far too long, but I'm not going to deny the rest of my family the option. I just make myself something different on the days I make roast for the rest of my family. Do you make more than one meal at night, to satisfy the different tastes at the dinner table?

Emergencies, and why we aren't as prepared as we think we are...

2010-09-27T11:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend was a big eye opener for my family and I. Friday night we lost power, due to the unusually high winds sending an unusually high number of trees into the power lines. No big deal, right? We've weathered lots of power outages before! They never last more than a few hours, and we have lots of candles and blankets.

Saturday morning came, and we were still without power. Hmm. We don't own a generator. The 6 year old keeps forgetting to NOT flush the toilet, and now we have no water. Should we try to find a generator? Nah, the power will surely be back on in a few hours!

Saturday night, still no power. DON"T OPEN THE FREEZER!!! I have hundreds of dollars worth of food in the freezer, and if it thaws out, we're in trouble. And its getting really cold in here. Its 36 degrees outside.

Sunday morning, still no power. The house is very cold, and everything in the refrigerator is spoiled, including all the green beans I just harvested from the garden and hadn't had a chance to process yet. Husband decided that we have to get a generator NOW. Off to town we go, and had to look at 6 stores to find one. Imagine that, we weren't the only ones who decided we should get one! $800.00 later, we're on our way home, sure that the power will be on now that we spent all that money. Thank God we aren't burdened by credit cards any longer and had money in savings to pay cash.

What the Hell?! Now its SNOWING!!!

Back at home, the power still isn't on, so we get the generator running, and get the fridge, freezer and furnace plugged in by running extension cords through the kitchen window.. No well pump, as we aren't wired to switch it easily to generator power. If it was colder out, the well lines would all be frozen by now. We all took baby-wipe baths and snuggled in to watch a movie on the little TV that we plugged into the generator. If we hadn't gotten the generator, the freezers would be thawing by now.

We ran the generator all night last night. At 5:15 the alarm went off. Time for Rob to get ready for work. UGH. But then, a flash and a buzz, and on came the power! Yahoo!!! It was off for a total of 60 hours. If we hadn't left early Sunday to get the generator, they would have been all sold out and we would have been out of luck.

Top 5 things I learned from this ordeal...

1. Canning my produce, and even as much meat as I can, is a very good idea. The freezer is not a dependable food storage solution.

2. This is ALASKA. You need backup power. Dependable back up power. And you need the house wired for that backup power.

3. Kids get scared when the power goes off, even if they say they are fine.

4. Have emergency funds. Since we don't have credit cards (thank God) we would have been in a much worse situation if we had no way to buy the generator and emergency food and fuel.

5. I want a woodstove. You can heat with it AND cook with it.

First frost, but still harvesting!

2010-09-23T11:30:00.000-08:00

It officially frosted here for the first time last night. There was a very thin sheet of ice on the windshield this morning, and the temp read 33.8 when I woke up. Realizing that I still had green beans to pick, I made my way out to the garden as soon as the sun warmed things up a bit, expecting the worst. I was delighted to find most of the green beans still in pristine condition! I pulled each plant, one by one, and picked all the beans off, setting the bare plant to the side. I plan on letting the plants wither a bit, then I will chop them up and till them back into the soil to provide some added nourishment to next years squash plants. I picked about 3 quarts of green beans in all! And as an added bonus, I got about 30 small tomatoes that were still thriving as well (green, of course).

I still have 2 large cabbages to pick, a few brussels sprouts, and lots of kale and turnip greens. They all do fine with a little frost, so I will hold off a bit longer for them.

So, how do I feel about the success of this years garden? Over all, things went very well! I will grow more green beans next year for sure, and lots of summer squash, although the squash will NOT be under plastic. It just got too humid, especially with all the rain we had, and the mold ruined what could have been a bumper crop. Tomatoes and cucumbers will be back in the greenhouse next year, where they belong. I will grow fewer cabbages, lots more broccoli and turnips, and plenty of spinach and kale. I will NOT be growing brussels sprouts next year, or eggplant. I think I will try artichokes as my experimental crop, and potatoes are on the list as well.

Are you still harvesting from your garden? What has been your biggest success/failure this year?

You know its fall when...

2010-09-21T18:51:00.000-08:00

The pumpkins have arrived at the grocery store! I got so excited when I walked into the produce section today, and of course I had to take one home! Tonight's dinner is featuring roasted pumpkin, eggplant and brussels sprouts. This stuff is so good I can't begin to describe it here. The sweetness of the pumpkin goes so beautifully with the eggplant, and roasted brussels sprouts will complement almost anything! I LOVE fall time!

Great Day in the Garden!

2010-09-11T14:59:00.000-08:00

I plopped Lily in the stroller today, determined to get some vegetables out of the garden before the first frost, which I anticipate to be any day.

None of the tomatoes were red, but I picked them anyway, as one frost will destroy them, and they ripen quite nicely on the counter top anyway.

There were many more cucumbers than I expected, even several hiding amongst the tomatoes!

And the greenbeans, ah, the greenbeans... I got a ton, and left a ton, figuring that I will probably get one more harvest out of them.

I also have 3 more cabbages to harvest, as well as turnip greens and lots of kale. The brussels sprouts are very small, and don't expect much of a return on them, but we will at least get a few! The chard is growing now, which is interesting, since it didn't grow an inch all summer! The peas are ready to harvest again too, which I will do in a few days. All in all, I would say that this garden has been rather successful, considering it is only year 1. Next year will be that much better!

Sustainable Aloha!

2010-09-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a weekend trip to Maui, and one of the things that really struck me was the attitude of the businesses there. There were recycling bins everywhere, and people really seemed to understand the importance of naturals and organics. The shops had large organic food sections, and sustainability was a common theme on things such as t-shirts and bags, and other touristy type stuff. I can't help but think that if the businesses around here would follow the same path, we would see more of a change in attitude of the locals here too. Its so much easier to live this way when you aren't constantly battling the opposite message! Hawaii has got it right, folks. Be it for health, wellness, concern over the planet, or just because you feel this is the way we were meant to live, give yourself some little daily reminders, around the house or work, or even in the car! If you see it often, it will come more naturally!

Harvest in full swing!

2010-08-30T07:56:00.000-08:00

Despite the month long cold/wet spell we had, my garden is providing surprisingly well for me. Yesterday I harvested 3 more quarts of snap peas, which I steam blanched and put in the freezer. I got several summer squashes as well. I decided to go ahead and pull up all the squash plants, as I was still fighting the gray mold issue, although the ones I harvested today were ok. After I pulled the squash vines, to my GREAT surprise, I pulled out a cucumber hiding in the back that is as big as my forearm! Holy Moly, where did that thing come from?! There are LOTS of other cucumbers as well which are looking healthy and delicious.

The eggplant is very close to opening its first buds, which I assume means I WON"T be getting any actual eggplants this year again. I'll let them keep growing until the frost kills them anyway, because the blossoms are quite lovely. The tomatoes are growing like crazy, but I have no red ones yet. They will probably have to be brought inside to ripen... no worries there.

I officially ate my first green beans yesterday as well. They are growing FAST! I will have to pick the first batch this week for sure, and probably a second by next week. Dilly Beans here we come! I'll be freezing as many as I can get my hands on as well.

The Brussels Sprouts are sprouting, the cabbages are almost ready to split, and the Broccoli is seeding, attracting all sorts of beautiful insects to its blossoms. I pulled most of the lettuce as it is finally going to seed, and the Kale is looking awesome! I'll wait until after the first frost to process that.

I don't think I'll get any turnips out of the second batch, but it looks like there will be plenty of greens to harvest yet.

I'm sitting here this morning, watching the fog which was a thick as pea soup slowly burn off and make way for what appears to be some sunshine! I might even get a load of clothes out on the laundry line today! Fall is most definitely in the air... I can feel it and smell it. Almost time to turn on the heater!

Hello!

2010-08-23T09:26:00.000-08:00

So, its been a while since I posted anything. The last month was rainy, dreary and cold, and I simply lost my motivation to post. The garden was soggy, definitely not picture worthy, and the growth was pretty much on hold. The last few days of sunshine, however, have made all the difference! I have HUNDREDS of little green beans, the brussels sprouts are forming, and the tomatoes, squash and cucumbers are producing again! I'm about ready to harvest another round of peas to go in the freezer also. The flowers on the porch are looking pitiful, so I will be pulling them in the next few weeks. Time to start the fall time chores!

The garden is growing again!

2010-08-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

These last few days of no rain have been great for the garden. Temps have been in the mid 70s here, and the sun has been popping in and out. I officially harvested my first cucumber of the year (but forgot to take a picture, as I was so excited to eat it!) And the green beans are finally blooming!!! I'm going to actually get some this year! Also, although the plants are obviously stunted, with most leaves being about the size of a quarter, the nasturtiums are getting ready to bloom!

Here's to a beautiful August!

Basic Quiche Recipe

2010-07-30T14:02:00.000-08:00

Quiche with Broccoli, Onions, Squash and Squash Blossoms

I love this recipe because it is so versatile, and very easy. You can use your favorite crust recipe, or just buy the frozen ones at your local grocery store. The vegetables are completely interchangeable, just use whatever you have on hand... I promise it will be delicious!

Ingredients

1 pie crust
2 cups mixed diced vegetables
1 tbsp olive oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 400 F, with oven rack in center.

Saute vegetables and olive oil until cooked but not too soft.

Spread cooked vegetables evenly into bottom of pie crust.

Whisk eggs and milk until combined.

*very important secret step!!!
Open oven, pull oven rack partially out, and place pie crust with vegetables on the rack. Pour egg/milk mixture into crust. (This keeps the filling from spilling between the counter and the oven rack! Pretty smart, eh?)

Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over surface of quiche.

Add squash blossoms decoratively to the top, if using.

Bake for 35 - 45 minutes
(*be sure to keep an eye on the crust for browning)

Quiche is done when an inserted knife comes out clean, or just moist.

Let cool for about 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy. (Its delicious cold too!)

Thanks for the inspiration!

2010-07-29T19:08:00.000-08:00

My friend Faith over at 98% Organic In Alaska inspired my breakfast this morning...

Garden Quiche

(Onions, Broccoli, Yellow Crookneck Squash and Squash Blossoms, all from the garden)

I have been looking for a way to use the squash blossoms for a while now, since I usually just hear of them stuffed and fried, which didn't seem quite so appetizing to me. They have a nice, delicate flavor, which went well with the sharp cheddar I used. Thanks Faith!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2010-07-27T11:18:00.000-08:00

I had to pick and toss 4 zucchinis into the compost pile this morning. It has been so wet that they started developing some major gray mold and rot. I think I got it before it affected the whole plant, or the other plants in the hothouse. This rain is really starting to get depressing!

Damn Cats!

2010-07-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

One collar down, one to go. UGH.

1st Cabbage Harvest!

2010-07-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

Today we harvested our first cabbage! Once Robert got over the fact that I harvested the first broccoli ("don't cut it, I want to see how big it will get! Hunny, we have to cut it or it will just go to seed and then we won't be able to EAT it!") he decided that we needed to have corned beef and cabbage tonight!

Its bigger than his head! And the first thing he asked is, "can I eat a leaf now?" (Proud Mom Bragging)

Its like a jungle in the hothouse now!

And finally I can show off a few more of my flowers! The rose bush is blooming...

And remember the old raised beds that I turned into wildflower gardens? Take a look!...

What are you harvesting right now?

1st Broccoli Harvest

2010-07-21T15:04:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to harvest my first head of Broccoli today. Again, this is a first ever, not just first this year!

I made sure to leave the side shoots untouched so that they can continue to grow. This will be a chicken and broccoli stir-fry, and most of the rest will go in the freezer once it is harvested. I think I need to grow much more next year, as I can see that this won't last long. My son is drooling over the raw flower as I type!

Rhubarb/Red Currant Preserves

2010-07-18T18:10:00.000-08:00

Yum.

Willow Garden Tour 2010

2010-07-18T10:35:00.000-08:00

*Warning, long post, but lots of good pictures!

I attended the Willow Garden Tour yesterday, and it was fabulous! The weather cooperated ALL DAY! I couldn't believe it! It was very obvious that many people put a lot of effort into this event, and it was well worth it. And this was the 25th anniversary of this tour, which made it a little special!

There were 6 amazing gardens on the tour, so I will divide the pictures up that way and make it a little easier to follow along. I just wish I could post all the photos I took, but there were WAY to many for that.

Don't forget to click on the photos to get a better look!

Garden #1-
Jim and Kathy Huston Gardens (Alaskan Host B&B)

Hands down, the best part of this garden was the water feature, but there was lots to enjoy. The wildflowers edged the lawn beautifully, and there was lots of wildlife (both real - swans and a muskrat, and not so real - geese and the moose). This was a comfortable spot, with lots of beautiful rock incorporated throughout.

Garden #2-
William and Kathy Mailer Gardens

I loved this garden from the minute I walked up to it. They had TONS of Columbine and Delphinium, which are two of my favorites. This was a garden in which you could wander aimlessly for a very long time, although I found myself stopping every 2 or 3 steps to just look around. So much to take in! There were nice touches of garden art throughout, without being gaudy. This garden had FANTASTIC TEXTURE!!

Garden #3-
George Murphy and Dorothea Taylor's Gardens

Honestly, the first thing that struck me at this stop was the beautiful log home. And the dark slate everywhere. The slate was used for the house, the paths and the walls, and provided a nice dark background for all the color. You could really tell that this is an older garden. Plants have really made their own way. Very natural and unmanicured, peaceful and wandering. There are Forget-Me-Nots woven amongst most everything and they really added a nice, whimsical Alaskan touch. I got the sense of a "tamed" meadow.

Garden #4-
Jerry Freeley's Vegetable Garden

This garden was awesome, although the pictures don't really do it any justice. Different from all the others as this was strictly a vegetable garden. Not ornamental at all, yet still beautiful in its own right. There were tons of huge Rhubarb plants, and the veggies looked amazing! I was surprised that he had all his tomatoes and cucumbers right out there in the ground, with no cover or protection of any sort, and they looked fine! Mr. Freeley uses only compost and lime in his garden, no chemicals. One day I hope my vegetable garden is this big!

Garden #5-
Albino Hare Garden & Gallery

This was a fantastically whimsical garden. Toys and trinkets were a big feature here. It had a very cottage garden feel with lots of bent willow adorning the beds. There were several upside-down trees used in creative ways, lending it a very playful tone as well, almost like a fairy land! The gallery had some great pieces for sale, and it fit well in the garden setting.

Garden #6-
Les Brake's Coyote Garden

The last garden on the tour and well worth the wait. This garden felt big and small at the same time. Lots of large trees and old growth really made you realize that you were in the middle of a big, old forest. There were vegetables worked into the borders, and lots of volume to the plantings. Beautiful structures everywhere went well with the large trees, giving some size to the garden which couldn't be achieved with plants alone. This garden had tons of flowers, but they weren't the predominant sight by any means. There were tons of big ferns, beautiful moss, and lots of leaf color and pattern. It was very peaceful here.

For those who weren't able to make it this year, be sure to make time next year. It was well worth it and gave me LOTS of ideas for my own spaces!

Turnips!

2010-07-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

The turnip greens have been tasty all season, but I've really been waiting for the roots to bulb out. Roasted turnips are soooo yummy!

Holy Rhubarb!!!

2010-07-14T22:07:00.000-08:00

So, Rob and I walked down into the lower 5 acres after dinner tonight. I found 11 rhubarb plants, each needing to be divided. And I bet once I divide them I could get 5 plants out of each one! They have been there for probably 20 years, and I can see that they are actually in a raised bed of sorts, which is terribly over-run by weeds at the moment. I also found a second raised bed (they are more like raised rows really, 20 ft or so long) that used to have raspberries in it. The soil down there is looking very good, although still sandy. I bet I could cultivate all my rhubarb and berries, and have a large potato patch as well! It will be a few years, but there is a definite future here!

The garden can't be stopped!

2010-07-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

I just got back in from the garden, after finally having a chance to do a little upkeep. The sun is out and Lily was happy in the stroller, so I took some pictures too!

Laundry line doing its job!

Sugar Snap Peas are blooming

Squash taking over...

I trimmed it back a LOT after I took these pictures. The plants are less crowded now and seem much happier, and the cucumbers can breath again!

Happy little zucchini

Little cucumbers

The eggplant seems happy, but no blossoms yet

Tomato plants

The first of the tomatoes!

Broccoli and Turnips loving the sun. I thinned the turnips by about half after taking this picture, and I will probably be pulling the rest within the next 2 weeks. There is another row of them just starting their second set of leaves, which should provide me with greens for the rest of the season, and might even have time to bulb up!

The broccoli is producing a good head, with several secondary buds further down

Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts are both getting huge!

Green Beans are starting to pick up the pace now, but now blossoms yet

Here's the Kale, Spinach, Lettuce and Radishes. I had just picked the last of the second planting, and will be planting round 4 there this evening. I also pulled the remaining spinach plants, giving more room to the Kale which is a bit crowded by the Broccoli here. I blanched the spinach and froze it, which was the first official food storage from this years garden!

Uh Oh

2010-07-12T11:25:00.000-08:00

So, in the past, I have never gotten a squash plant to get bigger than 8 inches or so in total diameter. Why then, shouldn't I be surprised when the squash plants are now threatening to take over the entire hothouse, and choke out the cucumbers? I'm going to have to trim back the leaves on that side of the plants! Next year the squash get an entire bed to themselves!!

Its a jungle out there!

2010-07-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

The garden is going absolutely crazy! I officially have squash on all of my squash plants now. The picture below is the first squash harvest, not only of the season, but of my entire gardening career! I have NEVER gotten to pick a squash off of my own vine before! And man was it tasty!

The spinach has finally started to bolt. I have been pulling the plants as the flowers appear and adding them to the compost pile. Once spinach starts to bolt, the leaves get more bitter, so we won't be eating much more this year. I would plant another round, but I simply have no room in the garden! And that is not a bad problem to have! I do wish that I had planted the spinach where the kale is, and vice versa. The broccoli is starting to cover the kale, which is now leaning to the side where the spinach plants were. It will all work out, but it gives me something to remember when planting next year.

The first group of turnips are finally starting to bulb out as well! Soon I will be pulling that row, making more room for the broccoli to grow and for the second group of turnips to get bigger. I'm also getting ready to plant round four of radishes. They are growing better than I could have wished for, and they are a very tasty treat in my daily salads. I can't wait until I get to add the tomatoes and cucumbers!

The broccoli is doing amazing as well, forming beautiful heads which will be quite tasty, and will fill the freezer nicely. The green beans seem to have made a full recovery from their bug attack at the beginning of the season. They are showing the first signs of blooming, which is very exciting. And last but not least, the snap peas are blooming like crazy! We are going to have a TON of peas this year! Canning season is going to be happening before we know it... time to get prepared now!

What is everyone else harvesting right now?

A tough decision to make... (sorry, this post is a little graphic)

2010-07-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

What do you do when one of your cats is a killing machine and its getting out of control?

One of my cats, Isis, has always been a champion mouser. Problem is, she likes to skin them alive, in the bathroom. We actually had to close off the dog door because we were waking up to a bloody massacre every morning. She has more recently moved on to birds, so I have purposely never put out any bird houses or bird seed, which I really want to do. Well, now she has added rabbits to her list of fun animals to torture. Mind you, this cat is declawed. This morning I woke up to a rabbit gutted in the middle of the path to the garden. Half of its face had been eaten off. As soon as I recover from finding this, Isis comes around the corner with a live sparrow in her mouth. I managed to rescue the little bird and tuck it up into a tree to *hopefully* get over its shock. This afternoon she has attempted to bring 2 other birds into the house. I have been finding rabbits guts around the yard all week, and have found more than one rabbit with no head at all.

I have thought about making her stay indoors, but if she wants outside, she sits by the door and meows so frickin loud that no one in the house can sleep, or even hear themselves think for that matter. This cat will never be happy as an indoor cat.

So, what do I do? Do I continue to tolerate it, because I am the one that welcomed her into my home to begin with? Am I failing her if I find her a new home? Is she worth the lives of all the animals she is killing, purely for sport? What would you do?

I got a few pictures last night...

2010-07-05T11:08:00.001-08:00

Managed to snap a few pictures last night of the new setup in the yard...

Here's my new clothesline! Its cemented in properly and is much sturdier than I expected! You can see the new Lilac planted to the right. I'm hoping that in the spring it will scent the laundry as it drys. Drying the laundry outside is something that can save a ton of energy. Our dryer is electric, so it will be nice to see that bill drop a little!

This is an old photo which shows the old location of the greenhouse, on the right.

This photo was taken standing on th corner of the deck, by the grill. Rob just dragged the whole thing across the yard with his pickup! And the yard now feels HUGE! We will be getting rid of the dog house soon, and that will open it up even more.

Last but not least, the new chiminea! We've used it 2 nights in a row. I've wanted one of these for years!

Happy birthday to me!

2010-07-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

I have the most wonderful husband in the world. Yesterday was my birthday. In the pouring rain, he managed to move my greenhouse (YAY!) to its permanent location, install my new solar clothes dryer (LOL, such a fancy name for a clothesline!), and purchase and assemble a new chiminea! As soon as the rain stops I will have to take some pictures! And now, I have new places that need flower beds! Then, to top it all off, he dug a big hole today, filled it with good soil, and planted my lilac bush for me. Yard work is such a great birthday gift!

A dinner worth writing (ok, bragging) about...

2010-06-29T19:54:00.001-08:00

First off, I just had to share this picture with you! Playing in the rain!

Tonight's dinner just had to be shared!

We start with the halibut, caught on my Dad's boat last week out of Seward. This picture is of my Father-in-Law, who should be very proud of himself!

Here it is again, just thawed.

Turnip greens, Spinach and Kale, from the garden.

The halibut is seasoned with olive oil, lemon and curry powder, dried onion, and fresh green onion from the garden.

A nice cup of tea while I cooked, flavored with milk from the local dairy, and local honey I bought at the farmers market.

Sauteed the greens with some olive oil and minced garlic.

Halibut is baked until just flaky.

The finished product, and it was SO yummy! The boy kept stealing the greens off my plate!

How's that for a sustainable, local, completely chemical-free dinner?!

In other news, I changed the front path from the driveway to the deck. I had a flower box up against the wall before:

I moved the flower box and the bench that was on the deck:

I like the feeling of sitting in a little garden that you get now when you sit on the bench. It also freed up a little room on the deck. What do you think?

OK, that's quite enough!

2010-06-29T13:15:00.001-08:00

I'm ready for the sun to come back!!!

A garden update, and a mystery plant!

2010-06-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

Here's a few photo's to update you all on the state of the garden. I have to say, this is the most beautiful, most productive garden I have ever had!!!

My newest flower box... Rose, Peony, and Bleeding Heart

Porch Tomatoes

Edible salad flowers

Apple Mint and Chocolate Mint

Rhubarb

Cucumbers and Summer Squash

Eggplant is looking good!

Tomato blossoms

More Tomatoes

Broccoli, Turnip, Green Onion, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce, and Radishes

Kale, Spinach and Lettuce

Cabbage, Onion and Brussels Sprouts

Green Beans

More Cabbages

Broccoli

Swiss Chard is not doing much right now

Dianthus (volunteer)

New Rhubarb plant

My new wheelbarrow garden

Now for the mystery plant:

Anyone have any idea what this is?

Report: Toxins found in whales bode ill for humans - Yahoo! News

2010-06-24T14:26:00.000-08:00

Report: Toxins found in whales bode ill for humans - Yahoo! News

Our actions have so many more consequences than we realize. One more reason to do without these harmful chemicals that seem to be everywhere!

"Tomato - A Fresh-from-the-Vine Cookbook"

2010-06-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

I just want to say that I LOVE this cookbook! I have quite a collection of cookbooks, mostly vegetarian ones, and this one takes the cake! There are over 150 tomato recipes and they all look delicious! I just wanted to share with you all because the tomatoes are going to be in full swing soon. Check this book out!

The tomatoes

2010-06-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Just an interesting note... while the tomatoes that are in the hoop house are definitely looking healthier, the first bloom officially goes to one of the two which are just out on the deck in a pot, not sheltered at all.

Alaska Dirt: New Alaska Cheese Regulations

2010-06-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

If you live near southcentral, please take the time to go to one of these meetings and let them know that we need our small farm operations!

Alaska Dirt: New Alaska Cheese Regulations

Its a little wet out there...

2010-06-03T19:41:00.000-08:00

We're finally getting some much needed rain! Unfortunately its a typical Alaskan rain, where it drizzles all day but without any major accumulation. Regardless, it will help with the many wildfires burning right now, and my garden is VERY happy. I did have to leave the hoop house closed up today, to maintain a more reasonable temperature. It has been in the mid 80's for over a week, and today it never got higher than 55. My Brussels Sprouts are happy for the shower, growing twice their size in the last 24 hours, and the cabbages are chugging right along themselves. The beans are sprouting like crazy, and the lettuce is absolutely singing out there!

Mom and I went to Northern Fruits Nursery in Palmer today. She got 2 Evans Cherry Trees for a very decent price, and I got a 3 color Peony. The owner is a lovely woman who was even kind enough to invite me into her home to show Lily the cutest little gosling! I have been going to this greenhouse for trees and perennials for about 12 years now, and she never disappoints! I just created a new flower bed where the remains of the first compost pile was and I will add the Peony to that, planting it amongst the Iris and Columbine. I'll take a picture when the sun comes back out!

Some Garden Porn...

2010-06-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

So, I have been promising some pictures... and today I finally had a chance to get out in the garden with a camera! The following is a photo journey through my gardens, although there are a few things I have missed, I am sure. Everything is really starting to take off, and I think I might actually have some success this year! I'm so excited!!!

Anyway, here are the pictures!

Blue Shrimp Flower

My outdoor tomato experiment...

Raspberries!!!

Alaskan Wildflower Beds

The Rhubarb is happy to finally be transplanted

Strawberries

New Gooseberry seedlings

Got the new compost pile started

Snap Pea seedlings

Swiss Chard

Broccoli, Turnip, Leek, Green Onion, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce and Radishes

Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Yellow Onion, and White Onion

The first of 78 green bean seeds to sprout...

I'm not even using my greenhouse this year, just this improvised hot house made with recycled tent poles.

Eggplant, 4 types of summer squash, tomatoes and cucumbers

The squash looks very content!

It has been wonderful to spend so much time in the garden lately, but its really nice to have everything planted and just need to water and occasionally pull a weed. I will be planting some more radishes and lettuce within the next day or so, depending on how Lily feels about being in the stroller outside! She really enjoys watering the garden with me, watching my every move very carefully from her perch on my hip. I may have a second little gardener in training!

Question for my readers... is anyone harvesting anything yet? I have been using the herbs and lettuce, but I can't wait until the other veggies start making their appearances on the dinner table!

Common herbicide used on U.S. crops castrates male frogs

2010-05-28T09:53:00.000-08:00

Just stumbled across this article. Why is it that the US always seems to be the last to ban these chemicals?

Common herbicide used on U.S. crops castrates male frogs

Pictures soon to follow...

2010-05-27T19:36:00.000-08:00

My garden is officially planted!!! Here's a list of EVERYTHING I have planted...

Green Beans
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Summer Squash (4 kinds)
Eggplant
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Onions (White, Yellow, and Green)
Broccoli
Turnip
Leeks
Kale
Spinach
Lettuce
Radish
Sunflowers
Pumpkin
Nasturtiums
Strawberries
Chives
Gooseberry
Rhubarb
Mixed Alaskan Wildflowers
Flowers in the Deck Pots (Who knows what they are, but they are beautiful!)
Mint (2 kinds)
Thyme
Rosemary
Basil
Snap Peas
Sage
Raspberries
Potentilla
Swiss Chard

Holy Cow!!! It's not as huge as it sounds, however. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow... its awesome (and organic)! And to top it all off, I got a big bag of chicken droppings mixed with straw, and a few big bags of leaves, and the new compost pile is officially started!!!

Nice to see you again!

2010-05-21T11:59:00.001-08:00

I know it has been forever since I took the time to post anything more thoughtful than a sentence or two. For those of you who live in Alaska, you most likely understand already. This is the busiest season for the gardener, and even more so for me this year as my husband decided to seriously upgrade my ENTIRE garden! If you look at my posts from last year, you will find pictures of what the garden USED to look like. Here are some snapshots I took this morning...

The lovely deck that Hubby built for my birthday last year. I finally got the flower pots planted!

The three pots are planted the same... In about a month these will look awesome!

Cabbage, Swiss Chard, and Brussels Sprouts, patiently waiting to be planted in their permanent home.

The old raised beds have been transformed into flower beds. This year they are planted full of Alaskan wildflower seeds, which just broke ground yesterday!

My new, fenced in garden area, with raised beds and room to add a chicken area!

This is the only raised bed that is planted so far... Broccoli, Turnip, Leek, Green Onion, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce and Radishes!!!

The lettuce is VERY happy to be transplanted, finally!

Hopefully the Broccoli will be happier this year than it was last year. They seem to be doing well!

Starting to get an idea of why I haven't posted much lately? We actually had some rather sad news a few weeks ago as well. Boss, our most beloved, and only remaining dog, finally lost his battle to cancer. He had a different type than the bone cancer that took Lady from us so suddenly a few months ago. He has been battling it for years, but it got to be just too much. It was heartbreaking, and we miss him terribly. I rescued him 10 years ago, and had had him longer than my human children! There is a big void now, which I can't hope to fill any time soon.

RIP Boss, you were the best of the best.

First garden edibles!!!

2010-05-19T14:43:00.000-08:00

For lunch today, I officially ate lettuce I started from seed. And I mixed it with fresh Lemon Basil, which is growing on my kitchen windowsill! Soon, the tomato, cucumber, peas, and even the eggs, will be from the back yard. Life is good!

A quick update...

2010-05-14T15:12:00.000-08:00

The raised beds are built, the fence is up, the organic matter is ready to mix in, the seedlings are impatient, and the soil is delivered tomorrow morning!!!

I haven't forgotten you all!

2010-05-03T10:50:00.002-08:00

There are some major changes happening in my garden right now. I'll update soon with a real post, and pictures!!!

Food, Inc. - Last night on POV

2010-04-22T18:18:00.000-08:00

First let me premise this with -- I Love PBS. They are awesome.

Food, Inc. is a movie I have been wanting to watch for quite a while now. I was very excited to learn that PBS was airing it as part of their Earth Day programming this week. It was good information, and well put together. It confirmed for me the reasons that I am raising my family as I am, and why I make the food choices I make.

My husband actually sat down and watched the whole thing with me, which is rare for ANY movie. All I said was that this was a good explanation of why I am the way I am about our family's food. Robert is not the type you can preach to. He is very intelligent, as is quite capable of figuring things out once the information is presented to him. This morning, he told me he was glad we watched the movie, and that it gave him a lot to think about. If this movie can make my McDonald's every day husband stop and think, it can change the world!

If you didn't get a chance to see it, you can watch it online at
http://www.pbs.org/pov/foodinc/photo_gallery_watch.php
until April 29, 2010.

Watch it!
Share it!
Talk about it!

And if you already watched it... what did you think?

The ground is thawing!

2010-04-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

I just made a quick trek out to the raised beds. The soil is about 1/2 thawed already, and the compost pile is thawing too! Most of the snow in the yard is melted, and the sun feels warm again. But the best news of the day?... The Sandhill Cranes arrived this morning! I heard them at 6:30 this morning, it woke me up out of a dead sleep! What a way to announce the return of spring in Alaska!!!

Earth Day 2010

2010-04-21T07:41:00.001-08:00

I watched the movie "Dirt!" last night. What a great film, full of information, but lighthearted enough to be entertaining as well. EVERYONE needs to watch this movie.

And for those of you who don't already know... PBS's show "Point of View" is airing "Food, Inc." tonight. Please watch it, and let everyone else know to watch it also. We have to be informed if we want to make a difference. Monsanto has several web pages dedicated to "debunking" this film, so you know the film makers must have hit a nerve!

As usual, there is not a lot going on in Alaska to celebrate Earth Day, at least not as far as the local newspapers are concerned. It frustrates me, because they will report on S. Palin like they are a tabloid, almost to the point of obsession, but the tend to ignore all things earth day. Just like last year, we will celebrate in our own way, in our own home.

What are you doing for Earth Day this year?

Learning Outside of School

2010-04-12T20:34:00.000-08:00

My sons first year of public school is coming to a close next month. I have to admit I was nervous about having someone else take responsibility for what he was learning and experiencing, and very honestly considered homeschooling. But in reflection, this has been a great experience for both of us.
I have always tried to make every day a learning experience in our house. We have rules and structure, but we learn, explore, and have fun as well! Starting the day the kid comes home from the hospital, we are having conversations and discussions. We talk about what we are doing and why we are doing it. I really feel that this has made a difference in how my children observe and learn. My son loves to identify foods by the 3 most important food groups... 1. Healthy enough to eat every day 2. Healthy enough to eat once in a while 3. Only good to eat once in a VERY great while. He watched me make compost for the first time, and proceeded to explain to ME why we were doing it and how it worked!

I have made it a point to ask him every day after school to tell me what he learned that day. This gives me a chance to learn what is being discussed in the classroom, clarify any questions or misunderstandings, and most importantly... Offer a different perspective. When we leave all the lessons to the government to organize, we don't always like the end result. I don't have all the answers, but I am teaching my son to think and discuss, and to seek out alternative options and knowledge, so that at least he has the tools to find those answers for himself.

Children's minds are like sponges, especially in the pre-school years. If we give them these tools early in life, we give them the building blocks for a successful future. With all the bad stuff out there, which they are going to have to face eventually, I want to give my kids a real chance. Knowledge is that chance.

Today's Garden Notes

2010-04-12T07:31:00.002-08:00

I got the tomatoes and eggplants transplanted yesterday. Everything is looking great... more pictures soon!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-04-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

The Kale, Lettuce and Lobelia have all sprouted now. Its also time to transplant the tomato and eggplant seedlings. All of the starts are looking amazing!

Please, pay attention to what your purchases support....

2010-04-09T09:52:00.001-08:00

A few pictures to satisfy that spring planting addiction...

2010-04-07T10:26:00.001-08:00

First, some of the herbs...

I didn't add a picture of the Rosemary as it is still very small and unimpressive.

Next up, my seedling set-up...

Just something simple in an unused corner of a hallway. The lights are very easy to adjust, so I can keep them directly over the seedlings, and hopefully not have tall skinny plants when it is time to move them outside.

Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, and Cucumber

Zucchini, Tomato, Eggplant, and Cabbage

The Sunflowers are doing very well, I just didn't manage to get a picture of them this time. I'll post them later.

I have to say i am amazed at how well the Zucchini is doing this time. Hopefully I don't run out of room for them before planting day! I have noticed that most of my containers outside are already thawed, although the raised beds are still frozen. The snow is melted enough that I can get to the compost pile, so I am starting to save my kitchen waste again. We did get about 4 inches of snow in yesterday's storm, but it all melted by the evening. Once the sun comes back out, the snow should disappear fairly quickly. We should be starting to do some little bonfires soon. That is one sure sign that summer is on its way back!

Kombucha update

2010-04-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

I got the Kombucha bottled, and it went very well. Each bottle got 1.5 cups of Kombucha and .5 cups of organic, no sugar added, blueberry pomegranate juice for a little flavor. Now if I can just get it to fizz without exploding!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-04-05T14:05:00.000-08:00

Planted:

Kale
Lettuce
Blue Shrimp Flower
Lobelia
Marigold
Pansy

The seedlings are all doing great! Everything is healthy and happy... growing, but not growing so fast I can't keep up with them. The sunflowers are now in the kitchen window with the herb pots, because they are just getting so tall so quickly! The zucchini is doing amazingly well... I actually had to remove flower buds off of every seedling today! It has gotten above 50F every day for the last 2 weeks or so, and the snow is melting very quickly! I think spring may be a bit early this year. Here's to a longer growing season!!!

Kombucha

2010-03-29T09:33:00.000-08:00

Today I am officially brewing my very first batch of Kombucha! I grew a new SCOBY successfully from a bottle of GT's Kombucha. Now I just have to wait the 10 days until I can bottle it and then let it sit and develop some fizz! How exciting!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sprouted yesterday, EGGPLANT!!!

I transplanted all the seedlings except the tomato and eggplant yesterday. The newspaper pots are working wonderfully, and I'm getting them from a family member that normally just sends all her papers to the dump. That makes me feel even better about using them. When they are done I will just put them in the compost pile! Below is a picture of my zucchini, happy in their newspaper pots...

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-27T09:12:00.002-08:00

The tomato seedlings have sprouted!!!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

The cucumbers have sprouted! No sign yet of the tomato or eggplant, but I remember the eggplant took forever last year also, so no worries yet. I have never done cucumber or tomato from seed before, so this is exciting!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I transplanted the sunflowers and zucchini into bigger pots. I made the pots out of recycled newspaper, and they are perfect! I will post some pictures as soon as I have new batteries for the camera! The eggplant, tomato, and cucumber haven't sprouted yet, but other than that the seedlings officially have a 100% germination rate! Amazing!

Husband and I had a talk about chickens last night. We decided that we really need to wait one more year, because we need to have the coop set up BEFORE I bring them home. I am moving/changing my whole garden this year, and that will be the main spring project. I am a little disappointed, but it only makes sense. He promised to help me get the new raised beds all set up, so that will be nice to have the help.

I am absolutely itching to get into the dirt now. The temperature has gotten into the 40s for the last 10 days here. Dare I say, spring has arrived?!?!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-21T22:00:00.002-08:00

Planted Cucumbers today!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

Planted tomato seeds today.

All of the seedlings are doing very well, and I have close to 100% germination, even though these are last years seeds! I broke down and bought the tomato seeds today though. They are currant tomatoes, which I figure will have more of a chance of ripening on the vine in the greenhouse rather than in the cupboard. I'm going to grow some in the greenhouse and some in hanging baskets outside, since this is supposed to be a good summer for growing them outside in Alaska. I've never started tomatoes from seed before, so we'll see how well I do. I think I may get some cucumber seeds as well, just to see how well I do with them.

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-19T07:11:00.000-08:00

Sprouted!

Brussels Sprouts

The only thing that hasn't sprouted now is the eggplant, which usually takes a while. The cabbage (last years seed) had a 100% success rate!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-17T12:27:00.000-08:00

Sprouted!!!

Cabbage
Sunflower
Zucchini
Broccoli

I can't believe these seeds only took 2 days to start sprouting, and they are ALL last years leftovers! I must have stored them properly! I'm glad I set up the lights at the same time that I set up the shelving, as I was thinking it would be about a week before I needed them. My garden is officially started!!!

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-16T10:14:00.002-08:00

Planted:

Brussels Sprouts

Today's Garden Notes

2010-03-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

Seeds started today...

Cabbage
Eggplant
Sunflower
Zucchini
Broccoli

Dreaming of soil while looking at snow...

2010-03-11T08:38:00.000-09:00

All the gardening blogs I read are talking about starting their seeds. This, I think, is the one thing I don't like about Alaska... our short growing season. Our average last frost date is June 1, so most things don't get started until the end of April. I suppose I could let things grow a little longer inside, if I can get my seed shelf set up properly. I am just itching to grow something.

I'm a little nervous about trying to start everything from seed this year. I haven't had the greatest success so far. But I do learn a little more each year, and this year will be another learning experience, if nothing else. This will be the first year that I will be in control of the seedlings... in years past I have always started them at my mother's house. It will be nice to be able to check on them daily and to make sure that the lights and other growing conditions are really to my specifications, rather than depending on someone else to remember/care enough to do it properly. I'm not saying Mom has done anything wrong with the seeds in the past, just that it will be nice to have that daily control.

I was watching a video earlier today of an interview with a woman who sells seedlings at the local farmer's markets. She was talking about how everyone wanted heirloom tomatoes. She said she tells everyone that yes, the heirlooms taste better and look prettier, but "you don't want to spend $5 per seed". She repeated that about 5 times. First of all, the seeds DO NOT cost $5 a piece. And second of all, initial cost is not the only factor! Yes, you will spend SLIGHTLY more the first year, but then you will be able to save the seed each year! It just amazes me how people can find one tiny little obstacle and refuse to look beyond it. YES, I want heirloom tomatoes, and if you don't have them, I will simply buy them somewhere else!

Speaking of seeds, if anyone locally has some seed they want to swap, I have some Blue Shrimp Flower seeds I saved from last year, and I would be willing to trade half of them. I originally got the seed from the Alaska Botanical Garden when I did some volunteer work there a few years ago. They did beautifully last year, and I'm sure they will do well again this year. Leave a comment or email me if you are interested!

Homemade Zwieback Toast

2010-03-10T17:18:00.001-09:00

I found the following recipe quite a while ago, and just now decided to try it as Lily has recently cut her first tooth...

Zwieback Toast

1 package active dried yeast
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 butter
pinch salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 eggs (unbeaten)
2 cups flour

Gently warm the milk until tepid and add the yeast. Set aside for 5 mins, to allow the yeast to activate.
Melt the butter and add to the mixture, along with the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and eggs. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Add enough of the flour to form a dough, then knead well until the dough is smooth - you may need to add extra flour as you knead.
Set the dough aside and leave it to rise.
Once it has doubled in size (around 1hr later), divide it into 2 equal pieces and form into "rolls".
Place on an ungreased baking/cookie sheet and allow to rise again (around 30 mins).
Bake for 20 mins at 400 deg F, then cool.
Lower the oven temperature to 200 deg F, and slice the rolls into 1/2" slices.
Return to the oven and bake for a further 15-60 mins, until the zwieback toast is dry and hard.

Lily absolutely loves these, and they are just a hint sweet, without being a desert type bread. I will definitely make them again! (Boss loves them too, and hovers very close to Lily, hoping to get the dropped crumbs!) They melt just enough that she doesn't choke on them, but they don't fall apart while she is trying to eat them.

One more thing I don't have to buy pre-packaged from the grocery store!!!

Herbs in the window

2010-03-08T17:05:00.001-09:00

The herbs I planted a few weeks ago are really taking off now. The Thyme sent up sprouts almost immediately and I have already had to thin them a bit. The Rosemary and Lemon Basil took a bit longer, but they are slowly yet surely poking out of the soil. We get a little more sun here every day, so they should do ok as long as they remain in my south-facing kitchen window. I've never grown herbs from seed before, or grown them indoors for that matter, so this will be a learning experience for me.

I thought that the cats might get themselves into the seedlings, but so far so good. My other seeds will be started in a mini-greenhouse, so they should be fairly safe. Once they are to big for that, however, we may have to improvise a bit to keep them safe... maybe the greenhouse will be warm enough to utilize by then. I'll figure it out!

Look what I made!

2010-03-06T12:00:00.001-09:00

I had a content baby and a clean table... I had to make something! These took me about 1 hour and were made from leftover material from the last 2 purses that i made. My husband came home and said "I was just thinking that we needed some placemats for the table!" I think he is finally starting to realize what a great gift that sewing machine was! And as a bonus, I have found that with these on the table, people choose to NOT use the area as a general dumping ground for STUFF. It actually stays cleaned off now! Can you believe that I didn't have to clean anything before I took this picture?!

Watch this movie!!!

2010-03-04T09:04:00.000-09:00

Mmmmmmm.... Coffee

2010-03-03T10:09:00.000-09:00

I recently acquired a French Coffee Press, which I have never used before. I like my coffee in the morning, but hate making a full pot as that is just too much caffeine for just one person. I tried the French Press for the first time this week, and I am in LOVE!!! The coffee comes out creamy and perfect every time, and I can heat a kettle of water first thing in the morning (excuse to make a tea kettle cozy!), and have coffee as I want/need it all morning long! Why didn't I get one of these sooner?! Not to mention, this makes one more non-electric appliance to replace my plug-in everything in the kitchen! Hubby still will want his pot of coffee on the weekends, but I can live with that. I wonder if I could get away with putting the coffee pot in the cabinet during the week, as it takes up so much room on the counter. I'm still looking for a hand crank coffee grinder, but these are very hard to find in the thrift shops. Now if only I had my woodstove, even the hot water would be passive. One step at a time!

Kombucha

2010-03-01T14:54:00.000-09:00

Does anyone have a good recipe for Kombucha Tea? I took the advice of another blogger and asked on Freecycle for Kombucha Starter, and low and behold... I am getting one in a few days! Now I just need to know what to do with it! Any advice, knowledge, recipes would be VERY greatly appreciated!

Look what I woke up to this morning!

2010-02-25T07:52:00.000-09:00

Spring has definitely NOT sprung! I knew it was too good to be true! It sure was nice while it lasted though. We already have about six inches of fresh powder, and it shows no sign of stopping.

What the heck are those things?

2010-02-22T18:03:00.000-09:00

Those, my friends, are dryer balls! They eliminate the need to use those nasty, chemical-laden dryer sheets. And they actually work! Of course, I would rather hang my clothes outside on the line, but in winter in Alaska, that just isn't going to happen. These are definitely the next best thing! They really do stop 95% of the static electricity, and they can be used over and over again! Gotta love it, especially when used in conjunction with my homemade laundry soap!

I wish!

2010-02-22T13:15:00.000-09:00

The sun is teasing me, this can't POSSIBLY be spring. Combine the added daylight that we are getting every day with the fact that it has been in the high 30s/low 40s for the last two weeks, and you might almost believe that spring is really here. I, however, have lived in Alaska long enough to know otherwise. Yes, the snow is melting, yes the days are getting longer much more quickly, and yes, there are pussywillows outside, but I refuse to fall for it. This is February in Alaska, and its gonna get cold again. But in the meantime, I want to put the swing back out on the porch!

What I have and what I need...

2010-02-19T14:13:00.004-09:00

Just doing a quick seed inventory:

* Random seed pod from Mom's garden - Can anyone identify this flower?

* Snap Peas - Sugar Ann

* Blue Lake Beans (both bush and pole)

* Nasturtium

* Sunflower - Mammoth Grey Stripe

* Kale - Red Russian

* Spinach - Melody

* Cabbage - O-S Cross

* Broccoli - Nutri-bud Organic

* Carrot - Sweetness II

* Zucchini - Black Beauty OP

* Onion - Parade

* Radish - Cook's Custom Mix

* Pepper - King of the North

* Peppers - Mixed Chilis

* Eggplant - Twilight Hybrid

* Blue Shrimp Flower

Most of these are left over from last year, so I should probably test-germinate a few of each before assuming they are available to plant in this years garden.

** Herb update, I have Thyme, Rosemary, and Lemon Basil seedlings growing happily in my kitchen window!!!

Discovered a new forum!

2010-02-18T08:01:00.003-09:00

I just found North Root Big Lake Gardeners, and gardening club and forum... right here in my home town! (If you knew how small my town is, you would understand my surprise!) What an exciting way to get to know some local gardeners with some experience growing here in Big Lake! I'm looking forward to joining the club and hope to learn a lot this year!

Homemade Laundry Soap

2010-02-06T16:36:00.004-09:00

I have had many email requests for my laundry soap, so I figured I'd go ahead and post it... Let me know if you try it, and what you think! I use if for all of our laundry, from my baby's delicate things to my auto-mechanic husband's work clothes, and I love it!

Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap (in Fred Meyer in the laundry aisle next to the Borax)
1/2 cup washing soda (NOT baking soda, although Arm & Hammer does make it)
1/2 cup Borax powder
water

You will also need a small bucket (3-5 gallon) and a stirring utensil, a funnel, a grater (cheese grater works fine), a saucepan, and something for storage (gallon milk jugs work great!)

1. Grate the soap into the saucepan.
2. Add 6 cups water and heat until the soap melts, stirring occasionally.
3. Add washing soda and borax, stirring until dissolved.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket.
6. Add soap mixture and stir.
7. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups water and stir.
8. Let sit for 24 hours in the bucket, until gelled.
9. Stir vigorously, until mixture resembles "egg drop soup".
10. **Optional - Add 1/2 to 1 oz essential oil of choice - citrus works well*
11. Transfer to storage jugs.

Shake before using - 1/2 cup per load - works fine in high efficiency washers

* I use lavender essential oil, about 30 drops per batch

A Whole Other Post...

2010-02-04T12:13:00.003-09:00

Rhubarb - you either love it or you hate it, but if you haven't had it in a long time, try it again... it might surprise you!

I LOVE Rhubarb. My husband thought he hated it. Then I made him a rhubarb crisp from rhubarb fresh cut from my garden. My husband LOVES rhubarb! I had been thinking about buying a few to plant this year, as well as transplanting the one I have to a better location. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have frozen and canned rhubarb in the middle of winter! I just remembered that on the back 5 acres I have several rhubarb plants growing, which I haven't even looked at in about 2 years! I can simply dig them up and put them up with the garden, and give them all the love they deserve! Not to mention that they most likely could be divided! I read a blog about rhubarb producing which has gotten me interested in that avenue as well - akrhubarb.blogspot.com

Does anyone have any growing tips or recipes for rhubarb?

I just had to!

2010-02-03T12:59:00.006-09:00

Here we go! I officially bought some seeds today! I couldn't resist the sale, I had to do it! I bought Sugar Ann Snap Peas, which I grow every year and have great success with, Nasturtiums, which I am positive I will be planting, and Stringless Blue Lake Bush Beans, which I am also sure will be in the garden. I think the only other plant I will be planting fore sure this year is Rhubarb, which is the subject of a whole other post!

I decided that I need to increase the depth of my raised beds this year, as the ground below is completely gravel, and I think the shallow soil hindered growth last year. (The roots hit the gravel and simply stopped growing.) I have two beds that are triangular and of equal dimension and two each of two differently sized rectangles. If I turn the 6 shallow beds into 3 deeper beds, by stacking the frames on top of each other, I should have better luck. I can always build one or two more each year until I really have what I want.

As far as dealing with the nutrient-poor soil, the plan is to remove all the soil from all the beds and mix with the finished pile of compost and some aged steer manure. This will be my first year using my own compost, so I'm excited! And soon it will be chicken fertilizer going into the fresh compost rather than buying steer manure.

I have to admit, I will be doing a little bit of planting today, just to scratch the itch a bit more. I bought some organic potting soil and few pretty little pots that fit perfectly in my kitchen window. I will be planting Basil, Thyme, and Rosemary. I'm a sucker, what can I say!

Uh oh, its early, but I've got the itch!

2010-02-03T07:44:00.002-09:00

It is official, I have caught it. That seasonal disorder whose symptoms include sketches of chicken coops and garden plans, seed catalogs and hatchery fliers. I catch this bug every year about February or so, and this year is no exception. It all started with 4 seed catalogs arriving in the mail. Now I have to really plan out my garden and decide what I want to plant this year. I say I am going to take it easy this year and just grow a few things I have success with, and one or two that I need to learn about, but that plan never seems to work.

My husband thinks I'm crazy. He got home from work last night to find library books about raising chickens and building chicken coops spread all over the bed, with sketches of the new garden layout and chicken coop, all enclosed in a nice chain link run (that I used to use for my dogs, but don't really need now that I'm down to just one mellow old friend.) I even have it designed to have a door between the chickens and the gardens so that I can let them in every fall to fertilize the dirt for me! I'm fairly sure that Rob is going to build me said coop this year, and I need to make sure I know exactly what I want for the day he says its time to build it!

I'm glad that my husband humors me, even if he thinks I'm just a little bit nuts!

More crafty stuff...

2010-01-29T17:31:00.002-09:00

I made this nifty little zippered pouch to go with the purse I showed you a few posts back. I didn't want to put a zipper on the main bag, so this is perfect for the little bits and pieces that are always in the bag.

I Love Thrift Shops!

2010-01-29T17:02:00.002-09:00

I just spent a whopping $7 at the thrift store today, and got a ton of fabric for some projects I am working on. I'll post some pics when they get finished. It's amazing how much fabric can be re-purposed from an old skirt! Not to mention that I discovered how many people make their project and then don't want the left over fabric... more for me!!!