It's been an interesting few weeks. A few health issues, now under control, have kept me from blogging. I apologize to the handful of people who read this.
Today was planting day! The Princess and I got lots of starts going. In the front window we have Cebolla onions, Flat of Italy onions and Leeks. We also put in some Rocky Top lettuce mix. These were all sown in containers from cookies and such that were clear with lids. They were cleaned and bleached to kill any buggies and then filled with starter soil and planted. I love free potting containers!
In the basement we have the more traditional set up. I have the 72 cell trays that I filled with starter soil. These are placed on a heat mat and have a clear top to make a little greenhouse. As they start to sprout the top will be removed and I'll turn on the grow lights. I'll also need to pull out certain cells to put in other places. The peppers, for instance need the heat mat. The cabbage and broccoli do not, so as soon as they sprout they'll be moved to another place. So far I've planted Quadratto D'Asti Peppers which are a large bell pepper that I love. I've also got jalapenos and am trying again with Chili De Comida peppers. The Comida peppers have a very low rate of germination, so we'll see how they do.
The herbs this year will be lots of Genovese Basil. We'll also be adding to the oregano in the garden and the Thyme. I'm also trying to get some chives started to plant in the herb bed. My goal is to have a full bed of herbs that we can eat from with either dried or fresh herbs, all year long.
The last thing planted was Dutch Late Flat Cabbage and Green Goliath Broccoli. I'm really hoping that they do better this year. Last year they looked fantastic until I set them out. Then they just flopped over and died. In the end all I got was 3 heads of sad cabbage and not a single broccoli plant made it. We are huge broccoli eaters, so that was a major loss for us. I'm still learning, so this year I'm going to make some cut worm collars with toilet paper rolls when planting them. I'll cry if they don't make it again.
Today will also be the day to order blueberry bushes. I'm going to be planting in my back where we cut down some dying trees. It's got good sun, with some shade and lots of moisture. I'll also be planting 3 crowns of rhubarb back there that I've already ordered. In the spring we'll get 2 more fruit trees for the front yard as well. It would be so nice to have the space for strawberries, but we just don't have it. A girl can dream.
I have lots of other things I'll be posting about in the next few days. In the meantime, I have to get the mountains of laundry and other mess cleaned up. My poor hubby was so helpful while I was sick, but there is only so much the man could do.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Long Winter
Its been a long, hard winter. We've seen extreme cold and extreme snowfall amounts this year and its not even close to being over. Here we sit in the beginnng of February. I'm planning for the planting of a garden that has been covered in snow for months and will be covered for another few weeks at least. I've been making lots of comfort foods for my family. Warm soups, stews and roasts have been filling our bellies. The last of the garden goodies are being consumed and I'm ready for the newness that Spring brings.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Idealism vs Reality
I've been wrestling with myself lately over my ideals vs the reality of my life and finances. In the world I want to live in, all that we eat and plant is organic, local and sustainable. In my reality, I don't have the time, money and resources for it.
When I went to order my seeds, I looked through my favorite catalogs. The ones who are anti-Monsanto. The ones who are sustainable and open pollinated. Places like Baker Creek, Seeds of Change and Fedco. (those are my favorites) I happily circled all the wonderful seeds that I wanted to grow. I added in some new varieties to expand my repertoire and dreamed of my garden. Then I opened my seed box. The box that had been happily sitting and waiting for my for the past 6 months or so. The box that was bursting with seeds purchased for pennies last year in a fit of peak oil panic. I had completely forgotten that they were there. The me that is practical realized that sometimes you have to just be prepared. The me that is an idealist, is cringing at the packages labeled by Burpee and others. What I am coming to is that no matter where the seeds come from, they will still grow wonderful, healthy, organic, life sustaining vegetables. They are still going to make a fantastic garden that I can be proud of. There is nothing wrong with these seeds.
The same can be said when I go grocery shopping. My ideal would be to buy only the organic and healthy foods. I want to be able to cook everything from scratch and feed my family whole grains and wonderful healthful foods at every meal. My reality is that my family would revolt and so would my pocketbook. My reality is a box of Nabisco Vegetable Thins and a bottle of Diet Coke. Does this make me a bad person? Of course not, but it still makes me feel bad.
Why do I beat myself up over these silly things? Most people in America couldn't care less about the things I'm beating myself up over. In reality most of them wouldn't have the first clue what I was even talking about. Heck, a few years ago, I wouldn't have known or cared. The problem now is that I do know and knowing makes me incapable of ignoring it and not caring.
So now I will plan my veggie garden and plant my seeds from both the ideal places and the not so ideal places. I will still be doing more than most people would ever even consider. My neighbors will still think I'm nuts. My family will confirm that I'm nuts and I will struggle with myself. It will be good.
When I went to order my seeds, I looked through my favorite catalogs. The ones who are anti-Monsanto. The ones who are sustainable and open pollinated. Places like Baker Creek, Seeds of Change and Fedco. (those are my favorites) I happily circled all the wonderful seeds that I wanted to grow. I added in some new varieties to expand my repertoire and dreamed of my garden. Then I opened my seed box. The box that had been happily sitting and waiting for my for the past 6 months or so. The box that was bursting with seeds purchased for pennies last year in a fit of peak oil panic. I had completely forgotten that they were there. The me that is practical realized that sometimes you have to just be prepared. The me that is an idealist, is cringing at the packages labeled by Burpee and others. What I am coming to is that no matter where the seeds come from, they will still grow wonderful, healthy, organic, life sustaining vegetables. They are still going to make a fantastic garden that I can be proud of. There is nothing wrong with these seeds.
The same can be said when I go grocery shopping. My ideal would be to buy only the organic and healthy foods. I want to be able to cook everything from scratch and feed my family whole grains and wonderful healthful foods at every meal. My reality is that my family would revolt and so would my pocketbook. My reality is a box of Nabisco Vegetable Thins and a bottle of Diet Coke. Does this make me a bad person? Of course not, but it still makes me feel bad.
Why do I beat myself up over these silly things? Most people in America couldn't care less about the things I'm beating myself up over. In reality most of them wouldn't have the first clue what I was even talking about. Heck, a few years ago, I wouldn't have known or cared. The problem now is that I do know and knowing makes me incapable of ignoring it and not caring.
So now I will plan my veggie garden and plant my seeds from both the ideal places and the not so ideal places. I will still be doing more than most people would ever even consider. My neighbors will still think I'm nuts. My family will confirm that I'm nuts and I will struggle with myself. It will be good.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Planning for the perfect garden
As a gardener, I am constantly striving for that perfect garden. This year is no exception. In fact one of my resolutions is to make the most of my garden this year. To use up every bit of veggie goodness.
To that end, I've been searching through seed catalogs and dreaming of warm weather. The 2 catalogs I'm really drooling over this year are Baker Creek and Seeds of Change. They are both maintained by companies that are anti Monsanto, which is very important to me. There are so many exotic things to grow out there and I wish I had the space and nerve to try some of the more 'out there' veggies. This year the new thing to try will be baby blue hubbards. I'm actually really excited about these. I've always loved blue hubbards, but they are huge and impractical for my little family. Now I get to grow what I want and can use as well.
I've been driving my family crazy with the planning. I have out my graph paper and seed catalogs. There will probably be dozens of variations on next years garden planned out. There are some empty spaces and I'm not sure what to plant in them. In fact, I've got a whole 4x12 bed with nothing in particular planned. I keep asking my family what they want more of. They roll their eyes and tell me for the 1000th time that they don't care. Nobody gets it. So, I find other gardeners and drive them insane with my planning. The reality is, I'll end up planting more of something boring like green beans and carrots.
In the end the whole point of my garden is to provide my family with food for the year. I love being able to go to the basement and grab some peas from the freezer, or a jar of tomatoes, or even a squash. The knowledge that these vegetables are not only yummy, but organic and more nourishing than anything in the grocery store is wonderful for me. Its just something I need to keep in mind when it is August and my kitchen looks like a war zone with tomatoes and canning jars everywhere. Those days when I just can't look at another green bean and can't be bothered to weed the squash patch again.
To that end, I've been searching through seed catalogs and dreaming of warm weather. The 2 catalogs I'm really drooling over this year are Baker Creek and Seeds of Change. They are both maintained by companies that are anti Monsanto, which is very important to me. There are so many exotic things to grow out there and I wish I had the space and nerve to try some of the more 'out there' veggies. This year the new thing to try will be baby blue hubbards. I'm actually really excited about these. I've always loved blue hubbards, but they are huge and impractical for my little family. Now I get to grow what I want and can use as well.
I've been driving my family crazy with the planning. I have out my graph paper and seed catalogs. There will probably be dozens of variations on next years garden planned out. There are some empty spaces and I'm not sure what to plant in them. In fact, I've got a whole 4x12 bed with nothing in particular planned. I keep asking my family what they want more of. They roll their eyes and tell me for the 1000th time that they don't care. Nobody gets it. So, I find other gardeners and drive them insane with my planning. The reality is, I'll end up planting more of something boring like green beans and carrots.
In the end the whole point of my garden is to provide my family with food for the year. I love being able to go to the basement and grab some peas from the freezer, or a jar of tomatoes, or even a squash. The knowledge that these vegetables are not only yummy, but organic and more nourishing than anything in the grocery store is wonderful for me. Its just something I need to keep in mind when it is August and my kitchen looks like a war zone with tomatoes and canning jars everywhere. Those days when I just can't look at another green bean and can't be bothered to weed the squash patch again.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
How to save hundreds with sewing.
I've been sewing since I was a very little girl. You see, my mother was the Martha Stewart of her time. Since I grew up doing what she did, I grew up knowing how to sew, knit, cook, garden and lots of other handy things.
Today I realized how much my sewing has helped me save money. We have a king sized bed with a nice mattress pad. The pad has a large elastic band that wraps around the bed. This pad had a 2-3 foot long rip in it, so it still attached to the bed, but kept ripping more and more. The unfortunate thing is it costs at least $100 to replace the thing. So today I sat down and sewed the rip and a few other rips in about 15 minutes.
Then Rich called. He's been gaining weight due to a medication change and very bad fast food habits. His work pants don't fit and its becoming a major issue. He had ordered some bigger pairs, but they are about $50 each. So I went into the closet and got the pants that almost fit. I took those up to my handy dandy sewing machine and took out the waist. The years I worked for a tailor really come in handy a lot. I was able to take out the waist enough for him to be able to wear these pants comfortably until he's able to hopefully take off some of this weight. The pants he ordered were cancelled and saved us another $100.
I've put on multiple patches for work saving $5 per patch. Since I've probably put on about 50 or so in our time together, that is lots of money. I've also altered clothes for the kids, hemmed pants and fixed a nasty gash in my $40 jeans( I didn't actually spend that). Since I'm a rather fluffy gal myself with a small waist and large rear end, it is hard to find pants that actually fit me. My only option is generally to find a pair that fits my rear and take in the waist. When I look at it, I have saved thousands over the years. Not bad.
Today I realized how much my sewing has helped me save money. We have a king sized bed with a nice mattress pad. The pad has a large elastic band that wraps around the bed. This pad had a 2-3 foot long rip in it, so it still attached to the bed, but kept ripping more and more. The unfortunate thing is it costs at least $100 to replace the thing. So today I sat down and sewed the rip and a few other rips in about 15 minutes.
Then Rich called. He's been gaining weight due to a medication change and very bad fast food habits. His work pants don't fit and its becoming a major issue. He had ordered some bigger pairs, but they are about $50 each. So I went into the closet and got the pants that almost fit. I took those up to my handy dandy sewing machine and took out the waist. The years I worked for a tailor really come in handy a lot. I was able to take out the waist enough for him to be able to wear these pants comfortably until he's able to hopefully take off some of this weight. The pants he ordered were cancelled and saved us another $100.
I've put on multiple patches for work saving $5 per patch. Since I've probably put on about 50 or so in our time together, that is lots of money. I've also altered clothes for the kids, hemmed pants and fixed a nasty gash in my $40 jeans( I didn't actually spend that). Since I'm a rather fluffy gal myself with a small waist and large rear end, it is hard to find pants that actually fit me. My only option is generally to find a pair that fits my rear and take in the waist. When I look at it, I have saved thousands over the years. Not bad.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Savings and shopping
I just got back from shopping. I got all of The Little Princess's stocking gifts at CVS and all the candy for the stockings for everyone. There was a nice surprise when I realized that my shampoo was on sale and I had coupons for lots of sale items.
Then it was off to Roche Bros for a few odds and ends. I've been trying to only buy fresh items and the few things that I need to add to my stockpile. So far that has meant only spending $200 this month. We're halfway through the month and I won't need to buy much else. I got lots of deals at RB's today as well and got to restock the supply of hot chocolate for less than it costs me to make it. The kids like it better as well. The rest was fruit, veggies, milk and bagels and cream cheese.
Today also brought my big box of craft supplies from Oriental Trading Co. It was all on sale and a good price, plus I got free shipping. In addition, I got cash back on Ebates. I'm loving getting things I need and getting cash back through them. It would be even better if I could get my curriculum from them as well. I had to buy some midyear additions from Rainbow Resource and although I got free shipping, I didn't get cash back.
The bread for the next 2 weeks is now in the oven. I also have the turkey carcass in the pot for more broth to be canned up. This time the turkey was drier than usual, but it still got eaten up anyway. I'm not really sure why it was dry this time, maybe it was the fact that it was a bigger bird. Tonight will be turkey pot pie with any meat I can get off the carcass, the broth and veggies from the garden. The crust will be made with the lard I rendered. It's a pretty inexpensive meal from things that most people throw away. My family loves it as well.
My parents sent out their Christmas letter last week. My mother decided to write it this year as my dad has a tendency to get a little morose some years. She decided to have a little fun talking about all the wierd things that I do. Things like the ever increasing garden and rendering my own lard. Things that wouldn't be so weird 100 years ago. Oh well, I enjoy it.
Now I'm off to help R get a bunch of computers into his truck. He's been incredibly busy so I got to learn how to rebuild a machine. I did the grunt work on 7 computers this weekend to help out. If I hadn't he probably wouldn't have slept for a few days. We also cleaned up and rearranged the attic workshop to make it much more functional. Its truly amazing what moving a table to a different place does to a room. I feel great for all that I'm able to do to help him. Of course the rest of the world thinks I do too much. Sometimes you just do what you have to do.
Then it was off to Roche Bros for a few odds and ends. I've been trying to only buy fresh items and the few things that I need to add to my stockpile. So far that has meant only spending $200 this month. We're halfway through the month and I won't need to buy much else. I got lots of deals at RB's today as well and got to restock the supply of hot chocolate for less than it costs me to make it. The kids like it better as well. The rest was fruit, veggies, milk and bagels and cream cheese.
Today also brought my big box of craft supplies from Oriental Trading Co. It was all on sale and a good price, plus I got free shipping. In addition, I got cash back on Ebates. I'm loving getting things I need and getting cash back through them. It would be even better if I could get my curriculum from them as well. I had to buy some midyear additions from Rainbow Resource and although I got free shipping, I didn't get cash back.
The bread for the next 2 weeks is now in the oven. I also have the turkey carcass in the pot for more broth to be canned up. This time the turkey was drier than usual, but it still got eaten up anyway. I'm not really sure why it was dry this time, maybe it was the fact that it was a bigger bird. Tonight will be turkey pot pie with any meat I can get off the carcass, the broth and veggies from the garden. The crust will be made with the lard I rendered. It's a pretty inexpensive meal from things that most people throw away. My family loves it as well.
My parents sent out their Christmas letter last week. My mother decided to write it this year as my dad has a tendency to get a little morose some years. She decided to have a little fun talking about all the wierd things that I do. Things like the ever increasing garden and rendering my own lard. Things that wouldn't be so weird 100 years ago. Oh well, I enjoy it.
Now I'm off to help R get a bunch of computers into his truck. He's been incredibly busy so I got to learn how to rebuild a machine. I did the grunt work on 7 computers this weekend to help out. If I hadn't he probably wouldn't have slept for a few days. We also cleaned up and rearranged the attic workshop to make it much more functional. Its truly amazing what moving a table to a different place does to a room. I feel great for all that I'm able to do to help him. Of course the rest of the world thinks I do too much. Sometimes you just do what you have to do.
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