MIA

Ok, either I am missing in action on the blog scene

... or ...

you are missing out on the action in our gardens!

Either way, we're fighting the battle of the weeds! Plants are growing great ... and a great harvest is just beginning!

Watch our garden blog.

Frosty Night

Two years ago on June 8 we had a killer frost. All our efforts were in vain. We had to buy new transplants and re-seed most everything.

Thankfully, this year, June 8th, 2011, God spared us that. Our efforts to ward off the frosts were necessary and enough. God kept the frost light. Yet, had we not been faithful to do our part and use the resources we had at our disposal we could have lost a lot.

Today, we're cleaning up.

The weather going forward looks great. Whew!

Great growing! May God give the increase!

Re-Purpose Garden Projects

"Collars" to keep cut-worms off cabbage, brocolli and cauliflower can be made from fish tins, card board tubes, or pop bottles. We need so many we have to get creative and try anything...but they all have a new purpose!





Milk jugs serve as individual "hot caps" for bedding plants or seeded cucs, sqaush a& melons. Just make two flaps out of the bottom of the jug, then press the jug into the dirt with the flaps out in opposite directions and pile on the dirt to keep the wind from whisking away your hot caps. It works for me!

Old socks have served to keep frost off newly germinated seedlings and/or transplants in our gardens in the springtime. while small socks cut open to lay flat cover seedlings, larger socks can usually be cut open and then in half to make two transplant "blankets". It only takes a few minutes to protect a whole bunch of plants ... especially if you only need to grab a pail of "transplant blankets" and put cover the plants. Evenings when frost is threatening are usually calm so there is no risk of the little "blankets" blowing off. Just go early the next morning to collect them all into your basket again. Then I have laundered them so the moist rags wouldn't go moldy in my basket ... 'cause, of course, I want to save them for the next go 'round...or next year.

We keep all of these things to re-use them annually. That way we only have to do the work of collecting and cutting them once.

- the "collars" get stored in old broken laundry tubs in the shop.

- the sock "blankets" also get stored in a re-purposed five gallon pails with a lid ... to keep out mice & cats & other critters that might like to make a snug home in my re-purposed "blankets".

- the "hot caps" are strung up on long lengths of old baler twine then hung behind the shop 'till next year ... I wish I had a picture to show you of the guys carrying the string of hot caps out to the field garden this spring -- it looked like they had a huge white feather "boa" scarf, lol!

How To Plant Your Garden

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING ,

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS :

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul


PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness


PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another


NO GARDEN IS COMPLETE WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another


TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends


WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

The Spider

Our guys have nicknamed this little tractor "The Spider". It is a 1935 Ford 9N that we bought off a neighbor. We also have the manuals to go with it. So it may well be something the boys can learn & tinker on ... though thankfully, right now it does not need tinkering. It's ready to go to work.


Putting the narrow wheels at their maximum width adjustment makes this an excellent row-crop tractor.

Spring

New life

Spring is the time for new life on the farm. It is totally exciting for everyone to see the new little calves bouncing around. See?

This little one looks like his father, "Curly".



We are only expecting 11 calves for 2011. Six are already on the ground - four of those were born on Monday. Can you imagine the excitement level that day?

Raisin Toast

Finally here is a breakfast special that I claim responsibility for. After approximately 24 years of making whole wheat bread in my Bosch machine using certified-organic wheat and fresh ground certified-organic flax I have tried and tested making Raisin Bread.

It is so easy ... and so yummy! I should have tried it much sooner.

Nevertheless, here is my recipe, it's no secret. Try it if you will.


Whole Wheat Raisin Bread

5 cups warm water
1/4 cup liquid raw honey
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup fresh ground flax
7 cups fresh ground whole wheat flour
3 TBSP yeast
Let rise about 10 minutes. Then add:
2 eggs
1 TBSP sea salt
1 Tsp vitamin C crystals
6-7 cups Whole wheat flour, fresh ground - add flour a cup at a time until dough comes cleanly off the sides of the mixer bowl. Knead another 10 minutes.

For Raisin Bread: add 2 heaping TBSP ground cinnamon and an additional 2/3 cup liquid raw honey and 1 cup of organic raisins. Knead until well incorporated. If the sides of the mixer bowl are sticky, add about 1/4 or 1/2 cup additional whole wheat flour. Knead again to incorporate that additional flour.

Remove dough from mixer onto oiled countertop. Divide dough into 6 portions. Oil 6 stainless loaf pans, form loaves and let rise about 40 minutes, until nice and high. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Let sit for 5 minutes then remove from pans onto bread rack to cool.
Enjoy fresh or toasted!

Pumpkin Granola Bars

Ok, finally, no pictures, but ... here's the recipe for Pumpkin Granola Bars that I mentioned in an earlier post:

Pumpkin Granola Bars

3 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup applesauce
¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 by 8 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk oats, spices, and salt together. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk brown sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, honey, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour over oats and stir well, until all of the oats are moist. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Evenly press oat mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. The pumpkin keeps the bars moist, so make sure they are golden and set-you don’t want them to be under baked. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
5. Using a sharp knife, cut into bars. Remove from pan and let cool completely.
Makes 10-12 granola bars*Note-these didn’t last long in our house, so feel free to double the recipe and bake in a 9 by 13 pan.