Spring ...HOLD ME BACK!!

Counting my Blessings!!

Tomorrow is May 1st 2011!!
I am SO very excited..and despite the fact that I am still recovering from surgery..I am eagerly looking forward to year two of our journey towards becoming more self sustainable!  I say MORE self sustainable because only having a half acre..we cannot truly go full throttle..but other than animal feeds..and grains..we are hoping to come pretty darned close!

The Garden is going to almost DOUBLE in size this year..and also..getting creative with our growing space..such as container gardening for Squash and potatoes...

This is one of my containers that I have planted potatoes in..it came with the house and is an inside out tire...We have put mulch and compost in the bottom..black earth..seed potatoes..then compost and earth mixed on top! Then there are my tomato plants which I am growing in hanging containers...

For Now they hang in My porch Waiting for a couple more weeks of warm weather!

We have a new flock of chicks that will be laying in September.

Three Goats one of which we are hopping is pregnant...A young steer who will soon be big enough to butcher...3 Turkey chicks on order and 40 meat chicks also coming in that order...I have two new little black currant bushes ( will take 3 years to produce..but I am patient) and two new beehives with the bees on order!

And this spring we even tapped our few maple trees and got some of our own maple syrup!

We Now have rabbits for breeding..Which has more than one benefit..as
Rabbit droppings having the highest nitrogen content of any of the commonly available barnyard manures, such as cow, horse, pig, etc. There is the meat which we enjoy..and the fur I am determined to learn how to process.

They are all now properly housed in the barn and Have lovely pine nesting boxes to sleep in at night...I was just out there and raked out from under their cages and spread it on the garden! Tomorrow the rest of the muck, straw and trampled hay from the steer pen is getting spread on the garden.

I would say my life is pretty much WONDERFUL!!! I am a lucky lady.
For those of you who can watch videos..Here is a tour!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjcaCgwmDIM

I hope everyones lives are as blessed as mine!! And I hope you enjoyed this Blog Entry!!

CHEERS!!

NRDC: Growing Green Awards

NRDC: Growing Green Awards

Cooking without a ready source of meat...

Tins of Tins of Tuna or Salmon? Let's make Dinner!

In these tough economic times..I know many people who supplement their groceries from their local food banks. It is a hard truth. Howard and I went shopping for something nice for Easter dinner..and the cheapest Roast of beef I could find was almost $20...for one MEAL??? No WAY! It got me thinking..I  am a frugal girl..I know how to squeeze a nickle and make it spit out another penny..and Howard makes decent money..How does anyone who makes less that $25,000 a year survive?? So tonight I made up a new recipe..Basically things that come out of your cupboard. I know ..not everyone has the ready ingredients..but you can improvise! So here is goes...And by the way? It was Delicious!!

Salmon Souffle loaf!

Ingredients

1 tin each of salmon and tuna ( and or..whatever you have)

4 slices of bread..or 2-3 cups bread crumbs
1 medium onion
3 eggs
1/4 cup Parsley ( dry is fine)
1/2 cup Mayonnaise ( NOT whipped dressing or MW)
2TBS lemon juice
salt and pepper

Crumb you bread slices and drain your fish..being sure to press out as MUCH liquid as you can!!
Finely mince the onion.
Add all the ingredients into a food processor or in a bowl and mix with a potato masher..It should come out almost like a thick paste.
Using a spatula..spread it into a buttered loaf pan.

Bake at 350 for 45 mins to an hour...

The reason I call it souffle loaf..is because it has a fluffy texture..not a LOAF ( like meatloaf) texture..But Don't let the simple ingredients fool you! It was DELICIOUS!!

As you can see by my sons plate..he likes salad dressing a LOT!!

CHEERS!

Article on Organic Fruit tree Protection From Mother Earth News!

Awesome Article From Mother Earth News!

Organic Fruit Trees


1/26/2011 10:42:05 AM


By William Woys Weaver






Tags: organic, fruit, trees, pest control


I want to raise apple trees organically, and I’ve read that you can protect apples by enclosing them in sandwich bags. Does that really work? I’d love to harvest some bug-free, chemical-free fruit!






I have personal experience with this technique and it does work, although not perfectly, and I’ve found an alternative I like better.






I have more than 20 heirloom apple, pear and quince trees on dwarf rootstock in my garden, and I’ve been fighting a long, drawn-out and — until recently — losing war against codling moths, the insects that cause worms in fruit with cores.






By luck, an organic orchardist visited me last year and he suggested I stop my annual angst and respond to the problem with something simple and practical — bagging the fruit at petal fall, thus protecting it from all sorts of attacking insects. His simple advice was to use Ziploc sandwich bags, which seemed like a good idea.






The practical problem with using sandwich bags for this purpose is that, while you can zip them tight around a cluster of fruit, you must also snip off the bottom corners so moisture doesn’t build up inside. However, the open corners don’t drain water quickly enough after a heavy rain, and I’ve found that if too much water remains in the bag, the fruit starts to cook in its own steam on hot July days. The holes in the bags also provide access for curculio beetles, another obnoxious fruit pest. (They leave brown, smile-shaped scars on your apples, which means the apples have been impregnated with beetle babies.) By using plastic bags, I had some perfect, unsteamed apples, yet I thought there must be a better way, and, indeed, I’ve found a strategy that I recommend to small orchardists.






I decided to make drawstring bags out of row cover fabric, which is sold by garden supply companies. I sized the bags at 6 by 6 inches, which allows room for fruit expansion. This plan is better than using plastic bags because the fabric exposes the fruit to natural light that ripens it; the bags dry out quickly after a rain so the fruit isn’t subject to a contained, humid environment; and there are no holes for insects to exploit.






The success of such a bagging operation must include the successful control of wildlife, because raccoons and squirrels are extremely adept at destroying both the bags and the fruit. I’ve solved this problem by using Tanglefoot, a sticky, gluelike substance you paint on the bark of your fruit trees. After the critters touch Tanglefoot or a similar product (there are several), they won’t attempt to go up the trees.








Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-our-experts/organic-fruit-trees-zb0z11zblon.aspx#ixzz1KOAmNez4

Getting ready for planting next month!

Tomato Hangers!!

Last year was the first time in a few years that I had  planted a garden..I got enthusiastic and planted to many squash and pumpkins..and they over ran the garden..this year I am spreading things out. The Squash and pumpkins will go in planters made by recycling our old tires..and the tomatoes are being planted in those new fangled tomato hangers.

I have made a little video on how to plant these things..because I had some trouble the first time I tried a few weeks ago and broke one of my plants..However I DID manage to plant one..I hung it in my bay window and it did well..It actually DOUBLED in size compare to the ones left behind in the peat pots. So Here is the video..and at the end here I have another picture of how they have all perked up now that they have settled into the planters and had a drink..they perk up after a few hours of hanging.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4glbkHRfj0s

Here they are a few hours after planting!

( Note for people who can't view the video)

Put your hand way down in the planter..then with the other hand GENTLY poke the root ball through the hole and sponge layer...Lay the planter on its side and add ( this is what I added) A scoop of sawdust( shavings will do) a scoop of soil and a scoop of peat moss...THEN hang it up and proceed to fill..I filled with black soil bought at Canadian tire for 99 cents a bag..and about half way through..added and handful of saw dust..peat moss and a sprinkle of MYKES organic vegetable plant food. Once the planter was over 3/4 full I gave it a good 2-3 cups of water. These will remain in my porch until The end of May when My tomato hanger is built and they can go outside!

CHEERS!!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle..then PLANT!

Squash Planters!

Hey Everyone! It's Spring time! And here in the Great White North, that means Clean up and prepare your gardens! 

 Last year as you know..I dedicated a section of my garden to a Three Sisters plot..BUT..I planted to many squash and pumpkins..and..well..they took over MOST of the garden...MORE is not always better!! It has been a few years since I put in a PROPER sized garden..so my mistake and enthusiasm was forgivable. THIS year..I am planning things a little more strategic!  My Garden space is going to be slightly enlarged...Probably an extra 80-100 square feet...In this I will ( or am hoping) to plant Cabbage ( the sauerkraut turned out FAB) Broccoli, Bush beans, Turnip, Pickling cucumbers and a row of corn.  I have 8 Topsy Turvy tomato planters which my husband is going to build me a frame to hang them from in front of the deck..this will allow me to walk across the deck and water them ..rather than climbing a stool to do so!! And My son and I are building  SQUASH planters! So in reality..My garden is going to be almost doubled in size..just more spread out!!

The Barn was Mucked out this weekend..and the stack of old tires is now going to have a new life as planters.  Here is how it is going so far!

Squash and pumpkins will grow DIRECTLY out of a compost heap..so my guess is they LOVE compost...So we took out tires..and lined up four of them..my planters are going to be two deep. but you need to start with one high.In the bottom Tire..Pack your compost ( in this case..hay straw and goat poop) TIGHTLY into the tire..stuff the sidewalls so tight that they plump up..then fill the centre and pack it down!

As you can see by my sons hands..he is lifting the side wall and STUFFING them tight. Then He stomped on the centre and was able to add more.

After that add you second tire and repeat.

If you look at the empty tires..they seem almost flat compared to these well stuffed ones...Stomping down the compost until you have JUST enough of a hollow to add dirt..about a 20 L bag.  No matter how well you stuff..there should still be a settling process after a couple weeks in the weather..

SPEAKING of which..this was as far as we got due to SNOW...

But rest assured..this will be..

TO BE CONTINUED....

OK Folks!

As Promised here is the continuation of the squash Planters. Today is May 6th..a Little early..but I hope my added protection will help!

I really have no idea what TYPE of squash these are..probably pumpkin..but I planted 3 or four different kinds and forgot to mark them..but I LIKE surprises!  I have planted 4 here and watered them to close the soil around the roots...I then inverted a tomato cage over top.

I then wrapped the tomato cage in FROST BLANKET..you can pick this up at any Garden centre..about a 25 foot sheet by 42 inches wide for about $10.

Once wrapped I secured the blanket to the cage with clothes pegs..and the edges down with rocks..NOW..It took me to the fourth cage to realise..If I had just cut the blanket a little LONGER I could have tucked the edges under the edge of the tire rim..DUH..better late than never!

The frost Blanket is supposed to protect against Frost and bugs..but allow sunlight and rain in...However..I will water when needed until the May long weekend when the blanket comes off!

Stay tuned!!

CHEERS!

Make Your Own Bisquick!!!

Biscuit Mix Recipe

This is really cool! As usual I have been researching stuff..now I never buy anything I can make myself...So I never buy Bisquick..BUT I have found a recipe that allows you to make your own mix..and best of all? Your bisquick recipes can be made with water not MILK..BECAUSE...Powdered milk is Incorporated in the recipe!!!  All the ingredients are also from the pantry shelf and therefor to not need to be refrigerated after mixing!
Here we go!

INGREDIENTS

10 Cups Flour
2 Cups instant powdered milk
1/3 Cup baking powder
5 tsp salt
1 pound of lard

Thoroughly mix all your dry ingredients in a large bowl..then cut in large with a pastry cutter...continue to cut it in until your mix resembles heavy bread crumbs..or course meal.

That's IT!! Store by putting it into a large tin in you cupboard..use as BISQUICK without MILK..you CAN leave out the powdered milk..and then use as regular Bisquick! The Following link I found on line and is from the 1920 with the MANY ways to use BISQUICK!

http://oldrecipebook.com/bisquick-biscuits.shtml

CHEERS!!

Why Long Term Food Storage?

It Just Makes Sense!!


For Many years I have been wrestling with the desire to make sure we had ENOUGH..I used to garden and can and stock pile..Over the years I have done a lot of growing..and I have figured out why I have the desire to stockpile food...BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE!!
I am not necessarily talking about Prepping for the end of the world.. or anything so drastic.   
Let me put it this way...you don't just buy ONE roll of toilet paper right?
If it goes on sale..most of us buy two packages...hedging against the cost going back up...whats wrong with that?
Being Prepared for emergencies is just smart.  We have grown so complacent in this day in age with our technology that we don't even consider it failing.
Look at Japans recent Earthquakes?  Iceland's Volcanic eruptions...Hurricane Katrina...The oil leak in the Gulf..doesn't effect us?   Just look at the cost of gas...and when gas goes up EVERYTHING goes up..look at the economic crash in North America in the last few years..think that won't happen again??
All these things effect the cost of living...Let's scale DOWN a bit..what if your income was suddenly derailed? How would you feed your family for the 3-6 months it could take you to find a new job? What if it took longer? Do you have enough savings to live off of for that long..to cover all your bills?

Having said all that..I am not fear mongering..I am just saying..being properly prepared makes SENSE..especially in these chaotic times.
So if That make me a "Prepper" then so be it!!

We had a 5.5 earthquake here last year..and although We have our own half acre..raise a few animals..have a garden and do a lot of canning...That earthquake made me think..yes I have a well that I can drop a bucket down..but what if the casing gets cracked and the water is not potable?
Yes we raise a lot of our own stuff..but what about the stuff we can't raise and have to buy?  And maybe most importantly...When was the last time you saw food prices go DOWN over a period of time instead of UP?

So..I have begun to rethink the way I shop!
When I shop..I buy in as much BULK as I can..and what I don't need over  the next two weeks..I store...I have also just tried my hand at Mylar food storage for the first time and am quite pleased with the results.
Mylar is a plastic/foil layered bag that when properly utilized can store most dry food up to 20 years.  These I am using for when I bulk buy my flour..Oatmeal..Navy and Kidney beans and rice...I can buy flour and oatmeal in large quantities at almost half the cost of the grocery store..so when I shop..I start at the larger places that sell flour and oats and rice in 15-40 pound bags.
These are things we don't eat every day...so need to be properly stored..but are indispensable if food prices go to high in the event of some economical/natural/or home based emergency, happens.
These are also things I can't raise on my half acre!!
My Aim is to have one years supply of food for my family on hand at any given time..and as I shop..I will use and rotate out the older stored items.
We are Building a pantry..and along with raising our few chickens, goats and ( soon to come) rabbits..My husband wants to take up hunting..This year I am hoping to can 3-4 times what I did last year..as what I managed last year did not last us until even February.
Anyway folks..just thought I would share!

 CHEERS!

Oxygen Absorbers and Long-Term Food Storage - An Introduction

http://sorbentsystems.com/longtermfoodstorage.html

Homestead Cookies!

These Days..we are all trying to do our part in helping the environment and the world around us. One of the ways we can do this is by buying local..Buying Local helps to boost your local economy..also..eating food that is indigenous to your area is actually Healthier because your body is designed to process food within a hundred mile radius of your landscape..Once shipping overseas and around the world became more common..exotic foods became more normal..but your BODY still works BETTER on local raised food. Look at Laura Ingalls Wilder..NOT  the TV series..but the books..Store bought sugar was expensive and only used on RARE occasions or when Company arrived..When they lived in Wisconsin..their everyday sugar was maple syrup and maple sugar..>Why? because it was readily available..Today we are all backwards..the healthiest things are the most expensive..and the crap is the cheapest..It's time we turned that around!
 ( just my personal opinion..but I bet if you researched it you would see truth in it)
Long Story Short..I am trying to cook and bake with more local ingredients...also things that will store well..or things we can produce right here..here is a start...

Homestead Oatmeal Maple Cookies
Ingredients

1/2 cup Butter ( one stick)



1 Cup Pure Maple Syrup


1 egg


1/4 C Milk


2 tsp Baking Powder


1 1/2 cups flour ( whole wheat and AP mixed)


2 Cups dry oatmeal


1 /2 Cup Nuts


1/2 Raisins (Optional)

Beat together the butter and syrup until fluffy.

Beat in egg.


In a separate bowl mix flour..Baking powder and Oatmeal and nuts..
mix into whipped mixture alternating with milk.

Drop By spoonfuls onto a parchment covered baking sheet...bake at 350 DF for 15 minutes.

Help From Mummy in law!

CHEERS!