We have reaped the first of this year's harvest: a handful of spinach... :) just enough to add to a meal for a splash of color. The Swiss Chard is doing much better. The first harvest of chard is enough to steam for Sunday evening dinner veggie. The lettuce is beautiful and ready to pick.
There are a half-dozen tomatoes so far, also half-dozen summer squash developing. The peas are coming along nicely, it won't be long before there are enough to harvest. There is one buttercup squash developing on the vine and lots of blossoms on each of the squash plants.
Even the pepper plants have finally decided to grow. The broccoli plants are growing rapidly as are the carrots. The corn is beautiful and standing more than 2 feet tall already. This is my first attempt at growing corn.
I don't know what's up with the dill, it is stunted at about 3 inches and just won't grow any more.
The beets are looking good. I only planted a few beets since I am the only family member who likes them, and so far they seem to be doing nicely (it's difficult to tell by only their tops).
I think I will try planting some potatoes this week.
It will be nice when the flowers all decide to grow up and blossom; they are all growing the slowest of everything in the garden.
All for today.
Happy Gardening
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Making do without... a cook stove
It's amazing how we can make do with what we have, when we are suddenly without something we ordinarily depend on... such as a kitchen cook stove/range.
A couple of winters ago while we were away on vacation an Alberta Clipper came through our area and caused our water pipes to freeze and rupture. Among all the damage (the kitchen was completed destroyed) was our electric kitchen range lying under what had been the ceiling plus the floor was covered with a few inches of ice. We managed to salvage the refrigerator but the stove was ruined.
We decided that we wouldn't buy a stove just as a quick replacement and since we would be getting a new kitchen it made sense to wait and search out our "wish stove". Two years later, the reconstruction is finally finished and we are still looking for that stove. Meanwhile we have learned to still eat home-cooked meals including baked goods, just as before. We have always had an ample supply of small appliances such as a hot-plate, slow-cookers, electric skillet, etc. With the addition of a counter-top oven we can prepare dinner for us and guests.... plus it reduced our electric bill by about $20 +/- monthly. It's a matter of re-thinking the usual way of cooking and making use of the small appliances we have.
Example: Pasta Dinner
electric skillet: home-made tomato/meat sauce
hot-plate : boil the water and cook the pasta (save time by boiling the water first in an electric kettle)
countertop oven: toasted garlic bread
slow-cooker: soup
Oh yes, eventually we will get that range/stove (however one calls it) but we are not in a hurry about it.
Happy Homesteading!
A couple of winters ago while we were away on vacation an Alberta Clipper came through our area and caused our water pipes to freeze and rupture. Among all the damage (the kitchen was completed destroyed) was our electric kitchen range lying under what had been the ceiling plus the floor was covered with a few inches of ice. We managed to salvage the refrigerator but the stove was ruined.
We decided that we wouldn't buy a stove just as a quick replacement and since we would be getting a new kitchen it made sense to wait and search out our "wish stove". Two years later, the reconstruction is finally finished and we are still looking for that stove. Meanwhile we have learned to still eat home-cooked meals including baked goods, just as before. We have always had an ample supply of small appliances such as a hot-plate, slow-cookers, electric skillet, etc. With the addition of a counter-top oven we can prepare dinner for us and guests.... plus it reduced our electric bill by about $20 +/- monthly. It's a matter of re-thinking the usual way of cooking and making use of the small appliances we have.
Example: Pasta Dinner
electric skillet: home-made tomato/meat sauce
hot-plate : boil the water and cook the pasta (save time by boiling the water first in an electric kettle)
countertop oven: toasted garlic bread
slow-cooker: soup
Oh yes, eventually we will get that range/stove (however one calls it) but we are not in a hurry about it.
Happy Homesteading!
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Are Mini-Nubian goats in my future? Yes!
What a day! We, Nick, two of our grandsons and myself, visited the Travis Family Farm in North Scituate, RI where Lillian Travis and her eldest daughter Jaklyn graciously showed us around the farm and answered all my many questions regarding the raising of mini-Nubian goats. As Lillian said, Jaklyn runs the business of the farm and she, Lillian, runs the children. Travis family currently consists of 12 members. Their goats provide sweet milk which they use to make the most delicious cheese and goat's milk soap, daughter Rachyl's creation. You can learn more about this remarkable family and their homestead at www.travisfamilyfarm.com .
Their homestead consists of 3 acres secreted away in western Rhode Island. The menagerie consists of Nubian goats, mini and standard sizes; chickens, a pig, rabbit and babies, a squirrel they rescued as well as two rescued sheep, peacocks, ducks, dogs, cats.........
Jaklyn offers many services such as instruction in the care and handling of goats, farm sitting, buying and selling of mini-Nubian goats, and much more.
If you are new to raising goats I highly recommend visiting their website and even better, visit the farm.
Most breeders plan their kidding season for spring, but the Travis's plan their kidding season for Jan/Feb. I have already placed my order for two little girls and for once I am looking forward to winter.
Their homestead consists of 3 acres secreted away in western Rhode Island. The menagerie consists of Nubian goats, mini and standard sizes; chickens, a pig, rabbit and babies, a squirrel they rescued as well as two rescued sheep, peacocks, ducks, dogs, cats.........
Jaklyn offers many services such as instruction in the care and handling of goats, farm sitting, buying and selling of mini-Nubian goats, and much more.
If you are new to raising goats I highly recommend visiting their website and even better, visit the farm.
Most breeders plan their kidding season for spring, but the Travis's plan their kidding season for Jan/Feb. I have already placed my order for two little girls and for once I am looking forward to winter.
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