Great Insight…check it out

Since my last pity party about how I hate everything winter, I decided to read a book.  I figured if I couldn’t DO anything, I could at least educate myself more while I wait for warm weather.

So, I went to the library and picked up a book .  Now,  I have never been a “reader”.  I just couldn’t seem to get through a book, until this one.  So for me, finishing this book meant more than just what I got from it.  It was quite an accomplishment for me, plus I liked the book.  I tend to be drawn more to the tried and true stories than the instruction manuals.  Don’t get me wrong, I use them too, but I really think that knowing this story had been lived made me want to turn the page.  The book…

Farewell, My Subaru

best described as “One man tries to kick oil, live locally and keep his goats out of the rose bushes” Check this one out if you haven’t already.

A couple of months ago I watched a movie that I can honestly say changed the way I thought about my food.  I realized that I didn’t know half as much as I thought about my food (call me naive).  I grew up raising my own pork, chickens and beef and so did everyone around me.  I was under the impression that most animals were raised the way that we raised ours.  When you came to my neighborhood/town/county/state you saw and still see acres of farm land with cattle roaming on plenty of space, eating grass.  To me, that is how we did it.  WRONG.  That apparently, is not the way things are done for your local “grocery store USA”.  The movie…

Food, Inc.

best described as “You’ll never look at dinner the same way” This is a MUST see

If you have any thoughts on these feel free to let me know.  Also, I am looking for cook books that focus on ingredients in the garden.  If anyone knows of any, I would love to hear about it.

taking out the trash…or lack there of

I need to apologize for my absence.  I fear the void in my garden has left my blog blank.

I don’t think I have realized until now how inspired I am by the warmer months and the anticipation of life and growth.  I really do live for getting outside and being in my garden.

The weather has been warmer this last week (in the 40’s).  I found myself poking around in the backyard yesterday.  As I looked at everything dormant or dead, I thought of how much I hate it… from the lack of bugs for the chickens to eat to not liking guests to even look in the back yard.  I know that everyone’s yard looks just the same in the winter, but I can’t help it.  I envisioned what would be in the garden in the late Spring and where exactly it would go this year.  I could see the piles of compost complete and ready to be added to the garden.  I thought of where I want those raised beds to go when my husbands gets around to building them.

What makes this worse?  The stores, and the fact that they are putting the seed packets out.  I am sure that they do this just to torture me.  In Central Oregon we can’t even start our seeds indoors yet.  Grrr

Okay, enough of my complaining.  On to what I have been able to do this winter.

Being a family of four, we have always used a 65 gallon trash can that was picked up on a weekly basis.  Recently we were able to to downsize to a 35 gallon can.  We could do this because we have been very aware of what can be recycled and making sure it went into that can.  The food scraps that can’t go into the compost or worms are now going to the chickens.  Now our recycling can is larger than our trash can, and it has been working out great.  Not to mention we are saving money!  Yeah!

Eggs Anyone?

Since the gardening season is over in Central Oregon there is not much going on at my house.  The garden is tilled and awaiting the spring.  The worms are happy and quickly turning their bin.  I have been sewing a lot more lately.  It is more like teaching myself to sew with the expertise of some sewing friends.  My latest project is going to be a quilt.  I will show you it in a couple of years when it is done, LOL.  I am still composting.  Soon I think I will tarp the compost to help keep it a little warmer during the winter.  I don’t know for sure that this works, but I feel like I am doing something productive.  I plan on getting some fresh apples and canning them soon.

…and the chickens…

I was told that if you want your chickens to keep laying during the winter you have to put a heat lamp in with them.  I kept it in mind but only got it in there about 2 1/2 weeks ago.  Through the summer we were getting 3 eggs a day from our 3 lovely ladies.  I noticed that before we got the light in there we were only getting maybe 1 egg on a good day.  So in went the lamp.  It took about a week, but we are up to 2-3 eggs a day.

So… I guess it has been proven.  My girls are laying well again and we will be leaving the lamp in until the nights warm up again.  Today, that seems like a LONG time.

ALSO…

This is the time of year that we shop more than normal.  Lets be sure we are doing our part by taking those reusable bags into the store with us.  Sometimes they are easy to forget, but lets try real hard to not contribute to more plastic bags.

Pumpkins Galore

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted anything.  My computer has been out of service for a while.  I am back now and ready to tell you about my pumpkins.

I had a good tun out of pumpkins and gourds this year.  Not as many as last year, but that was intentional.  Last year was a bit overkill.  This year I planted a variety of gourds and pumpkins.  I am already ready for spring so I can start over again.  The large one was 80 pounds.  I was hoping for over 85 because my biggest last year was that big.

What’s been going on at my home…

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a sewing project that I was working on.  I am NOT a sewer, I am still learning.  I ripped it apart many times.  I would like to thank everyone that was on-call, ready for me to call with my questions.  I had a lot of people who are ready every time I take on a sewing project.  Though it looks like an easy project, it was a little challenging for me.  I am so happy to have it done though.  Addi Kay will have a pretty dress for next spring!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the pumpkin that I thought was gong to break my 85 lb. record.  As you can see it is already changing colors and NOT 85 lbs. if I had to take a guess.  Now I am focusing on others that are large.  They are still growing and have a little longer to do so.  Maybe they will break a record?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are some carrots that I had pulled for my neighbors.  I had no luck with carrots last year, so I am pretty excited to be doing good in the carrot department this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my Addi Kay with some of our peppers.  I have had some issues with blossom end rot on the peppers and tomatoes, but these ones were fine.

My Garden

I thought I would give everyone an update on my garden as of today.  We have been having storms lately (thunder, lightening, wind & rain).  I have read that other gardens have been traumatized by them, but somehow mine has come out just fine. 

 I am currently trying to figure out what additive my plants are needing now.  I am having a little trouble with blossom end rot.  I noticed it a little on my tomatoes, but mostly with my peppers.  About a month ago I dug holes next to each of my tomatoes and placed banana peels in them.  I think they really liked that. 

The corn is doing well, nothing exciting to report on it yet.

The tomatoes are loving the heat and see to be doing very well.  Just waiting on RED ones.

The peppers are going crazy, but I need to address the blossom end rot with them.  I have a lot of flowers on the banana peppers but no peppers yet.  All the others have been producing.

The potatoes are popping out of the ground, some still green.  I just keep covering them up.  I think between the storms and the hens they have had a little help finding their way out of the soil.

The carrots are doing great.  I pull one every once in a while just to see.

Pumpkins are taking off.  I have quite a few.  A couple are turning already.  My JUMBO one that I have been waiting on is finally getting big.  Wasn’t the plant that I thought it was going to be though.  Oh well!  As long as I get one HUGE one, I am happy.

The gourds, like the pumpkins are doing great.

The strawberries took a bit of a hiatus, but are on their way back, I think I will have some that need to be picked today.

The snap peas have just started producing.  I just picked my first 3 this morning.

Cucumbers are good.  Picked my first lemon cucumber today.

The onions are getting bigger.

Blah blah blah

I have entered my baked goods in the fair and am awaiting the judging outcome.  My son, Cameron also entered a couple of things this year as well. 

Nothing much is going on in the garden, just sucking up tons of water because of the heat.  They love the heat though.  I am getting pumpkins galore, gourds too.  Lots of green tomatoes, none red yet.  The corn is huge and is producing well so far.  Not ready to pick though. 

The chickens have started laying.  Little baby eggs.  There are really cute.  My little girls are becoming hens.

Crystal, Omerosa, and Trixy

The clothes don’t take long to dry on the clothesline because it is so hot.  I do love the clothesline.

 

Potty Training

My compost would be complete if I would leave it alone and quit adding to it.  I have a couple of pumpkins I allowed to stay growing in it.  I have finally been able to construct a second story home for the worms.  If I could only get them to move out of the first story just a bit quicker, that would be great.  They are movin’ on up SLOWLY.  Mostly the baby worms for now.

Strawberry Freezer Jam

I am thinking that I want to try Srtawberry Freezer Jam this year.  Does anyone have a great recipe???  I would love to try it out. 

Please and Thank You

*~*FAIR*~*

I know I have posted before to think about what to enter in your county fair, well, I am back and bringing it up again.  So, for all of you in Deschutes County, it is time. 

If you want to sign up on-line all you do is go to http://www.expo.deschutes.org/

You will see a blue ribbon  (this one).  Click on the ribbon to sign up for your open class entries.

Below the ribbon you will see a book(this one).  Click on the book to find out everything you can enter in open class. 

This will be everything you need to find  what to enter in the fair and get you signed up.  If you would rather do it in person, you can pick up a hard copy of the premium book @ the OSU Extension Office or any Les Schwab.  Just fill out the form inside to the OSU Extension Office (located at the Deschutes County Fair Grounds)

If you cant get something entered in the fair then just come and be supportive and enjoy the sun (but wear sunscreen) haha.

 

 

THE Pumpkin

Last year was good for me when it came to pumpkins.  I had a ton of gourds and pumpkins.  This year I have not planted quite so many, but still have high hopes for getting the one.  Last year I not only had a lot of them but, I also had a HUGE pumpkin.  85 lbs. to be exact.  It took 3 of us to get it on the bathroom scale.  I just had to know how big that thing was.  I have never been so proud of something I have grown.  I loved it when people would comment about it or ask if I bought it.

Some of the many pumpkin/gourds from last year

The 85 lb.er.  I have to say the picture doesn’t do it justice

And… this years plant that will give me a even bigger one (I hope).

I have more plants, but I have a feeling about this one.  LOL