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

My Garden

For what it matters, I thought that I would let you know how my garden is doing.  It has finally hit the taking off point.  The garden has erupted and I love it.  Of course now I look at things and think about the way I should have done them and will do them differently next year.  I don’t know about all of you, but it seems like all I ever say is “next year I will…”  Kind of makes me laugh.

I took pictures three weeks ago and again this evening

The sunflowers 3 weeks ago

The sunflowers today

The garden 3 weeks ago

The garden today

Strawberries Anyone?

Ok, ok, in my last post I may have acted like the only good thing I had growing was in a pot by my front door.  Well that’s not the case.  Other things are doing good as well. 

I took a look at the strawberries and to my amazement there were tons, and they needed to be picked ASAP.  So, my daughter went and got the sidewalk chalk buckets and a picking we went.  Soon I found myself yelling for my son to come help as Addi isn’t the best of help yet.  She did say “thank you Mommy/Brother” every time we gave her a berry to put in the bucket.  I thought I would share with you our 1st picking of strawberries.  I cleaned them, cut them and froze them.  I plan on doing the jam thing a little later in the season when I have more.

 

     

Container Garden… again

Just thought I would let all of you know what is growing best in my garden.  Hint, it isn’t IN my garden.  I have a few pots filled with salad mixes along my walk way, up to my front door.  My house faces East, so they get the cool morning sun.  Being a cool weather crop, that makes them oh so happy.  I have a few little hoppy friends that have made themselves a home deep in the jungle of the pot.  I don’t mind, and my daughter has to say “Hi froggy” every time we walk by.  So again, don’t have room for a garden?  Sure you do.  Put it in a pot, and it’s not to late for some of it

.

Farmers Market for a GOOD CAUSE

This being a tough year for people financially, we (Terrebonne Community School PTO) opted to not have our largest fundraiser, as it required a tremendous amount of donations from local businesses.  I knew we had to fill this fundraiser with one that we kept local.   With this in mind, our school PTO came up with a Farmers Market.  Linda has been working tirelessly scouting out a well rounded group of vendors, and has done a fantastic job.  On this note, I would like to invite all of you to come to the market and have a great time.  There will be live music and a great group of vendors. 

 

 

Join us for our 1^st annual

Terrebonne Community School PTO

Farmers Market

  Friday, May 29^th, 2009

From 3:30 to 7:30

@ Terrebonne Community School  

 

Bring your family to have a good time and support your local vendors and community school.

Good to Know

For anyone who lives in Central Oregon, I have ran into some information that I thought I would share with all of you.

1)Redmond Community Organic Gardenwill have a Grand Opening Sat, May 30th, from 12:00 to 3:00.  They have 18 raised beds available for lease.  724 SW 14th (off SW Glacier), 541.390.1594

 

2)OSU Extension Office offers a Food Safety/Preservation Hotline, for any preserving questions you may have, Monday-Thursday 9:00 to 4:00, 1.800.354.7319

3)OSU Extension Office Food Preservation Publications

June 18 Low Sugar Spreads

June 25 Jams, Jellies, & Syrups

July 8 Pie Fillings

August 11 Pickles

August 20 Flavored Oils and Vinegars abd Gift Baskets

September 17 Pressure Canning and Smoke Fish

Call 541.548.6088 to register

Help Please

I am working on a project at the moment that I need your help with.  I just need a yes, no, or possibly.  You can add your comments if you like, but is not required.

Thanks, Dawn

If there were a sustainable living supply store near you, would you be interested in shopping there?

YES                                         POSSIBLY                                           NO

A store like this would carry items such as…

composting/recycling containers, gardening supplies/seeds, preserving supplies (dehydrating & canning), planters, recycled products, organic body products, soy and beeswax candles, reusable products, etc.Thank you so much for you replies, I truly appreciate it.