Posted in Crafting, Homemaking, Learning, Moderation and Economy, Sewing on Jul 31st, 2010
The children went to a Storybook Costume Ball with their cousins last night. We had a two-day scramble to throw together some costumes, but we pulled it off just in time! Here’s a little bit on what we made:
Little Hen wanted to be Amphitrite, the Queen of the Ocean, wife of Poseiden, in Greek [...]
Posted in Building Community, Homemaking, Learning, Locally grown, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on Jun 26th, 2010
It’s late June at Salt of the Earth Urban Farm (home of the BCS Teaching Garden)! Finally, some warm weather (mid-upper 70’s) has settled in (the tomatoes, summer squash and bush beans look much happier) and everything is flourishing.
The harvest is increasing – every week, we are taking a few dozen cartons of organic [...]
Posted in From my kitchen, Homemaking, Locally grown, Moderation and Economy on Jun 23rd, 2010
A while back, Sunset Magazine called for summer recipe submissions with 5 ingredients or less. I sent in a recipe, and they published it in the July 2010 issue!
It’s a super easy fruit salad recipe based on a dish I make all the time in the summer. (It’s a great dish to take to a [...]
Posted in Birding, Homemaking, Locally grown on Jun 6th, 2010
While it’s by no means as big as this monster, we found quite a surprise in the nest box after church today.
Nudge, our Auracana, usually lays a large to extra-large sized egg (the pale green one in the middle (it looks a bit washed out in this shot)), compared to our Australorps that lay medium-large [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, Homemaking, Locally grown, Moderation and Economy, Our home, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on May 23rd, 2010
And here’s the rest of the garden update:
There wasn’t time to get any side-yard shots before the rain started up again, but we now have 64 healthy strawberry plants growing there (many have set fruit already!) and the Christmas limas are germinating there as well.
Out in the backyard – the peas (see above) are as [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, Homemaking, Learning, Locally grown, Nature Table, Our home, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on May 22nd, 2010
The garden has really taken off after a week of hot, sunny weather, followed by lots of rain. (although, the cold nights and wind the past few days haven’t done us any favors). Volunteers have been able to start taking in a few baskets of organic produce to BCS, mostly radishes, mustard greens, lettuce, chives, [...]
Posted in Building Community, Homemaking, Locally grown, Mothering tool kit, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on May 10th, 2010
Happenings in the garden this week so far: Mustard greens, lettuce and kale are all getting big! (Red Russian Kale in the foreground, with Mizuna mustard behind.)
A volunteer and I got 20 tomatoes planted this afternoon – half in front, half in the back. (I have room for another dozen or so, but am out [...]
Posted in Birding, Books and Reading, Homemaking, Learning, Locally grown on May 5th, 2010
After a flurry of chicken-planning activity this winter/early spring, we have our long-dreamed for chicken flock (the three hens, plus three new Speckled Sussex chicks, and three more chicks on order (2 Australorps and a Buff Orpington)). And the chicken run is mostly complete (needs a little gussying up, and a grape trellis up the [...]
Posted in From my kitchen, Homemaking, Moderation and Economy on Apr 26th, 2010
HUMMUS! It’s my favorite, thrifty, last-minute dish when the kids need a savory snack, or we need to bring a side-dish to a get-together. It’s always a hit and goes great with crudite, chips, falafel, bagels, you name it!
Homemade hummus is so easy and frugal and delicious, I can’t understand buying a teensy little tub [...]
Posted in Changing Seasons, Homemaking, Locally grown, Moderation and Economy, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on Apr 1st, 2010
A few quick pictures Firecracker and I took in the garden yesterday afternoon:
The chickens having a grand time in the compost bin.
All sorts of things are germinating – peas, peas and more peas, chard, kale, mustard greens, beets, lettuce, poppies, sweet peas, calendula, artichokes, chives, parsley and basil.
The garlic and shallots we planted last [...]