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January Planning

Here winter is in full swing...the ground is frozen solid and covered in snow...that makes it the perfect time to plan for the spring.
While reading through my Freecycle emails, I was able to procure some wonderful old storm doors that are going to be perfect for a large cold frame to get my tender veggies started in.

so plan ahead...spring is right around the corner and there is lots of work to do...

It's a good time to order any fruit trees from online you are planning to put in as well....many nurseries sell out early.

Beijing Egg House - Beijing architect lives in egg-shaped house on sidewalk on Shine

Beijing Egg House - Beijing architect lives in egg-shaped house on sidewalk on Shine this is an awesome concept....and solar powered as well.

truffle hunting

This is the time of year to check around your trees for naturally occurring truffles. Yes, they grow in this country and no you do not need a pig to find them...though certainly a well trained pig or dog would be helpful. Truffles like to grow at the base of Oaks, Beech, Birch, Hazel and Pine trees. I have some of those trees and in the next few days I am going hunting for those culinary delights. keep you posted....

the last ripe tomatoe

I picked my last ripe tomato yesterday. Thanks to the difficult but necessary aggressive pruning a few weeks ago, I am left with 3 good sized green tomatoes, and that is a lot less then in past years, so that mid august prune really did help grow and ripen the last of my harvest. I can't help but feel like I barely scratched the surface on what I wanted to accomplish this year, as we are well into fall here in the poconos. But I guess with my son's cancer, I have an excuse. Except that if there was some type of "emergency" where I would need to be ready, I am not and it makes me unhappy. In the next few weeks along with trying to get some wood chopped for winter, I am going to work on the list for spring. What I want to get done, what I need to get in order to accomplish my goals and how I can on a shoestring budget bring it all to fruition. what's on your list?

medicinal oregano oil

Here's a simplified explanation of the good uses of oregano oil. Personally I think it is a very useful and important plant to keep for it's uses. there are worse things then smelling like a pizza..

oh so good....

Oregano oil....I am making oregano oil today from my herb garden. These are some fresh young growths after I cut the garden all back and dried most of the oregano. I took some of the leaves and ground them up in the food processor with some olive oil, then strained it through some cheese cloth. I then pour it into a small bottle adding a whole spring of oregano to decorate it. It is simply delicious on bruschetta, added to a little spaghetti, and even spread on the crust of homemade pizza. Also excellent for salad dressing. There is also medicinal uses for Oregano, but it is not the "standard" grown herb, and differs slightly. I grow both types, once for the more medicinal uses and one for eating, but both are delicious and can be added to your favorite dishes. The medicinal type is Oregano oil made from Origanum Vulgare more on that tomorrow....yum..time for dinner

winding up summer

Fall is basically already here in the Poconos, with temperatures dipping into the low 50's every night. My yard is already full of beech nuts and black cherries, and the animals that eat them. I hear the turkeys every day and the bear has been here several nights. Now is the time to cut back the tops of your tomatoes if you haven't done it already..give that fruit a little extra nutrients for a short grow time that is left. I also am harvesting and drying my herbs....the lemon balm, mints, sage and oregano are done and I am just waiting for the chive flowers to open before I cut them as well. Tomorrow it is catnip day. The cut herbs are all dried already, I use a dehydrator it makes quick work of things, then into the food processor for a fine grinding, then bottled and dropped into the freezer. I like to store them in the freezer, I think it keeps the flavor strong. I might get a little more harvested depending on the weather...and I still have the lovage, and yarrow to cut back and store a little yarrow. The lovage doesn't keep, so into the salad it will go. I have thought about using it in a flavored oil, but I think it is best fresh. for some of you, you'll have a few more weeks to grow..but here I'll be putting a cold frame up if my tomatoes don't ripen soon. I love fall :)

getting ready for spring

It is time to start thinking about spring. This year, my big project was to be an apiary. Now for me that is a big step, because I am not personally crazy about bees. But I do value greatly what the offer to my garden and the honey and wax that I can utilize in my home projects. Now my son is sick, so I am not sure that this year I will start the apiary, but it is something I think everyone should have. Let's talk about the value of an apiary....first off is the wonderful pollination that you will get in exchange for providing the honeybees a home. You will even the first year notice that you will immediately reap the benefits of greater pollination. Second off is the honey. Honey is a great product...not only is it a natural sweetener, but it also is naturally antibacterial and work very well in helping wounds to heal. Third of course is the bee's wax. Perfect for candles, lip balm, hand salve,furniture polishing and a ton of other uses. Where to get started....timing is important to apiary's just like it is to seeds. Here's a link that is helpful in getting you started by state... next post we'll talk about starting that apiary....where to order supplies, bees and discuss building your own.

Using those foil bags

One thing that annoys me is all those items that come in plastic and foil bags. I try to purchase things that don't use them, but sometimes it is just impossible to get away from them. SO I have a new use for the foil bags (ie: potato chip type bags) I sew a pouch in a simple square or rectangle out of polar fleece, then I put one or two bags into in (after washing out and drying the bag) and then sewing up the end. It makes a great crinkle mat for the cats to play on and is washable, though I do recommend hanging to dry. The cats love the noise and the foil also keeps their body heat making the pad a little warmer to lay on, and we all know cats love to warm places to sleep. if anyone has any other suggestions or uses for plastic and foil bags, let me know. (Plastic bags can be recycled, and many grocery stores to have bins to accept them)

Water Collection

Spring is right around the corner...really I swear it is...and right now is the time to start thinking about those spring rains. With careful planning you can collect enough rain water to keep your garden green a lush through the hot summer months. Here is a great selection of ones that can connect right to your gutter downspout, and you'd be amazed at how much water you can collect and save the costs directly off your water bill. This water collector is aesthetically pleasing as well as very functional. For looks and functionality it is one of my favorites, has what I'd consider medium capacity. It could easily pay for itself in one season at the price of water/sewer bills. Want to make your own?...a simply trash can with a hole cut into the lid to insert the downspout will work just fine and you can simply fill a watering can from the top. IF you are more creative, you can visit your local hardware store for some hose parts and fashion a spigot at the bottom. Once you have used this type of system and love it, you can consider something much bigger, but that's a different post...

time to build those cold frames

Cold frames are a wonderful thing. They allow you to get your veggies growing much sooner then if you waited until there was no chance of a frost. And once built, you can also extend your growing season in the fall.... getting started...I got 22 old windows from my local freecycle. Many people who are remodeling offer up items that can be very useful. Also check the free section on craigslist. As there is more and more awareness about helping the environment, people are sharing rather then discarding unwanted items. Here is a link to building an easy cold frame that is just great. So I am thinking about delicious home grown tomatoes even though we have about 20 inches of snow today. I LOVE SNOW!! but spring will be nice too....

a little distracted

okay, so I have gotten a little distracted from this blog....truth is winter came way earlier then I expected it to and time got away from me....but spring is buried someplace under that snow and it's time to start thinking about spring.

Vehicular preparadness

Tonight's car fiasco reminds me of an important tip. ALWAYS have a jug of water in your car, also a flashlight, a blanket and flares. Simple, inexpensive and potentially life saving. You can never be too prepared and tonight my daughter was the recipient of my neglect in having water in the car. My car over heated and she was on a major high way in the middle of the night on her way to work. since many of us don't have the luxury of onstar or AAA, then it is necessary we try and think of every possible thing we can prepare for and be safe because we are prepared.

lines

okay line issue solved. Check back tonight for some herbal specifics....might want to put a pot of spaghetti and meatballs on....tonight it's all about oregano.

Eggciting

Lean and Green tip for today... what to do with those sometimes unavoidable Styrofoam egg cartons. Like it or not, for now Styrofoam is here to stay. Sometimes because of where or how you purchase your eggs, cardboard cartons are just not an option. But..don't throw out that styrofoam one....besides being sent to school to be made into caterpillars, they are a lot of useful reusable options. 1. Bead sorting (yes, as a jewelry and wearable art artist it IS all about the beads for me....) 2. jewelry storage....keep those chains untangled and fits nice in a shallow drawer 3. reusable paint caddy (simply pour a little dollop of your favorite craft paint into the handy little cup shaped holder, for easy clean up just rinse out, dry off and reuse) 4. Lego sorter...or any other little toy items like Barbie shoes, crazy bones,etc. 5. M&M sorting....easy way to eat just your favorite color.... truthfully the ideas are endless and the carton lasts forever....so keep those unavoidable styrofoam containers out of the trash and into your craft room... (meat trays are great for painting as well). as far as the ready tip....hum..well...styrofoam IS an excellent insulator...from heat and cold...I'm sure we could find a need for it say if the power was out and we needed to keep cold foods cold longer...or maybe it could be placed under sleeping bags to protect from ground cold/moisture.... I think that in this case, imagination is almost unlimited, but let's keep that stryofoam out of the dumps...it's not great stuff. hey, I'll be you could fill them with your favorite juice, or tea and make cute little egg shapped ice cubes....hum...or fill each one with water and place a thin slice of lemon in each one for a refreshing pitcher of cold lemon water...yum..one of my favorites...

HERBs ....Glorious Herbs.... Herbs 101...

Herbs....gifts from the gods and goddesses..or the deity of your choice...I'm flexible... Herbs are not only tasty additives bought from McCormick. They are wonderful magical creations. All you need is a little knowledge and a couple of pots, or a patch of dirt in a sunny spot. When you are thinking about growing plants, nothing is easier then herbs. They are truly the gift that keeps giving. They love crappy soil, are mainly drought resistant and not only are tasty additives to our cooking, but have terrific medicinal uses as well for both us and our pets. Now is the time to cut back any growing herbs to about 2 inches (many herbs are perennials and with just a little tlc will come back for years if not decades.). Then I just take the grass/leaf cuttings from the mower bag and make a nice little mound over top. This provides both nutrients and a little extra winter protection. This is one of the few times I bag the grass cuttings and make sure to mow up some of those nutrient rich fall leaves. I like to take the herbs, and tie little bundles together and hang them upside down to dry. (my cats like this also, not only have I hung fun little toys for them, but many herbs such as catnip, catmint, oregano, lemon balm and the mints are tasty to the little furry pests, I mean pets...). I dry about 1/2 of my last harvest. the other 1/2 I put into food bags and vaccum seal them and pop them into the freezer. lean tip....although the initial purchase of a food vaccum sealer seems expensive, it saves thousands of dollars in keeping food fresh, usuable and allows for bulk purchasing, so it is an investment well worth making. The bags can be microwaved (okay, granted, NOT too green there...) or dropping into boiling water to cook your meal right in the bag for quick easy family dinners. so...my favorite easy grow herbs... catnip catmint peppermint oregano greek oregano chinese chives nasturium (not perennial but do reseed if you pluck the seed pods) lemon balm (but WAY invasive so I recommend pot or sectioned garden growing for this) sage tomorrow we'll discuss the "ready" aspect of these herbs and their usuage in more then just meal preparations. What's your favorite herb?

Prepare now for Spring

Now is the time that you should start finding leaves in your lawn, driveway and gutters. Some look at leaves as work, a pain. Think of leaves as you did when you were a child...make a big pile of dry ones, and jump in them....It's a great way to reconnect with the child inside. Or connect with your children or grandchildren. Then let's take those wonderful leaves and put them in bin for composting. Many people don't fully appreciate the act of composting. It's true recycling. Taking items and turning them into nutrient rich dirt that glorious tasty fun things can be grown from. New to composting?....it's easy with leaves. Any container will do..an old trash can, even a garbage bag. In the spring the leaves with have broken down releasing nature's nutrients ready for your garden. Want to get a composting bin?...well before you run out and buy one, check out www.freecycle.org in your area, and garage sales... add your banana peels, orange peels, lettuce leaves, apple cores, bones (meat leftovers can be added to a compost pile for regular flowers but better not for veggies)...and the soil will be even better. Yum, I can already taste those tomatoes.....is there anything better then a vine ripe warm tomato right from the garden? (see a favorite recipe at bottom) A great addition for your garden comes at usually no cost as well. Horse or cow manure. Usually the owner of said farm animal will be more then happy for you to come and scoop up a grocery bag or two of wondrous garden food. It can be added to your compost or tilled right in to the soil so it can release it's nutrients all winter long. (Yes cow and horse poo is safe for food gardens, despite what the fear mongers might have you believe otherwise. And Way better for you then chemical fertilizers....) Another lean, green and prepare tip for those who have cats.....Feline pine. Scoop the poop out and it's ready for your garden. Though I like to add it to my compost first simply because of the quantity I have....makes a great addition to the leaves and kitchen scraps. So, composting and preparing your gardens now for spring....lean..(fresh grown veggies are cheap, and nutritionally superior to store bought ones) green...(obviously)and ready...easy to feed yourself and your family if all you need to do is go pick it off the plant. Summer Salad sweet onions (vidalia are my favorites) ripe fresh tomatoes cucumbers white cheddar cheese your favorite dressing (I like italian made with balsamic vinegar ) slice the onions, tomatoes and cukes into medium thick slices (good time to drag that food processor wedding gift out and give it a whorl...) cut the cheese into small bit size cubes add all to shallow dish liberally coat with your dressing of choice (blue cheese and french are also yummy) let marinate for 30 minutes in fridge...serve and enjoy... wonderful for a hot summer day as a meal....terrific anytime as a side.... good for about another day in the fridge, but best fresh...it's really a tasty treat, especially if most of the ingredients are fresh from your garden.

today's tip

Today's tip meets all three of my criteria. It's lean because it is low cost, it's green because it reuses, and it directly deals with being prepared. As I was dragging my recycling buckets to the curb this evening, it occurred to me that the easiest way to have stored water for an emergency would be to simply reuse my milk and soda bottles. Since the "recommended" water for emergencies is a gallon per person, per day, and you should have a two weeks supply on hand, plus extra for washing, and pets, that's a lot of water. Buying it, it can cost $1.00+ a gallon for the cheapo grocery store brand. It took 3 of us about 45 minutes to wash and refill the useful milk and soda bottles.It reduced my recycling from two full buckets to 1/2 a bucket. We rinsed the bottles with a little white vinegar and then plain water before filling just to remove any trace of the original content. we only filled them about 3/4 of the way to the top, because we are going to store them in a crawl space where winter freeze is a possibility. And we all know water expands when it freezes...(physics class?...chemistry?...well, we learned it in high school sometime...) Now a few more weeks and we should have plenty of emergency water stored...cost?....whatever your water company charges per gallon (or the energy costs to run the well pump if you have well ) Way cheaper then purchasing water.

Tips on Green, lean and being ready for anything

In the last few years we've made simple changes that have had wonderful long term effects on our quality of life. Here I am going to share my own and hopefully your times to greener, easier living along with easy and inexpensive tips on emergency preparedness. The key to my tips is that they are easy and inexpensive, because in this economy few of us have money to spare. They will also integrate the lean green and ready so they work together.