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.