From https://harlequinsgardens.com/transpiration-and-why-it-matters/ Plants have many important functions, like making leaves, making flowers and seeds, growing, storing starches in the roots etc, but we humans are usually unaware of the vital function of transpiration. It is estimated that 98% of a plants energy is used in the work of transpiration. How does this process work? and..
Read moreFall in the PNW!
It is easy to think how sad it is for the garden to be dying and the harvests to be over for the year. We need to remember that this is the time of year to put the garden to bed for a rest and for us to rest and enjoy the beauty around us..
Read moreSalsa!
[video width="100%" height="100%" mp4="https://ahippiefarmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/PXL_20210912_170806508.LS_.mp4" poster=""][/video] Fermented Salsa is also a winner in our household. You can vary the flavors anyway you wish and have either a mild one that everyone enjoys or a HOT one that will clear your sinuses. This is a blend of what the garden has to offer. Tomatoes, Jalapenos and Onions..
Read moreWrapping up another season…
As another season draws to a close in the Pacific Northwest we are still getting the last of the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. This has been a year for the cucumbers as they seem to be never ending. The real winners this year were SMR pickling and White Wonder both from MIGardener (www.migardener.com). We have..
Read morePickles, Pickles, Pickles!
Pickles, Pickles, Pickles! The weather this year has been just what the cucumbers were looking for. Everyday there is a harvest to be had. This year we are growing Wisconsin SMR Pickling Boston Pickling White Wonder Straight 9 All varieties from MI Gardener We are making lots and lots of fermented varieties which will have..
Read moreGardening Resource – Pacific Northwest
For those of us in Zone 8b we have a great resource of information through Pierce County in the Edible Gardens Workshop Series. If you haven't checked this out, I would encourage you to do so. Although they are currently having to host these via Zoom meetings instead of in person there is still a..
Read moreChanging Seasons
This year it seems like we went from Summer to Winter fairly quickly. Autumn is quickly ending with the trees rushing to shed their leaves and prepare for the cold weather to come. We have returned to the wet and windy weather that comes to those of us in the Pacific Northwest. We will "enjoy"..
Read moreThe Struggle is Real – Canning Jars/Lids
As most of you that can already know, there appears to be a black hole that has sucked up all of the canning jars and lids this year. I really hope that everyone that has purchased them is using them and it wasn't a knee jerk reaction to the stock piling that has been going..
Read moreDeliciousness in Fruit Form
This week I was able to get 20 pounds each of Elephant Heart Plums and Freestone Peaches. This has made for a busy weekend of processing and canning. We processed and froze the peaches for future use. Then we processed the plums for plum jam. We have discovered that plums have a lot of natural..
Read moreBread and Butter Pickles
With the larger than normal crop of cucumbers this year we have branched out from the normal fermented pickles to try our hand at bread and butter pickles. We found a recipe from our favorite YouTube chef, Chef John from FoodWishes.com. This recipe turned out great as a refrigerator pickle recipe and with a few..
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