We are saving some of the spring rains for the garden. Since putting on the new metal roof it is easier to get cleaner water to save. So I ordered a recycled barrel from Azure Standard (www.azurestandard.com) for $20 and used a canning jar filler that I already had along with a $20 diverter I..
Read moreGarden Update – 03.28.2020
Today I set out the first round of onion starts that I grew from seed in the grow tent. Anxious to see how they do instead of buying starts. Also transplanted some strawberries that had decided to run into the herb bed into a container of their own. They only have to share with the..
Read moreTime at Home due to COVID-19/Coronavirus
Due to the current conditions with COVID-19/Coronavirus we are spending all of our time at home these days. Since we don't have to leave for work or school and have enough supplies to last a little while we have decided to just stay put and not take any chances. This gives us time to work..
Read moreGarden 2020 – Beginnings
With about 4 weeks left before last frost date, I can actually start to plant some things outside. So we start with Peas. First ones are Spring Magnolia Tendril and Springs Blush Tendril, both from Baker Creek (www.rareseeds.com). This year I decided to try to be more formal with the garden layout instead of making..
Read morePlant Starts Are Growing
It was time to give the plant starts more growing room so everyone got a new home yesterday to allow them to keep thriving until it is time to move outside in a few more weeks. Average last frost date in my area is not until April 16th so they have another month to wait...
Read moreProject Time – Greenhouse
With the short growing season but mild winters of the Pacific Northwest we have decided that we can extend our growing season to almost year round by adding a greenhouse. We searched for a long time and finally found plans from Ana White (https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/diy-greenhouse) that I also saw completed by Justin Rhodes and helpers on..
Read moreSeed Starts
Exiting time on the farm, we are about 8 weeks out from the last frost date and it's time to get the first little seed starts going. This year we are trying to get them started in the grow tent with full spectrum lights, fingers crossed we can get it right this year and not..
Read moreSourdough – Take 2
Today was sourdough - take 2. This one is a higher hydration dough (80%) than the first one with higher oven temperatures and the end result is awesome.
Read moreSourdough Experiment
Sourdough has long seemed like an unobtainable goal for me on the bread front. It seemed like a lot of work from babysitting the starter, the long rises and the scoring of the dough, etc. Decided to try it and see if we could be successful. The starter for the first loaf came from a..
Read moreBread!
With the shorter, colder days ahead, here's some Ciabatta bread we made today! I was intrigued and challenged with the article by William Rubel in the most recent edition of Mother Earth News (December 2019/January 2020). I had always wanted to try making Ciabatta but was always a little intimidated by the end product. After..
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