I've not been posting these updates weekly because I got a little bored of it, but I thought today would be a good time because so much is happening in the garden. It is the month of the "Wort Moon", when such an abundance of plants and herbs (worts) are blooming and ready for harvest. 
This challenge has inspired and motivated me to no end. I was just thinking yesterday on how much more free time we seem to have, even with working so hard on the garden and food challenges. That is because we’re not off driving to places but are staying home so much more. I woke up yesterday morning with a strong desire to just "drive to Duluth" which in the past we would have done no problem. But of course now the cost of the 2 and 1/2 hour drive is prohibitive, and we'll only do it once this summer when we have planned for it. Spontaneous driving trips are out, but that's not a bad thing at all. We are so content now to stay around the house.
Less driving means more time enjoying the backyard.
The gardens are staying weeded, and it’s not like a big chore but something to do for a few minutes during a lull in the day.
We’ve continued planting even though “planting time” is typically over by now. Just this weekend we put in three more blueberry bushes to make our total five (all planted this year). As long as we are careful to water them when it’s really hot, they’ll be fine.
We picked 18.5 pounds of strawberries at a local u-pick farm, at $1.40 per pound which is a great price. They're chemical-free, too. I froze 6 pounds, dehydrated three trays' worth which turned out to be one pint of dried berries, and made 6 pounds' worth into two batches of jam--one strawberry rhubarb and one all strawberry. And of course we ate some just plain!
I’m harvesting and drying herbs little by little each day. Using the car which sits in the street most of the time these days as a “solar dehydrator” is working well for this. I just pick a few herb stems or the day’s batch of blooming flowers of chamomile or whatever, stick them in a wicker basket and let it all sit in the car for a couple of days. They’re drying perfectly with nothing but solar energy used.
Yesterday I started lacto-fermenting a yarrow ale with the yarrow flower tops. I got the recipe from Jessica Prentice’s book, Full Moon Feast (find it on Amazon--my connection's too slow for links today). We’ll see how it turns out, but this is learning and cooking something new. I’m also making a yarrow oil which will become a salve with beeswax when its done steeping. Yarrow salve is a wonderful herbal remedy. Today I am going to start a lemon balm ale, from the same book. I’ll share how they turn out on my blog in a few days!
My yarrow ale which ferments on the counter for four days,
The peas are just starting to flower b/c we planted late. The cabbage is just starting to form its little heads. Potatoes are starting to flower, tomatoes and peppers are budding, and the beets are looking very healthy. I had my first taste of ripe currant berry yesterday, from our new currant bush. I’m looking forward to soon preserving the gooseberries somehow; the elderberries are just beginning to form; and the clusters of grapes are getting bigger and looking promising for juice and jelly making later this summer.
Eli's getting into this challenge, too.
George lying amongst the "tall grasses" of
the one flower/weed bed we've done nothing with yet.
This challenge has inspired and motivated me to no end. I was just thinking yesterday on how much more free time we seem to have, even with working so hard on the garden and food challenges. That is because we’re not off driving to places but are staying home so much more. I woke up yesterday morning with a strong desire to just "drive to Duluth" which in the past we would have done no problem. But of course now the cost of the 2 and 1/2 hour drive is prohibitive, and we'll only do it once this summer when we have planned for it. Spontaneous driving trips are out, but that's not a bad thing at all. We are so content now to stay around the house.
Less driving means more time enjoying the backyard. Simple pleasures: reading, campfires, making music, lying in the hammock
The gardens are staying weeded, and it’s not like a big chore but something to do for a few minutes during a lull in the day.
We’ve continued planting even though “planting time” is typically over by now. Just this weekend we put in three more blueberry bushes to make our total five (all planted this year). As long as we are careful to water them when it’s really hot, they’ll be fine.
We picked 18.5 pounds of strawberries at a local u-pick farm, at $1.40 per pound which is a great price. They're chemical-free, too. I froze 6 pounds, dehydrated three trays' worth which turned out to be one pint of dried berries, and made 6 pounds' worth into two batches of jam--one strawberry rhubarb and one all strawberry. And of course we ate some just plain!I’m harvesting and drying herbs little by little each day. Using the car which sits in the street most of the time these days as a “solar dehydrator” is working well for this. I just pick a few herb stems or the day’s batch of blooming flowers of chamomile or whatever, stick them in a wicker basket and let it all sit in the car for a couple of days. They’re drying perfectly with nothing but solar energy used.Yesterday I started lacto-fermenting a yarrow ale with the yarrow flower tops. I got the recipe from Jessica Prentice’s book, Full Moon Feast (find it on Amazon--my connection's too slow for links today). We’ll see how it turns out, but this is learning and cooking something new. I’m also making a yarrow oil which will become a salve with beeswax when its done steeping. Yarrow salve is a wonderful herbal remedy. Today I am going to start a lemon balm ale, from the same book. I’ll share how they turn out on my blog in a few days!
My yarrow ale which ferments on the counter for four days,
along with nettle and red clover tinctures steeping.
The peas are just starting to flower b/c we planted late. The cabbage is just starting to form its little heads. Potatoes are starting to flower, tomatoes and peppers are budding, and the beets are looking very healthy. I had my first taste of ripe currant berry yesterday, from our new currant bush. I’m looking forward to soon preserving the gooseberries somehow; the elderberries are just beginning to form; and the clusters of grapes are getting bigger and looking promising for juice and jelly making later this summer.
Eli's getting into this challenge, too. Here he is digging us a rabbit trap!
We are feeling abundant here! And so grateful for all we've accomplished because of the Independence Days Challenge…
Comments
WOW - that is very affordable strawberries. The u-pick 'special member price' we got via our CSA for chemical free was 2.65/pound, and everywhere has been so expensive to buy at the Farmer's Market. That is awesome!