garden updates

well its been a crazy week around here, sorry for the lack of updates.  Here's what's going on in my backyard, will update with some pics later.

Tomatoes:
all 5 of my plants are blossoming profusely and I have about 20 tomatoes that are getting bigger everyday.

Peppers:
out of the 3 types of peppers I have, they are all flowering but not producing...not sure whats going on there.

Squash:
I finally have some baby yellow squash on my plants!!  and the zucchini is making a comeback from the funk it went through when I transplanted it.

Eggplant:
both white eggplants are doing well and fruiting.  my ichiban are just growing bigger with no fruit or flowers...

The herbs:
all are doing well, i had to buy a new cilantro plant (my other died after flowering) and added curled parsley to the mix.

Misc:
the cucumber vines are taking good, the okra thankfully didnt go through transplant shock and i have 10-12 corn stalks sprouting up that need transplanted! 

Also, i have 9 sweet potato pvines that need put in, trying to figure out if I am going to try the tower method or just stick them in the ground.  still have a few more things i want to add, oh I did start 4 more garlic sprouts, my other died thanks to the kids...

Kimchi: take 2

I tweeked my normal recipe to include less salt and threw in some broccoli to make a 2nd full jar.  We will see how that turns out in about a week.  Looks good though, i just hope there is enough liquid in the jars for them to properly ferment.

(left: regular kimchi, right: broccoli kimchi)

I have to say, i kinda like fermenting over canning at the moment, no boiling water, the jars arent required to be sterilized, its a LOT less effort.  Not sure what types of veggies would ferment ok, but I have heard of apples and onions together and squash & pumpkin together.  May try this with squash and onions.

I will keep you updated with what combos I try and how I succeed or how I bomb.

 Until then, happy Homesteading!!

ugh....

Apparently the Powers that Be have decided my garden isnt going to do well this year.  I got my pepper plants in the ground, only to go outside an hour later to see that my chicken had eaten all th leaves off the plants.  They aren't dead, but really?!

Also, this morning, my 2 year old thought it would be helpful to pick the "green strawberry" (my tomato that was still growing) off the plant and bring it to me.  I just can't win.

On a happier note, I think we are finally getting drier weather so I can finally start hanging the laundry again.  I have hated having to use the dryer, I can always tel a difference in the utility bill and it makes the kitchen sooooo  hot.

In the process of gathering materials for a woodstove for the patio.  It would be nice to do more cooking outside to keep the heat out of the house.  Also looking into plans for a homemade solar oven.

garden updates and random stuff

According to Facebook,  the apocolypse is this weekend, Saturday to be exact.  So I thought I better take stock of the garden..not so good.

Yesterday I put 2 tomato plants in the ground and the 2 that are still in pots (the black prince and patio varieties) are doing well.  They are both flowering like crazy and I even have a tomato on the black prince.  I have quite a few pepper plants, the banana are flowering profusely but no peppers yet.  The jalapeno and bells seem to be struggling, I need to get them in the ground today.  It seems I have lost my zucchini and watermelon and 3 of my eggplant.  Also, the squash that was blooming so beautifully appears to be dying....not sure why.  All of my herbs are doing great and have been providing their yummy goodness to many dishes over the past couple weeks.

I do hope to be able to replace some of the lost plants soon.  Again, donations are accepted.  (just joking, or am I?)

The apple tree seems to be doing great!  I can't wait to get another one and also a peach tree.  Fresh peaches are amazing.  In the meantime, I will have to deal with picking my own at Jones Orchard when they are ready.

Well, my mother in law confirmed that my first batch of blackberry preserves were a success!  I can't wait to make more for us.  The apple butter was also a success; in addition to the  jar I gave my mom I have some in the fridge and in the cabinet.

I will be starting another batch of kimchi today and making more sweet and spicy slaw (see Veg'n In the 'burbs for recipes).  Still looking for a place to buy scobys so I can try my hand at Kombucha making.

Until next time, be safe, avoid the apocalypse riots and don't touch that mail truck, I have already claimed it!

a few random updates

The No-Shampoo Experiment:

Today was wash #2 with just baking soda, and I must say I am pleasantly surprised.  The first wash was Wednesday and I didn't get oily, itchy or overly sweaty.  I had Mance do a smell test before and after shower and he said I came out smelling clean (and believe me he would tell me if I wasn't so fresh).  So, I am happy with this outcome and have noticed all my scalp problems (dry, itchy, oily and breakouts) have disappeared since I started the baking soda wash.  Is this for everyone?  Probably not, but it works for me.  My hair has never felt this healthy and soft.

Project:  Kimchi

The 2 jars of kimchi that now gracemy refridgerator shelf are quite yummy!!  I admit I used way too much salt (thats what I get for actually following a recipe, huh?) but other than that, it goes geat on Tofurky kielbasa!

And much to my surprise, I was asked to demonstrate the process at a local farm's survival workshop.  Oleo Acres, June 25, 2011 in the AM.  I want to see all you locals there!!!!!  Hell, I might even give you some free kimchi. LOL

Garden Updates:

My Black Prince tomatoes are flowering & fruiting, the patio tomatoes are flowering like madness as are the banana peppers.  The squash that is so beautifully flowering is not fruiting.  Not quite sure whats going on there.  Still need to get more zucchini & eggplant and some cucumbers.  And need some peat pots to start some bean and corn seeds I have.  Donations of plants or cash are happily accepted. LOL

I did lose my raspberry bush to the flooded backyard, but that can be replaced.  Oh and Scarlett has not started laying again, or if she has Ariel(my dog) beats me to the eggs.  Its sad too cuz ain't no egg better than a backyard egg!!!

cleaning tips and the no-shampoo experiment

I am trying to clean my house to the point where I can just do upkeep during the week and more heavy duty stuff maybe once a month.  So far, I am off to a good start, but it seems like my arch nemesis will always defeat me....laundry.  Although, now that the weather is dry and hot, I can fill my clothesline to capacity and it only takes about 30 minutes for a load to dry, so I am getting it done a bit faster.

So, my questions to you are, what are your cleaning tips to make it go smoother?

Do you use any natural/homemade cleaners?  If so, what works for you?


Now, on to the no-shampoo experiment...
Before you call me a crazy dirty hippie, hear me out.  Shampoo, while smelling good, is made to strip the oil out of your hair.  Your hair actually needs a certain amount to be healthy.  So in the days after shampooing your hair becomes more oily causing you to shampoo again.  It's a vicious cycle, thank you corporate America for getting us addicted to yet one more thing.

Well, in this experiment, you still wash your hair, but use a baking soda paste, scented with essential oils if you just have to have yummy smelling hair.  The baking soda will cleanse your hair and neutralize the odors while leaving the oils alone.

Today was day 4 with no shampoo and my first day trying the baking soda.  Y'all, I'm being honest here, I  was skeptical.  But after vigorously rinsing my hair, it came out so soft and passed Mance's sniff test.  I'm going to be shampoo free and try the baking soda again on Saturday.

Has anyone else ever tried this?  Would yo be willing to try  it?  Tell me what you think!!

Excitement!

As you know (or may not know) we have had aweful weather reacently including tornadoes and floods.  I thought my garden would be a loss and while I did lose a couple plants, to my surprise I found this when I walked outside this morning:

My squash is blossoming!  Not only that, but the zucchini is loaded with buds, and my tomatoes are too.  Seem to be having problems with the tomatoes though, as much as they flower, they don't fruit.  I have 3 varieties and am having the same problem with all of them.
Even though it is small, my raspberry bush seems to be blossoming also.  I thought it was a goner for sure, after the storms it stood in about 6 inches of water for quite a few days.  I'm not really expecting any berries this summer, but it is an everbearing, so maybe this fall.

As for the reast of the plants, they are doing well, the herbs are producing like madness.  The cilantro and basil are making great additions to the cooking and the pineapple sage is getting big.  Still havent figured out what to use it in...maybe a sweet and sour stirfry type dish.  Had to transplant the lemon thyme today, they were getting too big for their tiny pots and are now sharing a planter.  That stuff is a great addition to any dish that needs a citrus touch.

Other than that, not much going on here at the homestead.  Praying Scarlett starts laying again soon (I thinks he stopped because of the storms) and looking in to buying some chicks.  Stinks I can only have 6 hens at a time.

Oh, I am experimenting with fermenting and have 2 jars of yummy looking kimchi fermenting on the counter.  I really can't wait to try it!!! And if it turns out, I have been asked by a local farm, Oleo Acres to show off my fermenting skills at one of their survival workshops in June! (exact date and details to be announced when we cement hte plans)  I couldn't be more thrilled!!!