tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55420815336048204842024-03-14T09:34:24.707-04:00Small Purse, Big Gardena blog about gardening, foraging, chicken keeping, cooking my harvest, canning, preserving, living on a budget, eating on a budget, upcycling, recycling.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-59106581310891925932016-10-13T11:42:00.001-04:002016-10-13T11:42:20.024-04:00Trellising Tomatoes...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not even sure trellising is actually a verb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After working at the farm last year, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it definitely feels like an action word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In
years past, we had lost a large percentage of our harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
loss was due to the fact that the weight </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">of
the tomatoes actually bent the vines down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
vines then grew along the ground </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">and
produced more tomato fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
result was the tomatoes that touched </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">the
ground went bad very fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">After
all of the effort in growing the seedlings</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">and
tending to them in the garden beds, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">to
see them go bad was heartbreaking.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I wasn't the person who actually did the trellis work at the farm,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I understood the principle behind it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">With that knowledge, I felt better equipped this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My husband and I do not spend money on our garden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We get the majority of garden-related stuff by donation or trading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">When I suggested we invest in metal T bars this year</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">it took a bit to convince the husband.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">"It is an investment!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">"They will last for a very long time!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">"They are reusable!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">These were just a few of the sales pitches I tried out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the end, he relented and we purchased the T bars.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Luckily it wasn't the sort of thing we had to buy right away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We planted our tomato seedlings at the beginning of June.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">It took a few weeks for them to be tall enough for us to work with.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOkosY1jvNmQ6D6DTsxmeb7ehOIAI01y1qt5pVDJDjLA4LPeqrsy1yxJOIiTkur_f2EARfeiwuqZFnHO4KyRRa47nGZSfUn8PtAfCyMTJs2tFtAmG158wzprRQub0PnLIEBCIKgwabBE/s1600/IMG_5172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOkosY1jvNmQ6D6DTsxmeb7ehOIAI01y1qt5pVDJDjLA4LPeqrsy1yxJOIiTkur_f2EARfeiwuqZFnHO4KyRRa47nGZSfUn8PtAfCyMTJs2tFtAmG158wzprRQub0PnLIEBCIKgwabBE/s320/IMG_5172.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We hammered in the T bars at the end of each row of tomato plants.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(There are two rows of tomato plants in the bed shown above.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then the REAL fun begins!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mUKjLTym2hla1DmG-KPCqsB1bRJXZaDZYwscPeOUuzGL2qyQR_pTvlptzdemqGCaQmo0yq8a9mGk2shWna9CDCl2DnP3WuGhQqP8zreZ_ILzRo07v6NgAXfz7M_gGuCc1H05UClXubM/s1600/IMG_5173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mUKjLTym2hla1DmG-KPCqsB1bRJXZaDZYwscPeOUuzGL2qyQR_pTvlptzdemqGCaQmo0yq8a9mGk2shWna9CDCl2DnP3WuGhQqP8zreZ_ILzRo07v6NgAXfz7M_gGuCc1H05UClXubM/s320/IMG_5173.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next we grabbed some baling twine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We started at a spot that is near the bottom of the T bar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Tie off one end and go around the inside of the first plant, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">then outside of the next plant,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">and so on...until to reach the end of the bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We tied off the twine at the other end just in case.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Then we came back to the beginning, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">reversing the direction of the twine for each plant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We had to grab the odd vine that was growing this way and that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">What you are left with is a great way to keep the tomatoes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">standing tall without strangling the life out of the vines.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngrSSg8PPwFlHK_54toVwi0eod_PA9CM5Qo-51ZjzyTgt_gq51YINXLqT0yspxQnF8_4blpPuKy_lWxE0zUATxxfbkCHNZNX8kJl_apLRhUlLWv-Wl8gFz5nuOo8Yv8VkrYfEytQYukA/s1600/IMG_5175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngrSSg8PPwFlHK_54toVwi0eod_PA9CM5Qo-51ZjzyTgt_gq51YINXLqT0yspxQnF8_4blpPuKy_lWxE0zUATxxfbkCHNZNX8kJl_apLRhUlLWv-Wl8gFz5nuOo8Yv8VkrYfEytQYukA/s320/IMG_5175.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Ll-sWtWcONKIJSLLgXbZjjqWGtcjuadNJa52rDH0gqX59tK7Atpq3bUISN4vVvCmMeIcqTITlm_ZjRdonDdj6mHKwlRoJ8D36mge9xL7uk0uBh42-8mMMaY9X4mv99lA3YnqAj1_uA/s1600/IMG_5174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Ll-sWtWcONKIJSLLgXbZjjqWGtcjuadNJa52rDH0gqX59tK7Atpq3bUISN4vVvCmMeIcqTITlm_ZjRdonDdj6mHKwlRoJ8D36mge9xL7uk0uBh42-8mMMaY9X4mv99lA3YnqAj1_uA/s320/IMG_5174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the record, we've never seen the walkways look so great!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You can even see the recycled water jugs we use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cut the bottom off of a jig and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">plant the spout end in the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Its like a funnel right to the roots!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This method works best if you organize the jugs as</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">you plant the seedlings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It also works best if you place the jugs between </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">the plant and the walkway...</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">rather than beside the plant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">(we discovered that placing the jug beside the plant</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">results in losing the jug in the jungle of tomato plants)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQmkNj5EiDtCOoNMgygaEHQq1eLJvH-YIOmbQYKm_AFVTM4iI2BBU5x94-amt9ItPe5HA-cSC_jEUYg5321QvQjDfvf9Ps4JqW2m0o01jaWN_lv8zwcmZpLtCc28ZyjpkrOeOorxSJxc/s1600/IMG_5183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQmkNj5EiDtCOoNMgygaEHQq1eLJvH-YIOmbQYKm_AFVTM4iI2BBU5x94-amt9ItPe5HA-cSC_jEUYg5321QvQjDfvf9Ps4JqW2m0o01jaWN_lv8zwcmZpLtCc28ZyjpkrOeOorxSJxc/s320/IMG_5183.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It might be difficult to see in the above picture...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But our tomato plants are up to my shoulder!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPIKXG9kIobR-4QEZ1bFBzbZ92xi_uvfa6z6lBAZUb2Q3NzacUqKxdYkRQmlC3KYnCEzO5iwAi0GSWYxBjQnaj0w0BAEQ6DIbORTiuekzVQrfXWF8pzLtgQ16tCVGwxp7KRJqw8vHy04/s1600/IMG_5304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPIKXG9kIobR-4QEZ1bFBzbZ92xi_uvfa6z6lBAZUb2Q3NzacUqKxdYkRQmlC3KYnCEzO5iwAi0GSWYxBjQnaj0w0BAEQ6DIbORTiuekzVQrfXWF8pzLtgQ16tCVGwxp7KRJqw8vHy04/s320/IMG_5304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our tomatoes thrived this year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Our walkways were clear enough that we could access </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">all of the plants for watering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We also had way less loss due to mould.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Almost none of our plants had vines or </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2xDaF3Nu9bJmagc1-ka5kp20Kgx_KpQSOa6q-Z9nQ65NQsL74HGqJjAbrmtzHEzaP21wKkDb07yHzRZQ7hEAW6C-kfeiTUW_rqEGwuSwAQuou88ycGGhEQbBYd3MdoPGaz5_jQV2yGA/s1600/IMG_5189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2xDaF3Nu9bJmagc1-ka5kp20Kgx_KpQSOa6q-Z9nQ65NQsL74HGqJjAbrmtzHEzaP21wKkDb07yHzRZQ7hEAW6C-kfeiTUW_rqEGwuSwAQuou88ycGGhEQbBYd3MdoPGaz5_jQV2yGA/s320/IMG_5189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The results speak for themselves in this instance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Perfect tomatoes!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-81610786173982035162016-07-26T21:35:00.000-04:002016-07-26T21:35:20.876-04:00Welcome back!<div style="text-align: center;">
Well its been a while since I posted here.</div>
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In fact, life got away on me and I kind of avoided the blog.</div>
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It was just about the very last thing I had energy for...</div>
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But that doesn't mean I wasn't still thinking about posts and content.</div>
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Life gets busy, as we all know.<br />
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This year has been pretty great so far!<br />
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We started off by getting new chicks to add to our flock.<br />
They were a LOT tinier than we were expecting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFONTCJ4Jat7YEDEJwaf1k6VXKdyOGaF2HV9S2v6AzZDz1RzrtzT9dVcRYC3tJmWts7QwMZWdEp6mb_8l0RVdJuDNSlB3ENV3U4SDHJ1Uz0OBWfUc3WeUB-SxBleSqwK8ZF8Q_cCsixFo/s1600/IMG_4261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFONTCJ4Jat7YEDEJwaf1k6VXKdyOGaF2HV9S2v6AzZDz1RzrtzT9dVcRYC3tJmWts7QwMZWdEp6mb_8l0RVdJuDNSlB3ENV3U4SDHJ1Uz0OBWfUc3WeUB-SxBleSqwK8ZF8Q_cCsixFo/s320/IMG_4261.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
We haven't had chicks that small before...<br />
so it was a learning curve at first.<br />
<br />
It was so much fun to watch them learn how to chicken.<br />
Seriously...I could watch them for hours.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w3TZLzFIHNjIkPaf6EmH7YaU6Z9uDHX3_eEZzbR0ZrM5fKllxQbUjhacIi3W-hmtsZTA6L0KdepLNzoxiSuWYRGTbed1navMS0xM431zBDa0AGLaocamGOYPq74T5vTDgegPd9hjLiE/s1600/the+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w3TZLzFIHNjIkPaf6EmH7YaU6Z9uDHX3_eEZzbR0ZrM5fKllxQbUjhacIi3W-hmtsZTA6L0KdepLNzoxiSuWYRGTbed1navMS0xM431zBDa0AGLaocamGOYPq74T5vTDgegPd9hjLiE/s320/the+girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I volunteer at a few plant sales in my area.<br />
I also grow seedlings inside my home for the sales.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCkQT07OxNBsLukD22chyphenhyphenkmktQnkf6xSOM5bP07V_tq4_rr1p-RDVFa-PLqY-iX4Aw4YYFjorQAhQTa_HGuvC-553tfmZzMtlxJulPsJ7lYrfUWOZUiNIS2t_mvu-54cytr-07gnORtU/s1600/seedlings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCkQT07OxNBsLukD22chyphenhyphenkmktQnkf6xSOM5bP07V_tq4_rr1p-RDVFa-PLqY-iX4Aw4YYFjorQAhQTa_HGuvC-553tfmZzMtlxJulPsJ7lYrfUWOZUiNIS2t_mvu-54cytr-07gnORtU/s320/seedlings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Our living room became a small greenhouse for a while.<br />
This year was excellent for my heirloom tomato seedlings.<br />
Varieties this year include;<br />
Anna Russian (Oxheart) - a robust girl with bright pink flesh!<br />
Black Krim - a beefy stock with a deep purple flesh and green shoulders.<br />
Aussie Heirloom - the one I'm most excited to see...reportedly yields 2-3 lb sized fruit.<br />
(let that just sink in a minute...)<br />
And of course our ever popular Roma...ours grows to be about the size of your fist.<br />
Still full of great flavour but lots of flesh for sauces and salsas.<br />
<br />
Then the actual helping at the sales took up a fair chunk of May.<br />
<br />
Then we became consumed with our garden.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivud0kKhJxyE-Vqw5tHUrnFZzcgb8wYnHN6PEYNiy1PI9CZqktNoRzMZkFtBAj_lYvbh89KcbgzbtzqsB6bwVzoe1CKAzIa4N8js_FswdNXOGFycTXf_724eJM6luWUDF89CsVX-fSwic/s1600/garden+spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivud0kKhJxyE-Vqw5tHUrnFZzcgb8wYnHN6PEYNiy1PI9CZqktNoRzMZkFtBAj_lYvbh89KcbgzbtzqsB6bwVzoe1CKAzIa4N8js_FswdNXOGFycTXf_724eJM6luWUDF89CsVX-fSwic/s320/garden+spring.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This year...<br />
<br />
We are on top of our garden.<br />
(surprisingly)<br />
<br />
Partly due to crucial things I learned while working at the farm last summer.<br />
<br />
I was introduced to my trusty girl Lola the Hoe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tQ-Ym2UNDo8VAJB7BqDkahPwWxQbvRjb53B1cpIzThSGoRdKUq5VrPaXMGas19e8n25yJ9qbJ9Ye0-wXU4zWsMZ8FmOMFPSluu4qt4GVMyi0dwj3kkC6mQZR7OjuPKephJwpZoB_Iyk/s1600/hoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tQ-Ym2UNDo8VAJB7BqDkahPwWxQbvRjb53B1cpIzThSGoRdKUq5VrPaXMGas19e8n25yJ9qbJ9Ye0-wXU4zWsMZ8FmOMFPSluu4qt4GVMyi0dwj3kkC6mQZR7OjuPKephJwpZoB_Iyk/s320/hoe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a shuffle hoe purchased at Lee Valley.</div>
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That is not shameless promotion....I just bought it there.</div>
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I also mention it because I think everyone should have one of these.</div>
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Seriously.</div>
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(Hello...Lee Valley? Looking for a spokesgirl?)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Just look at our walkways!</div>
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They are spotless this year...and I love it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y4gQykUPoaYR0O1im_1hwJphcYNokN9XPSyf-v64VG1UjKSPUZmWWMXK3ym8gYu-qSAIZdB2ZscY73uX_YnZM971srBhN9NiqfWN9fd2oXnK36a_ch3GvJ39js67jp-wGmHvpdDqa_I/s1600/IMG_4836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y4gQykUPoaYR0O1im_1hwJphcYNokN9XPSyf-v64VG1UjKSPUZmWWMXK3ym8gYu-qSAIZdB2ZscY73uX_YnZM971srBhN9NiqfWN9fd2oXnK36a_ch3GvJ39js67jp-wGmHvpdDqa_I/s320/IMG_4836.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
Another thing I learned was about trellising the tomatoes<br />
so we can FINALLY get them off of the ground.<br />
(more on that in a later post)<br />
<br />
You can kind of see the steel T bars on the left hand side.<br />
<br />
Not to mention the side garden beds not shown in this picture.<br />
(Main garden shown...manly husband also shown)<br />
<br />
This year has been rolling along just grand.<br />
(Drought conditions in our area notwithstanding)<br />
<br />
Can't wait to see our harvest at the end of it all.<br />
<br />
How are your gardens doing this year?<br />
How do you deal with water scarcity?<br />
Sound off below!<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-67877962447761589622016-02-14T12:16:00.001-05:002016-02-14T12:26:06.777-05:00Bloggers to discover...part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is a cool roundup of bloggers I've discovered lately...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Website <a href="http://food52.com/?utm_source=FOOD52+Subscribers+List&utm_campaign=6ee9d3abe7-Welcome_Email_2_Top_Recipes&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_191568346e-6ee9d3abe7-21345725&mc_cid=6ee9d3abe7&mc_eid=0c4c064ffb">Food52.com</a> I found and I really dig </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">their manifesto:</span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: center; width: 552px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="ecxmain-header" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: left;"><h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;">
<u style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></u></h2>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: center; text-transform: none; width: 552px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="ecxmain-header" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;"><h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">OUR COOKING MANIFESTO </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We love spending time in the kitchen, </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and we believe that memorable cooking </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">doesn't have to be complicated or precious. </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">Because, if you cook:</span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;"> </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">Your family will eat dinner together. </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">You will naturally have a more </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">sustainable household. </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">You'll set a lifelong example for your children.</span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;"> </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">You'll understand what goes </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">into food and will eat more healthily. </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">You'll make your home an </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">important place in you. </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">You'll make others happy. </span></h2>
<h2 class="ecxmain-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 10px 0px 6px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">People will remember you.</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><div style="line-height: 19.88px; text-align: center; text-transform: none;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: center; text-transform: none; width: 552px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="ecxmain-text" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<div style="line-height: 19.88px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.88px;">****************************************</span></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.88px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 19.88px;">Here is a girl after my own heart!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.88px; text-transform: none;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">http://neverseconds.blogspot.ca/</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">I read about this young lady in Reader's Digest article about</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">Junior Food Activists...I never even knew that was a thing!</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">Martha Payne rates her cafeteria's lunch each day</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">using criteria like healthiness, number of mouthfuls and number of hairs.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">I love the mind of a child!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">Doubt her commitment?</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">She has over 10 million hits on her blog...and she's 11.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">She is also donating money to children in Malawi.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">check out her fundraising page <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/neverseconds">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">Even Barry Manilow has donated to her!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">**************************************</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">Bloggers who forage:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">http://pixiespocket.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">http://andhereweare.net/</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">Hardworking Hippie and her permaculture farm in France</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">http://lafermedesourrou.blogspot.ca/</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">My all-time favorite escape blog:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;">http://cabinporn.com/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.8799991607666px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-7137762139107645732016-01-12T11:44:00.002-05:002016-01-12T11:44:35.167-05:00Product Experiment - Upside-down Planters - The Results are In!<div style="text-align: center;">
By completely accident we became the owners of two separate upside-down planters.</div>
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I have always been intrigued by these contraptions.</div>
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We never had one during our apartment days.</div>
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But I always kinda wanted one secretly.<br />
(not so secret now though)</div>
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By the spring, this year, we had two of them.</div>
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Along with our gigantic garden and auxiliary garden beds,</div>
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it seemed like we really didn't need them!</div>
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However, I thought it would be worth a try this year.</div>
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And to show you all the results!</div>
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Bonus!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBA-7F5ig-2nrx5oOJhbwcmxm8QzDdR6CudUz6Gwl3hNwSaXs1vdShf3n1IRC37FzGa1Ha26lBVqolIyqY5puHrui-jXZkIpxc4KMJkYOVqrHRvH5Z42r04kquKC_zUWRXmZ6M4AGJ4s/s1600/IMG_2187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBA-7F5ig-2nrx5oOJhbwcmxm8QzDdR6CudUz6Gwl3hNwSaXs1vdShf3n1IRC37FzGa1Ha26lBVqolIyqY5puHrui-jXZkIpxc4KMJkYOVqrHRvH5Z42r04kquKC_zUWRXmZ6M4AGJ4s/s320/IMG_2187.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We chose two different varieties of cherry tomato plant.</div>
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One was a sweet million...the other was labelled tri colour.</div>
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(we never did find out what tri colour meant....</div>
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they looked exactly like a sun gold to me)</div>
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We had them both on our deck railing.</div>
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Both were south facing with loads of sunlight.</div>
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One did far better than the other.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYowFpl0140m1RhxopYxMI0DSolaqC7MkUA4c1SYrve93dbRuFG8hdAJyDjlxGLgv8EN5egZngsdElezImEsQMxz8ecbHyT-pE_xc7ymRenznAaiJHmf2ebsETLNYa5NILO8ljCaOdt4/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYowFpl0140m1RhxopYxMI0DSolaqC7MkUA4c1SYrve93dbRuFG8hdAJyDjlxGLgv8EN5egZngsdElezImEsQMxz8ecbHyT-pE_xc7ymRenznAaiJHmf2ebsETLNYa5NILO8ljCaOdt4/s320/IMG_2190.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The tri colour started going to flower almost instantly!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHed7jHCxux7zLPQIevAnRnM141Y4MPsmwqr-_KNqZu1hISgL7UMcjA8cHBM3Wo3l3JXoT9VYaeVwJyDMrxHZyladmuEQOy34SNiyyQIb13cLiZkDSdvofwsEprdJ9Zz4HX8YTvpUvGI/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHed7jHCxux7zLPQIevAnRnM141Y4MPsmwqr-_KNqZu1hISgL7UMcjA8cHBM3Wo3l3JXoT9VYaeVwJyDMrxHZyladmuEQOy34SNiyyQIb13cLiZkDSdvofwsEprdJ9Zz4HX8YTvpUvGI/s320/IMG_2188.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The sweet million died shortly after its first water.</div>
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(Luckily we had a bunch of sweet million volunteers in the garden,</div>
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so we didn't do without red cherry tomatoes at all!)</div>
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I have to say...I was completely unimpressed by these things!</div>
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Sure, if you live in an apartment, they kinda make sense.</div>
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If I were an apartment dweller...I would just go with planters and elevate them</div>
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using milk crates or whatever.</div>
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That brings the planter up to a height were the whole plant gets enough sunlight.</div>
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(those barricades are tall in apartments!)</div>
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I would also recommend rotating the plants so that the entire plant gets light...</div>
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instead of just one side.</div>
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Its important to note that if you use planters...</div>
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make them big but not so big you can't rotate them.</div>
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(or put them on something with wheels or casters)</div>
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We usually resort to planters for cherry tomato plants because when we plant them</div>
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in the ground...they truly go insane.</div>
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They branch out and lay down all over whatever had the nerve to be planted next to it.</div>
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RESULTS:</div>
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Don't bother!</div>
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Use a container that allows the plant to grow as nature intended.</div>
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If you are only looking for a few handfuls of cherry tomatoes...</div>
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than maybe this is the solution for you.</div>
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Me? I love cherry tomatoes.</div>
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A few handfuls wouldn't do me (let alone the rest of the family)</div>
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any good.</div>
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The whole season reaped a sad return for my efforts.</div>
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Anyone else had a turn with these contraptions?</div>
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I'd love to here your feedback.</div>
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Sound off below!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-50050774475150325002016-01-11T11:02:00.001-05:002016-01-11T11:02:56.314-05:004 of my Top Hearty Meals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXHGLkAqaCRt-QcKSAlqJgGEeuUY3SThWth9-hXi5RHoY76aNFtBVgJMBe1X-UfZIoTSeaqli4VbRSgL6-23Bf9OJ-Nd37V5Gf9TGI7dg7AZZ-jfriZyzTZVa_H9sG40qwytViU8oQQ4/s1600/IMG_3751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXHGLkAqaCRt-QcKSAlqJgGEeuUY3SThWth9-hXi5RHoY76aNFtBVgJMBe1X-UfZIoTSeaqli4VbRSgL6-23Bf9OJ-Nd37V5Gf9TGI7dg7AZZ-jfriZyzTZVa_H9sG40qwytViU8oQQ4/s320/IMG_3751.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ham and Split Pea Soup</div>
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We started with the ham bone leftover from Christmas dinner at my mom's house.</div>
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Boiled for a few hours with spices (oregano, thyme, bay leaf, s n p)<br />
and vegetables (onions, celery, carrots).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Removed the bone and added the remaining contents to a blender,<br />
then returned to pot.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Added chopped leftover ham and simmered a few minutes more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKMmCP-gXAOGHXkRKBfaZky8zhwNjz4Z5S_u5_vUclwxKn65zOW5RnvZno1mKiXyLPhJXo0doo8TeFVPRDu4Ocou71qmr5UbiBPlqk6c1pD0HtqRbetxOqzdNGVO2Ufxlo9voQh-nLU0/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKMmCP-gXAOGHXkRKBfaZky8zhwNjz4Z5S_u5_vUclwxKn65zOW5RnvZno1mKiXyLPhJXo0doo8TeFVPRDu4Ocou71qmr5UbiBPlqk6c1pD0HtqRbetxOqzdNGVO2Ufxlo9voQh-nLU0/s320/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Turkey and Dumplings</div>
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Saved leftover turkey from Thanksgiving and froze it.</div>
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Thawed the meat in the fridge and placed it in a casserole dish.</div>
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Added frozen veggies from the garden (peas and beans)</div>
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Prepare a can of cream of whatever soup (I used cream of broccoli).</div>
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I also used a whole can of milk and a 1/3 of a can of water...</div>
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evaporation almost destroyed my first attempt at this dish.</div>
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(sauce was waaaay too thick)</div>
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Added veggies thawed or frozen...doesn't really matter.</div>
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Pour soup over all of that mess!</div>
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Cook covered in oven at 350 for approx 30 mins...or until bubbly.</div>
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NOW...mix up the dumplings and roll into 8 or so 2" balls.</div>
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Uncover casserole dish and place dumplings evenly over the top of the soup mixture.</div>
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Cook uncovered for another 15 or so minutes until the dumplings are firm.</div>
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Topped with 7 pepper spice...for a kick!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLJdud-w4zSm9dZxpwV47p067KP3vELxD9li7qxa2_magdU-Axgh8SJyx2Oc5QQR2CgZoHJEbPOpjw9P27P_dtvhmWDIcaAM8GZXvkmyUT3KY1qyhTPABuBlZYnGy2MhRZRpA83PcqkM/s1600/IMG_3662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLJdud-w4zSm9dZxpwV47p067KP3vELxD9li7qxa2_magdU-Axgh8SJyx2Oc5QQR2CgZoHJEbPOpjw9P27P_dtvhmWDIcaAM8GZXvkmyUT3KY1qyhTPABuBlZYnGy2MhRZRpA83PcqkM/s320/IMG_3662.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Pumpkin Soup</div>
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Roasted a pumpkin stored from the garden </div>
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(a cheyenne bush pumpkin from Wendy Moreton of Hamilton!)</div>
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Scooped out the flesh and ran it through the food processor.</div>
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Simmered onions in a pot.</div>
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Added pumpkin mash, 6 cups of water, s n p and a hint of thyme.</div>
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In the last few minutes, add cream or milk (we added milk)</div>
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Topped with the last of the roasted pumpkin seeds </div>
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(for added fibre...ok who am I kidding...it was for the crunch!)</div>
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***************</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7vZ-i4BI2MkVqwvJPxfiLlVYMVR157UU2fAhS_TTTiKoRBBHAiUOi9xcE0bpI4Rb38lNDdMuvmnDW97nOk9XAGOc93A_ssqPwV2k0uQ4B8-rUDqcpd7N0OrnlMBB8F4NQv8w0w9GSUM/s1600/IMG_3765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7vZ-i4BI2MkVqwvJPxfiLlVYMVR157UU2fAhS_TTTiKoRBBHAiUOi9xcE0bpI4Rb38lNDdMuvmnDW97nOk9XAGOc93A_ssqPwV2k0uQ4B8-rUDqcpd7N0OrnlMBB8F4NQv8w0w9GSUM/s320/IMG_3765.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Giant Hashbrown with Chipotle Mayo<br />
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This is my NEW FAVORITE BREAKFAST!<br />
<br />
Shred a whole potato into a bowl.<br />
Squeeze out any moisture you can.<br />
Add 1/2 a chopped onion and 1 egg.<br />
Heat up a frying pan and grease it with oil or spray.<br />
Once hot, spread the shredded potato mixture evenly around the pan.<br />
Use a cutting board to help flip evenly.<br />
<br />
Top with Chipotle mayo for a spicy way to start your day!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-62777575429968892922016-01-06T11:57:00.000-05:002016-01-06T11:57:37.015-05:00End of the Season 2015 part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
It was one helluva gardening season this year.<br />
Well...not really.<br />
I worked at an organic vegetable farm called The Kitchen Garden from May-August.<br />
Here's where I worked...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKyyNBLTTeKDStOylIYkMAVzQQbEM5SdpoqyDTwMhxtrdrFlbFi9RYtseyi15Fj9VClTJwSG9_edV9BBNf7PXNZ8GlqK3BWFMQmaP8Mm54tGiM03MmN-0amk_62l4uuZeS2-0oep1JZU/s1600/IMG_2720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKyyNBLTTeKDStOylIYkMAVzQQbEM5SdpoqyDTwMhxtrdrFlbFi9RYtseyi15Fj9VClTJwSG9_edV9BBNf7PXNZ8GlqK3BWFMQmaP8Mm54tGiM03MmN-0amk_62l4uuZeS2-0oep1JZU/s320/IMG_2720.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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A small view of the enormous fields at the farm.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n0K36Ia8WhyphenhyphenF6_vu1lyEFeO14iuUqj-CJiv-C9SOckk47ToNowdMj-CfCfEj50BoN4PR1V9RdXmr8_Z5Vj-p3hoBsrQrmyBDFbQ37-CmT6QhZcmR6gg2_KxRHS4WcYdKwX-bQUjLgBc/s1600/IMG_2721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_n0K36Ia8WhyphenhyphenF6_vu1lyEFeO14iuUqj-CJiv-C9SOckk47ToNowdMj-CfCfEj50BoN4PR1V9RdXmr8_Z5Vj-p3hoBsrQrmyBDFbQ37-CmT6QhZcmR6gg2_KxRHS4WcYdKwX-bQUjLgBc/s320/IMG_2721.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Inside one of the hoop houses I helped build by hand.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9udir7emRAcFr7KMSTx5wpW990i3j02i8UXikAvXUrPr43Ij7Wwh7bQ_uMK-63Nn2l7zEVMxW4eXbc0udqTmMBx9hp8oJRv5M8a25NeGw4Xmam6YxM0dE3JfJwL8sd5j__LYB2CoiOo/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9udir7emRAcFr7KMSTx5wpW990i3j02i8UXikAvXUrPr43Ij7Wwh7bQ_uMK-63Nn2l7zEVMxW4eXbc0udqTmMBx9hp8oJRv5M8a25NeGw4Xmam6YxM0dE3JfJwL8sd5j__LYB2CoiOo/s320/IMG_2114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The big pond I helped dig by hand.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1UxAzNt8VbX0B6lLP1Ot-87bRn4zuZCoMFMDsD9deyXYbEqBp3YNi-kW_Ej8swMO8_xpqrbNwGXOIdZPOqjnaohKiDV7HkBNaYm6bR96-pzLCNc7idmD3IwmwYhkb7C-qn9mFdD8CGg/s1600/IMG_2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1UxAzNt8VbX0B6lLP1Ot-87bRn4zuZCoMFMDsD9deyXYbEqBp3YNi-kW_Ej8swMO8_xpqrbNwGXOIdZPOqjnaohKiDV7HkBNaYm6bR96-pzLCNc7idmD3IwmwYhkb7C-qn9mFdD8CGg/s320/IMG_2115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The smaller pond I helped dig...that waterfalls into the big pond.</div>
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Working at the farm was an amazing experience but it was incredibly draining.</div>
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Meaning that poor husband of mine spent more than his share working our own garden.</div>
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I was grateful.</div>
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I was also exhausted.</div>
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Some days it was just because I'd spent 5 hours hoeing and just couldn't look at another weed.</div>
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Other days I had spent 5 hours picking beans...and couldn't fathom picking any more.</div>
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We still managed to put away a crazy amount of food.<br />
(stay tuned for more on that)</div>
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But the amount of food that we grew that got wasted broke my heart.<br />
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I learned an incredible amount as well.<br />
I learned about working smarter...and harder.<br />
I learned about different varieties of vegetables.<br />
I learned how to trellis them and maintain their health.<br />
I learned how to harvest them...and quickly!<br />
<br />
Speed is of the essence at a farm.<br />
The margin is so small on vegetable sales.<br />
You work fast...<br />
even if you feel like the heat is<br />
making your body move in slow motion.<br />
<br />
I learned how to use hand tools...<br />
something I've never done before.<br />
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(Seriously?! she's been gardening for over 10 yrs now!<br />
How is that even possible!?!?)<br />
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Well...we've been doing it by hand.<br />
Literally by hand all of this time.<br />
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Sure, we might use a wheelbarrow or a shovel.<br />
But all of that weeding and harvesting was done by hand.<br />
<br />
<br />
Let me tell you, I have some amazing discoveries to share in the coming year!<br />
No trademarked secrets that only The Kitchen Garden uses.<br />
Sorry folks, that's privileged information...and you'll have to work there to find out more.<br />
<br />
What I'm going to share with you are all of the<br />
things that I will be doing differently in my home garden.<br />
Tools, tips and trellising tricks...<br />
and much, much more!</div>
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Its all gonna change this year!<br />
Stay tuned...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-63531719844279179972015-11-17T09:31:00.003-05:002015-11-17T09:31:52.339-05:00New additions to the flock 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Another unexpected bonus to working at The Kitchen Garden was the part timer!</div>
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She is a skater boarder/bird breeder living in Erinsville.</div>
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You can find her on Instgram under the name The Real Farmacy.</div>
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It sounded like her homestead had a lot in common with ours...</div>
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so we thought we'd head out for a visit!</div>
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It was a short drive for my son and I one sunday morning</div>
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back in July I believe.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JFPH_aTjaoxlBlKBMbnDtaMxsve8tSXJ3SvE89L6G69IUVSB9NbW1pCi4IwdNeFcp07Snm85AWbx7U9mbWEi-cosInEAhHgAj2BP3uprWK84BGu3cYFGttmLDDoXvzhUzWCd5jrQXmc/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JFPH_aTjaoxlBlKBMbnDtaMxsve8tSXJ3SvE89L6G69IUVSB9NbW1pCi4IwdNeFcp07Snm85AWbx7U9mbWEi-cosInEAhHgAj2BP3uprWK84BGu3cYFGttmLDDoXvzhUzWCd5jrQXmc/s320/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She breeds turkeys.</div>
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Big ones.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2Hmw8Ako_ntwQjik0_ON-8hh2JD7iu9DOnxMIL2JRGr0i-pzD-hv94eBm8jNl6gCZuPNqsJPgmhyo5cU9tJzkBxKpVjr9gSvhiCvTAc6pdKzlxJupWm8WAGOjQKOuMpFjy5cwq2NkKc/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2Hmw8Ako_ntwQjik0_ON-8hh2JD7iu9DOnxMIL2JRGr0i-pzD-hv94eBm8jNl6gCZuPNqsJPgmhyo5cU9tJzkBxKpVjr9gSvhiCvTAc6pdKzlxJupWm8WAGOjQKOuMpFjy5cwq2NkKc/s320/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She has a flock of laying hens.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_mM0871hqYr6WktOrsDWGbVYaJMHi0Vi6_x-3WOl0QSCImjzRjJre-z9kGrkCt3PzKekXXcbER9IsbHLRSFCvDs-blAtWU6NbK1pRX__0LFQ_b278CZS0ufi5gvhCtHtVD48UHFk_q4/s1600/IMG_2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_mM0871hqYr6WktOrsDWGbVYaJMHi0Vi6_x-3WOl0QSCImjzRjJre-z9kGrkCt3PzKekXXcbER9IsbHLRSFCvDs-blAtWU6NbK1pRX__0LFQ_b278CZS0ufi5gvhCtHtVD48UHFk_q4/s320/IMG_2016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And a whole lotta chicks!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIp0shmAJAtf-7UCgPInFVIfYjvvtc5oc6ligMyL57JY6TvA9hNNOgoszuoKJRl03gfVeoQaQ5-N9c6q-CHwt0-SV-5IBZ1eD2NupoqC0yQ-_Uy8NhifGfiKMOZLWtMFBGUMsq219WPg/s1600/IMG_1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIp0shmAJAtf-7UCgPInFVIfYjvvtc5oc6ligMyL57JY6TvA9hNNOgoszuoKJRl03gfVeoQaQ5-N9c6q-CHwt0-SV-5IBZ1eD2NupoqC0yQ-_Uy8NhifGfiKMOZLWtMFBGUMsq219WPg/s320/IMG_1986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My son was very taken with the baby turkeys (Poults if you want to get technical).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TG_CDCmdZTENin6nI-MMQ9ik_DDwYIF60oy7O0Dkm0fDynIQAOay2AYEMaXMdgNdta5LtBTs0OF0lvnybj2gsH8Awe8U9JyqEfXpI6Heph8DBg7DtMB_R7PLFlcOdCSz2h3OhUB_9AA/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TG_CDCmdZTENin6nI-MMQ9ik_DDwYIF60oy7O0Dkm0fDynIQAOay2AYEMaXMdgNdta5LtBTs0OF0lvnybj2gsH8Awe8U9JyqEfXpI6Heph8DBg7DtMB_R7PLFlcOdCSz2h3OhUB_9AA/s320/IMG_2006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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They were pretty sweet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8hqLVTRY52cOX-UXacUQTRnQ8025ZsVMlFc-LSIW9BOYEmeLSOJGZ0w6A_1ppiewWtMCB6Tj91NjYOkBKqFKoNiyr0e7jClQdXrtAKGftTpftoCXTpjaY7bar0XiRITasMCWLuwkYho/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8hqLVTRY52cOX-UXacUQTRnQ8025ZsVMlFc-LSIW9BOYEmeLSOJGZ0w6A_1ppiewWtMCB6Tj91NjYOkBKqFKoNiyr0e7jClQdXrtAKGftTpftoCXTpjaY7bar0XiRITasMCWLuwkYho/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Aw who am I kidding?</div>
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They were freakin adorable!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgce6XQy4OQPeZIhbDex5suYNWgwDPgWccsLtc1YEpUT1F53MOg6MfJMQmBi5O4mLlPw6Bh7vqYijQZ-YVgK-p2KJvlsWAIXHElOz8OFzx9KSn2htOwBn7ihkCgVOu5oVlXAoRolEwuVVc/s1600/IMG_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgce6XQy4OQPeZIhbDex5suYNWgwDPgWccsLtc1YEpUT1F53MOg6MfJMQmBi5O4mLlPw6Bh7vqYijQZ-YVgK-p2KJvlsWAIXHElOz8OFzx9KSn2htOwBn7ihkCgVOu5oVlXAoRolEwuVVc/s320/IMG_2085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Luckily we only came home with 3 hens.</div>
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Two Ameraucanas.</div>
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One Jersey Giant.</div>
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A JERSEY GIANT.</div>
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Not sure what I was thinking...</div>
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but I'll be sure to post a picture of her when she is all grown up!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsRUvf46c-SFM5_lycyB0LcqIqbyITJtRGfpLw0vOj6-EgJHsIrnO4xapxo5wbmGf-yw6x6pfAynduFkfspASZqkqnB0Hp7gPM9-ZsIbuu6tkT4c9PFEsK35kj9ASLiJjKsXa3mL7qpc/s1600/IMG_2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsRUvf46c-SFM5_lycyB0LcqIqbyITJtRGfpLw0vOj6-EgJHsIrnO4xapxo5wbmGf-yw6x6pfAynduFkfspASZqkqnB0Hp7gPM9-ZsIbuu6tkT4c9PFEsK35kj9ASLiJjKsXa3mL7qpc/s320/IMG_2103.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm super excited to see how these new babies make out with our flock.</div>
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I'm also stoked to see how the giant turns out!</div>
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That brings us up to 12 hens.</div>
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Still perfectly acceptable.</div>
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No crazy chicken ladies here.</div>
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Nope.</div>
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SUPER SAD UPDATE:</div>
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Two weeks after I wrote this post...a raccoon grabbed two of the new chicks.</div>
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Killed them both.</div>
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And the orange necked ameraucana in the bottom of the picture above survived.</div>
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She's a scrappy lil thing but she was pretty traumatized by the whole event.</div>
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I was devastated by the loss of the two chicks.</div>
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It was our first attack on our hens.</div>
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For better or worse, we shot the raccoon the next night in a </div>
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wave of anger and a feeling of protecting our flock.</div>
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Not sure how I feel about it now.</div>
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I'm still an animal lover...</div>
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and its not like we go sport hunting raccoons all of the time.</div>
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We've lived here happily for 4 years without having to kill off the local wildlife.</div>
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I would like to think the next time we'll use a live trap.</div>
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Then I saw a big turkey vulture flying very close to our yard...</div>
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and thought...</div>
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why would I deprive such a majestic bird a well deserved meal?</div>
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All I know is those sweet lil chicks aint growing up.</div>
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And I was pretty pissed about that fact.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJb-nd-6bX5CNse214gv2C8z1EtQOFq0WItPZeFZwj9Xq-MC5umZQ15NSbjnRDv9F2MqxR2s3Js4zEMvAwaYzoKA8nhyphenhyphenYVSK-3HstU7t4D3ocRPKQALSwacREUknTRT_BkiLzRM2oOvM/s1600/IMG_2287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJb-nd-6bX5CNse214gv2C8z1EtQOFq0WItPZeFZwj9Xq-MC5umZQ15NSbjnRDv9F2MqxR2s3Js4zEMvAwaYzoKA8nhyphenhyphenYVSK-3HstU7t4D3ocRPKQALSwacREUknTRT_BkiLzRM2oOvM/s320/IMG_2287.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Another Update:</div>
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We took in 3 of my sister-in-law's hens.</div>
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One died mysteriously shortly after we took them in.</div>
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The other one didn't integrate very well.</div>
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She developed a head wound that would not heal.</div>
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We separated her from the flock on numerous occasions.</div>
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Each time we tried to re-introduce her...they would attack her all over again.</div>
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We made the choice to end her suffering.</div>
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Strangely enough the whole flock calmed down once she was gone.</div>
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One of our original flock died of old age.</div>
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Then our Silver Laced Wyandotte had a prolapsed vent.</div>
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Our flock is now 6...but spring of 2016 will bring way more hen madness!</div>
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Stay tuned for the new arrivals... </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-6776737085536719232015-09-23T10:01:00.001-04:002015-09-23T10:01:34.734-04:00Apples<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So its fall!</div>
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At least that's what my calendar is telling me.</div>
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I suppose if I were to sit and think on it...</div>
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It feels like fall too.</div>
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The air is cooler.</div>
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(Not so stifling and heavy)</div>
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The geese are honking their goodbyes.</div>
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The nights are beautiful!</div>
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(no bugs)</div>
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Not to mention, my calendar says its fall today...officially.</div>
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When its fall we pick apples.</div>
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Certainly not the <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2011/10/apple-pickin-season.html">first time</a>.</div>
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Definitely not the last time.</div>
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We have picked apples at <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2014/10/apple-picking-and-other-fall-things.html">local farms</a> too!</div>
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What makes this year a little different is that our favorite trees are heavy with fruit.</div>
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My sister in law has several GREAT apple trees.</div>
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The past few years have been hard on them.</div>
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Serious winters, porcupine damage, deer thieves...</div>
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These trees hardly stand a chance!</div>
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And yet this year they are spectacular!</div>
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(and luckily for us, they are right around the corner)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaVeF9BkdrYRNVQlZ9K1fD3UauO8XxJ9gS2xdyiqQwmb6-zqQPDzLZr27-o2VH0VIaN2KyAYy83rIp86MMkneIF3F7S3kQkRJab3J_4CgaJMy7b7Om7T-Ox9ze345W_cDTk4NFNUuSRE/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaVeF9BkdrYRNVQlZ9K1fD3UauO8XxJ9gS2xdyiqQwmb6-zqQPDzLZr27-o2VH0VIaN2KyAYy83rIp86MMkneIF3F7S3kQkRJab3J_4CgaJMy7b7Om7T-Ox9ze345W_cDTk4NFNUuSRE/s320/IMG_2873.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We drove up one evening to grab the apples before the deer at them all.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXeFKJcHohNIsfPnbLqmoSkn5kMTW-YBTd_8fZtf-O3NiKz492bOdgGSfBAx-6QbuyePU95K5NWBl6LtTg2zBg-WZkhiO0zkkyWiSfHTmGaOkKpW_5jwCbzDu17BcfH9OdQvboSalByc/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXeFKJcHohNIsfPnbLqmoSkn5kMTW-YBTd_8fZtf-O3NiKz492bOdgGSfBAx-6QbuyePU95K5NWBl6LtTg2zBg-WZkhiO0zkkyWiSfHTmGaOkKpW_5jwCbzDu17BcfH9OdQvboSalByc/s320/IMG_2890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Owen was pretty annoyed that there was only one picking tool to be had...</div>
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So I made him the official apple picking photographer.</div>
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At 8 years old...he's not to bad!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxZ0cvuKTxD6Ef-2i-NlRkYZDDLWHw1AuldvKLfGm9yW1DfAHa4sOHICcIfEQtcbeJ6r6bxklRR1ec7CGGRDw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Apple picking action!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qTzMBpHcrU2lJTlCenzcjFIV8u-or26DF15l7ttgNy3z2k6WCNrqTNV3P4fioCyyGsA5WKTrsWN9-zEHOuRq6cPIw7-E9BEuZwtPi23bZ69qPSBErPfwvjX_BWKr7rU0UwNDCSze5kI/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qTzMBpHcrU2lJTlCenzcjFIV8u-or26DF15l7ttgNy3z2k6WCNrqTNV3P4fioCyyGsA5WKTrsWN9-zEHOuRq6cPIw7-E9BEuZwtPi23bZ69qPSBErPfwvjX_BWKr7rU0UwNDCSze5kI/s320/IMG_2897.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I remembered the cloth in the picking tool this time...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zV8cWT94HK29dDqEiBWRNlAxeMlnqv5W1jf6hCWKobRDoxLMRTXrjhjw3m7NSS96OWEV-gyAMCr_lXqFn1lqGKIXodB82usDUBGE4xV1KIalcaDKW1FcPETY50NQMx9MqKfW1LJSNJs/s1600/IMG_3043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zV8cWT94HK29dDqEiBWRNlAxeMlnqv5W1jf6hCWKobRDoxLMRTXrjhjw3m7NSS96OWEV-gyAMCr_lXqFn1lqGKIXodB82usDUBGE4xV1KIalcaDKW1FcPETY50NQMx9MqKfW1LJSNJs/s320/IMG_3043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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No I didn't bring rum to pick apples...although...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqJoDbGxBxJ7xz3WNMi2tl6h0cL4vMyBq4zJ8mxczBe9Hfne47e445fauWgDh5AbZmz5WU9WG5Qtpppfe-aYa-yuaCvl56Uw-tKx6XuqSNl3PjbiSK-6MP8zj-OahaF4tEM44iSOVEmc/s1600/IMG_2905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqJoDbGxBxJ7xz3WNMi2tl6h0cL4vMyBq4zJ8mxczBe9Hfne47e445fauWgDh5AbZmz5WU9WG5Qtpppfe-aYa-yuaCvl56Uw-tKx6XuqSNl3PjbiSK-6MP8zj-OahaF4tEM44iSOVEmc/s320/IMG_2905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also scored a cabbage too!</div>
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(Located in the nearby veggie garden))</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2lKmfCVndBttsH5uZAbXNl6Vv1xGuERXsEnE5VWsG1raomUbrSACXLBQpNfGZ0NvH5riTA2F2g2gEY_TjQUvNAF5d0BfZZ7yb2ThPvlzBLGzfvB7WhYXSslQR5JroZjrqwGAvWO1juE/s1600/IMG_3007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2lKmfCVndBttsH5uZAbXNl6Vv1xGuERXsEnE5VWsG1raomUbrSACXLBQpNfGZ0NvH5riTA2F2g2gEY_TjQUvNAF5d0BfZZ7yb2ThPvlzBLGzfvB7WhYXSslQR5JroZjrqwGAvWO1juE/s320/IMG_3007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And in case you are wondering...</div>
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Here is a <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2014/10/what-to-do-with-all-those-apples.html">handy post</a> that describes what we do with all of those apples.</div>
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And if you are interested...</div>
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I have posts on <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2011/10/apples-havarti-quiche.html">Apple and Havarti Quiche</a></div>
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As well as <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2011/02/sexy-sailors-okits-really-about.html">Parsnip Apple and Brie</a> here.</div>
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Both are well worth trying!!!</div>
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I promise! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-25725920557498598042015-09-16T10:58:00.002-04:002015-09-16T10:58:54.730-04:00Talking Garlic at Burt's Greenhouses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well another weekend...and another event about GARLIC!</div>
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This time I traveled to Wilton, ON to <a href="http://burtsgh.com/">Burt's Greenhouses</a></div>
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to see Mr Brian Burt talk all about how<i> they</i> grow garlic.</div>
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Brian and Ruth have been growing garlic for sale for 5 years now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Oz28Srb5UYqCVAnTHzVTYBXxpoLFZ9VZDoRYO50UQJFBxvDUKtlNNRQ9X8-Wpr_0pw9vOr3Ck1gINkJgIwBjd1rPGEtanrmqrdpgEWQFVqAihAFZZP9xdz4Ixpq_mbboqmsfEPGPO9s/s1600/IMG_3151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Oz28Srb5UYqCVAnTHzVTYBXxpoLFZ9VZDoRYO50UQJFBxvDUKtlNNRQ9X8-Wpr_0pw9vOr3Ck1gINkJgIwBjd1rPGEtanrmqrdpgEWQFVqAihAFZZP9xdz4Ixpq_mbboqmsfEPGPO9s/s320/IMG_3151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Held in the greenhouse itself, it was a super informative talk.</div>
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It was interesting to learn from the growers perspective.</div>
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Why they grow what they grow and how.</div>
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Brian is a very animated speaker...</div>
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so it wasn't until I went to get out of my chair that I realized how long I'd been sitting.</div>
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He kept the small group hanging on his every word.</div>
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Brian spoke about some of the issues in growing garlic...</div>
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such as bulb and root nematodes.</div>
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They use french marigolds (as shown behind Brian in the above picture)</div>
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to help the garlic fight off the bad nematodes.</div>
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He also spoke about leek moths and </div>
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how they spray the garlic in May with beneficial nematodes in the evening to combat this issue.</div>
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He grows Cutlass oriental mustard to fight off the pathological nematodes.</div>
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He overwinters the garlic in his greenhouses in order to </div>
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maintain a consistent level of moisture and temperature.</div>
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He also top dresses the garlic rounds with chipped deciduous wood due to the high tannin content.</div>
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Brian mentioned that they specifically grow garlic rounds rather </div>
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than bulbs to help keep the stock safe from pests that prefer a more developed bulb.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdiMENiCMwm3t51hKatNQ_jknmHKEApFVPH7GQ13nVFzzsaNSJ3K4rUjTMyPzcz98qEoTI2wUn2lR3Vscd42dVCTozU4CVn1bC-PwsUppMywgLXru89JvomXl3hUQ1TxVJUc4PeWiSI4/s1600/IMG_3152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdiMENiCMwm3t51hKatNQ_jknmHKEApFVPH7GQ13nVFzzsaNSJ3K4rUjTMyPzcz98qEoTI2wUn2lR3Vscd42dVCTozU4CVn1bC-PwsUppMywgLXru89JvomXl3hUQ1TxVJUc4PeWiSI4/s320/IMG_3152.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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All in all it was a great talk that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in growing their own garlic.</div>
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It stores well (when properly harvested) and can be enjoyed in almost any dish!</div>
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I hope that Brian felt the event was a success and will repeat the event next September.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-39466727073636188212015-09-08T10:05:00.001-04:002015-09-08T10:05:02.877-04:00Verona Garlic Festival 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Saturday was the annual Verona Garlic Festival.</div>
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It has become quite an event for this community!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa4qVrIKK6Yz4VDCPNc2RKm8GpIFbkTYi9JA6MQTbNVg86EneiIPH9Ff7eohSmiEF4B7LTf8AeUbXVq9vN6AQxchbdVJEWj0ek-UoQAjJRVLV4jjuQKtNje9ylxtHaAl_WR7VAKxyhU8/s1600/IMG_2820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa4qVrIKK6Yz4VDCPNc2RKm8GpIFbkTYi9JA6MQTbNVg86EneiIPH9Ff7eohSmiEF4B7LTf8AeUbXVq9vN6AQxchbdVJEWj0ek-UoQAjJRVLV4jjuQKtNje9ylxtHaAl_WR7VAKxyhU8/s320/IMG_2820.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to BearRoot Gardens for this beautiful braid!!!</td></tr>
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I just love stocking up on garlic.</div>
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Although we tried to grow garlic for the first time this year...</div>
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It wasn't a huge success.</div>
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Thank goodness for events like this!</div>
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Its a place where you can stock up,</div>
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Meet the grower and </div>
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Learn something new!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0Adt2JzY4f6OZ-mTDkqxbScT2ag5Hk4ZennKqXvq5FesqV5sYhF7REhCzBjsbd7VpHYsHhqfNlWx_ZFprkR7CLiZSoz3NS6J9OkvOeHMZ39Tbi_fdZHhQHuZQ0qazveoIDzfG2L2o_o/s1600/IMG_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0Adt2JzY4f6OZ-mTDkqxbScT2ag5Hk4ZennKqXvq5FesqV5sYhF7REhCzBjsbd7VpHYsHhqfNlWx_ZFprkR7CLiZSoz3NS6J9OkvOeHMZ39Tbi_fdZHhQHuZQ0qazveoIDzfG2L2o_o/s320/IMG_2821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There were many many vendors.</div>
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They came from all over Ontario!</div>
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The vendors were mainly garlic producers...</div>
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but they offered so much more!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AwxYu9lROArRExZBUHgqPZ_YMYb6hnGTt4TvPmPhqslrH3tlyasyzYOC0VRREQeDAkOCfdSuiCo2eUQEQRIHZNsPmKJMgX1fZVrVvsNPBFVfRZG2tO8bbE06r2kxzwC2f0dEjepivQ0/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AwxYu9lROArRExZBUHgqPZ_YMYb6hnGTt4TvPmPhqslrH3tlyasyzYOC0VRREQeDAkOCfdSuiCo2eUQEQRIHZNsPmKJMgX1fZVrVvsNPBFVfRZG2tO8bbE06r2kxzwC2f0dEjepivQ0/s320/IMG_2822.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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All kinds of garlic...garlic pesto, garlic dips, marinades, sauces.</div>
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But not just garlic!</div>
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There was a honey vendor, a hot sauce guy from St Lucia, </div>
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a booth offering wine samples...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7mcXLpi0_74207ECz7bYriy7LzgF5SU7YQ6kp_rVhQqS_PUSdzJdbzbBK9r9zD1Wq-ToWjNy8uioOy2C3EDzid-s6vvMVdM9edVYNWSxIQ6nGIYkjRNaJQA9dflSkoe4PJSJ_0ZVL8g/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7mcXLpi0_74207ECz7bYriy7LzgF5SU7YQ6kp_rVhQqS_PUSdzJdbzbBK9r9zD1Wq-ToWjNy8uioOy2C3EDzid-s6vvMVdM9edVYNWSxIQ6nGIYkjRNaJQA9dflSkoe4PJSJ_0ZVL8g/s320/IMG_2823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Tai Chi Society was out too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hj0LggabCEL_QaTKQUnPlZEAXuWHVUXoirY8TDk7RWIMttTC27gVRCEIdGjykFnxzVF-V-RK18hrZ3xIdeoCGH6bC7Y5Vy36FinYao2RKAeg5MTJnp3_k0fu8ijuhJGQ4hcR03Tsgow/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hj0LggabCEL_QaTKQUnPlZEAXuWHVUXoirY8TDk7RWIMttTC27gVRCEIdGjykFnxzVF-V-RK18hrZ3xIdeoCGH6bC7Y5Vy36FinYao2RKAeg5MTJnp3_k0fu8ijuhJGQ4hcR03Tsgow/s320/IMG_2824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Small farms trying to get the word out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCpBNCiAV7t4KOlh_T-xE1SYdpZBLxBH-9aS3xSNu_KVsVySJjjg13d4aX0Shklq00tXZQdY5h9TaTfk6DV-OgiW6OltD9XsNcs1roSYi6eDuiNi0x56LMcl4LwznSE-j_ltN_rbTGoI/s1600/IMG_2825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCpBNCiAV7t4KOlh_T-xE1SYdpZBLxBH-9aS3xSNu_KVsVySJjjg13d4aX0Shklq00tXZQdY5h9TaTfk6DV-OgiW6OltD9XsNcs1roSYi6eDuiNi0x56LMcl4LwznSE-j_ltN_rbTGoI/s320/IMG_2825.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Garlic is great!</div>
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And shopping locally feels good.</div>
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(it tastes even better)</div>
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If its within reach, you should definitely make a plan to attend next year's event!</div>
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PS. There were so many vendors offering free samples...</div>
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my mouth was certainly burning by the time I left!!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-78034384190683388432015-08-25T21:23:00.003-04:002015-08-25T21:23:58.353-04:00What you plant and why it matters...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So this year I broke down and bought a bag of pea seeds.</div>
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I normally just plant what we saved from last year.</div>
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This year the packaging seduced me.</div>
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The Heritage Seeds Co.</div>
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Brown paper bag shouting</div>
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"LINCOLN HOMESTEADER"</div>
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I couldn't help myself.</div>
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I note that normally I don't care what kind of stuff I plant.</div>
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But thanks to my new job growing organic vegetables at The Kitchen Garden...</div>
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I know it matters what you grow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28jWxaISqSuCO_Hm5X_zh9tqx-Irz80ZKvsS_IgHrG5mCs7kvHYv-_3mD_2LMfyPLwhsruGbRM2FK5-su1OJEPyaTuU_Dl-tvteYeOZbk2m2sGDahRnXYbux9vefbXOWxbYXdhMGMlIw/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28jWxaISqSuCO_Hm5X_zh9tqx-Irz80ZKvsS_IgHrG5mCs7kvHYv-_3mD_2LMfyPLwhsruGbRM2FK5-su1OJEPyaTuU_Dl-tvteYeOZbk2m2sGDahRnXYbux9vefbXOWxbYXdhMGMlIw/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'll show you the proof.</div>
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Above you'll see the pea on the left...is one grown from seed we saved.</div>
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The one on right is the Lincoln Homesteader.</div>
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I will forever use capitals and call them by their right name...</div>
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they are an amazing specimen of shelling pea.</div>
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The one on the left (ours) produced poorly and with only about 3-4 peas per pod.</div>
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The one on the right (Righteous Lincoln Homesteader) kept pumping out the peas for 5 weeks and produced a whopping 12-14 peas per pod!!!</div>
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NOTE: They then produced a very healthy second blush of perfectly sweet peas in the middle of AUGUST!?!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHPmpWtG8Y40eksQ2gkgc4Mhs2z4v1-uX16z8hVF5hmiL8H6t5vhzw0GH1vKTYkQzxzobpIgBuMmPKFNnaE7tkePob014-aqhmRB10oikj6E1QRQmz_XHFRhaFV8AKhKyUzr7cIa60yo/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHPmpWtG8Y40eksQ2gkgc4Mhs2z4v1-uX16z8hVF5hmiL8H6t5vhzw0GH1vKTYkQzxzobpIgBuMmPKFNnaE7tkePob014-aqhmRB10oikj6E1QRQmz_XHFRhaFV8AKhKyUzr7cIa60yo/s320/IMG_2289.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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That means...</div>
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We have 2 large freezer bags stuffed full of peas for the winter.</div>
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Dang!</div>
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That's the most peas we've ever been able to store!!!</div>
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Thank you Heritage Seed Co.</div>
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Thank you Lincoln Homesteader.</div>
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PS. We planted another beds of peas two weeks ago...I'll give you 3 guesses what kind...</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-11224695544692215402015-08-08T15:07:00.001-04:002015-08-08T15:07:39.809-04:00Hot Weather and Chicken Keeping<div style="text-align: center;">
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Like most places recently, we experienced a heat wave.</div>
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When you have livestock...of any size...you need to be aware.</div>
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It's no joke.</div>
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A girl I know lost her tom turkey to heat stress.</div>
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Even if you provide enough shade...it's not enough.</div>
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This past week was 29 degrees C...in the shade.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA3iwYR2N1XDarBMD6QCP5UtjBn8J45lEve_hTGkOOzpeX6nymgFbIGq_fyeHP-QokzFNVyaCreVdIH8PhbdSQnE64chWGr1JBzN8lvsuHpFdLTDVNJNzAn8ABrF9Jh9d1P-W1cJ_7DE/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA3iwYR2N1XDarBMD6QCP5UtjBn8J45lEve_hTGkOOzpeX6nymgFbIGq_fyeHP-QokzFNVyaCreVdIH8PhbdSQnE64chWGr1JBzN8lvsuHpFdLTDVNJNzAn8ABrF9Jh9d1P-W1cJ_7DE/s320/IMG_2391.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I saw this post on Pinterest...about putting stuff in ice cubes for your hens.</div>
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It cools them off.</div>
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It's a boredom buster.</div>
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It has healthy treats inside.</div>
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What's not to love?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vBNBsnZBbt3r15E7R42XNXs-mT8sopAOGEIHh11g6rYo1L7I2qfS5p5fkhuRkSvO-c1MEv23Tg6KeQhcqNNd8RlGw2Tk59IAZCe7ImgtjFyWqeflJWE_QeU7aa7zvODacUJuPv7NDF0/s1600/IMG_2393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vBNBsnZBbt3r15E7R42XNXs-mT8sopAOGEIHh11g6rYo1L7I2qfS5p5fkhuRkSvO-c1MEv23Tg6KeQhcqNNd8RlGw2Tk59IAZCe7ImgtjFyWqeflJWE_QeU7aa7zvODacUJuPv7NDF0/s320/IMG_2393.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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They were definitely curious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4idakqyqFTOl26Y5oBhZWzNqmpTkTYZGXiqFneImgjV_F3_dz8Ua4MWDVD0ITiTXfW5ChX9HgTVqw2q6C-_h6zu_850MvxrRjQynjAuaZwphhnlm6WY2UBM3ESxDKHMcQWKE7TrlMmk/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4idakqyqFTOl26Y5oBhZWzNqmpTkTYZGXiqFneImgjV_F3_dz8Ua4MWDVD0ITiTXfW5ChX9HgTVqw2q6C-_h6zu_850MvxrRjQynjAuaZwphhnlm6WY2UBM3ESxDKHMcQWKE7TrlMmk/s320/IMG_2396.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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They loved it!</div>
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PS. We left peas out on the counter.</div>
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They dried up a bit overnight...not the most desirable for eating.</div>
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So I threw them in an ice cube tray along with some old frozen corn from last year.</div>
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Why not?</div>
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How do you beat the heat with your livestock?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-70799376283710048062015-08-01T09:21:00.004-04:002015-08-01T09:21:38.926-04:00Strawberries...quickest season ever...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Well that was fast!</div>
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hot dry May + hot wet June = Crappy Strawberry season 2015</div>
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We are fortunate that my husband gets the first two weeks of July off.</div>
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If we didn't have that opportunity...we wouldn't have gotten any strawberries this year.</div>
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Husband and son went to Fruition Berry Farm on hwy 15, north of Kingston.</div>
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They came home with a bunch of baskets.</div>
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(They even came home with new baskets!</div>
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Our old plastic white ones have lasted almost 10 years!)</div>
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They even came home with 5 pints of pre-picked raspberries.</div>
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The same equation up above applies to raspberries with one exception.</div>
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hot dry May + hot wet June = no picking after noon in July</div>
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The boys just missed it.</div>
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Thank goodness for pre-picked berries!!!</div>
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(and the staff that go in the hot field to pick them!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dJsXYhuube9OrYOehweUUCoF5ojDSXcnLLjWzsUod1U6YoXLdde_B7CMacQK1f8SjiWtQOZE02uCoFqPPAw4t5N8Zx7zG-PjMVxBauZBlyHDNL74_8OLIOCcRHFNjs_1jNr1w9ghyLQ/s1600/IMG_2249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dJsXYhuube9OrYOehweUUCoF5ojDSXcnLLjWzsUod1U6YoXLdde_B7CMacQK1f8SjiWtQOZE02uCoFqPPAw4t5N8Zx7zG-PjMVxBauZBlyHDNL74_8OLIOCcRHFNjs_1jNr1w9ghyLQ/s320/IMG_2249.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We froze 4 large freezer bags of whole, cleaned strawberries</div>
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and one large freezer bag of whole, cleaned raspberries.</div>
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Perfect for smoothies!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUuEnFUefU7jnBo00lvV5YfTtjyOm4cGipXUgKhRSRu3Vm9NGCR1zo-DB7H0MyMWzpMiyzoyajLf1vXwFjXja_QHnMaRnmn0tK5WrZnu2JhE5uBFI2OSECyP2n2fOQlupn8mYpsGykAY/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUuEnFUefU7jnBo00lvV5YfTtjyOm4cGipXUgKhRSRu3Vm9NGCR1zo-DB7H0MyMWzpMiyzoyajLf1vXwFjXja_QHnMaRnmn0tK5WrZnu2JhE5uBFI2OSECyP2n2fOQlupn8mYpsGykAY/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also jarred 8 jars of strawberry jam,</div>
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4 jars of raspberry jam and</div>
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1 jar of rasp-strawberry jam!</div>
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Perfect for the classic...PB & J.</div>
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Which is one of Owen's favorite breakfasts...</div>
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Since he can't eat them at school.</div>
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I heard mixed reviews about picking from other folks at other patches in our area.</div>
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Some had it good....others, not so much.</div>
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Did you get to go berry picking?</div>
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Where and how was it?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-11680930693755647482015-07-26T19:53:00.003-04:002015-07-26T19:53:59.413-04:00Garden Update 2015 Edition part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bellstar sauce tomatoes!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQFsZWdsDbwengH1syunbAZF9Zb3IIjtO9MRfwYgBpLtHwBx6h1UJY3Sembgqqj1iS3p4GcWQxO7qNuzl3Uo2VNd1k20ljlCk2m5G-1DkyKa_KtmtCvJ58fOQLpqFiel4WkjUNQl5u0Q/s1600/IMG_2445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQFsZWdsDbwengH1syunbAZF9Zb3IIjtO9MRfwYgBpLtHwBx6h1UJY3Sembgqqj1iS3p4GcWQxO7qNuzl3Uo2VNd1k20ljlCk2m5G-1DkyKa_KtmtCvJ58fOQLpqFiel4WkjUNQl5u0Q/s320/IMG_2445.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Green Globe Artichokes....not choking yet</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46poDJp-OI3fSFCWGKsy9jGOVLoq2VNHcVIcNUcDUv_SutfDVaN8tmYin2ZlWi3HasnMoUslRKER-MAQf1zyvLQsqFDoAtifiX7lxwSsSbGjhyIrYnQ_zdDElSk6rnPV4AbdeGcGUqt0/s1600/IMG_2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46poDJp-OI3fSFCWGKsy9jGOVLoq2VNHcVIcNUcDUv_SutfDVaN8tmYin2ZlWi3HasnMoUslRKER-MAQf1zyvLQsqFDoAtifiX7lxwSsSbGjhyIrYnQ_zdDElSk6rnPV4AbdeGcGUqt0/s320/IMG_2443.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Broccoli</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvXwh-mYbz1IvQzTMwT0EhMi1ndmw-C1IfaCAXAVIED8C890m91v83C9C6Zg3PPumRTgEvN6Ivu6a5F25INEtypJBgbIIw60sCTrX_v-Wsw7ad_L4OsswzMs6kxBgcj-9X2iMd3AIlP4/s1600/IMG_2444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvXwh-mYbz1IvQzTMwT0EhMi1ndmw-C1IfaCAXAVIED8C890m91v83C9C6Zg3PPumRTgEvN6Ivu6a5F25INEtypJBgbIIw60sCTrX_v-Wsw7ad_L4OsswzMs6kxBgcj-9X2iMd3AIlP4/s320/IMG_2444.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Red onions</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9odDP4Lp6B7MFYDUKoV9lCG50SYKqYBi9yws6ZOIbRWpNiiYBCR1aaf1T8sMisBcD2XtO1Ypfs4y2OUxd7iVNgjgQMerVI6xAt-cqYDE0fa21h2XRx3Tlq30Qb9gQ-iepRJTHRxNoEy4/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9odDP4Lp6B7MFYDUKoV9lCG50SYKqYBi9yws6ZOIbRWpNiiYBCR1aaf1T8sMisBcD2XtO1Ypfs4y2OUxd7iVNgjgQMerVI6xAt-cqYDE0fa21h2XRx3Tlq30Qb9gQ-iepRJTHRxNoEy4/s320/IMG_2455.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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White onions</div>
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Brussels sprouts...from above...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VG5BkgG-OXKHAaYH_WiL4AdkzK8lisjd9nZTzOi1Xvw9CLHHeENpcuGcLrNWTC6cHvk9Bp1fKLNQjGx5cpIu7dLM6OTV8UBcp5RQWX36T7meI8HAn1UkP6wo2WaiXVi2M7LSCR5tfNU/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VG5BkgG-OXKHAaYH_WiL4AdkzK8lisjd9nZTzOi1Xvw9CLHHeENpcuGcLrNWTC6cHvk9Bp1fKLNQjGx5cpIu7dLM6OTV8UBcp5RQWX36T7meI8HAn1UkP6wo2WaiXVi2M7LSCR5tfNU/s320/IMG_2182.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And below...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKirWUzujkGuTId5cNs6FsJ_MnHyZqUBwSHXLnlmb7ybSDwQy-jpmSnFMd_AnKevtGF4QRgBO3_06szEM1p2hi6pSt9a68vkjIE7r53vJ_KgICR7qPkjXT_zIwD2d58mUnx7uuxP6UORI/s1600/IMG_2457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKirWUzujkGuTId5cNs6FsJ_MnHyZqUBwSHXLnlmb7ybSDwQy-jpmSnFMd_AnKevtGF4QRgBO3_06szEM1p2hi6pSt9a68vkjIE7r53vJ_KgICR7qPkjXT_zIwD2d58mUnx7uuxP6UORI/s320/IMG_2457.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Cucumbers...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZquU5mI2-xWRg9xWY2INywbIrkSOLh-GYrRs4-GlpLaGKfMbdx781bkSUz4HliXwPFQJCURckeiBIkz7NXzWdhsmAYXt8PwNtfw6bhbPoQMMoAhUATnWkIJK38JZ_5i8L1dpWClv2bQ/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZquU5mI2-xWRg9xWY2INywbIrkSOLh-GYrRs4-GlpLaGKfMbdx781bkSUz4HliXwPFQJCURckeiBIkz7NXzWdhsmAYXt8PwNtfw6bhbPoQMMoAhUATnWkIJK38JZ_5i8L1dpWClv2bQ/s320/IMG_2458.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Summer squash</div>
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Ground cherries...paper lanterns...</div>
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Cheyenne bush pumpkins!</div>
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Third bed of peas...we may have a problem...</div>
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Black Kris tomatoes</div>
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Rainbow Carrots</div>
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Romaine</div>
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Turnips...great fall storage crop...</div>
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Jalapenos</div>
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Chilies...</div>
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How does your garden grow?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-66805478051734532602015-07-05T10:55:00.001-04:002015-07-05T10:55:35.182-04:00Garden Update 2015 Edition...part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
I present to you....our garden!</div>
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It's taken a while to get things going.</div>
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Between working at the farm and the rainy June,</div>
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It was really tough to give the garden the time it needed.</div>
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Our garlic (given to us by a friend) had a horrible time...but we suspect the chickens got to them.</div>
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That was before we added the chicken wire fence to the whole garden.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21zSDI6vfGVJlbzhLuNGASOl5uEyuO0lUuvUaSXvvR4b8KQQpA2-C-QbRRpRl0j5Arom5U5Ifup4kmrBFeolGlbSVe8UD8lUOr7qsCe2MeVAqWtSL3fASG9w5z1RAhnZc_z4ZnDQhRo0/s1600/IMG_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21zSDI6vfGVJlbzhLuNGASOl5uEyuO0lUuvUaSXvvR4b8KQQpA2-C-QbRRpRl0j5Arom5U5Ifup4kmrBFeolGlbSVe8UD8lUOr7qsCe2MeVAqWtSL3fASG9w5z1RAhnZc_z4ZnDQhRo0/s320/IMG_2127.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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White fingerling potatoes are loving it!</div>
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They are from Uncle Robert's garden last year.</div>
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Can't wait to see what comes out of it!</div>
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Summer squash bed....green zucchini, yellow zucchini and white paddy pans.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswio18aZV-0chtHE9bXFYiTuTpORRjNyMtDFYl1AG0eCRC5vcoBKXCZIUVXFNLn_WGJCw19Ux9SROOH4pkqOBBTElQ2F4F9wvl27AAqVwA8d3FkiZMmSYy2mkllv3RZ-UyDFgapu_ORc/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswio18aZV-0chtHE9bXFYiTuTpORRjNyMtDFYl1AG0eCRC5vcoBKXCZIUVXFNLn_WGJCw19Ux9SROOH4pkqOBBTElQ2F4F9wvl27AAqVwA8d3FkiZMmSYy2mkllv3RZ-UyDFgapu_ORc/s320/IMG_2174.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Soooo many tomatoes.....</div>
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Black Kris (grown from our seeds from last year's crop)</div>
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Anna Russian (oxheart - from the Grandmothers for Africa plant sale)</div>
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Bellstars (round sauce tomato - given to me by my boss at the farm)</div>
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Romas (grown from our seeds from last year's crop)</div>
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Green Globe Artichokes! 8 survived...(from the Homesteading Canada seed exchange)</div>
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White and Red (not shown) onions (bulbs purchased from the Foodland grocery store)</div>
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Two plantings of romaine lettuce (seeds from the hardware store)</div>
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Spinach started further down the bed...not doing very well...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nHw1GsR6AQfubaEUAC4d6hCUwRd31JK95cbvd8bZnSv26-4v6D5VfFBgbzlFo6RGZV5L3stV_Dm_FU3ux673qDYtGwzR-2nrTn3O6Wve2iIFfB-ZR5-lsmcBae2wE1eb8zOpyH1c_Qs/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nHw1GsR6AQfubaEUAC4d6hCUwRd31JK95cbvd8bZnSv26-4v6D5VfFBgbzlFo6RGZV5L3stV_Dm_FU3ux673qDYtGwzR-2nrTn3O6Wve2iIFfB-ZR5-lsmcBae2wE1eb8zOpyH1c_Qs/s320/IMG_2181.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Winter squash bed...</div>
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Pumpkin and random squash seeds from a friend...can't wait to see what the are!!!</div>
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Butternut squash (grown from our seeds from last year's crop)</div>
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Buttercup squash (grown from our seeds from last year's crop)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiten_qaJ1kYl2Ufv9s-ssKeryVZISZ-6uCGyyAf0tB8akRSguY8oIl2E2IhPyXzuuh77nAeJtPkTOPn-be_xpslqQJ-1tTRI4qMicBgsV6_cItuGTy0pBfM7V1xAKiTjYYrqXQsiY3R3k/s1600/IMG_2183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiten_qaJ1kYl2Ufv9s-ssKeryVZISZ-6uCGyyAf0tB8akRSguY8oIl2E2IhPyXzuuh77nAeJtPkTOPn-be_xpslqQJ-1tTRI4qMicBgsV6_cItuGTy0pBfM7V1xAKiTjYYrqXQsiY3R3k/s320/IMG_2183.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Green beans (grown from our seeds from last years crop)</div>
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Not shown...pencil pod yellow wax beans from my coworker</div>
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purple beans from the hardware store.</div>
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That's just one side of the garden!</div>
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Stay tuned for part two in the garden update series...</div>
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coming soon...after we have weeded some more beds...</div>
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**************</div>
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I also have some big news!</div>
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I was made a member of the Tamworth/Erinsville </div>
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Grassroots Growers Steering committee!</div>
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Although I am not a resident of Stone Mills Township,</div>
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I was still so happy to be a part of such an enthusiastic </div>
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group of community-minded people.</div>
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They also put on GREAT events with excellent guest speakers.</div>
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The Kitchen Garden has kept me busy and happy.</div>
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Monday to Friday I work my butt off and learn so much.</div>
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It's really quite staggering!!!</div>
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From pest control to cultivars...</div>
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From hand working a field to harvesting the bounty.</div>
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Everyday is a blessing.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-15903273093205138542015-06-18T20:33:00.001-04:002015-06-18T20:33:29.698-04:00Chickens are happier free ranging...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-vRqnEnD-9tbtrcSMMhFO2DlYbVxICJnm8Pgm_TddnsJr_4sChRb1Ti1qacxfIL7Xfbi_JNJADDtMtGJQcOCBMHwvldm-QfwyEqIihpnM36hyjM6XxY5iV4aWK7oehnRWESSrlVsNFY/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-vRqnEnD-9tbtrcSMMhFO2DlYbVxICJnm8Pgm_TddnsJr_4sChRb1Ti1qacxfIL7Xfbi_JNJADDtMtGJQcOCBMHwvldm-QfwyEqIihpnM36hyjM6XxY5iV4aWK7oehnRWESSrlVsNFY/s320/IMG_1818.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"So you think you can keep me penned in?"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjogcQapl10ywJGG2kbrRD_ZahbXN9mbwJ9QNCYUULKeQyvTxJ7rsZUn9N3okyc5BXWL6afRzRUdUu4LmEZCBQHze7oDk4XR9BhKhhTn9vknKBBy5f8AJs8GfhZb9_GlShWYkKXu7iQg/s1600/IMG_1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjogcQapl10ywJGG2kbrRD_ZahbXN9mbwJ9QNCYUULKeQyvTxJ7rsZUn9N3okyc5BXWL6afRzRUdUu4LmEZCBQHze7oDk4XR9BhKhhTn9vknKBBy5f8AJs8GfhZb9_GlShWYkKXu7iQg/s320/IMG_1819.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"Not likely."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9PfxopHjkNNJMQXEp6gdjbzQ_-XUYudKIFYVIQlXWX-yNT51qLiA110ZZvkkoz7csIUVyozfu5xBh3Q0TKeeIuLw-dU9MGBfRuLvptEeKj0YtEnppTTm2sGV-ZLAxB2KZccmay-EzD8/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9PfxopHjkNNJMQXEp6gdjbzQ_-XUYudKIFYVIQlXWX-yNT51qLiA110ZZvkkoz7csIUVyozfu5xBh3Q0TKeeIuLw-dU9MGBfRuLvptEeKj0YtEnppTTm2sGV-ZLAxB2KZccmay-EzD8/s320/IMG_1820.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"We are far too lovely and wild to be kept in a box."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dH5gVtR9mBtGE7rXPTLahZiQBnIU01QBNYJAe3SfrfVsOzYB8XUIXIXCcvH5UCxOCF9Agy3UZXWg58rqA4aa8G-__CdI-aXM_4cWz7NihNoUlHzO31Xah-JnvZaTB8mTGgSu5Jvsc2Q/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dH5gVtR9mBtGE7rXPTLahZiQBnIU01QBNYJAe3SfrfVsOzYB8XUIXIXCcvH5UCxOCF9Agy3UZXWg58rqA4aa8G-__CdI-aXM_4cWz7NihNoUlHzO31Xah-JnvZaTB8mTGgSu5Jvsc2Q/s320/IMG_1822.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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"See how the sun shines off of my beautiful feathers?"</div>
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My divas are so very irritated with me since I've kept them </div>
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in the coop and run during gardening/planting season.</div>
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They really do love being free ranged chickens in our swamp.</div>
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So I felt so bad for them one night...I let them out of the coop not even thinking.</div>
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I watched them (in horror) run straight for our </div>
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freshly planted rows of peas and beans.</div>
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You do not.</div>
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Touch the peas.</div>
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Since then they have been making their displeasure known to all of the passing </div>
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ducks, swans, geese, loons, beavers, muskrats, turkey vultures and crows.</div>
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Also, people passing by walking their dogs.</div>
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Sigh.</div>
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The result?</div>
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We fenced in our garden for the first time ever.</div>
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It's just chicken wire...</div>
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At first I hated it.</div>
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It was like my sweet veggies were in some sort of Fort Knox.</div>
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That was when the seedlings were just sprouting.</div>
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Now the fence has grown on me.</div>
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The chickens are back their free-ranging bliss.</div>
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And I have yet to hear any flack about it from the divas.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-61062474524957542972015-05-26T19:55:00.001-04:002015-05-26T19:55:54.050-04:00That Foxy Fox!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We have been pretty lucky so far.</div>
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We have had chickens in a box in the woods for a year...</div>
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and no major incidence have occurred with the local wildlife.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFRvZ9FYgVDBz4N_nLckDMHI2s6lB_aDZiLRKnZh3TYhcuFNqZqv9cwTjLQaCtFV_32mwgfc54NbUd-etVZCQxkijeSsxHIwig3igMvhMczZrv6RhAZNVNfzuS1eLHKqB_n_VEBHmweY/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFRvZ9FYgVDBz4N_nLckDMHI2s6lB_aDZiLRKnZh3TYhcuFNqZqv9cwTjLQaCtFV_32mwgfc54NbUd-etVZCQxkijeSsxHIwig3igMvhMczZrv6RhAZNVNfzuS1eLHKqB_n_VEBHmweY/s320/IMG_1778.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then one day I saw the beginnings of a tunnel under the door.</div>
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The dread came over me...my heart quickened.</div>
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We assumed it was the raccoons.</div>
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The enjoy our composter...</div>
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so it seemed only a matter of time before they discovered </div>
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the white box of chicken.</div>
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The next evening at dusk...husband and I were enjoying our deck when who should surprise us...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkwVWGlBIzFxb5ghbi4d2_qwxmioJzkXnfPP9aXKT5GScJPTgkOWzmb_ZPzOxHs4qLIxyABb2YBeJvt8pB8iRwZSnMTlhXAzHi1FCL4NYm4Jf7b1lCJPlMIGSvM9l9ie04DXT0KhYNWk/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkwVWGlBIzFxb5ghbi4d2_qwxmioJzkXnfPP9aXKT5GScJPTgkOWzmb_ZPzOxHs4qLIxyABb2YBeJvt8pB8iRwZSnMTlhXAzHi1FCL4NYm4Jf7b1lCJPlMIGSvM9l9ie04DXT0KhYNWk/s320/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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A FOX.</div>
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Not just a fox.</div>
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A fox in what felt like broad daylight.</div>
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A fox traipsing through our garden.</div>
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(This was two weeks ago...you should see the garden now!)</div>
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It circled the coop a few times.</div>
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Even after I stood up and made it aware of my presence.</div>
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It made an extra loop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_Fc_LQpf6YlfxTRt-5CKdT6cIj6b7mojcpmtRcxb5_Ob8o3HzxtktY0stZCxuS3l-S4oM3gweeYt1qCw-PKioWU8kkN9nrosZSOwlZNkzlnq8xE50QL1aS0wLUCX3gnXyH6Y7ofN0b0/s1600/FullSizeRender+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_Fc_LQpf6YlfxTRt-5CKdT6cIj6b7mojcpmtRcxb5_Ob8o3HzxtktY0stZCxuS3l-S4oM3gweeYt1qCw-PKioWU8kkN9nrosZSOwlZNkzlnq8xE50QL1aS0wLUCX3gnXyH6Y7ofN0b0/s320/FullSizeRender+(2).jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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I jumped off the deck just to assure it that I would defend my hens.</div>
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Even if it was only going to be by waving my arms and hooting at it.</div>
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The foxy fox ran away into the swamp.</div>
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We reinforced the chicken wire with larger rocks at the base.</div>
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We raked the gravel back into the holes and placed large rocks on them too.</div>
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A week or so went by and no return of the foxy fox.</div>
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Perhaps he's gone to get his friends.</div>
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We shall see....</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-9789493092437777042015-05-13T21:25:00.000-04:002015-05-13T21:25:02.074-04:00Life on the Farm....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Not sure if you all remember, but last summer <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2014/07/changes.html">I lost my job</a>.</div>
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(Well, I didn't lose it...it just wasn't mine anymore)</div>
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I blogged about what a blessing in disguise it was...</div>
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I spent the summer hanging out at the beach, playing with my son...</div>
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And asking the universe to give me my dream job.</div>
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I asked for a job where I was outside.</div>
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I wanted exposure, bug bites and sunburns.</div>
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I wanted to work in the food production industry.</div>
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I wanted to learn more about growing food organically.</div>
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I wanted to be happy about going to work and feel like </div>
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I'm making a difference in the way people see food.</div>
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And to get paid...that too.</div>
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This year...I'm thankful to say I FOUND IT!</div>
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As of May 4th, I am now a full time employee at The Kitchen Garden!!!</div>
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(If you want to know more about these local guys...and where you can find them...click <a href="http://www.thekitchengarden.ca/">here</a>)</div>
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I'll say this in advance...I won't be sharing any trade secrets.</div>
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I won't be talking about their farming practices.</div>
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And they do not require me to promote their business.</div>
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They DO pay me for my work.</div>
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Hard work.</div>
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Brutally hard work.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-myIyQ31dFBuvDKUfGGYgEYQx6gtglN1Au7cTBNN0hFy2Yrphxw6a7zK06U2u8bfToSa7vi3hh8IWTvXHhUR3ELc4r-8t0uRPEFamkpdvQMhMZ4CTZpXvmAN7fZujeIgSRbu2rCelyMg/s1600/IMG_1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-myIyQ31dFBuvDKUfGGYgEYQx6gtglN1Au7cTBNN0hFy2Yrphxw6a7zK06U2u8bfToSa7vi3hh8IWTvXHhUR3ELc4r-8t0uRPEFamkpdvQMhMZ4CTZpXvmAN7fZujeIgSRbu2rCelyMg/s320/IMG_1787.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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At the end of the first 4 days, I have some thoughts about working at a commercial vegetable farm.</div>
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I find farming to be experiential...if you are open to it.</div>
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Its transcendental.</div>
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Each day my senses were heightened.</div>
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I drove home every day exhausted and deliriously happy.</div>
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The shower when I got home...BEST SHOWER EVER.</div>
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When I finally sat down to eat....BEST MEAL EVER.</div>
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When the rain started to drop on my burning arms...BEST RAIN SHOWER EVER.</div>
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I learned so much my head was spinning.</div>
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I giddily looked forward to my polysporin/bandaid regimen at the end of each day.</div>
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I counted up each and every bruise and blister with a sort of pride I hadn't felt before.</div>
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As for the actual work...</div>
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I tried keeping up with the other full time employee.</div>
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The first day or so, I felt woefully slow.</div>
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(thinking "these guys are never gonna let me stay")</div>
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By the end of day four, I felt like Wonder Woman!!!</div>
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I will try to keep track of my experiences throughout the summer.</div>
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And don't worry...I'll still be gardening here at home.</div>
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So stay tuned for more adventures from this crazy gardening girl.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-74286517503340238452015-05-08T13:30:00.000-04:002015-05-08T13:30:09.697-04:00More from my Bookshelf...<div style="text-align: center;">
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The <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2013/11/new-books.html">second</a> in my series examining my bookshelf...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FhzGd-n2Y3uqBjmCqS5ySRM0h305mllwrx15iKKJhjK98rZd4W_OaPIWNRAhjOON8JMFcfYdyDc670yn-CtW27uqIncX24YiPKTxSl_ndetETsay0sN9omwm2QBKrQ0H3oUj9HcQVjg/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FhzGd-n2Y3uqBjmCqS5ySRM0h305mllwrx15iKKJhjK98rZd4W_OaPIWNRAhjOON8JMFcfYdyDc670yn-CtW27uqIncX24YiPKTxSl_ndetETsay0sN9omwm2QBKrQ0H3oUj9HcQVjg/s1600/scan0001.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Super fun. Super easy.</div>
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This is one silly read.</div>
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This book was written for men out at the hunting camp.</div>
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I'm not trying to be sexist or anything.</div>
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It says so in the forward!</div>
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It's geared towards the guy who gets elected "Camp Cook".</div>
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Some men relish this task...but for others...this is the book for them!!!</div>
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Some features:</div>
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<ul>
<li>It has a list of basic kitchen utensils you will need. (The bare minimum...like it should be in the wild!)</li>
<li>It has a killer wild game marinade on page 67. Totally tastes out the "wild" out of the game.</li>
<li>It also has a recipe for Russian Tea on page 13 that can be made ahead and stored in a mason jar for a long time. A nice warm treat!</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzR-ktNKyizaEbyaKdr1LPV22wi2pYVQLMUF60zAE_J0Br7WJi6atE-lT-NvCX7yXAex3wanWhABJiCv6Gbkk3A3JPT_jJhjQtpyUba6ihACP7uMYHxBv34LZFL0P9lZbWcRKD_auqRw/s1600/scan0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzR-ktNKyizaEbyaKdr1LPV22wi2pYVQLMUF60zAE_J0Br7WJi6atE-lT-NvCX7yXAex3wanWhABJiCv6Gbkk3A3JPT_jJhjQtpyUba6ihACP7uMYHxBv34LZFL0P9lZbWcRKD_auqRw/s1600/scan0002.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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Although this book was directed at teen buyers, it is totally worth the read!</div>
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This book informs us in plain language why it is important to know more about the things you buy.</div>
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With young people having so much purchase power these days, </div>
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it makes sense that "Get Real" would target younger readers.</div>
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Shedding light on how everyday items are produced, and the waste these items produce, helps to inform your choices when shopping.</div>
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That's good info whether you are 15 or 55!</div>
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Some features:</div>
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<ul>
<li>The story of t-shirts and jeans...its actually scary...and involves the government!</li>
<li>Cellphones and the incredible waste they produce...its CRAZY!!!</li>
<li>Green washing - the practise of labelling to make it seem like the products are "green"</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUkLaKfEiBxf50Y_bkqnV6VUKzso3VT-A7rRVVPYpz4nKxe9xK53j-rE0OqErWSBBVCiB2HUS5045x1WzB6VYgfjUR7pUDzU2xaXWC9rbP6QB1MzfmkrEuTvg_Dhd22EfBkicU7b_dG8/s1600/scan0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUkLaKfEiBxf50Y_bkqnV6VUKzso3VT-A7rRVVPYpz4nKxe9xK53j-rE0OqErWSBBVCiB2HUS5045x1WzB6VYgfjUR7pUDzU2xaXWC9rbP6QB1MzfmkrEuTvg_Dhd22EfBkicU7b_dG8/s1600/scan0003.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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Now this was a book I was really excited about!</div>
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Eating within the seasons is something about which I am very passionate.</div>
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I have been struggling for years to find a cookbook that actually compliments </div>
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my garden and the veggies as they ripen. </div>
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Once I read it, I was more than a little disappointed.</div>
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Almost every recipe in every season only featured one seasonal ingredient.</div>
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All other ingredients were not what I would call staples.</div>
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In fact, some of the ingredients I had never even heard of!</div>
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My definition of a practical, easy-to-use cookbook does NOT</div>
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include looking up what an ingredient actually is and if I can buy it in Canada.</div>
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When I grab a recipe I like, it usually has to meet a few prerequisite standards:</div>
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1 - at least 2 foods that I grow</div>
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2 - involves pantry and fridge staples I already purchase in bulk.</div>
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3 - no more than 1 ingredient has to be newly purchased (preferably none)</div>
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For more info on how I pick and store recipes, click <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2015/02/picking-and-storing-your-recipes.html">here</a>.</div>
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But staying positive...here are some features:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>beautiful photography, interesting recipes</li>
<li>a brief background on main veggies start out each section</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-87685854727573843882015-04-29T13:36:00.001-04:002015-04-29T13:36:37.832-04:00Garlic Mustard....Mustard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the last few years, I was introduced to the lovely 'weed', Garlic Mustard.</div>
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It's one of those plants that came over with European settlers...</div>
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and has taken over ever since.</div>
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Seriously! </div>
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There is no where in North America where you will have to adhere</div>
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to strict conservation collecting with this one.</div>
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In fact, the Ontario Government has come out with a super cool <a href="http://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/plants-terrestrial/garlic-mustard/">website</a> to tell you all about it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vT8YAT0Tv3nVav5MyRMyTbrp__x-YDRnS_9ctO5ao7gWRjDiNuiIKM1raSKUudG6nV8vag_QNzbGlgX_LKH0dycJUROo1uIWkAzRCYLsvkHi0Uc9Aq6dXQcLn-VcAk1U2H1352OsWKE/s1600/garlic+mustard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vT8YAT0Tv3nVav5MyRMyTbrp__x-YDRnS_9ctO5ao7gWRjDiNuiIKM1raSKUudG6nV8vag_QNzbGlgX_LKH0dycJUROo1uIWkAzRCYLsvkHi0Uc9Aq6dXQcLn-VcAk1U2H1352OsWKE/s1600/garlic+mustard.jpg" /></a></div>
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It might take you a few seasons to make sure it is what you think it is.</div>
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Spring time looks like the above picture.</div>
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The cute, scalloped leaves are hard to mistake.</div>
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Once you identify these leaves, its hard to miss them.</div>
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You start to see them literally</div>
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EVERYWHERE!</div>
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The bright green spring leaves are a treat too.</div>
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They taste garlicky and goes great in a salad.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjDcawC98DMqg9wraDOCtxzhv8xn27NtbqAZfiDYYFMGVml0dOODkiv1WvzUbrFvwAPfRY2JAoOIfbfNsSxE8F-TGiB4nbFTFTHFcjSbQouFZJB2mIX6b8K8sPuIPl2E7fycxXogS5Xw/s1600/DSC_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRjDcawC98DMqg9wraDOCtxzhv8xn27NtbqAZfiDYYFMGVml0dOODkiv1WvzUbrFvwAPfRY2JAoOIfbfNsSxE8F-TGiB4nbFTFTHFcjSbQouFZJB2mIX6b8K8sPuIPl2E7fycxXogS5Xw/s1600/DSC_1339.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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By August, they start looking like the above picture.</div>
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They shoot up and send out spindly shoots.</div>
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They sprout these wee seed pods.</div>
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Once the pods are dry...collect immediately!</div>
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I've checked one day and by the next day the wind has scattered them all.</div>
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Again, I can't stress enough...collect as many as you want...</div>
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You don't have to worry about this hearty plant coming back.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE5hDRsPsaI-kRe5y-T5XVmmf7XikgwxCVpTUblcKNKwz5_kwOhkq-yZLipj_OMqE4rFTChJ2dWR9kdMuZ3Jct73-1rrmIkgWJ9ObhddGsAOwWVQWQmZo2k7KRMdEb-6e3YUGB8XBbQ4/s1600/DSC_1344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE5hDRsPsaI-kRe5y-T5XVmmf7XikgwxCVpTUblcKNKwz5_kwOhkq-yZLipj_OMqE4rFTChJ2dWR9kdMuZ3Jct73-1rrmIkgWJ9ObhddGsAOwWVQWQmZo2k7KRMdEb-6e3YUGB8XBbQ4/s1600/DSC_1344.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The seeds look like long poppyseeds.</div>
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They have a light mustard taste.</div>
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I've heard you can made mustard from grinding the seeds...</div>
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So that was our big experiment this year!</div>
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We collected the seed pods and slowly, patiently removed all of the seeds from each one.</div>
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Each pods contains anywhere from 2-10 seeds.</div>
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This process is time consuming...so plan a movie marathon or binge watch session.</div>
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A few weeks ago I actually got around to making the mustard I had set out to make using these seeds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJ3b1Jj7B2eMQeCxCyktFfnX05aiTr0mA4Iixy6auBJ8pBMhVkBemaPbp1Tg7xbmud3t1YwOYq1n4xQ396NmHwiQlRuosPgU6dITavEq5m_XtSsWSa3dMYa-faubLyzLlCMh7zEvzN6E/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJ3b1Jj7B2eMQeCxCyktFfnX05aiTr0mA4Iixy6auBJ8pBMhVkBemaPbp1Tg7xbmud3t1YwOYq1n4xQ396NmHwiQlRuosPgU6dITavEq5m_XtSsWSa3dMYa-faubLyzLlCMh7zEvzN6E/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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It turned out great!</div>
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I was amazed at the distinct wasabi taste.</div>
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Imagine...making wasabi in your own backyard!</div>
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I will admit I was a little disappointed...it didn't taste more like mustard.</div>
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Just being honest.</div>
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I guess I'll have to grow mustard greens in order to actually make mustard.</div>
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Even still...a very cool experiment indeed.</div>
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Thanks go out to <a href="http://the3foragers.blogspot.ca/">The 3 Foragers</a> for inspiring me to move beyond my comfort zone!!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-12369867940957130012015-04-21T10:24:00.002-04:002015-04-22T11:21:05.288-04:00BIZ SPOTLIGHT: Robert Deroche - Soil Warrior<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One overcast morning...I found myself driving to meet someone in Maberly.</div>
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It is early spring here and I am not alone when I say I miss the garden.</div>
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The earth is shedding its last bits of white.</div>
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The soil is waking up everywhere.</div>
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Although it wasn't sunny...it was a BEAUTIFUL day for a drive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfHArIzJzeA2em_GjoCL8euu2GE8urwm-A4NT3TH1x5gtZ35G-kQRWd9Yerwb2-KP_Mu-Z4NrRjQBe21eViJhYt2R4g4cDX0c3F8qxKFlIFQns_i-tv3CtSwBgvckcLDVjQ8yI6F86TY/s1600/IMG_1584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfHArIzJzeA2em_GjoCL8euu2GE8urwm-A4NT3TH1x5gtZ35G-kQRWd9Yerwb2-KP_Mu-Z4NrRjQBe21eViJhYt2R4g4cDX0c3F8qxKFlIFQns_i-tv3CtSwBgvckcLDVjQ8yI6F86TY/s1600/IMG_1584.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmn052j80WFXMGo5RWL0p1ixqSpRi24oHIzmE4c_EYBs4x-pCrUbZZIgrXKELzmleQY_72DXH6GAw0Sig1Xda3WNhCQC7M8oo8aeWJy01IaISFkYiW-FuQn6RBijSD_tc_UZzbSdWSLgU/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmn052j80WFXMGo5RWL0p1ixqSpRi24oHIzmE4c_EYBs4x-pCrUbZZIgrXKELzmleQY_72DXH6GAw0Sig1Xda3WNhCQC7M8oo8aeWJy01IaISFkYiW-FuQn6RBijSD_tc_UZzbSdWSLgU/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I met a man named Robert Deroche.</div>
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He had advertised his services in The Frontenac News.</div>
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But what caught my eye was the email address </div>
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soilguardians356@gmail.com</div>
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(reprinted with Robert's permission)</div>
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I had to meet this guy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0wnp8rBVkHbiFVhsXKKM4n6BVh-faACyYFSssiy4X9DahE95tg9kT_KzY-OlQusDkhCeXQagxUf30QuLOvZXjrqbsohdtJhvh9NkSGS9Ot_m87zMbMmtSNrOFMDDG9f2oknvbD6fOH4/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0wnp8rBVkHbiFVhsXKKM4n6BVh-faACyYFSssiy4X9DahE95tg9kT_KzY-OlQusDkhCeXQagxUf30QuLOvZXjrqbsohdtJhvh9NkSGS9Ot_m87zMbMmtSNrOFMDDG9f2oknvbD6fOH4/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was fortunate enough to get a tour!</div>
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He had sprouts all over in his green room.</div>
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Wheatgrass, buckwheat, kale...</div>
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I was in heaven!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNrSFeSdUH-0SDan1sWVOs6lFQm2sXD3Bh_6N72jzsO1oPgU68z6Aexw34_yCXkXAO6WR-oLahUMAB_7iOJX0fs-NZiW8uiiHyy0e6Qtd38Ofcfgu2WLQAMGqwK61nqE41L6Rd9Ephdo/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNrSFeSdUH-0SDan1sWVOs6lFQm2sXD3Bh_6N72jzsO1oPgU68z6Aexw34_yCXkXAO6WR-oLahUMAB_7iOJX0fs-NZiW8uiiHyy0e6Qtd38Ofcfgu2WLQAMGqwK61nqE41L6Rd9Ephdo/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUkxIZ5AtUF5_6GY618JaLzepduMgJ2Eq5-245qDtDtTVhjahwx9I8cOOv_MH1SiibCx_cXWWQE4clfYNEMTf2bZhl3l_3DqWNQIhrF11D_UjEuU2ybSzmwXFo4-jqvbBiEZZKlgjxn8/s1600/IMG_1570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUkxIZ5AtUF5_6GY618JaLzepduMgJ2Eq5-245qDtDtTVhjahwx9I8cOOv_MH1SiibCx_cXWWQE4clfYNEMTf2bZhl3l_3DqWNQIhrF11D_UjEuU2ybSzmwXFo4-jqvbBiEZZKlgjxn8/s1600/IMG_1570.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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We chatted for hours, like old friends.</div>
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I was enthralled listening to his thoughts on "the circle".</div>
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Feed the soil, which feeds the food, which in turn feeds us!</div>
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Robert shared with me that he had tried unsuccessfully to grow carrots.</div>
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It wasn't until he waded into the world of vermicomposting that things turned around.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0.56cm; orphans: 1;">I tried three times (to grow carrots) and then every year I do rotating, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0.56cm; orphans: 1;">the carrots came back to this garden and last year 400 pounds of carrots </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 0.56cm; orphans: 1;">and beets so this is really amazing stuff to me."</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qMDDCujr15B3oI_D660LOhiha8s8l2QJYOfNo2XY4hCvTH0qpr3XVe4jt-H6N8TL7qE0pXVU32iHspL6S38pY1sLkix425zCz47TLTBnudZ6mMN8JHtL6tLVznecXJDg1wDn2fW_tdc/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qMDDCujr15B3oI_D660LOhiha8s8l2QJYOfNo2XY4hCvTH0qpr3XVe4jt-H6N8TL7qE0pXVU32iHspL6S38pY1sLkix425zCz47TLTBnudZ6mMN8JHtL6tLVznecXJDg1wDn2fW_tdc/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worm castings</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Wikipedia says: </div>
<ol data-ved="0CCoQ_xc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.3333339691162px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="mod" data-md="61" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: 1.24; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 20px 20px 0px;"><div class="_oDd" data-hveid="50" style="overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span class="_Tgc" style="font-size: 16px;"><b>Vermicompost</b> is the product or process of composting using </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.24;">various worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast (poo).</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By using worms to break down organic material, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the compost is formed much quicker than traditional composting.</div>
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Think of it like you are hiring some labourers to compost for you!</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.8400001525879px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1GZ46HzH5MzBPy5vLJBPacOSMukbq-npN2EB-hkU1S8vyk8Dv3KNPUWaePnfzugBJN2zjK8Ob22sUxmFW3X3iSmHhDkiw2Rr6822arrBvvF3VVESLynCxZK6nJVB-pjBORx1ASMrryE/s1600/IMG_1573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1GZ46HzH5MzBPy5vLJBPacOSMukbq-npN2EB-hkU1S8vyk8Dv3KNPUWaePnfzugBJN2zjK8Ob22sUxmFW3X3iSmHhDkiw2Rr6822arrBvvF3VVESLynCxZK6nJVB-pjBORx1ASMrryE/s1600/IMG_1573.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compost tea contraption</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Not only can you use the castings (poo) in your garden around your plants,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but you can also make compost tea!</div>
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Used in a ratio of at least 5:1 water to castings, this brew can be used directly on the plants.</div>
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(except stuff like peppers...who don't like getting wet on their leaves anyway)</div>
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Way better than hosing your garden with herbicides or steroids!</div>
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Speaking about those commercial things you could spray on your garden, he says,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.56cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">"You set up a situation where you're dependent upon those inputs to maintain your garden."</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.56cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 1;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Robert has a pretty high tech contraption for making compost tea.</div>
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He has his reasons.</div>
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It's all about the oxygen, baby!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJI5dzHRqJZBKj5l_GBG-kn85uJdC4QCP7g2acYt8-PJyGTE945m-qYQ6dqFYDS62bhX5yz01QSR8SeiVMQ_5q4GG9ow4I0tARwU3o6sbH_2aF4RFaPWff2WFD97wYWwc3ug6lQXDQWI/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJI5dzHRqJZBKj5l_GBG-kn85uJdC4QCP7g2acYt8-PJyGTE945m-qYQ6dqFYDS62bhX5yz01QSR8SeiVMQ_5q4GG9ow4I0tARwU3o6sbH_2aF4RFaPWff2WFD97wYWwc3ug6lQXDQWI/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert's sifting contraption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We continued the tour in the basement of his home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was shown the sifter he uses to separates out the woodier parts of the soil.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBlwOIposZAHsXh-mMkBtHo9bRuqIer8yNaTeMpUz7DMQVsYoN5VfUtm-IqfQpYNftM2prL5aFUMI0XxsnD1qqvFFFwuF2rKKJSSvZuL_ju_3nEAuwC8ytQeRNduSeUPK7dCQea5gbFw/s1600/IMG_1576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBlwOIposZAHsXh-mMkBtHo9bRuqIer8yNaTeMpUz7DMQVsYoN5VfUtm-IqfQpYNftM2prL5aFUMI0XxsnD1qqvFFFwuF2rKKJSSvZuL_ju_3nEAuwC8ytQeRNduSeUPK7dCQea5gbFw/s1600/IMG_1576.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret worm food</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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He also has a secret formula to feed the worms.</div>
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Don't worry...worm composters don't really require these special amendments.</div>
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He just spoils his worms with some of the best stuff going.</div>
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I won't ruin his trade secret...you'll have to talk to Robert about that.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jZ396DB5PNZHaybZ-D_4RN3sUxnS67CHGyrtq4Wn5KpFowsW4eD_4_KGnax-R2eQv8F9ol5GaayexQ7mIMiyuRsFyFe-UjwjXwDvL5tze8WOoQwAwOG81tCKopXoWmBTZNxcIBQK_Ig/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jZ396DB5PNZHaybZ-D_4RN3sUxnS67CHGyrtq4Wn5KpFowsW4eD_4_KGnax-R2eQv8F9ol5GaayexQ7mIMiyuRsFyFe-UjwjXwDvL5tze8WOoQwAwOG81tCKopXoWmBTZNxcIBQK_Ig/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worms hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Housed in long crates...his worms are hard at work!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi15Fb3Y6Q86sa4TXjJ7LY_8HqFMdBWFxsd5UR5qqVwMfWWUAejFc4J6mpL-Wl-th-44fXPpqatR2y_TS8oYcA2CgdwJup8HHDmhTiFOYb9kQR6YWwlAaEHTjhdqOER0AFVu3K_BVf2Q/s1600/IMG_1577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi15Fb3Y6Q86sa4TXjJ7LY_8HqFMdBWFxsd5UR5qqVwMfWWUAejFc4J6mpL-Wl-th-44fXPpqatR2y_TS8oYcA2CgdwJup8HHDmhTiFOYb9kQR6YWwlAaEHTjhdqOER0AFVu3K_BVf2Q/s1600/IMG_1577.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n8GogAyCKID6Eh2iAOQWvZ37LQP-RswjcNvBgwXRBSrfTdY-EsFEKkdvgsvQLhm9jofMzKfbDHRMoVDQBCo6Vb8rCorUXSBJUj4jIN6B1cjf5sDfoaDZ8rcmg-Nh4nclt6_L2nXKz1A/s1600/IMG_1578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-n8GogAyCKID6Eh2iAOQWvZ37LQP-RswjcNvBgwXRBSrfTdY-EsFEKkdvgsvQLhm9jofMzKfbDHRMoVDQBCo6Vb8rCorUXSBJUj4jIN6B1cjf5sDfoaDZ8rcmg-Nh4nclt6_L2nXKz1A/s1600/IMG_1578.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Robert uses red wigglers and African wrigglers.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifktYTOIQnUbaE735GHz4lOfmMIG6SjOnzQiilCsaJHsrp2NDNgW7FyPTdNDrMV2kn59uixU_7etfpEbdiE3ys9GJea7SU5LIIovTVhDrn-D2MoJY0g-TNY3xXVZQ-QnE6569YylXpypc/s1600/IMG_1579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifktYTOIQnUbaE735GHz4lOfmMIG6SjOnzQiilCsaJHsrp2NDNgW7FyPTdNDrMV2kn59uixU_7etfpEbdiE3ys9GJea7SU5LIIovTVhDrn-D2MoJY0g-TNY3xXVZQ-QnE6569YylXpypc/s1600/IMG_1579.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a tiny sliver of silver - that's a worm toddler!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Not sure if you can see it but there is a tiny silver sliver on his finger</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(above the dirt clump)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Its a worm larvae!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When you gently move the soil around, you can actually see</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
many of the forms worms can take.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN7RS1iWCQg3rW3Obg4mEtvZuo1hWdLm7ndan16G74JTJLOANpvm-kh56hTDOX4QBXLYCQyNhqlft9UUVh0Rn5Xo32wQP-KcP2Ws2-2Z_v5VU0nexEdYiGIOSiFYxjHZSnfncPS2zSrA/s1600/worm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN7RS1iWCQg3rW3Obg4mEtvZuo1hWdLm7ndan16G74JTJLOANpvm-kh56hTDOX4QBXLYCQyNhqlft9UUVh0Rn5Xo32wQP-KcP2Ws2-2Z_v5VU0nexEdYiGIOSiFYxjHZSnfncPS2zSrA/s1600/worm.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhIq89Elq8uVY2TiBlx6agsEO44_xMPYPhxuzc2BQifvFGOwg7dYObJ2nV-xD-yIdTFvd8WaOpx6tuvmE8lNkDIzNlCa17QNwdFn813xsQu3BDRbFptia7J43n8i2WMoPj6mmngEteTk/s1600/IMG_1580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhIq89Elq8uVY2TiBlx6agsEO44_xMPYPhxuzc2BQifvFGOwg7dYObJ2nV-xD-yIdTFvd8WaOpx6tuvmE8lNkDIzNlCa17QNwdFn813xsQu3BDRbFptia7J43n8i2WMoPj6mmngEteTk/s1600/IMG_1580.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worm castings</td></tr>
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Not only was Robert welcoming, but a gratious host.</div>
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I was able to part with a bucket of castings...complete with worms!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk5lElbMgE9XI4VoElgJGFYXzL5i-MkMTBUg_dB9CDsUvbwfuhTnYFIJLZH-5K0_qzr7agou4TSPenpdxcjojO7DPcMeOw6N-pmbTxk_GgEWimTF_3WpSpx57NRIUPbwUOuAeL2ltq7Q/s1600/IMG_1581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk5lElbMgE9XI4VoElgJGFYXzL5i-MkMTBUg_dB9CDsUvbwfuhTnYFIJLZH-5K0_qzr7agou4TSPenpdxcjojO7DPcMeOw6N-pmbTxk_GgEWimTF_3WpSpx57NRIUPbwUOuAeL2ltq7Q/s1600/IMG_1581.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super juice!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">He also served up some of his pressed juice made with vegetables he grew last year.<br />It was kale, carrot, ginger, apple and I'm sure I'm forgetting something.<br />It was delicious nonetheless!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJpV_G7GltokXU7MklsMaYgv0cr6tVfETVU0375_YinY-6NrYXvdC0JJfn2sMjTZByAXcKjSZQ7eg1N1-JaRsuvruszRIY-20jg1gquEDC0_ybcN7-07V_41vkf8yBt2-psVKj6uC1U4/s1600/IMG_1582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJpV_G7GltokXU7MklsMaYgv0cr6tVfETVU0375_YinY-6NrYXvdC0JJfn2sMjTZByAXcKjSZQ7eg1N1-JaRsuvruszRIY-20jg1gquEDC0_ybcN7-07V_41vkf8yBt2-psVKj6uC1U4/s1600/IMG_1582.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Lb53D6UVCnuJ1MRcXp3JPLAyVxEFf5y9GvjG2zVtCL-Ah5ZbYzuyTJdMcXzo_g-um-Whk7ajOqY5am06Y_6KkRr_X-IMfaw9CQniS2fYG2wVGLvkfzKAo6oWaZL01YbKdELMtKF5TBM/s1600/IMG_1583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Lb53D6UVCnuJ1MRcXp3JPLAyVxEFf5y9GvjG2zVtCL-Ah5ZbYzuyTJdMcXzo_g-um-Whk7ajOqY5am06Y_6KkRr_X-IMfaw9CQniS2fYG2wVGLvkfzKAo6oWaZL01YbKdELMtKF5TBM/s1600/IMG_1583.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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He pulled out a Brix meter.</div>
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After he explained how it worked...I am now convinced it is the future of food production.</div>
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Wikipedia says:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.0444450378418px; text-align: left;">Degrees </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.0444450378418px; text-align: left;">Brix</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.0444450378418px; text-align: left;"> (symbol °Bx) is the sugar content of an aqueous solution. One degree </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.0444450378418px; text-align: left;">Brix</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.0444450378418px; text-align: left;"> is 1 gram of sucrose in 100 grams of solution and represents the strength of the solution as percentage by mass</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.0444450378418px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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(We tested the juice he made)</div>
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Its amazing to think that not all veggies are the same.</div>
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The tomato you bought in the store has very low nutritional content,</div>
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compared to one grown in the castings of worms and fed worm compost tea.</div>
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The difference is astronomical!</div>
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Here is a chart:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m4xcL8WkcP97Je0Xou4oXqXUP-tXToQJ2mNwl9rHrUKNN8fJrpUe8XhwuYcI_rz1hmktMt0iMQDMqEwA3XQieSyZHb64yKAa6egKXRM-e9FzJH7GrPpHPq2HN_YGKHrKb7qsfVsKdO8/s1600/brix_chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8m4xcL8WkcP97Je0Xou4oXqXUP-tXToQJ2mNwl9rHrUKNN8fJrpUe8XhwuYcI_rz1hmktMt0iMQDMqEwA3XQieSyZHb64yKAa6egKXRM-e9FzJH7GrPpHPq2HN_YGKHrKb7qsfVsKdO8/s1600/brix_chart.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
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Considering much of what we get at the grocery store has traveled very far to get to us,</div>
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doesn't it hurt that they would then sell us food listed less than poor on the Brix chart?</div>
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I believe that in the future, we won't have foods sporting ORGANIC labels any more.</div>
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We'll be checking to see what Brix rating it has!!!</div>
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*****************</div>
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All in all, Robert is an enthusiastic lover of gardens, worms and the path to overall health.</div>
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It was a treat to meet him and share in the information he has gathered.</div>
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Get in touch with this guy if you are at all interested in learning more about</div>
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-Worm composting (Vermicomposting)</div>
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-Juicing</div>
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-organic gardening on a whole new level</div>
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-Brix meters</div>
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Use the above posted email address for more information...</div>
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<b>Robert's Recommends:</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Charles Eisenstein "Sacred Economics"</div>
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http://sacred-economics.com/</div>
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Dr Elaine Ingham "SFI"</div>
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http://www.soilfoodweb.com/</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV67eaBlYjtPi38-0Es-9sy3i6kYXglSMp_QJi3Np931CSjaD9owTjL5pb7WAm5DXEBMVrQ0UXeFxPqGq_pyG1R3IYyjTSrZtwT6KtGrw-8Symn4jldMHJcIvKccZAj3x_7pAiKuW5S0M/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV67eaBlYjtPi38-0Es-9sy3i6kYXglSMp_QJi3Np931CSjaD9owTjL5pb7WAm5DXEBMVrQ0UXeFxPqGq_pyG1R3IYyjTSrZtwT6KtGrw-8Symn4jldMHJcIvKccZAj3x_7pAiKuW5S0M/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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PS. I couldn't resist...I started a worm farm with the worms I was gifted!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-85570423870769717722015-03-24T09:14:00.002-04:002015-03-24T09:14:24.219-04:00Cookbook Testing: Slow Cooker: 100 Tried and True Recipes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Following up on the <a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2015/03/slow-cooker-recipe-roundup.html">post</a> I did about slow cooker recipes.</div>
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A feature on one cookbook in particular.</div>
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Let me take you through a few of the recipes I've made so far...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOtvCOrBfxqfO0yl38War2FsmcLQ8pb8Sw_0KM27ubaDXGupHkkGN7oNCOQWWbH60PnSbj8tbhIfd-yhNZmg-LUNLb6GkGPWHBMCHJb4zN9K1zyMn80ExUZlqUVD-WjBCHKiFmTdCF_w/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOtvCOrBfxqfO0yl38War2FsmcLQ8pb8Sw_0KM27ubaDXGupHkkGN7oNCOQWWbH60PnSbj8tbhIfd-yhNZmg-LUNLb6GkGPWHBMCHJb4zN9K1zyMn80ExUZlqUVD-WjBCHKiFmTdCF_w/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sausage and Bean Casserole pg 110</div>
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Substituted chick peas for white beans.</div>
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Hearty and savory. A perfect weeknight meal.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6TbjgV1VHexgwBBW-Ek_Tp__1cDOE8in8hDDyodnuCAP5wrt3mefFgSWKPje3KjH55RXeTzgMqc1tp_ReLsaeQLZBcs13RJtyI7-gAcMPWwFUumDQlfB7h_SZCnkH2eqTr3ueTCZZYQ/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6TbjgV1VHexgwBBW-Ek_Tp__1cDOE8in8hDDyodnuCAP5wrt3mefFgSWKPje3KjH55RXeTzgMqc1tp_ReLsaeQLZBcs13RJtyI7-gAcMPWwFUumDQlfB7h_SZCnkH2eqTr3ueTCZZYQ/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Spicy Chicken and Cheese Dip pg 44</div>
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Omitted the chicken.</div>
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I had to take something to a potluck dinner for the local Scout troop.</div>
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Add a bag of tostitos chips and you've got a party.</div>
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(Note: this did not reheat well.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLGy84eDAAULfAWiMMpGg9ZjiOy1TvBaZ1slN__NRFxJAFQb9DgC8ld2_F6aySuDZyLfScm9FSZ3SJeJRnFaoXGnI5ETX6xB9uaiV-wm_BhjkEuyalfN6uJCg8wglVorlGyL_p8sLc9w/s1600/IMG_1040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLGy84eDAAULfAWiMMpGg9ZjiOy1TvBaZ1slN__NRFxJAFQb9DgC8ld2_F6aySuDZyLfScm9FSZ3SJeJRnFaoXGnI5ETX6xB9uaiV-wm_BhjkEuyalfN6uJCg8wglVorlGyL_p8sLc9w/s1600/IMG_1040.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Beef Ragu with Tagliatelle pg 81</div>
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Omitted the red wine (it was Valentine's day. we drank it instead)</div>
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Substituted creamy tomato soup for the tomato paste.</div>
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A totally drool worthy meal for a couple or a crowd.</div>
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The leftovers reheat beautifully.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21oIew2o30xqEfXudxIaBAGp5iD8olm_u8uibdKZ94QwpcxxGJJtDYAbMF_6AZAsxbR3C-TF-WrZHZlQn9bIT1c50qgPW-rwn-6mbA-pa4n3GL1qA2LVMwtj7PCfbvmgwQq9vuUs4VB8/s1600/pork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21oIew2o30xqEfXudxIaBAGp5iD8olm_u8uibdKZ94QwpcxxGJJtDYAbMF_6AZAsxbR3C-TF-WrZHZlQn9bIT1c50qgPW-rwn-6mbA-pa4n3GL1qA2LVMwtj7PCfbvmgwQq9vuUs4VB8/s1600/pork.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Spicy Pulled Pork pg 73</div>
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Made the rolls myself.</div>
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Not so spicy...as the title claimed.</div>
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Add red pepper flakes when we reheated the meat and it was perfect!</div>
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I can see me making a ton of pulled pork this summer time.</div>
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The slow cooker plugged in on the deck.</div>
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REVIEW:</div>
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A perfect addition to your shelf.</div>
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If you want slow cooker meals (both budget-friendly and easy to make),</div>
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this is the book for you.</div>
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If you want to expand your knowledge of what you think a slow cooker can do, </div>
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this is the book for you.</div>
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If you just want some fun recipes for entertaining,</div>
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this is so the book for you.</div>
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Definitely a keeper!</div>
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PS. Thanks to my awesome step mom Mary Elaine for gifting this cookbook!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-10970919052007519372015-03-17T08:14:00.000-04:002015-03-17T08:14:44.050-04:00Black Bean Recipe Roundup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have talked before about Meat Free Mondays</div>
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and about substituting vegetarian meals into your weekly diet.</div>
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Not only are beans a healthy choice but they are packed with proteins and vitamins.</div>
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Did I also mention, canned or dried, beans are SUPER CHEAP!!!</div>
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(PS. They even sell the Mr Goudas brand at the Dollartree now...WIN!)</div>
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Just to help you out...</div>
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I have a black bean roundup for you!</div>
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I usually make a fried black bean dish that totally reminds Ches and I of being in Costa Rica.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Original black bean recipe,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Burritos and Southwest Soup:</span></div>
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<a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2012/03/2-meat-free-recipes-just-for-you.html">Here</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDjS-Qn05xGGhXu7Aj8o9kLADyFh5_GfVSh3Elqe2eJ0bkqyGb14G1oYNQDpUEjGtJcBJF26wvqTJUZIL9hf0vuGfEk-YSsts-MYeyWGVIArZYoikWBnKNkNtIVeVos5qFQHaZX4drTc/s1600/DSC_1589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDjS-Qn05xGGhXu7Aj8o9kLADyFh5_GfVSh3Elqe2eJ0bkqyGb14G1oYNQDpUEjGtJcBJF26wvqTJUZIL9hf0vuGfEk-YSsts-MYeyWGVIArZYoikWBnKNkNtIVeVos5qFQHaZX4drTc/s1600/DSC_1589.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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My newest recipe was adding the black bean recipe and serving it quesadilla-style.</div>
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Plain Greek yoghurt for the sour cream.</div>
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Chopped fresh tomatoes, grated local cheese, our home made salsa and some of last year's pickled jalapenos between two flour tortillas. Place on side down in a frying pan with a bit of oil.</div>
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Fry one side and then flip to grill the other side.</div>
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Slice and serve while piping hot.</div>
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Below is the roundup of more recipes I've already posted on the blog:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Burritos and Vegetarian Nachos</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBXyfspW-rc5x-saCkTgMRacgXEgHTidoHtzNpfct3-0LRwUamEE-E04iOp65YLYuHHtRh_nH_b46QSoIWtkGUs1EKTKsWuT7OrPk71boDPts_SFv5r0WA-eC5959UaHqTe2qzCB7ycc/s1600/burritos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBXyfspW-rc5x-saCkTgMRacgXEgHTidoHtzNpfct3-0LRwUamEE-E04iOp65YLYuHHtRh_nH_b46QSoIWtkGUs1EKTKsWuT7OrPk71boDPts_SFv5r0WA-eC5959UaHqTe2qzCB7ycc/s1600/burritos.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd9a9Bybd25yEoJsqILHw3-CIZ1iibAksoE2rRKYmpy79OxWQR2jPB0rVo4scBqnnpPDcsmFbM4Tc1H-_iQ39as8hfaMA7btA0l5b-hCFqApVS8FHIRoTPNUeRmSTWr7WnqGsQOnhIsc/s1600/nachos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd9a9Bybd25yEoJsqILHw3-CIZ1iibAksoE2rRKYmpy79OxWQR2jPB0rVo4scBqnnpPDcsmFbM4Tc1H-_iQ39as8hfaMA7btA0l5b-hCFqApVS8FHIRoTPNUeRmSTWr7WnqGsQOnhIsc/s1600/nachos.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2013/11/2-mexi-options-for-meat-free-monday.html">Here</a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Creamy Black Bean Dip:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKG55WPEnWzM7GBIP2gPk36YQyh7GlDIg9Q_poNhe_ayXO83uygfS487X6Ac6h07pRnFrT9CUorpMC2dwdwCe1cK5NhL54ZpxN8rloeqV6r7n2VWmkYsXp5sDaYrr6oetnZa-mZlp09w/s1600/dip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKG55WPEnWzM7GBIP2gPk36YQyh7GlDIg9Q_poNhe_ayXO83uygfS487X6Ac6h07pRnFrT9CUorpMC2dwdwCe1cK5NhL54ZpxN8rloeqV6r7n2VWmkYsXp5sDaYrr6oetnZa-mZlp09w/s1600/dip.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/545357836099557639/">Here</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Other Bean Recipes:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU8Gfc3K5-5p1IeHkb2O0BoNX34cdtb_aU75cbelaUUVeWc6iFbP20xrh6LGO1NBeN7Trosg2wbysJHMgmhyphenhyphenH-fh7BdmWiED1l5kez_QD5pOG_kIeN4btFMy8B3hs-X3NvONFWTsvXKs/s1600/patties.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU8Gfc3K5-5p1IeHkb2O0BoNX34cdtb_aU75cbelaUUVeWc6iFbP20xrh6LGO1NBeN7Trosg2wbysJHMgmhyphenhyphenH-fh7BdmWiED1l5kez_QD5pOG_kIeN4btFMy8B3hs-X3NvONFWTsvXKs/s1600/patties.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2011/11/beans-are-not-just-musical.html">Here</a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of Mean Bean Soup Recipes:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW52bWxqWzSU-IuqhXbA3LOFtJKmx2dDum87rintFO0hb-xJPyjRvXqWhXf95wTwZNDA7ZiZqiLl99Lw5HBA1i52TN4GAgsMon-q4J3iip6v7F1V06gKvSY6IWG8a5J73XBY3zBjz_Bg/s1600/soup2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW52bWxqWzSU-IuqhXbA3LOFtJKmx2dDum87rintFO0hb-xJPyjRvXqWhXf95wTwZNDA7ZiZqiLl99Lw5HBA1i52TN4GAgsMon-q4J3iip6v7F1V06gKvSY6IWG8a5J73XBY3zBjz_Bg/s1600/soup2.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNVqKbJxmZDhPXGkqBIPH6gbEG-nXu-EkLTD2RK4v00uR0F_dweejjYIPBz5EGJsLTQvs0BrSChDPZHI2sk9owv1scTC2M8gUQKvhgfpxCZ4idyRE1y4aPA8nj431_VOMdOkHBMr6_X0/s1600/soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNVqKbJxmZDhPXGkqBIPH6gbEG-nXu-EkLTD2RK4v00uR0F_dweejjYIPBz5EGJsLTQvs0BrSChDPZHI2sk9owv1scTC2M8gUQKvhgfpxCZ4idyRE1y4aPA8nj431_VOMdOkHBMr6_X0/s1600/soup.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2013/01/cooking-for-end-of-worldaka-million.html">Here</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-20388279610603871982015-03-11T09:24:00.001-04:002015-03-11T09:24:42.961-04:00Decorating on the Cheap...LAMP EDITION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It seems that spring time is the time for cleaning and decorating.</div>
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Every spring I seem to rearrange the house and make a few things.</div>
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<a href="http://smallpursebiggarden.blogspot.ca/2014/02/decorating-on-cheap-pillow-edition.html">Last year</a> I made a few decorative pillows and they are my most pinned pin on Pinterest!</div>
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All I did was crochet some covers on top of some kid pillows...easy!</div>
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This year's project happened because I noticed a pile of lamps in my house.</div>
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Not just one or two...a PILE of LAMPS!?!?!</div>
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Who on earth has a pile of lamps?</div>
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Seriously...I had no idea.</div>
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They weren't just lamps here or there.</div>
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There was literally a pile of lamps in the basement.</div>
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I decided to spruce them up a bit!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgvjzN2VXljFZ3ci3yJaIcndoG9MTrpunuZNylB5n8RfyJAd6is_OamN3HQ82hGRMPiJKv2Dzb2_Im7PJGNGVYN1zl_NyB4yyQrQxB21l-0iI8GljA2O7PlTHHAnvo29eQg9tL9DTVOE/s1600/IMG_1161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgvjzN2VXljFZ3ci3yJaIcndoG9MTrpunuZNylB5n8RfyJAd6is_OamN3HQ82hGRMPiJKv2Dzb2_Im7PJGNGVYN1zl_NyB4yyQrQxB21l-0iI8GljA2O7PlTHHAnvo29eQg9tL9DTVOE/s1600/IMG_1161.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also had some fabric laying around.</div>
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A close family friend gave it to us when a relative of theirs passed away.</div>
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I had stock piled the fabric for curtains in the chicken coop.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk6RmeyT2dTBKPPBsxIawRWm_cGqIqNSHmi4I8iJQLT2ttlgA3sSUUX7-bq1ToKjfLYkrHcxNJUv0AGTGtw3ZIrBFVYOyOZ6DGJ1XjD5ITE81bwP9PbHjgGXz1_SlGvhAmeykbvHOCA0/s1600/IMG_1126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk6RmeyT2dTBKPPBsxIawRWm_cGqIqNSHmi4I8iJQLT2ttlgA3sSUUX7-bq1ToKjfLYkrHcxNJUv0AGTGtw3ZIrBFVYOyOZ6DGJ1XjD5ITE81bwP9PbHjgGXz1_SlGvhAmeykbvHOCA0/s1600/IMG_1126.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The lamp I chose to start with was small and stained.</div>
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It used to live in my son's room...until he required a brighter light for reading.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu10LER26cnKlGTrhxe_Gqc-UZJwfrvsgPQT87iTghAQieutyM7jvjYGNpYqdMuJmopxSss62PbX57TsFNIhIY2GOZ6BClcJaODBpN8OR-stkgrrOKr8_OwAZ_j8nh4F1OTrgIXK8MMu4/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu10LER26cnKlGTrhxe_Gqc-UZJwfrvsgPQT87iTghAQieutyM7jvjYGNpYqdMuJmopxSss62PbX57TsFNIhIY2GOZ6BClcJaODBpN8OR-stkgrrOKr8_OwAZ_j8nh4F1OTrgIXK8MMu4/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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All it took was a glue gun!</div>
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I glued the fabric to the shade and trimmed the excess fabric off.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0k99E9SZuG1-JAPSyzuoqEO2kZWUDzXvWylVUDON5lLJDMjWP4GslolaLAMm75qi_PKnPsdQgNkY9lhSGFm7EwkpwBSw8Vjtqu-G4V-bB4F1-XIa6gxegQ6j5uACMWDmP_1p-lss57U/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0k99E9SZuG1-JAPSyzuoqEO2kZWUDzXvWylVUDON5lLJDMjWP4GslolaLAMm75qi_PKnPsdQgNkY9lhSGFm7EwkpwBSw8Vjtqu-G4V-bB4F1-XIa6gxegQ6j5uACMWDmP_1p-lss57U/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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It turned out so lovely!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNssOH8FBZzkZgZL9sIyhQaipS7EgNuV2lENo1WkC12cNwgmxyjp_MDEJJJjmoImGmxFsnZGV_sdlzAzTc0J74KC4XyIMpxBbCmIfoHUv1GlDDIBNmEBWAk7WAAGWB_zItoBfX8Q9ypas/s1600/FullSizeRender+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNssOH8FBZzkZgZL9sIyhQaipS7EgNuV2lENo1WkC12cNwgmxyjp_MDEJJJjmoImGmxFsnZGV_sdlzAzTc0J74KC4XyIMpxBbCmIfoHUv1GlDDIBNmEBWAk7WAAGWB_zItoBfX8Q9ypas/s1600/FullSizeRender+(2).jpg" height="320" width="177" /></a></div>
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Owen was so impressed he had to plug it in and try it out.</div>
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Not too shabby!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsQ0IElmlQjTBN1AwFuRBd3VyCWYFBzXGEJJsztR6FXq7Ke4g5704WyEckMTha4J7EriL_GcFzKeVS8AUlUWsQHavoCg94aaIwOOETzwOpFyokmnLeB2EXXuIsz3hZlSp2OPBKcctF-E/s1600/IMG_1178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsQ0IElmlQjTBN1AwFuRBd3VyCWYFBzXGEJJsztR6FXq7Ke4g5704WyEckMTha4J7EriL_GcFzKeVS8AUlUWsQHavoCg94aaIwOOETzwOpFyokmnLeB2EXXuIsz3hZlSp2OPBKcctF-E/s1600/IMG_1178.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Actually I was so impressed with how it turned out...</div>
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I did it on another wayward lamp!</div>
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PERFECT!</div>
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What have you upcycled lately?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233263730445931028noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542081533604820484.post-62756489038963430782015-03-03T09:10:00.001-05:002015-03-03T09:10:21.249-05:00Slow Cooker Recipe Roundup <div style="text-align: center;">
Slow cooker means convenient, set-it-and-forget-it meals.</div>
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Hot comfort food for the dead of winter.</div>
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Stick to your ribs...and coat your stomach.<br />
Easy on the wallet when it comes to the ingredients.<br />
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But the slow cooker can be so much more...<br />
so let me share with you some of my most recent slow cooker meals.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MEAT</span></b></div>
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A bunch of fridge and pantry staples can come together with meat in a slow cooker.</div>
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What comes out is an amazing meal!</div>
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The best part of slow cooking with meat is that the cuts that really benefit low and slow style cooking are generally on sale or are very resonablly priced.</div>
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Chicken thighs or legs.</div>
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Pork shoulders or ribs.</div>
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I have really broaded my tastes this year with slow cooked meat.</div>
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Check it out!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ51oUN1SD5B14rudnauUgZ6C0I8O9qjIlZGBt1Sceg7kN2cy276Cy2LyAaKAWpsziXjxFQSz3KGhC81BV1t2hmYQf7Nx4mVhI8OIY91KGgCA7nxutw5-p5yqO9StPM5WMmhbhsr_MZY/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ51oUN1SD5B14rudnauUgZ6C0I8O9qjIlZGBt1Sceg7kN2cy276Cy2LyAaKAWpsziXjxFQSz3KGhC81BV1t2hmYQf7Nx4mVhI8OIY91KGgCA7nxutw5-p5yqO9StPM5WMmhbhsr_MZY/s1600/FullSizeRender+(1).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/honey-garlic-slow-cooker-chicken-thighs/">Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice</a></u></div>
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Sweetened with local wildflower honey, this dish was a hit with everyone...even Owen!</div>
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Super simple...like 4 ingredients...everybody wins.</div>
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Plus, you'll be immune to colds...and vampires.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVKK2WiOms5bgCt0ronDYJFUe-QgdNo8FdLRzYLzqfDFMP77wg6rVvEK9zCH426JKuphMKzUOir3VUu73K7g9-BSysrANTrFIyPxD_5EpteN6You_cJw4ye3sJGBCo_QWTdQbRfucUJ4/s1600/chicekn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVKK2WiOms5bgCt0ronDYJFUe-QgdNo8FdLRzYLzqfDFMP77wg6rVvEK9zCH426JKuphMKzUOir3VUu73K7g9-BSysrANTrFIyPxD_5EpteN6You_cJw4ye3sJGBCo_QWTdQbRfucUJ4/s1600/chicekn.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/10/slow-cooker-cashew-chicken.html">Cashew Chicken and Rice</a></u></div>
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This dish rocks...with or without the cashews (you add them in at the end anyway).</div>
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We made this dish once and were so hungry, we forgot to add them!</div>
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Totally tasty both ways.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPUKUQtotIcT8FFKQQTacS2nHRJ1uit1SNQO6pLFernOScUKunYbpEYGRf6ycOgdv4CUCF2nZ73J3xMve2n6qh9g86SgLYkI-coJzqXic4-XEoaxs5FRGoKmu1VmMMxYwtv688T8XFOQ/s1600/chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPUKUQtotIcT8FFKQQTacS2nHRJ1uit1SNQO6pLFernOScUKunYbpEYGRf6ycOgdv4CUCF2nZ73J3xMve2n6qh9g86SgLYkI-coJzqXic4-XEoaxs5FRGoKmu1VmMMxYwtv688T8XFOQ/s1600/chicken.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><a href="http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/25547/sweet-hawaiian-crock-pot-chicken--easy-and-yummy-.aspx">Hawaiian Chicken</a></u></div>
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Not just for thick winter meals!</div>
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Try plugging your slow cooker outside (not in direct sun).</div>
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I cooked this delicious meal on our deck!</div>
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It was a bright, tropical flavoured chicken dish...perfect!</div>
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Not only that, but it didn't heat up our kitchen.</div>
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BONUS!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoGCEyNY96RhqpFTe4KGWmVz2NITiZVPlaCO59Ag_UgZEsHiq4Paik3xWCi1m2Wj8s5y_QOsBL714VekNQYcs4RF3AIhbDiuObpl82YcPbn66FU5CLEE_INtNh8GR-zMCKGd69LvPP5k/s1600/ribs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoGCEyNY96RhqpFTe4KGWmVz2NITiZVPlaCO59Ag_UgZEsHiq4Paik3xWCi1m2Wj8s5y_QOsBL714VekNQYcs4RF3AIhbDiuObpl82YcPbn66FU5CLEE_INtNh8GR-zMCKGd69LvPP5k/s1600/ribs.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Sticky Ribs (from The Joy Of Cooking Cookbook)</u></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">Wash and pat down the ribs. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">Cut them up into manageable pieces. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">Toss into the slow cooker along with the following ingredients: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">10 oz beef broth, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup water, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">2 tbsp maple syrup (we used out own), </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">2 tbsp local honey, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">3 tbsp soy sauce, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">2 tbsp bbq sauce or ketchup, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">1/2 tsp dry mustard. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">Cook on high for 6-8 hrs. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not even joking...the meat will fall off the bones!!! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Served with yellow potato wedges, baked and a green salad with cubed Wilton Mozzarella cheese.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc06Oj9oUdp2d0CUi4NHPwSGaqmtB4IC8mvKAnMsmJXbgZPFryRYnCPmongP3ECGQbEjspE4GPLR7F9zF3DXw-uyGLFeUAbM6vctkAcvLD2dflKmaHjSvoDDycFwS3NkTu9gu_45RHxE/s1600/pork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQc06Oj9oUdp2d0CUi4NHPwSGaqmtB4IC8mvKAnMsmJXbgZPFryRYnCPmongP3ECGQbEjspE4GPLR7F9zF3DXw-uyGLFeUAbM6vctkAcvLD2dflKmaHjSvoDDycFwS3NkTu9gu_45RHxE/s1600/pork.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Pulled Pork Sliders</u></div>
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Made from the Slow Cooker cookbook I got at Christmas!</div>
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Wait for my post all about the other recipes I've made from this book.</div>
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Truly a keeper for the cookbook shelf!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCYc5E8o_LzuROFLAX-5ASvucznx5GhTd0BPu0ggwLdGM-_HXhf2T9UW7fsXpQJAANHFpC01vr8lt6G6-lf7h9wDxUnnSsR_JUBbM0VLdkFACjW_dru9HV2Vp2-m3QFsdqLBICHmaDlk/s1600/carnitas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCYc5E8o_LzuROFLAX-5ASvucznx5GhTd0BPu0ggwLdGM-_HXhf2T9UW7fsXpQJAANHFpC01vr8lt6G6-lf7h9wDxUnnSsR_JUBbM0VLdkFACjW_dru9HV2Vp2-m3QFsdqLBICHmaDlk/s1600/carnitas.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Spicy Pork <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pork-carnitas/">Carnitas</a></u></div>
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Not a real flavourful meat dish...but adding sweet chili sauce and avocados helped.</div>
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We also didn't have any flatbread...so I just whipped some up in the breadmaker.</div>
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Just as tasty!</div>
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*********************</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">SOUPS</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
The slow cooker is still my go-to for soups...<br />
So here are this years soup concoctions!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwmWPriM0hi9i4qbcnjXXJz36YcLT-7mtaWn8UxXplQSeoXlqZeLf-YctUtI2mMrwM8KMbCJ_Bh_7jdgOAeT3i5p63N7raDhZDy-efPqKQh3wF2FP3IB10c1tbOlG8epUFS39FU76SDA/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwmWPriM0hi9i4qbcnjXXJz36YcLT-7mtaWn8UxXplQSeoXlqZeLf-YctUtI2mMrwM8KMbCJ_Bh_7jdgOAeT3i5p63N7raDhZDy-efPqKQh3wF2FP3IB10c1tbOlG8epUFS39FU76SDA/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-recipes/15-savory-slow-cooker-recipes/slow-cooker-lentil-soup">Green Lentil Bacon Soup</a></div>
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As seen in Shape Magazine's slow cooker roundup.</div>
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I used regular bacon from a local butcher rather than Canadian (peameal) bacon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5ahoXtGfvM-qasEHKYxWA5CZJaOyst4Dmv8w6zc-2URICjmtyuPZpq5EKyYb4S5-1ebzP5RuHi7HQO-9PtobiLFbhgr_zVOFxRO3KqRmfkDcyBg2RABJ8-HPOpdUd8csMk9qQDdNhHk/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5ahoXtGfvM-qasEHKYxWA5CZJaOyst4Dmv8w6zc-2URICjmtyuPZpq5EKyYb4S5-1ebzP5RuHi7HQO-9PtobiLFbhgr_zVOFxRO3KqRmfkDcyBg2RABJ8-HPOpdUd8csMk9qQDdNhHk/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Harvest Veggie Chili with Quinoa</u></div>
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I made the veggie chili before and froze it.</div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Quick Veggie Chili</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">2 cans diced tomatoes</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 onion from the garden, chopped</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">2-3 cloves garlic, pressed</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 green pepper, diced</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 cup corn from the garden</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 can red kidney beans, rinsed</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">cayenne pepper and chili powder to taste.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">add ingredients to slow cooker and cook on low or 6-8 hrs.</span></div>
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When I reheated the chili, I added buttercup squash, cumin and turmeric.</div>
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Adding leftover pre-cooked quinoa added a hint of smokey or nutty flavour.</div>
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It also upped the protein of this vegetarian delight.</div>
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The spices are so warming...the veggies are totally fall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOkGK7oSQXtJuMENiWtQCDTBntZnp1-1MTK3ROwAUDGlEHl8WU8PDAuf-I6G5kE0iRch9BQnPkYCdYvRNMXs4JS4Ngm4yYBh-MyM8qnMmfwpnAWa1N40SrJJ4RtUAZodnRZpaepLt5Ao/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOkGK7oSQXtJuMENiWtQCDTBntZnp1-1MTK3ROwAUDGlEHl8WU8PDAuf-I6G5kE0iRch9BQnPkYCdYvRNMXs4JS4Ngm4yYBh-MyM8qnMmfwpnAWa1N40SrJJ4RtUAZodnRZpaepLt5Ao/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Red Lentil and Veggie Soup</u></div>
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Another great vegetarian soup.</div>
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I made this soup so much that I memorized it.</div>
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It originated from a cookbook of recipes from developing countries.</div>
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From this cookbook, I got a hilarious story about "zom".</div>
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(if you ever get the chance, ask my mom or sister about it)</div>
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The other thing I got from the cookbook was this amazingly simple soup.</div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Red Lentil and Veggie Soup</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 cup red lentils, rinsed</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">4 cups vegetable broth</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 carrot, peeled and diced</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 celery stalk, diced</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 onion from the garden, diced</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1-2 cloves garlic, pressed</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1 tsp lemon juice</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1/2 tsp ground coriander</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">1/4 tsp cumin</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I adapted this recipe from pot to slow cooker.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Add ingredients to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hrs.</span></div>
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Great on a cold winter night!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLJ098tlZqJ1rjUI9wYox3439JBTY7gaA-EIJ9rN8vIMoJ1Hjc9CgAfwcd49Q8oBTeQd6DiUVdctJt-GePZzVaAi6hI5ItiXIyuBcFQshexHmo3VjPN8bBKfsh41qeUuPCKQ7RXdxzWw/s1600/soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLJ098tlZqJ1rjUI9wYox3439JBTY7gaA-EIJ9rN8vIMoJ1Hjc9CgAfwcd49Q8oBTeQd6DiUVdctJt-GePZzVaAi6hI5ItiXIyuBcFQshexHmo3VjPN8bBKfsh41qeUuPCKQ7RXdxzWw/s1600/soup.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Chicken Tomato Soup</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A slow cooker marvel! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Adapted from this recipe <a href="http://everydaypaleo.com/another-budget-friendly-paleo-meal-by-erika-creamy-chicken-tomato-crockpot-soup/">here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">2 cans of diced tomatoes (or we used our frozen ones from the garden)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">1 tsp Italian seasoning (homemade mixture)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">1/2 tsp dried basil</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">1 cup home made chicken stock</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;">2 chicken breasts</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: inherit;"> Set on low for 6-8 hrs</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just before serving, take 2 forks and shred the chicken breasts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">AMAZINGLY EASY! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Served with mozzarella grilled cheese sammies</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I just couldn't resist...</span></span></div>
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What are your favorite slow cooker recipes?</div>
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