Last year Ken cleaned up some older logs on the driveway; since he had not gotten the sawmill up and running the wood had gotten old. Now it was no longer lumber grade – only good to burn. He cut the logs in lengths that could be split for the side stoke holes on the pottery kiln – 40 – 42.” Then the splitter was giving him trouble. And his health was also giving …
When my husband Ken died last December, many people asked how they could help. I was in shock and doing things like attorney, banks, taxes. I honestly can’t remember who offered to help with what. Now I need help. With wood – the jobs Ken did, and I don’t know how to do (see below). I have three piles of split wood about 40 inches that needs to be cut to 16″ for the cook stove. …
Today I got the two trailers mostly unloaded. What remains is wood that will NOT fit in the cook stove, but WILL fit in the larger wood stove. I need to bring it to another wood pile on the other side of the house to another pile. I waited until I was done so that it would just be one trip. Here are the two trailers And that third …
We had quite a storm last night – enough wind to blow down branches and pull laundry off the clothesline. There were puddles in the driveway this morning – that hasn’t happened most of the season. Last night Oscar was inside – he hates thunder. And today during the day long drizzle Big Red decided that napping in the house was preferable to any place outdoors. I was working and at one point I …
Eat local challenges in August always amuse me. The REAL challenge is to eat as much as local as possible all year round. This morning and again at midday I felt like some greens would perk me up. So I tried a wrap. Wrap and avocado are NOT local. But The quark from Cosmic Wheel Creamery came from Amery, the radishes from Whetstone Farm, the greens from Steady Hand farm, the tomatoes …
Each summer I canned organic peaches for Ken. Ken loved all stone fruit like peaches, plums, cherries, etc. The stone fruits consistently show up on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list of foods that have high pesticide residues. So I made an effort to find and can organic peaches in pint jars; Ken could take them out to the field with a spoon and have a mid morning and/or a mid afternoon snack. With …
Yesterday we had some rain. Some years when it is warm and damp the plums start to mold where one plum touches another fruit. I wanted to avoid this. So today I went out to check on the plums. And just look at what I found! Ken loved plums, and my mother does, too. I like them and will eat lots, but some will go for jam. So, soon I will be jammin’!
Most of my time now is spent cleaning, sorting, and divesting. But last week I added. My ten hens did not have a rooster. I had given the one I had him to Otto so he could have fertile eggs if he got a broody hen. I like having a rooster to protect the flock – and also to have fertile eggs if I want to let a hen hatch. A friend Erin was happy …
So, it has begun. Now when there is surplus and some blemished produce, one starts to freeze, can, dehydrate. Since I still have many jars in the root cellar, I started here with freezing melon. Smoothies or sorbet come next spring when we get heat before we have fresh fruit Thank you, Josh and Rama! The first sorbet goes to you.
Today another chapter ended. The retail produce cooler is ready for a new home. This hinged on reducing the poultry population to a manageable size – and reducing egg production. I have stopped selling pots and produce – except eggs – since May. Time to clear it out! So, where do I put the surplus eggs? Thanks to Charlie and Karen we have a little “beer fridge” in the basement. I …
