giant silkworm moth
He’s been hanging out on the deck for the last couple days – a real beauty.
straw bales planted
The straw bales are planted. We’ll see how the tomatoes and chilies do. Planted some nasturtium in the corners as well.
vegan “cheddar”
Learning new ways of using ingredients interests me, so I picked up a book on making artisan vegan cheeses. I usually prefer beans, nuts, vegetables and fruits over dairy and meat as a dietary staple, though I’m down with a healthy wild or small-farm raised turkey or tasty free-range elk steak. Vegan “cheddar” needs a new name. It’s a tasty product on its own. A great cheddar made from milk is its own thing, as is its vegan homage. The key to making a vegan cheddar is a sour starter the author of the cookbook I used calls “rejuvelac.” Rejuvelac is based in fermented grains, similar to what you would use in beer making. That gives
tomato & chili seedlings
Each seed I started took, so I have extras to sell at this Saturday’s farmers’ market. Tomato seedlings are Black Cherokee, Amish Paste, and Black Cherry. Chili seedlings are Jalapeno and Cayenne.
first farmers’ market
Growing sunflower greens and pea shoots has been a success, so decided to dip my toe into selling at the local farmers’ markets. I wanted to be sure I had at least a couple reliable crops to sell through the summer and into fall, especially since my big garden ambitions were downsized this year. I applied to three local farmers’ markets, and so far have a reserved space at the largest one in Kalispell, Montana. I’m selling the sunflower greens and pea shoots, as well as any extra tomatoes and chilies from the garden as they come into season. In addition to produce, I’ll be selling skincare oil and my bison
seedlings popping up
Amish Paste, Black Cherry, and Cherokee Purple tomato seedlings are growing fast, as are the Cayenne and Jalapeno peppers. They should be ready for planting in a couple weeks.
straw bale starter garden
Ambitions for a full-size garden this year have been downsized to a small straw bale starter garden. I learned our soil is poor for growing all but the hardiest of plants, and will need some work to make it garden healthy — unless I wanted to buy a few thousand dollars worth of soil and amendments, that is. Deer are a second issue. We have a couple herds that cruise through several times a day eating everything edible. I’d rather not put fences up everywhere if I can avoid having them clutter up the landscape. So, this year I’m starting with a straw bale mini-garden in a 8’x 2′ container on
winter learnings
It’s been nine months since we moved here to Planet B. In that time, here are a few random things I’ve learned: You can successfully store cheese without refrigeration by painting it with cheese wax and hanging it in a climate controlled area. Mice, too, like climate controlled areas in winter, can jump really high, and think cheese is yummy. They are also industrious and like to nest in engine blocks — it doesn’t seem to matter that the car is being driven. Mine gathered its nesting material partly from the cheese wax and partly from the dried grass under the lawnmower — both of which are quite a distance in opposite directions
maples and lilacs
Early buds of maples and lilacs have started to pop!