Got Seeds?

another year is upon us
take time to plan
the cold will soon be gone
and before you know it
it will be time
to plant
or for the non-growers
to order from your CSA





seed catalogs, Journal & packets of seeds

 

Seeds are really cheap, for all that they deliver.
But remember, a seed is not a seed.
There are heirloom and open-pollinated seeds,
then there are the unstable hybrids and genetically modified seeds (GMO's)
that do not promote diversity.
We must all try, as we can, to re-invent our country's food system, from the Big Corporate Government supported food and farms to more community supported agriculture (CSA),
farmers markets and more organic and heirloom varieties in grocery stores.
We all love food that taste good and that is what good seed delivers.

Variety is the spice of life.


 

The Green River

The Green River flows between our farm house and the farm lands.
This river begins in the Appalachian mountains and flows westward for 384 miles toward the Ohio River.  Yes, the river is green, but its the General Green of the Revolutionary War that the river got its name. It is a beautiful river, as all rivers are. I'll post a few photos from Google images.

A river of Beauty



The River flows west toward the Ohio River.

The river forms the Mammoth Caves
the worlds longest cave system.

Jug fishin on the
Green river lake
is Fun!!!

 Green River Lake
summer fun

 

The river also has a ferry boat crossing, marinas, houseboats, cottages and cabins, campgrounds and horse stables.
The Green is river that we all should enjoy and care for.

A dinner to begin the new year

A farm food dinner

Menu

• Backyard Chicken--Roasted
• Fall Pumpkin Squashed
• Garden Garlic & Potatoes Mashed
• Preserved Beets in a Salad with Onions in a vinaigrette
• July-picked Blueberry Pie with Fresh Cream Whipped

As others have had a food goal: crazy as they are:

• eat all meals for 365 days at Starbucks
• cook all dinners from a Julia Child cookbook for a year
• eat at McDonald's for a full year

Everyday this year I will try to eat food that we produced on the farm.

Totally Delicious

 

Invest in Nature

Nature is the foundation of our well-being.

If we nurture our land, like any other asset or investment, we and our children can profit.

After working and walking the long aisles of the big bazaar of Amazon.com with its tons and billions of goods (>90% from China) sold, I got to wondering about our investment in Amazon vs. nature.

This is a huge Topic, including sustainability, conservation, climate change, organic farming,
all which involves moral and economic choices.

I had to laugh at what people were buying:  bronze statues of sitcom anchorman, electric warmers for birdbaths and plastic this & that by the ton. No, we do not need this junk. We need to make better choices, take care of this planet we live on and treasure the resources we are given.

I intend to live with less, get rid of "stuff", garden more and be happy.

 

 

Hoping that 2014 will bring you'll joys from Nature.

Making Soup using a pressure canner

Soup, is perfect as the days grow shorter and nights cooler, it's time to enjoy the warming of a bowl.
Instead of grabbing high calorie "comfort" foods, grab a jar of your homemade soup off the shelf.
A pressured cooker, filled with quart jars, will preserve the soup for a year.

A few hours making homemade soup, using a pressure cooker, will pay off when your home
late and hungry. Just heat and enjoy a delicious cup full of nutrients, flavor and fiber.
This homemade soup recipe has lots of fiber from the peas, beans and sweet potatoes.

Jars of Goodness
ready to be opened and heated
when your short on time.

Recipe

1 cup of dried peas
1 cup of dried navy beans
2 white sweet potatoes
4 carrots
greens, parsley, kale
bay leaf
homemade chicken stock
S & P
spices, thyme, garlic
water

soak white beans in water overnight.
in morning, drain beans, add all ingredients to stock pot
and additional water. keep warm, while sterilizing canning jars.
Follow canning directions using pressure canner.
Add bits of meat if desired.

This delicious soup
can be your dinner
when short on time,
by grabbing a jar off your shelf.
 

 

Ball: a good reference and recipe book
for all canning & preserving

 

 

HEY!, Hay is for horses.

Its the time of year to gather Hay.

Hay is not just for the horses; all the animals use the hay.

Horses eat the most hay.
Goats waste the hay.
Chickens lay eggs on the hay.
Dogs make a bed of the hay.
Deer nibble on the hay.
Cats warm themselves laying on the hay in the barn.
I mulch the hay.

Hauling the hay from field to farm.

Tightly rolled grass for all the animals.

Goats  nibbling the best hay in the middle of the roll.

Hay, a good crop for all.

November Foods

Back in the Kitchen again, after living outside for the summer.

Topping the food list this month is the last of the garden harvest:

• Pumpkins
• winter squash
• sweet potatoes
• Irish potatoes
• winter greens: collards, kale, mustard greens and lettuce
• onions

All these foods will provide much needed nutrients for our busy bodies.
These foods will keep over the winter months.
The pumpkins, squash, onions and potatoes are kept cool and dry out in the garden shed all winter.
The greens will keep out in the garden until January, here in our zone 6.

You've heard an apple a day will keep the doctor a way?  Try adding these colorful green & orange foods a day to keep the doctor away!


Back in the kitchen, oven on, baking the winter squash and steaming the greens.

A bunch of Chard



A row of Winter greens

Winter squash
full of vitamins A & C
antioxidants
fiber
and flavor