spring has sprung

Within 24 hours of arriving home from Phoenix, the snow starting falling in Minneapolis.  While some may not find it enjoyable, I must say, it was a very pretty snowfall and much needed precipitation.  Just before the snow, I was able to snap a few pictures of a few of our plants that are peaking out of the thawed ground.  While they are now covered in snow, and hopefully not completely frozen, it was exciting to see them starting their springtime growth.  

Our chickens (yes, they are the ones who nibbled on my plants in the photos above) have also embraced the longer days of spring and at least four, if not all five, of them are laying again!  Dan and I returned from our respective trips to find our egg trays full!  A frittata for dinner soon followed!  Laying chickens are happy and content chickens, which in turn makes us all quite happy and content.  Yum.  Frittata.  

In spite of the snow, or maybe because of it, it truly feels like spring around here.  I hope you are feeling the nudge of spring, or perhaps fully embracing the warmth of the season where you live.  Here in Minnesota, we're looking forward to a forecast of a bit of sunshine and warmer temps for the remainder of the week.  Hooray!

garden planning

February.  The month when, for me, winter suddenly starts to get a bit annoying.  When the cold seems extra cold, even when it's not, and the darkness seems a little darker even though the days are getting longer.  It's not my favorite month.  But, that's why I start my garden planning in February.  It's the perfect time, really, especially for those who like to start a few seeds in doors.  Last year I had high hopes of starting quite a bit inside, but with the excitement and preparation for our baby chicks, what I eventually started inside was so little when it came time to transplant that I ended up still buying seedlings.  This year shall be different, though!  So, a garden-planning I go!  

I do love the reflection that accompanies garden planning.  It's like a walk down memory lane--only it's a walk through my gardens of seasons past (with the warm summer sun slowly lightening my hair and warming my skin).  I laugh every year, though, at the things that I had all intentions to write down, but never did, and now I'm back to square one when it comes to what kind of bell peppers to grow...*sigh*...maybe this year I'll take notes...maybe this year...

How about you??? Have you started your gardening plans or are you at least dreaming of ideas??  I hope so.  It sure does make February more enjoyable! 

teas and tinctures

I thought I'd share a little with you today about a new obsession of mine...herbs!  Now, I've been in love with herbs in the kitchen for many years, but right now I'm learning about using herbs for medicinal purposes.  As herbs are very powerful tools that should not be taken lightly, I have little to share with you other than my excitement for them.  I'm currently exploring the world of tinctures and teas, in baby steps and with much guidance from books and experts.  With  garden planning just around the corner, I'm also starting to dream about what herbs I want to tuck into underutilized spaces in my beds and to learn more about how to put them to use once they are growing strong.  

If you're interested in learning more about herbs, Mountain Rose Herbs is a great resource!  They sell all the supplies you could need, but they also have a great list of books to get you started.  I'm hoping to add one or two of them to my shelves in the weeks to come!

garden notes :: 10.31.14

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It is time for this year's garden to be put to rest.  Last night I brought in the last of the peppers, green beans, and tomatoes, as a hard frost was on its way and the cold temps will stay throughout the weekend.  Most of the peppers and tomatoes that were left were green, but they'll still be used in one way or another to feed us, or at least feed the chickens.  

Overall, it was a good garden year.  It was not nearly as plentiful as I had hoped, but I had underestimated the joy that the chickens would take in all of the vegetables I planted.  So, for our first year of tying to garden and raise chickens at the same time, I think we faired rather well.  Our peppers, were by far our most productive crop.  We had so many wonderful green peppers, small red, orange, and yellow sweet peppers, and more jalapeños than we knew what to do with!  Next year I will definitely plant the same types again.  Our green beans were also a great success!  I see many more beans in our garden future.  The tomatoes were good, not great, but good.  I have some plans for tweaking my heirloom order for the spring to make it better accommodate our needs.  I think I'm realizing that while I live on a little lot in the city, the farmer's market will always be my friend.  Realizing that, I may focus less on trying to grow enough to preserve (like tomatoes and cucumbers--the later failed again this year), and focus more on things to eat throughout the summer and fall.  

My herb bed also faired rather well this year and I'm really looking forward to watching it fill out next summer.  I have a feeling that I'll have mint and oregano coming out of my ears, but that's a problem that I'll gladly accept (at least in theory!)

This weekend the garden will get a final cleanup, but it will also get a few plantings for spring.  I'm planning to tuck a few garlic cloves into a corner of my plot for the winter as well as a few more tulips.  Fall bulb planting is probably my favorite type of planting.  Having bulbs to look forward to makes the early signs of spring so much more enjoyable!  And, honestly, I like thinking about them as they wait out the long winter beneath the frozen dirt and mounds of snow.  It's all kind of amazing to think about.

Well, farewell, sweet garden.  Sleep tight under your blanket of leaves and snow.  Rest and refuel, for when the long winter finally passes, we'll need you once again.

stocking-up on squash

It's that time!  The winter squash are coming in and I love it!  There's nothing quite like filling the basement pantry shelves with food that needs absolutely no preparation--from the garden (or farmer's market) onto the shelf!  Lovely! 

I hope you are also stocking up on the delicious fall bounty!  If so, here are some of my favorite ways to use winter squash.

• Wild Rice and Butternut Squash Skillet (I make this one up...every time...cook the wild rice in a sauce pan and at the same time, chop the squash into bite-sized pieces and cook it in oil/butter/bacon fat in a large skillet.  Add in cooked sausage or bacon.  Add in walnuts.  Add in seasonings (a little honey, salt/pepper, cinnamon, red pepper, clove, garlic, whatever you want!)  When the rice is finished, add it in and serve it all together.  It's yummy, so delicious, and easy!  (Maybe I'll turn this into a "real" recipe and share it this winter.)
• Apple & Squash Soup.  I make this one with butternut and I bake it all in my dutchoven and then use my immersion blender to puree it all at the end.  Easy and delicious--especially when served with fresh sourdough bread.  
• Acorn Squash--by itself.  Cut it in half and throw it in the oven in a pan with a little water at 375 for 30-40 min.  Add a little butter and brown sugar or maple sugar to it when its done and serve nice and hot.  Yum.

Experiment and take advantage of the cheap prices and local availability while they last!  Keep your squash somewhere cool (a cool basement or garage)--as long as it's above freezing, those babies should last through the long winter months to come.