I am a tea and coffee lover, and when I met a local woman who makes specialty tea from her home I was so excited. Sub Rosa Tea does not have a shop of its own yet, but I really hope that for the sake of promoting local business and organic practices that the wonderful owner can get one. What a great thing to have in my city, right? I'd have never known about this business if I did not volunteer yesterday and meet the woman who makes the tea.
I am always on the lookout for organic companies, and it is interesting that most of them have to sell online because there is no available space for them to get in with their own hometown. If we really want something special and meaningful to the people around us, supporting what is in our community is the first thing that we can do.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Making family count...at mealtime
Doing more activities as a family is a goal that is often on every mother's mind. Some people prefer to leave the home to find something interesting to do, and some like to be together in the backyard. Activities for my family are usually at home because we are very budget conscious and would also rather night fight a cranky baby away from home.
Parents spending time with their children open up a lot of psychological benefits for the children as well as the parents. Communication and closeness are enhanced as they interact and build trust and love together.
Meal time is promoted as one of the most important family times with many benefits. According to WebMD, "When families dine together, they tend to eat more vegetables and fruits -- and fewer fried foods, soda, and foods with trans fats, research shows. When younger kids frequently eat dinner with their families, they are less likely to be overweight than other children. That tends to change in the teenage years, when they're less likely to eat at home." Makes sense to me.
More benefits of eating together, according to eat better eat together are communication, better school performance, better adjustment, and better nutrition. There can be negative results to eating together, however, when parents cannot get along or are too controlling during mealtime. This can lead to guilt, stress, and uncertainty about food and meals for the children who, eventually, become adults.
Parents spending time with their children open up a lot of psychological benefits for the children as well as the parents. Communication and closeness are enhanced as they interact and build trust and love together.
Meal time is promoted as one of the most important family times with many benefits. According to WebMD, "When families dine together, they tend to eat more vegetables and fruits -- and fewer fried foods, soda, and foods with trans fats, research shows. When younger kids frequently eat dinner with their families, they are less likely to be overweight than other children. That tends to change in the teenage years, when they're less likely to eat at home." Makes sense to me.
More benefits of eating together, according to eat better eat together are communication, better school performance, better adjustment, and better nutrition. There can be negative results to eating together, however, when parents cannot get along or are too controlling during mealtime. This can lead to guilt, stress, and uncertainty about food and meals for the children who, eventually, become adults.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Rain is wonderful
I love it when it rains really good over night. Earlier in the week we had some nasty storms that didn't cool anything off. Last night we had a long rain and that means this weekend is starting off beautifully.
On the downside of all of this rain, all of the weeds on earth are trying to grow in my tomato plots. The poor things are having a hard enough time. The wind that we had yesterday snapped (yes snapped) my lettuce in half. I guess I have to harvest without waiting for it to go to seed. I hope that I can save the seeds this fall when I plant more.
It's great to do free outdoor activities with my daughter when it is cool like this. When we're indoors from the heat there is only so much we can do to keep from being bored. Once we get outside, watch out! I think we will take a walk to the library today so that I can get more books to mow through this weekend.
We are also building our worm compost bin for our basement this weekend. I ordered the worms (which won't be here until next week) from Amazon so that when they come they'll already have a home waiting for them. I just hope that a thousand worms is enough! My soil at home is so horrible that I have had to actually buy topsoil (which I am not exactly happy about doing because it was taken from somewhere else) to put in my garden beds for my herbs and such. I still have 2 bags left and a few pepper plants that will need to be planted in them when they're big enough. It kills me that my plants grow so slow.
I have seen a ton of articles online about fully mature vegetables (other than lettuce) such as radishes that make me wonder what I'm doing wrong with my own garden. I probably started a bit late (only lettuce and tomatoes were started inside before the frost time was past) so I'm hoping to be on top of things next year so that I don't have the latest harvests in history.
Documentaries are my favorite rainy-day activity. When the baby is napping I will turn one on and soak in what is being presented that day. I had watched Chemerical, a documentary about a family that was going chemical free in their house because of breathing and health issues that they were conscious of. I loved the suggestions that were offered to the family about how to get away from chemicals while still being clean and healthy. I think that over time, I will also try to convince my fiance that we should make our own laundry soap out of non-chemical ingredients, buy regular soap to wash with, and just be more natural overall. Our skin will thank us.
Making Homemade Laundry Soap is relatively easy to do. I'm still deciding on which pot to use to make soap with, but without chemicals in the soap I probably should not be worried about contaminating it. It should clean out rather easily.
On the downside of all of this rain, all of the weeds on earth are trying to grow in my tomato plots. The poor things are having a hard enough time. The wind that we had yesterday snapped (yes snapped) my lettuce in half. I guess I have to harvest without waiting for it to go to seed. I hope that I can save the seeds this fall when I plant more.
It's great to do free outdoor activities with my daughter when it is cool like this. When we're indoors from the heat there is only so much we can do to keep from being bored. Once we get outside, watch out! I think we will take a walk to the library today so that I can get more books to mow through this weekend.
We are also building our worm compost bin for our basement this weekend. I ordered the worms (which won't be here until next week) from Amazon so that when they come they'll already have a home waiting for them. I just hope that a thousand worms is enough! My soil at home is so horrible that I have had to actually buy topsoil (which I am not exactly happy about doing because it was taken from somewhere else) to put in my garden beds for my herbs and such. I still have 2 bags left and a few pepper plants that will need to be planted in them when they're big enough. It kills me that my plants grow so slow.
I have seen a ton of articles online about fully mature vegetables (other than lettuce) such as radishes that make me wonder what I'm doing wrong with my own garden. I probably started a bit late (only lettuce and tomatoes were started inside before the frost time was past) so I'm hoping to be on top of things next year so that I don't have the latest harvests in history.
Documentaries are my favorite rainy-day activity. When the baby is napping I will turn one on and soak in what is being presented that day. I had watched Chemerical, a documentary about a family that was going chemical free in their house because of breathing and health issues that they were conscious of. I loved the suggestions that were offered to the family about how to get away from chemicals while still being clean and healthy. I think that over time, I will also try to convince my fiance that we should make our own laundry soap out of non-chemical ingredients, buy regular soap to wash with, and just be more natural overall. Our skin will thank us.
Making Homemade Laundry Soap is relatively easy to do. I'm still deciding on which pot to use to make soap with, but without chemicals in the soap I probably should not be worried about contaminating it. It should clean out rather easily.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Baked Kale Chips
Today was my first day eating kale. I baked them at 350 spread on a cookie sheet until they were brown on the edges. First cut the leafy parts off of the stem (and compost the stem, of course) and tear them into bits. Coat them in a bowl with about a tablespoon of olive oil and another tablespoon of seasoning salt. When they're coated, lay them on the cookie sheet and bake.
The texture of the baked leaves is like a crispy, extremely thin potato chip. They taste similar to a chip also, but have a green flavor to them. I personally liked them and suggest trying it yourself! If they weren't so thin, I think they'd even be wonderful with a yogurt dip.
The texture of the baked leaves is like a crispy, extremely thin potato chip. They taste similar to a chip also, but have a green flavor to them. I personally liked them and suggest trying it yourself! If they weren't so thin, I think they'd even be wonderful with a yogurt dip.
Herbs and volunteering
In our garden, we have planted a small variety of herbs to use later in the season when we begin experimenting with canning. Basil, dill, rosemary, chives, and cilantro are the ones that I decided to start with and to learn from this year. A few of my plants had been brought to me from my father's garden (parsley which went to seed, cilantro, and some chives) but the rest had been started from seed and are in containers (where they just might stay).
I really don't know much about actually growing most of these herbs, though. So I did a little bit of research. Wouldn't you know that I'm growing a few in a way that I shouldn't? I shouldn't be starting my dill anywhere but directly in the garden because they don't like to be transplanted. Hopefully because they are still tiny, I can go ahead and move them as soon as possible (tomorrow morning) so that they won't notice! I really want a lot of dill for pickles and drying this year.
My chives that I planted from seed still have yet to actually grow. Even though my father provided a generous amount of plants, the amount of them we use in cooking exceeds the amount that we can harvest from the plants! I will give them another week before I give up on them. In the mean time, I may have to divide my father's chives because they're as bunched as they could get.
I am already learning a lot from my garden as it slowly grows. My biggest issues are with the quality of my soil. It holds water OK, but settles as if it were made of sand and becomes compacted easily. I hope that with composting and lots of love, I can get my garden soil to where it should be to produce a medley of wonderful herbs, flowers and vegetables.
Yesterday I volunteered with a local CSA group who provides local, fresh, organic vegetables and fruits to people who buy shares of the veggies. I learned a lot about kohlrabi, garlic scapes, and kale. I had never in my life tried any of them, let alone tried to cook them! I realized that neither had many of the shareholders who were purchasing these items, and the ladies that I volunteered with were very happy to offer advice on their use, storage, and different ways to cook it. I plan on going there all summer and fall to learn as much as I can about different produce that I've never been around. Maybe I'll even try to grow some, someday!
Until then, I need to make sure my own garden can grow.
I really don't know much about actually growing most of these herbs, though. So I did a little bit of research. Wouldn't you know that I'm growing a few in a way that I shouldn't? I shouldn't be starting my dill anywhere but directly in the garden because they don't like to be transplanted. Hopefully because they are still tiny, I can go ahead and move them as soon as possible (tomorrow morning) so that they won't notice! I really want a lot of dill for pickles and drying this year.
My chives that I planted from seed still have yet to actually grow. Even though my father provided a generous amount of plants, the amount of them we use in cooking exceeds the amount that we can harvest from the plants! I will give them another week before I give up on them. In the mean time, I may have to divide my father's chives because they're as bunched as they could get.
I am already learning a lot from my garden as it slowly grows. My biggest issues are with the quality of my soil. It holds water OK, but settles as if it were made of sand and becomes compacted easily. I hope that with composting and lots of love, I can get my garden soil to where it should be to produce a medley of wonderful herbs, flowers and vegetables.
Yesterday I volunteered with a local CSA group who provides local, fresh, organic vegetables and fruits to people who buy shares of the veggies. I learned a lot about kohlrabi, garlic scapes, and kale. I had never in my life tried any of them, let alone tried to cook them! I realized that neither had many of the shareholders who were purchasing these items, and the ladies that I volunteered with were very happy to offer advice on their use, storage, and different ways to cook it. I plan on going there all summer and fall to learn as much as I can about different produce that I've never been around. Maybe I'll even try to grow some, someday!
Until then, I need to make sure my own garden can grow.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Father's Day, baby plants, and roses
Today was a very long and exciting day for our family. It started like any other: with breakfast. Soon, though, we were well on our way to entertaining our daughter and tidying up outside for our big Father's Day grill out. It was our first time inviting the family over for a grill out and we were nervous to say the least. But we had veggies and burgers, and you can't go wrong with that!
The first big task that we set to do today was to plant the beautiful yellow and pink rose that I had gotten my fiance for Father's Day in honor of his dad. It had a tiny little bud on it, which ended up opening up completely after the rainstorm that we had through the early afternoon. It is now our 3rd rosebush in our yard, and I am more than tempted to plant a generous amount of chives around it (because chives and garlic are good for roses, I've read).
The biggest plus to my day is that all of my seeds seemed to sprout at the same time! I have waited 3 or 4 weeks now for my hot peppers to sprout and they're finally popping out of the soil. The cucumbers took no time at all in the plastic berry containers that I started them in, and all of my herbs (cilantro, dill, and basil) have come up, too. I'm going to have to get more dirt!
Instead of doing internet research this week, I have been reading books from the library. Eat More Dirt by Ellen Sandbeck is almost like reading a journal. It is very informative while not overwhelming. The author and her husband are both landscapers who deal with organic gardening, composting, mulching, and respect the soil as well as the ability for nature to control itself. I learned a lot about pests in this book, including how to deal with slugs (my biggest opponent at the moment), who are taken care of by laying down wood ash (cool!). Less squishing for me.
I have also started Organic Gardening for the 21st Century by John Fedor. This book includes some beautiful pictures that I find inspiring to look at and pretend that are my own garden. I have not gotten far in the book, but I've gotten far enough to take a few ideas from it. I want to plant beans or peas in a pot, connect the pot to something higher with the string, and allow the beans or peas to climb up the string. The image here is not the one from the book, but you get the idea. I have just the spot for some peas to do some climbing!
The first big task that we set to do today was to plant the beautiful yellow and pink rose that I had gotten my fiance for Father's Day in honor of his dad. It had a tiny little bud on it, which ended up opening up completely after the rainstorm that we had through the early afternoon. It is now our 3rd rosebush in our yard, and I am more than tempted to plant a generous amount of chives around it (because chives and garlic are good for roses, I've read).
The biggest plus to my day is that all of my seeds seemed to sprout at the same time! I have waited 3 or 4 weeks now for my hot peppers to sprout and they're finally popping out of the soil. The cucumbers took no time at all in the plastic berry containers that I started them in, and all of my herbs (cilantro, dill, and basil) have come up, too. I'm going to have to get more dirt!
Instead of doing internet research this week, I have been reading books from the library. Eat More Dirt by Ellen Sandbeck is almost like reading a journal. It is very informative while not overwhelming. The author and her husband are both landscapers who deal with organic gardening, composting, mulching, and respect the soil as well as the ability for nature to control itself. I learned a lot about pests in this book, including how to deal with slugs (my biggest opponent at the moment), who are taken care of by laying down wood ash (cool!). Less squishing for me.
I have also started Organic Gardening for the 21st Century by John Fedor. This book includes some beautiful pictures that I find inspiring to look at and pretend that are my own garden. I have not gotten far in the book, but I've gotten far enough to take a few ideas from it. I want to plant beans or peas in a pot, connect the pot to something higher with the string, and allow the beans or peas to climb up the string. The image here is not the one from the book, but you get the idea. I have just the spot for some peas to do some climbing!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Secrets to great soil review (part 2)
The book is finally finished! I now know that I need to learn a whole lot more about composting and that I have a lot of options about how to go about it based upon how quickly I need composted soil. I've decided that my basement will contain a worm compost for the winter, but before that we will continue to use a giant pile in our backyard (which will compost very slowly).
Secrets to Great Soil was simple to read and understand and has made me realize where I need to focus more of my efforts to improve my garden without buying fertilizers. If you don't want to buy the book, take a trip to the library and borrow it. I truly believe that it can help any level gardener.
Secrets to Great Soil was simple to read and understand and has made me realize where I need to focus more of my efforts to improve my garden without buying fertilizers. If you don't want to buy the book, take a trip to the library and borrow it. I truly believe that it can help any level gardener.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)