Let's Talk Veggies

The less that is done in preparing vegetables, the more vitamins, nutrients, and all around integrity of creation remains.  Locally grown, fresh vegetables are not an option year round for most of us, so fresh veggies through the growing season truly are a treat!  I can and freeze to preserve through the winter, but I prefer my veggies unadulterated!  Most vegetables can be consumed raw.  For those that require a bit of cooking, usually steaming is adequate.

People add all sorts of flavor enhancements to their vegetables, but in my opinion those are actually a deterrent.  I understand, as I shake my head; there are folks who do not care for the pure flavor of some vegetables, so enhanced is better than refused.

I do have a sad note regarding my corn.  A friend gifted me with some harvested heirloom seeds from their last year's crop.  This crop was grown in a state that has had some major protests regarding GMO.  Not to sound too conspiranoid, but . . . the corn got taller than I've ever seen corn grow, but it didn't take much wind to destabilize it.  It didn't break, but it never tassled.  In this growing zone, sweet corn is July crop.  The stalks are 7-8 feet tall, no tassle, no ears.  My harvested popcorn from last year is doing well at this point, but it's a later crop!  I'll keep you posted.

Simple and Delicious

This week I enjoyed two fresh and natural treats that are now in season.

A bowl of granola with fresh dewberries, a splash of goat's milk and the Psalms doesn't even need stevia or honey.











I love cucumbers, and dill is "dillicious" but I'm not a big fan of pickles, but I make them.  I'm one of those silver haired southern women that cans treats for everyone she calls "Sugar."  But when cucumbers are in season and the dill is growing on the deck, I make a wonderful snack that too simple for words.
A sliced cucumber with fresh sprigs of dill, is the most perfect lunch or snack.

It's Not Manna, but I Didn't Plant It

Every year, I do at least one experiment pertaining to the garden.  Actually, it's usually several.  Much of my life is "experimental."  The only thing certain in my life is YHWH in Y'hshuwah!  When He showed me a design for an organic chicken yard/garden, I had no idea where He was taking it, and to be honest, I'm thankful for that.  Much of this homesteading business has become more than I could have asked or imagined.  I truly believe, I would have been completely overwhelmed if He'd shown me more at the time.

When Abba told me, it was time to have a small wheat field, I didn't know what to do.  We are all aware that most of the wheat and corn is GMO and I believe that is the reason for so many gluten issues and digestive disturbances in general.  Once I acknowledged my willingness, He took me to the chicken yard/garden and directed me to do the math!  I then figured the amount of wheat that could be grown in that space.  He reminded me that I do have a wheat mill, and a coffee mill . . .  So, for the year of Shemitah, the chicken yard/garden will produce soil enriching clover, and the next year, one side is to be sown in wheat.  Until Messiah's return or my work is finished, this place is to always be moving away from earthly dependence.

Something utterly amazing has happened this year.  Since the vegetable garden is now in last year's kid pen, I've been working diligently, believing for the double harvest.  So far, the salads have been wonderful and the tomatoes look nice, but there's been a very unusual and unexpected blessing.

The amazing blessing is sugar snap peas.  I didn't plant any this year.  I love them, but for the year before Shemitah, I was trying to be very practical and sugar snap peas just don't produce abundantly for the space they take.

As I was planting in the spring, I noticed some leaves that looked like peas, so I left them, but I knew I hadn't planted them.  Abba blessed me with half a row of sugar snap peas and they've been such a treat!

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  Isaiah 1:19

Raised Strawberry Bed

I know I've mentioned before, the struggle I've had with finding just the right place for strawberries.  I also mentioned a few weeks ago, there are several experiments going on around here.  I'm a literal person, and strawberries are called what they are because they do best when surrounded by straw.  When winter comes, it's best to cover them with straw and they'll peek back through in the spring.  When establishing the strawberry patch, straw around the plants keeps moisture in and weeds down, so the straw is really vital to healthy strawberries.

I got a real deal on some bales of straw, then I got a great vision of plan.  So far, it's working well.  I've actually harvested a few berries.  It's the best in raised bed gardening and square foot gardening, I've yet to experience.  The entire plan takes 13 bales of straw, weed cloth, and about 200 pounds of topsoil.  Stay with me here, it's not nearly as involved as you might think.

I lined up three bales of straw end to end.  Then three more parallel to that, but left the width of a flake of straw between.  Then did the same thing again!  Three rows of three bales parallel with about a foot and half space between.  You can have as many bales end to end as you choose, but three parallel is the maximum as well as the most economical and efficient.  My fenced area didn't allow for longer straw rows.

Next I broke two bales and placed two flakes flat between the rows of bales.  I then covered the flat flakes of straw with weed cloth between rows, the full length of my project.  Then it was just a matter of pouring topsoil on the weed cloth, filling the gap between the parallel straw bales and planting my bedding plants.


As for the remaining two bales.  I set them at the end to prevent soil washout.  One bale is wide enough to protect both rows.

Repurposing

In my attempt to establish a sustainable food supply, I've fenced off an orchard, but it needed to be more than just a few trees with some space to grow.  I know fields are not to have two different grains sown, and a vineyard has some specifics, so in my attempt to be obedient to Scripture, I considered what I could plant around the trees.  It then dawned on me that the Garden of Eden contained all sorts of edibles, including trees, so . . . the orchard has four fruit trees, a strawberry patch, some raspberry bushes, and perennial herbs.

Some herbs can be quite aggressive in their existence.  Planning has been of utmost importance in that I want to establish something sustainable that won't be a continual challenge to maintain.  I've seen some tractor tires repurposed and painted to become sandboxes and that gave me an idea.  When getting new tires on the buggy, there was a $2.00 disposal fee per tire.  I decided to bring them home instead.  I think I've actually united the concepts of raised beds, square foot gardening, and repurposing in this one move.  

I simple arranged them on the ground in the orchard, and have since added more.  A newspaper on the ground, with flake of straw in the center of the tire serves as amazing weed control.  Fill the tire with top soil or potting soil, I prefer to use topsoil and add my own fertilizer, as I have plenty available on site.  I then plant one type of herb, vegetable, or fruit in the tire and maintain as I would any garden plant.  These handy repurposed containers are watered readily when it rains, there is no weeding, and the aggressive intrusive herbs like spearmint are contained.  The great news . . . they are free at tire shops!

Organic Solutions

In looking for organic pesticide, I wanted to share a few tired and true solutions I use.  Some folks plant marigolds around the garden to keep the bunnies from nibbling.  I've heard it works, but I haven't tried it.

My battle with a bunny began when I realized a pepper plant had been munched.  From the looks of it, I immediately recognized the work of a bunny.  I like to use human hair around the fence or even the plants themselves to keep the little nibblers away.  Every time I brush my hair, I clean the brush and place the hair in a baggie.  I really like using hair, because even in the rain, it doesn't lose whatever the rabbit finds offensive.  And we all know wet hair pretty much stays right where it is, so washing away isn't an issue, either.

There are also hot pepper sprays that work very well to keep rabbits and squirrels out of the garden, but that has to be applied directly to the plants and reapplied after rains.



I am unashamedly going to promote one of my products.  Liquified, diluted soap is a great deterrent for furry pests, as well as keeping insects and even some fungus at bay.  My soap is completely biodegradable so it doesn't harm the plant or cause any soil issues.

Keep those plants healthy this year, with organic solutions!

Hummmmmm . . .

In reading the article about subway going halal in some areas, the responses have been mixed of course, according to political leaning.  As I continued to read, two things crossed my mind.  One, it makes good business sense to serve food preferences of the local demographics.  I mean, there's probably not many local restaurants in New England that feature grits on the breakfast menu, but this is about more than just business and demographics.  This is about religion and false religion and bold stands or intimidation.

In regard to the topic of bold stands, the issue that crossed my mind; was one of shame.  Why haven't the Bible believers been vocal enough to inspire this sort of change?  I mean basically now, we have unhappy customers who will boycott these restaurants that are now serving, kosher.  I don't want to eat anything that has been prayed over to a false god, but I am sad that those of us who serve the G-d of Israel are not as effective in our stand.

These circumstances are definitely prohibitive for me to consider going to Subway.  It would be wonderful, though; to be able to dine out, knowing there was no pork next to my order.  I would love to patronize a restaurant that was bold enough to actually serve a Biblical menu.  

With so many companies catering to Islam and so much of our food GMO tainted, growing our may soon be the only option.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/subway-replaces-pork-halal-meat-some-uk-and-ireland-locations