I told her we've got time
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Hi friends! Fall in Michigan has been kind of magical lately. Cool nights and mornings, days in the 60s and 70s, plenty of sunshine, and all the autumn color you could ask for. I've been spending a few hours each week reclaiming some overgrown garden plots in one of our community spaces. The plots sit alongside a fence surrounded by thick brush, which provides privacy from the houses beyond. Unfortunately, it's also the perfect place for seeds to take over. I've been making it my mission to get things back under control. Unfortunately, not many people in our neighborhood garden in this particular space. There are twelve plots, and two of us participated this year. I found myself missing conversations about whether the rabbits will terrorize our seedlings. And how marigolds are grown for food in Colombia. I miss sharing pictures of our bounty and asking each other to watch over our plants while we are away. The neighbor kids have asked for watermelon next year. I told them I would get some seeds and help them get started. The 8-year-old catches on that I am serious and has a moment of hesitation. I once had to temporarily strip her of her watering duties when, for the second time, she sprayed down my freshly cleaned windows. She was disappointed, but then her siblings came out and ran through the hose and all was forgotten. She is a great big sister to her 2-year-old brother who addresses me by name, clear as day, then proceeds to say words I will never understand. She confessed that she tries to be responsible, but sometimes isn't. I told her we've got time. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, I rendered some cooking tallow and wondered how I will ever get that beefy smell out, but excited to learn a new skill. We bought a cow with some friends and took home a quarter of it. I made chili for the millionth time this season and have no shame. My other go-to recipe is Butternut Squash Soup, which is on the lineup for this week along with my sister-in-law's white chicken chili recipe. Yes, more chili. Happy soup season, |
Green Tree Homestead
Hi friend! As you may know, sourdough is one of my loves. The baking process brings me pure joy (not to mention the warm bread that results!). I often hear people say that they think sourdough is too much of a time investment, or that it’s too complicated. But I have to say, neither of those things has to be true. There is a learning curve, of course. But once you get the hang of it, sourdough is actually pretty easy to incorporate into your rhythm. Over the years, I’ve learned that a big...
Hi Friends! It's been a busy month over here as we have expanded the garden and are working hard on all the outdoor projects before the summer heat comes in full swing. We are building a sustainable, permaculture-style design that makes the most of our tiny space. This year, we acquired jostaberries, wild strawberries, rhubarb, Jerusalem artichokes, ground nuts, gooseberries, walking onions, and an elderberry tree. Sprinkled in are some perennial flowers and fruiting shrubs like blueberry,...
Hi friends! The weather has been up and down this spring, per usual, and a hard frost took down the snapdragons I planted out last week...sad day. I've got more than I know what to do with, so I'm ready for round two! We are looking forward to some warmer temps this week. I'm planting a few things out right now (zone 6a) like calendula, chamomile, dill, broccoli, and a few others. Additionally, I've direct-sown some spinach and other leafy greens. There is no perfect timing to any of this,...