What fun project are you working on? (the sequel)

[cory su]

I think I need to get a dehydrator. Sounds like a lot of fun.

My 7 year old and I have been working on a farmer's market biz for her. (She asked to sell pretzels at the flea market.. oh no). We are pretty happy with our first cereal bar recipe. I didn't want to be making something so unhealthy to sell and make all the time. So she is learning fractions, subtraction, making change, etc. I wasn't happy with the math books I found, so this is kind of a business math homeschool curriculum that I'm making for her.

[Lady Alinor]

Cory su...sounds like a great way to teach real life skills!!!

I noticed this morn that the last few beets are ready to pick, I just might dehydrate them for cold weather soups.

My man has his mandatory week off next week (he works two on, one off...thank the Goddess he still has a job!!) I'm working on a list of "Lets get this done before the rains return" he's not thrilled

[Lindsey]

Lady Alinor, I hope your friend didn't find out about Montana cold the hard way!

Today I'm harvesting Summer Savory to dry for the first time and planning on making some stew. Yesterday I blended a breast oil from Violet, Dandelion, and Chickweed oils that I made in the Spring. I'm excited to try it out! There's Apple mead bubbling away in my living room that I need to move to an airlocked jug. I'm also going to start an online intensive about tree medicine in October. I love when Fall is coming on! It makes me so excited for projects.

[Nupah Makah]

This summer we as a family have all been working on raised gardening and trellis gardens. They are wonderful here in Mains wet climate. Or main topic of conversation these days is about gardening and soil so much fun and brings my family together. Love Maka Nupa L Cota

[Lady Alinor]

Lindsey...yup, she found out the HARD way, she had left New Mexico for Montana she's thinking about moving to Oregon...she ain't gonna like all the rain

Today I'm making Comfrey Calendula salve for a friend of my oldest...I'm currently taking a break from shaving beeswax.
When it gets too hot to do anything but whine, I'll be working on the sock toe.

Nupah Makah...I'm already planning next years garden...NO POTATOES. I'm so tired of fighting aphids who love the potato patch.
The flour corn is getting dry, the dry beans are getting big and we are finally getting red tomatoes...woohoo!

Hey, I should be out harvesting Yarrow before the full sun hits that part of the garden.

[kelli]

I've been drawing herbs into a hardbacked book with descriptions and their uses, so I can pass it on to my daughter when I die. (Not for a long time yet)...
at the same time i've been going through my notes from my adv dip in herbal med classes.
Also half heartedly doing a spring clean (i'm in australia) while dreaming of what i'll be planting this year.

Kelli

[Lady Alinor]

Its fun planning the garden!
I'm putting mine to bed here soon and I'm already thinking about next year.

I've finished a pair of socks going to Montana and am now starting some legwarmers that are going to New Hampsire (knitting up washclothes for both places too).
Then its time to start Winter Solstice gifts...Irish Hiking Scarves, Herb/spice blends and Spicey Mustards.

[opalessence]

kelli, what a great thing to do! Perhaps you don't have to wait till death do us part to share what you're doing.

Ive finished crocheting the body of my full length technicoloured stripey coat and am now just finishing off the sleeves, I'll have it ready just in time for summer! Its great as a blanket too, i tested it out vegetating infront of movies...

Socks, Lady Alinor, Im impressed they're trixy!

Also playing with watercolours. I find I like them best if I work up the tonalities in lead pencil first and then add light washes, otherwise it becomes a bit murky...

[Lady Alinor]

Socks, tricky? You bet! It took me five years to figure out how to turn a heel and knit the gusset Some folks just breeze right through, I didn't Drove me crazy that my brain couldn't grasp the concept. I'm glad I never gave up.

Down Under Gardeners....So what do you have planned? Trying anything new this year?
We tried a flour corn called Painted Mountain, we grew pole beans and pumpkins amongst the corn...What a tangled mess we have now
DH and I are now picking the dried kernals from the cobs, can't wait until we can get some ground up for Corn Bread.
We try something new every year, sometimes we have success and sometimes we don't.

[opalessence]

Lady Alinor, its been quite an experimental time in the garden for me down under, as the soil where we are is sandy and theres a fair bit of shade. The sun is focused on two external walls, so i had my thinking cap on as how to utilise that space. I ended up buying two shoe holders. You know the ones designed to hang on a wall with lots of pockets for ones shoe collection? Well I popped lettuces in them instead, spinach, coriander, parsley and spicy asian greens. It works a dream!
The other tangent I went on was to grow some witchy solanaceae, which tend to like shade. I started Black Henbane and Belladonna from seed, also Echinacea augustifolia. To imitate snowmelt I had them in water in tha fridge for 2 weeks, changing the water each day as it leached out antigermination stuff. So I was really excited to get them into soil and have an amazing crop. But alas Ive had only a little luck, one Echinacea and about 4 Henbanes, no Belladonna. Trixy plants it seems...I have some Mandrake seeds to start in the fridge but aint feeling quite so sassy about growing from seed anymore!

[kelli]

Well, so far i've decided to add lavender, nasturtiums and maybe hyssop to the understory of the orchard.
Also i want to try a 'prescott fond blanc' melon (it's french and an old fashioned variety). It looks absolutely hidious on the outside, all lumpy and warty, put once you cut into it ... this is what it says in the seed catalogue....'delicously fragrant French heirloom.....fine flavoured, juicy and melting'.. yum, can't wait.

Opalessence, I discovered a trick to echinacea for us aussies, i put my echinacea seeds in damp sand in the fridge for roughly 2-4 weeks (depending on how patient i am) then plant them in seed raising mix and water everyday til they germinate. you have to make sure you get good seed also.

Kelli

[opalessence]

Thanx kelli, I'll do an experiment on that! Ive got some seeds left over...

[jesiyvonne]

I am planning on renovating my dad's old airstream and taking my herbal bodycare/vintage clothing business on the road with me! Husband and baby son will come along as well. Of course this won't be happening until Summer 2013... It takes a while! At this moment in time I am making an herb journal. Long long long work in progress....