21 January 2010
Shelving
I spent the morning searching shelving. With our increasing farm library we need a spot to put all this lovely bound paper. But I don't want to just go and buy some random shelf. My top two ideas are pallet shelves or shelf from an old ladder. My mom has an old crappy wooden ladder but I'm not sure if she'll let me have it to hang on my wall. Maybe if I replace it with a new shinny ladder? Or I could build a shelf using some old pallets we have. However I think those pallets are going to be used in the seed starting effort this coming spring. We intend to make tables out of them, but that's a whole other story. Here are my two favorite pictures I could find of the ladder bookshelf. #1 "A" frame ladder hung horizontally on the wall. I think I like #1 best, it's rustic or if you prefer... ugly, but still I dig it! #2 is an old straight ladder cut in half and added wooden planks for the actual shelves.
Straight razor shaving
We've been trying to using less and less things that come in packaging. Anything that must be used then discarded or even recycled. For example disposable razors. Now, we have been using just disposable razor heads for a while, rather than the entire razor being tossed. We even switched to shave soap that must be lathered with a shave brush (think old school here), thus reducing any shaving cream cans or tube waste. In our constant strive to do more, straight razor shaving was the only way to go. Unless we wanted to be really hairy, which suits me just fine. I shave once every month or two.... go hairy girls it's good for you! But, I still shave, I can't seem to go all furry. My legs I don't mind so much since really it's just your legs but I have a harder time with my under arms going caveman.
This is Jacobs first shave with the "Sweeney Todd". He did really well! It does take more time because it's a huge learning curve. I didn't get a picture of me shaving my legs for the first time, mostly because I didn't want of picture of me in my nickers online. But it went well, I didn't cut myself accept for a tiny nic on my knee that didn't even need a bandaid.
The razor we opted to buy is the only one made in the U.S.A. all other straight razors are manufactured elsewhere mostly, germany or china. We wanted to support our economy not someone else's. The blade is forged by Hart Steel, each blade is marked with the artisan's initials. The blade we received has TV stamped on it. Pretty cool!
The razor we opted to buy is the only one made in the U.S.A. all other straight razors are manufactured elsewhere mostly, germany or china. We wanted to support our economy not someone else's. The blade is forged by Hart Steel, each blade is marked with the artisan's initials. The blade we received has TV stamped on it. Pretty cool!
Skills to Learn
I got this idea from Crunchy Chickens blog, she asks about what skills you would like to learn this year. Some of the many she listed I do want to learn but they require more space. I mean things like large animal husbandry. But it got me thinking about different skills we are already on track to learn. For example, we are already signed up for beekeeping lessons. Some of the skills I took from Crunchy's list but some I've added.
I'd really enjoy knitting my own socks, hats, and gloves and even dish rags. That is the skill I am most eager to learn as it might keep me busy inside this coming Jan/Feb. I borrowed a book from a friend yesterday but it assumes you know the language. So I might have to get a knitting for dummies book from the library so I know what in heck is going on. What skills do you want to learn this year?
- beekeeping
- animal processing
- knitting/crocheting
- beer/wine/cider making
- soap making
- expanding canning knowledge to include more veggies
- gardening
- indoor seedstarts
I'd really enjoy knitting my own socks, hats, and gloves and even dish rags. That is the skill I am most eager to learn as it might keep me busy inside this coming Jan/Feb. I borrowed a book from a friend yesterday but it assumes you know the language. So I might have to get a knitting for dummies book from the library so I know what in heck is going on. What skills do you want to learn this year?
Planning....always with the planning
Oh man have I been planning this garden, I got the bulk of my seeds from Seed Savers Exchange. But I still need to order a few from a local company called Irish Eyes. I intend to put up another tab next to "about us" and list all the seeds, where they came from, the fruit tree varieties, and herbs. I have my list of what seeds need to be started indoors and which can be direct sown outside. The list is quite impressive and daunting!
We're going to use the downstairs bed frame as a seed starting table, but getting that set up is going to take some work. Jake and I went to Home Depot last week and bought 4 of the 4 foot fluorescent "shop" lights and 2 different spectrum of bulbs. It was pointed out to me that "grow" lights don't list the spectrum of light, this way they can charge you more for it! Or if you just get 2 different spectrums, say a light that is more yellow and a light that is more blue... voila, grow lights. So that is exactly what Jake and I did, thus saving ourselves about 10 dollars per bulb! I plan on using egg cartons as my seed starting container ( thanks to homegrown evolution for that idea ). But I will still need to order the 4" plastic pots to move them into when the seeds need transplanting. Not sure what I am doing about that yet, or where I plan to buy all those pots from. Once we get our grow shelves set up I will take some pictures of them. Poor Jake had a hard time earlier this week, I made both manicotti and lasagna earlier this week and he only got 1 meal! I decided to freeze the rest of it for future meals. My Italian, pasta loving guy I think shed some tears when I put them in the freezer. :P Hopefully everyone has a happy and safe new year a head of them, ours is going to be EPIC!
We're going to use the downstairs bed frame as a seed starting table, but getting that set up is going to take some work. Jake and I went to Home Depot last week and bought 4 of the 4 foot fluorescent "shop" lights and 2 different spectrum of bulbs. It was pointed out to me that "grow" lights don't list the spectrum of light, this way they can charge you more for it! Or if you just get 2 different spectrums, say a light that is more yellow and a light that is more blue... voila, grow lights. So that is exactly what Jake and I did, thus saving ourselves about 10 dollars per bulb! I plan on using egg cartons as my seed starting container ( thanks to homegrown evolution for that idea ). But I will still need to order the 4" plastic pots to move them into when the seeds need transplanting. Not sure what I am doing about that yet, or where I plan to buy all those pots from. Once we get our grow shelves set up I will take some pictures of them. Poor Jake had a hard time earlier this week, I made both manicotti and lasagna earlier this week and he only got 1 meal! I decided to freeze the rest of it for future meals. My Italian, pasta loving guy I think shed some tears when I put them in the freezer. :P Hopefully everyone has a happy and safe new year a head of them, ours is going to be EPIC!
Solstice Gifts
Yesterday was a hard day for some reason. Major ups and downs in the day, but break down to break through right? The highlight of the day was the gifts I received. These five presents came on the longest dark of the year, an egg from each girl. I don't suppose the timing of that happens to often, but lucky me!
Kombucha Brewing Update
Well after brewing sweet tea and putting the sludge of a purchased Kombucha bottle into our jars. We now have two growing, slimy, and weird looking Mother cultures. On this coming monday we'll have been growing these Mothers for 2 weeks. I am not sure when we can begin brewing Kombucha for our actual consumption now that we have our Mothers. I still have more research to do on that. But in the mean time. Pictures of weirdness.
Updates
It's been nice and busy for a while. I love that. Of course, I've had the
crafty pants on so that's probably why.
Busy making checkbook covers, envelope pillow case's, oven mitts and an apron. I sewed drapes for our downstairs windows and made a fabric door for our laundry room which doesn't have a regular door. With all the scraps I've been steadily expanding my furoshiki collection.
We opted this year, not to get a tree. Instead we've decorated our norfolk pine, placed some holiday lights around and called ourselves decorated. Going low key this year seems to be on our agenda. All of our wrapping paper this year is cloth, I've tried to get funky pretty patterns that can be reused again and again.
These are the 12 days of Christmas. We've had these "bulbs" since I was a little kid. Mom gave them to me last year and I put them on our tree. But since we don't have a tree this year, I found another way to hang them! These are our LED lights so I don't feel bad about plugging them in. Plus it's a really tiny string of lights.
At least one more of the red stars is laying. Plus Curious has started laying again. Her molt took 2 months almost to the day from her last egg in October to the one she laid late last week. We are getting just about 2-3 eggs per day. It's nice since I have had to buy eggs since I sold WB and Bee back in August.
Kai seems to have some really tough calluses on only a few of her pads. I took her to the vet last week and she said to just monitor it and try to soften the skin. So we've been soaking Kai's feet in the tub.... she gives us dirty looks the whole time. Today I covered them with 'vet wrap' and a vitamin E soaked cotton ball. So she prances when she walks. If they start to crack and bleed it can get serious, so I'm trying to be preventative. At this point it's not bad, but if the growth continues and gets faster she'll have to go in for a biopsy on those pads to see what's up. The puzzling thing is, she has no other symptoms that would indicate any disease. She's just being special. :D
We opted this year, not to get a tree. Instead we've decorated our norfolk pine, placed some holiday lights around and called ourselves decorated. Going low key this year seems to be on our agenda. All of our wrapping paper this year is cloth, I've tried to get funky pretty patterns that can be reused again and again.
At least one more of the red stars is laying. Plus Curious has started laying again. Her molt took 2 months almost to the day from her last egg in October to the one she laid late last week. We are getting just about 2-3 eggs per day. It's nice since I have had to buy eggs since I sold WB and Bee back in August.
Kai seems to have some really tough calluses on only a few of her pads. I took her to the vet last week and she said to just monitor it and try to soften the skin. So we've been soaking Kai's feet in the tub.... she gives us dirty looks the whole time. Today I covered them with 'vet wrap' and a vitamin E soaked cotton ball. So she prances when she walks. If they start to crack and bleed it can get serious, so I'm trying to be preventative. At this point it's not bad, but if the growth continues and gets faster she'll have to go in for a biopsy on those pads to see what's up. The puzzling thing is, she has no other symptoms that would indicate any disease. She's just being special. :D
Recycling for Cash
How cool would this be? My city doesn't participate but I am going to search more about it and see if they can sign up for it. That would allow EVERYONE to recycle and make a greater impact. CNN's website won't allow me to embed it into this post so here's a link to the video. Recycle Bank
20 January 2010
Drying for Freedom
Kombucha Brewing
Ever heard of Kombucha? I hadn't until a blog I follow, Small-Measure, posted about her own Kombucha brewing. Kombucha, pronounced Com-Boo-cha has so many health benefits it's hard to list them all. Here are some links to some websites I found helpful. Check it out and see what you think. Kombucha Fuel Food Renegade (how to grow a S.C.O.B.Y) Food Renegade (Kombucha health benefits)
We've decided to grow our own Kombucha mother rather than purchase one. I started the process last night, it should take about 8 days to brew a batch, from there we'll be drinking this lovely stuff everyday. It's supposed to be 75 degrees for adequate fermenting, since I keep my house at 64 degrees that's not really helpful. I've got them in the oven with the oven light turned on. That keeps the oven at around 78 degrees. We'll see how the fermentation goes!
We've decided to grow our own Kombucha mother rather than purchase one. I started the process last night, it should take about 8 days to brew a batch, from there we'll be drinking this lovely stuff everyday. It's supposed to be 75 degrees for adequate fermenting, since I keep my house at 64 degrees that's not really helpful. I've got them in the oven with the oven light turned on. That keeps the oven at around 78 degrees. We'll see how the fermentation goes!
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