Archive for November, 2011
Gratitude for Blessings Not Yet Seen
I spent quite a bit of time on my garden rearranging project this past weekend. There’s still a lot left to do, but I did manage to move the berry bed to the north side of the garden, digging up and moving some of the blackberry, boysenberry and Fall Gold raspberry canes. The rest of the canes were planted in a large black tub to winter over. In the early spring, when it’s time to plant I’ll repot them for my front porch farmer’s market or the sale my garden club has each year.
The fruit trees were pruned and given 2 pounds each of gypsum. I spread it around the canopy line and gently scratched it into the soil. Sunday’s steady rain storm will push the nutrients down to the roots to feed them all through the winter.
Our big storm slated to arrive on Saturday evening finally blew in on Sunday and should last for several days. I raked leaves and dug them into the new raised vegetable beds, a foundation of organic matter. Some were piled over the perennial bulbs for protection.
By Saturday afternoon, the only task left to do was to dig up and separate my collection of Iris bulbs. Admittedly this is coming late in the season, but in Southern California Irises can be planted or divided any time of year with great success. Last months hot east winds had battered the Iris foliage, turning it dry and brown; very unsightly. Read the rest of the story »
Celebrate Plaid Friday, Folks, Not Black Friday
Hey Folks! I recently learned about a new movement that is making its way across the country.
Plaid Friday was born in the shopping districts of Oakland, CA as a quiet rebellion against the over-commercialization of holiday shopping taking place at non-local malls and big box stores everywhere. It celebrates local shopping, keeping cash within our communities, and harkens us back to a nostalgic time when shoppers and shop owners built relationships in addition to revenues; and when shopping was a leisurely and pleasurable activity.
I’m sure I’m not alone thinking that the future of our economy lays in a more locally-based economic system. And, I for one plan on embracing Plaid Friday in style; the hardware store has a great selection of cast iron cookware; a nursery down the highway carries a large selection of seeds and plants, perfect for the gardeners in the family, and I can pick up everyone’s favorite read, with tea or coffee, at local coffee shops and bookstores.
So, jump on board, folks! Don your favorite plaid shirt and hit your local shops. Spend Friday, November 25th closer to home, putting money in the pockets of local artists, boutique owners, hardware stores, bookstores, coffee houses and restaurants. These independent businesses need our help to preserve the diversity and creativity of the communities we live in.
The newest voice in the Mother Earth News City Farming blog community
Exciting News, Folks
A few weeks ago I was interviewed for a book on modern domesticity and the resurgence of the domestic arts — cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, you get the picture. Emily, the author, is currently conducting the research portion of the book and between the hurricanes raging in North Carolina and the wicked windstorms we on the west coast were having; Emily and I managed to spend almost an hour talking about the whys and wherefores of the renewed interest in domestic life and what my take views were.
In the end, it was a great experience. I’ll have to wait until next year to see if any part of our talk makes the final draft or ends up on the cutting room floor. I’ll keep you posted.
Adding to the news, I’m happy to announce that I will be the newest voice in the Mother Earth News “City Farming” blog community. I’m thrilled to reach out to new readers and share my stories and experiences as a suburban homesteader. I will primarily be writing about organic gardening and modern homesteading topics. My first blog post has been sent to my editor and once approved it will be posted on the MEN site.
Stay tuned as SuburbanHomesteading.com branches out. Hard telling where the future will lead us.
The Farmer and The Horse
The Farmer and the Horse is a feature-length documentary film that tells the story of young farmers in New Jersey with an old-fashioned passion: farming with draft horses. Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Jared Flesher follows farmers Tom, Matt, and Aubrey out of the suburbs and back to the land. Way back.
The Farmer and the Horse is a film that digs into difficult questions about sustainability, self-sufficiency, and why we do the work we do. Flesher’s film goes beyond the usual platitudes of smiling organic farmers talking about the good life. Farming is hard work, especially if you don’t use a tractor.
Raising Ducks for Meat
Meat chickens, turkeys and rabbits are the quintessential small livestock used for meat production on farms and homesteads of all sizes. But other fowl, like ducks, should not be discounted as a viable source of food and income. In fact, ducks are thought to be easier to raise then meat chickens because they are heartier and don’t require expensive housing. They can handle many different climates very well. They eat a variety of foods, from kitchen scraps to garden culls to small critters like toads and snails. Ducks are also beneficial. They produce good quality fertilizer while ridding the garden of weeds and bugs. And, they are not as susceptible to avian diseases as chickens are.
So—if you’ve mastered raising your own meat from other small livestock and want to try something new, try ducks.
The more popular meat duck breeds include the Pekin, Rouen and Muscovy. The White Pekin is a favorite of the three because it produces delicious, healthy white meat. The Rouen is second to the Pekin with its flavorful carcass. Rounding out the trio is the Muscovy because the meat is similar to ham or sirloin steak, yet much leaner (98% fat free). Read the rest of the story »
Apple Jack Pork Tenderloin
Fall is a time for wonderfully hearty meals like stews and goulashes and chunky soups. But, when one pot meals get a little tiresome we turn to a few of our favorite meat recipes like this Apple Jack pork tenderloin. It’s super easy and the gravy gives it a rich and elegant touch.
Popular in colonial times, Apple Jack is a strong apple liqueur produced by concentrating hard cider. As the marinade is cooked it is transformed into an indulgent sauce; the apple essence becoming sweeter and playing off the spicy Dijon mustard and salty soy sauce. Our favorite recipe is below and when served with mashed potatoes, a seasonal vegetable like butternut squash or green beans and a chunky applesauce it makes the perfect cool weather meal.
2 1-pound pork tenderloins
¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
¼ cup minced green onions
¼ cup Apple Jack
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup Dijon mustard
¼ Tsp. fresh ground pepper
½ Tsp. cornstarch
Trim pork tenderloins leaving a thin layer of fat. Combine all ingredients, except the cornstarch, in a reusable container; add pork and chill for 8 hours or overnight.
When ready to cook, remove pork, saving the marinade. Preheat oven or grill to 350. Grill or bake about 8 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer registers 155. Remove from grill or oven and let stand for 10 minutes.
While the pork is resting, combine the marinade and cornstarch in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Slice pork diagonally and arrange on a platter, drizzle with the warm sauce.
What better way to enjoy the season.
Prepare Your Home(stead) for Winter
I woke at 5:15 this past Saturday. Something I rarely do. I’ve never bought into the romanticized notion of waking up before the sun if you live on a farm. But, this morning was different. A long productive work week, a relaxing movie and dinner with my sister, a chat with my friend and fellow suburban farmer about kids and school; life and the future, plus a hot soak in the tub and a sound restful night’s sleep was the perfect storm of circumstances my body needed to raise me at that hour. It’s okay though, because this weekend was about switching gears.
The first weekend in November is our traditional “get ready for winter” weekend. Regardless of the weather, it’s the time when we close the door on hot weather, cooling clothes and light meals; and hunker down to cozy blankets, fires and hearty stick to your ribs meals.
It was still dark when I woke. Not even a sliver of daylight crested the horizon. I could feel the cold air hang over me and knew the predawn hours had dipped towards freezing. I lay in bed for awhile, thinking, snuggled down under a mound of blankets, our cat nestled at my neck, planning the day ahead. There would be much to do, making ready for winter.
When I finally emerged from my warm cocoon, at 5:30am, the furnace had already gone off several times (and it was set at 60). I slipped into a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt, pulled on a pair of warm socks and headed for the living room. Although we had stacked our outside firewood racks to overflowing I hadn’t put the wood grate back into the firebox. In spring and summer my firebox is home to a tiered wrought iron candle holder, but on the first weekend of November, the candles come out and the firewood grate goes in. Read the rest of the story »
For the Love of Fall
I love today.
I love Fall.
I love the dusky umber October Light.
I love the big orange moon.
I love the black night and bright stars.
As a farmer.
As a woman.
Goal! © by Barbara L. Hanson
Fall is when my lambs are sold.
Fall is when I store for winter.
When Brianne goes back to school.
Fall is when the leaves turn red and orange and gold.
Autumn at Mt Macedon © by Ryk Neethling
When bugs are gone.
When wood is gathered.
When hay is laid in.
When a fire takes the chill off a cold night.
Campfire on Honeymoon Beach, Isla Danzante © by lowjumpingfrog
Writing this, I think to myself:
My favorite book sale is soon.
I should call my friend Jane, who loans me her cabin,
Up above the mountains’ tree line.
I will surprise her,
And take her some firewood,
And give her some fruit,
And find her a book,
And tell her thank you for being my friend,
Because she deserves it.
It will be my honor to Fall.
Autumn Leaves © by dtaylorcreative
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