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off the wagon

By on June 25, 2013 in Farm and Garden, Knits and Crochet

Like many of my friends I have a thing for fiber.  I love the feel of good yarn, hand dyed, made from someone’s beloved animal, the more handmade the better.  For the past year and a half I hae stuck to my goal of not acquiring new yarn until I used up my stash of already purchased yarn.  Well, it’s safe to say I have fallen off the wagon with no plans of getting back on any time soon!

It happened two weeks ago when my favorite economical wool yarn went on sale.  Cascade yarns are soft, wonderful and cheap enough to let the girls use it.  We ordered about 12 hanks and a few days later Brambleberry had another sale.  Keeping in mind what my kids might need me to make them, the birth of our first grandbaby and holidays, I carefully picked some more yarn and when they all arrived, I felt like a rich woman to be surrounded by so much loveliness.

I am using the brown Cascade for the sweater I am designing as well as a new pair of loafers to go with it.  I think I am at the final pattern for the cardigan though everytime I work it up I make a change somewhere.  It will be fun to be done with it and make the final cardigan for Matthew.

Lots of seed saving and harvesting to be done today in the herb bed which has become quite junglish. I also have quite a surplus of milk from Tilly to deal with so I’m off to make butter and cheese.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

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saving seeds

By on June 21, 2013 in Farm and Garden

Yesterday as I was working with the boys in the garden, I passed by the bed of arugula that has been waiting for me to come by and collect the seed that I let it send up this spring.  I passed it as many times yesterday and the day before and so on.  I guess it is the brutal heat out at this time of year that keeps me from doing these small but oh so important jobs.  Why important you ask?  Well, because learning to save seed is one of the most important jobs a person who grows food can do.

If you are going to be truly self sufficient, you can’t do it if you have to buy those little seed packets at the store.  Really its not all that hard to save your seed and if you do you are not only creating true food security but also paying yourself back for the seeds you bought.

My one little packet of heirloom arugula seeds was purchased a few seasons ago.  I have saved that seed, planted it and then at the end of the season I purposely leave a few plants to set seed which is really a fancy way of saying that I ignored the plant and did not eat it.  While I was ignoring it, it grew some pretty flowers and made some cool pods which I ignored even further to let them dry on the plant.  I let these go way longer than I usually do but I still got lots and lots of seeds and many where scattered around before I came around to pulling the plants so they will probably self seed themselves at some point.

Those few plants that I left have given me triple the amount of seeds that I planted and probably six times the amount of seeds that were in the original packet which I purchased.  I should tell you not to save seeds from seeds that are not heirloom but hey if you like surprises then go for it.  Ron Finley says Growing your own food is like printing your own money.  Well, I would add that saving your own seeds is like saving all that money you just printed.

My favorite part of saving seeds is drawing a cute package of seeds to put away for next season.  I still have lots more seeds out there waiting.  I will try not to ignore them any longer….try.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)

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