Adventures of an urban homesteader growing greens, preserving the harvest and tending a backyard barnyard
It’s a family tradition on my husband’s side for everyone to gather together for the 4th of July in Oklahoma. We squeeze into the log cabin on the banks of Lake Eufala for some major relaxation. The post oak and pecan forest shade us from the 100+ degree heat while we sip iced tea. We have one mandatory task prior to arriving at the cabin:
Four ducks and three chickens makes for a constantly full egg basket. We use them in baked goods or cook them into savory frittatas, scrambles and tortillas. Hard-boiling the eggs is one method we often don’t use though. Fresh eggs will stick to the shells once boiled. When you go to peel the shell, the whites peel off as well. It wastes eggs and makes
We all dream of having the garden where you can do it all: relax and retreat, entertain friends, grow some veggies, and the list goes on. But it’s a real challenge to do it all in one small urban lot. The garden I am sharing with you is a great example of how a well-planned space can accomplish your long must-have list. It sure doesn’t
June was the first month that I finally felt like our homestead was back in full swing after being away for a couple years. With Juniper clinging in my arms, we would walk the garden to harvest and tend our little slice of heaven. Several delicious veggies filled our plates at mealtime including kale, chard, spinach, lettuces, and piles and piles of artichokes. When Jay
Goumi is a medium-sized shrub from Asia that is gaining popularity in western gardens. The berries are used medicinally and sweeter varieties are great for eating fresh. Goumi shrubs are nitrogen fixers, benefiting the plants around them with higher nitrogen soil – great for leaf growth. The shrub has long thorns that are easy to spot and avoid. We have two varieties planted on the
Four years ago I was spending 40+ hours a week at “work” and 40+ hours a week getting my hands dirty somewhere – digging in our garden, helping friends with garden designs, volunteering for the farmers market, etc. It was clear that I needed to make a choice between those two lives. I chose the one with dirt under my nails. I turned in my
This past weekend I had the pleasure of touring several gardens during the annual Foster-Powell Garden Tour. It was a relaxing way to spend a sunny Saturday and find some garden inspiration. Here is a sampling of the gems I observed. There were surprises up in the trees in many gardens. These lanterns would make a garden feel so magical if little tea lights were
On a recent tour of gardens, the phrase I heard most often was “it’s a work in progress.” To which I replied, “every garden is.” It reminded me of a phrase I heard lately from the principal of my nephew’s elementary school. She asks the kids recite the following: Do what you can with what you have in the time you have to do it
Our Puget Gold apricot was planted three or four years ago and has quickly grown into a lovely tree. About a month ago, it appeared like an insect was bothering the tree. The leaves had little pin holes on them. But then I noticed the fruit was looking funny as it ripen on the tree. It turns out our lovely little tree has Coryneum Blight
For three years I have been diligently working toward a masters in landscape architecture degree. This past week I had the pleasure of presenting my masters thesis to the department. Next week I will walk across the stage during commencement and accept my degree. My thesis is titled Equal Access: Providing Urban Agricultural Benefits to Under-Served Communities. It will be available through interlibrary loan, so
