Morning Update

They predicted frost last night and they were right. I went out to check on my tender plants and here's what I found. This is a tomato plant that wasn't covered.

It didn't make it. So I pulled back the tarps on the rest of the tomatoes and this is what I found. They made it!

My main garden is in an area that is more prone to frost, so when I pulled back the tarp on the pumpkins, this is what I found.

You win some, you lose some. I still had frost in the front yard at 9:30 this morning.

I don't think I've shown you my new chickens. Well, I've had them for about four months. They're cream brabanters,

which took me two years to finally find. Here's a couple of pictures of my turkeys. I'm saving the breeding pair, the rest will be butchered in a month and a half. They're Red Bourbons. I think I'd like to try Royal Palms next.

Yep, there are ducks in there, too. I picked up two sheep this week. They're both wethers and very affectionate. They're for fiber and for company for my Angora goat. They were raised in a petting zoo, so you can imagine how affectionate. I cannot think of names for these two. I've asked friends and family and no one has been able to come up with names. Here's a couple, not very good, pictures of them.

That's the update from our place. Enjoy this wonderful fall weather. Have a blessed day. Glory Farm

Friday

The mosquitoes  have hatched!  They attacked when I went out this morning.  I guess it's inevitable.

This is a busy time of year for us.  Seeding fields, putting in the garden, cleaning the yard etc.  The cows busted through again, into the goat pasture.  What a mess.  They've demolished the fencing and so I have another job today.  I tend to get a bit upset with those cows sometimes. 

We spent the day at the Mall of America yesterday.  It was a long day, but I think the kids had a good time.  Their ochestra played in one of the entertainment courts.  I'll post pictures later.

So there's the Reader's Digest version of what's going on around here.  Today I hope to be out in the garden ALL day-after I get the fencing done. :) 

Oh-it hit 101 degrees when we were in the Cities yesterday!!!I thought my thermometer had broke!  Unreal.

Well-Hi Ho, Hi Ho...

Have a blessed day.

Today...

I did get carrots, lettuce and spinach planted.  Half the herb beds are weeded. The lawnmower still needs an oil change and I don't have any oil so that's on hold.  I weeded the rasberries and the asparagus.  They sure got weedy quickly.  I took some pictures for your viewing pleasure-

The plum bush in blossom.

The spruce are growing cones.  Aren't they a beautiful color?

This poor misguided little plant.  Strawberries are starting to bloom already.

There are asparagus spears-look real close.  Soon we'll have fresh asparagus!
Time for a shower and off to get the kids to Youth Group.
Blessings.

Harvest Time

How is your harvest going?  Up here, the garden is starting to really produce.  I have the pressure canner and the hot water bath canner both going on the stove, green beans in one and dill pickles in the other. I picked our first ripe corn today.  Supper will be green beans, cucumbers, corn on the cob and, like every Friday night, pizza.

I started harvesting my garlic today, too.  There are only four cloves in this bulb of garlic.

My plan is to be selling garlic and other herbs by next summer.  I put in 200 bulbs last fall and I'm going to put in 300, Lord willing, this fall.  Should get a lot of garlic powder out of these bulbs.
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Keeps me busy.

Updates

Rhubarb-Believe it or not, the rhubarb I planted a few weeks ago is not only alive, but has new growth. ( See http://glory-farm.blogspot.com/2011/05/rhubarbing.html )  Perhaps I've found a place that it likes.

Garlic Scape Pickles-I opened the first jar today.  They are great!! http://glory-farm.blogspot.com/2011/07/garlic-scapes.html Highly recommended.  I think these are going to be an annual thing.

We're getting beets and potatoes from the garden, but not much for peas or beans.  It's a weird year.  My corn is going to be done before my beans.

We're still making hay.  We've been blessed with three additional fields this year because everyone has more than enough hay, even us!

Chickens are still hatching out chicks.  We have two hens still broody and one duck.  These chicks won't be big enough to butcher this fall, may have to wait until a warm day in December??? Brrrr...

That's about it from the farm.  I'm really not in the mood to blog and it shows.
Blessings.

Super Snacking

Is it just my children, or are yours constantly hungry?  I don't remember eating this much when I was their age,(selective memory??).  Now that things are just about done in the garden, I'm putting up snacks for my hungry hordes.The  Pumpkin Chips recipe is one that I'm still planning on using.
Roasted sunflower seeds are another that I make for snack.  I soak the seeds in salt water, overnight, drain.  Place on a cookie sheet. sprinkle with sea salt and put in the oven at 250 for as long as it takes to get them crispy.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are one of our favorites.  Scoop the seeds out of the pumpkin, I do this by hand as it gets less pulp this way.  Take off as much excess pulp as you can.  Spread them on a cookie sheet.  Dot with butter and sprinkle with sea salt.  Roast at 250 until crispy.
How about Corn Nuts ?  I dry some of my corn every year and this year I'm going to try these.  Soak dried corn in cold water for about two days.  Drain and pat dry.  Heat oil to 375.  If a test kernel bubbles and rises when tossed in, it's ready.  Put 1/2 cup of corn in the oil and cook until a nice shade of golden brown.  Test to make sure they are crunchy and not chewy.  Drain well. Sprinkle with salt, or seasoning of  your choice.  This recipe is from "Down to the Roots" magazine, a terrific read.
And then there's the ever popular Dried Apples .  Thinly slice apples.  I sometimes don't even bother coring them if they're right off of our trees. Place on cookie sheet and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Place slices on drying racks.  Dehydrate until crunchy and leathery.

Well, there are some ideas.  Soon you'll be rivaling the convenience store down the road. I'm sure you have many more and I can always use some new ideas.

Horseradish Sauce

Time to make horseradish sauce, again.  Thought I'd show you how I do it, and the recipe I use.

Warning-this stuff is hot so wear safety glasses-no joke.

I dug up the horseradish yesterday and ended up with some nice straight roots this year-

Next peel these, either with a knife or a peeler.  I like a knife better-

Now chop these into smaller pieces.  You can process them in a blender or in a food processor.  I used my food processor because it goes faster and chops finer.

I added a teaspoon of vinegar for each batch that I chopped.  If you're using a blender, you may need more.  This is the horseradish all chopped-

I ended up with about four cups of ground horseradish. If  you're using a blender, you can just keep the ground horseradish in there as  you add the rest of the ingredients.  Next, I ground up a bulb of garlic and added it along with about 1/2 cup of olive oil, 1 cup of cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/3 cup honey.  If you'd like your sauce to be more saucey, add more vinegar.

I don't can horseradish.  Just stick it in the fridge and it'll keep for months.  It does lose it's bite the longer you keep it. 

I use horseradish on all types of meat and on some sandwiches.  My dad loves it and I usually give him at least half of my harvest.

Enjoy!