My poultry’s housing has evolved over the years. First we went from a tiny, unworkable coop for two birds to a spacious, well-designed, and attractive coop that can comfortably house 8 to 12 hens. Experience drove multiple experiments to increase the efficiency and cleanliness of the coop. Backyard free-ranging was tried (it really was!) but…
Season
Rhubarb and Spring Herb Salsa
“I need rhubarb recipes!” cried a reader and Patron. “Have you tried my awesome rhubarb coffee cake?” I suggested. “I’ve made it like 900 times. And the rhubarb syrup! I still have more rhubarb.” Ah, yes. It’s that time of year. I love rhubarb, but there is a limit to how much coffee cake a…
May Gardening Chores For The Pacific Northwest
Update for May, 2018: Spring is here. The global vibe I’m getting for late April and early May weather is “unpredictable” – wild temperature swings, unseasonable cold snaps, unseasonable heat, general weirdness. The atypical seems to be getting pretty typical. Fortunately, our mild maritime Northwest climate continues to be a bit more restrained. The big…
10 Self-Propogating Herbs and Flowers That Take Over My Garden Every Spring
This time of year is always rewarding; almost overnight things seem to morph from “expanse of wood chips” to “a zillion shades of green.” The days are getting long, temperatures are slowly warming, and perennials and quick-germinating herbs and flowers are responding by popping up everywhere. With a few notable exceptions (looking at you, bindweed), most…
April Gardening Chores For The Pacific Northwest
2018 Update: I think compared to other regions of the country, we in Cascadia have gotten off quite easy so far this spring. There’s a reason they are called Nor’easters and not Nor’westers, I suppose. Time to bring back this old favorite: Which isn’t to say there haven’t been some odd moments. Twice in the…
Caramelized Turnips and Apples with Thyme
Jump to the Recipe The turnip, along with her cousin the rutabaga, is an underappreciated root vegetable in the cabbage family. Winter turnips (the most common cultivar is Purple Top White Globe) can have a sharp, almost radishy flavor, but this mellows out and sweetens when you cook them. In this recipe, turnips and apples…
March Gardening Chores For The Pacific Northwest
2018 Update: Weather here in the Pacific Northwest isn’t nearly as strange as what our friends in Ireland or on the East Coast are dealing with. What I’m seeing is actually pretty typical for early March in the Pacific Northwest: a back and forth between blustery, cold, wintery weather and drizzly, mild spring weather. In my…
Curried Sugar Hubbard Squash Soup
Jump to the Recipe When you’ve got a Sugar Hubbard Squash that needs to get used, you’ve got a lot of squash. Sugar Hubbard is a cross of Blue Hubbard and Sweet Meat, and it’s just fantastic. It roasts well and has a smooth, creamy texture when pureed. Last time I grew Sugar Hubbard I…
All the Seed Terminology You Need To Know
Gardening has lingo. Some of the terminology surrounding seeds, seed starting, and growing is pretty intuitive and some is more obscure or weird. But it helps to understand these seed-related terms if you want to navigate a seed catalog, ask accurate questions, look things up, or just sound like you know what you’re talking about….
Harissa Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Jump to the Recipe I’m pretty late to the harissa game. What can I say, I’ve lived in suburbia for 14 years and don’t get out much. Oh sure, I’d heard of this North African spice blend. I’d even eaten a decent amount of grilled squid with harissa, made by the the one restaurant within…
My Seed Order for 2018
I think we need to add a new term to the general lexicon. Stress-induced Seed Acquisition Syndrome. SSAS. We can pronounce it like sass. SSAS is closely related to other Homestead acquisition and purchasing disorders, such as: Chicken Math Delusion Syndrome (CMDS) – the belief that your 4 x 8 foot chicken coop can totally…
February Gardening Chores For The Pacific Northwest
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s February. You know what that means? It’s time to get going. I can feel it, and I’ll bet you can too – that little twitch in your hand that says, “alright, baby, let’s start some tomatoes!” February typically marks the beginning of the big seed starting effort around here. Not just…