putting it up

[Guest guest]

My garden is on the verge of flooding me with produce. Plus local

produce stands will supplement.

 

Here are my pantry filling plans for the next two or three months:

 

Eggplant; make up batches of ratatouille, asian eggplant soup,

caponata and freeze. Roast whole eggplants, scoop the pulp and freeze

for later cooking.

 

Corn; freeze stripped kernals, creamed corn and some whole ears.

Baby corn, if I'm lucky enough to get some; freeze whole.

 

Zucchini; grate and freeze for baking and tossing in soups, dry some?

 

Tomatoes; dry the little ones, freeze whole romas, if it looks like

I'll get the time, buy a bushel or two and can diced tomatoes.

 

Snap beans; freeze

 

peppers; , freeze some chopped, roast and freeze; preserve jalapenos

and habeneros in sherry; talk a friend with a smoker into drying

poblanos and jalapenos to make our own anchos and chipotles.

 

Onions; harvest and store in my basement.

 

basil; freeze sprigs, probably no pesto, I'm not that fond of it.

 

Potatoes: harvest and store.

 

Local raspberries; freeze and maybe dry

Local apricots; dry

Local grapes; dry, freeze

Local peaches; freeze and maybe can

Local apples; store, can applesauce

Local garlic; store in the basement

 

Fall greens; dry

carrots and beets; store in the basement

witloof; store in the basement for winter forcing

Leeks, protect from deer and leave in the ground

 

winter squash; store

 

I have a lot of work to do!

 

But I did this in 05 and I loved making a meal in february that came

all or in part from my garden. In 06 I didn't get as much in, none

last year and I hated having to buy stuff I knew perfectly well I

could have provided myself.

First step, clean out and defrost my freezer.

 

Ellen

[Guest guest]

Ok, Ellen, now I am tired just reading this list, lol. You have your work cut out for you! But it' so satisfying, isn't it? I have a batch of tomatoes in the dehydrator right now, and I have such a smug feeling of accomplishment, lol.

 

You're giving me lots of great ideas! You can definitely dry zucchini, I've done it before. I have one for you-add your basil to some white wine or champagne vinegar. I've done this for so many years. It just gets better and better over the winter.

 

Thanks for the great ideas, my head is spinning with all sorts of ideas now!

 

cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/12/2008 12:56:36 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

 

 

My garden is on the verge of flooding me with produce. Plus localproduce stands will supplement.Here are my pantry filling plans for the next two or three months:Eggplant; make up batches of ratatouille, asian eggplant soup,caponata and freeze. Roast whole eggplants, scoop the pulp and freezefor later cooking.Corn; freeze stripped kernals, creamed corn and some whole ears.Baby corn, if I'm lucky enough to get some; freeze whole.Zucchini; grate and freeze for baking and tossing in soups, dry some?Tomatoes; dry the little ones, freeze whole romas, if it looks likeI'll get the time, buy a bushel or two and can diced tomatoes.Snap beans; freezepeppers; , freeze some chopped, roast and freeze; preserve jalapenosand habeneros in sherry; talk a friend with a smoker into dryingpoblanos and jalapenos to make our own anchos and chipotles.Onions; harvest and store in my basement.basil; freeze sprigs, probably no pesto, I'm not that fond of it.Potatoes: harvest and store.Local raspberries; freeze and maybe dryLocal apricots; dryLocal grapes; dry, freezeLocal peaches; freeze and maybe canLocal apples; store, can applesauceLocal garlic; store in the basementFall greens; drycarrots and beets; store in the basementwitloof; store in the basement for winter forcingLeeks, protect from deer and leave in the groundwinter squash; storeI have a lot of work to do!But I did this in 05 and I loved making a meal in february that cameall or in part from my garden. In 06 I didn't get as much in, nonelast year and I hated having to buy stuff I knew perfectly well Icould have provided myself.First step, clean out and defrost my freezer.Ellen

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

those are plans.... I'm not sure how much I can actually do, working around a more than full time schedule, but I have hope. Let's just say, weeding comes before house work!

 

Last night I got home at almost nine, roasted seven ~7 oz eggplants, peeled them, pureed them in the food processor and froze them in 3 1-cup loaf pans. This morning I popped them out of the loaf pans and bagged them. A tiny start, but a good feeling.

 

I also halved, blanched and peeled 20 apricots and set them in the food dryer. Oops. This morning I have 40 tiny circles of fruit leather. huh, I thought they'd take longer to dry. I think maybe they got too cooked when I blanched them? How long do apricot halves take to dry. I could leave them unpeeled, but then I'd probably never use them. I'm not overly fond of apricots, I tend to regard them as failed peaches. But I'll pick more and try again. I like them occasionally in grain salads and pilafs.

 

I don't have to work tonight, but I'll have to choose between washing dishes, weeding, setting up trellises for a second row of beans and one for the smaller tomatoes, which are now getting larger or trying to finish the raised bed frame for the hoop house.

 

 

 

 

You're giving me lots of great ideas! You can definitely dry zucchini, I've done it before. I have one for you-add your basil to some white wine or champagne vinegar. I've done this for so many years. It just gets better and better over the winter.

 

 

do you dry zucchini as slices?

 

I'll have to try that basil in wine, that sounds fabulous. thanks,

 

Ellen

 

 

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the great ideas, my head is spinning with all sorts of ideas now!

 

cyndi

 

 

In a message dated 8/12/2008 12:56:36 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

 

 

My garden is on the verge of flooding me with produce. Plus localproduce stands will supplement.Here are my pantry filling plans for the next two or three months:Eggplant; make up batches of ratatouille, asian eggplant soup,

caponata and freeze. Roast whole eggplants, scoop the pulp and freezefor later cooking.Corn; freeze stripped kernals, creamed corn and some whole ears.Baby corn, if I'm lucky enough to get some; freeze whole.

Zucchini; grate and freeze for baking and tossing in soups, dry some?Tomatoes; dry the little ones, freeze whole romas, if it looks likeI'll get the time, buy a bushel or two and can diced tomatoes.

Snap beans; freezepeppers; , freeze some chopped, roast and freeze; preserve jalapenosand habeneros in sherry; talk a friend with a smoker into dryingpoblanos and jalapenos to make our own anchos and chipotles.

Onions; harvest and store in my basement.basil; freeze sprigs, probably no pesto, I'm not that fond of it.Potatoes: harvest and store.Local raspberries; freeze and maybe dryLocal apricots; dry

Local grapes; dry, freezeLocal peaches; freeze and maybe canLocal apples; store, can applesauceLocal garlic; store in the basementFall greens; drycarrots and beets; store in the basementwitloof; store in the basement for winter forcing

Leeks, protect from deer and leave in the groundwinter squash; storeI have a lot of work to do!But I did this in 05 and I loved making a meal in february that cameall or in part from my garden. In 06 I didn't get as much in, none

last year and I hated having to buy stuff I knew perfectly well Icould have provided myself.First step, clean out and defrost my freezer.Ellen

 

 

-- "If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in return for hatred." –Bhagavad Gita

[Guest guest]

Goodness you are organized! I was just happy to put in a garden this

year and make 6 jars of Peach Jam today.

 

Looks like a spreadsheet of some sort may help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, Ellen <stringweaver

wrote:

>

> those are plans.... I'm not sure how much I can actually do,

working around

> a more than full time schedule, but I have hope. Let's just say,

weeding

> comes before house work!

>

> Last night I got home at almost nine, roasted seven ~7 oz

eggplants, peeled

> them, pureed them in the food processor and froze them in 3 1-cup

loaf

> pans. This morning I popped them out of the loaf pans and bagged

them. A

> tiny start, but a good feeling.

>

> I also halved, blanched and peeled 20 apricots and set them in the

food

> dryer. Oops. This morning I have 40 tiny circles of fruit

leather. huh, I

> thought they'd take longer to dry. I think maybe they got too

cooked when I

> blanched them? How long do apricot halves take to dry. I could

leave them

> unpeeled, but then I'd probably never use them. I'm not overly

fond of

> apricots, I tend to regard them as failed peaches. But I'll pick

more and

> try again. I like them occasionally in grain salads and pilafs.

>

> I don't have to work tonight, but I'll have to choose between

washing

> dishes, weeding, setting up trellises for a second row of beans

and one for

> the smaller tomatoes, which are now getting larger or trying to

finish the

> raised bed frame for the hoop house.

>

>

> > *You're giving me lots of great ideas! You can definitely dry

zucchini,

> > I've done it before. I have one for you-add your basil to some

white wine or

> > champagne vinegar. I've done this for so many years. It just

gets better and

> > better over the winter. *

> >

>

> do you dry zucchini as slices?

>

> I'll have to try that basil in wine, that sounds fabulous. thanks,

>

> Ellen

>

> ------------------------------

> > Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget?

Read reviews

> > on AOL Autos<http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-

review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017>

> > .

> >

> >

>

>

>

> > *Thanks for the great ideas, my head is spinning with all sorts

of ideas

> > now!*

> > **

> > *cyndi*

> > **

> > In a message dated 8/12/2008 12:56:36 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

> > stringweaver writes:

> >

> > My garden is on the verge of flooding me with produce. Plus

local

> > produce stands will supplement.

> >

> > Here are my pantry filling plans for the next two or three

months:

> >

> > Eggplant; make up batches of ratatouille, asian eggplant soup,

> > caponata and freeze. Roast whole eggplants, scoop the pulp and

freeze

> > for later cooking.

> >

> > Corn; freeze stripped kernals, creamed corn and some whole ears.

> > Baby corn, if I'm lucky enough to get some; freeze whole.

> >

> > Zucchini; grate and freeze for baking and tossing in soups, dry

some?

> >

> > Tomatoes; dry the little ones, freeze whole romas, if it looks

like

> > I'll get the time, buy a bushel or two and can diced tomatoes.

> >

> > Snap beans; freeze

> >

> > peppers; , freeze some chopped, roast and freeze; preserve

jalapenos

> > and habeneros in sherry; talk a friend with a smoker into drying

> > poblanos and jalapenos to make our own anchos and chipotles.

> >

> > Onions; harvest and store in my basement.

> >

> > basil; freeze sprigs, probably no pesto, I'm not that fond of it.

> >

> > Potatoes: harvest and store.

> >

> > Local raspberries; freeze and maybe dry

> > Local apricots; dry

> > Local grapes; dry, freeze

> > Local peaches; freeze and maybe can

> > Local apples; store, can applesauce

> > Local garlic; store in the basement

> >

> > Fall greens; dry

> > carrots and beets; store in the basement

> > witloof; store in the basement for winter forcing

> > Leeks, protect from deer and leave in the ground

> >

> > winter squash; store

> >

> > I have a lot of work to do!

> >

> > But I did this in 05 and I loved making a meal in february that

came

> > all or in part from my garden. In 06 I didn't get as much in,

none

> > last year and I hated having to buy stuff I knew perfectly well I

> > could have provided myself.

> > First step, clean out and defrost my freezer.

> >

> > Ellen

> >

> > **

> >

>

>

>

> --

> " If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in

return for

> hatred. " –Bhagavad Gita

>

[Guest guest]

Good grief, you're busy! I got my tomatoes dried and now I'm looking around for other victims to experiment on, haha!

 

I've never tried to dry apricots, as I don't really care for them. Like you, I like them in Pilaf, and that's about it. I'm surprised in your climate they dried that fast. Did you really need to blanch them? I've just asking. I didn't blanch my tomatoes, just washed, sliced and threw them in. I guess I should have red the manual before I did it, lol. That is, IF I can find the manual! Well, there's always the internet too. I'll do some research before I try anything else.

 

When I dried zucchini, (it's been a few years,) i cut them into thick slices, and then cut each slice into quarters, so that when I put them in soups, they'd be little chunks. I think thinner slices would just fall apart when they rehydrate, but i don't know for sure.

 

It's white wine VINEGAR for the basil, or champagne vinegar. Especially nice with purple basil.

 

cyndi

 

 

In a message dated 8/13/2008 7:55:20 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

 

 

 

 

 

those are plans.... I'm not sure how much I can actually do, working around a more than full time schedule, but I have hope. Let's just say, weeding comes before house work!

 

Last night I got home at almost nine, roasted seven ~7 oz eggplants, peeled them, pureed them in the food processor and froze them in 3 1-cup loaf pans. This morning I popped them out of the loaf pans and bagged them. A tiny start, but a good feeling.

 

I also halved, blanched and peeled 20 apricots and set them in the food dryer. Oops. This morning I have 40 tiny circles of fruit leather. huh, I thought they'd take longer to dry. I think maybe they got too cooked when I blanched them? How long do apricot halves take to dry. I could leave them unpeeled, but then I'd probably never use them. I'm not overly fond of apricots, I tend to regard them as failed peaches. But I'll pick more and try again. I like them occasionally in grain salads and pilafs.

 

I don't have to work tonight, but I'll have to choose between washing dishes, weeding, setting up trellises for a second row of beans and one for the smaller tomatoes, which are now getting larger or trying to finish the raised bed frame for the hoop house.

 

 

 

 

You're giving me lots of great ideas! You can definitely dry zucchini, I've done it before. I have one for you-add your basil to some white wine or champagne vinegar. I've done this for so many years. It just gets better and better over the winter.

 

do you dry zucchini as slices?

 

I'll have to try that basil in wine, that sounds fabulous. thanks,

 

Ellen

 

 

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the great ideas, my head is spinning with all sorts of ideas now!

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

How fun! Do you have any pics? How are you feeding her?

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/14/2008 9:31:18 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

Right now I am babysitting a baby hummingbird. A friend's cat caughther last week and he's been bringing her to work for feedings every 10minutes or so. She's perched on a fern next to my desk at the momentand periodically taking short flights around the room before crashingto the floor. She's getting better at it. She is absolutely adorable.Ellen

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

It might be....Rosemary is kind of cold tolerant if it's kept dry. Your hoop house might be enough to push the odds to your favor. Give it a try!

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/14/2008 12:45:29 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

 

hm, I wonder if my hoop house would be enough protection for rosemary?

 

Ellen

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

Funny, I used to order seeds from Pinetree many years ago, when I lived in PA. 12 years ago, at least! I haven't thought about them in years. I'll have to look them up again. I have some type of Roma tomato that I am drying. Very few seeds too.

 

I took cuttings of several tomatoes, and they are lounging in cups of water now. I figured I've give them a few days of sucking up some water before potting them up. I took cuttings of all the heirlooms and one tiny cherry tomato that has unbelievable flavor.

 

i have a boatload of swiss chard to do something with, so I might try them in the dehydrator today. I already have several bags in the freezer.

 

cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/14/2008 12:55:22 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

 

I blanched the apricots because I wanted to peel them. I REALLY don't like dried apricots with the skin.

I grow Principe Borghese tomatoes for drying. They are about twice the size of a cherry tomato, have few seeds, great flavor and have been bred for drying. I get the seed from Pinetree seeds in Maine. I slice them in half and and throw them on the dryer. I got my first ripe one yesterday, soon I hope I'll get a flood. I'm just about out of the several quarts I dried two years ago.

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

On 8/13/08, candlecrazy_1999 <candlecrazy_1999 wrote:

> Goodness you are organized! I was just happy to put in a garden this

> year and make 6 jars of Peach Jam today.

>

> Looks like a spreadsheet of some sort may help.

 

I'm thinking a white board!

 

I have no idea how much I'll get done. I'm still working on getting

the wood boxes built for my winter garden hoop house. I'm running

out of time to get them filled and planted before it's too late, but

at any rate they should be ready for an early start in the spring.

 

My goal this weekend is to freeze a couple flats of raspberries and I

might have enough snap beans by then to freeze some as well.

 

Right now I am babysitting a baby hummingbird. A friend's cat caught

her last week and he's been bringing her to work for feedings every 10

minutes or so. She's perched on a fern next to my desk at the moment

and periodically taking short flights around the room before crashing

to the floor. She's getting better at it. She is absolutely adorable.

 

Ellen

>

>

>

>

, Ellen <stringweaver

> wrote:

> >

> > those are plans.... I'm not sure how much I can actually do,

> working around

> > a more than full time schedule, but I have hope. Let's just say,

> weeding

> > comes before house work!

> >

> > Last night I got home at almost nine, roasted seven ~7 oz

> eggplants, peeled

> > them, pureed them in the food processor and froze them in 3 1-cup

> loaf

> > pans. This morning I popped them out of the loaf pans and bagged

> them. A

> > tiny start, but a good feeling.

> >

> > I also halved, blanched and peeled 20 apricots and set them in the

> food

> > dryer. Oops. This morning I have 40 tiny circles of fruit

> leather. huh, I

> > thought they'd take longer to dry. I think maybe they got too

> cooked when I

> > blanched them? How long do apricot halves take to dry. I could

> leave them

> > unpeeled, but then I'd probably never use them. I'm not overly

> fond of

> > apricots, I tend to regard them as failed peaches. But I'll pick

> more and

> > try again. I like them occasionally in grain salads and pilafs.

> >

> > I don't have to work tonight, but I'll have to choose between

> washing

> > dishes, weeding, setting up trellises for a second row of beans

> and one for

> > the smaller tomatoes, which are now getting larger or trying to

> finish the

> > raised bed frame for the hoop house.

> >

> >

> > > *You're giving me lots of great ideas! You can definitely dry

> zucchini,

> > > I've done it before. I have one for you-add your basil to some

> white wine or

> > > champagne vinegar. I've done this for so many years. It just

> gets better and

> > > better over the winter. *

> > >

> >

> > do you dry zucchini as slices?

> >

> > I'll have to try that basil in wine, that sounds fabulous. thanks,

> >

> > Ellen

> >

> > ------------------------------

> > > Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget?

> Read reviews

> > > on AOL Autos<http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-

> review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017>

> > > .

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> > > *Thanks for the great ideas, my head is spinning with all sorts

> of ideas

> > > now!*

> > > **

> > > *cyndi*

> > > **

> > > In a message dated 8/12/2008 12:56:36 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

> > > stringweaver writes:

> > >

> > > My garden is on the verge of flooding me with produce. Plus

> local

> > > produce stands will supplement.

> > >

> > > Here are my pantry filling plans for the next two or three

> months:

> > >

> > > Eggplant; make up batches of ratatouille, asian eggplant soup,

> > > caponata and freeze. Roast whole eggplants, scoop the pulp and

> freeze

> > > for later cooking.

> > >

> > > Corn; freeze stripped kernals, creamed corn and some whole ears.

> > > Baby corn, if I'm lucky enough to get some; freeze whole.

> > >

> > > Zucchini; grate and freeze for baking and tossing in soups, dry

> some?

> > >

> > > Tomatoes; dry the little ones, freeze whole romas, if it looks

> like

> > > I'll get the time, buy a bushel or two and can diced tomatoes.

> > >

> > > Snap beans; freeze

> > >

> > > peppers; , freeze some chopped, roast and freeze; preserve

> jalapenos

> > > and habeneros in sherry; talk a friend with a smoker into drying

> > > poblanos and jalapenos to make our own anchos and chipotles.

> > >

> > > Onions; harvest and store in my basement.

> > >

> > > basil; freeze sprigs, probably no pesto, I'm not that fond of it.

> > >

> > > Potatoes: harvest and store.

> > >

> > > Local raspberries; freeze and maybe dry

> > > Local apricots; dry

> > > Local grapes; dry, freeze

> > > Local peaches; freeze and maybe can

> > > Local apples; store, can applesauce

> > > Local garlic; store in the basement

> > >

> > > Fall greens; dry

> > > carrots and beets; store in the basement

> > > witloof; store in the basement for winter forcing

> > > Leeks, protect from deer and leave in the ground

> > >

> > > winter squash; store

> > >

> > > I have a lot of work to do!

> > >

> > > But I did this in 05 and I loved making a meal in february that

> came

> > > all or in part from my garden. In 06 I didn't get as much in,

> none

> > > last year and I hated having to buy stuff I knew perfectly well I

> > > could have provided myself.

> > > First step, clean out and defrost my freezer.

> > >

> > > Ellen

> > >

> > > **

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > " If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in

> return for

> > hatred. " –Bhagavad Gita

> >

>

>

>

> ---

>

> " Let food be your medicine " Hippocrates

[Guest guest]

Ellen, please excuse my ignorance, but what on earth is a "winter garden hoop house???"

 

--Celia--

 

 

 

Ellen <stringweaver Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:30:41 PMRe: [RFSL] putting it upOn 8/13/08, candlecrazy_1999 <candlecrazy_1999 wrote:> Goodness you are organized! I was just happy to put in a garden this> year and make 6 jars of Peach Jam today.>> Looks like a spreadsheet of some sort may help.I'm thinking a white board!I have no idea how much I'll get done. I'm still working on gettingthe wood boxes built for my winter garden hoop house. I'm runningout of time to get them filled and planted before it's too late, butat any rate they should be ready for an early start in the

spring.My goal this weekend is to freeze a couple flats of raspberries and Imight have enough snap beans by then to freeze some as well.Right now I am babysitting a baby hummingbird. A friend's cat caughther last week and he's been bringing her to work for feedings every 10minutes or so. She's perched on a fern next to my desk at the momentand periodically taking short flights around the room before crashingto the floor. She's getting better at it. She is absolutely adorable.Ellen

[Guest guest]

A hoop house is a way to extend your harvest into fall and even winter in cold climates (I'm borderline zone 4/5). It's an unheated plastic greenhouse. You plant cold hardy varieties- salad greens, carrots, kale and so on in late summer. They are protected by the plastic cover and additional row cover or mulch for harvest through most of the late fall and some crops, even through the winter. It also gives you a head start on early spring planting.

 

Eliot Coleman's Four Season Garden is an excellent book. He harvests salad greens and carrots and other things throughout the winter in Maine. I'm a little bit further south, but higher in elevation in Utah, so my winters are about the same, but with more daylight. This will be my learning year, I'm not counting on success till I've had some practice.

 

Ellen

On 8/14/08, Celia Browne <lady_celia wrote:

 

 

 

 

Ellen, please excuse my ignorance, but what on earth is a " winter garden hoop house??? "

 

--Celia--

 

 

 

Ellen <stringweaver

Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:30:41 PMRe: [RFSL] putting it up

On 8/13/08, candlecrazy_1999 <candlecrazy_1999 wrote:> Goodness you are organized! I was just happy to put in a garden this

> year and make 6 jars of Peach Jam today.>> Looks like a spreadsheet of some sort may help.I'm thinking a white board!I have no idea how much I'll get done. I'm still working on getting

the wood boxes built for my winter garden hoop house. I'm runningout of time to get them filled and planted before it's too late, butat any rate they should be ready for an early start in the spring.

My goal this weekend is to freeze a couple flats of raspberries and Imight have enough snap beans by then to freeze some as well.Right now I am babysitting a baby hummingbird. A friend's cat caughther last week and he's been bringing her to work for feedings every 10

minutes or so. She's perched on a fern next to my desk at the momentand periodically taking short flights around the room before crashingto the floor. She's getting better at it. She is absolutely adorable.

Ellen -- "If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in return for hatred." –Bhagavad Gita

[Guest guest]

Wow...I've never been that ambitious but sounds like a great idea for extending the growing season! I was going to expirement this year with "winter sowing" to try something new and get a jump start on certain veggie plants, but I nixed the idea with all the uncertainty in my life. Too bad I'm going to be in CA next year 'cuz now I'll never get a chance to try it... <smirks>

 

--C--

 

 

 

 

Ellen <stringweaver Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 3:34:11 PMRe: [RFSL] putting it up

 

 

A hoop house is a way to extend your harvest into fall and even winter in cold climates (I'm borderline zone 4/5). It's an unheated plastic greenhouse. You plant cold hardy varieties- salad greens, carrots, kale and so on in late summer. They are protected by the plastic cover and additional row cover or mulch for harvest through most of the late fall and some crops, even through the winter. It also gives you a head start on early spring planting.

 

Eliot Coleman's Four Season Garden is an excellent book. He harvests salad greens and carrots and other things throughout the winter in Maine. I'm a little bit further south, but higher in elevation in Utah, so my winters are about the same, but with more daylight. This will be my learning year, I'm not counting on success till I've had some practice.

Ellen

On 8/14/08, Celia Browne <lady_celia > wrote:

 

 

 

Ellen, please excuse my ignorance, but what on earth is a "winter garden hoop house???"

 

--Celia--

..

[Guest guest]

On 8/14/08, Celia Browne <lady_celia wrote:

 

 

 

 

Wow...I've never been that ambitious but sounds like a great idea for extending the growing season! I was going to expirement this year with " winter sowing " to try something new and get a jump start on certain veggie plants, but I nixed the idea with all the uncertainty in my life. Too bad I'm going to be in CA next year 'cuz now I'll never get a chance to try it... <smirks>

 

 

 

Yeah, too bad you are moving to what amounts to living inside a hoop house year round. sigh. Oh to grow citrus, figs, artichokes, rosemary....

 

hm, I wonder if my hoop house would be enough protection for rosemary?

 

Ellen

 

 

 

 

--C--

 

 

 

 

Ellen <stringweaver

Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 3:34:11 PM

Re: [RFSL] putting it up

 

 

A hoop house is a way to extend your harvest into fall and even winter in cold climates (I'm borderline zone 4/5). It's an unheated plastic greenhouse. You plant cold hardy varieties- salad greens, carrots, kale and so on in late summer. They are protected by the plastic cover and additional row cover or mulch for harvest through most of the late fall and some crops, even through the winter. It also gives you a head start on early spring planting.

 

Eliot Coleman's Four Season Garden is an excellent book. He harvests salad greens and carrots and other things throughout the winter in Maine. I'm a little bit further south, but higher in elevation in Utah, so my winters are about the same, but with more daylight. This will be my learning year, I'm not counting on success till I've had some practice.

 

Ellen

On 8/14/08, Celia Browne <lady_celia > wrote:

 

 

 

Ellen, please excuse my ignorance, but what on earth is a " winter garden hoop house??? "

 

--Celia--

 

..

-- "If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in return for hatred." –Bhagavad Gita

[Guest guest]

I'm totally impressed you guys knew what to do for her! I can't wait to see the pics. :-)Cyndi

 

 

In a message dated 8/14/2008 3:55:08 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

 

 

 

 

 

LOADS of pics. We're going to see about putting up a photo album on line and some video clips on YouTube this weekend.

 

She's getting a mix of nectar, pet bird liquid vitamins and soy protein. She sips it out of a pipet, but soon we'll try her on a hummingbird feeder and bouquets of real flowers.

 

Ellen

On 8/14/08, cyndikrall (AT) aol (DOT) com <cyndikrall (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote:

 

 

How fun! Do you have any pics? How are you feeding her?

 

Cyndi

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

I've never tried to dry apricots, as I don't really care for them. Like you, I like them in Pilaf, and that's about it. I'm surprised in your climate they dried that fast. Did you really need to blanch them? I've just asking. I didn't blanch my tomatoes, just washed, sliced and threw them in. I guess I should have red the manual before I did it, lol. That is, IF I can find the manual! Well, there's always the internet too. I'll do some research before I try anything else.

 

 

I blanched the apricots because I wanted to peel them. I REALLY don't like dried apricots with the skin.

I grow Principe Borghese tomatoes for drying. They are about twice the size of a cherry tomato, have few seeds, great flavor and have been bred for drying. I get the seed from Pinetree seeds in Maine. I slice them in half and and throw them on the dryer. I got my first ripe one yesterday, soon I hope I'll get a flood. I'm just about out of the several quarts I dried two years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

When I dried zucchini, (it's been a few years,) i cut them into thick slices, and then cut each slice into quarters, so that when I put them in soups, they'd be little chunks. I think thinner slices would just fall apart when they rehydrate, but i don't know for sure.

 

 

thanks, I'll give that a try.

 

 

 

 

It's white wine VINEGAR for the basil, or champagne vinegar. Especially nice with purple basil.

 

noted. I have some purple basil..

 

Ellen

 

 

[Guest guest]

I say yes. We had a relatively mild winter this year and my mom's rosemary plant--which was ina somewhat protected area--actually survived the winter intact with only a little "freezer" burn. That's unheard of for a Michigan winter! Imagine if she had it in a hoop house???

 

--Cee--

 

 

 

 

 

On 8/14/08, Celia Browne <lady_celia > wrote:

 

 

 

Wow...I've never been that ambitious but sounds like a great idea for extending the growing season! I was going to expirement this year with "winter sowing" to try something new and get a jump start on certain veggie plants, but I nixed the idea with all the uncertainty in my life. Too bad I'm going to be in CA next year 'cuz now I'll never get a chance to try it... <smirks>

 

 

Yeah, too bad you are moving to what amounts to living inside a hoop house year round. sigh. Oh to grow citrus, figs, artichokes, rosemary....

 

hm, I wonder if my hoop house would be enough protection for rosemary?

 

Ellen

 

 

 

 

 

 

..

 

..

[Guest guest]

LOADS of pics. We're going to see about putting up a photo album on line and some video clips on YouTube this weekend.

 

She's getting a mix of nectar, pet bird liquid vitamins and soy protein. She sips it out of a pipet, but soon we'll try her on a hummingbird feeder and bouquets of real flowers.

 

Ellen

On 8/14/08, cyndikrall <cyndikrall wrote:

 

 

How fun! Do you have any pics? How are you feeding her?

 

Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/14/2008 9:31:18 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

 

Right now I am babysitting a baby hummingbird. A friend's cat caught

her last week and he's been bringing her to work for feedings every 10minutes or so. She's perched on a fern next to my desk at the momentand periodically taking short flights around the room before crashing

to the floor. She's getting better at it. She is absolutely adorable.Ellen

 

 

 

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

-- " If you want to see the heroic, look at those who can love in return for hatred. " –Bhagavad Gita

[Guest guest]

On 8/14/08, Celia Browne <lady_celia wrote:

 

 

 

 

I say yes. We had a relatively mild winter this year and my mom's rosemary plant--which was ina somewhat protected area--actually survived the winter intact with only a little " freezer " burn. That's unheard of for a Michigan winter! Imagine if she had it in a hoop house???

 

 

 

That's very encouraging. I have two 2 by 14 foot beds for the house, plus a walkway wide enough to accomodate a few potted things. I'll plant a rosemay in one end of one of the beds next spring. Our winter's aren't any worse than Michigan winters, and often milder.

 

Ellen

[Guest guest]

You guys have done a very good thing! I can't wait to see the pics and the video! ;-)Ok, yesterday, I froze 4 quarts of green beans, and 5 gallon bags of Swiss Chard. I planted a row of wax beans, and a row of salad greens. Tonight I'll plant a row of green beans, a row of radishes, and a row of black eyed peas. :-)Cyndi

 

In a message dated 8/15/2008 9:11:25 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, stringweaver writes:

 

 

 

Thanks to networking and the internet. A friend of a friend works at a vet diagnostic lab and advised my friend on how to treat the pneumothorax. I have no idea what that is, except seeing it often on the ER tv show with trauma patients. Basically the chest cavity fills with air. He had to puncture her several times, poking a needle under the skin. As she got better, exercise kept the problem in control, until whatever caused it healed.

 

He found the formula recipe online. She would have had developmental problems if fed on a diet of straight nectar and no protein.

 

She's a riot now. We do hummingbird juggling. Throw her into the air and put up a hand for her to land on-though usually she flies off to the window or the top of my camera. After a session, she's ready for a nap, a feed, a preen and then more flying practice. She's getting practice drinking from a hummingbird feeder.

 

I sure will miss her, but I'm confident when she's ready to be released she'll be able to make it as well as any youngster. Ellen

 

 

Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos.

[Guest guest]

On 8/14/08, cyndikrall <cyndikrall wrote:

 

 

 

I'm totally impressed you guys knew what to do for her! I can't wait to see the pics. :-)

 

Thanks to networking and the internet. A friend of a friend works at a vet diagnostic lab and advised my friend on how to treat the pneumothorax. I have no idea what that is, except seeing it often on the ER tv show with trauma patients. Basically the chest cavity fills with air. He had to puncture her several times, poking a needle under the skin. As she got better, exercise kept the problem in control, until whatever caused it healed.

 

He found the formula recipe online. She would have had developmental problems if fed on a diet of straight nectar and no protein.

 

She's a riot now. We do hummingbird juggling. Throw her into the air and put up a hand for her to land on-though usually she flies off to the window or the top of my camera. After a session, she's ready for a nap, a feed, a preen and then more flying practice. She's getting practice drinking from a hummingbird feeder.

 

I sure will miss her, but I'm confident when she's ready to be released she'll be able to make it as well as any youngster. Ellen