independence days - week 13

since i'm struggling to get the garden in again this year due to my rambunctious toddler, i thought taking the id challenge would be a good moral booster for me. i try to practice this idea anyway during the growing seasons so it's a great reminder of how much i really do even when it feels like i don't.

i've been on a weeding binge, trying to relocate all the vegetables in the garden. it is hard work as some of the weeds are taller than me! most of the squash have bit it to borers. freaks.

the puppies took out half the sunflowers in a fight over food yesterday. they got hosed and screamed at by yours truly. those were seeds for my goats!


1. plant something:
^transplanted daylilies
^sowed poppies, thyme
^ginger root

2. harvest something:
^eggs, milk
^blackberries
^onions
^pattypan, zucchini
^lamb's quarters, basil
^peaches and PLUMS!
^broilers - 5 ended up in our freezer, the other 6 were sold to friends

3. preserve something:
^yarrow to make more bug spray
^5 broilers frozen

4. prep something:
^cleaned out portable coop and moved 25 baby broilers into it
^parents got me a sausage stuffer they found at an estate sale

5. cook something:
^

6. manage your reserves:
^weeded like crazy!
^added 1 gallon lamp oil to reserves
^started trellising tomatoes (finally!)

7. work on local food systems:
^sold eggs and jellies at local farmer's market
^bartered with produce vendor: milk for veggies
^sold herbs to chef (lamb's quarters and basil)
^sold broilers to friends
^greg and i discussed the csa we plan on doing next year with animals/animal products instead of vegetables

8. reduce waste:
^use canvas bags at grocery store and farmer's market
^re-use egg cartons for our nest run eggs

9. Learned a skill:
^considering applying to a master naturalist program this fall