tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80740396844856016662024-03-13T18:35:53.272-07:00Back to the HomesteadWe homestead now not because we have to; we homestead now so we're ready when we need to.Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-18506646297839675982017-11-24T10:50:00.001-08:002017-11-24T12:34:15.628-08:00Growing Soil - Back to the Homestead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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How do you grow your soil? What does that mean, “grow your soil?” Plants live only from what they can get from the soil and the water they either get from the sky or the irrigation you provide. A tomato is about 95% water. What is the other 5%? It’s the components in the soil that the plant has drawn out molecule-by-molecule. If the “building blocks” of that tomato are not (#1) present in the soil and (#2) are not bioavailable to the plant’s roots, the tomato will not form correctly (PERIOD and END OF SENTENCE).</div>
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The summer is over, fall is well underway, and winter is knock, knock, knocking at our door. Most of us are thinking “turkey” and “Black Friday” and few of us are thinking “spring” and fewer of us are thinking “compost.” But those are the two things you need to be thinking of to get the spring garden you really want. Let’s think about this:</div>
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Read More at: <a href="http://backtothehomestead.com/2017/11/24/grow-your-soil/" target="_blank">http://backtothehomestead.com/2017/11/24/grow-your-soil/ </a></div>
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Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-32261875188221411382017-11-05T17:51:00.001-08:002017-11-05T17:51:33.417-08:00Rock Garden Bed - Back to the Homestead<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gPPM1Pf7DI4" width="459"></iframe>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-40449866132873157122017-08-05T19:10:00.001-07:002017-08-05T19:10:44.313-07:00Killing Weeds with HEAT!! - Back to the Homestead<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n3W2XyccSuU" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
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<span id="sample-permalink" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #666666; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-weight: 600;">Read More at: </span><a href="http://backtothehomestead.com/2017/08/06/8-organic-methods-for-weed-control/" style="color: #0073aa; outline: 0px; transition-duration: 0.05s; transition-property: border, background, color; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;">https://backtothehomestead.com/2017/08/06/<span id="editable-post-name" style="font-weight: 600;">8-organic-methods-for-weed-control</span>/</a></span>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-57747267220483319132017-07-16T07:16:00.001-07:002017-07-16T07:16:12.132-07:00Make Free Mulch for Your Garden<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZCyqjCL4Afo" width="459"></iframe><br /><br />
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The word is getting out. <strong>Mulching the garden beds is becoming more and more popular.</strong> Nonetheless, I still see bare ground on many gardens and that bare ground is bare due to one of three reasons: 1) Freshly tilled and planted. 2) Intensive weeding all the time. 3) Toxic and cancer-causing poison sprayed on the ground around the plants that provide our food...that we eat...and feed our family with. Yes, I kinda drug out the #3 point. Regardless, why don’t all homesteaders and gardeners mulch their garden beds? <em>Maybe they don’t realize how FREE mulch is. </em><br /><br />
In this article, we’ll discuss:<br /><br />
<ol><li>How to Make Mulch (with Video)</li>
<li>What Kind of Mulch to Use</li>
<li>Where to get FREE Mulch Material </li>
<li>The Benefits of Mulch</li>
</ol><div>Read More at: <a href="https://www.backtothehomestead.com/2017/07/16/mulch-garden-itll-grow/" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #0073aa; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 24px; outline: 0px; transition-duration: 0.05s; transition-property: border, background, color; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;">https://www.backtothehomestead.com/2017/07/16/mulch-garden-itll-grow/</a></div>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-62153552690109188562017-07-11T05:36:00.001-07:002017-07-11T05:36:43.068-07:00Passion or a Prison - Back to the Homestead Update<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xPmUHF7sjfc" width="459"></iframe><br /><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; word-wrap: break-word;">We live in a world that functions by many systems and our homesteads are no different. Watering, feeding, cleaning, pruning, weeding and a whole array of other chores keeps bowed-up busy each day. And with all there is to do we sometimes (more often than I care to admit) neglect family, friends and even personal time. The day-to-day time commitment the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">homestead requires</strong> makes taking a trip <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">away from the homestead</em> only a dream to be wished for.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; word-wrap: break-word;">We are in the dead of summer right now and it’s been hot…and I mean HOT! Our temperatures here in Southwestern Idaho have been 100° for days and will be 100° or more for days to come. Here’s a question: If you were to neglect your daily homestead chores for one day what would happen to your homestead? It’d be okay, right? What if you were to leave for more than a week?</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; word-wrap: break-word;">I have toiled over the idea of creating a self-sufficient homestead for years. What is a self-sufficient homestead? Friend, I have concluded that it does not exist. There is no such thing. Every homestead requires some sort of input. But, isn’t that why we do it? A homestead is not something to create, complete and then wish for the next big thing in life. A homestead is like a never ending piece of pie to be savored season after season. Nonetheless, it requires an input from you and the support of your efforts. Without the sweat from your brow and attention to detail, your homestead would dry up and die. Our goal with “self-sufficiency” in mind is to create a landscape that provides all, most or even much of our basic human needs with as little input from the outside world as possible. This way we can have our pie and eat it too.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; word-wrap: break-word;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xPmUHF7sjfc" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 391.5px; max-width: 100%;" width="100%"></iframe></div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 30px; margin: 27px 0px 17px;">5 Steps to Take to Avoid Becoming a Prisoner on your own Homestead</h3><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 29px; margin: 24px 0px 14px;">1) Automate Ever System Possible</h4><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; word-wrap: break-word;">The sun rises, “moves” across the sky from east to west and sets. This system is automated. That may seem like a no-brainer, but think about it for a moment. What if we had to do something to “light” our plants? Thankfully God has set this automatic system up for us. But unlike sunlight that is a (almost) guarantee, the rest of the homestead’s needs have to be obtained and the systems established by using the resources available to us.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; word-wrap: break-word;">On our homestead, we receive our water from a well and from our water rights (irrigation district). For a while I was moving water hoses all about the homestead and watering the many, many potted perennials waiting for their forever spot on the homestead. We also had plants in their spots and needed a daily drink as they began to settle in. I am ashamed to say, but sometimes I’d be so dog-tired at the end of the day and there’d be a few dry, potted plants that needed a drink. I’d say, “Tomorrow. I’ll get you watered tomorrow.” I’d be too tired and it’d be too late for even one more chore. In contrast, there was this one evening where I set the water on at 6pm and forgot about it. I woke up from the sound of a running well pump at one in the morning. This didn’t happen at first. Watering became an issue after the population of plants exploded. And, we’ll only be getting more (and more and more).</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px; word-wrap: break-word;">Read More at: https://www.backtothehomestead.com/2017/07/11/homestead-passion-prison/</div>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-27959893917098777722017-05-30T20:08:00.001-07:002017-05-30T20:08:47.463-07:00Rocks and the Chicken Coop<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vnLLQye6HNo" width="459"></iframe>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-12080444714857314922017-05-15T05:51:00.001-07:002017-05-15T05:51:24.302-07:00Weekend Update May 14, 2017 - Back to the Homestead<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AlCCLyZoabc" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
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Chicken Coop Build Underway. I am a by no means a carpenter and this is in no way a how to. Let's say that this is an update by a homesteader who wants to offer a bit of motivation. We didn't finish the coop...that'll probably be next week. We'll see.<br /><br />
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Visit us at https://www.backtothehomestead.com<br /><br />
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The plans for this chicken coop are found at: http://myoutdoorplans.com/Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-46421941689786338972017-05-08T04:59:00.001-07:002017-05-08T04:59:36.004-07:00Holes, Rocks, Bonked! - Back to the Homestead Weekend Update May 7, 2017<br /><br />
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We've been busier than a mosquito in a nudist camp. This week we made a <br />
lot of progress on the wood chips. That 65 (give or take) yards is <br />
spread. I had hoped to get some new loads this week but the driveway <br />
needs sealing and those guys are coming by on Tuesday. So, we'll be <br />
planting this week and getting ready for the chicken coop build next <br />
weekend.<br /><br />I bonked my self in the head with a post driver on <br />
Sunday. "Bonked" is what my kids call it at school when they hit their <br />
heads and come see Nurse Kevin. Sure did hurt...still hurts. <br /><br />I made a reference to the calling the dig line and that time where we hit a gas line. Remember? No? Well, here's a link: <a class="yt-uix-servicelink " data-servicelink="CDEQ6TgYACITCNzo_ISf4NMCFVvpfgoddXgLOyj4HQ" data-url="https://youtu.be/SsYRcdCJTq8?t=11m" href="https://youtu.be/SsYRcdCJTq8?t=11m" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/SsYRcdCJTq8?t=11m</a><br /><br />Next week we'll be getting more done. Check us out on https://www.backtothehomestead.com for more information.Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-91450431290819167812017-05-02T02:59:00.001-07:002017-05-02T02:59:41.084-07:00Weekly Update April 30, 2017 - Back to the Homestead<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/252uV-NyUPw" width="480"></iframe>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-28804563919068963792017-04-24T00:41:00.001-07:002017-04-24T00:42:32.643-07:00Weekend Update April 23, 2017 - Back to the Homestead <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "youtube noto" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">We're still on it! It's strange how the set up for a project requires lots of work but not much visible progress. So went our weekend. We worked out booties off, got sunburned and still didn't get the "impressive" finish we were looking for. Nonetheless, we did make progress. Visit us at </span><a class="yt-uix-servicelink " data-servicelink="CDQQ6TgYACITCNDun-LLvNMCFYglfgodB78ItCj4HQ" data-target-new-window="True" data-url="https://www.backtothehomestead.com" href="https://www.backtothehomestead.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #167ac6; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'YouTube Noto', Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.backtothehomestead.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "youtube noto" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;">.</span></div>
Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-39021458701903278002017-04-22T07:23:00.001-07:002017-04-22T07:23:40.555-07:00Easy 4 Step Worm Bin Set Up - Back to the Homestead<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LMSKPPC3kjQ" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Link to the article: https://www.backtothehomestead.com/2017/04/22/easy-step-worm-bin-setup/</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Last week we scored on a big bag of banana peels. The first thing I thought of was, “The worms in our <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">worm bin</strong> would love this.” We are currently responsible for 6 bunnies, 8 chickens, a 9-year-old boy and countless red wigglers…worms…yes worms. Worm Composting is different than regular composting; worm composting is super charged composting.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Here on our homestead, we throw very little away. Sure we recycle and have weekly trash picked up but seldom does our trash can smell. We rarely throw food away. Our motivation is not the small portion of the 165 billion dollars we’d save if the the rest of the world began vermicomposting; our motivation is the volume of nutrient-rich compost we can make and use to grow more food. We use worms to “process” our food waste and the end result is a nice volume of vermicompost…or worm poop for everyone who does not know what vermicompost is.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">If you compost it, they will grow.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">First and foremost: Worms. You’ll need worms and a <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">worm bin</em> to create vermicompost. And not just any old worm will do. You’ll need the good old Eisenia Fetida (also Eisenia Foetida) or better known as the Red Wiggler. There are other names you’ve likely heard of as well such as redworm, brandling worm, panfish worm, trout worm, tiger worm, and the red californian. Red Wigglers (as we’ll refer to this worm as) is an epigeic. The terms epigeal, epigean, epigeic and epigeous are biological terms describing the worm’s main life’s activity to be above the soil surface (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenia_fetida). The red wiggler is a species of worm adapted to consuming decaying organic material (“organic” in terms of being biological in nature rather than the USDA definition). They consume the rotting parts of the food you put in the worm bin and leave a fresh surface that will rot and mold. This new rotten and moldy surface is “cleaned” by the red wiggler and the cycle continues until the food scraps are consumed…first by mold…then by the worm.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Regular earthworms will not do well in your worm bin. Though the Red Wiggler and the Earthworm are both worms, they differ in their scientific classification somewhat (thanks Wiki!). The earthworm is a tunneler. The earthworm works the ground deep and mixes the soil all about like a tiller with much less disruption to the soil’s structure. In contrast, the red wiggler is a surface dweller. I say “surface.” The red wiggler will “work” between the thatch of decaying surface materials and the soil itself. Some will dig a bit down into the soil but for the most part, they dwell at the top. Red Wigglers have thinner skin compared to their earthworm friends. This limits the depth they can tunnel and thereby making them poor soil aerators. But, they are the KING of vermicompoting.. Top-feeders are what you are looking for in your worm bin. With all that being said, if you get an earthworm in your bin…it’s A-OK. Take him out; leave him in. Either way, you’ll be OK.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Here’s how you set up a worm bin tray, bucket, container or any other contraption you are keeping your worms in:</div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 38px; margin: 30px 0px 20px;">Step 1: Bedding.</h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Consider anything that can maintain moisture and will not pack. Dirt / Soil is not a good bedding base for you worm bin. It will dry and pack. Use things like coconut coir or newspaper (not the glossy paper). Cardboard chunks will work too. Keep in mind that paper and cardboard are just materials made from fibers of cellulose pulp derived from wood or grasses. (Moisten the paper until it will not wring out any more water (well…maybe a drip or two)). You want the material to be moist but not soggy. If the worm’s home is too wet they will move out. Some folks use peat moss, aged compost and other organics. I’ve even used aged horse manure and done quite well.</div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 38px; margin: 30px 0px 20px;">Step 2: Grit. Worms have a crop and a gizzard.</h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">The red wiggler’s digestive system has many parts. From the mouth, the food moves to the pharynx, then through the esophagus. The food then enters the crop where it is stored for a bit. The food then moves to the gizzard. The muscular gizzard uses little, tiny stones that the earthworm pulls out of the soil to grind the food completely before it moves into the worm’s intestine. In an artificial environment, like our worm bins, there are no tiny stones. A bit of sand can be added to the bin. However, sand does not have the “aeration” properties that pumice has. We also use finely ground egg shells. Will eggshells change the pH? Maybe a bit but I wouldn’t worry about it. Egg shell take the pH one way and fruit takes the pH the other way. So, we’ll just go with it and not overthink it. The food then moves into the intestines. We all know what happens when it leaves the intestines because that “end result” is what we are looking for. It’s the black gold. The jewel of the rectum. The poop that propagates. Okay…I’ve gotten carried away with it. The flourishing feculence for the fit field. Okay, I’ll stop.</div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 38px; margin: 30px 0px 20px;">Step 3: Mineral / Rock Dust.</h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Like I mentioned, the worm bin is an artificial environment. Whatever you put into your worm bin is what you’ll get out. Paradoxically, what you do not put into the bin will not come out. Unlike the outdoor compost pile, worms can not venture in and out and gather the needed elements that the compost pile may be lacking in. Rock dust (also known as rock powder, rock minerals, rock flour and mineral fines) adds many of the minerals that our worms need to stay healthy. Rock dust also will keep our plants healthy as well. It’s like a two-for-one. The worms use the minerals for a bit. Then they poop them out (or the worm dies and renders the nutrients to the soil) and then the plants take them up. Guess what? We eat the plants. That would make it a three-for-one. Isn’t it awesome how that brown powder is poured on the worm bin surface and we end up eating that very same stuff? The macro-compounds, trace elements and micronutrients enter the worm bin in this rock powder, it is eaten by the worms, travels all the way through the worms and is pooped out. The plant absorbs the minerals and we eat the plant. Mind blowing!!</div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 38px; margin: 30px 0px 20px;">Step 4: Food.</h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">What do we feed the worms? Worms can eat just about whatever we can eat. There’s a caveat to that. Worms cannot eat everything we eat in the form we eat it in. Salts and fluctuations in pH can really challenge a worm habitat. Processed foods are often discouraged as worm food. Have you ever poured salt on a snail? Shame on you if you have. Worms are no different and trying to compost a bag of Fritos ® would definitely “mess things up” for your worm bin. Aside from sodiums, consider the pH of your worm bin. Worms like a nice pH neutral home to live in. Certain foods are more acidic or more alkaline than other foods. Some are way more acidic / alkaline than other foods. Consider an orange and its pH of between 3 and 4. The orange has the ability of lowering the pH of the worm bin significantly. Likewise, too much food on the alkaline side may have a negative effect as well. We had been given a bunch of banana peels for our worm bin. Banana peels have a pH slightly on the lower side. We used some egg shells in our bin to “kinda” off-set that acidity. Things could get real technical in regards to what to feed or what not to feed our worms. I don’t like technical; you don’t like technical. Let’s not get technical. Here’s a general (semi-complete) list of what NOT to feed your worms. For the most part: if it’s natural and has not been processed, it’s okay for the worm bin.</div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 38px; margin: 30px 0px 20px;">Don’t Feed The Worms</h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Meat or dairy products [1]<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Citrus Fruits and avoid Pineapple all together [2]<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Onions and garlic [3]<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Fats or Oils<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Salted or Pickled foods.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />House plants that are Toxic<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Fresh cut grass [4]<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Fresh sawdust [4]</div><h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 27px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 38px; margin: 30px 0px 20px;">Just for kicks, let’s look at just a few goodies the worms CAN eat:</h2><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">Salad Greens and Vegetables (A bit of dressing is OK but not too much).<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Potato and other Peelings.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Fruit except for that mentioned above [5]<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Egg shells [6]<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Moist Paper / Cardboard<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />100% Cotton Material<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Leaves<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Cereals and Grain [7]<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Tea Bags and Coffee grounds<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Bread<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Manure [8]</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">I will be happy to add to both of these lists. If you see something that needs to be added or taken out, feel free to comment below and I will modify the article (and give you credit for the idea).</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">We are usually motivated by anything that gives us pleasure and satisfaction. If the pleasure we gain is higher than the suffering we endure, then we’ll do it. Many are worried about the environment. Other’s could give a rat’s “you-know-what.” Either way, I think we can all come to some sort of motivational reason to begin vermicomposting or composting with worms.</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">About 30% of any given meal by any given will end up in the trash. If you normally “clean your plate,” that’s great. But have you ever thrown out something that spoiled? Thrown away the clippings and skin peelings of fruits and vegetables? Sure you have. On average, the world population throws away ⅓ of the food we grow / buy. That an estimated 1.3 billion tons ends up as waste and that waste has to be stored somewhere. What does that cost? If you look at just the US, we spend a ton of money producing the food and a ton of money…actually…181,880 tons (that’s what $165,000,000.00 would weigh).</div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 26px;">If you want to know more about worm composting, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter. Upcoming articles will contain information about setting up a worm bin from scratch, building a worm bin and how to harvest the vermicompost.</div>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-66580914644521671672017-04-17T18:06:00.001-07:002017-04-17T18:06:23.128-07:00Weekly Update April 16, 2017 - Back to the Homestead<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-m5-AIWXkus" width="459"></iframe>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-63068010403001459022017-04-10T10:56:00.001-07:002017-04-10T10:56:42.649-07:00New Chicks & Homestead Update - Back to the Homestead<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EGu-bweLNrE" width="459"></iframe>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-76643317633569557662017-04-05T14:48:00.001-07:002017-04-05T14:48:43.074-07:00Day 9 of 9 Off - Back to the Homestead<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f4wni_m7_5Q" width="459"></iframe>Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-82380254942467394672017-02-24T16:47:00.001-08:002017-02-24T16:48:33.468-08:00New Secure Web Site<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Back to the Homestead is better than ever with a NEW and SECURE website. If you've found this blog on Blogger.com, you're almost to the right place. Use the link below and see what we've been up to on the homestead:</span><br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.backtothehomestead.com/">https://www.backtothehomestead.com</a></h2>
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"We homestead now not because we have to; we homestead now so we're ready when we need to." - Sulae</div>
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Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-13965102293079028012015-08-22T05:51:00.004-07:002015-08-22T05:51:57.010-07:00Grape Arbor/Supports; Squash Bug Control; Hunting for Huckleberries in the Idaho Back Country <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Setting up a Grape Arbor/Supports; Squash Bug Control; Hunting for Huckleberries in the Idaho Back Country - Update August 15, 2015 - Back to the Homestead</span><br />
<br />This update will focus on:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">1) Setting up a grape support from an old existing fence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">2) Controlling Squash Bugs with a Shop Vac</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">3) The changing soil biology and rapid, late-season growth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">4) An update by a walk about around the Homestead<br />
<br />
Update August 15, 2015</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E6yuyEF0FTI" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Here are some links to items found in the video:<br />
</span><br />
<table border="1" id="table1" style="width: 100%px;">
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<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulart-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00BB0D3IO&asins=B00BB0D3IO&linkId=KI46L5BBOTA5M3ND&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></td>
<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulart-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B001PZ98RU&asins=B001PZ98RU&linkId=4QALXW7XDJYISEON&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe></td>
<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulart-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00KX26N8S&asins=B00KX26N8S&linkId=BQAI5LISOXZBBKM3&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
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Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-63469203624572921162015-06-21T18:16:00.000-07:002017-02-19T19:00:57.374-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: x-large;">Making Worm Compost Tea</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> - Back to the Homestead</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
<br /><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Throw out all your chemical fertilizers and start making your own compost tea.
Not to mention you'll find an avenue to dispose of your food scraps. Think about
it: You've just finished your meal and have scraps left from when you were
cooking your meal, your 8-year-old didn't finish all his and you're left with
the task of either throwing the food in the garbage or composting it. </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">An idea is to feed the scraps to worms! Worms? Why
worms?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
<br />
Making Worm Compost Tea<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zdr2sXq4ass" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />Supplies needed:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">30+ gallon container with a lid</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Two Port Aquarium Air Pump</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Two Aquarium Air stones</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">5 Gallon Paint Strainer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">1 Bottle of Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed 1 Quart (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">or equivalent</span><span style="font-family: "verdana";">)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">1 Bottle of Alaska Fish Fertilizer 5-1-1 Concentrate 1 Quart (or equivalent)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Roughly 30-35oz of unsulphured molasses (the kind you can eat or the horticulture molasses (avoid the feed molasses))</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">2-3 Gallons of Worm Castings (either home-grown or purchased (use compost or garden soil if worm castings are not available))</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">Here are some links to the equipment we used in the video:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span><br />
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<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulaearts04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B000COBUQC&asins=B000COBUQC&linkId=e4cf1779aa3a5f3f4be8d79d2d68c4ad&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></td>
<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulaearts04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B000BX4QGK&asins=B000BX4QGK&linkId=3fecf4e0e2dd58e728849923cd26bc56&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></td>
<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulaearts04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00F0MB40S&asins=B00F0MB40S&linkId=6b1dce6f54219c58baf409dd1b6e5239&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></td>
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<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulaearts04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B000S6LZBO&asins=B000S6LZBO&linkId=76990d512af3187b689d5dbf52c97c67&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></td>
<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulaearts04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B002TCC46U&asins=B002TCC46U&linkId=dfafc6770aad32e18d9833eeebe5c1ff&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></td>
<td><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=sulaearts04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00C2A9L0Q&asins=B00C2A9L0Q&linkId=48f99ea3b3220abef057207bf75f26e1&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></td>
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</tbody></table>
</div>
Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-12999478409966945142014-01-25T17:45:00.001-08:002014-11-25T07:51:18.885-08:00Making Sourdough Bread<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Making Sourdough Bread - Back to the Homestead<br />
<br />
There are three videos that I have attached to this blog post. The first two make up part 1 and part 2 of the long version (about 30 minutes total viewing). The third video is the short version (where I don't blab so much).<br />
<br />
Making Sourdough Part 1 (Long Version)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Mq49d3kCur0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
Making Sourdough Part 2 (Long Version)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hQy5rTREA6c" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div>
Making Sourdough (Short Version)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Iil9vdNSgbw" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
If you've never made sourdough bread before, you may be surprised to know that it is very easy to make. There are just a few ingredients:<br />
<br />
1 1/2 cups of sourdough starter<br />
2 TBL Oil<br />
2 cups of flour<br />
1/2 TSP salt<br />
2 TBL Sugar<br />
<br />
We'll talk about the yeast in a bit.<br />
<br />
What I do is mix up my "dry" ingredients first and then my "wet" ingredients before I mix the two together. Next, I take a firm object (my wooden spoon) and mix the ingredients into a crumbly, messy mess before pouring the contents onto a dry work surface.<br />
<br />
Kneading the dough is a workout. There's no real motion or pattern to follow; it's more-or-less a "feel" for the gluten strains to bind and create an elastic feel. If you dough is too sticky, add some flour. BUT, keep kneading and only add small amounts of flour to allow the dough to absorb the dry flour a little bit at a time to avoid adding too much. Adding liquid to the dough is much more difficult than adding dry flour. It's better to start too sticky than to start too dry.<br />
<br />
You're first loaf will probably be a brick. Yes, you need to expect to fail on your first attempt. Keep on keeping on until you get a nice loaf. You can always add your comments here or on the You Tube video and let me know what troubles you're having. Sooner or later, you'll develop a GREAT loaf.<br />
<br />
Adding yeast?? I like the nature of sourdough. If there was ever a time where ingredients were difficult to locate, I would say that yeast would be the first to become scarce. The more self-sufficient I can be the better. I'd suggest adding yeast to this recipe for two reasons:<br />
<br />
1. You are using a bread machine<br />
2. You are using a sourdough starter that is not active.<br />
<br />
Good luck!</div>
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Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-70820805755757477822013-12-14T19:57:00.001-08:002014-11-25T07:52:08.614-08:00The Bathtub Wormbin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bathtub Worm Bin</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">November 23, 2013</span><br />
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<b><span style="background: white;">We’re getting down to business.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GOVs308ItCs" width="420"></iframe><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">These videos
serve a dual purpose. They serve to both give back and to work as a mutually
beneficial learning tool. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Giving Back</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">There are
three ethics in permaculture:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Care for the
earth</u>: Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply. This is the
first principle, because without a healthy earth, humans cannot flourish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Care for the
people</u>: Provision for people to access those resources necessary for their existence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>Return of
surplus</u>: Reinvesting surpluses back into the system to provide for the first
two ethics. This includes returning waste back into the system to recycle into
usefulness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">The “Return of
Surplus” ethic is not all about giving your homegrown goodies away. It’s about
taking what you have gained from your efforts and putting the surplus back
(“back” is where you feel it should be) to promote a sustainable system. It
does not only deal with the “extra” tomatoes that you give all your neighbors.
Giving back from your sustainability can come from your gardening efforts, your
home efforts, your hobby efforts, your energy efforts and even your learning
efforts. I have learned so much from others (You Tube videos, Blogs, Web Sites,
Magazines, Books, Podcasts); it only makes “permaculture sense” to take what I
have learned and give that back. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>The Mutually
Beneficial Learning Tool</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Am I a
professional permaculture designer? No! Not even close. I am just getting
started on my permaculture adventure. However, I feel that if I learn something
from someone and then teach it to another, I have solidified that information
in my mind. Making these videos helps me organize the lessons I have learned,
repeat the information while practicing the fundamentals of the lessons learned
and to offer an avenue of motivation and criticism (I need all I can get of
both) from you the viewer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">By nature, we
humans want to share what we know. How many times have you been in a
conversation and all the while the other is speaking you’re thinking about what
you want to say? You Tube is a great avenue for others to tell the world what
they know. But also for the “others” to comment back and say, “Dude! That’s not
right at all.” OR “Have you considered ‘this’ or ‘that’?” The comments I
receive from you, the viewer, help me learn more and more about the information
I present.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;">This week we
are making a worm bin out of a bathtub. I filmed this video concurrently with
the last video I made but have been holding onto it for the past month. There
will be a follow-up video very soon showing the progress of the worm bin and
how it’s holding up.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</div>
Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-138738778032422982013-11-24T16:54:00.000-08:002014-11-25T07:52:35.753-08:00The New Homeatead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
We Found a New Homestead</h2>
<br />
November 23, 2013<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The New Homestead – An Introduction</h3>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Rg8WvwA7mQo" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
We found a new homestead and are pleased to be showing it off.<br />
We searched high and low for a new homestead and settled on a nice home sitting on about 5 ½ acres. They are long acres which actually make the property “feel” like it’s sitting on much more.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
It’s a semi-fixer-upper</h3>
We wanted a turn-key home in order to focus on the property itself instead of trying to fix up the home and work on the property as time allows. It’s amazing how little time a working couple has left when trying to balance work, a child, a mother-in-law (yes, you heard that right) and daily chores. What time we have left we spend working on the home and the property.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
The Mother-in-Law</h3>
When we were in Idaho, our mother-in-law lived in her own, small, independent-living apartment. When we arrived here in an area with 6x the volume of people, there were NO apartments similar to what she had been living in. We looked for “regular” apartments and were turned off by all the “interesting” neighbors (a teenage boy sitting on a child’s swing with head phones bigger than his too-small head who actually took time to stand and pull his pants DOWN lower than they already were to expose more of his tighty-white-ies may not be the best neighbor-type for a 60-something single lady). Needless to say, she ended up with us “until we find her a place to live.” When you add that all up, it equals – FOREVER. It’s not that we don’t like her, we just…well…you know. Let’s move on.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Where to Start?</h3>
Where do we start? This property is a blank slate. There is nothing that even resembles “permaculture” on the 5 ½ acres. Every system has a need for laborious and outside intervention in order to maintain the system. Sure, there are trees that are more-or-less a wind-up-and-go system yet there are roots exposed to the top of the ground. We have to start somewhere and the two places (yes, I said two starting places) will be the main garden and the kitchen garden. We also need to map out the property better and prepare for each system, the zones (more on that later) and plan for the planting date in the spring.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
What’s Next for Back to the Homestead?</h3>
The gardens! Yes, we have to get started on the gardens. However, we have to start setting up systems for the day-to-day. I’d have to say that we need to set up a way to manage the kitchen scraps that we four (myself, my wife, my son and my mother-in-law) produce on a week-to-week basis. The solution: A worm bin! Next time on Back to the Homestead we’ll talk about making a BATHTUB WORM BIN!<br />
<br />
See you soon.</div>
Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-63608639100666701072012-11-22T15:12:00.001-08:002014-11-25T07:53:07.050-08:00Chicken Mulch and Beets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Chicken Mulch and Beets</span><br />
<br />
November 21, 2012<br />
<br />
<b>Making Chicken Mulch and Harvesting Beets; Garden Update - Part 1:2</b><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9P4WQueHPCc" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>Making Beet Kvass and Chocolate Beet Cake - Part 2:2</b><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OOqFRvC2XYc" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
This week we'll spend some time talking about the benefits of chickens. Yes, chickens can provide eggs and meat but what about mulch, fertilizer and even companionship? Chickens are an awesome animal. Simply by "doing their thing," they till the soil and rid it of many of the pests including insects and weeds. While they "cleanse" the land, they drop small white-coated "packages" indiscriminately along the way (poop) that increases the fertility of the land.<br />
<br />
Mulch is a great way to conserve the moisture in the soil as well as promote animal and microbial activity at and beneath the soil's surface. Straw is a great mulch. However, here in Idaho (and likely where you live too), the spring winds blow the dry, freshly applied straw mulch all about the garden. The solution that I have found is to take 3-4 (or more) hay/straw bales and break them up in the fall for the chickens to root and scratch around in. They poop as they scratch and eat nearly ever little seed and grain kernel they find. The fall and winter rains and snow saturate the straw and increase its weight thereby making it more difficult to blow about when the rains and wind come in March and April.<br />
<br />
Beets are a great food. Beets contain sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorous as well as vitamins A and C and niacin. Studies have shown that beets guard against cancer, especially colon cancer.<br />
<br />
There are many, many recipes that beets work well in. The two recipes that I will introduce this week are:<br />
<br />
1. Beet Kvass - Lactic acid fermented drink<br />
2. Chocolate Beet Cake<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Beet Kvass Recipe</span><br />
<br />
2 Large Beets<br />
½ Gallon of Water<br />
2 Tsp Salt<br />
<br />
Peel the beets and cube in 1-2" cubes. Fill a half gallon jar about 1/2 full of water. Mix in the salt. Drop in the beet chunks until the jar is about 1/3 full of beets. Fill the rest of the jar up with water. Let ferment for 2-3 days and then refrigerate. Drink ½ to 1 cup a day. Cycle can be repeated once with the same beets.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Chocolate Beet Cake</span><br />
<br />
<br />
1 cup all-purpose flour<br />
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
¼ teaspoon baking soda<br />
½ teaspoon sea salt<br />
½ cup butter, melted (vegetable oil works too, but the flavor is not as good)<br />
½ cup sugar<br />
½ cup packed brown sugar<br />
2 large eggs<br />
2 teaspoons vanilla<br />
1½ loosely packed cups very finely grated raw, peeled red beet<br />
<br />
1. Set an oven rack in the middle of the oven with plenty of room above it and preheat the oven to 350°.<br />
<br />
2. Coat an 8½- by 4½-inch loaf pan with butter, and then a light layer of sugar.<br />
<br />
3. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.<br />
<br />
4. In another large mixing bowl, using a large whisk, whisk together the butter or oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until creamy and smooth.<br />
<br />
5. Stir the grated beet into the butter mixture. <br />
<br />
6. Add the flour mixture to the butter-beet mixture and with a large spatula, combine gently but well. No flour should remain visible in the batter.<br />
<br />
ENJOY!!<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B006QAZQ66" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=160358370X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0000BYE26" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-43006020671492209252012-09-22T15:44:00.001-07:002014-11-25T07:53:46.839-08:00Saving Tomato Seeds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Saving Tomato Seeds</span><br />
and<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Zucchini and the .357 Target Practice</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D7a96aec2vc" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
What happens to a zucchini when shot with a .357? In this video, we discuss all kinds of things from saving tomato seeds to planting a whole tomato right in the ground. Yes, we planted a whole, vine-ripened tomato right in the ground and covered it with grass clippings. Crazy? Maybe...unless it works...then everyone will start doing it. Oh yea. Don't forget...we answer the question: What happens to a zucchini when shot with a .357 hand gun?<br />
<br />
Saving seeds use to be a mystery to me. However, in recent years I have come to realize that if someone else can do it, so can I. Sure, there are a few limitations; as a 42-year-old over-weight nurse, my chances for piloting the space shuttle are slim to none. Saving seeds will be a mission here on earth that I will be successful with.<br />
<br />
Have you ever heard of The Self Sufficient Homestead? The couple who produce their podcast also has a seed trading site that is FREE to use. Here is the link to the seed site: <a href="http://www.heirloomseedswap.com/">http://www.heirloomseedswap.com/</a><br />
<br />
The link to the Self Sufficient Homestead is: <a href="http://www.sshomestead.com/">http://www.sshomestead.com/</a><br />
<br />
Here are a few links:<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1615641378" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1603425748" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1882424581" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
</div>
Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-7436378616327486592012-08-22T20:19:00.000-07:002014-11-25T07:54:29.612-08:00Harvesting Potatoes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Harvesting Potatoes</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">and cooking potatoes too.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0nj0tb8O8D8" width="420"></iframe></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">This week's video reflects back to the day we planted the potatoes (notice my son is planting them), we show the harvesting of the potatoes, demonstrate a recipe using our potatoes and enter some potatoes at the fair. See how things turned out. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Recipe:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Roasted Rosemary Potatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">5 pounds potatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">1/4 cup olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">5-6 springs rosemary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">garlic powder or granulated garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Kosher salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 425º.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Pour oil into a 10"x 13" pan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Wash potatoes and slice them into bite-sized pieces. Add them to the pan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Pull the leaves off the rosemary stems and sprinkle them over the potatoes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Sprinkle potatoes with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Stir potatoes, making sure to coat all of them with oil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Put the pan in the hot oven and cook for about 1 hour, or until potatoes are soft. Stir potatoes again before serving.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Potatoes are a high starch, cheap food. But, as far as I am concerned, they are essential on the homestead. A five pound bag of potatoes could cost as little as $1.69 (August 8-15, 2012; Albertson's Flyer; Price with Preferred Savings Card). The question is: Why would anyone in their right mind grow their own potatoes if you can buy 5 pounds for a buck-seventy? Heck, I may have only gotten 100-150 pounds of potatoes and will likely only eat 50 pounds during the season and from what I can preserve (some will suffer spoilage and some will be given away). That works out to about $85.00 for all that hard work in preparing the soil, planting, watering, weeding, harvesting and storage.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Rumors have it that potato farmers will not even eat their own potatoes (rumors; not validated (http://veggierevolution.blogspot.com/2010/10/experts-avoid-nonorganic-potatoes.html)). I wondered why. Here's a web site that may demonstrate some of the farming practices in growing and harvesting potatoes:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://oregonstate.edu/potatoes/vine.htm" target="_blank">http://oregonstate.edu/potatoes/vine.htm </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">I am not being critical only to the farmer; consumer responsibility comes into play here as well. Think about it: 5 pounds of potatoes for a dollar and sixty-nine cents. In the same ad where I discovered this deal on potatoes, Albertson's was offering 3-two liter bottles of soda for 4 bucks. Consumers are not willing to pay for good food. We want food that looks good and "seems" good and is CHEAP. After all, Endothall is an organic solid of white odorless crystals. If we don't know it's in there, then it can't hurt us, right? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/endothall.cfm">http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/endothall.cfm</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.lclabs.com/MSDS/E-4505MSDS.php4">http://www.lclabs.com/MSDS/E-4505MSDS.php4</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The problem for me is: In order to create a potato that is marketable to the general consumer, it must look a certain way, it must be a certain size, it can't have blemishes, it can't have protrusions and be grown together with other potatoes and the like. Farmers want to harvest potatoes on their schedule and beat the fall moisture that will cause all kinds of problems. So, they soak the potatoes in herbicides to kill off that which is above the ground. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">According to Dr. Holly Menninger, NY Invasive Species Research Institute (<a href="http://ccetompkins.org/environment/invasive-species/hydrilla-endothal-treatment-faq">http://ccetompkins.org/environment/invasive-species/hydrilla-endothal-treatment-faq</a>), "The use of any aquatic herbicide poses risks to non-target plants and aquatic organisms." She does throw a "but" in there, but (there's mine), that just does not sit well with me. I chose to grow my own. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Links:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0881929999" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
</span></span><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1604691026" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=1844768309" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=sulart-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0531187888" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Hope you enjoyed the video.</span></span><br />
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</div>
Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-28163836249958035592012-08-12T16:11:00.003-07:002017-04-24T00:58:20.384-07:00Fermenting Pickles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Fermenting Pickles</span></h2>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How to Ferment Cucumbers</span></h3>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SRAkVuSwnd4" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
If you like dill pickles, you love this recipe. This episode of Back to the Homestead starts out with a short demo of what wild fires in Southwestern Idaho can look like...a small one...but nonetheless a wild fire (as seen from the homestead).<br />
<br />
Then we discuss how to ferment cucumbers by using lacto fermentation. We'll take the fermentation process from harvesting from the garden to the week after the process has started and the taste test.<br />
<br />
Recipe:<br />
<br />
Small and medium cucumbers with no blemishes<br />
Peppers (Mild, Medium or Hot)<br />
Garlic<br />
Dill (or Dill Seed)<br />
Brine<br />
<br />
Brine: 1 gallon of water to 12 tablespoons (not teaspoons) of sea salt (or kosher salt).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8074039684485601666.post-4325970730072335942012-07-23T07:52:00.000-07:002014-11-25T07:57:54.729-08:00Processing and Cooking Beet Greens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Processing and Cooking Beet Greens</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>as well as battling squash bugs and a short garden update.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
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After the dust storm, we got busy catching and squishing squash bugs as well as harvesting from the garden. This week, we'll show you all how to process and cook beet greens.<br />
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Beet Greens are very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol (we make up for that in the bacon we add). It is also a good source of Protein, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A (220% in only one cup of beet greens), Vitamin C (eat two cups and you'll get 120% of your daily minimum), Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.<br />
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There's only about 40 calories in a cup of greens. If we throw in one ounce of bacon, we only add about 130 calories and a TON of flavor. If you add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, you'll add 120 calories. You'll save in saturated fat if you go the olive oil route.<br />
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There is no specific recipe:<br />
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Hand full of Chopped Beet Greens<br />
Chopped Onions<br />
Chopped Bell Peppers<br />
Bacon (for the fat) Could use Olive Oil<br />
Salt and Pepper to taste<br />
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ENJOY!<br />
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Links:<br />
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Sulaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06572912075596059742noreply@blogger.com1