Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition [Survival Today

http://www.possumcreekherbfarm.blogspot.com/

A Fairy Garden

Whether large or small, creating a fairy garden is the perfect activity for the creative gardener. We chose to make a small one that a child would enjoy playing with and rearranging. We took a large but shallow terra-cotta container with a drainage hole in the bottom. If your pot doesn’t have a drainage hole, drill a few smaller holes with a masonry bit attached to a drill. Fill the container with a good light-weight soil mixture. We create our own blend here at the farm which is a mixture of a light soil less blend, a few handfuls each of vermiculite and perlite, and a handful of sterile sand and composted worm manure. Make sure it is moist before you begin planting. The soil should come to just below the top of the container.

Now for the fun part. Herbs incorporate themselves well into a fairy garden. They do not grow too quickly and if they get straggly, a little trim is all that is needed to keep things neat. Fairies require places to hide so incorporate some taller bushy herbs and plant them at the back of the container. We chose Rosemary ‘Arp’ and Rosemary ‘Cascade’ as the “forest”. They also enjoy soft places to rest upon after play. We chose ‘Magic Carpet’ Thyme and ‘Elfin’ Thyme for the carpet and planted it near the shade of the Rosemary. Johnny Jump Ups and Pansies added color and gives the fairies material for their skirts and caps. We added a few garden tools, a bench and tiny pots so the fairies could complete their gardening chores. A pebble pathway leading to a little clump of lavender completes the miniature garden. Gentle watering of the container is needed daily. Container should be kept in partial shade to be enjoyed by the wee folk and the larger folk.
Posted by Herbfarmer

http://www.possumcreekherbfarm.blogspot.com/

Start Herbs from Seed

There are a great many reasons for starting your own herb plants from seed. Most gardeners are first prompted to venture down this road by this motivator: necessity. How many of you have wished for the perfect herb to fill in that one last spot in the garden or the perfect shade of pink in your flower border and then have gone to your local garden center only to find out that it is not available locally? Economics is another motivator for starting your own seed. Plants, especially exotic, can be expensive even to buy just one and often one is not enough. Starting plants from seed often gives us more plants than we need. Quality is another motivator for seed starting. Often the plants found at the local big box stores have been sitting around at the mercy of whoever remembers to water it. Starting plants from seed at home insures that plant health is controlled which gives the plant a good start for a long life.

Finding the space to start your seeds could pose some logistic problems, so before you actually begin, decide where you plan to keep the trays. Seeds need warmth and moisture to germinate and once germinated they will need light. My suggestion is that if you don’t have plant lights or fluorescent lights use what you have in the house. Seed germinates between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The top of the refrigerator or the top of the TV. or a warm windowsill are all good places to start the germination process. Before you begin your seed starting adventure gather a few key items. Containers can be of various shapes and sizes. From propagation trays with domes to clean egg cartons, these will work as long as they can hold a little seed starting mix and can handle a little moisture. They must be clean and free of contaminates. Wash the trays with one part Clorox to 9 parts water and rinse well. As with anything else in life the preparation of growing medium for seeds can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. We chose to be as simple as possible with our growing mix opting to pick up several bags of the Jiffy like mix at our local home improvement stores. Pre-moisten your growing mix before using will kept the dust down and make sowing those tiny, tiny seeds a whole lot easier.

Most seeds can be sown straight from the packet, but on occasion seed jackets are too tough and germination is virtually impossible. By chipping, nicking or soaking the seeds for a period of time in warm water, the jackets will more likely open up and receive the moisture needed to germinate. Most seed companies give you some information about the best method of preparation so read the back of the package carefully.

Eliminate confusion at sprouting time by marking your trays with its contents. Little white tags with name of seed, when sown and any other pertinent information can be written down. Tamp down the medium and level off in the container. Make indentations or rows for the seed keeping the depth according to package instructions or your own experience. Either with a pinch of two fingers or a gentle shake of the package those tiny seeds will be on the growing medium. Tamp down the seed to make contact with the medium. Cover your seed trays with plastic wrap or plastic domes to retain moisture. Place under growing lights or on top of refrigerator. Most seeds will germinate in 7-10 days with some exceptions. There are some herb seed that requires refrigeration before sowing. Again, experience and a little research will give you the information needed to reach a high rate of germination.

Once germination has occurred take the domes and plastic wrap off the seedlings. Place seed trays under grow lights or near a sunny window. Turn the trays often to insure that the seedlings are receiving enough light and watch for drying out which occurs quickly. Damping off occurs when the stems of the seedlings rot at the soil surface. The seedling falls over and dies. Water the seedlings by sitting the tray in a pan of water or the sink and let the moisture absorb from the bottom. Once the herb seedlings have a true set or their second set of leaves it is time to transplant to their new homes. Pot up the new herb babies in clean and sterile pots. Use a potting mix that is friable and light. Poke a small hole in the potting mix. Gently pry your seedling out with a popsicle stick under the roots and gently place into hole in potting mix. Lightly tamp soil down and gently mist. Water until well established.

Some of our favorite seed companies are Seed Savers Exchange, http://www.seedsavers.org/ and Horizon Herbs, http://www.horizonherbs.com/.

Excerpt from “Starting Herbs from Seeds” by Michele Brown, 2002.
Posted by Herbfarmer at Sunday, April 05, 2009

http://www.possumcreekherbfarm.blogspot.com/

Herb of the Year, Bay Laurel

Herb of the Year 2009….Bay
(excerpt article from The Essential Herbal)

Laurus nobilis means renowned and suggests greatness. Ever seen a fully grown Bay tree before? Sixty feet is not uncommon in Mediterranean regions where it grows in the wild. What are we talking about? Why the Herb of the Year for 2009, of course. Bay.

Back in the early 1990’s the International Herb Association created a program where an herb was designated to be studied during that particular year. An herb must fit a certain criteria in order to make such a prestigious list. Criteria must be met in the culinary and medicinal usage of the herb. Ornamental, cosmetic and crafting usage must also fit the criteria as well.

According to lore, Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, pined after the nymph Daphne. Daphne wanted nothing to do with Apollo so her father changed her into a bay tree whereby Apollo declared the tree eternally sacred. The tree became a symbol of glory, great achievement and honor. Men and women throughout Greece and Rome wore bay woven into wreaths on their heads as a symbol of great achievement. The bay tree was revered so highly as a symbol of greatness that it was considered an evil omen if the tree ever died.

In more modern times, bay has been used medicinally to relieve flatulence and has the ability to soothe the stomach. Testing is ongoing to see if the oil from Bay helps alleviate the symptoms of rheumatism. Bay is also known for its astringent qualities. Studies of the essential oil of Bay have shown fungicidal properties. In the kitchen Bay has been found in every soup, stew and meat roasting recipe since early times. While Bay is not truly edible due to its very sharply shaped leaf, a fresh leaf added to a culinary dish (then fished out before serving) adds a delicious flavor. Dried Bay leaves are found in every grocery store on every corner. Read on and see how easy it is to grow your own. You will never buy one of those dusty spice bottles ever again.

Growing Bay is not hard if you have a warm place to let it grow in the winter. Bay is a fairly tender perennial in most regions of the United States with California and southern Florida being the exception. Bay can be grown outside in a very large pot or even in the ground but must be kept warm if temps drop lower than 40 degrees F. Leaves will be burned from frost which harms the entire plant. Bay grows very slowly often taking many years to get to its height. Our Bay is over ten years old and is not much over three feet tall. Taken outside in late spring, it spends the entire summer in its honorable position in the gardens or on the deck. Then as the days grow shorter we find a warm sunny spot for it in the greenhouse. Bay does not require heavy watering and can go many days without a drink. A slight wilt to the leaves indicates it is time to water. Full sun with a little afternoon shade ensures a happy plant. Lots of air circulation is helpful too. Bay can suffer from scale and mildew if it is too wet. Washing the branches and stems with a diluted solution of rubbing alcohol will stop scale in its tracks.

We recommend buying a small Bay plant from a reputable nursery for an easy start to many years of growing. Starting Bay from seed is frustrating to say the least. Seed is very expensive and very slow to germinate if it germinates at all. It can take anywhere from four to ten weeks before any signs of germination appear. Cuttings taken from the fresh new growth, in the fall of the year, may yield a small crop of Bay seedlings. But often it takes years before the plant is of a hardy size. Cuttings can take upwards of ten months or more before roots appear.

Crafting with herbs can be a great way to spend an enjoyable and fragrant afternoon. Bay, while not as fragrant as lavender or rosemary, lends itself well to wreath making. Branches can be twined together to form a simple Bay wreath that can be dressed up with dried chili pepper bunches, rosemary sprigs or even cloves of Garlic. As long as it is not hanging in the sun, a Bay wreath will last many, many years.

We think Bay is a very good choice for Herb of the Year.
Written by Michele Brown for The Essential Herbal magazine

Crockpot Mexicali Rice
Posted by: “MomsRecipes”

Crockpot Mexicali Rice

15 1/4 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 cups brown rice
3 1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup thawed frozen orange juice concentrate
6 T. fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
1 1/2 T. ground cumin
1 T. chili powder
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp salt

In a crockpot, mix the corn, black beans, green chilies, onion,
bell pepper, rice, boiling water, orange juice concentrate,
1/4 cup of the lime juice, the cumin, and the chili powder.

Cover and cook on the low heat setting 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
Stir in the remaining 2 T. lime juice, the cilantro, and
salt. Mix well. Serve hot.

________________________________________________________________________
2. Crockpot Spinach Soufflé
Posted by: “MomsRecipes”

Crockpot Spinach Soufflé

2 pounds frozen spinach - thawed and drained
1/4 cup grated onion
1 (8-oz) package softened light cream cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 beaten eggs
1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper
1 dash nutmeg

Mix thawed and drained spinach together with onion. Beat remaining
ingredients together to blend and then stir in spinach mixture.

Spoon mixture into a lightly buttered 3-1/2 quart slow cooker and cook on
High for 2-3 hours.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
4a. Re: How about pepper steak recipe for the crockpot

-— In crockpot-recipes@yahoogroups.com, “laura343”
>
> Here are several I found. Hope one of them works for you. Laura
>
> Pepper Steak In A Crock Pot
>
> 6 to 8 pepper steaks
> 1 lg can mushroom soup
> 1 tbsp. Gravy Master
> 1 lg onion, sliced in rings
> 1 bell pepper, cut in strips
> 1 c fresh or canned mushrooms
> 1 c flour
> 4 beef bouillon cubes
> black pepper
> 4 tbsp cooking oil
>
> Roll pepper steaks in flour and pepper. Fry in cooking oil over
> medium heat until lightly browned. Place in crockpot, pour soup
> over meat. Add the Gravy Master and bouillon cubes. Arrange
> vegetables on top. Sprinkle with more pepper, cook on low for 6 to
> 8 hours or until meat is tender.
>
>
> Sunday Dinner Pepper Steak In A Crock Pot
>
> 2 lb round steak, cut in strips
> 1/2 c flour
> 1 lg. onion, quartered
> 1 or 2 green peppers, cut in strips
> 2 or 3 carrots, sliced
> 1 can tomatoes
> 1 can mushrooms
> salt, pepper and garlic powder
> 2 tbsp. soy sauce
>
> In a bowl, mix round steak, flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
> Place meat and all remaining ingredients in crock pot on low setting
> 8-10 hours. Serve over rice.
>
>
> PEPPER STEAK - CROCKPOT STYLE
>
> 1 1/2 to 2 lbs round steak
> 1/3 c flour
> 1 tsp salt
> 1 tsp pepper
> 1 lg onion, diced
> 2 green peppers, diced
> 14 oz can stewed tomatoes
> 4 oz can mushrooms, drained
> 3 tbsp soy sauce
> 14 oz can green beans, French style, drained
> 3 oz Dom liquer (optional)
>
> Cut steak into 1/2 x 4 inch strips. Coat with flour, salt and
> pepper. Place in bottom of crockpot, sprinkle with remaining flour.
> Add all remaining ingredients in any sequence. Do not stir. Cover
> and cook on low, approximately 8 hours. Stir after just 2 hours.
> (High, cook four hours in place of 8 hours). Serve over rice.
>
>
> Chinese Pepper Steak
>
> 1 1/2 pounds round steak
> 2 tablespoons oil
> 1 garlic clove, minced
> 1/2 teaspoon salt
> 1/4 teaspoon pepper
> 1/4 cup soy sauce
> 1 teaspoon sugar
> 1 cup bean sprouts
> 1 cup diced tomatoes
> 2 green peppers, cut in strips
> 1 tablespoon cornstarch
> 2 tablespoons cold water
> 4 green onions, sliced
>
> Slice steak into narrow strips. brown in oil. Place in crock pot
> with garlic, salt, pepper, soy sauce, and sugar in a slow cooking
> pot. Cook on low 6 to 8 hours. Turn to high, add bean sprouts,
> tomatoes and green peppers. Dissolve cornstarch in water. Stir
> into pot. Cover and cook on high 15 to 20 minutes or until thickened.
> Sprinkle with onions. Makes 4 to 5 servings.
>
>
> Chinese Pepper Steak
>
> 1 1/2 pounds boneless beef round steak
> 1 clove garlic, minced
> 1/2 teaspoon salt
> 1/4 teaspoon pepper
> 1/4 cup sauce
> 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
> 1 teaspoon sugar
> 1 tomato, chopped
> 2 red or green bell peppers, cut into strips
> 3 tablespoons cornstarch
> 3 tablespoons water
> 1 cup fresh bean sprouts
> 4 green onions, finely chopped
>
> Trim fat from steak; slice into thin strips. Combine steak, garlic,
> salt, pepper, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sugar in a slow cooker.
> Cover and cook on Low about 4 hours. Turn control to High. Add
> tomato and bell peppers. Dissolve cornstarch in water in small
> bowl; stir into steak mixture. Cover and cook on High 15 to 20
> minutes or until thickened. Stir in bean sprouts. Sprinkle with
> onions. Serve with rice.
>
>
> Peppers and Steak
> Yield: 6 servings
>
> 2 lb lean round steak
> 2 green peppers, chopped
> 2 tb minced dried onion
> 1 c beef boullion
> 1/4 c soy sauce
> 1/2 ts ground ginger
> 1/2 ts garlic powder
>
> Cut steak into serving size portions. Place half the steak in
> Crockpot. Arrange green peppers on steak. Place remaining steak
> on top. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over meat. Cover and
> cook on Low setting for 8 to 10 hours, or high for 4 to 5 hours.
>
>
> Three-Pepper Steak
>
> 1 1/4 pounds beef flank steak
> 1 yellow bell pepper
> 1 green bell pepper
> 1/4 teaspoon salt
> 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
> 3 green onions, chopped
> 2 tablespoons soy sauce
> 2 tomatoes, chopped
>
> Trim all visible fat from steak. Place steak in a slow cooker.
> Remove stems and seeds from yellow and green bell peppers; cut into
> strips. Arrange bell peppers on steak. Sprinkle with salt. Top with
> red pepper flakes, green onions, soy sauce, and tomatoes. Cover
> and cook on LOW 6 or 7 hours or until steak is tender.
>
>
> Pepper Steak
>
> 2 pounds beef round steak, 1/2 inch thick
> 1/4 cup flour
> 1/2 teaspoon salt
> 1/8 teaspoon pepper
> 1 medium onion, chopped
> 1 clove garlic, minced
> 2 large green or red bell peppers, cut into 1/2” strips
>
> 16 oz can whole tomatoes
> 1 tablespoon beef flavor baste
>
> 1 tablespoon soy sauce
> 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
>
> Cut steak into strips. Combine 1/4 cup flour, and salt and pepper;
> toss with steak strips to coat thoroughly. Add to Crock-Pot with
> onion, garlic, and half of pepper strips; stir. Combine tomatoes
> with beef base, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
>
> Pour into Crock-Pot, moistening meat well. Cover and cook on Low
> setting for 8 to 10 hours.
>
> One hour before serving, turn to High setting and stir in remaining
> green pepper strips. If thickened gravy is desired, make a smooth
> paste of 3 tablespoons flour and 3 tablespoons water; stir into
> Crock-Pot. Cover and cook until thickened. Serve gravy with Pepper
> Steak over rice.

PLEASE NOTE: If you see a recipe on this site that you would like to share
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1. Ventus Bicycle Aerobars Recalled by 3T Cycling Srl Due to Fall Hazard
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Weekly Harvest Newsletter

Sustainable Agriculture News Briefs - March 24, 2010

Weekly sustainable agriculture news and resources gleaned from the Internet by NCAT staff for the ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web site. The Weekly Harvest Newsletter is also available online (http://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/archives.html#wh).

Share The Harvest: Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who might be interested in the latest sustainable agriculture news, funding opportunities, and events.

News & Resources
* Pollinator Toolkit Available for Organic Farmers
* New Website Links Midwest Farmers with Land
* Partnership to Study Climate Impacts on Ecosystems
* Report Shows Increase in Food System Energy Use
* Organic Initiative Sign-up Extended in Some States
* Video Highlights Study of Perennial Plant Water Use

Funding Opportunities
* Florida Organic Cost Share
* Wisconsin Producers First Grant
* Alabama Environmental Education Grant

Coming Events
* Grazing Workshop
* Alcorn State University Small Farmers Conference
* Ag Entrepreneurship Workshop

News & Resources

Pollinator Toolkit Available for Organic Farmers
http://www.xerces.org/organic-farms/
Organic farming offers many benefits to pollinators but some common organic-approved pesticides and practices can be potentially just as harmful to bees and other pollinators as conventional farming systems. The Xerces Society has developed Organic Farming for Bees (http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/organic-farming-for-bees-xerces-society.pdf) (PDF/3.6M), a tool kit for organic growers that includes guidance on how to minimize disturbance to pollinators from farm activities, and on how to provide nest sites and foraging patches. In particular, two fact sheets provide information on toxicity to native pollinators for all major organic-approved insecticides and about pollinator-friendly organic farming practices.

New Website Links Midwest Farmers with Land
http://www.midwestfarmconnection.org/about-us/index.aspx
The Land Connection has launched a new website, http://www.midwestfarmconnection.org. The purpose of this website is to connect retiring farmers in the midwest with young or aspiring farmers who are looking for land to farm using sustainable techniques.
Related ATTRA Publication: Finding Land to Farm
http://attra.org/attra-pub/PDF/finding.pdf

Partnership to Study Climate Impacts on Ecosystems
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.re
trievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/1/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7
_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2010/03/0141.xml&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATE
ST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NE
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) created a joint research program to study climate effects on ecosystems. The program designates nearly $50 million to develop climate system models that provide insights on climate variability and impacts on ecosystems. The program seeks proposals that couple climate models at different spatial and temporal scales to erosion, geomorphic change, land use, water management and food production.

Report Shows Increase in Food System Energy Use
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err94/
Energy is used throughout the U.S. food supply chain, from the manufacture and application of agricultural inputs, such as fertilizers and irrigation, through crop and livestock production, processing, and packaging; distribution services, such as shipping and cold storage; the running of refrigeration, preparation, and disposal equipment in food retailing and foodservice establishments; and in home kitchens. A new USDA-ERS analysis using the two most recent U.S. benchmark input-output accounts and a national energy data system shows that in the United States, use of energy along the food chain for food purchases by or for U.S. households increased between 1997 and 2002 at more than six times the rate of increase in total domestic energy use.

Organic Initiative Sign-up Extended in Some States
http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/organic-initiative-sign-up-extended-in-certain-states/?utm_source=roundup&utm_medium=email
The cut-off date for the 2010 Organic Initiative sign-up was last Friday, March 12, in most states. At least eight states, however, have extended the 2010 sign-up period. The Organic Initiative is administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and provides funds to organic and transitioning farmers to implement conservation practices consistent with National Organic Program practice standards.
Related ATTRA Publication: Accessing the EQIP Organic Initiative
http://attra.ncat.org/eqip/

Video Highlights Study of Perennial Plant Water Use
http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2010/031810_plants.html
Researchers at Iowa State University are looking at how perennials (plants that continue growing from year-to-year from the same roots) might be used within annual corn and soybean cropping systems to cope with weather extremes such as more frequent droughts or flooding. The team hopes that their findings will show how to manage the variations in seasonal water use by different plants as well as document how diversified systems can lead to long-term improvements in water and soil quality. The project is supported by the Ecology Initiative of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture through a long-term investment begun in 2007.

More Breaking News (http://attra.ncat.org/news/)

Funding Opportunities

Florida Organic Cost Share
http://foginfo.org/certcostshare.php
Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) is accepting applications from certified organic growers and handlers located in Florida for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of certification costs, or a maximum of $750. Reimbursement for certification costs paid between Oct. 1, 2009, and Sept. 29, 2010 will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.
Proposals are due October 15, 2010.

Wisconsin Producers First Grant
http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/mktg/business/marketing/val-add/directmktg/blbw.jsp
The Wisconsin Producers First Grant Program supports small-midsized farms who need technical assistance. Successful applicants will identify a need for technical assistance and receive up to $3000 to hire a consultant to meet that need. Examples of technical assistance include but are not limited to: business planning, accounting and financial organization, packaging and label development, whole farm planning, food safety, grant writing assistance, market development, and cooperative development.
Proposals are due April 19, 2010.

Alabama Environmental Education Grant
http://www.legacyenved.org/fund/fund_competitive.htm
Alabama Legacy provides environmental education grants annually through the Competitive Grants Program. Funds for this program are allocated specifically to help create environmentally responsible citizens through education. Any Alabama organization planning a community based environmental program is encouraged to apply.
Proposals are due April 30, 2010.

More Funding Opportunities (http://attra.ncat.org/funding/)

Coming Events

Grazing Workshop
http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2010/031710_grazing.html
March 30, 2010
Ames, Iowa
As the saying goes, it’s not “your father’s kind of grazing.” The latest in grazing techniques will be the focus of a workshop sponsored by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Iowa Native Lands. The workshop will feature recent findings about grazing goats, bison and cattle on native vegetation in prairies, public lands and conservation easements.

Alcorn State University Small Farmers Conference
http://smallfarmersconference.org/About.htm
March 29-31, 2010
Jackson, Mississippi
This statewide conference continues to focus on assisting participants creatively in starting new enterprises on their farms, and in gaining a wealth of knowledge through new marketing strategies and business opportunities.

Ag Entrepreneurship Workshop
http://agmarketing.umd.edu/
March 31, 2010
Fairplay, Maryland
This program will feature farmers and educators sharing tips and information about enterprises, practices, and trends that hold sound potential for profitability.

More Events (http://attra.ncat.org/calendar)

New Biodiesel Webinar

Farm-Scale Biodiesel Production: Taxes and Financial Incentives. This free webinar is the third in a series on farm-scale biodiesel production. Register now (http://www.attra.ncat.org/webinars2010/biodiesel3) for the webinar, which will be broadcast on April 8 at 1PM MDT .

New & Updated Publications

Organic System Plans: Livestock Production
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2010/03/04/organic_system_plans_livestock_productio_1

Biochar and Sustainable Agriculture
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2010/03/01/biochar_and_sustainable_agriculture

Comparing Energy Use in Conventional and Organic Cropping Systems
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/new_pubs.php/2010/02/24/comparing_energy_use_in_conventional_and_1

Question of the Week

What are some resources for information on using wind or solar to heat a hoop house?
http://attra.ncat.org/calendar/question.php/2010/03/22/what_are_some_resources_for_information__7

Ask a Sustainable Agriculture Expert

Submit questions to our professional staff online
http://attra.ncat.org/ask.php

ATTRA Spanish Newsletter

Subscribe to Cosecha Mensual (http://attra.ncat.org/espanol/boletin.php)
(Monthly Harvest), ATTRA’s Spanish-language e-newsletter

Subscribe to the Weekly Harvest
(http://visitor.roving.com/optin.jsp?m=1011223551022&ea=)

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Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews Archives Available Online
(http://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/archives.html)
Digital versions of recent Weekly Harvest and ATTRAnews newsletters are available online. ATTRAnews is the newsletter of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
(http://attra.ncat.org/)

ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/index.html). Visit the NCAT Web site (http://www.ncat.org/sarc_current.php) for more information on our sustainable agriculture projects.

Just checking in Granny to let you know I have started my Obama garden. As I have explained before, we have a big deer problem and I don’t think I can use my regular garden plot anymore. So my efforts to outsmart them include: planting potatoes in plastic garden cans and keeping them near the back porch. I think I’ll try some of those hanging baskets thingies for tomatoes. Anyone had any luck with those? When I went to the feed store to get my potatoes, the lady told me they had been simply run over with requests for them this year. Wonder why? LOL

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2478440/posts?page=32#32

How To Be Invisible
http://www.canaryislandspress.com/media/HTBI2000.pdf ^ | 2000 | J. J. Luna

Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 5:25:31 AM by GoodDay

[A google alert not related, pulled up the link for this thread....interesting..granny]

Burritos Crockery Pot Style
Posted by: “missvergie”

Burritos Crockery Pot Style

From the Kitchen of: Barbara

I use Orgtega peppers

2 lb. beef roast
1 chopped onion
1 can chopped peppers (10 oz.)
2 cans tomato sauce (4 oz. each)
1 tbsp. chili powder (add more if you like)
salt and pepper to taste

The night before you plan to serve, put roast in Crockery Pot and leave on low all night. Next morning, add the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low all day.

Pre-heat oven to 350°. Spread cooked filling on extra large fat-free flour tortillas. You can add refried beans, sour cream, grated chese and shredded lettuce as you prefer. Fold and wrap in aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven 10 to 15 minutes.

Your favorite salsa can be added before or after baking.

________________________________________________________________________
2. Easter Lily Cones
Posted by: “Laura”

Easter Lily Cones
http://www.massrecipes.com
Yield: 16 - 20 cones

3 Eggs
2/3 c Granulated sugar
1/4 ts Lemon extract
1/4 c Cold water
1 c Flour
1/2 ts Baking powder
1/4 ts Salt
Sweetened whipped cream

Separate eggs. Beat yolks until thick and lemon colored. Gradually add
sugar, lemon extract, and water. Mix well. Sift together dry ingredients
and add to the egg mixture. Whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold
egg whites into egg yolk mixture. Grease and flour a cookie sheet.* Drop
batter by spoonfuls onto the cookie sheet. Spread batter into 6-inch
circles with the back of the spoon approximately 1/8-inch thick. Bake at
375 degrees until edges are golden brown (approximately 6-8 minutes). When
done, remove from oven and quickly shape cookies into cone shapes. Hold
cookies until cone shape is set and place seam side down to cool. When
ready to serve, fill with sweetened whipped cream. *Note: Wash cookie sheet
after each batch of cookies. Grease and flour each time the cookies are
baked to prevent sticking.

________________________________________________________________________
3. diabetic-recipes
Posted by: “Laura”

I don’t if anyone has this site but found it looking for a diabetic sweet potato pie for my dad.

http://www.diabetic-recipes.com/

________________________________________________________________________
4. Blackberry Cream Pie
Posted by: “Laura”

Blackberry Cream Pie

You can substitute raspberries, apricots, peaches or strawberries in this recipe.Serves 8

1 1/3 cups sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/3 cups fresh blackberries
1 baked pastry shell
1 cup whipped cream toppingCombine milk and lemon juice and stir until thickened.
Fold in 1 cup of fruit and pour into pastry shell.
Cover with whipped cream topping and garnish with remaining berries.
Chill, then serve.Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Ready in: 30 minutes

________________________________________________________________________
5. Hootenhollar Wiskey Cake
Posted by: “Laura”

Hootenhollar Wiskey Cake

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teasppon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup bourbon
3/4 pounds raisins
2 cups chopped pecans
Cooking Instructions:
Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; Add to creamed mixture, alternating with milk, beginning with dry ingredients and ending with dry ingredients. Combine molasses and baking soda; add to creamed mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into a greased and floured 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake at 300 degrees for one (1) hour and fifty-five (55) minutes.

Makes 1 loaf

________________________________________________________________________
6. Pig-Picken Cake
Posted by: “Laura”

Pig-Picken Cake

Ingredients:
1Box Buttered Cake Mix
4 Eggs
l Can Mandrain Drake Oranges &Juice
1/2 Cup Salad Oil
Cooking Instructions:
Mix ingredients together and

pour batter in 3 greased cake

pans and bake at 350 till done. Cool layers before icing.ICING-l Large can crushed pineapple with juice. l Box Instant Vanilla pudding

l Large carton cool whip. Beat with mixer and spread between layers and top. Keep refrigerated.

________________________________________________________________________
7. Worm Cake
Posted by: “Laura”

Worm Cake

Serves: 24
Calories Per Serving: 300
Preparation Time:
Difficulty: Average

Ingredients:
1 (18.5 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
3 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate frosting
1 (16 ounce) package gummi worms

Cooking Instructions:
Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour batter into cupcake pans and bake as directed on cake mix box. Let cupcakes cool thoroughly before frosting.

Spread cupcakes lightly with chocolate icing. Sprinkle cookie crumbs on top.

Cut gummi worms in half (as many as you like). Put icing onto cut end of the worms and stick to the top of cupcakes. You can use as few or as many as will fit on each cupcake. Let icing set for 10 minutes and then enjoy.

________________________________________________________________________
8. Earthquake Cake
Posted by: “Laura”

Earthquake Cake

Serves: Should be around 12 servings..
Calories Per Serving:
Preparation Time: About 15 mins.
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 c. nuts (I prefer chopped pecans)
1 c. coconut 1 (8 oz.)pkg. cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 box confectioner’s sugar
Cooking Instructions:
Mix cake according to directions on box. Spread in a 9 x 13 inch pan.

My other groups: favoritefamilyrecipes@yahoogroups.com and moderator of BisquickRecipes@yahoogroups.com, and BakingMixes

To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cookingandbakingmixes/

Natural just makes more sense to me.<<<

And in some areas it is growing wild and free.

I think that we need to know how to survive, with out a drugstore.

Only problem for me, is the natural way won’t replace the drugs that I must have.

I use as much natural as I can.

I think I’ll try some of those hanging baskets thingies for tomatoes. <<<

Now I know why you kept floating in and out of my mind for much of the day, glad you checked in, for I was going to write anyway.

I posted, [I think] within the last couple days a good article on tomatoes in pots.

Yes, they will grow in large pots, but to get that large, it will be heavy, so check the roof for support .

I would just use a regular bucket and grow the old fashioned cherry tomatoes, they will take the changes better than the large ones do, with less problems and live 2 years if you bring them in in the winter.

For all the problems you are having to grow a garden, you should start thinking about a greenhouse, then you would be able to grow all year and no deer.

Anything that you can get holes in for drainage will work for a pot, I saw photos last year of men’s Levi’s, filled with potting mix, hanging in a tree, with plants growing in them.

If I were using the levi’s, it would be fun to turn them into an all over planter, like a strawberry jar/pot, You could sew the bottom closed, or just use a good wire and cinch it tight.

My sister drives me nuts, wanting to haul my old holey pots and pans that I have collected from the dumps of the west, first as chicken feeders and when they get holes, they are flower pots.

I don’t like milk and pop bottles for growing, some how it seems that the roots like the dark, that is unless they are an orchid and some of them want the roots exposed.

In the house, dishpans with holes work for lettuce and greens, the tomatoes and peppers will want at least a foot deep pot of soil.

Glad you had fun today....

I have decided to ONCE a week for 36 - 48 hours fast & do no politics.. I will take this time to catch up on your thread & the others that are similar.(GARDENING ETC)

Will try to rejuvenate those days some of the spiritual needs & just replenish the soul.

I think in times ahead unless we see a drastic change, many of us will be living more off the land.

as a vegetarian(me) that will be fun to try. I have heard you can live off lichen. never have eaten it although find various varieties in forest all the time! WOULD HOPE it will not come to this, but who knows.

I also fear that all this online info that is so readily available now to use for reference will possibly be not available necessarily in future. I have not done a good job of saving pertinent material in document files.. knowing it is here to find.

I think during the hiatus times I will do some copy & pasting.. I would like some of us of similar mentality to exchange email & phone numbers perhaps

We here are stretched to the limit.. any further expense for internet would not be possible for us.

RE: drugs.

I have told this story several times at FR. When I came here to help my mom she was given 4-6 months to live. She was 71. On many drugs that “she had to have”.

I took her off of them - cold turkey. Within 3 days all her symptoms reversed. No more pain, nausea, headaches, UPPER & LOWER GI problems.. NADA. She was on 8 MUST HAVES.

Ha!

I did research for each condition & dietary used naturals.

That was 20 years ago. At 91 she has arthritis/pain & some allergies. we do all naturally still. I think I could eliminate allegies almost completely if we both werent so stubborn to give up certain food items.. (like for me it is cheese)

Her first time back to doc (to see if she could walk again) a few years ago & a rehab visit of 3 weeks found all her vitals excellent. BP & all numbers better than mine.

Everyone must make their own choices. Mine is to avoid MDs & self help. My chiropractor is a regular & he is my primary care doc.

your earthquake cake sounds good.(actually all of them!)

I dont bake (oven not working for years, but I do have microwave, crock pots, toaster ovens etc) .. and we dont have as a rule sweets.. Now & then a little.

This message contains the following:

1. Infantino Recalls to Replace SlingRider Baby Slings; Three Infant Deaths Reported
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10177.html

2. Girls’ Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Liberty Apparel Due to Strangulation Hazard http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10178.html

3. Girls’ Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled by Bubblegum USA Due to Strangulation Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Burlington Coat Factory
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10179.html

4. Girls’ Hooded Sweaters with Drawstrings Recalled by Children’s Apparel Network Due Strangulation Hazard http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10180.html

Will try to rejuvenate those days some of the spiritual needs & just replenish the soul.

I think in times ahead unless we see a drastic change, many of us will be living more off the land.<<<

Yes, you are correct, if the soul is not fed, it too will die.

Many of us have had about all the politics that we can handle and need a break.

Yes, also on staying away from the doctors, for many of them do not pay attention and just write prescriptions.

The meds that I buy, there is not a lot of choice on stopping them, for if I do the lungs fill up and I am gone.

I don’t take the stuff sold ‘over the counter’ , if folks read the labels they wouldn’t either.

Years ago, a book came out that told about medicines and what damage some of them did.

Some are worse than others and all were sold over the counter.

When I finished reading that book, it was a medical type book from the library, I never bought the name brand items again.

My medicine chest other than herbs, is Peroxide, Alcohol, and that salve that has Cortisone in it for bites.

For the stomach, peppermint to sooth it and papaya to eat the backed up stuff out of your system....simple, healthy and cheap.

If one reads labels, then, we had a local drug store that sold stuff with their name on it, as well as name brands. I found that their store brand had more of the working ingredients in it, than the name brand of Ben Gay.

I do use essential oil for healing. And would hate to be without it, it helps my breathing, but not enough that I can use it alone, for me their won’t be any getting well, so all I can do is keep going, as long as I can.

Like you, if the internet starts costing more, I am out of the game, for prices on every thing have gone up, to the point that there has to be more serious cuts to survive.

LOL, my old pickup and camper are out there, don’t run but could if a mechanic worked on it, of course I wouldn’t be able to drive it, now, for I pass out all the time.

Many are going to see what real hard times look like, it had to come, for people were shopping just like the tv said to do.

Talk to Delawhere, he has the first 2 threads up, so they can be down loaded on his site, but I cannot find the number of the post he put the link in.

We will be glad to have you join in the thread anytime, for folks sure need more than my opinion on subjects and there are other readers that are vegetarians so you fit right in.

I am not, but eat more vegetables than I do meat and I use cheese in place of meat, so get by.

When my friend Mary was about 73, we found a pill in the vitamin catalog, it was a mixed peppermint/papaya pill and offered almost miracle cures, so LOL, we each chipped in 50 cents and ordered the 100 pill size.

She died at 85 with the gall bladder that they were ready to take out and I was having the same problem, still have mine about 37 years later.

That little pill did not have any thing else in it, just the 2 ingredients and it cured everything, flu, headaches, sour stomach, gas, even my nephews hangovers.

Theresa and her mother 10 years before used them to settle their stomachs, after chemotherapy, no it did not cure their stomachs.

I was glad that I had the last 500 pill bottle, for when I went to order more, the company is out of business and gone.

Take care and stay safe.

I dont bake (oven not working for years, but I do have microwave, crock pots, toaster ovens etc) .. and we dont have as a rule sweets.. Now & then a little.<<<

Sounds like me, whole stove is dead, so I have a hot plate and the crock pot and microwave.

My wood stove I can’t use with this oxygen and I no longer have the strength to mess with it, but Bill built it with a flat top for cooking.

I like sweets, lots of them and would have made those cakes, once upon a time.

Film and Television Institute of India in Pune has a vegetable patch

Less than two months ago, a small vegetable patch came up on the Film and Television
Institute of India (FTII) campus on Law College Road. Those running the boys’ hostel
mess planted vegetables like cabbage, spinach, fenugreek (methi), chilli, and tomatoes.

Recently, they harvested at least 6-7 kgs of fenugreek, enough for a meal for the
students at the mess.

Metrofiets - Cargo bikes for city farming

“Patience and time, that’s what builds a Metrofiets cargo bike. Design, bend, measure,
sculpt, hammer, polish and file - these actions transform raw steel into works of
art. The kind of art you can ride around town on. The kind of art that turns heads
and leaves people wanting more.

Urban farming touted as tool for neighborhood revival in Buffalo

Advocates are prodding the city to take early but key steps aimed at making it easier
for people to create community gardens and pursue urban agriculture. The measures
would include setting up a “diggable database” to help aspiring gardeners and farmers
pinpoint land that has been cleared for planting.

Above the Pavement - the Farm! - forthcoming June 2010

Forty years after French protestors took to the streets with the rallying cry Sous
les pavés, la plage! (Beneath the pavement, the beach!), a new form of radical expression
took shape at MoMA’s P.S.1 courtyard in Queens, New York. Above the Pavement-the
Farm! reveals the groundbreaking efforts of architecture firm WORKac and their
team of more than 150 collaborators-farmers, politicians, horticulturists, technicians,
soil scientists, engineers, architecture students, and artists-to create a working
urban farm, hoisted 30 feet high, using industrial cardboard tubes filled with more
than 50 varieties of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Detroit officials work to create zoning code for urban farming

With a growing number of urban gardens and farms across Detroit, city officials
are working to incorporate zoning for such projects into the city’s code.

A City Planning Commission draft report submitted to the Detroit City Council today
suggests a number of policy changes that could legitimize urban farming in Detroit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stories here:
City Farmer News [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103229323181&s=1304&e=001pMN7PBnNgIA_bOYCc4maVHEBrQx051AasHpgUQAr7YhGwfrmnMBYz02n-f5QvMo1R_bGoYDMcrlWAODG9yn7uZshM58lA1G0KDtDof_1uunlkkmWqKaQNw==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael Levenston
City Farmer - Canada’s Office of Urban Agriculture

http://www.homegrown.org/forum/topics/how-to-make-seedballs-its?utm_source=Homegrown.org+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=d6b09c47b1-March_2010_Newsletter&utm_medium=email

How to make seedballs - it’s bombing time!

* Posted by Cornelia on March 22, 2010 at 3:26pm
* View Discussions

The seedball is one way to show that you love those neglected parts of town, too.

Materials:
Native, non-invasive, preferably organic seeds (wildflowers, herbs, edibles)
Compost
Powdered, non-chemical brown or red clay (available at pottery supply houses, down by the rivers in the Southwest, and at some garden centers)
Water

1. Mix two parts mixed seeds with three parts compost.
2. Add five parts clay powder.
3. Add enough water to make the mixture the consistency of dough (play-, bread-, pizza-)
4. Pinch off small amounts of dough and roll between your palms to create ping-pong ball-sized spheres. You can go smaller if you have the attention span / time / handpower.
5. Spread the balls out on newspaper in a shady spot to dry.
6. Tell your friends that you made chocolate truffles and see if they fall for it.
7. No, not really. Don’t let your friends eat them.

The attatched pictures are from the pages of The Guerilla Art Kit. Share these and have a seedball-making get together!

Tags: gardening, guerrilla, land, seedballs, urban, vacant

Attachments:

* How To Make Seedballs 1.jpg, 71 KB
* How To Make Seedballs2.jpg, 48 KB

Replies to This Discussion

Lizz Permalink Reply by Lizz on March 22, 2010 at 3:53pm
Love it! Where do you get the clay from?
Lizz

Reply to This

Cornelia Permalink Reply by Cornelia on March 22, 2010 at 3:59pm
Try googling “red art clay” or searching for pottery supply houses. For New England, this is a good local source: http://www.sheffield-pottery.com/

Theresa and her mother 10 years before used them to settle their stomachs, after chemotherapy, no it did not cure their stomachs.<<<

It might help if I had reread this before sending, it did help their stomachs, it did not cure the cancer.

http://farmaid.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Fight Against Corporate Control of our Food: A report from the DOJ/USDA Workshop
Joel”This is a national security issue,” warned U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder during the first in the series public workshops on antitrust issues in agriculture convened by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture last Friday in Ankeny, Iowa.

According to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the purpose of the workshops is “to determine whether or not the system is fair. Is today’s ag system suffering from a lack of free and fair competition?”

Free and fair? Ask Moe Parr, the soft-spoken, unassuming seed cleaner interviewed in the academy award nominated film Food Inc. after he was sued by Monsanto and driven out of business. Monsanto charged that Moe had helped a neighboring farmer harvest his Round-Up Ready soybean seed. Monsanto requires farmers to sign a contract that prevents them from seed harvesting. (By the way, global giant Monsanto is doing precisely the same thing to Iraqi farmers, who have been harvesting and saving their own seed for at least two thousand years.)

Free and fair? Ask the union of United Food and Commercial Workers, dozens of whom attended Friday’s workshop in their readily identifiable UFCW yellow shirts. The UFCW represents more than 250,000 meatpacking and food processing workers across the U.S. It was fantastic to see them there at the hearing in solidarity with family farmers, consumers, and millions of other hard-working, urban and rural, justice-seeking Americans. Check out UFCW president Joe Hansen’s editorial here.

Free and fair? Ask the dozens of farmers, consumers, local and national activists, and other citizens who offered their own views. Both Moe Parr and David Runyon, an Indiana farmer who was also interviewed for Food Inc. after being sued by Monsanto, were among the dozens of concerned citizens who spoke their piece during the Thursday pre-workshop town hall meeting and the Friday workshop public comment periods.

Free and fair? Ask Farm Aid. Worried about who controls your food? Join the thousands who have already submitted comments to let the DOJ and USDA know we trust farmers for our food, not corporations!

Free and fair? Ask the majority of the 800 people in the overflow crowd at Friday’s workshop. We’ve put together a photo slide show below of events in Ankeny last week, which included a raucous town hall meeting the night before the workshop, organized by Iowa Citizens for Community Action and the several groups sponsoring the new Bust The Trust website. See the site’s blog for video clips of farmers speaking out at the town hall meeting, which was attended by over 250 people.

Free and fair, indeed. As you mobilize your friends and neighbors to take part in the fight against corporate control of our food, don’t forget to send them this link for info on upcoming DOJ/USDA workshops in Alabama (on poultry issues), in Wisconsin (on dairy issues), in Colorado (on livestock issues), and in Washington, D.C. (on prices paid to farmers and prices charged to consumers).

[There are many hidden links in the article/at the link..granny]