tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89525094062060972232024-03-04T23:27:28.712-08:00A Farmwife's DiaryLife on a farm in northern Kentucky, where we have horses, poultry, bees, and a big garden.MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-38949268874235840422021-02-25T06:28:00.004-08:002021-02-25T06:28:46.887-08:00Notes on the Making of a Rope Halter<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fJ9V1O0i7zMII98lkYpBxX64-SKuULobD55l76kOxDsz8YYsLgmNkNsVgSqtGjd3noJhxVzyOIVfRFN6rwo1Jw1F89gTV95EHzbZMQPyHMbnESvi3I9p1yopqEMcYEBrqVrsc7nj_Y1M/s813/Halter+knot+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="609" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fJ9V1O0i7zMII98lkYpBxX64-SKuULobD55l76kOxDsz8YYsLgmNkNsVgSqtGjd3noJhxVzyOIVfRFN6rwo1Jw1F89gTV95EHzbZMQPyHMbnESvi3I9p1yopqEMcYEBrqVrsc7nj_Y1M/w300-h400/Halter+knot+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top knot is a Fiador knot,<br />Bottom knot is a Matthew Walker knot,<br />aka the Double Overhand (which is incorrect.)</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>(This is a post by James Haggarty, not Laura, who knows nothing about knotting.)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">When first attempting to make a rope halter, one finds dozens of written and video tutorials. Unfortunately, almost all have the same two mistakes. From the AQHA online guide to many of the university extension papers, they have left out one important step and have used an incorrect name for one of the two knots.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The Missing Instruction:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The various guides state that you find the middle of the rope, make an overhand knot and then a second overhand knot xx inches to the left. Then follow the rest of the instructions. If you do this, you may find that one of the two strands is too short to tie around the back of the horse’s head.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">According to <a href="http://ListentoYourHorse.com">ListentoYourHorse.com</a>, and with which I agree, the following is an important step and will save you hours of aggravation and money.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Fold your length of rope in half, so you have 2 pieces of rope of equal length. From the mid-point, move 3 feet (or 1 metre) to the RIGHT of the mid-point. This point is your new “middle”. And the left piece of the rope is now 6 feet longer than the right-hand side piece.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Note: For a horse-sized halter, you would move 2 feet to the right of the mid-point; so your left piece of rope is 4 feet longer.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The Misnomer:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">One cannot find other references to the double overhand knot in other tutorials. In fact, the real double overhand knot is completely different. This knot used in halters is more widely known as a Matthew Walker knot, or more specifically a two-strand Matthew Walker knot. There are many excellent tutorials and videos on the Matthew Walker knot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">And finally, although not an error, many of the instructions on making a Fiador knot are confusing. The video tutorials by the KnotGirlz on Youtube are excellent and can help clear the fog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></p>MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-10066342264154096742020-11-23T05:46:00.150-08:002024-02-19T07:03:08.702-08:00Heirloom Seed Companies<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d6bADWpWi_c2don_EC6aBo8aRJc0nqSB9CEowC7tElUrO3D_sWScYN3oOGtzOdF2KLWeX4lGN6_aSmuwPYJd7axEpqvblXRAQ6YgJfcOc3nAzfus87YsffqnQE0Tx-IC0-j-7s6gEJB3/s2826/Border.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="2826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d6bADWpWi_c2don_EC6aBo8aRJc0nqSB9CEowC7tElUrO3D_sWScYN3oOGtzOdF2KLWeX4lGN6_aSmuwPYJd7axEpqvblXRAQ6YgJfcOc3nAzfus87YsffqnQE0Tx-IC0-j-7s6gEJB3/s320/Border.png" width="320" /></a></div><p> I have compiled a list of heirloom seed companies (most in the US), which is likely missing some, but has most of those out there (feel free to email me with additions):<br /><br /></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 659px;">
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 296pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>URL</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Company Name</b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>URL</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Adaptive Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.adaptiveseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.adaptiveseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Ann Arbor Seed Company<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.a2seeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.a2seeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Annie's Heirloom Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.anniesheirloomseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.anniesheirloomseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Appalachian Heirloom Plant Farm<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.appalachianheirloomplantfarm.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">BBB Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://bbbseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Botanical Interests<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.botanicalinterests.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Center of the Web Seed Company<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.centerofthewebb.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Clear Creek Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.clearcreekseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.clearcreekseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Crispy Farms<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.crispyfarms.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Cross Country Nurseries </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.chileplants.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.Chileplants.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Diane's Flower Seeds<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.dianeseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Eden Brothers<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.edenbrothers.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Eden Organic Nursery Services<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://eonseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Experimental Farm Network<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.experimentalfarmnetwork.org/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Fedco<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.fedcoseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.fedcoseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Filaree Garlic Farm<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.filareefarm.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Foundroot Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.foundroot.com/seed/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.foundroot.com/seed/</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Fruition Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.fruitionseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.fruitionseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Garden Hoard<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.gardenhoard.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Goourmet Seed International<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.gourmetseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Great Lakes Staple Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://greatlakesstapleseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://greatlakesstapleseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Grow Organic<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.groworganic.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">High Mowing Organic Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.highmowingseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.highmowingseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Hudson Valley Seed Company<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://hudsonvalleyseed.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">http://hudsonvalleyseed.com/
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">J. Hudson Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://jlhudsonseeds.net/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">http://jlhudsonseeds.net/</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Johnny's Selected Seeds </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.johnnyseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Kitazawa Seed Company<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.kitazawaseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Kitchen Garden Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.kitchengardenseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 29;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Marianna's Heirloom Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.mariannasheirloomseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 30;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Mary's Heirloom Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.marysheirloomseeds.com/">https://www.marysheirloomseeds.com/</a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 31;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">MIgardener<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://migardener.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 32;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Michigan Heirlooms<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.michiganheirlooms.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.michiganheirlooms.com/
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 33;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Mountain Valley Growers<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 34;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Native Seeds</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.nativeseeds.org/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.nativeseeds.org
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 35;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Natural Gardening Company<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.naturalgardening.com/shop/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 36;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Nature and Nurture Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.natureandnurtureseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.natureandnurtureseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 37;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">New England Seed Company<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.neseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 38;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">New Hope Seed Company<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.newhopeseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 39;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">North Circle Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://northcircleseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 40;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Orchard House Heirlooms<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.orchardhouseheirlooms.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 41;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Pinetree Garden Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.superseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 42;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Plant Good Seed Company<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.plantgoodseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 43;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Prairie Moon Nursery<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.prairiemoon.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 44;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Pueblo Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://farmdirectseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 45;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Quail Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.quailseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 46;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Redwood Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.redwoodseeds.net/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 47;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Refining Fire Chiles<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.superhotchiles.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 48;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Renee's Garden<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.reneesgarden.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 49;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Resilient Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.resilient-seeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.resilient-seeds.com/
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 50;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Restoration Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.restorationseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.restorationseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 51;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Salt of the Earth Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://saltoftheearthseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 52;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sandhill Preservation Center<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 53;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sandia Seed Company<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.sandiaseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 54;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Seed Savers Exchange</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.seedsavers.org
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 55;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Seeds Now<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.seedsnow.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.Seedsnow.com</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 56;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Seeds of Change<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.seedsofchange.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.seedsofchange.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 57;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Seeds of Diversity </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://seeds.ca/diversity/seed-catalogue-index"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://seeds.ca/diversity/seed-catalogue-index
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 58;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Select Seeds<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.selectseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 59;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sherck Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.sherckseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.sherckseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 60;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Siskiyou Seeds</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.siskiyouseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.siskiyouseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 61;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Small House Farm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.smallhousefarm.com/seeds/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.smallhousefarm.com/seeds/</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 62;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Snake River Seed Cooperative<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.snakeriverseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 63;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Southern Exposure Seed
Exchange</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.southernexposure.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 64;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Sundial Seed Company<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.sundialseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 65;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sustainable Mountain
Agriculture</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.heirlooms.org/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.heirlooms.org</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 66;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Territorial Seed<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.territorialseed.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.territorialseed.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 67;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Terroir Seeds</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://underwoodgardens.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://underwoodgardens.com/</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 68;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Hippy Seed Company<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.thehippyseedcompany.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.thehippyseedcompany.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 69;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The Kusa Seed Society<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.ancientcerealgrains.org/seedandliteraturecatalog.html"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.ancientcerealgrains.org/seedandliteraturecatalog.html
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 70;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Todd's Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://toddsseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 71;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">True Love Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://trueloveseeds.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 72;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Turtle Tree Seeds<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://turtletreeseed.org/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">https://turtletreeseed.org/</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 73;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Two Seeds in a Pod</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.twoseedsinapod.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.twoseedsinapod.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 74;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Uprising Seeds<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.uprisingorganics.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.uprisingorganics.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 75;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Victory Seeds</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.victoryseeds.com/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">www.victoryseeds.com
</span></a><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 76;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Wild Garden Seed<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">http://www.wildgardenseed.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 77;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Wood Prairie Farm<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.woodprairie.com/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 78; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.75in;" valign="bottom" width="264">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 296.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="395">
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: #0563c1; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><p class="MsoNoSpacing">
</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p></td><td nowrap="" style="height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 296pt;" valign="bottom" width="395"></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com012417 KY-330, Berry, KY 41003, USA38.5635844 -84.467249438.509904361306148 -84.53591395078125 38.617264438693859 -84.39858484921875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-79301174787247957812020-08-07T17:23:00.006-07:002020-08-08T05:04:14.497-07:00Hybrid Sourdough Discard Bread Recipe<p></p><p>As so many are these days I began to bake bread again once the Covid quarantine started back in end of February. I used to bake bread, years and years ago, but for whatever reason, stopped. But now I am baking again, which is pretty funny because I don't even eat bread now (I eat low carb). But my husband has the metabolism of a teenage boy, and typically goes through a half a loaf of bread a day. So I bake bread or rolls several times a week, often sourdough.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I put together this recipe today because I had a fair amount of “discard” (unfed sourdough starter) in my refrigerator that I wanted to use up. Note that my starter is made with AP flour in a 1:1 ratio. The result below is a 76% hydration dough.</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BMFQQyIsFqsvdtBuQ7O5qIa2N7asMgPLpKbyo_FDLt5Fc18JSMoEjOZRtd1R8RAKaymPLTOL63GNAefPFwfFBOBvARFFXmIklppGE46F0lcFgJgMm8PanWqD9efwiOsN4DEto-0Id7fz/s1440/Discard+Bread+Loaf.jpg" style="display: inline; font-style: italic; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BMFQQyIsFqsvdtBuQ7O5qIa2N7asMgPLpKbyo_FDLt5Fc18JSMoEjOZRtd1R8RAKaymPLTOL63GNAefPFwfFBOBvARFFXmIklppGE46F0lcFgJgMm8PanWqD9efwiOsN4DEto-0Id7fz/w512-h512/Discard+Bread+Loaf.jpg" width="512" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sourdough Discard Bread</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Ingredients:</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">400g unfed sourdough starter discard cold from the fridge (note this is 200 g AP flour and 200 g water)<br />300 g bread flour<br />180 g lukewarm water (between 105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit)<br />2 tsp (about 12g) sea salt<br />1 ¼ tsp instant dry yeast (not quite 5 grams)<br />1 tsp sugar or honey (a little over 4 grams)<br />Optional: 2 TBSP of vital wheat gluten (useful if your starter is made with AP flour.)</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><i>Directions:</i><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Into a large bowl pour the discard,
water, and sugar. Stir to dissolve and then add the yeast. Stir to dissolve the
yeast.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Add the flour and vital wheat gluten if using it and gently mix using
your hands or a spatula. This will form a rough and shaggy dough. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Add in the sea salt and gently mix
until absorbed. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Let the dough rest for 20 minutes
covered by a towel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">After the rest, with wet hands perform
a stretch and fold around all four sides of the dough (for a total of four,
rotating the bowl each time, so north, east, south, west.) The dough will seem
wet and still shaggy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Gently form the dough into a ball
and let it rest for 40 minutes, covered with a towel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Repeat the stretch and fold four
times as above. Let it rest another 40 minutes.<br />
<br />
Do this twice more, for a total of four stretch and folds. At the end of these
the dough will become smooth and elastic and less sticky.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">At the end of the fourth fold dump
the dough onto a floured surface, and flour your hands. Gently pre-shape the dough
into either a boule, a batard, or a loaf. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Let the dough rest for 20 minutes
uncovered. Preheat your oven now to 475 degrees F.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Do a final shape of the dough into
the shape of your choice, ensuring good surface tension. If you wish you can
score the dough. <br />
<br />
Cook in a Dutch oven, loaf pan or on a baking stone. If using a Dutch oven
cover the dough for the first 30 minutes or so. Depending on your flour used
and the container, the bread will take between 30 to 40 minutes to be done, and
should be golden brown. One test for doneness is temperature: the interior
should reach between 205 to 210 degrees F, but also note the color of the bread’s
surface, if it looks light give it more time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;">Let the bread cool for at least an
hour or two before slicing. Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><br />
<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-88069211310842098692019-02-25T06:51:00.000-08:002019-02-25T06:51:39.191-08:00How To Harden Off Plants<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbgmtxmnlzjXwWnJK4uFU1yOXVYA-7e-SHtDgR8u35pPBdx5KpGhdrX91CwcVW89EDMDCj-glh9BVUrEKTXydzsXYxrNehE1YmihphGUXsE0CddpNqh2jjzEzLF15wVFmd8GXMsJ_AthL/s1600/Hardening+off+1a+CR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbgmtxmnlzjXwWnJK4uFU1yOXVYA-7e-SHtDgR8u35pPBdx5KpGhdrX91CwcVW89EDMDCj-glh9BVUrEKTXydzsXYxrNehE1YmihphGUXsE0CddpNqh2jjzEzLF15wVFmd8GXMsJ_AthL/s320/Hardening+off+1a+CR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomato seedlings outside being hardened off 2018</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Start slowly. Put the plants outside on a partly-cloudy day the first time,
with not too much wind.<br />
<br />
Make sure they’re well-watered. Leave them out for about 20 minutes the first
time, and not at noon (before 11 or after 1 is ideal.) Keep an eye on them, and
if they start to get droopy, bring them back in and cut back on the time the
next day to 15 minutes, or 10 if need be.<br />
<br />
If it’s windy, put them in a cardboard box so they get light but not knocked
over.<br />
<br />
Gradually every day increase the amount of sunlight by about ten to fifteen
minutes. Again, keep an eye on them, don’t let them get sunburned (it will make
their leaves turn brown and fall off, so to be avoided!)<br />
<br />
Work your way up to about four hours a day, then you can leave them out at
night as long as the temps are above 40 degrees. <br />
<br />
Once the nighttime temps are above 55 degrees, they’re ready to go in the
garden. If you plant them before that they won’t do well. So being patient is
worth it.<br />
<br />
If you have them in pots for more than two weeks, give them a small amount of
fertilizer, at about half the strength showing on the bottle. I like to use
fish emulsion; it’s gentle but gives them nitrogen, which they need.<br />
<br />
Best of luck! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-35096096396572568292018-11-18T07:49:00.000-08:002018-11-18T07:49:53.536-08:00A New Seed Saving TechniqueI learned of this seed saving technique this past summer and really like how easy it makes the process.<br /><br />Sometimes, when fermenting seeds, it's easy to leave them in just a bit too long, and then they sprout, which makes them useless for saving.<br /><br />Here's the way I've been saving seeds this summer (I have only done this with tomato seeds, just fyi):<br /><br />Needed:<br /> 1 pint mason jar<br /> 1 cup measure<br /> Oxyclean washing powder (just the regular version.)<br /><br />Directions:<br />
<ul>
<li>Squeeze the juice and seeds from a tomato into a one cup measure.</li>
<li>If the amount is less than one cup, add water to make it one cup.</li>
<li>Add 1 TBSP Oxyclean to the cup of liquid.</li>
<li>Stir gently.</li>
<li>Wait 30 minutes.</li>
<li>After 30 minutes stir again, then rinse the seeds in a fine mesh strainer until they no longer feel slippery.</li>
<li>Spread the seeds out onto a non-coated paper plate to dry and store as you normally would.</li>
</ul>
<br />SO EASY!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOXXUZOmBlW_92-yal8szshj-FEyNz_ysEzgRUx5O4Rl3DcQhvokdfkOr7__3PPkfS3vYaqHSb0kzCgui00dgPySFsDH-etDA4Uwsh-K5-l5aza8-i_zemDus035rCwTc4j2Yx33uO16w/s1600/Paper+plate+CR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOXXUZOmBlW_92-yal8szshj-FEyNz_ysEzgRUx5O4Rl3DcQhvokdfkOr7__3PPkfS3vYaqHSb0kzCgui00dgPySFsDH-etDA4Uwsh-K5-l5aza8-i_zemDus035rCwTc4j2Yx33uO16w/s320/Paper+plate+CR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-91486334390060504732018-05-08T07:40:00.001-07:002018-05-08T07:41:16.352-07:00Hardening Off Plants<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtzTBj6YjUwgwW_A9SNCMw4IYTyEPgECGm4VDpBRfAQ4AoWsBffdYYWnKAHcfTFKadx4i190Jsye7Mt2e4vDjV265lAFMfOZ3TNtJwl6ZGazL2nP2RLd5iYyTZAjpkHgFlInOaa5zD4jy/s1600/Hardening+off+1a+CR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtzTBj6YjUwgwW_A9SNCMw4IYTyEPgECGm4VDpBRfAQ4AoWsBffdYYWnKAHcfTFKadx4i190Jsye7Mt2e4vDjV265lAFMfOZ3TNtJwl6ZGazL2nP2RLd5iYyTZAjpkHgFlInOaa5zD4jy/s200/Hardening+off+1a+CR.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seedlings out being hardened off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I start seeds under grow lights in my house. Before the plants can be put in my garden, I have to put them through a process called hardening off. It's not hard, but somewhat tedious if you don't work from home as I do.<br />
<br />
I start when the plants are about seven weeks from sowing, especially the tomatoes (the superhot peppers I grow take a lot longer to germinate, so their timetable is extended.) Ideally you want the plants to have several pairs of leaves after the first cotyledons, and be about two to three inches tall (depending on the type.)<br />
<br />
I try to start out on a slightly cloudy day with not too much wind. If it's windy, I put the plants in a box, so they can get light but not be too knocked about too much (or knocked over if I have them in cups, as shown at left.)<br />
<br />
I begin with well-watered plants set outside to get 20 minutes of sunlight at about 11 am or 1 pm. Keep an eye on the plants the first time, if they start to get droopy, bring them in sooner. The next day I increase the time by five to ten minutes, depending on the time of day and the intensity of the sunlight. I also begin letting them get wind on them by the third time out.<br />
<br />
This is not an exact thing, you have to wing it somewhat, depending on the variables and how the plants look. Pay attention to browning of leaves and droopiness. If need be, scale back. Better to take a bit longer than give a plant sunburn.<br />
<br />
By the end of a week of this, your plants should be able to spend the night outdoors, as long as the temps don't drop below about 40 degrees F. Keep increasing the time in the sunlight until you've hit between three and four hours, and from that point onward, you should be able to leave them out all day and night.<br />
<br />
Before transplanting the seedlings into your garden, it's helpful to know how warm the soil is. Not everyone wants to invest in a soil thermometer, but a good rule of thumb is to not put plants in the garden if the evening temperatures are still below 55 degrees F. That should mean your soil temperature is at 60 degrees F or above.<br />
<br />
You can plant seedlings before that soil temp, but it could stunt their growth, and will certainly slow it. Better to wait a bit to be sure they get a good start.<br />
<br />
Good luck!<br />
<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-68364640262097698182018-03-17T09:34:00.001-07:002018-03-17T09:34:36.285-07:00Using Winter Sowing to Start Seeds<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8Z1B_mPsx6CvIHqKl_M_BVrrYPmdHuMSGWfQuhtZgXKbQQGTizSAmMErxOhnZFmSK1AABfZWaxHZaGbJwA2HCWQRUTmvMMDQB6cw_zBCZ7i6O27zM_MmmWZxT01WYqVLvqo6AYJHbhR1/s1600/Onions.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Winter Sowing" border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8Z1B_mPsx6CvIHqKl_M_BVrrYPmdHuMSGWfQuhtZgXKbQQGTizSAmMErxOhnZFmSK1AABfZWaxHZaGbJwA2HCWQRUTmvMMDQB6cw_zBCZ7i6O27zM_MmmWZxT01WYqVLvqo6AYJHbhR1/s200/Onions.JPG" title="Winter Sowing " width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow onions in their winter sowing jug.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is the first year I am using a seed starting technique called Winter Sowing. It's pretty simple, and allows you to start seeds without using grow lights, heat mats, or a greenhouse or cold frame.<br /><br />You start out with simple plastic jugs, like milk, water, or even cat litter jugs. (Note, I'll take more photos of this process, but wanted to describe it today for a friend.)<br /><br />It's pretty easy. You need a clean, empty plastic jug, some soil (not seed starting mix, but actual potting soil), scissors, duct tape, a Sharpie or wax pencil, and some seeds.<br />
<br /><br />1. Cut the clean plastic jug almost in half, leaving a hinge on the backside so you can flop the top open.<br />
<br />
2. Using a drill or a nail, put some holes in the bottom so the soil will drain. Not big ones, but about eight or ten holes.<br />
<br />
3. Wet down your soil in a bucket. I do this before I use it so it doesn't have any dry pockets later.<br /><br />4. Add about four inches of the pre-moistened soil so it's filled almost to the cut.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkfelPReFtRaBPbXMFko03AT80tZyir9BpYU-LXKIWNMyCyYlZP8z4aEfpm6SwxvgfwN2ksBPSqEm6qUSqbJdkhBqzIyMbgL1IeDDgLPTGjLw7yD-2Z3hM4CgYAEwHmND3OTNcsHM9Tqh/s1600/Jugs+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Winter sowing techniques" border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkfelPReFtRaBPbXMFko03AT80tZyir9BpYU-LXKIWNMyCyYlZP8z4aEfpm6SwxvgfwN2ksBPSqEm6qUSqbJdkhBqzIyMbgL1IeDDgLPTGjLw7yD-2Z3hM4CgYAEwHmND3OTNcsHM9Tqh/s200/Jugs+1.JPG" title="Winter sowing techniques" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jugs seen from above.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
5. Plant your seeds as the packets instruct with regards to depth and spacing.<br />
<br />
6. Mist the top of the soil so some water trickles down and ensures the seeds are nicely wet (but don't flood them!)<br /><br />7. Close the hinged piece and duct tape it all around the cut.<br />
<br />
8. Use a Sharpie or wax pencil (I prefer wax pencils, as they don't bleed or fade) to note the seed sown and the date you're sowing them.<br /><br />9. If you're using a large jug (like a cat litter jug) put several small strips of duct tape across the open top of the jug, so some water gets in when it rains but not too much cold air gets in.<br /><br />10. Place the jugs in an area that gets full sun, (but not too windy) and wait. Check about once a week or so and when the seeds are ready, they'll sprout!<br /><br />When it's sunny as spring advances, you'll want to open the tops and let the seedlings get some full sun, but be sure to close them up again at night.<br /><br />And prepare to be amazed at how easy it is to start seeds without expensive setups, just some old jugs and some soil.<br /><br /><a href="https://getbusygardening.com/seeds-to-winter-sow/" target="_blank">This blog post</a> lists seeds that work well with Winter Sowing.<br /><br /><i>In another post I'll describe how to separate seedlings for transplanting which might have grown together very thickly without damaging their roots.</i><br />
<br />
<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-36436007497301915272018-02-18T08:17:00.002-08:002018-02-18T08:17:27.336-08:00Flower Jellies for Canning<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every spring I wait for the Redbud trees to bloom, because I know I can make a gorgeous and tasty jelly from them. But they're not the only flower from which jelly can be made, there are many more! <br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Flowers that can be made into jelly include: Black Locust, Honeysuckle, Violets, Lilac, Dandelion, Sunflower, Kudzu, Queen Anne's Lace, Lavender, Elderflower, Hibiscus, Clover (red and white), Rose petals, Nasturtium, and Forsythia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCy5YzD_OL5qdcRWkYQGY-_iUk1zWouNrfuG9cA6GvtsVIFaJUXF1S3BIWU4_zePJQ5qnOxlw5hpqzrP7EY4jbvOG25cEVHOlBWXZmJUBpDsd0S4jEDpT3Mwrq9pQspaGa056rhmZfbT8M/s1600/Finished+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCy5YzD_OL5qdcRWkYQGY-_iUk1zWouNrfuG9cA6GvtsVIFaJUXF1S3BIWU4_zePJQ5qnOxlw5hpqzrP7EY4jbvOG25cEVHOlBWXZmJUBpDsd0S4jEDpT3Mwrq9pQspaGa056rhmZfbT8M/s320/Finished+1a.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Here's my method:<br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>Ingredients:</b><br />
</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 tightly packed cups of flower blooms</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 quart of hot (but not boiling) water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Approximately one cup of pure water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 package of Sure Jel pectin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 tablespoon of bottled lemon juice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A pinch of butter (about one teaspoon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">8 half pint jelly jars (NB: this may make only 7 half pints and one quarter pint.)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;">
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b> Directions:</b></span><br />
</span><br />
<ul>
<li style="font-family: inherit;">Pick over the blooms, removing dirt and insects.</li>
<li style="font-family: inherit;">Wash the blooms gently in a colander.</li>
<li style="font-family: inherit;">Put the 4 cups of blooms in a quart mason jar. </li>
<li style="font-family: inherit;">Pour 1 quart of hot water over the blooms.</li>
<li style="font-family: inherit;">Let jar cool, and then put in a refrigerator for 24 hours.</li>
<li style="font-family: inherit;">After 24 hours, strain the liquid through a coffee filter or jelly bag. That should leave
about 3 cups of liquid.</li>
<li style="font-family: inherit;">Wash the jars, lids and rims, and put the jars into a pot with hot but not
boiling water to keep warm while you prepare the jelly.</li>
<li style="font-family: inherit;">Add enough pure water to the flower liquid to make a total of four cups. Place
it into a large pot and bring it to a roiling boil.</li>
<li>Add one package of Sure Jel pectin and one tablespoon of lemon juice to the
mixture. </li>
<li>Bring it to a roiling boil that cannot be stirred down.</li>
<li>Add five cups of sugar and return the mixture to a roiling boil that can’t be
stirred down. Once you reach that stage, boil for one minute.</li>
<li>After one minute, remove from the heat.</li>
<li>Stir in a pinch of butter at this stage to help remove bubbles.</li>
<li>Fill the clean hot jars to the ¼” headspace line. </li>
<li>Wipe the rim of each jar, then apply a
lid and a jar rim, tightening to fingertip tightness.</li>
<li>Follow your canner’s instructions and water bath can the jars for ten minutes.</li>
<li>Remove from the canner and place on a towel to cool. After 12 hours,
remove the rims and check the jars to ensure the lids have sealed. Any which
have not, place in your refrigerator and use within a week. Those that have,
store in a dark place.</li>
</ul>
<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Note that Redbud blossoms make a gorgeous pink jelly, but the color fades over
time. So if you’re gifting them to someone else, do so sooner rather than
later. They will still taste the same.</span><br /><br />
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<!--[endif]--><br /><br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-66844950215969162032018-02-11T07:34:00.004-08:002018-08-03T07:36:35.095-07:00Seed Saving with Blossom Bags<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once I became hooked on growing my own tomatoes and other food, I wanted to start saving the seeds from what I grew so I could use them the following year.</div>
<br />
The principle is simple: make sure the plant you want to save seeds from doesn't become cross-pollinated by another plant of a different variety.<br />
<br />
So if I want to save seeds from my San Marzano tomatoes, I want to be sure the blossoms aren't pollinated by my Striped Roman plants.<br />
<br />
An easy way to do this with self-pollinating plants like tomatoes is to use blossom bags. You can make them yourself out of fine mesh organza if you have the sewing gene, or you can buy them online. I like the ones that <a href="https://www.seedsavers.org/blossom-bags" target="_blank">Seed Savers Exchange</a> offers, they're not too expensive and well made. They work well for things like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and even beans.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-8V8IYKxoPQ3elSwtoZ-9XM5ptflm67xQtfi92-5LJg6rowiW3VYz16XU6EtCKD1Xs3hDC7WbpN5ytrNLxuZzu0po7z0Hqyy8TlE74On36V5ASCd0_-dJjROrAQki-KHLfaP8-wv1N6d/s1600/Blossom+bag+CR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-8V8IYKxoPQ3elSwtoZ-9XM5ptflm67xQtfi92-5LJg6rowiW3VYz16XU6EtCKD1Xs3hDC7WbpN5ytrNLxuZzu0po7z0Hqyy8TlE74On36V5ASCd0_-dJjROrAQki-KHLfaP8-wv1N6d/s200/Blossom+bag+CR.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blossom Bags from<br />
Seed Savers Exchange</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Place the bag over the blossom before it opens, to ensure no other pollen has gotten in. Close the ribbon gently but completely around the stem. You may need to strip a leaf or two off to ensure you can do so and leave enough room for the growing fruit. Some people will tap the plant once a day or so in order to be sure the blossom is pollinated. But do so very gently, as sometimes that will cause the blossom to fall off.<br />
<br />
Once the fruit is formed you can gently remove the bag, and mark the fruit for later collection and saving. (I use a twist tie or piece of a pipe cleaner.) Let it ripen, and once it has, harvest it.<br />
<br />
Certain seeds, especially tomatoes and cucumbers, should be fermented for a few days to remove germination inhibitors and soften the gelatin coating that covers them. Doing so is simple, and you can use a mason or other jar. Others, like pumpkins and squash, can just be cleaned and dried.<br />
<br />
For wet vegetables like tomatoes, rinse the tomato well in water to remove any dirt or fungus clinging to the skin. Then cut it open, and scrape the gelatinous material that the seeds are in out into a jar. If the tomato is very dry (like a paste tomato) you can add some water, but you don't always need to if the fruit is wet.<br />
<br />
I cover the jar with a piece of paper towel secured by a rubber band, and put the date on the jar. You want to let the seeds ferment for several days at about 70 degrees (the top of a fridge is a good place for this.)<br />
<br />
Once or twice a day give the jar a swirl, during which you'll notice some of the seeds sink to the bottom. Those will be your most viable seeds, and the ones you want to save.<br />
<br />
After three days, put another one or two inches of lukewarm water into the jar, and swirl it around again, then let the seeds settle for a minute or so. Then gently pour the top later of gunk out of the jar, which will take with it some of the seeds that didn't sink. Rinse the remaining seeds several more times using a very fine mesh strainer, making sure there is no gelatinous material clinging to them.<br />
<br />
Next comes a step you can skip if you're just saving the seeds for yourself, but you really should do if you're going to sell or give the seeds to anyone else. You want to ensure there are no fungi or molds on the seeds before you dry them, so a quick rinse in a 10% bleach solution is needed.<br />
<br />
Be sure to use just a plain old 5.25% bleach, not concentrated or with any fragrance. Just the cheap stuff. Make a ten percent solution by adding 4 1/2 teaspoons of beach to one cup of pure water, or 1 1/2 cups of bleach to one gallon of pure water if you're doing a lot of batches at once. Note, you must discard each batch after use (don't reuse it on another batch), and it will only keep for about 12 hours. So smaller batches works better I find.<br />
<br />
Now sources differ on how long to leave the seeds in a bleach solution, some say you must do so for 30 minutes, some as little as a minute. I leave mine in the solution for about five minutes, swirling them around about once a minute to be sure all the seeds make contact with the solution.<br />
<br />
Note that some people use a stronger solution (1 part bleach to four parts water), they are the ones who leave the seeds in for the shorter amount of time.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-8229Og0TZrlSBfH-IvweCrzADGtHhyphenhyphen-30_UubQXjHvMrSti79qUQXK9ZGlBY2zlGYwYz5wrOYvbeHU13Unzq-WxjzMEcRg_HKYFzgkpeDCfRoLU_QhxFVIOa2cfIIPxsA_VjbjnEwud/s1600/Paper+plate+CR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-8229Og0TZrlSBfH-IvweCrzADGtHhyphenhyphen-30_UubQXjHvMrSti79qUQXK9ZGlBY2zlGYwYz5wrOYvbeHU13Unzq-WxjzMEcRg_HKYFzgkpeDCfRoLU_QhxFVIOa2cfIIPxsA_VjbjnEwud/s200/Paper+plate+CR.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drying seeds on a paper plate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once you've finished the bleach soak, rinse the seeds very thoroughly to make sure no traces of the bleach remain. Then dump them out onto a coffee filter or paper plate to dry, labeling it with the type of seed and the date processed. Be sure to spread them out so they dry evenly, and swirl them around on the second day and each day afterwards (they may stick to the filter or plate, if so gently pry them loose and stir.) I leave mine on top of a bookcase for about a week. After that, you're done! <br />
<br />
You will want to put them into a small paper envelope for storage, and then into an airtight container like a mason jar (I don't like putting the seeds in small ziplocs for long term storage, although I do use those to ship seeds to friends.) Some people store their seeds in the fridge, I don't have room in mine for seeds so I keep them in my cool basement.<br />
<br />
And there you are! Seeds kept from your own plants which you can use to grow more of them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-71008045109844982262018-01-16T12:12:00.003-08:002020-04-01T09:14:22.233-07:00Should You Buy Chickens?I am editing this for April of 2020. With the Corona Virus upon us, a lot of people are considering getting their own chickens. As someone who's had them since 2001, I have some thoughts on this.<br />
<br />
The first thing you need to know is, owning your own chickens will not save you money. Not at all. Not on eggs, not on meat. Just walk away if you're thinking that. It will cost you lots of money at first, and more than the food would cost down the road. My grandfather had chickens (as did his father) and my grandmother used to quip about "The $10,000 Eggs" he'd get. But if you're sure you don't care about the cost, read on. Also remember, you can find a farmer near you from whom to buy eggs at <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/" target="_blank">Local Harvest.</a><br />
<br />
There are two basic types of people who own chickens: those who treat them as pets, and those who treat them as livestock.<br />
<br />
Of course, there's a lot of grey in there, it's not all black and white. But if you boil it down, that's what you get. Most people who breed chickens seriously treat them as livestock. I am one of those. If you ever catch me kissing a chicken or putting a diaper or sweater on it you will know I've gone 'round the bend and should have my keys taken away.<br />
<br />
But either way, there are some cold hard truths that people need to face before they get poultry. And the main one is, <b>what will I do when a chicken needs to be culled?</b><br />
<br />
There's that word, culling. It means, bluntly, usually, to put to death. To remove from the breeding pool. To kill.<br />
<br />
And if you own chickens, sooner or later, you're going to have to kill one (or more, more likely, as time goes on.)<br />
<br />
There are very few vets who deal with chickens, and the ones who do, generally don't know as much as the seasoned poultry breeder does about the birds. Poultry health is typically not something vets learn in university, and for the most part, most of the medications breeders use on chickens are off-label, as there just aren't that many developed for chickens.<br />
<br />
I don't know who said it originally, but I'm pretty sure it was poultry judge and longtime breeder Matt Lhamon who quipped to me early on in my chicken adventures "The best cure for a sick chicken is an axe." And sadly, it's true.<br />
<br />
Chickens are peculiar. When they become ill, they hide it very well until they are <b>very</b> ill, and close to death. So once a chicken starts showing signs of illness, they are usually too far gone to do anything about.<br />
<br />
As well, there's the problem of the law of averages when it comes to hatching chicks. Give or take, about half of the chicks that hatch will be males. And unfortunately, most people don't need a flock of half males and half females for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that a lot of males will fight each other, sometimes to death. I find a good ratio of males to females is about 1 male to every 8 or so females. So then you have to decide, what will I do with all those extra males?<br />
<br />
You can try to sell them of course, or give them away, but if you do it's likely they'll wind up being killed anyway to make dinner for someone. No one wants a yard full of cockerels as pets. And I prefer to keep my extra males and eat them myself.<br />
<br />
So ideally, before a person gets chickens, they need to ask themselves, "Will I be able to kill a chicken when the time comes?"<br />
<br />
If you can't answer that question with a yes, then you shouldn't get chickens, in my opinion. Of course, your mileage may vary, and I am sure there are lots of people who get chickens who don't ever kill one. I suppose a vet, paid enough money, will euthanize a chicken, but I know I've never gone that route. But over time that would get relatively expensive, and isn't a really practical way to go.<br />
<br />
I encourage friends who have the space for them to get chickens, I think it's a great thing for kids to learn about animal husbandry, and nothing beats an egg warm from the hen when it comes to taste. But anyone thinking about it should also be sure they can answer that question. Because sooner or later, the time will come when you'll have to kill a chicken.<br />
<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-65954142296856419882017-07-16T07:49:00.000-07:002017-07-16T08:41:12.666-07:00You Can Help The BeesThese days bees seem to be in the news a lot. People often ask what they can do to help the bees, and one way to do so is to provide them with water during the summer. If you want to go even further, you can make a simple sugar syrup to fee the bees during the dearth (when most sources of nectar are not flowing.)<br />
<br />
You can add either liquid to any number of containers: a plain plastic plate with some rocks in it, a bucket with some corks, or a chicken waterer with some pebbles. The important part is to a) ensure the bees have good footing so they don't drown, and b) if you're feeding sugar syrup, to do it right, and change it before it gets moldy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1qli8B4MIgUR4RKYu4alEyLL6yaY3WOvMQB21eTF_-ZZZQ83oyVTmFMJini-22qOwVtfR7z7Di8d-udAujGF8JybXLz9R4nkkwDvC6TLaGp7jzvE5hOF9H0E6moF9lwb7rbIatGWSysd/s1600/Bee+waterer+CR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1qli8B4MIgUR4RKYu4alEyLL6yaY3WOvMQB21eTF_-ZZZQ83oyVTmFMJini-22qOwVtfR7z7Di8d-udAujGF8JybXLz9R4nkkwDvC6TLaGp7jzvE5hOF9H0E6moF9lwb7rbIatGWSysd/s320/Bee+waterer+CR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small bucket with corks for the bees to perch on,<br />
and a handkerchief for them to suck water out of,<br />
works very well (they won't roll the corks, don't worry.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Making sugar syrup for bees is easy. You use a ratio of 1 part granulated white sugar (nothing else please, not honey, not corn syrup, not brown sugar) to 2 parts water.<br />
<br />
I use an electric teakettle to boil the water (recommended to remove anything that might make the syrup mold faster), pour it over the sugar, stir, and let cool.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhmoQpyKDMqMzWwTIaUYFwqoJ-GUdC05EQ4pfrC3y2QDR6X9HmhPd16kdJAR0pslEnnGpeHZDiZctW8-Q8NPx685KE0SrOIUbtOdliJMW3gzrGwc1WtBMO2i1g1PeZOwZEgt4-bi8DXwH/s1600/Bee+Feeder+1bCR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="993" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhmoQpyKDMqMzWwTIaUYFwqoJ-GUdC05EQ4pfrC3y2QDR6X9HmhPd16kdJAR0pslEnnGpeHZDiZctW8-Q8NPx685KE0SrOIUbtOdliJMW3gzrGwc1WtBMO2i1g1PeZOwZEgt4-bi8DXwH/s320/Bee+Feeder+1bCR.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A simple plastic plate with some rocks for the bees to perch on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Another great way to help bees and other pollinators is to plant wildflowers and trees in your yard which provide nectar for them. A long list of these for plants in North America can be found <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Northern_American_nectar_sources_for_honey_bees" target="_blank">on Wikipedia here</a>.<br />
<br />
It's also really easy to sow white clover in your lawn. It doesn't get too tall (cuts down on mowing) and is a good source of nectar for the bees throughout much of the summer.<br />
<br />
Even the simplest of things, like a bucket of water with some corks, can a great help. Just remember to change it regularly and keep it clean. And thanks! The bees appreciate it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdQShZdKbHwF9uHefzv3F7cYAmQrI6P9H903ww3jtPUOWtC0r31vFsc_Uc38HoGwuAQw7tMrfR2NKJjoakAEsbCTKTyoLY-XiRG-NlA5gzAxIY_QssIzO2csbty1GJSKlZEVu3kRbhnjE/s1600/Chicken+waterer+feeding+CR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdQShZdKbHwF9uHefzv3F7cYAmQrI6P9H903ww3jtPUOWtC0r31vFsc_Uc38HoGwuAQw7tMrfR2NKJjoakAEsbCTKTyoLY-XiRG-NlA5gzAxIY_QssIzO2csbty1GJSKlZEVu3kRbhnjE/s320/Chicken+waterer+feeding+CR.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even a chicken waterer with some pebbles works.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-50888041686123733382017-04-28T09:09:00.001-07:002017-04-28T09:10:22.260-07:00Splitting a Bee HiveEarlier this week I was invited to help a local friend "make a split" of one of her beehives. Beekeepers do this to keep strong hives from swarming and to ensure the bees have enough space to grow.<br />
<br />
Bees reproduce by swarming. In nature and in apiaries, sooner or later a strong hive of bees will run out of room, and will feel the urge to swarm. A swarm generally has the old queen with it, who will accompany a large group of foragers and nurse bees to a new location a scout finds for them.<br />
<br />
The hive left behind will have newly laid eggs, from which they will hatch a new queen. Every egg laid by a queen bee has the potential to be a queen, it is the nurse bees who decide when to create a new one, either to supersede a queen which doesn't live up to their standards, or to replace one that has been injured or has died.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOoxj75MyMDaTOpGZWEdm1HGoBjBaVkrVCcrjBEsx2m0qVMnpGrt1vsiNy73_D3mRPFRtnfzo9i639wUxin53pCC8ZqRWe1SWedPWzK3VpzdqX8CWzpmJ_8p505OZ84gJmvcPAe8thD4Z/s1600/Booming+1aCR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOoxj75MyMDaTOpGZWEdm1HGoBjBaVkrVCcrjBEsx2m0qVMnpGrt1vsiNy73_D3mRPFRtnfzo9i639wUxin53pCC8ZqRWe1SWedPWzK3VpzdqX8CWzpmJ_8p505OZ84gJmvcPAe8thD4Z/s200/Booming+1aCR.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A strong hive booming with bees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Making a split allows a hive to grow without going through the swarming process. Beekeepers who are paying attention in the spring know that splitting a hive will both a) give the bees the space they need and b) give them yet another free hive of bees!<br />
<br />
It's a pretty simple process, but you do have to pay attention. The way my friend N does it is to start by inspecting a hive to ensure it's healthy and has a booming population.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
She leaves the queen behind in the original hive body, and moves four frames of new eggs, brood, and nurse bees to a new hive. It's important to ensure you have newly laid eggs, as the bees need one under three days old to convert to a queen, which they do by feeding the developing larva royal jelly and making the cell large enough to hold the larger queen body.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT7aEcU9S1RwpgH5sIhCPnb09RrBhBm8CNWdfH1x2s6LgmlR44gcTaIp2_os9lnx11kJ4NPr563GTmbtXVsoKBE6D5rLkWDkH5KBNDshmSpK-yz1r6VQIpKhQjVu7k3SyVqMxodZE5Ugr/s1600/Brood+1aCR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT7aEcU9S1RwpgH5sIhCPnb09RrBhBm8CNWdfH1x2s6LgmlR44gcTaIp2_os9lnx11kJ4NPr563GTmbtXVsoKBE6D5rLkWDkH5KBNDshmSpK-yz1r6VQIpKhQjVu7k3SyVqMxodZE5Ugr/s200/Brood+1aCR.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choose four frames with<br />
newly laid eggs and brood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
Once she moves the four frames, N uses sliding dividers in the hive to close the frames up, which ensures the bees don't have too much space to try to keep warm, which can be problematic. Brood needs to be kept warm, and if the bees have to protect too much space as they're doing so, the brood might suffer and the new queen not hatch.<br />
<br />
In a week or so N will check the new split to ensure they've made a new queen, and take other steps if they haven't. Simple and effective, making splits is a skill every beekeeper should know how to do.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJG_5zzgX0kUmOlM-uzdd8I3IXp9puLEB9T9Cyz9sHXgyvU7QLs8wAWPbxiYHNnJEm2zeUmPM77StbBog3A-MixSZKIByZRgrAj6NbPgAExrmZU8JT0y3U8T02zxvIyehAw2Eslrcp_lBa/s1600/Finished+Split+1a+CR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJG_5zzgX0kUmOlM-uzdd8I3IXp9puLEB9T9Cyz9sHXgyvU7QLs8wAWPbxiYHNnJEm2zeUmPM77StbBog3A-MixSZKIByZRgrAj6NbPgAExrmZU8JT0y3U8T02zxvIyehAw2Eslrcp_lBa/s320/Finished+Split+1a+CR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A finished split</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-33719736377456211162017-01-10T05:53:00.000-08:002017-01-10T05:55:09.297-08:00Planning a GardenMy friend Ame runs a wonderful non-profit, <a href="http://www.foxrunenvironmentaleducationcenter.org/" target="_blank">Fox Run Environmental Education Center</a> not far from me, and she recently posted a <a href="http://www.foxrunenvironmentaleducationcenter.org/new-blog/2017/1/6/work-that-plan-planning-for-a-productive-sustainable-garden" target="_blank">blog entry</a> which goosed me into making plans for our expanded garden this year.<br />
<br />
I had done some research over the past several years, and found some very useful garden planning software at <a href="http://growveg.com/">GrowVeg.com</a> which I decided to start using this past week. I really like the functionality of this software, although the interface is a wee bit slow at times, but that may be my internet connection and not them, hard to say for sure.<br />
<br />
I like that I can choose a number of different shapes in which to organize the plants, from square raised beds to round containers, and even triangles for fancy herb garden plots.<br />
<br />
I decided to keep it simple for the herb garden this year, as it will be new. I made two raised beds, and two containers. One raised bed will need rich, loamy soil, the other a more dry, sandy environment. And in one of the containers I am going to attempt to grow Rosemary, which is apparently hard to do successfully, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained right?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-eGQSTru21WD8iN0jHZ0IO33C2Xsohs03NlkOS_5x-Ik8XWujKIHirSyGY-QK-CmZ31WcWJknST1aEOtlLVPhQConxXNhMsUgLV-6VOCqMkS68bYwSlmV7ZRKFOSsq0H5lmRyvTh4U3a/s1600/Herb+garden+screen+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-eGQSTru21WD8iN0jHZ0IO33C2Xsohs03NlkOS_5x-Ik8XWujKIHirSyGY-QK-CmZ31WcWJknST1aEOtlLVPhQConxXNhMsUgLV-6VOCqMkS68bYwSlmV7ZRKFOSsq0H5lmRyvTh4U3a/s400/Herb+garden+screen+shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a screen shot from the GrowVeg software.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of the features of this software I like the best is the ability to create a Plant List, which shows the entire list of plants you're planning to use, as well as sowing and harvesting times (both indoor and outdoor sowing for those plants which need it.<br />
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxU-y0LiujoiTKijA5L_jc4I3J9gPbIILBDkg5UrmKf8sTzq8l8zXgD6gPHoRfWuLscqEtlUrvNbJZqTV4N_GqnUECvWLxPaO_uy9aQFHU8N16tGicZws7jaj_cSHxGQl7hUgApS-dLLJ/s1600/Plant+List+screen+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxU-y0LiujoiTKijA5L_jc4I3J9gPbIILBDkg5UrmKf8sTzq8l8zXgD6gPHoRfWuLscqEtlUrvNbJZqTV4N_GqnUECvWLxPaO_uy9aQFHU8N16tGicZws7jaj_cSHxGQl7hUgApS-dLLJ/s400/Plant+List+screen+shot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
There are a number of other features which I've only begun to explore, but these two alone have saved me a lot of time/effort.<br />
<br />
It is a subscription service, and costs $29 a year. I will note, because it wasn't clearly mentioned on the website, that you can only create a total of five plans per year for that price, which honestly seems a bit low (I was able to negotiate an additional five with their support staff, but don't know if they'll do that for everyone, so don't get your hopes up.)<br />
<br />
All in all, it's worth the price if you aren't a pen and paper kind of person (which I am not) and it's definitely worth a look-see.<br />
<br />
And fwiw, those of you planning to grow onions this year, get them sown into the inside flats, it's time! (Thanks to Vicky Tewes of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/125182864213717/" target="_blank">Thistlehair Farm</a> for reminding me.)<br />
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MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-6774080372623233872016-11-24T08:33:00.002-08:002016-11-25T05:21:03.547-08:00How to Render BeeswaxOne of the most valuable things that beekeepers get from our bees is the wax that they make. It's valuable in several ways, not the least of which is for the frames we give the bees to use. When bees have drawn comb (used their wax to make the honeycomb that they store honey in or use for their brood and pollen), frames can be used over several times, and that saves bees the effort of drawing new comb every time they need it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUPCmEAKv_v1__CxpRk9fdNFlYpFZi8W-TF7YfyeTUVHigduRNQ5MifIkKvudSNHc0m9QPhMqjCahG5cLGR0wMlnsAMOr7Tq6IvzoHVXFx0vl5q_FgGYEYAHQ_4yL1KB4smVdPW_ETMyM/s1600/Wax+second+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUPCmEAKv_v1__CxpRk9fdNFlYpFZi8W-TF7YfyeTUVHigduRNQ5MifIkKvudSNHc0m9QPhMqjCahG5cLGR0wMlnsAMOr7Tq6IvzoHVXFx0vl5q_FgGYEYAHQ_4yL1KB4smVdPW_ETMyM/s320/Wax+second+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wax that has been rendered and filtered twice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So when we harvested honey this year, we used an extractor (thanks S & L!) and used its centrifugal force to whip the honey out of the frames (after we remove the caps) and save that valuable drawn comb, as opposed to just crushing and straining all the wax and honey off the frames<br />
<br />
After extraction of the honey the cappings, which are scraped off and drained, are very useful for a variety of things, not the least of which is candles, lotions, lip balms, and to melt and use to add to new frames to assist the bees in drawing them out later.<br />
<br />
The process of rendering the beeswax is fairly simple, although it does take some time. (Also, see this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HappyBeeInc/videos/1784569591789113/?hc_location=ufi" target="_blank">great video</a>, which is one of several from which I got the inspiration for this post. Thanks Cameron.)<br />
<br />
I used the following:<br />
<br />
A cheap slow cooker (which will be dedicated to wax from now on)<br />
Some cheesecloth<br />
Some paper towel<br />
Water<br />
And of course, wax that needs to be rendered<br />
<br />
How To:<br />
<br />
Put about two inches of water in the bottom of the slow cooker.<br />
<br />
Over that, stretch a double or triple layer of cheesecloth. I taped it to the slow cooker at both ends, the corners, and the middle.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X5cUDlDJW02j2DG5ZK-8tqH6tt6VCRgm4E_p65SoJD5hjzPV0wGB-rabqRroZ6J1YlgKPpgRenvBSsVLWU3t8rmbwAvIC5hIxpk-XaOGPqpl4RuqlTHfhrIg9TfpZIKlzGxr1UZB2u8m/s1600/Paper+Towel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X5cUDlDJW02j2DG5ZK-8tqH6tt6VCRgm4E_p65SoJD5hjzPV0wGB-rabqRroZ6J1YlgKPpgRenvBSsVLWU3t8rmbwAvIC5hIxpk-XaOGPqpl4RuqlTHfhrIg9TfpZIKlzGxr1UZB2u8m/s200/Paper+Towel+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheesecloth and paper towel over the top<br />
of the slow cooker, taped to it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Over that stretch a layer of paper towel. Tape it down as above.<br />
<br />
Over the whole thing, put a large rubber band of some sort (the slow cooker I bought came with one.)<br />
<br />
Then place the wax cappings on top of the paper towel (and any extra comb you've scraped off which the bees made in places they shouldn't have, which is called burr comb.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrjGdbRcOAxx4XSpwZa07V0msFNLej9QxPVfjAbKBBOsNFJiF-no83xb6ShGfLgsjY48TDbwFpQMLh3T43xSGs-jEnsQKW2rlJEfGN2vmxN-514NmbMQMALKXFp93g30AefDFVVH0c47J/s1600/Adding+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrjGdbRcOAxx4XSpwZa07V0msFNLej9QxPVfjAbKBBOsNFJiF-no83xb6ShGfLgsjY48TDbwFpQMLh3T43xSGs-jEnsQKW2rlJEfGN2vmxN-514NmbMQMALKXFp93g30AefDFVVH0c47J/s200/Adding+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cappings and brood comb ready to melt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Turn the slow cooker to low, cover it, and let it do its thing. I suggest being patient and not using the high temperature setting, as it can cause the wax to boil, which makes it not smell as lovely when it's done rendering.<br />
<br />
Check it about every half an hour or so. And <b>do not</b> leave the slow cooker unattended, too much of a fire risk.<br />
<br />
After an hour or three you'll see the wax has mostly seeped through the layers of filter, and there's some ugly black stuff left. This is called slumgum, and is all the dirt that has been brought into the comb by the bees tiny feet, plus other general detrius.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgg6qRHTEUGZGMmNJ82O3z2NrDEWoLbJIYHd63r62IcTruDLNrPStrtIePVyV98frA-AfM0GS-fXOufTM8kmdf6k_p9F9xMbmzeCjxsVTCc8RRvT0Jhs_cm-v6O31pGU_7sTwL-izIGm7/s1600/Slumgum+finished+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgg6qRHTEUGZGMmNJ82O3z2NrDEWoLbJIYHd63r62IcTruDLNrPStrtIePVyV98frA-AfM0GS-fXOufTM8kmdf6k_p9F9xMbmzeCjxsVTCc8RRvT0Jhs_cm-v6O31pGU_7sTwL-izIGm7/s200/Slumgum+finished+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slumgum left behind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once all the wax has melted through, turn the slow cooker off and let it cool completely. Once it has, remove the filter material, but save it, as it works very well as fuel for your smoker when you use it to inspect your hives.<br />
<br />
You may need to slide a knife around the edge of the wax, but the water should have allowed it to form into a nice patty. Lift it out and there you are.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV_MUxCN-a6Mli2oMuTBqeH71RoSoGcfeBowyj2O15pI5tPMeVrcs1BVcJsJBq76qNr1x4ioY0nuofrFYDNntfcCNwOeZ-zeL-SjKKOhlaTfuz57xhaqWOfpiumEE-XaFbWSdBrxl5UgB/s1600/Wax+first+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV_MUxCN-a6Mli2oMuTBqeH71RoSoGcfeBowyj2O15pI5tPMeVrcs1BVcJsJBq76qNr1x4ioY0nuofrFYDNntfcCNwOeZ-zeL-SjKKOhlaTfuz57xhaqWOfpiumEE-XaFbWSdBrxl5UgB/s200/Wax+first+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patty of wax after first filtering</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I find that most times I need to repeat the process, as the first time some of the yuck gets through the filter and seeps into the water, and winds up on the underside of the wax. And you'd be surprised how much dirt a seemingly clean patty of wax still has when you filter it twice.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhi-FfYWVnOJ3n12CB9BVJn5rElAdj3oPolYTRu58eA5-yV8qa9pTMOexXiOXVf3azFbE-ML8DsXyhCDn32Yj5yO-CPjrdXilRKoinqhjBL8AZfbApHA3p9Algm7tHJvj8L0_T8fNI0P-/s1600/PT+second+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhi-FfYWVnOJ3n12CB9BVJn5rElAdj3oPolYTRu58eA5-yV8qa9pTMOexXiOXVf3azFbE-ML8DsXyhCDn32Yj5yO-CPjrdXilRKoinqhjBL8AZfbApHA3p9Algm7tHJvj8L0_T8fNI0P-/s200/PT+second+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filter material after second rendering</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When you're done, you have clean wax you can use for any number of things. I made candles, which I'll write about in a subsequent post.<br />
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<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-20702360902312999022016-10-22T09:30:00.000-07:002016-10-22T09:32:03.157-07:00Ditch the Meal Kit Delivery Services, Friend a Farmer Instead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh6yxrAxBbTehPYN5v4CMePJ6WRNd-1f_5MkvBwQqpi71oDe_Da3uIpto13m9CZjc-g2qvZwscSh97cS2gm3GmCGYlMiKyLls8B6kV-F3uWH7Y35Z-b-1bKrLZLJNqcEMfnowcFja0NR0/s1600/Vickies+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMh6yxrAxBbTehPYN5v4CMePJ6WRNd-1f_5MkvBwQqpi71oDe_Da3uIpto13m9CZjc-g2qvZwscSh97cS2gm3GmCGYlMiKyLls8B6kV-F3uWH7Y35Z-b-1bKrLZLJNqcEMfnowcFja0NR0/s200/Vickies+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I keep getting ads on my Facebook feed for various meal kit delivery services, which ship ingredients for meals right to your door. Aside from the fact that I live on a farm and am working hard on producing much of our own food, these services bother me for a number of reasons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Buying meal ingredients such as vegetables, meats, and fruits from your local farmers is healthier, and you can source foods which are raised organically, humanely, free from nasties you don't want in your food, and you can bask in the glow of knowing you're supporting your neighbors. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We're out there, and you can find us easily on Facebook, other social media, or via the </span><a href="http://www.localharvest.org/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Local Harvest </a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">website.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By buying locally you're reducing your <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint" target="_blank">carbon footprint</a>, because your food doesn't have to be hauled for hundreds of miles by trucks which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions (don't get me wrong, I love my OTR trucker friends, but every small step can add up in a big way.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These services really take the creativity out of planning and cooking your own meals. Meal planning can become a family activity, sit down and do it once a week and get your kids involved. Too many people, adults and children, really don't have any idea where their food comes from. Having it magically arrive in a box at your door removes you and your kids even more from the process and your local farmers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These services are really harming farmers in your areas who do CSAs, <a href="https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/community-supported-agriculture" target="_blank">Community Supported Agriculture</a>. Your local small farmers need your support, and you need them! Do you really want all your food grown by huge monoculture factory farms, some in other countries? Many CSA's now include recipe suggestions for the food you purchase from them, and allow you to tailor your order to include or exclude things to fit your needs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's no way you're saving money with such services. They wouldn't be doing it if they didn't have a huge profit margin. Studies show that spending just $100 a year locally has a measurable benefit to your community.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So while these services sound really cool in theory, the bottom line is, not so much. Support your local small businesses, the farmers, the processors, the feed stores, the garden stores. It really does make a difference. And you'll love the food, I promise.</span>MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-70723294809198669782016-10-14T07:39:00.000-07:002016-10-14T07:39:05.161-07:00Happy World Egg Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Breeding poultry being one of the things we do here, we eat a lot of egg dishes. Heck, some days we have as many as 16 dozen eggs in the fridge! So we've learned to be creative with recipes that use a lot of eggs. Here are two of my favorites. They'll use a total of a dozen eggs; one uses 12 egg yolks, the other 12 egg whites.</div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdnJs9isuT0YT7n_tarSMEQd6AIqwuXmb_sve0oYNheW7e3vh0kfAsGzeMll7TSaN8uRVe70-M7pU7uRLxCjajbVGw6NLc3BQSjm9gIu2213QRPksvGvpnNAE7ZSnbIaRsADZyWOTksBj/s1600/Melissas+eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdnJs9isuT0YT7n_tarSMEQd6AIqwuXmb_sve0oYNheW7e3vh0kfAsGzeMll7TSaN8uRVe70-M7pU7uRLxCjajbVGw6NLc3BQSjm9gIu2213QRPksvGvpnNAE7ZSnbIaRsADZyWOTksBj/s200/Melissas+eggs.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<b>Golden Sponge Cake</b><br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
12 egg yolks<br />
3 cups cake flour<br />
2 ½ tsp baking powder<br />
½ tsp salt<br />
2 cups sugar<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
½ tsp lemon extract<br />
1 cup cold water<br />
<br />
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br />- Sift cake flour and sugar (separately) once before measuring.<br />
- Sift together three times: flour, baking powder, and salt.<br />
- In mixing bowl, beat egg yolks on high until very fluffy and thick.<br />
- Gradually beat in sugar.<br />
- Beat 2 more minutes on high and scrape bowl.<br />
- Turn to #2 speed (low) and add vanilla, lemon extract, and cold water.<br />
- Then gradually, but quickly add sifted flour mixture while beating on #2 speed, scrape bowl. Beat only enough to blend, about 2 minutes.<br />
- Pour batter into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan.<br />
- Bake 1 hour or until golden brown.<br />
- Invert cake to cool.<br />
- Loosen sides with spatula or knife and remove from pan.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>I make the sponge cake first since the yolks don't have to be room temp.</i><br /><br />
<b>Angel Food Cake</b><br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
<br />
1 ½ cups egg whites brought to room temp<br />
1 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar<br />
1 cup sifted cake flour<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
1 ½ tsp cream of tartar<br />
1 ½ tsp vanilla<br />
¼ tsp salt<br />
¼ tsp almond extract<br />
<br />
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.<br />
- Sift powdered sugar and cake flour separately once, measure for correct amount and sift together four more times.<br />
- Place egg whites in a large bowl, add salt, cream of tartar, vanilla, and almond extract.<br />
- Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form.<br />
- Gradually add sugar 2 Tbsp at a time.<br />
- Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, but not dry peaks.<br />
- On lowest speed add powdered sugar and flour.<br />
- Take off of mixer and finish mixing by hand with a rubber spatula folding over easy.<br />
- Pour (spoon) into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan.<br />
- With a knife or spatula, carefully cut through batter in circular motion 6 times to release large air bubbles.<br />
- Bake at, on lowest rack in oven, for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.<br />
- Invert pan until cool. Loosen with spatula and remove from pan.<br />
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MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-24695479898829043052016-05-02T14:11:00.000-07:002016-05-02T14:11:46.806-07:00Messages You're Missing on Facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Did you know there was a whole section of your Messages area on Facebook which has things in it you may not even know about? It's called "Filtered" and it contains messages which FB decides that you may not want to see, and won't see, unless you go look in there. Who knew?<br /><br />This is not a farm-related topic, but a friend asked me to explain this, and this is the easiest way to do so.<br /><br />Start by going to the Home page on Facebook, which should look like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzPERjCXbOK2wznDhdKwqMrz7wXtqTS3e_YX-RfDaGLr6xzGlBpVun4ZGHstkvEHEpzDlqwjr5xds6QF0AtrO28xdNzgb3bGWSHfrtzWRWdkSfiC_FuBccwIbY04eMDJwAf_zCaOv-K1f/s1600/Hover+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzPERjCXbOK2wznDhdKwqMrz7wXtqTS3e_YX-RfDaGLr6xzGlBpVun4ZGHstkvEHEpzDlqwjr5xds6QF0AtrO28xdNzgb3bGWSHfrtzWRWdkSfiC_FuBccwIbY04eMDJwAf_zCaOv-K1f/s640/Hover+A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /><br />Hover your mouse over the Messages menu, and click on it to go to your Messages.<br />
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Once you're in your Messages area, you'll see three options; Unread, Filtered, and Archived:<br /><br />
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<br /><br /><br />Click on Filtered, and be amazed at what shows up at the left, messages you've never seen and had no idea were there! Apologize profusely to anyone who was inadvertently ignored, and delete the conversations you don't want.<br /><br />Thanks Facebook, for being my nanny. #eyerollMizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-71246578631678913352016-05-01T04:56:00.002-07:002016-05-01T05:28:14.341-07:00The Animals Will Tell You, If You ListenThis morning as I took the dogs out, I heard Old Crow. He was sitting atop the big Black Locust tree in the west pasture by the barn, cawing like mad. I knew he was upset about something, but couldn't see what it was. Sometimes it's just me, or me and the dogs. But today his voice was particularly strident, and sure enough, out from behind the barn sauntered Coyote.<br />
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I reached back in the house and grabbed my husband's rifle. Loaded, cocked, shot, missed. No surprise, it's not my gun, and I'm not used to the sighting system. Coyote ran off down to the east pasture, where he sat on his haunches and looked at me, bold as brass. Far too far for me to hit, but I tossed another shot at him anyway, just to run him off. Into the woods he went.<br />
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Looked down and two dogs were by my side, the third missing. I hollered, I called, I yelled. No Jethro. So I brought the other two inside (who all but knocked me over to get in), and then went to the front door. There he was! Jethro doesn't think much of shooting.<br />
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I then went upstairs so I could look out A's bathroom window, which shows the west pasture much more clearly. And the horses told me where Coyote was, slinking through the woods to the southwest of them. I didn't see him again, but watched the horses until they began to eat once more.<br />
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The animals will tell you, if you listen. That's all you have to do.MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-59853520193029017672016-04-28T06:55:00.000-07:002016-04-28T06:55:58.365-07:00The Dog Who Wants To Be A Cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVk7NYydX-xY_Mmc18anL4XWkWUy7RNpelrRoyoa9DRzLtQ_lqr38-LA-vdCxlE5qSLjlyZirfIMOcBsqx8smkekwE7m5vxmcdRwqPHIXOh2jfldSRW6l3e9lqarVMj7gYYo-X33yVkd7i/s1600/Good+Boy+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVk7NYydX-xY_Mmc18anL4XWkWUy7RNpelrRoyoa9DRzLtQ_lqr38-LA-vdCxlE5qSLjlyZirfIMOcBsqx8smkekwE7m5vxmcdRwqPHIXOh2jfldSRW6l3e9lqarVMj7gYYo-X33yVkd7i/s200/Good+Boy+72.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
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Today marks five years since Jethro came home to live with us. For about a month beforehand, I had seen him every day as I drove the kids back and forth to school. He and his sibling had been dumped at the local auto repair shop, where they were kindly tolerated, but not formally adopted.<br /><br />One day, his brother was gone. I worried a lot because I was afraid the pup had been hit by a car and killed, as people drive very fast along that road and it has a wicked curve.<br /><br />Later that week, we had occasion to pull in to talk to the owner of the auto repair shop, and while J spoke to him, I wandered over to see the pup. I scratched his head, I spoke sweetly, and before you knew it he was sitting on my lap in the car.<br /><br />J has put up with my inability to resist stray animals for many years, and sighed but accepted that this pup was coming home with us. Initially the idea was that he'd be a barn dog, and live outside 24/7 (as he had been already.) That lasted about 24 hours worth of howling at the patio door, and from then on Jethro was a house dog, which brought us up to three.<br /><br />He's an odd little fellow. He gets quite nervous if someone comes to the door, and has been known to bite the door itself in his frenzy to protect. He gets anxious if we're gone too long (we do not crate him, tried and failed miserably), and has been known to chew holes in the couch. But what he really wants to be, is a cat.<br /><br />Jethro loves to sit along the top or arm of the couches, as cats do. He hates mice, and is a better mouser than any dog I know, catching and eating them in a swift pounce. We even call him "Kitty" at times. He adores the small orange balls we get for the dogs, and will come and get us and bark repeatedly if one goes under the furniture (to the point where we call the balls Timmys, ala "Timmy's in the well.")<br /><br />The funniest story about Jethro happened recently. We have one barn cat left from when we moved here 13 years ago, and all the dogs get along with her just fine. We decided to adopt a pregnant cat from a friend who needed to find her a new home. As the husband and daughter came by to drop the cat off, they could see our dogs were fine with cats, as Starz was sitting on the front porch and the dogs all ignored her.<br /><br />As they were here, I offered to take them out to the horse pasture so the daughter could pat the soft noses. When we walked back to the house, Starz was still on the front porch, eating something. The young girl asked "What is THAT?" I realized she'd caught a mouse and was eating it, as she does.<br /><br />Jethro, on seeing this, dashed up the stairs and grabbed the mouse away from the cat, and promptly swallowed it. The father and daughter were rather pie-eyed, and I just laughed and said "Life in the country!"<br /><br />So happy welcome home day Jethro, we're so glad you're here.</div>
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MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-41871006519520239802016-03-31T14:03:00.000-07:002016-03-31T14:03:01.653-07:00Flower Jellies in the Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9n-Qq0qeItfvTLBkAK3snxlWpSH-xr8YeOGEDPTOpvXt0AvrLtfPB-a0MYKL4TflTDvdEJrShn-H4VSHpFMOjJV6lEvHO__NCIR8LM5ywxzMZgHJsM6xJoG7-RuxjZHRIUc8Z2AdIkJy/s1600/Pinkies+Twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9n-Qq0qeItfvTLBkAK3snxlWpSH-xr8YeOGEDPTOpvXt0AvrLtfPB-a0MYKL4TflTDvdEJrShn-H4VSHpFMOjJV6lEvHO__NCIR8LM5ywxzMZgHJsM6xJoG7-RuxjZHRIUc8Z2AdIkJy/s320/Pinkies+Twitter.jpg" width="320" /></a>Today as I drove into town I saw that the Redbud trees in our area are starting to bloom. And I remembered the delicious jelly I made from them, and later from the Black Locust trees on our farm. Redbud trees in full bloom are gorgeous. They are a member of the Legume family, which means their flowers are edible, and because of their lovely color, make a gorgeous jelly!</div>
<br />I cannot tell a lie, I did not develop the recipe I used myself, I found it online here:<br /><i><a href="http://frugallikegrandma.blogspot.com/2013/05/red-bud-trees-and-red-bud-jelly.html" target="_blank">Frugal Like Grandma</a></i><br />
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Clearly, this blogger has her stuff together, and not just because we have the same taste in blog backgrounds.<br /><br />At any rate, I went out last spring and spent quite a long time picking redbud blossoms (the most tedious part is the picking and cleaning of the flowers.) I rinsed them and then followed the recipe exactly.<br />
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I am lucky, I have a large water bath canner left over from the days when we had dairy goats and used it to pasteurize the milk.<br /><br />
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Once finished, the jellies were a gorgeous shade of pink. I will note however, that even in a dark pantry they lost their pretty color by Christmas time (I had saved some to use as gifts for loved ones), so use them sooner rather than later.<br />
<br />Once I got started and did more research, I found you can make jellies from any number of flowers and trees, who knew? I then made some jelly from our Black Locust trees, which have a pretty white blossom and which make a lightly yellow-tinged jelly. Equally delish, of course.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Later this year I want to branch out into even more floral jellies. I found another blog which listed a whole host of things that can be used to make tasty jellies, the only limit is your energy and time. This has </span><a href="http://theprepperproject.com/16-flower-jellies/" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Sixteen Flower Jellies</a><span style="text-align: start;"> listed. (No, I am not a "prepper" but that's a pretty cool list, so check it out anyway.) But in the meantime, consider making some of these pretty and tasty jellies.<br />You'll be glad you did!</span></div>
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<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-74970641569562777512016-02-26T13:30:00.000-08:002016-02-26T13:30:26.922-08:00Tips for Aspiring Beekeepers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL3Y-l88i-RvLDgnxHHVm81nE7blHurkKVD7NXQtsvshL_ve_0jj7aoVV4ZIx6yQafPAnNCKS5VuflLACkSxrdcBk1nUnbRRAkalozRi_GFFQ7PugfZvJXvVO58snvdJioOavcWw9Q0Fy/s1600/Circle+around+queen+cr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKL3Y-l88i-RvLDgnxHHVm81nE7blHurkKVD7NXQtsvshL_ve_0jj7aoVV4ZIx6yQafPAnNCKS5VuflLACkSxrdcBk1nUnbRRAkalozRi_GFFQ7PugfZvJXvVO58snvdJioOavcWw9Q0Fy/s320/Circle+around+queen+cr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Last year was our first year keeping bees. We did pretty well (knock wood) and made it through winter with three out of three hives. We have two hives of Italian bees, and one of Carniolan.<br /><br />We had four hives at the end of summer, but lost one to robbing in the late fall. Italian bees tend to rob a lot, and I learned from the experience, so won't let it happen again.<br /><br />A number of people are interested in getting into bees it seems, so I put together this list of tips for the aspiring "beek."<br /><br />In no particular order:<br />
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1) Order your supplies/hive components in late fall. This will allow you to assemble and paint etc. with plenty of time. If you haven't ordered things yet, do it right now, this minute.<br /><br />
2) Plan on having at least two hives. That allows you to compare them and their progress, which will help ensure your success.<br /><br />
3) Order your bees in Dec/Jan, depending on your location. Don't wait until spring when bee supply houses are crazy busy. Again, do it now if you haven't done it already.<br /><br />
3) Get at least one good book (I liked Beekeeping for Dummies.)<br /><br />
4) Watch videos on YouTube! You can't watch too many, really.<br /><br />
5) Join a local beekeeping club, take a class, see if you can find a local mentor. They will be invaluable when you have questions and need to see things hands-on.<br /><br />
6) Having done both, I suggest buying a nuc. Packages are slightly cheaper, but nucs will put you farther ahead in less time, and are more than worth it.<br /><br />
7) Plan your apiary location based on local weather. You want some basics: facing east/southeast, easy to work around, raised to keep predators at bay (skunks and the like). Far better to get the location right the first time than have to move the bees.<br /><br />
8) Learn when your local main nectar flow is. Ideally, get your bees well established before it is over, if you can.<br /><br />
9) Learn about what trees and plants provide nectar in your area. You'll want to think about planting some (especially trees) if you can.<br /><br />
10) There are a lot of good online groups and forums about bees, many of which are filled with helpful people. But also, be aware of the adage "Ask ten beekeepers a question and be prepared for at least twelve answers."<br />
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Good luck to you! I have found this a wonderful project, and bees fascinate me.MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-25102681061117373402015-12-08T08:54:00.001-08:002015-12-08T09:01:44.489-08:00Birder Ethics and Etiquette<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm in a very bad mood today. Yesterday something happened that I had feared would happen for about a week.<br />
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Last week a Snowy Owl was seen in southeastern Ohio, and the birding community in the area was hugely excited, naturally so.<br />
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While Snowys aren't really rare, they are unusual to find this far south, and when they are it's called an irruption. Irruptions of birds are when they're found outside of their normal range. When there is an irruption of Snowys, it typically is linked to the availability of their usual prey, lemmings.<br />
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When the lemming population booms, adult Snowy Owls will raise more young. That means more juvenile birds competing for food and territory when winter arrives. Which leads to them ranging further south than they normally do, and some lucky birders getting to see them who normally would not.<br />
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As well, being a huge, gorgeous raptor, these birds have major eye appeal, and that's not even taking into account the popularity of Hedwig, the owl from the Harry Potter series.<br />
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So it's natural that people are excited when a Snowy is spotted locally, and birders will "twitch" to see the rarity. Twitching means dedicated birders will travel quite a distance to see the bird which is out of its normal range. Often distance, money, and time are no object to the Twitcher, with the goal being to a) add the bird to a Life List, and b) take a fabulous photo (which you can then post online and earn the accolades of all your friends.)<br />
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I have been interested in birds since I was a young child. I have early memories of lying on the floor of the living room of my childhood home, listening as my mother played records of bird songs so that she could learn to identify birds by their songs alone. My mother was an avid birder ever since I can remember, and she and I both come from a long line of conservationists.<br />
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As well, my grandfather was known for his love of owls, (he had one as a youth), so much so that over the years, all anyone gave him were owl-themed gifts, and he even named his country cottage Owl House.<br />
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So the owl as a genus is near and dear to my heart, even more so than other birds. And when I heard there was a Snowy in SE Ohio, the message filled me with dread rather than joy.<br />
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Why? Because I knew that Twitchers would be coming from near and far to photograph the bird and view it. I knew that despite the best efforts of responsible birders, the bird would likely be harassed. You see, these birds who are far out of their normal range are usually under or malnourished, and need to be left alone so that they can hunt in peace. Every time the bird flies it's using energy that could be saved, and over time this can lead to illness and even death.<br />
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This is not an unknown problem, especially among birders. I mean, even <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/snowy-owls-photography_565e33afe4b08e945fed4a82" target="_blank">the Huffington Post did an article about this</a> just six days ago. So my fears are far from unjustified.<br />
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Did I go see the bird (which would have been a lifer for me)? No. Did I go to photograph it (I am a professional photographer, among other things.) No. Why? Because I felt my very presence would have the potential to harm the bird. In science, the term Observer Effect refers to changes that the act of observation will make on a phenomenon being observed. And so I decided not to go join the crowds who were observing the bird, despite wanting to see it very badly.<br />
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I also took one further step. I am the founder and an Admin of the Kentucky Birders group on Facebook. As such I posted the link to the article above in the group, and told members that I did not want posts giving the location of Snowy Owls in the group, as I didn't want to add to the throngs already doing so in other Facebook groups. And I didn't want photos being posted in a competition of sorts, to see who could get the best close-up shot of the bird.<br />
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Yesterday, to my extreme dismay, what I and others feared came to pass. The owl was killed by a car. Now, no one can say for sure that it was killed because of all the people who were watching it day after day. It may just have been a young, dumb bird which roosted and flew about in a dangerous place. That's Nature, and I get that. But we do also know that on Sunday there were people who were harassing the bird, getting too close, and ignoring other birders who pleaded with them to stop.<br />
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Is one bird dead really a big deal in the overall scheme of things in the world today? Of course not. But the intense desire of humans to capture a trophy (photo) and bragging rights of seeing a "lifer" does disturb me. There was quite a lot of discussion online about it last night, and I finally wound up leaving one group because my point of view wasn't overly popular, and I didn't feel like having to defend myself. I hope that if nothing else, I was able to get the Admins of that group to consider their policies about allowing posts and photos of this type.<br />
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I don't really know what the answers are. Do I think everyone should have an opportunity to see a magnificent bird outside of its usual range? I will answer with a qualified yes, because clearly we can't all control the environment, and ultimately the bird pays the price when things go wrong. People can post teary emoticons all they'd like, but that doesn't bring the bird back.<br />
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Perhaps all birders, new and experienced, need to think long and hard about their ethics and behavior, and consider Cornell University's <a href="http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1006789-guidelines-for-reporting-sensitive-species" target="_blank">eBird's Guidelines For Reporting Sensitive Species</a>. It's what I follow, and I encourage other birders to do the same. I think we should all consider whether adding a life bird to our list is worth endangering the bird itself's life. I know I don't think so.<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "merriweather" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-72797675091086088822015-01-04T09:41:00.000-08:002015-01-04T10:19:35.587-08:00Shipping Chicks - Baby Chickens in the MailFor the past five years or so I've shipped day-old Buckeye chicks all across the US, about 400 or so a year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNIbAcKtMQMf6pQOSmA-qpObtSmBRmLgLVB_nhx5QsSH8u23a6YHbT0H1zx1MiPIHkP8NCiPb-imH-A7NU-iAlIJxpj-L84xMS4oE9Myp908Nim_Zg9mee3ZejQ2gevPV5sbNyQCZWSJ7/s1600/Box+o+chicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNIbAcKtMQMf6pQOSmA-qpObtSmBRmLgLVB_nhx5QsSH8u23a6YHbT0H1zx1MiPIHkP8NCiPb-imH-A7NU-iAlIJxpj-L84xMS4oE9Myp908Nim_Zg9mee3ZejQ2gevPV5sbNyQCZWSJ7/s1600/Box+o+chicks.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a></div>
This year I'm taking off, for several reasons, and encouraging others to pick up the baton and run with it, to get some of their lines out there. One of those is my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharon.fildes.92" target="_blank">Sharon Fildes</a>, who lives in Ohio, and who has a ton of various rare breeds of poultry and waterfowl. She also has some great Buckeyes, in both large fowl and bantam. And this year she's ramping up to hatch and ship a lot of large fowl Buckeye chicks at a very reasonable price.<br />
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She has a Facebook Page you should check out: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SMFildesRareandendangeredPoultry/timeline" target="_blank">S.M. Fildes Rare and Endangered Poultry</a>, which she's still working on, but which will soon have her price list and photos of her Buckeyes. You can also <a href="mailto:smfildes@gmail.com" target="_blank">email her </a>to get on her waiting list, the time to do so is now if you want chicks in the spring! You can also find other breeders of Buckeyes on the <a href="http://www.americanbuckeyepoultryclub.com/Breeders.html" target="_blank">American Buckeye Poultry Club</a> website.<br />
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And for those of you who haven't shipped chicks before because you weren't sure what it entailed, I encourage you to do so. It's much more efficient and cost-effective than shipping hatching eggs, due mostly to the damage eggs receive during shipment which prevents them from hatching. If done right, shipping chicks is safe, easy, and gives one a much better base of stock to work with.<br />
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When I ship chicks I buy several items from <a href="http://cutlersupply.com/zen_new51/" target="_blank">Cutler Supply</a>: <a href="http://cutlersupply.com/zen_new51/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=661" target="_blank">25 chick shipping boxes</a>, <a href="http://cutlersupply.com/zen_new51/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_134&products_id=666" target="_blank">sisal mat box liners</a>, <a href="http://cutlersupply.com/zen_new51/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_134&products_id=939" target="_blank">heater pads</a> to ensure the chicks stay warm, and <a href="http://cutlersupply.com/zen_new51/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_134&products_id=442" target="_blank">Grow Gel Plus</a>, which keeps the chicks hydrated during their journey (I usually buy the larger bag of it to ensure I have enough in each box.)<br />
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Where I put the heater pad depends on what the temperature is out when I ship - when it's very cold I will put it on top of the sisal mat, when it's warmer I put it underneath the mat. But I always use one, as you never know where a box of chicks will wind up. I stop shipping in early June, as it's too hot to do so by then here in KY.<br />
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That's really all you need. Oh, that and a spreadsheet to keep track of your wait list, which if anyone wants they can <a href="mailto:pathfindersfarm@gmail.com" target="_blank">send me a message</a> and I'll be happy to share the one I have made up so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.<br />
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Your next step is to get your birds into breeding pens, make sure they're getting a good quality breeder ration, and collect eggs several times a day (eggs which get too cold lose fertility.) Do a test hatch or two to make sure your fertility rates are good, then hatch away!<br />
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I like to set hatches on a Monday afternoon or early evening, which means the majority of the chicks are hatched out by 21 days later, ready to ship by a Tuesday. I don't ship on Mondays, because there's often a lot of mail going out on Mondays and I want the birds to get where they're going with no delay.<br />
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I always ship chicks via Express Mail. It's just not worth it to to me to take the chance with Priority Mail, although I know some folks do. I generally include the cost of the shipping in the per chick price, so it's a flat rate for everyone.<br />
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I also have a roll of Express Mail tape that I convinced my local USPS to give me (they're really great in Grant County!) and I use that to put the boxes together. Once the chicks are hatched they get popped in the box and off to the PO I go.<br />
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I know some people print postage labels online, and while I do that for work, I'm more comfortable having the Posties do my labels for chicks, although I do get copies ahead of time and fill them out before I go. I also have some plastic envelopes that I use to attach the NPIP paperwork right on the box, in case the state to which I am shipping requires it.<br />
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Be sure to get the phone number of the person to whom you are shipping, as Express Mail labels require it, and then call or email the buyer to let them know when you shipped and what the tracking number is. That way they can be sure to make arrangements to either pick the chicks up at their local PO or to be home for delivery. Its generally easier on the chicks for the buyer to pick them up, just tell them let their local Postmaster know they have chicks coming and they will get a call once the box arrives.<br />
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That's really all there is to it folks. Easier than it seems, and a great way to get your customers the birds they're clamoring for. If you have any questions, send me an email, or stop by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmericanBuckeyePoultryClub/" target="_blank">Facebook Page for the American Buckeye Poultry Club</a> and give me a shout, happy to help!MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-3864115293394091952014-04-11T17:10:00.000-07:002014-04-11T17:10:00.513-07:00The Grass is Always GreenerSpringtime in Kentucky means the grass grows like a mofo. I have been known to quip "April is the cruelest month - for mowing." Because it is. The grass grows so fast you can <b>hear </b>it. And it rains regularly so you can't mow for a whole brace of days, by which time the grass is often too long to mow properly, so you wind up with all these lumps of dried dead grass lying all over the lawn, which should in fact be mowed once more to mulch them properly. But you can't, because it's raining again! (Sigh)<br /><br />One of my favorite New Yorker cartoons shows a farmer sitting on a tractor in a field of high grass. He is talking on his cell phone, and the caption reads "Right now I'm dealing with all this spring bullshit." I am not including the image here, because of copyright reasons, but you can see it over on the <a href="http://www.condenaststore.com/-sp/Right-now-I-m-dealing-with-all-this-spring-bullshit-New-Yorker-Cartoon-Prints_i8545678_.htm" target="_blank">Conde Nast store website </a>if you wish. It pretty much sums up what it's like here in spring, yepper.<br />
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One way I know it's spring is that the neighbors livestock somehow always winds up in my yard. Whether it's cows from the pasture to the east, or horses from across the road, for some reason, the grass here on <b>our </b>farm must be more delicious, because this time of year I am regularly chasing some damned critter back home. Or leading it. More than once, usually.<br /><br />But that's ok, it's a small price to pay for the best time of the year. Spring here in Kentucky is glorious. Cool breezes, warm sun, what my mom used to call "Portuguese weather." Spring is often when I am reminded of mom the most, as flowers start blooming again, and mom loved her flowers so. The other day just the sight of some of my daffodils brought me to tears, missing her.<br /><br />But spring is also the time of new births and rebirth, and with each chick that hatches I am reminded that life goes on, and renewal is a part of the whole wheel of life, just as death is. And nothing is cuter than a newly hatched chick finding its legs and pecking for food, except perhaps the bunnies in the back leaping for joy as they run around at Silflay. I miss seeing goat kids gambol, but the neighbors newly born cows do the same thing, so it's almost as good.<br /><br />I don't include poems often in my blog (my friend <a href="http://atimeforsuchaword.com/" target="_blank">Katie</a> is the poet, I just meander) but this is one of my favorites, both the author and the subject:<br /><br />
DAFFODOWNDILLY<br />
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She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,<br />
She wore her greenest gown;<br />
She turned to the south wind and curtsied up and down.<br />
She turned to the sunlight and shook her yellow head,<br />
And whispered to her neighbor:<br />
“Winter is dead”<br />
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-A.A.MilneMizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8952509406206097223.post-76775629422207057562014-01-12T14:04:00.000-08:002014-01-13T05:12:56.275-08:00Two Knives and Some Fat*I have always loved pie. I love making it. I love eating it. But I have never gotten the Holy Grail of crusts down perfectly, and in my mind, that's a lard-based crust.<br />
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I want to be the Empress of Pie Crust. I want to be able to whip a perfect pie crust together with nothing more than two knives, some fat, and some flour. Come hell or high humidity. No food processors. No <a href="http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/3919-foolproof-pie-dough" target="_blank">tricksy vodka recipes</a>, just the basics, like our grammas used to make.<br />
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I told A today that I was going to make a pie a week for a year until I got it right. She said (and rightly so) "That's a lotta pies!" Well, that's a price I'll have to pay I guess. One hopes it won't take a year...<br />
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Like my friend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Powell" target="_blank">Julie</a>, I'm going to work my way through some pie books until I get it absolutely right. And I may blog about it, in the most blantantly copying way (that girl had a bestselling book and a Nora Ephron movie, all I want is perfect pie crust.) Right now I am using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Pies-Gracious-Recipes-Chocolate/dp/081186992X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389562967&sr=8-1&keywords=southern+pies+nancie" target="_blank">Southern Pies</a> by Nancie McDermott, and started with her lard recipe and a buttermilk pie.<br />
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A friend commented on Facebook "Must be something to do with leftover holiday provisions. Or so said Mrs. McGuiver when she made the same yesterday." And well, yes. There was the larger part of a quart of buttermilk in the fridge about to hit its expiry date, so buttermilk pie it is.<br />
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Never made it before. Have made all sorts of chess pies, most especially my <a href="http://farmwifesdiary.blogspot.com/2011/06/remembering-mrs-peters.html" target="_blank">Chocolate Chess Pie</a>, but hadn't tried buttermilk before.<br />
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I will note that either a) I didn't roll the crust out thin enough or b) the recipe needs expanding a bit, but I didn't get enough crust along the top to make it purty and fluted, so it looks rather ragged. But I picked a wee bit off the edge and it tastes divine!<br />
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So I'm going to do some math (argh) and increase the recipe about 25% before next weekend, when I'll try again with a different filling. But for now, here's the Buttermilk pie as it cools:<br />
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*And thanks to my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/yggdrasilfarms" target="_blank">Melissa</a>, who says "Two Knives and Some Fat" would make an awesome book title." Or, at least a good one for a blog post to get started, anyway. Thanks Melissa!</div>
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<br />MizGreenJeanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04340133823856453489noreply@blogger.com1