Pickles - Expanding the Garden

I finally made pickles! It wasn't difficult at all, but the spices were a little expensive because I couldn't use anything I am already growing. And the pressure cooker needs a new gasket, so these have to stay in the frig for awhile. The ingredients are:

• cucumbers (i used 8-10 large and medium sized - best when they are still warty)
• sweet bell peppers
• two large vidalia onions
• whole cloves
• tumeric
• mustard seed
• sugar
• salt
• garlic
  

There really wasn't too much too it, its a little time consuming during the first step though. you must mix peppers, cucumbers, onion, and garlic with several cups of salt and let it sit for 3 hours, this is the very important brining phase. I found the recipe on www.allrecipes.com



We felt the existing garden is too small, its really been just an appetizer and gave us an idea of what kind of soil we have. Luckily, our wonderful neighbor Bill has a tiller that he lets us use. Matt helps Bill and Bill helps Matt. We have been fortunate in using the barter system. When you are willing to help other people and they help you in return, a great sense of community is formed.

We will start planting this area next weekend for a fall garden. I hear that fall gardens in North Carolina can be very successful due to our mild winters. The key is to plant deeply, where the soil is still cool and the seed is protected, and to water. I am hoping to plant:

• beets
• broccoli
• brussels sprouts
• carrots
• leaf & head lettuce
• onions
• spinach
• potatoes

The garden will just continue behind the existing one, but expand it by nearly 10 times!

This beautiful lizard got out of the way when he heard the tiller.





I still have not found one ingredient for making mozzarella cheese, so that may become a winter project.

Vermont - Water - Chicken update

We installed a rainwater collection system (the pics don't quite show the 'system' part...the hoses are detached because of the rain storm last night). We are already at capacity...300 gallons each!

We have used the water to:

• water the garden
• water chickens
• brew bier
• wash dogs

Our water bill was only $5 this month!



The Garden is still moving right along. I've eaten cucumbers for dinner, and again today for lunch. Its not that I can't eat anything else, but when they are sitting right there its hard for me not to do something with them. The tomatoes are what I'm really looking forward to. We planted 'Mr. Stripey,' which is alternating yellow and red stripes, I'm interested to know how it will taste. The others are heirloom and cherry varieties.







I've started letting the chickens out every night to graze. Its perfect, an hour or so before dusk Matt and I go out with our gloves, let the chickens out in the yard and we throw softball till the ladies are ready to go back in. One stood in a fire ant mound the other day. Apparently, fire ants sting chicken feet too. The dogs don't care much for the chickens being out, in fact, they ate two of their eggs from the basket yesterday! I forgot to put the eggs away.








Coming soon....wind turbine and cheese making.