Medicine Making in Transition

While participating in the Training for Transition I came to a profound realization. One of the most powerful exercises in Transition is the positive visioning. People sit in two circles, one inside the other, facing each other so everyone is paired up. The people on the outside are the elders of the future, who have …

One Pound of Strawberries

Amie and friends pick strawberries We harvested our first strawberries yesterday, a whole pound of them. I’ve started a new little harvest booklet, which I keep next to my scale in the kitchen and in which I record everything that comes in. “Don’t eat that yet! I haven’t weighed it!” The berries are scrumptious: sweet and …

A Barn / Hoop House Raising, Part 2

Saturday started with a sprinkle of rain and thunder, then cleared up for a big turnout for our planned hoop house raising. Ten people came, friends, acquaintances and strangers (i.e., new friends) alike. First up was dismantling the structure and moving it from the summer to the winter position. Then everyone got to witness how …

A Barn Raising!

The garden is about 90% planted. peas and poles for the pole beans. compost in background Today I sowed all the dry beans, green beans and pole beans – first year I’m growing these – and the squashes, zukes and cukes. Also watermelon, carrots and basil, and calendula, anise and chamomile (German), all from seed. …

Spring is Bursting in the Garden

Click for larger A lot has happened in the garden. The trees are gone and there is more sunlight all around. I’ve planted 2 blackberries, 3 elderberries, 50 strawberries, 4 rosas, 2 hazels, 2 serviceberries, 1 jostaberry, 2 peashrubs, 4 muntead lavender, 8 grapes, 4 wormwoods and 1 witchhazel. I’ve put in 90% of my …

First Plantings of Spring and More Gardening News

Our insane wood pile after tree removal I received a large box in the mail on Friday, the kind of box that could only house… plants! Fedco. Of course they had to arrive on the busiest weekend since last Summer. Of course I wasn’t ready… So after our Earth Day Celebration I stuck almost all …

A Month of Contrasts

April Fools! – contrast with – 3 April Those seedlings are still sitting on my window sills (inside) – and of course the spinach has bolted. I might be able to plant them out tomorrow, if the rain lets up and if it doesn’t snow! Downstairs in the basement the lights and heat mat are working …