2012 Can Go To Hell!
ARRRGH!!!!!...where's a good Mayan apocalypse when you need one? 2011 was so great and then 2012 was so um, un-great. I so had my hopes on buying a place for the farm. I was pre-qualified and had money saved for a down payment. I'd been eyeing a property that was being repossessed. Cute little fixer on a couple of acres with a great view. It had fruit trees and lots of outbuildings including an old smokehouse. Great piece of property and in my price range. And when it came on the market, I pounced! But alas, it was a cash only deal. My little heart broke! I'm just a po' hoe with a good credit rating, but no cash. My hopes were dashed.
Ah, but things do happen for a reason. The air conditioning system at my house in Eastern Washington went out right after that and strangely enough, the cost to replace it was EXACTLY the amount I had saved for a down payment. Coincidence? I think not! So, I was feeling good about why things happened the way they did, as if it was justified, and a week later, my tenants told me they were getting a divorce and moving out. Mmmm...great!
Divorces are so not nice...sometimes they're downright nasty and this one wasn't a nice one. Someone took out their frustrations by kicking the crap out of the new air unit. Brand spanking new and now looking like a battered wife. Top that off with some busted windows, no rent, and disgusting mess to clean. Let's just add a little more insult on top of injury. Thanks 2012!
But I shouldn't bitch for I'm truly a blessed woman. Insurance paid for most of the damage, the new tenants did all the cleaning and moved in quickly and my beau kindly offered to pay the month's rent I was robbed of. So even though it was a sucky situation everything worked itself out beautifully.
I think the picture sums it up (yes, that's me at 18). Hands tossed out with a screaming laugh of frustration. Garfield above my head, arms stretched out, pleading "Why me?" Ziggy to my right saying "Learn to laugh at your problems...everyone else does." And David Lee Roth's balls in my hand. Yeah, no matter what I still have a firm grip!
So bring on 2013! It's gonna be a fantastic year! (my horoscope tells me so and it wouldn't lie)
Ah, but things do happen for a reason. The air conditioning system at my house in Eastern Washington went out right after that and strangely enough, the cost to replace it was EXACTLY the amount I had saved for a down payment. Coincidence? I think not! So, I was feeling good about why things happened the way they did, as if it was justified, and a week later, my tenants told me they were getting a divorce and moving out. Mmmm...great!
Divorces are so not nice...sometimes they're downright nasty and this one wasn't a nice one. Someone took out their frustrations by kicking the crap out of the new air unit. Brand spanking new and now looking like a battered wife. Top that off with some busted windows, no rent, and disgusting mess to clean. Let's just add a little more insult on top of injury. Thanks 2012!
But I shouldn't bitch for I'm truly a blessed woman. Insurance paid for most of the damage, the new tenants did all the cleaning and moved in quickly and my beau kindly offered to pay the month's rent I was robbed of. So even though it was a sucky situation everything worked itself out beautifully.
I think the picture sums it up (yes, that's me at 18). Hands tossed out with a screaming laugh of frustration. Garfield above my head, arms stretched out, pleading "Why me?" Ziggy to my right saying "Learn to laugh at your problems...everyone else does." And David Lee Roth's balls in my hand. Yeah, no matter what I still have a firm grip!
So bring on 2013! It's gonna be a fantastic year! (my horoscope tells me so and it wouldn't lie)
IS THERE NO MO HOE??? TELL ME IT AIN'T SO!
(It ain't so)
February 2012
I know...I know...it's almost been a year since I've really done anything here at The Happy Hoe. It's a long story, luckily this is the condensed version. What happened was reality. I had enough funds for a 1 year sabbatical from work and that year was up. Time to get a "real" job and that would mean moving back into civilization. It was good timing...my relationship was crumbling apart too. Another change in the midlife crisis! Luckily, the Gods were smiling upon me for I found a decent job, a cute little cabin to rent for me, the dog & the kitties, and I unbelievable ended up finding a really good man (I wasn't even looking!) all within a few weeks. I hit had the trifecta! And get this...the place I rent is on Beaver Place! The Happy Hoe on Beaver Place! Is that kismet or what!?!
I'm so canopied here by HUGE cedar trees that the only thing I can grow is mold between my toes! No sun, which is great on hot days, isn't condusive to gardening. Although, it's been nice not having to scrape any ice off my windows this winter being nestled in these trees as I am. And the slugs...little teeny weeny seed slugs EVERYWHERE! They decimated over half of the plants I brought with me. Little bastards! I scrounged through my shed and found a mass of copper chain someone had given me and desperately tossed it around my potted plants. Believe it or not, that worked! I've heard copper was good at keeping the slugs at bay and I can testify!
Besides being Buffy the Slug Slayer, I've been exploring and getting acquainted with the organizations and farms around in this area. I went to a class on building hoop houses at Cloud Mountain Farm in Everson, attended the Mother Earth News Fair (way down in Tacoma), and went to the 4th annual Community Seed Day sponsored by Sustainable Bellingham. I'm really digging getting back in the gardening groove and the guy I'm with digs it too. I have to admit it's nice to till in a little testosterone every once in awhile. He's a good soul amendment. (Now I didn't say fertilizer)
So The Happy Hoe is still on the go; dreams scattered like seed, but still sprouting in the cracks. If the end of civilization doesn't happen, 2012 will be the best year yet! I will soon be launching a new, updated website and introducing a line of seeds that will sex up your garden! Yeah baby!
February 2012
I know...I know...it's almost been a year since I've really done anything here at The Happy Hoe. It's a long story, luckily this is the condensed version. What happened was reality. I had enough funds for a 1 year sabbatical from work and that year was up. Time to get a "real" job and that would mean moving back into civilization. It was good timing...my relationship was crumbling apart too. Another change in the midlife crisis! Luckily, the Gods were smiling upon me for I found a decent job, a cute little cabin to rent for me, the dog & the kitties, and I unbelievable ended up finding a really good man (I wasn't even looking!) all within a few weeks. I hit had the trifecta! And get this...the place I rent is on Beaver Place! The Happy Hoe on Beaver Place! Is that kismet or what!?!
I'm so canopied here by HUGE cedar trees that the only thing I can grow is mold between my toes! No sun, which is great on hot days, isn't condusive to gardening. Although, it's been nice not having to scrape any ice off my windows this winter being nestled in these trees as I am. And the slugs...little teeny weeny seed slugs EVERYWHERE! They decimated over half of the plants I brought with me. Little bastards! I scrounged through my shed and found a mass of copper chain someone had given me and desperately tossed it around my potted plants. Believe it or not, that worked! I've heard copper was good at keeping the slugs at bay and I can testify!
Besides being Buffy the Slug Slayer, I've been exploring and getting acquainted with the organizations and farms around in this area. I went to a class on building hoop houses at Cloud Mountain Farm in Everson, attended the Mother Earth News Fair (way down in Tacoma), and went to the 4th annual Community Seed Day sponsored by Sustainable Bellingham. I'm really digging getting back in the gardening groove and the guy I'm with digs it too. I have to admit it's nice to till in a little testosterone every once in awhile. He's a good soul amendment. (Now I didn't say fertilizer)
So The Happy Hoe is still on the go; dreams scattered like seed, but still sprouting in the cracks. If the end of civilization doesn't happen, 2012 will be the best year yet! I will soon be launching a new, updated website and introducing a line of seeds that will sex up your garden! Yeah baby!
April 2011
In the Pacific Northwest, it's not April showers...it's April to April showers. And this year, it's getting real old. A little sun would do the soul good. I might actually get motivated to go out and do something like play in the mud or go mushroom hunting. This soggy side of the state is a mushroom hunter's delight and when I trekked up the hill to do a little fungi hunting, I found over 40 of those delectible little morsels. And they weren't little either! They are now all nicely dehydrated...now what do I do with them? I have a good handful of dried shiitakes and some oyster mushrooms too. Hmm...Stroganoff? Soup? Strata? Something Mushroomly Scrumptious for sure!
March 2011
This is the time of the year when us gardeners start to get antsy. We've made it through the holidays, perused through the seed catalogs and plotted this year's garden. Some have started seeds indoors or have been spending time in the greenhouse. As for me, I just stare out the window and curse at the snow.
Living in the mountains means I can have snow hanging around through April. It makes for a short growing season and for a grumpy gardener. But I'm learning to just cool my jets and make the best of this time. I've discovered that this is a great time to take classes. A variety of societies, college extensions, and nurseries offer workshops on everything from worm farming to wine making. And what's even better is that many of these classes are free or incredibly affordable. I paid just $10 for an all day class!
For (dare I say) 20 years I have ogled at the offerings of Raintree Nursery in Morton, Washington and had yet to take a class. It was high time I crossed this off my list. Of course, I decide to do this when I live way up north, almost 3 1/2 hours away. But, I have friends in the southend that were well overdue for a visit so I made a long wonderful weekend of it.
Raintree Nursery offers the finest fruit cultivars from around the world and their classes have become famous for teaching what you need to know to succeed in home fruit growing. We learned about grafting, propagating, pruning and pests. The give you four free scions to graft which means I came home with a grafted cherry, plum, pear, and apple tree. I don't know if my grafts will be successful yet or not, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. You can check out what Raintree has to offer by visiting their website at www.raintreenursery.com.
Living in the mountains means I can have snow hanging around through April. It makes for a short growing season and for a grumpy gardener. But I'm learning to just cool my jets and make the best of this time. I've discovered that this is a great time to take classes. A variety of societies, college extensions, and nurseries offer workshops on everything from worm farming to wine making. And what's even better is that many of these classes are free or incredibly affordable. I paid just $10 for an all day class!
For (dare I say) 20 years I have ogled at the offerings of Raintree Nursery in Morton, Washington and had yet to take a class. It was high time I crossed this off my list. Of course, I decide to do this when I live way up north, almost 3 1/2 hours away. But, I have friends in the southend that were well overdue for a visit so I made a long wonderful weekend of it.
Raintree Nursery offers the finest fruit cultivars from around the world and their classes have become famous for teaching what you need to know to succeed in home fruit growing. We learned about grafting, propagating, pruning and pests. The give you four free scions to graft which means I came home with a grafted cherry, plum, pear, and apple tree. I don't know if my grafts will be successful yet or not, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. You can check out what Raintree has to offer by visiting their website at www.raintreenursery.com.
February 2011
Now that the hooplah of the holidays have passed, I can spend the winter days thumbing through seed catalogs, dreaming of spring. February brings the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. With inspiring gardens, free seminars, and lots of cool garden stuff to buy, the Northwest Flower & Garden show is set to blossom at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle. Check it out at www.gardenshow.com.
The Northwest Flower & Garden never disappoints! It took us close to 2 hours to get to Seattle and we drove through one heck of a snowstorm there and back. Ah, but it was so worth it! The smell of orchids in the air and greenery everywhere makes you quickly forget that it's freak'n white and cold outside. Come on Spring!
The Northwest Flower & Garden never disappoints! It took us close to 2 hours to get to Seattle and we drove through one heck of a snowstorm there and back. Ah, but it was so worth it! The smell of orchids in the air and greenery everywhere makes you quickly forget that it's freak'n white and cold outside. Come on Spring!
January 2011
Happy New Year to Everyone!
Christmas came and went. As usual, I was busy making gifts for everyone. With the bounty of blue and blackberries I picked in fall, I made Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar, Black 'n Blue Syrup, and several bottles of my famous Blackberry Hooch (which is always a favorite). Several jars of preserves were passed out too. And I got crafty making a wire garden angel and a very cool mother nature planter for my mom. If I can find the cord for my phone so I can download the pictures, I'll put them on the site for you to see.
My sisters were very kind this year to me. One gave me an herb drying rack and the other gave me 2 mushroom kits from www.fungi.com. I received the Pearl Oyster and Shiitake Mushroom kit. It was fun to watch the mushrooms grow and they were absolutely delicious to eat. I don't think I'll venture into the world of mushroom farming, but I hope to cultivate some mushrooms for my personal consumption.
Looking back over the last year, this business venture, The Happy Hoe Herb Farm has progressed well. I met all the goals I had set for the year and I actually made a profit too. Okay, so $12.80 won't pay the rent, but a profit is a profit and I'm happy with it. I have 15 new goals set for 2011. One goal will be to start a blog or newsletter. I'm not sure which one I want to do yet, but the year is young. I am looking forward to what this new year has to offer and I thank all of you who have stopped by, taken a look and wished me the best. Here's to another year of happy hoeing!
Christmas came and went. As usual, I was busy making gifts for everyone. With the bounty of blue and blackberries I picked in fall, I made Blackberry Balsamic Vinegar, Black 'n Blue Syrup, and several bottles of my famous Blackberry Hooch (which is always a favorite). Several jars of preserves were passed out too. And I got crafty making a wire garden angel and a very cool mother nature planter for my mom. If I can find the cord for my phone so I can download the pictures, I'll put them on the site for you to see.
My sisters were very kind this year to me. One gave me an herb drying rack and the other gave me 2 mushroom kits from www.fungi.com. I received the Pearl Oyster and Shiitake Mushroom kit. It was fun to watch the mushrooms grow and they were absolutely delicious to eat. I don't think I'll venture into the world of mushroom farming, but I hope to cultivate some mushrooms for my personal consumption.
Looking back over the last year, this business venture, The Happy Hoe Herb Farm has progressed well. I met all the goals I had set for the year and I actually made a profit too. Okay, so $12.80 won't pay the rent, but a profit is a profit and I'm happy with it. I have 15 new goals set for 2011. One goal will be to start a blog or newsletter. I'm not sure which one I want to do yet, but the year is young. I am looking forward to what this new year has to offer and I thank all of you who have stopped by, taken a look and wished me the best. Here's to another year of happy hoeing!
December 2010
Ah, the Holidaze! I have never been much of a Christmas person myself. Halloween doesn't bring out the freaks; Christmas does! But I have found ways to embrace the holiday and make it something I can enjoy. Many times we give gifts of charity on behalf of one another. We're all getting older and I certainly don't need anymore freak'n bathsoaps or gadgets that just end up going to Goodwill. One of my favorite places to donate through is www.altgifts.org. Imagine the look on your sister's face when she finds out you gave her a goat for Christmas! Priceless! And somewhere in Uganda, I imagine a goat named Brenda...man, that just gets me all warm and fuzzy inside!
Charity is not the only way we give during the holidays. Sometimes we purchase giftcards for micro-loans. A micro-investment of $20-25 can be directed to a project of your choosing, bringing stability to the finances of those living in poverty. You can get your money back with interest and make a difference too! I have supported fair trade and organic cocoa in Nicaragua and coffee farmers in Bolivia through www.microplace.com. This year I was given a giftcard for www.kiva.org. I designated this micro-loan to help a married mother of 6 in Tajikistan, the poorest of the former Soviet republics. She and her husband, together, put all their effort toward working very hard on their farm, growing wheat, onion and a variety of fresh vegetables. Early every morning, the couple’s children collect the produce and sell it at a market. They requested a loan to purchase more fertilizer and seeds for their farm.
Gifts like these truly embrace the spirit of Christmas plus helps other farmers too.
Charity is not the only way we give during the holidays. Sometimes we purchase giftcards for micro-loans. A micro-investment of $20-25 can be directed to a project of your choosing, bringing stability to the finances of those living in poverty. You can get your money back with interest and make a difference too! I have supported fair trade and organic cocoa in Nicaragua and coffee farmers in Bolivia through www.microplace.com. This year I was given a giftcard for www.kiva.org. I designated this micro-loan to help a married mother of 6 in Tajikistan, the poorest of the former Soviet republics. She and her husband, together, put all their effort toward working very hard on their farm, growing wheat, onion and a variety of fresh vegetables. Early every morning, the couple’s children collect the produce and sell it at a market. They requested a loan to purchase more fertilizer and seeds for their farm.
Gifts like these truly embrace the spirit of Christmas plus helps other farmers too.
November 2010
Dashing through the snow my butt! The Happy Hoe went to Eastern Washington to do a little housesitting and HoeWare hocking. Winter arrived the same day I did and for two weeks it was treacherous driving...not what I was hoping for. But, neither snow, no sleet, nor icy roads can stop The Happy Hoe! I sold quite a few t-shirts while I was there. I visited my old co-workers and you can now say that Coldwell Banker has a bunch of Happy Hoes working for them.
October 2010
Bruce Campbell and the Carrot Eating Canine
There's no better way to end the gardening season than by mutilating a pumpkin! I love roasted pumpkin seeds. You just toss them with a little olive oil and salt and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes at 300 degrees. I gathered my squash and dug up some of my carrots, leaving half of them still in the dirt to dig up later. Little did I know that my strawberry eating dog is also a carrot munching mutt. She'd just wander out to the garden and dig up a little snack. No worries though for we had a nice bounty of carrots. I just wish I could get her to dig up weeds instead!
I always get giddy and ghoulish this time of the year for Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's not uncommon to get a call from a family member asking to borrow a severed arm or partake in watching the latest horror movie. So when I found out that Seattle was hosting the first ZomBcon, it was only natural for me to go. Showing off the Happy Hoe t-shirt to Bruce Campbell was advertising at it's best! He actually has a little farm himself outside of Eugene, Oregon. It doesn't get any better than talking to your favorite horror legend about gardening...my life is now complete.
There's no better way to end the gardening season than by mutilating a pumpkin! I love roasted pumpkin seeds. You just toss them with a little olive oil and salt and bake in the oven for about 30 minutes at 300 degrees. I gathered my squash and dug up some of my carrots, leaving half of them still in the dirt to dig up later. Little did I know that my strawberry eating dog is also a carrot munching mutt. She'd just wander out to the garden and dig up a little snack. No worries though for we had a nice bounty of carrots. I just wish I could get her to dig up weeds instead!
I always get giddy and ghoulish this time of the year for Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's not uncommon to get a call from a family member asking to borrow a severed arm or partake in watching the latest horror movie. So when I found out that Seattle was hosting the first ZomBcon, it was only natural for me to go. Showing off the Happy Hoe t-shirt to Bruce Campbell was advertising at it's best! He actually has a little farm himself outside of Eugene, Oregon. It doesn't get any better than talking to your favorite horror legend about gardening...my life is now complete.
September 2010
My tomato plants have been just loaded with tomatoes and I have been eagerly awaiting for them to ripen. Waiting and waiting and oh crap, they're rotting! Rotting on the freak'n vine! Dag nabbit!!! My windowsills are now decorated in a festive tomato motif. Most have been turning red nicely on the sill, but you can speed up the ripening process by putting green tomatoes in a paper bag with an apple or a banana.
More than likely I'll be making spaghetti sauce with my tomatoes. The peppers, cilantro and cumin didn't do well this year so salsa is out of the question, but I have fresh rosemary, basil, and garlic. Spaghetti sauce it is! Mmm...the chanterelle mushrooms should be out here soon too...perfect!!
You can feel autumn in the air and leaves are falling everywhere. Soon I'll be raking up leaves to put into the composter. I've discovered that garter snakes love to hang out around the compost pile...probably for the heat and the free bugs. Luckily I'm not afraid of snakes, but unfortunately for the snakes, the pit bull isn't afraid of snakes either. He snagged one out of the garden the other day and made a tasty meal out of it.
Autumn is my favorite time of the year - the end of the salad and watermelon days of summer. I like the change to heartier meals of potatoes, cabbage, and squash. The other day I whipped up a nice vegetarian skillet dish using my farm fresh veggies and herbs. You can find the recipe on my Hoe In The Know Page though since I just whipped it up, I don't really have specific measurements for the recipe.
After trimming the trees so hard earlier in the year, we have not had much fruit which is fine with me. Last year I was tossing wheelbarrows full of apples out for the deer; this year hardly any on the branch or ground. Except for one of the plum trees; it was loaded with fruit. Of course it couldn't have been in a worse spot...smack dab in the nettles with piles of scrap wood all around, but I managed to get a ladder in there and with a few contortionist's tricks picked enough to make a dozen jars of plum preserves.
More than likely I'll be making spaghetti sauce with my tomatoes. The peppers, cilantro and cumin didn't do well this year so salsa is out of the question, but I have fresh rosemary, basil, and garlic. Spaghetti sauce it is! Mmm...the chanterelle mushrooms should be out here soon too...perfect!!
You can feel autumn in the air and leaves are falling everywhere. Soon I'll be raking up leaves to put into the composter. I've discovered that garter snakes love to hang out around the compost pile...probably for the heat and the free bugs. Luckily I'm not afraid of snakes, but unfortunately for the snakes, the pit bull isn't afraid of snakes either. He snagged one out of the garden the other day and made a tasty meal out of it.
Autumn is my favorite time of the year - the end of the salad and watermelon days of summer. I like the change to heartier meals of potatoes, cabbage, and squash. The other day I whipped up a nice vegetarian skillet dish using my farm fresh veggies and herbs. You can find the recipe on my Hoe In The Know Page though since I just whipped it up, I don't really have specific measurements for the recipe.
After trimming the trees so hard earlier in the year, we have not had much fruit which is fine with me. Last year I was tossing wheelbarrows full of apples out for the deer; this year hardly any on the branch or ground. Except for one of the plum trees; it was loaded with fruit. Of course it couldn't have been in a worse spot...smack dab in the nettles with piles of scrap wood all around, but I managed to get a ladder in there and with a few contortionist's tricks picked enough to make a dozen jars of plum preserves.
**Many thanks to the ladies of Guemes who purchased Happy Hoe shirts.
Wear them proudly my little pimps!
August 2010
Pick'n & A Grin'n
Blueberries galore and blackberries to boot. Muffins, pancakes, and even some hootch. Ain't nothing as sweet as homegrown fruit!
Yes, my hands are stained and scratched, but I have gallons and gallons of fruity goodness in the freezer. So nice to have fresh berries on hand. I made blueberry loafs to take camping with me and blackberry cobblers to take to some summertime get togethers. Fresh blackberry cobbler and ice cream...doesn't get any better than that!
Meanwhile, back in the garden, the broccoli has been FANTASTIC! It's kind of spindly compared to the commercial stuff you buy, but boy is it better tasting. And it has produced wonderfully, coming back with new stalks after each cutting. I will most definitely plant more next year.
Broccoli, beans, potatoes and cabbage are all doing well. I have lots of carrots too, but I'm not ready to dig them up yet. I'm loving having fresh herbs to add to my meals. One of the best herbs in my garden is the curry plant. Exceptionally fragrant, I can smell curry in the air when I'm out picking. I made a tasty coconut rice dish that had a handful of fresh curry leaves tossed into it. Very, very nice!
The bees have been loving my mint and borage plants. I've been busy picking and drying borage seed with visions of selling seed packs, but those visions were quickly dashed. Apparently, my seed had not been completely dry. Mildew had set in and some of the seeds started to rot. So I ended up tossing out half of my seed. Whatever seed I could salvage I put into a ceramic teapot to dry out and guess what? Mice LOVE borage seeds too! Yep, all of my seed gone, just like that. Such is the food chain and the cycle of life! Luckily borage throws a lot of seed so I have no doubts that I'll still be able to gather another handful or so before the plant completely dies back.
Speaking of seeds, I do have some free seeds to offer. I have chive, calendula, feverfew, self heal, and dill. Just send a SASE and I'll send you whatever you like. I should have some lavender seed available soon too (and maybe even some borage).
Blueberries galore and blackberries to boot. Muffins, pancakes, and even some hootch. Ain't nothing as sweet as homegrown fruit!
Yes, my hands are stained and scratched, but I have gallons and gallons of fruity goodness in the freezer. So nice to have fresh berries on hand. I made blueberry loafs to take camping with me and blackberry cobblers to take to some summertime get togethers. Fresh blackberry cobbler and ice cream...doesn't get any better than that!
Meanwhile, back in the garden, the broccoli has been FANTASTIC! It's kind of spindly compared to the commercial stuff you buy, but boy is it better tasting. And it has produced wonderfully, coming back with new stalks after each cutting. I will most definitely plant more next year.
Broccoli, beans, potatoes and cabbage are all doing well. I have lots of carrots too, but I'm not ready to dig them up yet. I'm loving having fresh herbs to add to my meals. One of the best herbs in my garden is the curry plant. Exceptionally fragrant, I can smell curry in the air when I'm out picking. I made a tasty coconut rice dish that had a handful of fresh curry leaves tossed into it. Very, very nice!
The bees have been loving my mint and borage plants. I've been busy picking and drying borage seed with visions of selling seed packs, but those visions were quickly dashed. Apparently, my seed had not been completely dry. Mildew had set in and some of the seeds started to rot. So I ended up tossing out half of my seed. Whatever seed I could salvage I put into a ceramic teapot to dry out and guess what? Mice LOVE borage seeds too! Yep, all of my seed gone, just like that. Such is the food chain and the cycle of life! Luckily borage throws a lot of seed so I have no doubts that I'll still be able to gather another handful or so before the plant completely dies back.
Speaking of seeds, I do have some free seeds to offer. I have chive, calendula, feverfew, self heal, and dill. Just send a SASE and I'll send you whatever you like. I should have some lavender seed available soon too (and maybe even some borage).
Be on the lookout for the Happy Hoe on Labor Day as I will be on Guemes Island bringing hoe ware to the natives. If you see me, say "Hi"(and buy a t-shirt).
July 2010
"Green peas and mutton pies, tell me where my Jeannie lies..." Sorry, sometimes I just burst into nursery rhymes. Lucky for all that there's no little ditty about lettuce! I've been feasting on peas and lettuce this month. I planted an exotic mix of lettuce...couldn't even tell you the name of the varieties that are growing, but can tell you that homegrown lettuce offers an incredible array of flavors. Be sure to go to my Hoe In The Know page for a great tasting salad dressing.
The blueberry bushes are just loaded with berries. The birds are very happy...me, not so much. Silly Hoe! Why didn't I buy netting before the birds established their feeding pattern? And here I thought that little bird who would sing to me in the garden was just saying "hello". I didn't realize he was mocking me while fertilizing the garden with his purple blueberry poop. Finally got some bird netting and ended up actually catching a couple of those aptly named robins. I untangled them and set them free, telling them to warn their friends. Haven't had any problems with birds since, but the netting has not kept the dog from eating berries. Yes, I discovered that girly dog not only likes strawberries; she likes blueberries too. Who can blame her!
Around the homestead, we have thimbleberries which are kind of like a flat raspberry. Thimbleberries only mature a few at a time and they deteriorate quickly after picking so I only get a handful at a time and then toss them in the freezer. Maybe I'll make thimbleberry pie. All I know is that I've been getting poked by nettles, thistles, and mosquitoes picking wild berries. And I think this is fun?? Can't wait for the blackberries to come in!
The blueberry bushes are just loaded with berries. The birds are very happy...me, not so much. Silly Hoe! Why didn't I buy netting before the birds established their feeding pattern? And here I thought that little bird who would sing to me in the garden was just saying "hello". I didn't realize he was mocking me while fertilizing the garden with his purple blueberry poop. Finally got some bird netting and ended up actually catching a couple of those aptly named robins. I untangled them and set them free, telling them to warn their friends. Haven't had any problems with birds since, but the netting has not kept the dog from eating berries. Yes, I discovered that girly dog not only likes strawberries; she likes blueberries too. Who can blame her!
Around the homestead, we have thimbleberries which are kind of like a flat raspberry. Thimbleberries only mature a few at a time and they deteriorate quickly after picking so I only get a handful at a time and then toss them in the freezer. Maybe I'll make thimbleberry pie. All I know is that I've been getting poked by nettles, thistles, and mosquitoes picking wild berries. And I think this is fun?? Can't wait for the blackberries to come in!
June 2010
Mmm...strawberries....they're the best thing about June unless you're a kid, then the start of summer vacation is top of the list. Well, after fighting off birds and ants I was able to eat a few juicy berries. The borage I planted next to the strawberries has grown into a monster! I know they are companion plants, but I was kind of hoping for monster strawberries instead. Such is the way of companionship most of the time.
Looks like I'll have a great crop of peas come next month. Peas are such pretty plants with their curly tendrils and delicate purple blooms. Even if I'm the only one in the house who eats peas, I will always plant them. I think next year I will plant them on the bean teepee since my pole beans appear to be non-climbers.
The biggest news of the month is that I made some t-shirts and gave them away as Father's Day gifts. What man wouldn't be honored to receive a Happy Hoe t-shirt! You can buy your own Happy Hoe shirt too. Just go to the homepage and click the link. There are other items too such has hats, coffee mugs and totes. Now that I actually have something to sell, I really need to start pimping The Hoe!
Looks like I'll have a great crop of peas come next month. Peas are such pretty plants with their curly tendrils and delicate purple blooms. Even if I'm the only one in the house who eats peas, I will always plant them. I think next year I will plant them on the bean teepee since my pole beans appear to be non-climbers.
The biggest news of the month is that I made some t-shirts and gave them away as Father's Day gifts. What man wouldn't be honored to receive a Happy Hoe t-shirt! You can buy your own Happy Hoe shirt too. Just go to the homepage and click the link. There are other items too such has hats, coffee mugs and totes. Now that I actually have something to sell, I really need to start pimping The Hoe!
May 2010
WHERE IS THE SUN!?!
My plants are wondering the same thing. It's slow growing without some shine. The slugs are loving it though along with my beans. A few crushed eggshells around my little beanies has helped keep those slimy buggers at bay.
With the strawberries starting to ripen, I now am battling the ants. Did you know that ants don't like baby powder? This is something I learned when we were very poor. We'd make ant mazes with baby powder which provided hours of entertainment for the 3 kids I had taken in. I'm not sure if the ants associate the white powder with poison, but they would not cross the white lines. I'm out circling the strawberries which seems to be working. That is, until the rains was it all away.
So May really has been just about battling bugs and praying for sun. Oh, I did get some t-shirts made and I'm giving them to my male friends and family for Father's Day. Nothing says love like turning your dad into a walking billboard!
My plants are wondering the same thing. It's slow growing without some shine. The slugs are loving it though along with my beans. A few crushed eggshells around my little beanies has helped keep those slimy buggers at bay.
With the strawberries starting to ripen, I now am battling the ants. Did you know that ants don't like baby powder? This is something I learned when we were very poor. We'd make ant mazes with baby powder which provided hours of entertainment for the 3 kids I had taken in. I'm not sure if the ants associate the white powder with poison, but they would not cross the white lines. I'm out circling the strawberries which seems to be working. That is, until the rains was it all away.
So May really has been just about battling bugs and praying for sun. Oh, I did get some t-shirts made and I'm giving them to my male friends and family for Father's Day. Nothing says love like turning your dad into a walking billboard!
April 2010
It's the 3rd of April and it's SNOWING!!! What the hell?? That wasn't in the brochure! April is going to be full of surprises. I guess if you can't plant, rant.
But I did plant. There's chocolate mint, lemon thyme, curry, and rosemary growing. Seedlings of cumin, dill, borage, and cilantro are starting to pop out of the ground. I can't tell if I have basil coming up or if that's just weeds. Will have to wait for further identification. The veggies are slowly taking hold though the tomatoes still are not happy about the fickle weather.
The dandelions however loved this weather and the yard was a yellow sea of bloom. I was out there with my little basket picking dandelions to my heart's content. The plan was to make dandelion wine, but I forgot to pick up yeast so I made dandelion honey instead which was very good. B e sure to visit my Hoe In The Know page for my dandelion wine recipe. They say dandelion is good for headaches so I tried a little dandelion honey in tea and it did indeed lift my headache. Even if it was a placebo effect, it was still sweet relief. The honey has a flavor like a Ricola throat lozenge. How easy it will be to make my own lozenges with this honey and some additional herbs! Put that on the to-do list for fall.
But I did plant. There's chocolate mint, lemon thyme, curry, and rosemary growing. Seedlings of cumin, dill, borage, and cilantro are starting to pop out of the ground. I can't tell if I have basil coming up or if that's just weeds. Will have to wait for further identification. The veggies are slowly taking hold though the tomatoes still are not happy about the fickle weather.
The dandelions however loved this weather and the yard was a yellow sea of bloom. I was out there with my little basket picking dandelions to my heart's content. The plan was to make dandelion wine, but I forgot to pick up yeast so I made dandelion honey instead which was very good. B e sure to visit my Hoe In The Know page for my dandelion wine recipe. They say dandelion is good for headaches so I tried a little dandelion honey in tea and it did indeed lift my headache. Even if it was a placebo effect, it was still sweet relief. The honey has a flavor like a Ricola throat lozenge. How easy it will be to make my own lozenges with this honey and some additional herbs! Put that on the to-do list for fall.
March 2010
Bouncing beads and wire poked fingers - just another day of merriment in the world of creativity. The word of the month is ROOTERS. Plant rooters. Art d'Earth made from salvaged glass jars and salt shakers plus some wire and beads (See pictures on the home page). Over a dozen have now been made while the rains have keep me inside. The wet weather has offered the perfect opportunity to improve on my skills. I am now an expert at finding a bead dropped on the rug and retrieving it before the dog can eat it. Such a valuable skill to add to my resume.
Not only has blood been spilled this month; the brain has been fried by metags and adwords and search engines, oh my! This world of internet marketing is fascinating, but there is so much to learn. Luckily, I didn't kill off all of my brain cells in my youth, so I'm slowly grasping the concepts. Slowly being the optimum word.
My nephew came here for Spring Break and while I had visions of free labor dancing 'round my head; reality only brought rain. Rain...rain...rain...rain...rain. Such is life in Western Washington. You either thrive or you mold.
And while April showers may bring May flowers, March monsoons bring mushrooms. Morels...mmmm...yummy! We picked quite a few around the property. Now if I could learn to cultivate them, I'm sure I could make some money. I'll add that to my ever growing list of things The Hoe needs to know.
Not only has blood been spilled this month; the brain has been fried by metags and adwords and search engines, oh my! This world of internet marketing is fascinating, but there is so much to learn. Luckily, I didn't kill off all of my brain cells in my youth, so I'm slowly grasping the concepts. Slowly being the optimum word.
My nephew came here for Spring Break and while I had visions of free labor dancing 'round my head; reality only brought rain. Rain...rain...rain...rain...rain. Such is life in Western Washington. You either thrive or you mold.
And while April showers may bring May flowers, March monsoons bring mushrooms. Morels...mmmm...yummy! We picked quite a few around the property. Now if I could learn to cultivate them, I'm sure I could make some money. I'll add that to my ever growing list of things The Hoe needs to know.
November, December, January, OMIGOD February!
The whirlwind of holidays whisks away the days...or more aptly the months. But I have not sat idly, you can bet on that. Perfecting my pinup girl logo has been very time consuming. I'm far from a graphic artist and I don't own photoshop so this has been quite a feat. Christmas was a homemade one this year and gave me a good opportunity to discover what talents I have. Who would have ever thought I was actually good at sewing stuffed animals. Not quite the talent I need for this business, but there may be a place for it. I'm envisioning stuffed dragonfly pillows.
It's been an absolutely gorgeous winter here with only a week that brought one foot of snow at the most. So much for staying inside and pecking away at the website. With the sun beckoning me, I spent much time outside tending to the overgrown fruit trees. With pruners and hand saw, I worked myself to near death (but you should see how strong my arms have become!) And although the trees could use more trimming, I am done for the year. Other things need my attention, like mulching the huge piles of branches I just created.
The vegetable garden has been tilled and the design laid out, bean teepee constructed, and compost bin created. I'm still moving dirt around and cannot plant till fear of frost has passed. Till I can plant, I will continue to move forward.
I've been making rooters out of salvaged glass and now have a few that are ready to sell. More than likely, I will sell them at market as opposed to online since I still have much to learn regarding an online business.
The website just became live today. Now wtf do I do? I think that maybe trimming trees is easier.
It's been an absolutely gorgeous winter here with only a week that brought one foot of snow at the most. So much for staying inside and pecking away at the website. With the sun beckoning me, I spent much time outside tending to the overgrown fruit trees. With pruners and hand saw, I worked myself to near death (but you should see how strong my arms have become!) And although the trees could use more trimming, I am done for the year. Other things need my attention, like mulching the huge piles of branches I just created.
The vegetable garden has been tilled and the design laid out, bean teepee constructed, and compost bin created. I'm still moving dirt around and cannot plant till fear of frost has passed. Till I can plant, I will continue to move forward.
I've been making rooters out of salvaged glass and now have a few that are ready to sell. More than likely, I will sell them at market as opposed to online since I still have much to learn regarding an online business.
The website just became live today. Now wtf do I do? I think that maybe trimming trees is easier.
October 2009
Fall has fallen and so has a bit of snow here in the mountains. Just a dusting on the range to make it look pretty. A small garden spot has been tilled and I have been busy trying to get it prepped. Will be taking soil samples soon so I can get a better idea of what I'm dealing with. I've been growing in the east side in the high desert region which has lots of sand and little nutrients. This is a completely different ballgame.
The autumn rains are falling so I'll be spending more time inside working on some art d'earth projects. I've been testing out my talents designing topiary frames and making plant markers and have been hitting the library perusing crafts books for inspiration. My goal is to have 5 types of products available for sale come Spring. Actually, the goal is to sell something at the market or fair...just one item sold will make me a happy hoe.
The autumn rains are falling so I'll be spending more time inside working on some art d'earth projects. I've been testing out my talents designing topiary frames and making plant markers and have been hitting the library perusing crafts books for inspiration. My goal is to have 5 types of products available for sale come Spring. Actually, the goal is to sell something at the market or fair...just one item sold will make me a happy hoe.
September 2009
It’s sunny and a bit hot here in the mountains, but I won’t complain for the changing leaves reminds me that colder days are on their way. I'm taking advantage of these last days of summer, spending most of my time outside trying to whip this place into shape which is no easy feat.
I battled groundcover and grapes gone wild and have tried to salvage evergreens in the death throws of life. I attempted to save one evergreen by shaping it…my shears just snipping away… reminiscent of Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands with visions of beautiful topiaries floating 'round in my head. Well, it turned out looking more like a tree you’d find in a Dr. Seuss book. Death by poodle-lization…please don’t call Tree Amnesty on me!
There are two sheds here that I have taken over and made into cute little gardening shacks. One was a chicken coop that was quite literally full of shit. I only had to chase a bat, lizard, and snake out of the other one. Fixing up the greenhouse is my next project now that I’ve killed all the wasps residing in it. There sure are a lot of bugs and critters here in Darrington.
I battled groundcover and grapes gone wild and have tried to salvage evergreens in the death throws of life. I attempted to save one evergreen by shaping it…my shears just snipping away… reminiscent of Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands with visions of beautiful topiaries floating 'round in my head. Well, it turned out looking more like a tree you’d find in a Dr. Seuss book. Death by poodle-lization…please don’t call Tree Amnesty on me!
There are two sheds here that I have taken over and made into cute little gardening shacks. One was a chicken coop that was quite literally full of shit. I only had to chase a bat, lizard, and snake out of the other one. Fixing up the greenhouse is my next project now that I’ve killed all the wasps residing in it. There sure are a lot of bugs and critters here in Darrington.