Summer Projects

Summer is upon us. Michael and I are home bound right now, with one working car that Artistdad is using. So we are having fun together and enjoying our home, patio and yard. We usually have breakfast outside on the patio and I encourage him to play while it’s semi-cool. We are blessed to have a mostly shaded backyard, but even in the shade, the afternoon sun is not so comfortable at 106 degrees. Michael and I love to watch the hummingbirds, he calls them “honeybirds”. We also love to watch the many other birds that nest in our beautiful, old Mulberry tree. All sorts of grackles, or as Michaels calls them, "krackle birds", robins, doves, mockingbirds & numerous finches. Michael is enjoying watching the ants activity around the dripping hummingbird nectar. He loves to touch pill bugs, or "pillow bugs" and watch them roll into their little protective ball. He calls mosquitos, "bosquitos" and examines every fly, "fwy" he sees. Right now he's in love with a 5" rubber fly named Frank that Daddy bought him. Mommy, not so much. I'm just thankful Daddy didn't buy the 5" cockroach he saw.

Anyway, I love our patio; it’s so peaceful to be there. Anytime I’m upset about anything I can usually cure it with a few minutes sitting outside and contemplating our beautiful tree.

I’ve always dreamed of having a garden, but we’ve lived in apartments or houses not exactly conducive to gardening. I now have space, but a cranky landlord who would probably flip if I dug in his precious yard. So, I have a tomato plant in a large pot, rosemary and basil and lots of potted flowers. I’m happy with what I have right now. And maybe next summer I’ll have my garden. Until then I have a lot to learn on the subject, because my tomato plant is being eaten by something and looks a tad scrawny.

Another project I’m excited about is my new composter! I’ve wanted to compost for a few years now but never have had the extra money to buy a composter. They can be expensive and shipping expensive as well. I recently found a simple alternative to buying a composter. So we’re trying it. We bought a plastic trash can on wheals with a lock on lid. Then we drilled 14 ½” holes in it. Voila, a composter. Yesterday I chucked a bag of vegetable trimmings I’d been saving and a bit of cardboard and it smelled nasty. But then later on I added old mulberry blossoms, leaves and small sticks. And today it smells earthy, so I’m hoping this means I’m on the right track. It’s making me see trash very differently. I found a list online of all the things you can compost and it’s much, much more than I realized. Every time I go to throw something out now, I think wait, no I can compost this. I’m concerned about attracting flies and roaches. If there are any composting pros out there with advice it’s very welcome.

Another fun project I’ve tried recently is fermenting vegetables. I've read fermented veggies are a great source of digestive enzymes and probiotics. They help detoxify and fight infections. They are a great source of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Here's how I made them if anyone wants to try it.

I bought a bunch of veggies at our local Farmer's Market, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, squash and onions. I added garlic, peppercorns, oregano and celtic sea salt (can use other sea salt or pickling salt- no iodine). Everything I've read has said to try anything, so I did. Next I cleaned the veggies really well in water, vinegar and salt. I chopped up the veggies in bite size chunks and let them soak in a bowl of salted, filtered water. Then I cleaned my jars really well in baking soda and vinegar and hot water. Then added the vegetables and salted water or brine. I used a small amount of salt. You're not supposed to have any air bubbles, so the first jar I tried I had to re-do. You add the veggies and the brine all at the same time, packing them in tightly, I used a metal meat tenderizer to pack them. Leave 2" of space at the top of the jar or the fermenting process will create it anyhow and it will spill over. I made this mistake. I made one other mistake that I won't duplicate. I poured boiling water into my jars to sterilize. The first jar was fine but the second jar's heal broke, sending boiling water onto my legs. I don't recommend it. Luckily or intuitively, I had also bought shea butter at the Farmer's Market.

The most important thing is to keep everything clean. I had a spray bottle filled with vinegar and water and cleaned all surfaces and utensils before I started and throughout the process. Also, you're supposed to use filtered water, not chlorinated, city water. The chlorine can negatively effect the good bacterial growth. You leave the jars in your pantry for 3 days. Check them after 3 days and taste. You can then put them in the fridge to slow the fermenting process or you can leave for 3 or 4 more days for stronger flavor. Once you put them in the fridge they can last for months. This was a really fun process, very inexpensive, and tasty.

So my next project is growing wheat grass to juice. If anyone has a juicer they're not using, I'd love to borrow it. Until later, Happy Summer!

To make a composter. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/Compost_bins/garbage_can_bin.htm

List of compost materials. http://www.plantea.com/compost-materials.htm