Summer is a time when dinner is simple, salads are plentiful and the stove remains off. Summer veggies just roll out of the garden one right after another. It’s time to eat the bounty till your full. And my garden has exploded! Read more ›
Domestic arts, homesteading and urban agriculture play a very big roll in the day to day life of me and my family. In addition to scratch cooking, preserving of all kinds, and making our own beer, we also raise a small flock of backyard chickens, garden extensively and make our own soap. Read more ›
If you’ve been following me on Mother Earth News or social media, you already know my big family news for the year. We have chickens. Bock bock!! It was an epic journey building the coop, getting the Minneapolis chicken license and finding our chicks. Now they are well into their teens months and should start laying eggs in September. Read more ›
My strawberry patch at Dowling Community Garden in Minneapolis has been under construction for years. Wrong location, wrong variety, wrong soil, not enough water, it was soooo frustrating! This year all that hard work finally paid off. Loads of compost and manure combined with heavy spring rains made my strawberry patch go BOOM. I had strawberries coming out of our ears! Read more ›
Tomato season is over for Minneapolis with two nights of hard frosts under out belts (three weeks early, I might add). To celebrate the last of my harvest I made tomato broth and tomato paste from the same batch of tomatoes. Read more ›
Mustard Pickles remind me of my Great Grandma Kimbler. She used to make all kinds. They are a deliciously old-fashioned and frugal concoction, intended to preserve and liven up over abundant produce during the summer. Read more ›
Sunflowers are the ultimate garden accessory. Bright, happy sentinels, they come in knee high to giant varieties, in icy pale white to egg yolk yellow to blazing sunset red colors. With a little water, average soil and lots of sun, they rarely disappoint. Read more ›
It was an absolutely beautiful weekend here in Minneapolis; 85 degrees, sunny, low humidity, light breeze. It rained early Saturday morning so everything was sparkly and fresh. I spent my Saturday at the farmer’s market and canning, jamming and pickling. Read more ›
I’m a sucker for farmer’s markets. Where ever I go, I look up when and where the next market is. It’s a bit of an obsession, actually. I haven’t travelled a lot, but I have been to farmer’s markets in Paris; Bangkok; New York City; Hollywood, Santa Monica, Read more ›
It’s hard for people south of Minnesota to understand how glorious August is for tomatoes. When California is enjoying tomatoes in June, we are just putting the plants in the ground. When the red, white and blue of July 4th is loaded with tomato fireworks, we’re watering and pining after our little green orbs. Read more ›
I love pickles. Period. I make oodles of them during the summer and eat them all year long. I also give them as gifts for Christmas, bring them out for parties and holidays. My main stay is straight up dill pickles. The recipe is from my mother, Judy, who use to make them in these awesome half gallon mason jars. Read more ›