Author Archives: seedybeans

Class Change

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Peas shoots ready for munching!

Just wanted to let some of you know I had to postpone my seeding class today.  I was so delighted it was full with a growing waiting list, so I thank you for your interest and support….However I am home alone with two very sick children who need my full attention today.

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Too tired for bed!

 

Homegrown and rescheduled it for April 3 so we don’t miss important seeding windows!!  Since your Sundays has been freed up, why not play in the garden today?  It would be a great day to plant potatoes (if you have them), as it is a root day.  I know it seems early, but I have a feeling they would do just fine!

With the moon being in an earth sign (Capricorn) enjoy your home, your garden and your family today, and I will try to do the same, thanks for understanding.

Seedy weekend!

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IMG_1482Today is a flower day and since this June I want to be filled with flowers I am starting Cosmos& Snapdragons in the greenhouse today.  It is an experiment, as usually I am too focused on vegetables to even think about flowers this time of year and frankly I direct seed most of my flowers anyway…But today I plant flowers inside and so might you if you wish to experiment.  These are both pretty cool hardy flowers so they will go out sooner than the other things and hopefully provide me with early blooms.

IMG_6293Friday is a flower day too and then goes into a leaf day.  Saturday is full leaf day and so I hope to tuck in those Spinach seeds I didn’t get to last weekend.  The chicken are in the chicken tractor right down doing the tilling for me.

IMG_2847I will then boldly plant peas outside for Sunday, Monday and Tuesdays fruit sign (Leo).  I will soak them over night first and then tuck them in, as I think my soil will be warm from here on out and I have seen peas in the snow anyhow!  I will also use Leo to aid my greenhouse plantings of Peppers, Eggplants and Tomatoes, (I usually start the big slicers first, the cherry tomatoes can wait till later).

IMG_9988I plan to share my happenings here, but wanted to you to get prepared and dust off those seeds if you plan to plant along.  Since it feels like May out there we might as well act like it!!

Wrapped in love

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To stray from the rise of gardening spirit for just one moment, I simply must share that today is my daughters first birthday.  She was born in the evening, in front of the fire and her birth was indeed a fire birth if you will.  She is turning out to be a little fireball herself and I simply couldn’t love her more!  I love her so deeply, as all mothers do, but I am just astounded at how much she has taught me in this short year.

Her first lesson to me was “you can not do this alone”.  I love community and people but I can also be quite the loner, especially when it comes to hard tasks and challenges.  She told me loud and clear, “Gather the troops mama, you will need them this time around!”

So I boldly did.  I asked for something that required attention, care, focus and most of all time, which is solid gold to most mamas I know.

IMG_0310I asked them to weave together a net for Eva and I to catch us when we fell, ( which we in fact did about 5 weeks into her life).

IMG_0504I asked them to knit us a blanket to warm us with motherly love in the coldest, darkest days of the year (and what felt like the darkest days of my entire life at the time).

IMG_0321I asked for them to stitch us a rainbow bridge which we could cross over, into the many phases of our life together….

IMG_0502And so they did.  Without any hesitation, they got to work, rummaging through their stash baskets, finding a simple form for all to fit into, holding gatherings to knit and laugh and do what needed to be done.

 

Stitch by stitch, square by square we all prepared for the day of her birth, together in our thoughts of this little girl who would come and be a part of our woven fabric of womanhood.

Each hue handed to me with a prayer and a kiss tucked inside.

And then, ever so carefully and communally, the rainbow was woven together, stronger than any net ever made, brighter than all the colors in the universe, and warmer then any blanket on the coldest of winter nights.

I had it to lay my baby on the day she arrived in my arms.

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It caught us and cradled us, warmed us and brightened us, all because of the women who rose to create it.  They kept coming too, with food and flowers and friendship and still do, even a year later, and I have no doubt they will be with us till the end.

Screen Shot 2016-02-12 at 11.09.09 PMOn this day I weep in love not only for my daughter and her wisdom but for the women who rise every time, in every way, every single day to do what needs to be done, to care for, to feed, to comfort, to celebrate, even to scold.  These are the women of the whole world and I am proud to raise up yet another woman on this spinning earth who I know will be taught by the very the finest, to do what needs to be done and to not be afraid to ask for help when it is needed.  I am proud of my women today and proud to be a woman who loves so freely, so fiercely and so necessarily!

I was also taught by my daughter, to give thanks for what you are grateful for and to sing that thanks to the world.  So sisters, Thank you, from the very bottom of my heart, there is not much more to say than I love you.

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Adapted by Katie Feldspausch from ‘The Tapestry Poem’ by Corrie ten Boom

My life is but a weaving,
Between my world and me.
I cannot change the color
For Life works steadily.

The dark threads are as needful
In the skillful weavers Hand
Aside bright threads of rainbow
The world’s stitched up in my plan.

Often times It weaves in mystery,
And Many days of cheer,
Wrapping it all around me,
My world is far from fear.

Now the room is silent
And the wool will lay to rest,
The life weaved in this blanket,
Will forever be so blessed.

  • Read to me with the gifting of the blanket
  • Here is the Pattern we followed( losely!!)

When to plant what?

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For the past three years I have made a planting calendar that combines the Biodynamic planting recommendations with my own gardening experience here in the high desert.  This was mostly made to assist my fellow gardeners and to answer the question all my students ask most of me, ‘When to plant what’?  It is also a great tool for me to record everything I did in one place (I am awful at record keeping) and cross reference in the following years…..

IMG_6966 What can I say, this winter has brought lots of hibernation and big changes that have needed my attention….so my friends, sadly there is no calendar this year.  Luckily these hands know what to do and I am happy to share with all of you through my blog what I am up to in the garden and greenhouse this season.

It may make for a series of short, possibly boring posts, but if you are one of my many gardeners out there you can just follow along as we plan and plant for an abundant season ahead, ( I hope you have been collecting all this moisture in your water tanks!).

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I am also teaching a few classes this spring on Seed Sowing if you are new to all this Seedy business for Homegrown and the Botanical Garden.

The Planting Report

So for now the planting report is this….Last Saturday I went ahead and planted a ton of tomatoes (I think somewhere near 300, lord help me!!).. My Biodynamic calendar said it was an “specially good”day and I just couldn’t help myself!!

This Friday Feb 12th, is a Leaf day and I will be planting Celery, Lettuce, Kale, Chard in the greenhouse.  I probably could have done all these a month ago, but I just didn’t feel the seeds calling.  Now that Bridgid has blessed them all it feels time.

IMG_7324If I set up some row cover I may just plant Spinach outside…But then I have to start watering out there and I am not sure I am ready for that!  But let’s just say I Could.

Planning Ahead

Have you ordered you Potatoes and Onions sets yet?  Those go in around St. Patrick’s day and lots of companies sell out of certain kinds, so order them soon.  I often buy Potatoes from Ronniger’s which is based in Colorado, or Irish Eyes which have lots of organic varieties.  I have bought onions sets from Dixondale farms in the past and wow, serious onion bounty!  Both Potatoes and Onions can be bought locally as well from Aqua Fria Nursery and lots of other seeds companies you may already be loyal to.

IMG_7071All this said, I do have a passive solar greenhouse and have very particular temperature and light conditions, so even though I can start stuff indoors it may not quite be time for you.  The best way is to try of course, or your could come to my class and I can help you find the right conditions and timing for your situation! Happy gardening!

 

 

 

The sap is rising

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Happy Imbolc, the half way point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.  It is time my friends, to face the sun again and return my thoughts to the garden.  Not yet planting of course, still tucked cozy away in hibernation, but my thoughts are shifting to seeds, I can feel the sap rising in a round me.

It is said that if you leave your seeds out tonight they will be blessed by Brigid and bring a good harvest….So yes my seeds are all over the table organized into little piles of who gets started where and when…and I will leave them right there to receive all the blessings they can tonight.  Screen Shot 2016-02-01 at 9.52.55 PM

So tonight I will dream of my garden and the fruits this year may bring.  I know I have been away from my little blog for a while, but much has gestated and this year promises more abundance than ever, so I am looking forward to a return to this space and have lots to bring…..but for, now get out those seeds, if only for a tiny blessing of promises ahead.

2015 Santa Fe Harvest Swap

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Busy little squirrels over here gathering up the acorns for winter and preparing all our goodies to the share

on Oct 25th

at the Fourth Annual Santa Fe Harvest Swap!!

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Over the years this has become a place where we gather with our community to

Swap, Savor and Celebrate the Abundance of our year together on this beautiful earth.

It is a place to share gratitude for all that we are given and have the opportunity to be nourished from each others kitchens, hard work and hearts.

Hope to see you all back again, or if you haven’t ever joined us, this might just be your year!! Sign up here.

My counters runneth over

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This pretty much sums up my kitchen these days.  My counters runneth over with goodness calling my name: feed me, cook, me, can me, dry me, PLEASEEEEEEE

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We reignited the sourdough starter for our Pre-school baking day, upon my sons request after hearing the Little Red Hen for the first time, and we made ourselves some sourdough bread (both gluten and gluten-free I might add!) He couldn’t have been more excited, which totally made it worth the effort ( we have been gluten-free for a year now and my bread rhythm is completely gone and I don’t really miss it at all)

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We have two crockpots going 24 hours a day with the tomatoes and more ripening every day! Luckily I have a baby holder when I MUST do something that requires two hands like churning hot tomatoes!

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We went apple picking and luckily there are about twenty pre-school apple picking verses to learn along side.

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We changed the seasonal alter to an autumn theme to my sons delight added a few new puppets of whom he is very fond of!  These little guys got me back in the crafting mood, and though I spent way too much time on them, aspiring to my Utube muse, I had so much fun and now have yet another crafty obsession, needle felting!

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This must be our season because home-pre-school curriculum lines up perfectly with what we fill our days with anyways, so instead of feeling like I am taking on yet ANOTHER task, I feel like I am actually just weaving song and spirit and sweet company into my daily hum.

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Ahhhh I just love when things are fluid and easy….well done with ease & fluidity–

(canning and processing all this stuff while juggling two kids is not exactly easy!!, but a healthy challenge I am delighting in and I am sure not the first mama to have all these pots on the stove at once!)

AHHHHHHugust

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Oh August- you are such a dream, I am pretty sure I write you an Ode every year, and this one you have shown your true colors so generously, yet again.

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Your light is amazing, your rains oh so soft, the world just seems to sparkle in your glow.

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You have me busy though I will say that…Gathering up those Amish Paste tomatoes like little easter eggs hiding under a forest of foliage and the cherries that just won’t stop giving!!

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Chop chop chopping onions that are pungent and sweet all at the same time!

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And attempting to put off the canning sessions as long as I can by fermenting Salsa!! IMG_9043

Which is going quite well I must say!

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August, it feels like you are almost over and I just wanted you to know, you are my favorite of all the many moons we see come and go, and if September wasn’t so Spectacular as well, I might grasp at you, but for now, I just want you to know how much I love you so.

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The Rough Guide to Big Batch Basil Pesto

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It happens every summer…or winter I suppose.  I start in the green house in March with these little tiny Basil seeds…

they are so itty bitty I end up planting way too many.

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When they grow I find plenty of nooks and crannies for them to grow in the garden and then this time of year I am swimming in beautiful Genovese Basil.  So I get to work on big old batches of pesto to freeze and share at the Santa Fe Harvest Swap, (yes it is happening again this fall folks, more details later!!!)

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I usually start with about 1 1/2 lbs Basil, a dozen head of garlic, four cups almonds, four cups olive oil, and a handful of salt.  This much will get you about a case of half pint jars of pesto.  It isn’t hard, just takes a few time consuming steps- like peeling a ton of garlic, and plucking off a ton of Basil stems.

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Along the way I figured out an average head of garlic equals about 1/4 minced garlic- which is enough for one batch– yes I like garlic!!

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To make these batches affordable I use Almonds instead of pine nuts, and I soak them over night before hand to get even more bang for my buck ( they expand a little when soaked)

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The making is easy once you have everything prepped and ready, (this can take days!!)IMG_8798

For one Batch ( 3 half pint jars)

Fill the Cuisinart with

4 cups of basil leaves (That means filled to the brim and pushed down a couple times)

I pulse the Cuisinart a couple of times and add

1 cup of Olive Oil on top and pulse till a nice green paste

Then I add a

1/4 cup minced garlic (run through the cuisinart earlier)

1 Cup soaked Almonds

1tsp salt

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Before you finish taste it!! Some garlic is much stronger than others as is Basil so make sure you like it before you go freezing a ton of it!!

Blend until nice a creamy and fill up half pint jars leaving a little room at the top for a layer of olive oil ( this keeps it green)

This amount will make 3 Half pint jars

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Do this four times and you will have a case of pesto which you can freeze and eat throughout the year!

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***Remember this is a Rough Guide- I can barely follow a recipe much less write one, but so many of you have asked how I make my pesto over the years, so there you have it!