tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82274434697969741982024-03-17T20:02:48.269-07:00little*big*harvestSmall-scale gardening on 1/6 acre. Learning as we go!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-29208520288782057742021-04-02T19:10:00.002-07:002021-06-16T06:13:59.177-07:00Worms on the Blacktop, 2.0 Five years ago, I wrote blogpost called Worms on The Blacktop. It contained some details about the struggle I was feeling during my first year in the school system, assisting at a local elementary school. I have not gone back and reread it, but I do remember the feelings I had after a magical recess filled with stranded worms; the sense of remembering who I Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-87570212078513622702019-01-26T15:49:00.003-08:002019-01-30T17:12:38.215-08:00Banana Bread Bites
My blog has definitely been nudged to the side ever since I started teaching. When I owned a daycare in my house, the garden and blog were an integral part of my daily life. Now, halfway through my third year of teaching public school, the garden has become a refuge I seek--sometimes desperately--and my blog is an oft-forgotten haven that I revisit only occasionally.
When my sister-in-law Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-76436520228182534022018-05-13T06:37:00.000-07:002019-01-30T17:13:10.722-08:005 Reasons Why Your Tiny Plot Matters
It happened again last weekend when my husband and I were about to enjoy a date night; I felt a moment of shame for the tiny plot I tend.
Craig (hubby) had won free tickets from work to see our local hockey team (Let's Go Komets!). We were getting settled in our stadium seats when one of Craig's coworkers sat next to us with his wife. We almost immediately hit it off--even though they were Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-79710414355721907872017-11-23T17:24:00.003-08:002019-01-30T17:14:00.464-08:00A Day of ThanksWhat a glorious day. Thanksgiving! Four long days stretch ahead of me of not having to follow the alarm, sleeping in, and not having to report to work.
I was truly thankful today. The sun was shining brightly and the air was warm enough to spend some time outside. I mulched three bags of leaves and tossed them over the backyard fence, creating a sort of bank account of carbon and bedding for Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-85004138379637419832016-11-05T16:06:00.002-07:002017-05-13T06:57:27.303-07:00From Organic Snob... to Pizza RollsHow did this happen?
I admit, for a few years I started to become a bit snobbish. Organic. Whole foods. From-scratch snacks and meals, almost always. Prepackaged industrial food became a dirty word in our house, and I rarely
ventured down those 'middle aisles', because they were filled with the worst of the 'fake' foods (explained eloquently in books like Food Rules: An Eater's Manual). Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-50792166077010425402016-05-01T06:37:00.000-07:002016-10-30T18:38:39.959-07:00Forager's Find: Lamb's Quarters
It's time for you to discover lamb's quarters!
A
common 'weed' that is also known as goosefoot, fat hen, and smooth
pigweed, lamb's quarters is a plant you may have overlooked. Tasty and
abundant, and common nearly everywhere human beings live, it is the
perfect forager's find. The leaves taste incredibly similar to spinach,
and the raw stems taste like asparagus.
I
Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-59032096487210445512016-03-27T08:05:00.002-07:002016-10-30T18:38:23.721-07:00Worms on The Blacktop
"Attention staff and students: pardon the interruption. We will be having outdoor recess today. Students, please stay on the blacktop only."
Relieved that we wouldn't be stuck in the classroom again (indoor recess is the pits when a roomful of second graders need nothing more than to run outside), I glanced out the window to see that the drizzling rain from the morning had stopped. Staying Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-33403928571765955562016-01-09T19:53:00.003-08:002016-02-27T06:26:38.224-08:00The Merging of Dreams: Beware the Tears
Caution: I analyze everything to death. Nothing is simple. I abhor change, though in time I usually accept it. Things that would be mere hiccups to most people--like a job change--disrupt my entire life and make me question the reason for my very existence. You've been warned. Read on if you've ever felt overwhelmed by change in your life--my reluctance and fears about change may make you feel Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-23056631308879783962015-11-25T09:59:00.000-08:002016-02-27T06:33:10.108-08:00The Seeds We Saved in 2015Each year I try to learn a little bit more about seed saving. It appeals to the practical (aka cheap) side of me (those seed packets really add up!) and to the inquisitive side of me (you mean, that's how a plant makes seed?).
Some seeds are so easy to save from year to year that it's really a no-brainer--for those easy ones...just do it! Others are a little more complicated. I've read thatAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-20376885729010633112015-10-25T06:56:00.000-07:002015-11-29T08:05:22.799-08:00Hooked on this Heirloom: SanditasThese adorable little cucumbers are becoming wildly popular with gardeners, and for very good reason!
Several Names, Same Cute Cuke
At the beginning of my love affair with these cucumbers, I called them "Mexican Sour Gherkins" (the name on the seed packet I bought from rareseeds.com). A lovely and romantic name--but what a mouthful! Every time I'd try to spread the word about these Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-39124162104799683782015-09-11T15:11:00.000-07:002015-10-30T07:39:22.682-07:00Today in The Garden- Neglect
I was warned that it would happen. Once I started working outside the house, my garden would suffer. The blog would suffer. I just wouldn't have the time to deal with these 'hobbies' anymore.
Some kind of wilt has decimated the pumpkins and squash.I had found a milk-water remedy that I was going to try,but I just haven't found the time to rescue my plants.
The warnings ended up Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-53804479291448403032015-07-28T06:12:00.001-07:002016-06-30T13:01:48.717-07:00Crisp Onion & Zucchini Pizza
Got pesto? Got zucchini and onions? Try them all together on a pizza and be ready to fall in love!
My family and I love our homemade pizza nights. Even though pizza is available--fast and inexpensive--from a variety of pizza places within just a mile of us, those ready-made pizzas don't hold a candle to our creations.
Each family member gets to come up with their own ideas (admittedly, theAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-39735158667620199802015-07-18T08:03:00.000-07:002015-10-30T07:39:51.004-07:00Food Forest Update; Quiet Steady Growth
From the street, it's becoming obvious that this is no longer
a typical urban empty lot.
If you didn't see my original post about the Food Forest, click here to see how I got to be present at its 'birth'. What was once just a simple empty lot has begun a transformation beyond my wildest dreams...and it will only get more lush and beautiful as the perennial plants and trees reach maturity.
Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-61744998698199310882015-06-26T05:35:00.000-07:002015-08-12T06:30:22.086-07:00Today in The Garden- Six BlossomsEarly in the morning, there was a huge yellow blossom on the Jack-Be-Little pumpkin plant--by afternoon it had closed in on itself and revealed another blossom underneath it. Throughout the day we looked closely and found a few other flowering surprises.
There is something indescribably exciting about spotting those first blossoms. While the whole garden is hard at work, growing and greening in Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-36458559692056227342015-06-23T11:40:00.004-07:002016-05-01T06:36:01.585-07:00Lamb's Quarters Poppers
PIN IT HERE
I'll never forget how excited I was to discover Lamb's Quarters.
Discovering that a 'weed' is edible is always a thrill!
Other names for this tender and delicious plant: goosefoot, fat hen, and smooth
pigweed.
Most people consider it an invasive weed, but once I found some for myself and had a taste, I was glad to have it in my garden. Click here to see why this 'weedAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-73704704232431450412015-06-21T04:47:00.000-07:002015-07-03T04:47:19.770-07:00Quick Pint of Pickled Onions
I have always loved red onions.
Now I love them even MORE!
First of all, there is the color. That purple-red, deep, gorgeous hue. Second, they are milder than white onions, especially on salads. Third--have you ever roasted red onions? If not, do it, now. Roasted red onion is one of the most delicious veggies you'll ever eat, especially if roasted with a little olive oil, asparagus and Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-50388941322197512302015-06-20T09:29:00.001-07:002015-06-25T04:18:35.527-07:00No Poisons Here Today
Behind these dandelions you can see the empty lot, directly across the street from us. We love how this lot fills with dandelions every spring. This is one of my photos from last year when we picked to our heart's content in order to make 'candle-lion jelly'. I've written about this lot a few times--and sometimes I think it's the only thing that keeps me from going insane on my tiny little Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-86425962083749226882015-06-14T19:15:00.000-07:002016-04-09T08:27:14.736-07:00Forager's Find- Mulberry
For a long time, I hesitated to include mulberries as a Forager's Find because, well--they are everywhere! Is it really foraging if you only have to walk a block or two to find them?
My point was proven again two days ago when I was led by my husband to another abundant foraging spot, which I have named 'mulberry alley'. Perhaps mulberries are easy to find, but not everyone knows what they Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-79294273107054533842015-06-13T13:31:00.000-07:002016-05-01T06:41:00.513-07:00Mulberry Alley- A Simple GiftI've had mulberries on my mind a lot lately.
I've been working on an informative blogpost--one that I never knew I wanted to write, until I realized that a lot of people don't know what mulberries are. I've been eating mulberries by the dozens every day since they began ripening last week. They are always something I've always taken
for granted, I suppose, since I grew up with a tree and Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-19599729746147819202015-06-11T06:13:00.001-07:002015-06-14T20:44:14.189-07:00Death of A Chipmunk
It's just a chipmunk. Its death should be inconsequential. I wanted it to die, after all. I wanted lots of the chipmunks who have set up residence in our yard to die. As long as I didn't have to do it--or see it.
Even though it's just a chipmunk, it represented a real threat to my garden.
We started allowing Biscuit--our exclusively indoor cat--outside recently, much to his delight. I jokedAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-25796560801736198952015-06-09T04:20:00.001-07:002015-06-09T06:03:32.769-07:00Today In the Garden: Migration to BackyardYou would think that the backyard would be the most logical place to start when you want to plant a garden, right?
In our case, no. This is our 4th garden season, and we have just now officially moved into the back.
Since it's only the beginning of June, not a lot has filled out yet in our gardens. We have nearly everything planted, however, and some things are already taking off. Come along onAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-15292480534644119852015-06-04T05:30:00.000-07:002015-06-09T04:58:55.870-07:00No Recipe Pizza Sauce
This is the sauce that prompted the exclamation "This is the best pizza I've ever had in my life!"
I did a double take as I continued to cut slices for the collection of kids at the table. Maybe the words did come from my 11-year-old son's friend --and maybe earlier he'd said that a cat video he was watching on YouTube was the 'funniest thing he'd ever seen in his life'--but Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-72686783870837755122015-05-29T10:11:00.000-07:002020-06-09T07:21:30.618-07:00Rhubarb Lentil Soup
It's rhubarb season! This is one wonderful plant that you won't find at the store. You either have to start growing it yourself or find someone who grows it--and hope they offer you a bagful if you ask nicely. They usually will. :)
A perennial that typically grows bigger and stronger each year, rhubarb is especially wonderful because it's one of the first foods--following closely Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-80419144576732877862015-05-11T18:18:00.001-07:002016-05-06T06:20:37.242-07:00Lacto-Fermented Broccoli Stem Spears
When you start fermenting in your kitchen, suddenly everything has potential. The usual suspects--cabbage and cucumbers--are always fantastic, of course. Thinking outside the box can be very rewarding, however. Every time I start cutting up any veggie, curiosity takes over, and I wonder "Hmm, can I pickle that?" Turns out, in most cases I can.
Broccoli became my newest pickling Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227443469796974198.post-47173636395331429712015-05-01T07:47:00.001-07:002018-06-24T10:46:01.348-07:00The Roly Poly: Garden Friend or Foe?
Roly poly, pill bug, wood louse, armadillo bug, cheese log, doodlebug. These tiny armored creatures have a surprising number of nicknames, and are likely one of the most plentiful bugs you've seen in your yard and garden.
Every time you upturn a rock, small log, or flowerpot, you see dozens of them. They are a favorite for kids because they are so easy to pick up and examine, and the way Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05057816578900725011noreply@blogger.com140