tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post580186699398342464..comments2023-05-13T09:49:31.999-05:00Comments on 14 Acres: This week in picturesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-18903963897813163132010-03-16T09:59:31.140-05:002010-03-16T09:59:31.140-05:00Hi Karen -- Yeah, it is a lot of work. But I enjo...Hi Karen -- Yeah, it is a lot of work. But I enjoy it. I can see you not missing it, with your intensive work schedule and all. Maybe when you re-retire you can make a big garden and start seeds again. I'm sure that will be your first priority!Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09941280453570504094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-37906932148793547442010-03-16T09:27:10.020-05:002010-03-16T09:27:10.020-05:00I have a confession to make...this is the first sp...I have a confession to make...this is the first spring that I won't have started any seeds...AT ALL!!! I don't miss the mess, work, or any of it!! Maybe it has something to do with working again...just have other stuff to do now! Glad you are still enjoying it!Karennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-69696008197075527662010-03-12T22:28:54.315-06:002010-03-12T22:28:54.315-06:00Hello Thistledog -- Bench vise, hmm. Don't ha...Hello Thistledog -- Bench vise, hmm. Don't have one of those. But I do have a hubby willing to hold the thing still while I sharpen, will that work?Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09941280453570504094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-3343914380576285242010-03-12T22:27:23.372-06:002010-03-12T22:27:23.372-06:00Hi Rick! Yeah, I am completely loving the root ce...Hi Rick! Yeah, I am completely loving the root cellar. Although with the warm weather the last week it's been hard keeping the temp down to the mid-30s. This is fine, since we just have a few potatoes and apples in there right now. And seed potatoes. Hope those stay dormant for a few more weeks!<br /><br />I don't know many other soap makers, despite my hobby. And I rarely buy anyone else's soap. I do know that Brynmawr is a natural soap making company out of Mpls.<br />(http://www.brynmawrsoap.com/) They've been around for awhile and seem to have a loyal following.<br /><br />Ooo -- I forgot about Lush. Lush has some really nice soaps. (http://www.lushusa.com/shop) But they are obviously a much larger international company. Their bars are also more expensive, and some of the colors they use just can't be all 'natural.' But they are yummy.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09941280453570504094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-40601891219894327472010-03-12T22:13:13.785-06:002010-03-12T22:13:13.785-06:00Hi Karl -- You're right, Mr. Solomon is pretty...Hi Karl -- You're right, Mr. Solomon is pretty definite in his opinions. I find that kind of refreshing, oddly. Most of the gardening books I've read are kinda wishy-washy on various things, perhaps because they want to appeal to a wide variety of readers and growing conditions. <br /><br />Also, most of the gardening books I read say to use tons of spaghnum peat moss and other expensive additives, do soil tests, build raised beds, turn over your compost heap every other day, install soaker hoses along the garden rows, etc. I just can't do all this stuff. <br /><br />But I agree with you about his strange aversion to mulching. I'm only about 1/4 through the book though, so maybe he will explain his opinions later on. In fact, I'm sure he will. :)<br /><br />Maybe I just haven't been reading the right books ...Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09941280453570504094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-89194702233705466302010-03-12T22:12:46.113-06:002010-03-12T22:12:46.113-06:00Hi Connie -- Haha! I'd hazard a guess that Ma...Hi Connie -- Haha! I'd hazard a guess that Martha hasn't sharpened nary a garden tool in many years. That's what flunkies are for! But she sure does make everything look soooo easy.<br /><br />Hello Karen Sue -- glad to hear the onion cousins are sprouting up at your place! Let me know how they do. <br /><br />Hey Erin! I'm glad I'm not the only person ignorant regarding tool care! Lol! Misery loves company! We have eleven hens right now, laying their little hearts out.<br /><br />Howdy Mama Pea -- Yeah, each batch is a little bit different, depending on apple variety, moisture levels, etc. This year's batches seem much better than last year's. If I was better at record-keeping, I would know the reasons why and be able to replicate them. Too disorganized to do that, though!<br /><br />Hey ManFort -- I don't know anything about tallow candles, just that they used to be used in ye olden days. But I think I should do a bit of research on the uses of tallow.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09941280453570504094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-40699436496139390282010-03-10T23:13:09.129-06:002010-03-10T23:13:09.129-06:00oh, nice post. Reminds me, again, how much I need...oh, nice post. Reminds me, again, how much I need to start some seeds of my own!. <br /><br />Yup, a sharp shovel or hoe is a thing of beauty. And the best news is, it ain't hard at all. Best to have a bench vise though, to hold it firm so you can apply good pressure. Otherwise the thing will skitter all over and you'll hate the task.<br /><br />Spring is coming for sure...Thistledoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03685461283886507370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-51103195758243657872010-03-10T21:39:34.505-06:002010-03-10T21:39:34.505-06:00Hey Jo,
Glad to see that the root cellar is worki...Hey Jo,<br /><br />Glad to see that the root cellar is working out so well for you guys. preserving our harvest is always one of the hardest parts for us. Love that apple sauce as well. If our trees ever bear apples we will have to remember that. And I so need to get my leeks started. <br /><br />speaking of soap is there anyone that you would recommend that makes great soap? I am looking to replace body wash with bar soap and your post reminded me. <br /><br />Keep up the great work.Frustrated Farmer Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-61231283472416500232010-03-10T19:04:54.033-06:002010-03-10T19:04:54.033-06:00i have a love hate relationship with gardening whe...i have a love hate relationship with <i>gardening when it counts</i>. i love it. i hate it and i love to hate it. his opinions are like any other well informed gardener. he has developed a paradigm that works for him and probably may other people. not for me. don't get wrong i learned plenty from him and might even buy his book on composting. mostly i think that his opinions are too strong and absolute. <br /><br />mulching works really well for us for many reasons that he didn't mention because he doesn't live in the ozarks. although, if he did spend ten years in the ozarks i bet he'd write an excellent about gardening here. i'd probably buy it too even though i'd have to wade past his strong absolutes.Omelayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084221498316008069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-3559991378753571452010-03-10T12:47:41.434-06:002010-03-10T12:47:41.434-06:00Tallow candles .. hmmm that sounds interesting .. ...Tallow candles .. hmmm that sounds interesting .. what can you tell me about those ..I Just Live Herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18285768131650848701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-19432584369270385252010-03-09T19:01:03.758-06:002010-03-09T19:01:03.758-06:00Okay, I'm suffering real applesauce envy here....Okay, I'm suffering real applesauce envy here. We finished our very last jar at noon today. Boo-hoo! And wouldn't ya know, it was the BEST applesauce I've ever made. Next year, I'm making twice as much.Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-58059904735381024852010-03-09T16:52:01.897-06:002010-03-09T16:52:01.897-06:00p.s. How many hens do you have laying?p.s. How many hens do you have laying?Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-82767686800651862892010-03-09T16:51:28.737-06:002010-03-09T16:51:28.737-06:00yikes, I have the same problem! One of my resolut...yikes, I have the same problem! One of my resolutions this year is to take better care of my garden tools. Congrats on year 1 of the Root Cellar, looks like it was a big success!Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06916896512933101955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-43776710238554958022010-03-09T16:27:03.217-06:002010-03-09T16:27:03.217-06:00Hey!! I think I have cousins to your little onions...Hey!! I think I have cousins to your little onions coming up at MY house!! it's all I've started so far, but hoping to get some other stuff started in the next week or 2. I have messes all over and that's life, so what's one more mess of dirt and seeds?? Especially when the end is so happy!!?!?!?Karen Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18189370281390432351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2838004838772936244.post-9679480039463283562010-03-09T13:59:41.202-06:002010-03-09T13:59:41.202-06:00No gardening mentor here either. I think I saw a ...No gardening mentor here either. I think I saw a Martha Stewart show once demonstrating how to sharpen garden tools. Still haven't done any sharpening. Hoeing weeds sure would be easier if I'd done that.<br /><br />Good luck with the sharpening skills. Please let "us" know how it turns out for you. Cheers ~Connyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07742442227395727646noreply@blogger.com