My Vacation

Every year, my vacation days from work are spread out to care for the garden. In the early spring, days are spent cleaning up the garden and planting the early vegetables (peas, radish, lettuce, beets, onions, carrots, spinach, broccoli, rapini, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, cucumbers). Late spring is for early harvest and preserving, and planting the summer vegetables. Late summer finds me in the busiest harvest of the year - tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, summer squashes, beets, beans, corn, summer greens. It's also time to plant the fall vegetables (2nd round of tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, lettuce and greens, beets) and the greenhouse veggies for winter. Autumn will be time to put away apples, peanuts, and potatoes, onions, winter squash, and any second sowings of summer veggies. Winter is not only time to plan the garden, but also to tend to the greenhouse garden.

So, here I am with four days of vacation. The first day was spent in the garden, harvesting and planting the autumn sowing.

The second day, we were canning. Here's the take:

This is 7 jars of No Sugar Blueberry Jam - something I sort of made up from reading no sugar jars of fruit. It's pretty good, I opened a jar for breakfast.

4 jars of Dill Relish

5 jars of Dill Pickle Chips

8 jars of Dill Sandwich Stackers - including two with a hot pepper (see jar on left)

9 jars of Pickled Beets

4 jars of plain Red Beets

5 jars of Salsa (yes, that really was 5 jars - we ate 1 already and opened number 2 :)

There is only one problem - 

There is nowhere left for Vacation Day 3 

THE TOMATOES, oh my!  :)  Read on for step-by-step crushed tomato instructions!

Peace,

Dharma Dogs Farm

Going Vegan

I've been eating vegetarian again for about 6 months, finally realizing this is who I really am and that it's okay if Danny wants to eat meat - I don't have to. Over these last 6 months, I have lost over 40 pounds and 10 inches. I am obviously right about who I am :)

Last month, Dan picked up Kathy Freston's Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World. So much of what I found in this book rang true to me, from poisons in our food, to the real causes of cancer, and the inhumane treatment of animals. I immediately began rethinking everything I was eating - no longer eating anything made with eggs unless the eggs came from my own coddled hens. Casein became an enemy - causing cancer almost as certainly as bleach will. I even investigated the alcohol we drink - and personal products we are using.

As I started to eat a lot more vegan, I also realized there are some substitutions that don't make sense to me. I have found artificial colors and trans fats in many substitute products. I am certainly still learning this way of life - even having been vegetarian for several years in the 70's-80's, veganism is new to me.

Today I am starting a three week journey into strict veganism. I look at it as an adventure - one that might continue on for the rest of my life. There is a part of me that feels true authenticity can't be found in substitutes. This doesn't mean I won't carry on vegan - but may give up the substitutes altogether.

That said, I'm still looking for a good vegan parmesan cheese ....

Peace

Wholesome Food: Beans

We learned a really easy way to cook beans. Dried beans are very inexpensive and very nutritious. They are a good buy for your money when you are trying to spend as little as possible.

Put your beans in an oven proof pot - or get an oven proof casserole out to pour the beans into - and cover with water.  Bring to a boil.

Set the oven for 325 degrees.

When beans boil, put pot into oven, or pour into oven proof casserole and then carefully place in oven.

Check your beans about 30 minutes apart. Most will take about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

You can cook several pots/bowls of beans at once this way.

When the beans are done to your liking, remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Scoop one or two cup servings and freeze in heavy freezer bags.

The beans are one of the best freezable foods there is. To thaw, place in microwave (we don't own one, so can't tell you for how long), thaw on counter or in refrigerator - even in a bowl of cool water if you're in a hurry (and don't have a micro-thingy)

Michele's Herbs

Michele was raised learning about Native American and folk ways of life. Her family grew most of their own food; raised goats, pigs, chickens, and sheep; and used many plants medicinally. Michele has used and studied herbs all of her life and is considered a traditional herbalist. Much of this knowledge will be contained in this blog, as many of her followers have asked her to do for many years.

At this time, Dharma Dogs Farm has the following herbs for sale:

Fresh Culinary Herbs:

Chives - $2 per pack, $8 per half pound, $15 per pound

English Thyme - $2 per pack

Greek Oregano - $2 per pack

Sage - $2 per pack


Fresh Medicinal Herbs:

Lemon Balm - $2 per pack

Catnip - $2 per pack

Motherwort - $4 per pack

Lady's Mantle - $3 per pack

Raspberry Leaf - $3 per pack


Herb Plants:

Catnip, Lemon Balm, Motherwort - $4 each

We soon will also have our dried herbs for purchase online.

Peace,
Dharma Dogs