Review: Garden Design by Alice Recknagel Ireys

This is not something I would normally have picked up as I do not intend to have detailed, manicured garden beds that would include something as high-fluting as a 'garden design' but I found this slim book for 50 cents at my local thrift store and you simply can't bet a price like that!

I enjoyed reading through this book and several of the garden designs caught my eye. For example, "A Garden of Annual Everlastings" offered some inspiration as far as seasonal cut flowers as well as dried flower for winter bouquets. I also enjoyed "A Salad Garden by the Kitchen Door" for its practical inspiration. Several of the solid-colour bed designs intrigued me as well.

Overall this book offered a very approachable viewpoint toward garden design. The information presented in the book is enough for a beginner gardener to make a passable attempt at any of the designs but I would do fair amount of additional research on each plant mentioned before I felt ready to actually put together one of the designs. I like the information presented for each design as a graphed layout is included as well as a chart showing details of the plants included. I think this book is best used by beginners by following a design accurately. There are several general design principles included in the book but they are not detailed enough to allow a beginner to deviate much from the proscribed plan.

Overall, I'm glad I took the risk and spent the 50 cents on this book!

Indoor Worm Composting

Indoor worm composting has long been on my to-do list as I think it is a wonderful way to compost in small indoor spaces. Worries about escaping worms and smells kept me from starting a indoor worm composting system for many years but I found a DIY system using 5 gallon buckets and a local place giving out free starter worms so I decided that with low financial inputs I could give it a try! I was also excited to have my first 'livestock'!

Benefits of the bucket worm composting method: 

• Stacking five gallon buckets took up a lot less floor space than the traditional plastic tote. 
• Holes drilled in the bottom of the buckets allow for easy worm migration which means no messy separation of worm casting and worms. 
• Affordable system that can be reused if worm composting doesn't wind up working out. 

Worm Care:

Feed worms vegetable scraps but avoid meat, oil, and breads. 

Bucket should contain 'browns' which include newspaper, cardboard, and/or egg cartons.

Troubleshooting:

The food is mouldy! I sometimes over-fed my worms and some of the food gets a bit mouldy. When this happens I simply add more newspaper or cardboard and reduce food for a while. This seems to quickly resolve the problem. 

What should it smell like? I love the smell of my worm bucket! It smells like warm, damp, earth!  

Seed Purchases

It is easy to overspend on seeds as each package is only a few dollars and you have to purchase a certain amount to justify the shipping costs. Here are a few ways I keep my seed spending under control.

1. Limit the number of seed catalogues. If you do not like the selection of seeds, the business practices, the customer service or the germination rate from one company stop getting that seed catalogue. It will reduce temptation and help you spend your seed money wisely.

2. Save seeds. While seed saving from some plants are more difficult there are plenty of easy seeds to save. Seed saving will eventually result in plants that are ideal for your micro climate, save you money, and you will be able to trade with others for different varietals.

3. Make a plan. Before I even crack into a seed catalogue I have a list of the seeds I saved and have left from the previous year as well as a plan regarding new varietals and new plants I want to try for the upcoming year. This plan includes broad garden goals such as 'some plants for dye' and 'some plants that are unique and catch my eye'. This ensures that I purchase required seeds and limits my need to make just one more seed order and simultaneously allows for spontaneous experimental purchases.

4. Order from a set number of companies. I always make a large purchase from Heritage Harvest because it is a small Manitoba company that I love supporting. Limiting the number of orders I make ensures that I plan my purchases and minimises the cost of shipping small lots.

Off-Grid Laundry

Washing Machine: 

(Photo from Lehman's) 

I purchased this off-grid, home washing machine in January 2015 and have been doing the majority of my laundry by hand since. I use the coin operated machines in the apartment building for sheets, blankets, and towels as well as anytime I am sick or have an injury. This machine was a sort of litmus test to see if we'd be truly able to go 'off-grid' in the future and thankfully I really enjoy doing laundry this way. I've found that it actually has encouraged me to wear those articles of clothing that are a bit more unusual than my regular t-shirts and jeans. For example, I used to avoid wearing a specific coloured shirt because it would get dingy if I washed it with unlike colours but I did not have enough similar coloured clothing to warrant a complete laundry cycle but with a small machine such as this I can easily wash and wear! The Wonder Wash has a few design problems but the basic barrel works well. I took the suction cups off the bottom of the stand and never use the drain spout. 

I have found that off-grid laundry is easier if you do small batches on a regular basis rather than accumulate dirty laundry that results in a long and tiring laundry day. I do 2 or 3 loads twice a week.  

Soap:

(Photo from Well.ca)

I've been using soap nuts for several years for laundry. They are a naturally occurring tree product but is imported. I like that the this is a natural product but the imported nature bothers me. There are several 'soap' replacements that can be grown in North America which I will look into in the future. This is the best choice for me in the meantime. 

Brewing Ginger Beer

Brewing has been on the to-list for a few years now. We purchased a bunch of equipment when I still lived in Toronto and it's been through a few moves now. I did attempt a few batches of all-grain but they never really worked out - my husband insists that the fact that I winged my own recipe has something to do with this failure. That can't possibly be true as all the books say 'if you can make lasagna, you can make beer!' 

Those failed beer attempts really zapped my enthusiasm for brewing so we decided to start slowly with a non-alcoholic extract ginger beer kit. This was meant to test our sanitation process and to boost brewing related skills.

It was a success! We have 5 gallons of bubbly, clean tasting, ginger beer in our fridge at the moment. 

Now to order in some supplies for an all grain beer recipe! Onwards and Upwards! 

Natural Dye: Black Beans

I have been doing research and development for an upcoming on-farm project entitled Foraged Fibre. I have big plans for this project but I started with learning how to dye 100% wool with natural dyes.

I followed this Mother Earth News article to mordant a hank of 100% wool.

The dye liquid was made out of the water usually thrown away after soaking black beans. I put 750 grams of black beans into a cooking pot and covered with an inch of water. This soaked for 24 hours and was drained and used as the dye liquid. (The beans were cooked and consumed.) The pre-mordanted wool was placed into the dye liquid and brought to a slow simmer for 1 hour. Once the wool and dye liquid returned to room temperature the wool was rinsed until the liquid ran clear.

The dye liquid was saved and used to dye a second mordanted hank of wool and resulted in a lighter version of the original colour. (Not pictured)

(Cowl dyed with black beans)

Preserving Citrus

ORANGES: 

Dried Orange Peels

Before eating oranges, I've taken to peeling the rind with a vegetable peeler (taking only the orange part and leaving the bitter pith behind). This is laid out on a cookie sheet to air-dry over the course of few days. After which the curled, hard peels are ground in a food processor. The bright orange powder is then added by the teaspoon to baked goods (like chocolate chip cookies) and coffee drinks which imparts a delicate but powerful orange flavour.      

Candied Orange Peels

Peel three or four oranges, trying to keep the peel in large pieces. Cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Boil for 20 minutes or until peels are tender. The pith begins to look slightly opaque when the peels have boiled long enough. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Use a paring knife, to cut off the white pith. You should be able to take the majority of the pith off in one piece. Cut the peel into strips. Boil 3/4 cup sugar, with reserved cooking liquid and 1 cup of water until the mixture begins to thicken. Add peel and boil another five minutes. Drain and coat the strips in granulated sugar.

Orange Chocolate Biscotti

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons ground flax

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1/3 cup diced candied orange peel

Preheat oven to 350 F. Whisk sugar, ground flax, oil, and orange juice until well blended. In a separate bowl, mix baking powder, flour, cocoa and orange peel. Fold dry ingredients into wet until just mixed. Scope unto baking sheet and, using damp hands, form into a log. Bake for 30 minutes. The surface of the biscotti should be cracked. Remove from oven and let cool. Slice. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. Enjoy! 


LEMONS
Preserved Lemons

Lemons
Salt
Lemon juice

Cut lemon into wedges, but do not cut all the way through the lemon. This creates a lemon that has open surface area but is still attached at the bottom. Stuff lemon with salt. Stuff salted lemons into a glass container. Cover with lemon juice. Leave undisturbed for a minimum of two weeks. 

Salty Lemonade: 
1 wedge of preserved lemon
2 teaspoons sugar
squirt of lemon juice
water
ice

Muddle preserved lemon and sugar. Add water, ice, and lemon juice. Be careful with the balance of sugar and salt. It's supposed to be a tiny bit salty but not extremely so.