Svalbard Global Seed Vault

I wanted to share this wonderful concept. I ran across this while deciding on my garden seed order for 2010. Its from earlier in the year, but I don't think any of you have heard of it before. They are trying to save rare seed varieties from plants by freezing them to save so we know they never will go extinct! Love the idea, and fully back it!

"'Doomsday Vault' Celebrates Anniversary"

4/15/2009

"The first anniversary of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway -- dubbed the "Doomsday Vault" by the press and hailed by Time as one of 2008's greatest inventions--was celebrated on February 26, 2009, with dignitaries in attendance from around the world, including Seed Savers Exchange Board members Cary Fowler and Chair Amy P. Goldman. The anniversary celebration included a talk and tour of the Seed Vault by Fowler, who is also the Executive Director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, one of the Seed Vault managers...."

The rest of the article is found here: Seedsavers.org Blog

Come Follow Me At My New Job!

Starting this January I will be the official Organic Garden Guru for www.Bakespace.com on their official Daily Newsletter! I will be writing about gardening, organic methods, heirloom varieties of different fruits/veggies, as well as simple ideas to make gardening easier and more productive. My article will only be every other Thursday... so what about the rest of the week?!

We'll, it will be filled with everything else I love about their website! Recipes, food, baking, new kitchen equipment reviews, tip and tricks for the kitchen and soooooooooooooooo much more!!!

So, you should first visit their site and probably join the community and then sign up for the newsletter! If you don't sign up, that's ok too, each article I write for the newsletter will also be published on my blog the day it is released by email. (But NOT before.)

Thanks so much everyone for following my blog, you're got me where I am now!

Come visit BAKESPACE

Here's the link to SIGN UP JUST FOR THE NEWSLETTER

After Christmas GIVEAWAY! Green Beans!!!

Now that the new year is coming on, I am so looking forward to my new improved garden! I want to tackle so many things head on knowing what I failed with last year.Even though I failed, I did have great successes...

So I feel everyone should try something new, even if it doesn't work out, you tried... so as a way to make you give something new a try, I'm going to give away more seed! This way there is no monetary lose to share you off.

What is she giving away now you ask?

I'm giving away some Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans!

What do you have to do for them?

Just leave a comment here that you want then and a way for me to contact you (Through your own BlogSpot Account/Blog or by email.) I will draw the winner and contact them on January 1st!

Wishes Of Joy

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas, and I hope you have family and friends close this time of year. I also wish everyone a 2010 thae then amazing... I hope its down right better then you ever dreamed.

Please remember this if times are hard for you too:

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
-- Dr. Seuss

Candling Silkie Eggs...

I traded some jam/jarred goods for some Lavender silkie eggs this month! Natalie (sonew123 on BackYardChickens.com) was so sweet to even send some extra mutt eggs to see what happens! How awesome to get some surprises too!!!??

So I set these eggs UNDER my broody silkies, 8 days ago, they are due to hatch January 4th. Muppet(white silkie) and Fillet(black silkie) are trying to be the mommy's with this batch. My second black silkie, Peck, will probably be going broody shortly... I can see the look in here eye.

Up until today they were setting 12 eggs, we candled the eggs this morning and 10 look to be developing. 2 for sure are not.

First silkie egg, good develpment.

No good yolkless fart egg:

This one is SUPER dark, Green EE egg... I can't see inside it, so we're assuming its ok.

Another developing silkie.

Chewy Bar Cookie Recipe For Today

Its icky and slushy and snowy today... so what better to do then bake and keep the house warm with those lovely smells that remind you of being in Grandma's kitchen!?

Chewy Cherry Dessert Bars

• Cooking Time: 35 minutes
• Servings: 12+
• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cookie Bar:
• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained and juice reserved
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• Frosting:
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
•  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  
  
  
  In a medium bowl, mix flour, white sugar and 3/4 cup butter until crumbly. Press into prepared pan.
  
  
  
  Bake in preheated oven 12 to 15 minutes, until light brown.
  
  
  
  In a mixer, combine eggs, brown sugar, vanilla and baking powder and process until smooth. Pour in cut up cherries and walnut or pecan chopped pieces beating on high. Pour over crust.
  
  
  
  Bake 25 minutes, until center is set. Set aside to cool.
  
  
  
  To frost, cream together confectioners' sugar with 2 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons cherry juice until fluffy. Frost cooled dessert and cut into bars.
  
  
  I have most of my recipes indexed over at bakespace.com now a days... so if you don't see what you would like here, check out my other recipes here:
  
  http://www.bakespace.com/members/profile/BiscottiQueen/23641/
  
   

Another Cookie Recipe to get you in the Kitchen!

Another Day, Another Recipe, Another Cookie!

CHOCOLATE CHIP AND PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

• Cooking Time: 15 minutes
• Servings: 3 dozen
• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 Large eggs
• 1 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup peanut butter cups
•  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In the microwave or in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and peanut butter chips, stirring occasionally until smooth. Set aside.
  
  In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time then stir in the vanilla. Stir in the melted chips until well blended then stir in the sifted dry ingredients. Finally, fold in the chopped peanut butter cups. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
  
  Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
   

The Holiday Cookie List

From now until Christmas, I am sharing as many cookie recipes as I like to bake for the holidays. I don't bake them every year... but they are my specialties, or ones I get my mom to make for me.

Now you can get the recipe here and give it a try yourself.

This first one has been my favorite since I was a child:

Cream Wafer Cookies

• Cooking Time: 10 minutes per batch
• Servings: 3 dozen
• Preparation Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• WAFER Cookie Dough
• 1 cup Butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup Whipping cream
• 2 cups Flour
• 
  
• FILLING
• 1/4 cup Butter
• 3/4 cup Confectioner's sugar
• 1 Egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• Red or green food coloring (thats for the holiday, use whatever you want)
•  
• Combine wafer ingredients and chill 1 hour.
  
  Roll out on floured surface to 1/2" thickness.
  
  Cut in small rounds.
  
  Transfer to waxed paper covered with 1 cup sugar.
  
  Thoroughly coat both sides and place on cookie sheet.
  
  
  
  Prick with fork and bake at 350 deagrees for 7-10 minutes.
  
  Cool. (Careful they are crumbly now)
  
  Combine filling ingredients.
  
  Spread filling on wafers and sandwich two wafers together.
   

Another Blog Feature Today!

Thank you TerryAnn for featuring my biscotti in your blog today!
http://justsoterryann.blogspot.com/

Strudel Apple Biscotti, can't go wrong with a hot cup of cocoa or tea!

Featured On Etsy's Blog Today!

When can a great day get better... but Etsy Features one of your items in their blog of course!

http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-the-limited-6314/#comment-204456

Scroll down to the limited edition featured items they chose for today! You'll find my Limited Edition Apple Strudel Biscotti! Just in time for Christmas.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35907562

Making Holiday Gifts From The Kitchen

I have spent 2 days now trying to make candies, and other fun things for Christmas to add to the baskets I will be giving this year.

I had an attempt at Caramel candied made with honey... sadly, they turned into a very thick caramel cream. Perfect for ice cream or to make caramel apples... not to individually wrap, as my intent was. So I ended up jarring the Caramel cream which will refridgerate well, so I will give the jars as gifts.

I decided to use some of the caramel for my next project. I made some brownies, which are still cooling now. They are Mocha Cocoa, topped with some of the caramel and sprinkled with Toffee I put in the food processor. Lets just say they are indulgunt! I'll be cutting them in round brownies with a cookie cutter and will individually wrap each one for baskets. I'll freeze them until I make the baskets.

The one thing that went COMPLETELY right, and were easy and FABULOUS were some Chocolate Covered Pretzels I sprinkled with toffee as well. They went so well, I'm going to do even more and crush up some candy canes to sprinkle the next batch with.

Here's the recipe and photo:

Toffee Sprinkled Chocolate Cover Sour Dough Pretzels-

melt 11.5 oz bag of chocolate chips w/
1 Tbsp Crisco shortening (not the flavored)
Over a double boiler

Dip your pretzels and place them on wax paper to go in the fridge.
I put some toffee candies in the food processor and then sprinkled that over the pretzels for I put them in the fridge to cool.

You can individually wrap these, or I stacked them with wax paper in between and put into a plastic bag with ribbon to add to my gift baskets.

How about a give away!!!?? Gerber Daisy Seed!

Would you believe while I was out in the garden I still have happy healthy Gerber Daisies in bloom!? Well, I do and they are lovely still.... I managed to catch a finished one in time to collect the seeds from a red flower and a super pale pink. So I will be giving away a pack of seeds to someone who wants them.

Just sign up here in the comments section, say which color you would want if you win and an email address or way of contact (if it links to your own blog where I can contact you that is fine). I have this posted on several forums, blogs, facebook and twitter. So please don't assume I know who you are and where you are from to hunt you down if you win. If I can't contact you right away I will go to the next possible winner of the seed!

So, Next week I will pick someone on Monday to win one pack of seeds. You get to chose between pink gerber daisies, or Red!

Here's a pic of the one's I have gotten this morning to bring in the house! Sorry, the cute little one stays with me!

Are your eco-labels lying?

This is a very interesting list I found this morning. It has all those 'eco' 'green' labels and terms you see in the grocery stores we see these days. But what do they really mean? Is the FDA really on our side if they let some of these terms slide out into the public eye KNOWING they are misleading consumers.

Personally, I believe the whole grocery mentality is to mislead the public because it causes a spending frenzy. When organic became popular... it was super expensive... but it was ORGANIC! These companies stood by it, and could afford to get us a good natural product. Now companies are stuggling to PAY our government extra to certify those organics, and are making cuts to keep going... and that means they are not as natural as they could be. So there are now a SLEW of labels for all these companies, which means most of use again... are stuck not knowing what we are REALLY getting from these products?

An egg is an egg right?! Free-Range, Organic, No added hormones... all the same right?! NOPE!
(Personally I believe the happy hen who can wonder where she wants and eat what nature provides with a little extra nutrition from us is going to produce the BEST egg ever. Not to mention, I rather have an egg laid this week then one I pay $3 for in the grocery store that can be 4 weeks old by the time I get it home.)

So here are those labels and what they mean... study them... notice how alike they look... so who is being screwed here?!

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/11/your-eco-label-lying

Waterfowl Rescue Tupperware Fundraiser!

This is from a chicken owner friend of mine who is trying to help support a Waterfowl Rescue here in NC. I do love this rescue and plan my first adoption of new ducks this spring. Recently they had to place cows and 16000 chickens into homes. That was a TALL order!

Some come order some wonderful tupperware as Christmas gifts and help support this great group, so they can continue to help these animals get new homes, or released back into nature as healthy as ever!!!

http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=18-whats-new
Details on how to purchase are on Terri's BackYardChickens.com page. 

CYBER MONDAY FREE SHIPPING

Its Cyber Monday fun shopping online... but since I have my own shops, I am offering free shipping in my http://ShannonG.Etsy.com Store through today! Order as little or as much as you want. I will refund the full shipping price after checkout using paypal. (That's an Etsy issue, other wise I would let it total it out at check out, etsy won't let me do it that way....sorry!)

So ENJOY!!!!

My ShannonG store is all the eco and green and FUN sewn items that I offer!

Sharing of Thanksgiving Recipes

I want to share one of my Thanksgiving recipes here. If anyone would like to post a recipe they want to share, please do! If you try my recipe tomorrow, leave a review here for others who want to try it. I will post a picture with this when I whip it up tomorrow. :)

CHUNKY CRANBERRY TANGERINE AND WINE SAUCE

• Cooking Time: 10min
• Servings: 6
• Preparation Time: 5min
• 3 cups (12 oz) fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup red Wine
• 1/2 cup Tangerine juice (about 3 tangerines)
• Zest of 1 Tangerine
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp Honey
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder (or some fresh ginger slices, just remove the slices before serving)
•  
• Add cranberries to pot on stove over Medium Heat
  
  
  
  Add all the liquids and turn up heat until it begins to boil
  
  
  
  Reduce heat to simmer then add sugar and ginger.
  
  
  
  Stir the cranberries until the are super tender to your liking.
  
  
  
  Enjoy!
  
  Printable version here:
  http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Chunky-Cranberry-Tangerine-and-Wine-Sauce/45836/
  
  
   

Needles and Thread and Sewing, Oh My!

I've been so busy trying to knock out some handmade gifts for Christmas, its not even funny! I get busy with cookie orders after Thanksgiving so I really try to cram now on anything I want made as gifts. This year is the first year I've sewn anything other then 1 small baby blanket as a gift. So far this season I've made Eco-towels (cloth reusable towels used much like paper towels), reusable snack bags for the families with kids, headbands for my mama's and their girls, and now I'm adding aprons to the mix!

Here's my first set of Aprons EVER. I made a matching set for my daughter and I as practice... and they did well, so we'll be adding this to what we are making for gift baskets now.

I have one last batch of Jam I am making for these baskets as well, but I won't be selling any of this batch, sorry!

Anyone interested in my sewn gifts, I have a seperate etsy store for everything I sew and don't give away. http://ShannonG.Etsy.com

New Cookware! HOORAY!

What a wonderful EARLY Christmas gift from my family! I received the 12 piece (plus bonus all purpose pan) calphalon anodized aluminum set with silicone grip handles so I can put the set directly in the oven if need be. This is my DREAM set! (And being priced between $200-$400 everywhere, I didn't think I'd ever get it.)

So what does one do with new cookware? COOK!

I have not had any large pots or pans in months and months since they broke and the teflan coating was chipping off. So I haven't been able to do any large scale cooking. So today I am working the set by making chicken stock, followed by hashbrowns to go with the pulled chicken sandwiches for dinner. I got to get my practice in. I was given this set early because I am hosting Thanksgiving this year.

Can't you just smell this lovely stock?!

Sorry I've been busy...

... the rain and heavy winds finally passed for 70 degree sunny days! That means I've been out and about all over the place. My garden is thankful for it, I was able to clean up all the leaves and mess made from the storm. Its going to be another gorgeous November day today, so I'm going to finish my cleaning outside. Then I will take what will probably be the last of the autumn photos before it just gets TOO COLD! :/

Gardening For Wildlife - Certification

My husband and I have been filtering out invasive species on the property (slowly,) its a long process. Most of our property is open, but we've managed to add a lot of native and sustainable plants since we started gardening. Most of which are blanket flower, coneflower, foxglove and azalea. We're still adding... more trees... more bushing... including some bushes with winter berries for the birds are on our list.

So I came across this website: http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/

It has all the basics to have a natural wilflife friendly landscape, and all though we WANT to do more and we WILL do more... we've done the basics to meet their certification process! So we're planning on applying this winter.

Is anyone else certified?! I would love to see photos of your properties, and see some of the plants you introduced!

The Storms a Coming!

So what does one do when the are calling for days of rain, icky, nasty and cold weather to come. You go out and enjoy the last few hours of warm fall weather by doing some garden work!!!

I moved forward on the new bed in the front. I turned in some compost today, and used as much of the edging I had left to make it neat and tidy. I then mulched the sides with 3 bags I had sitting around. That area needed it since that is where I transplanted the honeysuckle.

Quilt time

Ok... so I've finally put some real time into the quilt and have gotten to an excellent point! Great timing actually!

Here's the patchwork part finished. I've now adding the batting and backing which was 2 pieces stitched together to them to cover the queen sized piece. I ran out of the colors of fabric I was using so I had to take 7" off the end... so maybe this more of a full size quilt then queen, but it covers my Queen size bed pretty well. I had to borrow a 'hoop' because I think I am going to hand quilt this blanket. I don't think my machine will do too well of a job. Now I just have to decide on a pattern to quilt into it?! Do you think the Hoop is a good idea? I'm afraid of the backing and batting sliding while I am working?! I am so new at this!!!!

Fall Bedding?!

Well, Spring and Summer get too hot for me, and Winter can be too cold.... so we wanted to add more flower beds this fall when the temps are just right. No sweating fussing over this landscape!

 

 

Little daughter helped plant some tulips too!!! 

Halloween Treats

It was a wonderful halloween, even though I was sick all weekend. The kids had a great time, and I got to cause a lot of scaring. Well worth it! Here's a peak at the skeleton we had coming out of the ground in my front garden bed. Of course my daughter kept telling me he was 'cute'.

Not CUTTING Corners

Because doing cuttings aren't always easy. I'm trying to root some cuttings from the yard this fall. I would like to add more trees, bushes and vines... but who wants to pay nurseries for these plants over and over again when the plants I have will supply me with more?! Not to mention, I have a great neighbor who let me snip some of his plants for more cuttings to try.

So what am I trying? Some Lacecap Hydrenga in purple, a Georgia peach tree, Raspberry and Lantana.

I was giving a great idea (Thanks Joe) to create little humidity tents to try to help them to force root. We want some strong plants and they really need the heat to take.

This is my FIRST attempt as rooting, so I added a little hormone powder to help this along (I'm using the "Take Root" brand).

Wish me luck, this may not work at all!!!

 

Yet... there is autumn in the southern states

I sat by our pond the other day to feed the ducks with dear daughter... its really looking and feeling like fall finally!

Dreary Cold Autumn Days

Since my garlic and onions arrived its been rainy and cold. Yesterday was a bit of drizzle but just cold and dark all day. Today is partly cloudy, but still cold. I was so impatient I went ahead and got bundled up with my little munchkin and off we went to the garden bed to get our garlic and onions in the ground. I got the whole 1lb of garlic in and about 50 onion bulbs out of the 100 so far.

My day was brightened when my husband came to help and found several of our Ducks eggs randomly around the pond. They were all recent enough that we now have several duck eggs to eat for breakfast this week. We also found about 10 ripe strawberries out in the berry bed. How many of you are still picking strawberries at the end of October?

So today, I will brave the cold with the little one once again and try to get at least 20 more onions in the ground.

Here's some good knowledge for you to have... Onions and Strawberries grow well together if you ever want to mix some onions into your strawberry beds. I did!

Onions and Garlic

When is the best time to plant these, Spring, Summer? NO, Fall! That's right, October is the Ideal month for northern climates, and Even October through January in Southern climates with mild winters. In the north you can cover your beds with a few inches of mulch or straw to save them from freezing. Definitely check with who you are ordering your onions from though, some only do well in the north while others only do well in the south.

Look into popular onion types like Walla Walla, Yellow Spanish or Vidalia. The most common ones are Red, Yellow and White... those are easiest to find.

There are also MANY types of garlic to chose from. Again, check which ones are best for your climate. They are seperated into groups such as soft neck and hard neck varieties. There is also Elephant garlic, which isn't really garlic but related to Leeks. They do grow like, look like and taste like a milder garlic. (This is what I am planting for my garlic bed this fall.)

Here are my bulbs that came today and will go into their beds this week:

That elephant garlic is almost 1lb by itself and bigger then my fist! Growing these are my choice because cured correctly they can last in storage up to a year when I harvest them. 

Start Your Spring Garden Shopping

So you think you are done with your garden and you aren't going to worry about it until next year?! Did you read my fall chore review?! I hope you did your winter mulching, dug up and separated some of those bulbs, got row covers out on any veggies you are trying to finish up (cabbage, carrots, lettuce...ect.).

Do you know NOW is when you should be signing up for those catalogs? Oh yes, spring flower and veggie catalogs start coming out now, and then another round in spring. But why now? The coupons, and codes... and clearance seeds from this year are there!!! Talk about deals... you can sweep up those dream daisies for 70% off right now. Sometimes free shipping codes are included... no minimum! I had a $20 order last Christmas that got me 27 packets of seeds and bulbs. I got the free shipping on the whole bunch too. These are seeds and bulbs packaged for this year too. They aren't bad, if stored properly these seeds can sit on your shelf for another year or two. The germination rate may go down slightly, like instead of 100% germ you may only get 85%. Its still a great deal... if you love to fill your garden with annuals... this is the BEST deal for you!

Last year I was just starting out, and as suggested in my blog title... I did start about 90% of my garden from seed!

**I came back to add this, these catalogs are FREE! Go visit certain websites, and just sign up. You don't have to order anything to receive these catalogs. Use sites such as Gurneys.com, Parkseed.com, GrowOrganic.com, ect**

Another wonderful site to start collecting AND sharing seeds through is WinterSown.Org an organization commited to getting people to learn to grow seeds at home for their gardens, and they teach you how to start those seeds IN your home OVER the winter... so you don't have to wait until spring. Send them a SASE and they will send you SEVERAL packets of free seeds that were donated to them. You can also package to send seeds to them to donate over the winter. Its a great way to have fun with your garden when you can't be out in it.

Giving What I Had To Give!

Yes, it is breast cancer awareness month... and everything is pink these days. I've purchased a few items that were donated a portion to the cause, but it was things I needed... not really an unselfish act so much. Some times you REALLY want to give and you have nothing at all, right? Well, today while driving home from picking up my food boxes from our church (when I say I ain't got much, I really mean it). I was thinking there was something I had that could actually mean a lot to someone.

I decided I have PLENTY of hair someone really would love to have it, so funny to think that when I complain about having too much.

So I went to Great Clips in Fuquay, NC where my options were to donate to Locks For Love or the Pantene Beautiful lengths project. Now, Pantene does do their wigs for women with cancer in chemo... but the thought that Locks for Love is for children BEYOND chemo... these kids may have cancer, been burned or have diseases that prohibit their hair to EVER grow back, I had to go with Locks for Love. WHICH requires 10" minimum rather then Pantene who requires 7" minimum (for anyone interested in doing this).

Well, here is how I started my day off, and how I ended it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

It look me a long to time to grow all that, and I thought I was going to find this tramatic.... well, in fact I feel wonderful about it in so many ways. I also feel a whole lot lighter!

Been putting off the work on the quilt...

Well, I haven't worked on this since last Tuesday, October 6th.... I keep coming up with other little projects instead. Being so far from finishing has made me let my mind wonder onto other things, like baking and garden work... and sewing cute little gifts for others.

I NEED TO GET ON TRACK!

Fall Gardening Chores

That's right, just because blooms are slowing and trees are shedding leaves doesn't mean it OVER until spring. In fact, there are plenty of chores to get done. Chores I enjoy actually! Its cool, and the chores are small so instead of sweating and drinking bottle after bottle of water to try to get an hours work done, I have all day out in the yard with my daughter doing some simple prepping.

First I want to suggest NOW as the BEST time to get in those trees (decorative and fruiting) and shrubs in the ground. They're going to need a few weeks of watering right now... but then they will go dormant and won't need the deep watering like they would need in the spring while waking up.

Secondly, if you have bulbs, crocus, iris, tulip, ect. Its time to dig them up and split off new bulbs to transplant as well. (Or give away when you have too many)

I found some really great detailed suggestions over on The Master Gardener Website. Read up, and do your chores.... Spring will be a lot let stressful!

Master Gardener Website Link

Here I have my daughter helping me turn compost into a raised bed... this bed will house some garlic and onions for harvest next summer.

Please feel free to comment with some suggestions and things you do in fall to get ready. I've only been gardening for 2 years now, and I bet there are things we could all be doing more efficiently... especially me!

Wanted to share a fabulous Blog

I found this blog while finding new people to follow on Twitter! I absolutely love the way its set up, I love the topics and I like the way so many people are responding and commenting. Its a good place to find a ton of links to some fun projects and great Eco friendly ideas. I'm following it and I think you all should follow too!

http://lulubelleblog.blogspot.com/

Making Jelly... again!

I made some more jelly... like I haven't canned enough this fall already right?!  Well, to my shock, this month alone, in 2 weeks I have been featured on Etsy's front page for my jams!

How great is that?!

Great enough I had to make more jelly since I sold so much of what I thought I was done with for the season. So I added a new Jelly to the mix as well, Southern Style Scuppernong Muscadine Grape Jelly! Fresh, sweet and light, you will love this on everything from Toast to your next grilled chicken fillet!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32595676

I would also like to thank all my new followers. I noticed the new people sneaking in... don't think I didn't notice! ;0)

Canna Contest Over...Winner Drawn!

Contest over and Congrats to Iowa Roo Mom! She's been contacted by email about her prize!

If you enjoyed that, keep watching as I collect cuttings, seeds and saplings through the months and give them away here on my blog to all you garden lovers! :)

Moving Honey Suckle

So this past week has been insane. When the rain finally passed it was WAY too hot and humid again, you would have thought it to be August again. Then we had a lot of company passing through until Friday, this is when we had to get ourselves together and get to a Wedding rehersal and dinner which ended in a late night with the wedding and reception happening the follow day. We were in the wedding party so had to get their early, and stay to help break everything down. (with a 2 year old in tow).

Finally our day to get stuff done came Sunday... again not much got done, we ended up at my mom's house. I decide to save and transplant a Honey Suckle vine from their yard and move it to our house. So when we got home we put up a trellis and hung it on the front porch for the vine to climb. So soon I will have shade on my front porch to enjoy our sunday afternoon's from here on out!

Pictures to follow.

Wish I could get back to the garden, but since I can't... CONTEST!!!

The rain has made it nearly impossible to do much the last few days. I was hoping to get more lettuce and spinach in the ground... I also wanted to plant onions and garlic. Instead I am going to give away some seeds I collected this week!

So, go ahead and post a response to this topic to win! I will be giving away some Canna Seeds in a deep red color to the winner. Remember to leave a way for me to contact you! I will draw the winner next Tuesday, October 13th!

*Suggestion: They do prefer tropical climates, warmth and humidity... if your temps get into freezing and you have an average snowfall over 2-3". I would dig the bulbs up these will later produce and store them inside to replant in spring!*

Been Busy Sewing & Baking

I've had a lot of orders as of recently, which shocks me because things are usually slow this time of year with an explosion of orders to come at the beginning of November so people can try to cover Thankgiving and get the early Christmas orders in as well for parties. I do become booked for Christmas in early December and eventually have to close up shop so everything gets out on time!

For now though I've also been sewing constantly, all this while trying to maintain my garden and hope to get a fall harvest out of it. Still crossing fingers for carrots and cabbage soon. I got them in so late. So far they are growing, just kind of slow. Next week, I really hope I have time to get some onions and garlic in the ground. Thank goodness Mother Earth News had an article this month about Garlic, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do.

As for my sewing, what can I say... its been a peaceful thing for me to do. I get mad at this quilt I'm working on, but I still enjoy it! I've made some fun stuff for my daughter for Halloween so she's benefiting from mommy's sewing too! I made her a spider web dress and matching stretching headband. She loves them!

 

I made myself one too to wear for Halloween when we go trick or treating! Got the fabric on clearance for $3. Not bad!

I've also been sewing lots of eco friendly snack and sandwich bags to post in my new Etsy store. (Which is really an old etsy store I haven't used in YEARS because my cookie business got so busy I had no time to sew) I've created some reusable washable produce bags to take grocery shopping with you as well!

 

Those are all available here:  http://ShannonG.Etsy.com

Anyways, its been a great weekend, but I need to get to bed because tomorrow is Monday whether I like it or not! ;0)

Total Garden Transformation!

Because its Autumn!!!!

Yesterday I removed the last of my tomatoes... there were still 100's of green ones on there... however, I highly doubt with the cooler days and night they were going to ripen. So I collected all the ripe, and starting to turn one's and brought them in. I grabbed the few large tomatoes that were green for fried green tomatoes and put them aside.

Then I cleared out the plants with bush sheers... it took about 2 hours to get them down enough to get the cages off! It took 2 wheel barrow runs to the burn pile and compost pile to get it all out. THEN I sectioned off my beds with my fall greens growing in them and let the chickens lose in the garden bed where the tomatoes were. There were a few small weeds coming in, and 100's of rotten cherry tomatoes on the ground (ewwww!) for them. They did a good job actually!

Today little daughter and I finished hand picking the squished and green tomatoes out of the bed and out of the walking path. Put them in buckets, and dumped them in the coop's run. The chickens are going to be fat and happy after this week.

We turned in approximately 20 lbs of compost from my pile into the bed. When I turned my compost today, it was the most beautiful black... I'm so proud of my first season of composting. After we turned the soil we came in for a snack and I needed a fresh cup of coffee.

It is 72 and perfect today to get this garden stuff done.

We'll have lunch shortly, and then we'll go get the very last of the pole beans because those vines are done for too.

Did I mention I looked today and my carrots have FINALLY come up!!!??? HOORAY!!!!!!!!

Eco Challenge Sign Up Extended ~ Prizes Announced~

Come join the eco challenge where you get to create an art piece out of found items and win prizes while helping the planet and showing off your creative juices. How fun the is going to be!

First place is this:

A set of 4 reusuable sandwich/snack bags made by me. 100% cotton completely machine washable.

+ a 1 year magazine subscription to "Somerset Studios" Magazine that follows multimedia and paper art!

Second place:

 

1 Jar of my homemade all natural Jam, Salsa or Sauces. Whatever I have available for you to chose from at the end of the challenge!

So please, come over to EBSQart.com where I set the challenge up in their forums and join. I put it there since they have an art challenge section, and its a good place to get to know each other and ask questions. You do have to goto the front page of the site and sign up with a free patron account to post in the listed challenge thread. Don't worry, its free to sign up and do this!

http://www.ebsqart.com/forum/The_Eco_%27Friendly_Love_My_World_Upcycled%27_Challenge_~Prizes~/m_254150/tm.htm

 

So please, follow the rules, get signed up by October 2nd at midnight, and get to work creating your piece for your chance to win. Know you can ask questions here, or email me!