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Comment by Annie Thomas on September 22, 2012 at 9:06am

Joan-

Thanks for the link for chicken coops!  So many wonderful ideas!  I am still trying to devise a coop that will keep my large dog, and pesky racoons, away from the chickens. 

Comment by Annie Thomas on September 22, 2012 at 9:03am

Hi Chris Breman-  I use ice cube trays to freeze fresh herbs.  Once frozen, I take them out and store them in a container in the freezer.  When making soups or sauces, you can just pull out as many cubes as you need, and throw them in your pot!  I have found a small tray that makes smaller cubes, and this seems to work best.  Or, you can just fill a standard size tray halfway.  I do this with homemade pesto after a basil harvest as well.  You will need some sort of liquid to add to your herbs.  I have tried water, but prefer butter or ghee.  Good luck!

Comment by Chris Breman on September 22, 2012 at 12:27am

The supermarket put me on the idea: they sell small expensive boxes of frozen herbs. So I thought I'd chop rosemary, parsley and chives and freeze them - I can find a small cheap box. Who has got ideas about how to do this?

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 21, 2012 at 8:24pm

How To Improve Soil Fertility

Let me stress, grow your soil and your plants will grow themselves. I have stopped using commercial fertilizers and use items the speaker suggests. This year proved to me growing tomatoes with Miracle Grow produces lower quality than 

Tomatoes Alive!® Plus 100% All-Natural Fertilizer

I like Gardens Alive products, especially for fungus and molds.

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 21, 2012 at 7:57pm

Nerdless, If you keep the water fresh, you might be able to get some roots started. I don't know, I have never tried stevia. If you want to dry it, put it on a clean cotton towel and set it out of the way. In a few days, the leaves should become crumbly; I am not sure about the stalks. I dry almost all my herbs this way and it depends on the plant if it works. For example, I dry parsley, oregano, sage, basil, and they do fine drying this way. I don't dry chives, they lose too much of their flavor. 

I bought a simple kitchen wire rack with short drawers at one of the building stores. I bought seven drawers: 
Stor-Drawer One-Runner Basket - Series 16. Item No: 046964160114 St...
and organizeit: 

Hobby Room Storage, Wire Basket Image Office Storage organizeit.com

This system is easy to move indoors and out, and I do the trimming and lay out my herbs in the garden. If I need to move them to the basement, it is light weight and easy to do by myself. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 21, 2012 at 7:28pm

How to Make Compost

I have gardened and made composts in Spokane, Tacoma, Kenai Alaska, El Paso, San Antonio, Ft. Hood, Washington, D.C., and again in Spokane. I have used every style of composting, from piles, to trenches, to homemade bins, to fancy revolving ones. Each one has pros and cons so I cannot say which is best. It depends on your budget, available space, and access to material. The only thing I think you must have is WORMS; preferably worms that survive your coldest weather. 

Composting

Comment by Nerdlass on September 21, 2012 at 8:13am

My vice principal gave me a clipping of Stevia from his garden the other day and I'd like to dry it, but it's humid right now... any suggestions? I'd rather not leave it to chance to mold... been changing the water out...

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 21, 2012 at 12:12am

Chicken Tractors & Mobile Coops

My goodness, there are all kinds of coops for the urban farmer. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 20, 2012 at 11:41pm

Backyard Homesteads: Honey, I Shrunk the Farm

More people find ways to incorporate farm animals, even chickens and goats. Just think of the fine compost these critters can make!

Comment by Joan Denoo on September 16, 2012 at 9:30pm

Sentient, I would love one potato onion and give it a try. I usually start with one of something and see if I can get going. 

Egyptian onions, I have lots. If anyone wants any, just say the word. More than happy to share. 

Thanks for all the great information and referrals to articles. 

For mulch, I prefer pine needles to leaves because of the packing down and molding of leaves. But then, I live in pine country and have lots. 

I also keep mulch away from trees because of the mice problem. I've lost some really nice trees because I mulch very heavily, too much so, too close, it seems. 

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