What did you do in the garden today?

[Sally PB]

Dehydrating marshmallows atm.

Ok, this is killing me! Why are you dehydrating marshmallows? What do you use them for?

I'm envisioning the large marshmallows drying down to be the tiny size ones in instant packets of cocoa mix.

 

[WthrLady]

Ok, this is killing me! Why are you dehydrating marshmallows? What do you use them for?

I'm envisioning the large marshmallows drying down to be the tiny size ones in instant packets of cocoa mix.

Bingo! same consistency as those little marshies in the cocoa, but mini marshmallow sized. You can do any of the flavor or shape ones. I vacuum seal them first, which collapses them a bit when you open the jar. THEN I dehydrate them, but you don't have to.

DS likes them in his cocoa, or trail mix, or to snack on. They're super crunchy and light. PLUS they're great on baked goods or in them as they don't as readily melt away.

 

[WthrLady]

I almost always have the little fruit one and plain ones around.
This year I also did the peppermint ones (which aren't very pepperminty.)
I like to do the vanilla ones when I can find them for brownies.

 

[Sally PB]

How long and what temp? I bet your house smells good while you do this!

 

[WthrLady]

145 6-8 hours mesh sheet is fine.
keep drying until they just crumble when pinched
Nope can't smell them at all.

 

[Birdsonghill]

I use open pollinated heirloom seeds as much as possible and save seeds for many crops. I don't want to lose access to the varieties. I buy new seed of the heirlooms from time to time to keep mine in shape and true to original qualities. I start most all of my transplants and grow from direct planted seed as much as is practical. I select for the best of the classic qualities of each variety. I also am always looking for an excellent new sport of a variety, to grow out for myself. I would be anxious and broke, if I had to buy all new seeds every year! I guess I did retire last year, unofficially. I just don't have the energy to do all the things I said I was going to do when I retired! More days open , but less gets done in a day, actually every thing just remains about the same! I get up start working and go to bed tired, just most of the time i am at home all day. A gardener never retires from their garden while they are able to work! This afternoon, I covered my chilis to get another couple weeks out of them ripening growing fruit. Picked the young dill ferns for the dehydrator and some more Greek oregano and basil, to keep it company. The basil will be likely to go in the temps probable tonight. My little hens are pumping out a dozen eggs per day, so I made a chocolate merengue pie and a chess pie, to use some eggs up. I ate too much pie and paid for that this morning! I am stupid for chocolate!

 

[Ascholten]

Fertilizer shortage. as long as you are not sick, Pee on them. There's the nitrogen and phosporus and other trace minerals they need.

Aaron

ps birdsong, the chocolate is the bane to many of us, don't feel TOO bad

 

[Sueby]

Fertilizer shortage. as long as you are not sick, Pee on them. There's the nitrogen and phosporus and other trace minerals they need.

Aaron

ps birdsong, the chocolate is the bane to many of us, don't feel TOO bad

That's a lot of peeing for big industrial farmers who grow the worlds food. I had read the shortage starts with the producers of ammonia so you may be on to something.

I do ask DH to pee on my compost.

I can't tell you the last time I ate a marshmallow!

 

[Ascholten]

seriously though, pee is sterile. your medications may pass thru. if you have a female member of the household who is taking hormones for reasons, you might want to think twice about using that pee in the pile,but everyone else, as long as they are not on some crazy meds, yes on the compost works, or in the water jug works at about 50 to 1 so you don't nitrogen burn stuff, but it's there USE IT !!

Here's another way to look at it, every time you take a leak on your plants instead of pissing in the pot, that's one flush you saved, which is what a gallon or two? The prices vary wildly between areas but, money wise, between the water charges, sewage charges, and other taxes and crap they ALL love to put on it, you can pretty much count on about a penny a gallon out of your wallet. Let's call it 24 dollars a year. I can think of a number of things Id love to spend that on.. a GOOD case of beer, so I can piss some high quality pee on my nosturshims !! Not to mention the few thousand gallons of water you saved.

In all seriousness though, .. it's a good thing really. The plants do very well too, and you save money on the fertilizers you'd have to otherwise buy anyways... give it a thought or two. Why just let the chickens have the privilege's of fertilization, WE are higher on the food chain, WE need to get in there TOO ! It's our RIGHT as a species!!

Aaron

 

[chickengr]

So I've been reading about the fertilizer shortage they say is happening, or at least coming. Anyone have any insight? I've only read a few articles but it seems many are worried about world wide food shortages. Just curious what y'all think.

I would say it has me thinking about what I can grow indoors or in hoop houses. & it makes me glad I am adding on to the garden next spring.

I don't use fertilizers anyway. it seems that my quails will provide a lot of manure. rabbits were good at that as well but I have no room for so many animals so I will probably butcher them. people here are not so interested in buying rabbits but quail eggs are in demand. I have to be able to sell something so that I can buy feed.