What did you do in the garden today?

[Birdsonghill]

Seeds have gone way up in cost like everything else the last couple years under a ruined economy. I save as much as I can and try to avoid buying seeds, but have to buy a lot anyway every year. I am forced to raise prices on my produce as well! People complain but usually come back after they find the same items are way up in the stores as well and has unknown quality or varieties that are less flavorful or tender. My tiny operation does not make me much but pocket change and pay for some of my cost but I might have to try and sell more to cover the increases in cost to garden a large garden these days. I am not a salesman and give away more than I sell. That might have to change.

 

[Nym]

I came across this site when looking up an apple variety that DH brought home. Nice little site... I enjoyed some of the parentage and origin info on the different varieties. Of course, taste is always up to the individual though.

https://applerankings.com/kanzi-apple-review/

Thanks for sharing that great apple site. The Kanzi is a beautiful apple. My fave is the Jazz despite the site's tasteless review lol

Jazz

 

[Sally PB]

I will get to eat some long beans in about a week. I usually get tired of them after a while.

How does the taste compare to a regular bush bean or pole bean?

 

[TJAnonymous]

Though mostly aimed at the mid Atlantic and southern states, you might find this farm interesting. Century Farms Orchard, David C. Vernon, 1614 Rice road, Reidsville, NC, 27320/centuryfarmsorchards.com. David is an expert and dedicated apple specialist and collector of varieties and supplies many heirloom apple tree varieties with an emphasis on the south but many good specimens for other areas as well. A teacher by trade an apple expert by zeal and hard work you can read his notes on many varieties he supplies trees and grafting stock for.

Love it! I have been trying HARD to grow apple trees. So far I'm 1 for 4. I have a Pink Lady that's still barely holding on but hasn't grown much at all in the past 2 yrs. I lost another Pink Lady and 2 Granny Smith. I tried to find another Granny Smith locally but no one carried them last year. I refuse to buy one online... I'll look again in the spring. Maybe I can learn something from this guy about how to grow apples in the South!

 

[Birdsonghill]

How does the taste compare to a regular bush bean or pole bean?

It is different to me and I don't care for it as much but some friends loved them when I grew yard long beans. They produced like crazy for me and if I liked them or had the customers, I would still be growing these productive beans. They have a somewhat nutty taste and a slight tang that is not as good for me as a good traditional pole or bush green bean. You may love them! I might, if I try them again! We change over time and so does our taste sometimes. The Chinese Red Noodle variety blew away the competition for productiveness in my garden.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Thanks for sharing that great apple site. The Kanzi is a beautiful apple. My fave is the Jazz despite the site's tasteless review lol

Jazz

I absolutely LOVE Granny Smith apples. That site gives them a barely passable score. Meh... Live Laugh Love, right? To each their own. I still found some useful information on there and it was interesting to read about other varieties I've never tried or heard of.

 

[CNJ]

How does the taste compare to a regular bush bean or pole bean?

Locals in my area cook the long bean with eggplant, tomato, onion, okra, bitter melon, garlic, fish sauce, and pork. The long bean is picked tender before the bean matures and is chopped into two-inch pieces. It tastes like a crunchy vegetable instead of a bean, similar to string beans.

It can also be eaten raw; I snack on one when I do my morning chores.

 

[Birdsonghill]

Love it! I have been trying HARD to grow apple trees. So far I'm 1 for 4. I have a Pink Lady that's still barely holding on but hasn't grown much at all in the past 2 yrs. I lost another Pink Lady and 2 Granny Smith. I tried to find another Granny Smith locally but no one carried them last year. I refuse to buy one online... I'll look again in the spring. Maybe I can learn something from this guy about how to grow apples in the South!

I think you will enjoy this farm's information on varieties. I lost three apple trees I bought from Century farms in a tornado this past summer , leaving me only three trees , 2 heirlooms. I lost years of growth and last years crop for these apple trees was the first good crop for these trees! So disappointed! I may try again or not. I lost a David, an Aunt Rachel and an original Winesap. I still have a Black Twig, a Grimes Golden and an unknown mislabeled tree from the big box store that is a poor performing red apple, maybe a red delicious that was labeled a golden delicious. Century farm trees are shipped young and bareroot and all thrived for me. The aunt Rachel was outstanding here and was loaded this past spring and taste so good, a mix of tart and sweet. It was only planted about 5 years ago and had 40 or so medium to large apples. The other trees had a dozen or two apples mature before the storm. Good luck and best wishes for you!

 

[fuzzi]

I picked a few bunches of turnips, napa cabbages, rutabagas and radishes again today, for my table and a few customers. My garlic recently planted has just started to poke up through the soil. I have to find customers for my lettuce crop as it is too much for just my close circle of regular customers. Not enough to supply a retailer but more than I have customers lined up. It likely needs to be harvested by Christmas and I have been selling and eating some since the week of Thanksgiving. I have eaten so much greens, turnips. lettuce and etc. lately I feel like I might turn into a green skinned man. I need to give away even more at church but my small church never takes all I offer to them! I am a blessed guy to have so much from so little effort!

My chickens my lettuce.

 

[chickengr]

Wow! that is a huge topic for here! You can start simple and with a small budget for 5 gallon batches or you can sink a lot of money into a larger and more professional set up. Basically , you need a primary fermenter vessel, a secondary fermenter with fermentation air locks and some simple handling and testing equipment. hoses, clamps, floating hydrometer, etc.. To get more information to get started well, I suggest looking for a local homebrewers club and supply company and going to one of my favorite suppliers More Beer online and reading their information and looking at brewing equipment, supplies and recipes/kits, books, etc. A more beer kit well executed by a homebrewer will be a good beer that you will enjoy and be proud of. As you learn, advanced or the traditional methods of all grain brewing will likely attract you! The only thing Jimmy Carter ever did I was happy with as our president was open up the law to legalize homebrewing and jump start my brewing experience in 1973. I still sometimes make a More Beer kit beer for a quick and simple brew day! The art and science of Zymurgy will give you a lifetime of learning experiences and take you down many trails if you desire more information/learning, it is a huge and ever expanding field of research and endeavors by curious people the world over. Zymurgy magazine may interest you to look at sometime. A simple American or British ale is a good first beer to try and make your own. Best wishes!

thank you. I live on another part of the planet and I am not sure if it is legal here to produce alcohol. I will search if there are some home kits but I have never heard of it. I like cold beer in hot summers and the price of good beer is pretty high. it was an idea to make it at home.