What did you do in the garden today?

[Sally PB]

Wow, what did I start!? Coffee and tea would be about the very last things I'd stop buying, and only in case of extreme financial hardship.

I have been trying to consume less caffeine, but can't cut it out entirely.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

With all this talk about gross things in our food, how about castoreum? From the castor glands of beavers, it is used in our food as a flavor enhancer.

Exactly why I avoid heavily processed foods. And for coffee: I’m allowed up to 3 cups per day and I enjoy it. I keep a good supply on hand just in case. Covid brought out the “prepper” in me. I do keep tea on hand but I don’t drink it regularly. The temps stayed above freezing over night and I am looking forward to making some progress on yard clean up and gardening.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

A side note on the coffee: DD gave me a Keurig years ago and it was ok. I made my own k- cups with my favorite coffee and discovered that I had to use the same amount of coffee to make one cup as the amount I used in my old small coffee maker. I stopped using the Keurig and bought a nice coffeemaker when I retired and cut my coffee expense by 2/3. Great coffee and less waste.

 

[SheaLoner]

Coffee…no one likes me much until I have my cup! & I can’t blame them! View attachment 3084364

I'm like that with my tea. Give me a nice strong cup of English Breakfast in the morning and I'm far less likely to bite someones head off.

 

[Sueby]

Morning.

I never drank coffee, always hated the taste. I drink tea. & it comes from Ireland. I so enjoy it, but if times got tough it could go. DH drink some crazy coffee, an entire pot every day made so strong no one else will drink it. He has cut down a lot, he used to drink it all day, now he only has his 1 pot & that's it.

@vall what beautiful pics, thank you for sharing. It always amazes me what difference climate makes, not much of that would happen here on the east coast! I remember at the age of 5 visiting family in CA & not being able to fathom that they could grow oranges in their back yard! I still remember it clearly, to this day. Good luck on your move, I hope all the cuttings make it!

The cardinals are the real treat. I wish we had them and fireflies here.

The female cardinals are so beautiful. We have fireflies here, but not like we did when we were young.

My seeds from Native Seed Search arrived already, wow! I got sweet corn and both tepary and common beans. The tepary beans are very drought tolerant, so I’m hoping they’ll replace navy beans for ham hocks and baked beans next winter. The common beans are called Rattlesnake, kind of cool looking. They can be used as snap beans or dried.
View attachment 3084026

I'm growing Rattlesnake beans this year too. I have them under some plexiglass in a raised bed & they are on their 2nd set of leaves. Can't wait for them!

Looks like I'll be able to get some stuff in the ground on Sunday, we shouldn't see the 30s anymore. Here's hoping!

 

[igorsMistress]

A side note on the coffee: DD gave me a Keurig years ago and it was ok. I made my own k- cups with my favorite coffee and discovered that I had to use the same amount of coffee to make one cup as the amount I used in my old small coffee maker. I stopped using the Keurig and bought a nice coffeemaker when I retired and cut my coffee expense by 2/3. Great coffee and less waste.

Yup my daughter had a Keurig and I wasn’t a fan. It’s convenient but I have a water boiler and press and I just like the way my my coffee tastes more making it that way.

 

[igorsMistress]

Dandelion Root, Wheat Germ, Beans, Peas, Okra Seed, Acorns and Chicory Root can all be used as a coffee substitute if you are ever craving a cup and it’s no longer available..

Blech, I’d just have to give up lol

 

[igorsMistress]

Morning.

I never drank coffee, always hated the taste. I drink tea. & it comes from Ireland. I so enjoy it, but if times got tough it could go. DH drink some crazy coffee, an entire pot every day made so strong no one else will drink it. He has cut down a lot, he used to drink it all day, now he only has his 1 pot & that's it.

@vall what beautiful pics, thank you for sharing. It always amazes me what difference climate makes, not much of that would happen here on the east coast! I remember at the age of 5 visiting family in CA & not being able to fathom that they could grow oranges in their back yard! I still remember it clearly, to this day. Good luck on your move, I hope all the cuttings make it!


The female cardinals are so beautiful. We have fireflies here, but not like we did when we were young.

I'm growing Rattlesnake beans this year too. I have them under some plexiglass in a raised bed & they are on their 2nd set of leaves. Can't wait for them!

Looks like I'll be able to get some stuff in the ground on Sunday, we shouldn't see the 30s anymore. Here's hoping!

Good to know! Let me know how you like them. Will you try them fresh or dried?

 

[WthrLady]

Hoop house is filling up with early plants.

As soon as I sell the mums, and plant out the blackberry and grape, I'll have room for a couple more tomatoes. I need to set the water lines soon as the weather is finally decent enough to run the irrigation lines.
Crazy storms last night, more to come today.
We need the rain badly, but an area about an hour in a half to my north got 6-10 inches last night. We managed .8, which is FINE. Mowing will have to happen this next week.
I have some strawberry runners from last year to either move or plan on walking around all summer. I'm leaning towards walking around them.
My coffee isn't hardly coffee. It's a mocha latte instant thing. Think creamy hot chocolate that is barely chocolate flavored and has that coffee/mocha taste.
True coffee grosses me out. It takes me right to my childhood, smokey, stinky cafe's and restaurants where people used to float their old cigarette butts in the mostly empty cups. All I smell when I smell coffee is cigarettes. The acidic nature of it turns my stomach.
I don't care for tea at all either. It just taste of swamp water. Bitter, icky weak flavoured water. I have tried.
DH is a tea addict and DS is a coffee guy.
Just water no add ins for me thank you, it does get boring though. Oh well.
I have some luffa seeds to plants as well as a couple new to me squash, little sweet winter things.
Ok, I'm off. Going to keep moving to try to stave off anxiety issues.
Have a good day every one.

 

[Sueby]

Good to know! Let me know how you like them. Will you try them fresh or dried?

Plans are to eat them fresh & freeze for winter, but we'll see. I have 4 or 5 different types of beans going in so if I have tons of beans I may try & dry them. I've never dried before, what an exciting thought, lol. I'm such a dork.