What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

I have to say I’m surprised. I’ve had some green willow branches in water for just a couple of days and they already have roots!

I went outside to check on the gang and noticed the Arabian lilac is almost as tall as the wall, 6 feet. It’s definitely going to need a trim before next Spring. Also, the bells of fire have grown a lot this year and are 3/4 as tall as the shade garden enclosure; the jalapeño is really getting tall as well. Since the Carolina jessamine didn’t work out I’m thinking the moonflowers would be good to grow on the trellis in front of the garden door, but I bet they’ll need a cage. I’m not sure how to work that out yet.

 

[NewBoots]

Cowboy candy sounds good! I have yet to make it myself and everyone keeps talking about it!

You should try making some. I can the stuff and give most of it as gifts, it's really popular. Really easy to make and just uses water bath canning.

I have to say I’m surprised. I’ve had some green willow branches in water for just a couple of days and they already have roots!

The first winter after we moved in, DP found a big willow branch on the side of the road and brought it home and we stuck it in the ground near the bird feeder and bird bath. The yard was so bare then, she wanted to give the birds someplace to land above the reach of cats. We braced it with a few stakes and assumed it would drop it's leaves and just be a stick. That was 3 years ago and it's now 15' tall, it's called The Lazarus Tree.

 

[Ascholten]

Pepper burn. I did that many years ago, was making hot sauce, using a garlic press to smoosh the guts out of peppers (Habenero's) and using my fingers to pick / pull the skins and seeds out of the garlic smasher. About 20 minutes later my hands lit up.

Tried about everything I could think of to ease the burn, I actually called the hospital and told them what I did and what can I do. Long story short, was told. There is NOTHING you can do except let it wear off. I was in the navy at the time and called the navy hospital, and after the doctor got done laughing and calling me a dumb ass, was told suck it up buttercup. Was told, if it don't stop burning in about 24 hours to come into the ER because it could have caused nerve damage. Was told WHATEVER I DO !!! wear gloves or 'freelance' it when I take a leak because if I get pepper juice down there..... umm yah. and not to rub my eyes either.

Here's another helpful hint. Some bird treats have hot peppers in them. They taste great to birds and the heat does NOT affect birds, they can't feel capsicum burn like humans do. If you happen to have a more shall we say.... affectionate ... (or in my case just straight ass evil) bird. Don't let it kiss you after eating those hot peppers. Just because they are bird treats, in NO WAY diminishes their burn...

Aaron

 

[Iluveggers]

Well you'll appreciate this story! Yesterday, hubby harvested his halapeno peppers. I broke it all up for the hens, and 24 hours later, 2 of my fingers are STILL burning! It feels as if i touch the hot stove! The burning sensation comes and goes. How strange. What a lesson learned. Hubby said i guess i gotta learn the hard way, as he warned me prior.... also, i was unable to get it off of my fingers and had a burny eyelid later that evening. I want nothing to do with those peppers! I dont think the human body wants that with the way the watery eyes, and runny nose....the whole experience with those peppers scares me

I only cut peppers with two layers of gloves. Otherwise my contacts stay in my eyes…barely had a hint of pepper burn my eye a few years ago. DH had to help me get my contact out.

 

[igorsMistress]

You should try making some. I can the stuff and give most of it as gifts, it's really popular. Really easy to make and just uses water bath canning.

The first winter after we moved in, DP found a big willow branch on the side of the road and brought it home and we stuck it in the ground near the bird feeder and bird bath. The yard was so bare then, she wanted to give the birds someplace to land above the reach of cats. We braced it with a few stakes and assumed it would drop it's leaves and just be a stick. That was 3 years ago and it's now 15' tall, it's called The Lazarus Tree.

That’s so cool! Good name too

 

[Sally PB]

We're participating in a collab where we're only going to eat what we can produce or forage ourselves (or barter something we produced) for the entire month of February 2023 (which for us is a cold month with a lot less growing). We will only have a budget of $50US to spend on groceries other than what we produce ourselves for that whole month. It's going to be quite the challenge! Especially with the prices of groceries going up so much.

I really want to hear about this!

I try to keep to $100/week at the grocery store. But it's everything I buy there: socks, hubby's antacid, charcoal, and a storage tote are some of the non-edibles of recent weeks. I'm also trying to keep my Costco bill to under $660 for the year. That's $50/month (average), plus the $60 membership fee.

We will have lots of canned tomatoes and salsa this year. I may need to buy a half bushel of 'maters to augment my own for canning, but it looks like I'll have more of my own this year than any other year in the past.

Today, we got rain. A nice steady, all day rain. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mother Nature.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I really want to hear about this!

I try to keep to $100/week at the grocery store. But it's everything I buy there: socks, hubby's antacid, charcoal, and a storage tote are some of the non-edibles of recent weeks. I'm also trying to keep my Costco bill to under $660 for the year. That's $50/month (average), plus the $60 membership fee.

We will have lots of canned tomatoes and salsa this year. I may need to buy a half bushel of 'maters to augment my own for canning, but it looks like I'll have more of my own this year than any other year in the past.

Today, we got rain. A nice steady, all day rain. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mother Nature.

It's a collaboration on YouTube called #50DollarFebruary2023 there are several other channels participating with all different situations. There is anything from those with large acreage farms, to backyard gardens, small homesteads, and at least one extreme couponer that plans to work most of her budget around her shopping skills but she does have a small garden as well.

There is already a playlist going on YouTube but you'll mostly see the entry/announcement videos (channels saying they're going to participate) and then some of us have also started sharing preservation videos or steps we're taking to get ready for February. I think most of the fun videos will drop in February once we're all hungry and getting creative. LOL!

This should take you to the playlist with all of the channels so far.
https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/50dollarfebruary2023

This is my personal playlist so far, more fun to come! :
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQUKb4LZlbZjIvRb8gtI0-_Q8AGrq-JQX

 

[Ascholten]

There is something like that here with the co op thing. I checked them out once a few years ago at the very onset of covid, so it was shut down a lot. I then got involved with the farm I volunteer at now, which is a non profit that helps special needs children, he sells plants that you can eat, and we have an ongoing thing, I'll barter with him. Here's a tray full of okinawa spinach for you to sell. give me a few egg plants and a nectarine .. type thing. I'll work for him too and trade plants so it works out very well for BOTH of us. Still though, I see places where they want big money for you to get your 'share' of the grown stuff. i want to find something where it's free, people just grow and swap things. but then again its like... Oh come on Aaron, do you really need ANOTHER obligation?? you aren't busy enough with all your stupid stuff already?

I never thought of checking YT vids for something like this, thank you for the great idea!

Aaron

 

[TJAnonymous]

gardening I feel bad for laughing but I've so been there. I wear gloves when I process hot peppers, lol.

Me too... I made a habanero pepper spray as a pest deterrent the first year I began gardening. Didn't wear gloves or pay much attention to the wind when I was spraying. I will NEVER EVER do that again....

 

[TJAnonymous]

OK, I'm pretty sure my new Weeping Willow tree is dead... It lost all its leaves due to lack of rain for 2 months. I was hoping it just went dormant and would bounce back. It's been several weeks now since we got those 5.5 inches of rain but there's still no sign of sprouting. The branches are now brittle too which also leads me to believe it's dead.... This is the 3rd willow I've tried to grow. I had 2 from the Arbor Day Foundation which were both duds. I got this one locally this spring. It was already 6 ft tall and seemed really robust. If only we didn't have that drought I think it would have made it....