Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Monday, May 23, 2016

The Garden Grows ~ Freezer Fill-Up

My herb garden is getting a good cleaning, and I'm adding new herbs (and ones I simply haven't planted again).  Many went into pots.  I learned homestead lesson #247 (that's a sarcastic made up number):  don't plant lemon balm directly into your herb garden.  It has roots like cement and spreads quickly.

I purchased my herb seeds from three different sources this year - High Mowing, Baker Creek, and Horizon.


 One of my grape vines have started to flourish.  I'm so happy to see it take off so early.

 Watering every day using the rain barrel water takes patience.  The water pressure is not like it would be coming out of a spigot.  It gives me time to look around and enjoy nature.

I finally bought some annuals.  One 6-pack of red salvias, however Hubby brought home an entire flat.  I got them all planted in between rain showers.

I got herbs into three more pots (more needed) - horehound, more comfrey, and feverfew.  I ran out of forks, so I skewered the smaller one.  It's to keep a few barn cats out of them.  So far, it's working.

I got a batch of homemade meatballs made and into the freezer - 82 of them. 


I made two trays of croutons, that are now in my freezer waiting on summer salads.  Or for quick bread crumbs.

 

10 comments:

Sam I Am...... said...

I wish I could get as much done as you do! I need to clean out my freezer and today I'll go get some more herbs and salad plants. Storms are coming the rest of the week. I did some weeding and planting yesterday. Love all your projects! The flower/herb bed is looking good!

hoosier girl said...

The previous owner of our home planted lemon balm in the landscaping. I've tried and tried but I'll never get rid of it! Oh well, it smells good when you mow it, I guess.

Mama Pea said...

Good thing you explained about the plastic forks or I'm sure a few people would really be wondering!

Meat balls! Oh, I wish I had a bunch of them in the freezer. I always make my spaghetti sauce with ground beef right in the mixture but the man I live with would love to have the addition of meat balls on his spaghetti also!

I'm hurrying to get out in the garden this morning as rain is forecast for later in the day. And unlike you, we need it. :o]

Susan said...

I hope you don't have as much rain as last year! We are starting out dry, but I have hopes. I really admire how organized you are - nothing is wasted and you think and plan ahead.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Sam I Am, thanks. I think your storms are pushing rain my way tomorrow.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Hoosier girl, that's one way to get rid of it ha ha! Mow it down.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mama Pea, I like having them separate so we can either put BBQ sauce on them, hot pepper mustard sauce, or spaghetti sauce. With those 3 vegetarians living in my house, I got used to put them up that way. Rain is coming our way too.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Thank you Susan. Rain is coming, so I am reluctant to plant certain seeds yet. Three days of rain are expected.

RB said...

I had to laugh at my first thought when I saw the forks stuck up in the ground like that. I thought, "Now what does she think is going to sprout by planting plastic forks?" Then I realized what you were doing. LOL That's a GREAT idea!!!
I got most of my herbs planted, some in the herb garden, some in pots. Also got some old flower seeds I found in a drawer planted in a few pots. If they come up, they come up; if they don't, they don't but they won't if they stay in that drawer.
I still need to find some Catmint seeds. After years of having them come up repeatedly in a large pot we have, suddenly they didn't come up at all this year, so we'll need more for the kitties.
I hope everyone's having a great week. I've taken on a few more hours at work, so I'm not online as much as usual, but I'm trying to catch up when I can.
God bless.
RB
<><

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

RB, so far the forks are working. I'll have to save them all and reuse them next year too.