‘Tis the season for apple
Every September I am so excited for the chance to cook and bake with apples. Truthfully there is nothing that I do not like about the apple tree. From the flowers in Spring, the chance to climb them, the fruit they offer and the wood use later for smoking, this tree is awesome.
This September is no different from any other year for the apple anticipation that I experience. However, this year I was pleasantly surprised to discover neighbors who have apple trees with an abundance of apples. Hooray! Did I mention that these neighbors are generous and deliver these apples by the bushel to my door? Double hooray! Some of the smaller, gnarly apples go straight to the pigs, but most of them are being used in our kitchen which is just wonderful. Read More
This year was definitely a learning year on the garden front. We planted several gardens and had varying success, from a good yield, to a zero yield, depending on the plot. Our main vegetable garden provided a robust harvest, but could have certainly been better if we had planned a little more effectively, weeded more consistently and managed the plant growth better. Overall though it provided enough to enjoy through the summer and also can and dehydrate a fair bit.
Soil amendment is key, especially in the first year.
One of the first things we made when we got birds, was a little entertainment for them. They like to roost, even as babies. Jessica looked on line and we were both surprised at the costs for these little accessories. I whipped up a few models in my shop to see how they worked and the birds really seemed to go for them.
Lessons learned:
