The Willie Pad

A fellow Vansteader, Walking Onion, sent me an email letting me know what he's been up to. He built a docking station for Willie (The Willie Pad)! It is just way too awesome for words! You have got to see this!!!

Check it out here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/walkingonion/WilliePad#

If you'd like to read more about Walking Onion, here are links to other posts:
http://vansteaders.blogspot.com/2010/10/reclaimed-plants-walking-onion-part-1.html
http://vansteaders.blogspot.com/2010/10/wandering-plants-and-walking-onion-part.html
http://vansteaders.blogspot.com/2010/10/spread-gospel-with-walking-onion-part-3.html

Walking Onion, thank you for letting me share your Willie Pad on Vansteaders... you continue to amaze and inspire me.

April Photo Wrap-Up

April in Washington is amazing!
1) Daffodils
2) Cherry Blossoms
3) processing Dandelions for Dandelion wine
4) Rhododendron
5) painted the deck
6) the greenhouse is very green
7) more Cherry Blossoms
8) pot of Daffofils on the deck
9) homebrew (spiced cider and ale)
10) three stories on the vermiculture bin and seed starting area above
11) more Daffodils
12) more Rhodys
13) the fields are turning green
14) the potatoes are planted
15) the greenhouse again
16) more Cherry Blossums

March Photo Wrap-Up

1) grinding sprouted wheat

2) Spring flowers have sprung

3) built a new raised strawberry patch

4) made yogurt in a thermos

5) made a bee-safe wasp trap for the greenhouse

6) made a strawberry bucket with an old pot and hole saw

7) we got our rocket stove from Stovetec and the canner fits!

8) radishes are ready

9) working on hand sewing a new apron

10) Dad and I made a new raised garden bed next to the house... "The Kitchen Garden"

11) The vermiculture bin (the squirmin' Hermin Hotel) is doing very well with all 2000 of its guests... I'll try to get an update posted soon.  There have been many developments.

12) Started making sourdough bread (with Selma the starter)

13) The greenhouse is much greener

14) Selma the sourdough starter now lives in the fridge and gets fed once each week

15) the radish planter

16) cherry blossoms are everywhere in town (Port Angeles, WA)... the trees at the ranch should be in bloom any day.

I also tilled a lot this month... the big garden is just about ready to plant!

I hope everyone had a great month!

Urban Homesteaders Day of Action, the 2nd

Tomorrow is an urban homesteader's day of action. Please visit the "Urban Homesteading" tab above to learn more about the issue.

The Take Back Urban Home-steading(s) Action Day event can be viewed here.

Highly Uncivilized!

Definitely an Honorary Vansteader... this site is great!

http://highlyuncivilized.com/

you can also facebook "like" at: http://www.facebook.com/HighlyUncivilized?sk=wall

February Photo Wrap-Up

Vermiculture

Today we made our new vermiculture composting bin.

As soon as it was finished, I went outside in the snow to dig up the first two residents... I just couldn't wait!

I have my worm traps out now, so I should be able to populate the bin very quickly.

Cardboard covered with repurposed Styrofoam and held down with a brick

We followed the directions found here:

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/easywormbin.htm


Also, we used a 6 gallon bin instead of the 8-10 gallon that was called for in the instructions.


Now, for those of you who are aware of our propensity to name *everything*, and would like to be in the know... they're all named Herman and the bin is The Herman Hotel.

Update:  This post is being shared at Simple Lives Thursday: http://gnowfglins.com/2011/03/03/simple-lives-thursday-33/

Happy Birthday Baby

Daughter Jay is 21 years old today!


I've tried for several weeks to make words "BIG" enough to say all that I want to say... I don't think there are words that *BIG* in any language.  In the end, I wrote some private (but not *BIG* enough) words to her.


So, I decided to post some pictures here... but I'll just say this: 


I am in awe of my daughter!


I am so very proud!


I am so very grateful... so *very* *very* grateful! 


Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Jay!

Living Unconventional

I'm really excited about this new forum! Mark Tisdale is the creator of this great new site!  Check it out here:

http://livingunconventional.com/

Selma

This is Selma:

Selma is the name that Michal gave to my new kick-a$$ sourdough starter... think Selma Hayak!


First, I made her a cute outfit for her jar!  I felt it was important for my starter to be tough... but also stylish and cuddly!

I mixed 1/4 cup of dark rye flour and 1/4 cup of water, stirring it briskly to get air into the mixture... then set in a warm (not hot) area.

Selma started to look slightly bubbly (I'll take a picture next time) after about 25 hours... this can sometimes take much longer. I then gave her a first feeding of another 1/4 cup of flour and 1/4 cup warm water... and back in a warm place.  Some say you should feed your starter once a day, some say three times per day... I'll let you know how often I decide to feed after I see what keeps her happy.

I'll take some pictures as she develops and then we'll make some bread... I've been wanting to make some sprouted wheat sourdough bread!

To be continued...

This simple sourdough starter is being shared at the Simplicity Saturday blog hop:

Snowed In

Barn Tour

Dad and Joyce are attending a horse show in Arizona this week.  Therefore, I've got ranch duty... It's not what you think; it's a pretty cushy job.  Take for instance the barn... I've heard people say "I could happily live it that barn!". I agree, the barn dwellers are a happy bunch!

The stalls are all occupied; though Dad only has one horse in this barn at the moment... making that job a breeze.  The rest of the barn is leased, and takes care of itself.

Come on in; I'll show you around:

The tack room

more tack

shower stall

grooming stall

wash room and unfinished stable office

Most horses get hay pellets, but there's an area for hay.

upper storage for buggies

indoor riding arena

 
Here she is; my charge (Fontina).

mmmmm grain!

She's got hay, grain, water, clean bedding, warm coat... happy horse!


And now for the neighbors:

Bye guys!  See you at noon!

Now for some snow shoveling and wood splitting... it finally stopped snowing!

Have a great day!


Update:  this post has been submitted to Farm Friend Friday: http://www.verdefarm.com/2011/02/farm-friend-friday-4-muscovy.html

What is this stuff?!!!

Plan B... move seedlings into the house.

Today is the Urban Homesteaders Day of Action

Usually, I might say I'm a Vansteader (no trademark)!  Today, I'm an Urban Homesteader! Why? Did we roll our mobile homestead into the city?

No.  Here's why:

A family with a LITTLE HOMESTEAD IN THE CITY is trying to take the *freedom* out of FREEDOM GARDENS! Where is the PATH TO FREEDOM now? Where can we GROW THE FUTURE of URBAN HOMESTEADING?  The URBAN HOMESTEAD is in jeopardy!  We truly need a HOMEGROWN REVOLUTION!

All of the above (in CAPS) have been trademarked... community markets, library programs, and many others others have been impacted by this ridiculous notion that one family owns these ideas.

Please help spread the word and let's take back our words... take back Urban Homsteading(s).

What's this all about?
Well, I think I'll let Granny tell you all about it... she's posted many great links!

What can we do?
We can join the Urban Homesteaders Day of Action!  We can blog about it, mention it in our groups, and sign the petition!

Update: please visit my new Urban Homesteading Page (at the top of this blog).

Urban Homesteaders Day of Action

Take Back Urban Home-steading(s) facebook page is sponsoring an Urban Homesteaders Day of Action! There is also a petition to sign at change.org.

Please stop by to learn about the issue and lend your support to the Urban Homestead/Urban Homesteading community.

Vanilla Pudding

After trying two vanilla pudding recipes (side-by-side), I was tempted to rewrite this post, listing the "Alternative Recipe" as the primary; the alternative being the clear favorite for Dad, Michael, and me.  However, I'm going to leave this post as I originally wrote it, as you may want to add protein to your desert by using the initial recipe (which includes egg yoke). Otherwise, I recommend you follow the alternative recipe for a quick and delicious pudding or for use in a cream pie. 


2 cups 2% milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon butter
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten


Directions:
Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Slowly stir in milk (a very small amount initially to form a thick paste.  To make sure there aren't any lumps, I use a wooded spatula to "flatten" them before adding more milk). Cook while stirring over medium heat.  When mixture is thick and bubbly, reduce heat and cook two minutes longer (while still stirring). Remove from heat. Stir a small amount of the hot mixture into the egg yolk, then return all to the pan.  Bring to a gentle boil while stirring constantly, then cook (while still stirring) one minute longer. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to dessert dishes. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

***Alternative Recipe***

Make as above, except: omit the egg, double the sugar to 1/2 cup, and use 3 tablespoons of cornstarch instead of 2.

This recipe makes about 2 cups of pudding.


Update: This post (from several days ago) has been submitted to the Simple Lives Thusday blog hop: http://gnowfglins.com/2011/02/23/simple-lives-thursday-32/

Homesteading In An Urbanly Way

Homesteading, Urbanishly?

Homestead Homestead Homestead,

Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban,

Homesteading Homesteading Homesteading,

Urban Urban Urban

Seriously, this is crazy:

http://kellesneverdonefarm.blogspot.com/2011/02/dervaes-family-trademarks-urban.html

My Mustard Recipe

Update: This post (from several days ago) has been submitted to the Simple Lives Thusday blog hop: http://gnowfglins.com/2011/02/17/simple-lives-thursday-31/

Grind 3 tablespoons of whole mustard seeds, leaving them mostly whole.  You may use a grinder or mortar and pestle.


Stir in:
3 tablespoons mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon salt


Add:
3 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon cold cider vinegar

Store in a glass jar in the fridge (or a cool area) for a full day before sampling.  Really, you don't want to taste it that first day; you just might throw it out!

After the first day, I decide if I like the consistency.  If I'd like a smoother mustard, I blend it to the desired texture.  Once you know the consistency you prefer, you can make the adjustment on the front end (during the grinding) and eliminate the need for a blender.