The Seed Order

It begins in December as the seeds begin arriving in the mail. We start poring over the pages; admiring the gorgeous pictures and studying the variety descriptions. We begin by circling or highlighting the ones that catch our interest. We get excited about the coming season as we discuss new varieties we want to try and ones we know we need to grow again. After the first of the year we seriously get down to the business of figuring out our seed order. It takes quite a bit of planning and thought. We decide how much area we have to plant and how much of it will be used for each crop. Next Andrew does the calculations for how much of each type of seed we will need. Soon we are back in the catalogs, making our lists. Usually it is a shock when we add up the total cost of everything we want which leads to cutting a few items out and narrowing down the varieties. We have to ask ourselves questions like "Do we really need three varieties of pickling cucumbers or can we just grow one?" "Is this variety available for less in another catalog?" or "Would a cheaper variety do just as well?" Sometimes the answer to these questions will be no and sometimes yes. Since we are certified organic we also have to buy organically grown seed when it is available and may not use treated seed. Usually it takes much refining before we are satisfied with our final orders. We usually order from 3-4 different seed companies each year. This year we are ordering from Johnny's Selected Seeds, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Osborne Seeds, and Fedco Seeds. Deciding our seed order for the year  is an enjoyable job, but it is always a relief to get it finished. We have finally completed our seed order this year and now get to look forward to their arrival. Soon we will be starting the first of them in flats!

Winter on the Farm

Winter has come to the farm. The garden is sleeping under a blanket of snow. The pace has slowed down quite a bit. We are indoors a lot more now staying cozy by the fire and doing indoor projects, crafts and baking. We are enjoying the rest, the break while at the same time beginning to plan and look forward to next season with anticipation. The seed catalogs are starting to appear and we can't resist flipping through them and dreaming of spring. But for now we are content to wait, to plan, to work on the projects that need to be done in preparation. Spring will come soon enough with all the busyness that comes with it. For now I am grateful for the quite and the peace of this seson.

Honey Cough Syrup

Cold and cough season is fully upon us now, the days have become chillier and everyone at our house has caught a bit of a cold. Time to make some healthy, natural cough syrup. It is so easy to make, too! I made two different kinds; one is elderberry and the other is lemon ginger. I use honey as the base for both, it is naturally antibacterial and also feels soothing on the throat. Elderberries are great for your immune system and are excellent for coughs and colds. Ginger is also good for your throat and lemon has antibacterial properties as well. I also added a dash of cayenne to the lemon ginger syrup. Cayenne is good for your immune system and improves circulation. So here are the simple recipes.


Lemon-Ginger Cough Syrup

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup water
juice and zest of one lemon
1 inch piece of fresh ginger grated
dash or two of cayenne

Elderberry Cough Syrup

1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup elderberries(mine were frozen, we have elderberries growing wild abundantly around here, so I harvested some this past summer and froze them)


To make your syrup combine all ingredients from your chosen recipe in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and allow to simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Strain through a wire strainer into jars. Store in the refrigerator for several weeks, it should last for quite a long time. To use simply take a teaspoon at a time. Your kids will love it! Warning: do not give this to babies under 1 year old, the honey can contain botulism spores.

Simmer gently for about five minutes

Strain into a small jar

David Learns to Plant Garlic

As the season ends and winter approaches there is always a mad rush to get everything done before snow comes. One of the big projects to get done is planting the garlic. This year David was so interested in helping with the whole process. He helped us break the cloves apart in preparation for planting. Then Andrew gave him a lesson on how to plant garlic out in the garden. He explained to him which end of the clove goes down and which end goes up, he showed him how to find the marks in the soil from the bed marker, and how to plant each clove where the lines cross. David caught on really fast and enjoyed planting garlic so much. Every time we were ready to plant another bed he was ready to help.

Andrew cleans the garlic.

Garlic for planting.

Separated cloves, ready to plant.

Garlic cloves waiting to be pushed into the ground.

A clove in the ground.

David carrying the box of seed garlic up the bed.

Last of the Harvest

 Andrew bringing in the last of the cabbages.

 Some of the last leeks.

Andrew harvesting the last beets.

David in the Leaves

We had some gorgeous fall days in October during some of the last Farmers Markets. The Chewelah park was lovely with all the leaves floating down and carpeting the ground. All the market children were exuberantly playing in the leaves; tossing them an rolling in them. David had such a great time joining in. It was so cute that I couldn't resist snapping some pictures.

Harvest Season

It's that time of year again. That time when the evenings get dark earlier and the mornings have a chill in the air, while the days are still warm and sunny. The leaves are beginning to turn a golden shade. And the garden is winding down. It is the time of the harvest. I love this time of year. We are gathering the potatoes, onions, and squash in from the field. The dehydrator is running most of the time filled with tomatoes, pears, or onions. I canned 21 pints of salsa verde and the apple butter is cooked down and ready to can also. The pantry is filling up, all stocked for winter. Soon it will be time to get our firewood in. This time of year is busy and yet there of something slower about it,  something cozy, a hint of winter rest.