More Tomato Harvest Ideas

Here is my un-recipe for home grown tomato sauce to be used for spaghetti, pizza sauce, casserole’s… anything your little heart desires!

Sprouts!

Well not exactly sprouts but that’s what my Thinglets called them when they spotted our little lettuce seedlings.  The lettuce came up quickly (2-3days)  followed by the corn (which I still don’t think will transplant well but we will see) and then Marigolds, beans and some of the tomato’s. 

Now I don’t know if this is just my seeds or will prove to be true across the board but ALL the Marigolds came up, half the corn, about a fourth of the beans and tomatoes while the garden huckleberry and sweet peppers are yet to make an appearance.  Next time I’m planting seeds I will plant extra tomatoes, beans, and pepper seeds.

Since you asked:  My seedling method (certainly not the only way but sometimes it works).  Ha ha! Now you can put your full confidence in me since it’s wise to believe everything you read online right! 🙂  My climate is very dry and slightly cold so adjust as necessary.

1. The egg cartons have been kept outof direct sun with syran “greenhouses” or clear lids and watered with a spray bottle daily.
2. Once the majority of the seedling showed through the dirt I took the lids off (some of them even had a slight amount of mold and I was worried but it went away)
3. After the lids are off I move them into the sun in a basement window sill (not too much sun- and if it is really cold at night move them back)!
4. Water them once a day. I don’t use the spray bottle on the stronger “sprouts” after they are up.

There you have it, my tried and true  method that sometimes works!

Bubba just finished “digging” all the blush out of my compact with a Knex. Yes the box says not for children under three. 

“No Bubba, don’t dig up our plants!”

What about Organics and Natural Products?

What is “all natural” anyway and what should I be spending our money on these days?

Bee kind to bees!

I made this little bee at www.helpthehoneybee.com in order to help spread the news that the bee population is in danger. 

Bee’s are natural pollinators. It is estimated that 1/3 of our diet is from insect pollinated plants, 80% of that pollinating is done by the friendly honeybee but sadly something is causing it’s demise.  Scientists still do not know why but pesticide use and genetically modified crops are suspected to be part, or all of the problem.

So, why am I sharing this news? I’m hoping 9 out of 10 readers will go out tomorrow and start bee colonies-NO I’m kidding- I am hoping that we will be able to help by supporting local farmer’s markets, grow gardens of our own (if you can) even a potted cucumber (the bush variety) can grow on an apartment balcony or make your own little bee character and spread the word!  Another idea is to make the honey spiced chicken in my blog, Gluten Free Valentine.  God made these little creatures and they are absolutely remarkable.  Without them we would be eating fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Nothing against fish, I like fish so don’t get crazy on me!

Did you know that each colony has it’s own unique flavor of honey and that storebought honey is blended from several different sources? Buy local honey and you will notice a difference, who knows maybe it will even help with hay fever!  If the bees pollinate all sorts of local plants and you eat the honey masterfully created from those local sources, it’s not a stretch to believe maybe this honey was “made” for you, why not!  Support your local growers, farmers, small store owners….