Herb Garden

I have always plotted that the garden that was already dug infront of our house. I looked into growning the herbs from seeds but that required starting them inside. Inside seemed complicated to me.. having lights and soil blocks and stuff i see people using on other blogs. Instead I thought I would spend the three dollars per plant and see how they yield throughout the year. If it is worth it to buy the herb this way then great i will continue doing so or if it is cheaper at the farmers market then next year I will let the farmers grow it for me. Some of them will be worth it as they are perennials so the cost of 3 dollars (or less will go down as the years go one - providing I can keep them alive)

So I got
2 parsley
2 greek oregano
1 golden oregano
1 fennel
2 chives
1 marjorium
2 rosemary (adding to the one I already had- I bought a big one on clearance. I hope it doesn't die.. a branch already fell off.. but it is more rosemary then I could buy at the grocery store for the price so it was a deal either way.)
1 curry plant
7 mint plants (two peppermints, two spearmint, 1 apple mint, 1 orange mint, 1 chocolate mint.
Roman chamomile (I also have german in seed form)
2 regular thymes
1 lemon tyme
2 dills
1 small lavender (for the husbands tea)

I can't believe I forgot basil! Unless I just didn't see it or it is to early to put into the ground?

Spinach Experiment.

Our garden patch needs to be rototilled before I use it. Our neighbors is in the shop so instead of spending money to rent one we will just wait and start the garden a few weeks late. I hope to have it in right after we get our last frost or around there. I was a bit to excited though so I tore some dead plants from planters I found last year and stuck 3 spinach seeds in one and 2 kale (or chard- I can'r remember at this moment). It is serving as a reminder that seeds will sprout if planted. I still can't get over that with so little work one can get yummy food. I planted the seeds a while back and it took them an agonizing 10 days to germinate. I figured they were dead the whole time and the whole garden thing would be a bust.. then they came..first two little leaves forming a V and now the first set of true leaves are there. (Did I make that term up? Well the first set of leaves that actually look like spinach are there). It is a small start but at least we are that much closer to a garden fresh salad , or sauteed greens or whatever our menu fancies.

Chicken Update.

My little babies are so big now. They are actually starting to look like chickens! I still can't believe it. We put them outside around April 1st. They were about 5 weeks old and I needed their room for human company. I mothered them though and insisted that the heat lamp go in there with them.. We left it on for a while but the nights have really begun to warm up and they always sleep tucked away under a their roost (they don't quite get it yet). We keep them upstairs when we are not home and give them free reign of the full coop when we are. When we are hanging out in the backyard we let them wander and eat bugs. They are pretty amazing. They can spot a bug, chase it, and pick it out of the air. Betsy is kind of stupid we think. When we let them out she just stays upstairs and stares. When I let them wonder the yard I have to phycially move her or she won't wander around. Helen is the clear leader and Henrietta is her little side kick. I wanted them in my site the other day so I have to move them one by one from the side of the house to the back yards. I moved Henrietta first and went back to get Helen. By the time I turned around, Helen in my arms Henrietta was making a b-line for me freaking out for Helen. I put Helen down and Henrietta ran straight into her. I guess it is her sign of affection. I brought Betsy over last, she got a lesser welcome. They have outgrouwn their waterer but I haven't made it to the Urban Farm Store yet to pick up a new one. That means I have to change their chick waterer like 3-4 times a day. It could be done more but I have work. So they have to deal.

Blood Orange Hefeweizen

Joe and I have been working our way through Extreme Brewing. The author is owner of Dogfish Head ( who always have the yummiest beer). Many of the recipes we have been trying are coming from this book. The book isn't perfect, in fact far from it. There are inconsistencies in the directions and ingredients. Overall though, the beers have been yummy. I had to try the Blood Orange Hefeweizen. I love blood oranges. Blood orange sorbet is one of my favorite foods (although I can never find it.. there are rumors that Whole Paycheck has some but I never go downtown... so I will continue to dream about it.) Anyway. This was the first beer that I really took charge on. Usually Joe does all the leg work and I hang out. There is a lot to do when brewing beer! It took longer than I though it would to brew (Joe did warn me but I like to make cooking mistakes for myself.) It takes so long to get three gallons of water to boil. It was an easy enough recipe as it only had one hop addition. I almost forgot to heat up the malt extract and threw it into some hot water last minute. Malt extract is like honey in its consistency and if it isn't warmed it is impossible to add to all the water you just spent forever getting to boil. It all worked out and it was done in time for Lost (a very important part of Tuesday evenings). The oranges are added after the boil. They are peeled and steeped in water for about 30 minutes. Then all the pieces and zest go into the fermenter. This beer fermented like crazy. I tried it at two weeks. It was good. At three weeks after bottling it was awesome! Hmm can't wait for week 4. I spent 37.28 on this beer and I gave it a slightly higher price tag since it is an unusual brew. So I prices the 40 or so bottles I got at 66 with a total savings of $28. Not to shabby.