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LearningAndYearning

Hunter’s Pie with Jerusalem Artichoke

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A perfect meal for the forager and hunter - Hunter's Pie with Jerusalem artichoke. It's a hearty meal that will satisfy your hunger after a day in the woods!

Back in the day when we were first married (guys, that was 40 years ago!), we lived in a run down house in the country without running water and only a wood stove for heat. The road we lived on was used so infrequently that grass grew down the middle of the road in spots.

The woman who delivered our mail was one of the few vehicles that we saw in a day, and this wonderful woman was worried about us – we were just kids. She would leave presents in our mailbox from her garden. One of the things she would leave were Jerusalem artichokes, which I had never before experienced.Continue Reading

Book Review: The Suburban Micro-Farm

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The Suburban Micro-Farm by Amy Stross is full of valuable advice for all levels of gardener. Learn not only how to grow a garden but how to earn an income!

It’s always fun to get to check out a new book before the rest of the world sees it. And The Suburban Micro-Farm by Amy Stross was no exception. This gardening book really does cover it all, and there is plenty for both the beginner, and advanced gardener.

If you are living on a small plot of land, you’ll really appreciate Amy’s years of experience and wisdom in getting the most of every inch of your property. She’ll teach you how to build your soil, and to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs.Continue Reading

7 Great Ways to Use Rhubarb Leaves

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The level of oxalic acid is so high in rhubarb leaves that they are poisonous and cannot be eaten. But that doesn't mean that they need to be tossed in the trash. Here are 7 great ways to use them!

Rhubarb, or Rheum rhabarbarum is a tasty spring and early summer treat. But only the stalks are edible. The level of oxalic acid is so high in the leaves that they are poisonous and cannot be eaten.

But that doesn’t mean that they need to be tossed in the trash. Here are 7 great ways to use rhubarb leaves:Continue Reading

Dynamic Accumulators: Proven Method or Promising Idea?

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Because some plants tend to be very high in certain minerals, and because many of those plants have a deep root system, it is thought that these plants mine minerals from deep in the soil, accumulate them in their leaves, and fertilize the soil when their leaves drop and decompose. Such a plant is considered to be a dynamic accumulator.My layman's opinion concerning dynamic accumulation is that it is an idea that makes a lot of sense and an idea that I hope will be studied so that we can have proof that it is a valid way to bring needed minerals to the surface of our soils.

What are Dynamic Accumulators?

Because some plants tend to be very high in certain minerals, and because many of those plants have a deep root system, it is thought that these plants mine minerals from deep in the soil, accumulate them in their leaves, and fertilize the soil when their leaves drop and decompose. Such a plant is considered to be a dynamic accumulator.Continue Reading

A to Z Guide to Dehydrating Vegetables

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Learn to dehydrate with this "A to Z Guide to Dehydrating Vegetables".

Dehydrating Vegetables

There’s so much to love about dehydrating vegetables. Once dehydrated, they take very little room to store. Nutrients aren’t destroyed as they are with canning. If the electricity goes out for an extended time, nothing is spoiled. And dehydrated veggies can store for years.Continue Reading

How to Grow a Pumpkin Pie

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HOW TO GROW A PUMPKIN PIE: Ask a kindergartener if it's possible to grow to a pumpkin pie, and they'll likely answer a resounding yes, especially after reading to them from the Scholastic Reader, Grow a Pumpkin Pie.

Ask a kindergartener if it’s possible to grow to a pumpkin pie.

I LOVE this age. They are old enough to understand, and young enough to still be magical in their thinking. And while they get that a pie won’t grow in the garden, they’ll still likely answer a resounding yes to your question.

Especially after reading to them from the Scholastic Reader, Grow a Pumpkin Pie.Continue Reading

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