I sometimes just amaze myself and not in a good way. Several weeks ago I had an aha moment. We made grill pockets and cooked them on... none other than the grill. Didn't turn the oven on, use any electricity or get the kitchen hot.
Hmmm why ever have I not thought to fix pockets before now? I have absolutely no clue. Disturbing to say the least....hehe.
On to the pockets...take a large sheet of aluminum foil. In the center place a couple of cubed small red potatoes, dot with a little butter and put some sliced onion on top. Now any other vegetable will do but we've been putting our green beans and squash (sliced) from our garden on top. Last night we also threw in a small ear of corn. We also added left over chicken(one of the rotisserie baked ones). Folded up the ends and threw that baby on the grill for 20 mins on low.
An all-in-one meal. A great way to use left overs and no plate to wash. Easy peasy. Good grief...why have I never thought of it before now. Go figure!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Rain barrel tidbit
Growing up Grandma had a large flat rock off to the side of her front door where a small rain barrel sat. We were required to stand on that rock and take a scoop of rain water to wash our feet off before coming into the house. The water was always cold and clean. Her barrel had a lid on it, which she would crack whenever it rained to catch what came off the roof. I tell people all the time, Grandma was the original "green" queen. Nothing escaped her when it came to recycling or re-purposing things. But those are other stories waiting to be told.
We have 3 barrels and from the looks of the formula below, we are missing out on capturing a whole lot more!
How much rain you can catch:
Rain caught (gallons) = (inches of rain) x (0.6) x (portion of building footprint in ft2)
For example, if your home's footprint is 1,400 ft2, and you want to know the amount of water that comes from a ¼ inch of rainfall the equation would look like this:
Rain caught (gallons) = (0.25) x (0. 6) x (1,400) = 210 gallons.
However, remember that storage is limited to the capacity of your system. If your rain barrel holds 50 gallons, then 160 gallons will be lost.
We have 3 barrels and from the looks of the formula below, we are missing out on capturing a whole lot more!
How much rain you can catch:
Rain caught (gallons) = (inches of rain) x (0.6) x (portion of building footprint in ft2)
For example, if your home's footprint is 1,400 ft2, and you want to know the amount of water that comes from a ¼ inch of rainfall the equation would look like this:
Rain caught (gallons) = (0.25) x (0. 6) x (1,400) = 210 gallons.
However, remember that storage is limited to the capacity of your system. If your rain barrel holds 50 gallons, then 160 gallons will be lost.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Getting good as being cheap..
You know how I like to squeeze a dime. Well, growing your own veggies is a sure fire way to shave some bucks off the ole weekly grocery bill. So far, we have harvested a bunch of hot peppers, a least 10lbs. of potatoes and 11 patty pan squash. Adding up what we would pay for the squash alone is a cool savings of $14, or $13 if I take out what I paid for the seeds.
It's a win-win situation, I have many squash to come from my 6 plants, so of course the amount of savings will only go up. Just starting to get a few tomatoes. Down to my last meal of potatoes, peppers a growing and I just noticed today I have green beans!!! Corn is tasseling so won't be long until we're munching on some ears.
Yehaw...I love my itty bitty garden!!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Oh Happy Day
Corn continues to do well and looking forward to seeing some ears forming!
Dug up the first 2 potato plants and got enough for 2 meals. Only have 5 more plants so don't expect to get but maybe this box full. Very happy with what I did get, so I'll definitely be growing more next year.
Getting squash and the plants are continuing to do great. Bees have been all over them and got at least 5-6 more that will soon be ready.
Dug up the first 2 potato plants and got enough for 2 meals. Only have 5 more plants so don't expect to get but maybe this box full. Very happy with what I did get, so I'll definitely be growing more next year.
Getting squash and the plants are continuing to do great. Bees have been all over them and got at least 5-6 more that will soon be ready.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
How time flies...
We have found the dreaded eggs of the vine borer on the squash and have waged biological organic warfare. So we'll see who wins. They look so good right now.
Spirea has never looked prettier or pinker.
Sunflowers are heading up and some have started to bloom.
The corn is well.... amaaaazing!
This week the beans are up in the 1st bed. Yesterday they popped through the surface and by the end of the day they were up at least an inch or two. This morning they look like little plants! The other bed of beans is starting to pop up so I expect by tomorrow they will be close in size.
And how does your garden grow?
Spirea has never looked prettier or pinker.
Sunflowers are heading up and some have started to bloom.
The corn is well.... amaaaazing!
This week the beans are up in the 1st bed. Yesterday they popped through the surface and by the end of the day they were up at least an inch or two. This morning they look like little plants! The other bed of beans is starting to pop up so I expect by tomorrow they will be close in size.
And how does your garden grow?
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Small Space Gardening
Never ceases to amaze me what can be grown in a small space!
The corn's up and seems to be growing before our very eyes.
Squash has doubled in size.
Tomatoes have perked up.
Added another level for potatoes.
The corn's up and seems to be growing before our very eyes.
Squash has doubled in size.
Tomatoes have perked up.
Added another level for potatoes.
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