Categories: Food
I want to clarify something. A desiccant is a chemical or process used to dry things or to keep them dry. We do not eat them, or do we? Wikipedia says: A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of dryness (desiccation) in its vicinity. Commonly encountered pre-packaged desiccants are solids […]
Categories: Food, Garden, Hardcore Gardening, Mountain Life
Every truly addicted gardener should have an indoor garden when they live in a cold climate. Besides, it sure keeps you in shape for digging! I used to can and freeze food, but now we eat fresh year round, even when it is -20* and 4′ of snow on the ground. I am amazed that […]
Categories: Construction, Food, Mountain Life
“We have a new greenhouse”, say the little red hens! A chicken coop sharing a common wall with the greenhouse. Not a new idea, but new to our neck of the woods. Windows in the shared wall allow air to flow. Warm BTU’s from the chickens at night, sun warmed air from the greenhouse to […]
Categories: Food, Garden, Hardcore Gardening
The days are getting longer. The Plants in the indoor garden that have fed us all winter are hammered but still producing. The short daylight periods and cool temperatures near the windows have taken there toll. Solar homesteading does not allow for space heaters or high powered lights to supplement the photoperiod. Normally it would […]
Categories: Food, Garden, Hardcore Gardening
Ever consider growing all your seeds? Well, at least some of them? Here in Southwest Montana we grow about 75% of the seeds we use. Each year they seem to be better and better, adapting to our harsh, high altitude climate. Many times I grow the plants I need seed for indoors, or bring them […]
Categories: Food, Garden, Hardcore Gardening
Its the Sunday after Christmas. Michele’s at her Moms. There’s a raging blizzard right outside the windows. No sun for two day but the batteries are full from the wind generator cranking full out for hours. Bare ground in the outdoor garden a week ago has been replaced by three feet of snow. Moving around […]
Categories: Food, Garden, Hardcore Gardening
Winter Solstice, Time to Thin the Onions! We have the challenge of growing food all year long. That is the goal. No frozen food, no canned food, no dried food. Well, at least not too much. So this year I planted some onions and beets later in August and left them under the protection of […]
Times They Are A Changing The world is speeding up it seems to me. The seasons are more sporadic. Winter in spring, fall in summer, cold and hot in the same week. This fall we went from 50* to 23* in one day. The leaves on the fruit trees turned brown overnight. It seemed they […]
