Subject: Re: [Homestead] Homesteading stuff, was digging up ancient history
Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 16:43:39 -0500
<<So, how's your weather. I am soooo tired of weird weather this year. We
had sooooo much rain that we thought we'd float away and get a free vacation
trip to Hawaii. Then we had snow for Easter. Next was instant summer with
temps in the 80s and 90s. Now we have cold and rain.>>
This weekend has been perfect: 70s, little to no wind, blue skies. Of
course, now I begin to worry that this is the beginning of a drought.
Nevermind that the last month or so has been rainy (and the last 10 days
relatively cold and rainy) -- that's what's happened in recent years. Some
years it's rained too much to plant a garden, and then the rain just stops.
<<Hey, but for some strange reason the fruit trees and grapes are loving it.
Go figure!>>
My old apple trees have set lots of fruit. The new ones are blooming. Should
I guess I should pluck the blooms off this year? Or at least most of them?
<<There's a whole stand of wild crab apples on the road into town and they
look like they are going to be a gold mine this year. The kidlet and I have
checked all the jars and are ready and waiting for jelly time.>>
Back when I was a kidlet myself, my mom and I would pick enough blackberries
and raspberries that grew wild to keep us in all the fresh fruit *and* jam
as we wanted. All these efficient farmers have removed all those bushes, so
now I've spent the weekend planting my own.
<<Has anyone made rose hip tea? We also found a whole stand of rosa
californica. What's the best way to cure the hips. I know the seeds can be
a problem because of the "fur.">>
No rose hips here, but I have chamomile all over the place. Not that that
helps you with the rose hips. Wouldn't the usual drying procedure work with
the rose hips?