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More Baskets!

February 16, 2021 by admin

Here’s how to make another type of basket!

First cut slits in four of the spokes in the center of the spoke.
Next make a slant cut on the ends of the non-slitted spokes so it is sharp and pointed.
Slide the cut end spokes through the slits in the other spokes.

Take a long reed, double it in half and loop it around four of the spokes.
Line the two ends of the reed up and put the reed on the left over the reed on the right and behind the four spokes.
Go around once then divide the spokes into sets of two and go around in a circle always putting the reed on the left over the right reed and behind the next set of two spokes.
Do this 3 or 4 times.
Next pull the spokes so they are one apart
Continue going around in the same fashion.
When you run out of reed you can either weave in an over under pattern with one length or double it and continue twisting as you did in the beginning.

When it’s time to bend the spokes use pliers and crimp the spoke lightly as each spot you want it to bend.
For the top loop each spoke behind the next one then trim the excess.

Dogwood, Dappled Willow and Arctic Willow

Posted in Crafts | Tagged baskets, homemade baskets, making baskets, natural baskets | Leave a Comment »

Time to Plant Onions!

February 15, 2021 by admin

I like to plant when the crocuses are blooming.

Why grow onions when they are pretty cheap at the store? Because they taste better!

There are many different shapes, sizes and even colors of onions and most can be pulled young as green onions.

I like to plant my onions when the crocuses are blooming; they are a cool season crop and do best when planted early. You can grow onions from transplants, sets, or seeds. Transplants are seedlings started in the current growing season and sold in bunches, sets are immature bulbs grown the previous year and are the easiest to plant, the earliest to harvest, and the least susceptible to diseases. Growing onions from seed offers a wide choice in cultivars but it’s hard to start seeds here as we have such a short growing season. You will need to start your onion seedlings indoors.

Plant with the pointy side up.

If you are using sets then plant them two inches apart, 2-3 inches deep with the pointy side up. I like to lay them out on the bed before planting as I lose track what I’ve planted where.

I like to lay the onions out ahead of time.

There are short and long day onions. Short day onions form bulbs when the days reach 10 to 12 hours long and are better for southern latitudes. Long day cultivars need 13 to 16 hours and are the ones best suited for our area.

Once I have planted onions I cover them with Reemay less to provide heat than to protect them from the ravenous crows who view my yard as their private pantry.

Using large binder clips keeps the Reemay from blowing away.

With well prepared soil no fertilizing should be needed. If onions are in soil that has a lot of nitrogen then you will get great tops but small bulbs. Onion do like to be watered regularly but are a good crop if you are going to be on short vacations this summer as they will tolerate some gaps in watering.

Harvest onions when the tops turn yellow. Pull and hang in a dry place until thoroughly dry. If you harvest them too early or don’t let them dry enough they will rot. If well dried they will last 6 months to a year. If you don’t eat them all before then!

Onions are in, peas are next!

Posted in Growing | Tagged growing onions, planting onions | Leave a Comment »

Elder Flower Syrup

February 8, 2021 by admin

Elderberries can be planted in the garden soon. For consumption use the Blue or the Black Elderberries instead of the Red Elderberry.

These fragrant white to pink flowers can be gathered, steeped, then the liquid sugared to make a delicious syrup. If you have the patience to wait, the dark blue berries can be gathered in the late summer to make into a dye, syrup or wine.

Here is a recipe for making a quart of syrup:

Ingredients:

30 elderflower heads
1 quart water
4 cups sugar
Juice of 2 lemons or limes
zest of 2 lemons or limes
2 tablespoons citric acid

Zest the lemons or limes and put in a large bowl, then the citric acid and lemon or lime juice.
Remove the flowers from the stalk and add to the bowl

Flowers, citric acid, zest and lime juice

Bring the sugar and water to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve.
Pour the syrup into the bowl and stir to combine.

Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let it sit for 2-4 days.
Strain the mixture through a sieve lined with cheesecloth into a clean jar. Store in the fridge for up to six weeks.

Here is what it looks like after steeping for a couple of days.

This syrup has a very delicate flavor and scent. It tastes good mixed with seltzer water or even better with some champagne or vodka.

Here’s more info on growing this useful plant!

A tiny Elder Flower

Caution: Leaves, stems and unripe berries can cause stomach upset. Just use the cooked berries and flowers for consumption.

Posted in Cooking | Tagged Elder Flower, flower syrup, spring syrup | Leave a Comment »

Schedule Your Plantings by the Holidays

January 27, 2021 by admin

For seeds to grow there needs to be the right combination of light, soil temperature, nutrients and moisture. Here in our cool Northwest climate one of the main things is waiting until the soil is really warm enough for germination to occur. Spring crops need soil temperatures in the 50’s to 60’s while summer crops need temperatures in the high 60’s. You can raise the soil temperature some by using cloches or other methods to trap heat and warm the soil.

Seasons can vary year to year but a rough guide to use is planting by the holidays:

Peas by President’s Day
Potatoes by St. Patrick’s Day, (this one is easy to remember)
Corn and beans by Mother’s Day
Tomatoes, squash and cucumbers by Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday. (Ok, this one is a bit esoteric – it’s June 8th.)

To get more detailed planting information a great resource is Seattle Tilth’s Maritime Northwest Garden Guide.

Posted in Growing | Tagged plant by the holidays, planting calendar | Leave a Comment »

Branch Borders

January 26, 2021 by admin

I just trimmed my redwood dogwoods to get basket making supplies and decided to use the larger branches to make a border for a flower and herb bed.

Bed without border.

Cut all the branches to the same length with ends angled to a point.

Push one end into the ground and arc the other end over. Push the ends as deeply as they will go so they don’t pop out.

I added compost but you can also add bark or just neaten things up.

Posted in Crafts, Growing | Tagged borders, branch borders, branches, garden borders | 2 Comments »

Mulled Wine

December 19, 2020 by admin

What do you do with more than two hundred pounds of plums? Make wine!

We couldn’t do our usual holiday open house this year so decided to bring the party to our friends. Mulled plum wine is spectacular!

Pounded whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg into small pieces.

Put the dried citrus and spices into cheesecloth then tied it on the bottles.

Posted in Cooking | Leave a Comment »

Plant Prints

September 28, 2020 by admin

To imprint fabric with leaves and flowers place the plant material on your material, cover with a second layer and pound with a hammer. Let dry then flake off dried plants.

Indigo, calendula and viola flowers placed on cotton fabric.

Pound with a hammer until color comes through.

Posted in Cooking | 2 Comments »

Dill Pickles a la Duris Farms

September 13, 2020 by admin

Each year I make a pilgrimage to Duris Farms for pickle supplies. They have it all!

Here’s my favorite recipe:

1.5 pounds pickling cukes with blossom end trimmed off
8 cloves garlic
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1.5 Tablespoons kosher salt
Large dill stem with flowers
1/4 cup Duris pickling spice mix
Grape leaves (for crisp pickles)

Divide up garlic, dill, a couple of grape leaves and spices in clean mason jars, pack in cucumbers. Mix salt, water and vinegar over medium heat. Pour liquid over cukes in jars leaving a 1/2 inch of headroom.

If you’re going to eat soon put in fridge. If you want to save for later do a water bath canning.