tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74502629315878624062024-03-20T02:57:00.474-04:00The Brownsteadsuburban homesteading. family herbalist. real food.Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-39195349116843456442017-06-02T23:18:00.000-04:002020-05-09T23:22:47.640-04:00Schedule a consult<div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-64945460083596167772017-05-29T16:47:00.003-04:002017-05-29T17:00:32.070-04:00Soil Amendments and Pesticides in my Organic Garden<br />
I have two best friends in the garden.<br />
<br />
OK, I have many best friends in the garden. The garden is like da club and I'm chilling with all my bffs popping bottles and whateva and bees and buzzing and all that BUT when my girls Neem Oil and Fish Emulsion come in we know it's finna go down.<br />
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Neem Oil is pressed from the seed of the Neem tree, which is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. Neem oil is typically used as an insecticide and is especially useful against aphid infestations but is also useful as an antifungal and antibacterial agent in the garden. The active ingredient is azadirachtin, so when purchasing be sure to check the label that it has that in it. Some products available in your big box stores that are advertised as neem oil sprays or extracts do not contain this or do not explicitly state that they contain it. I've found a few bottles that list "Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil" as the active ingredient and since they don't say azadirachtin I don't typically trust them. Instead, I purchase unrefined, organic, straight neem oil that I dilute myself. Because we are using an oil, we need to add an emulsifier so that it will dissolve in to water so that it can be distributed in to water. Neem oil tends to be solid at room temperature so might benefit from a dip in a warm bath first, followed by a good shake. I use it at a 1% dilution along with a good squirt of Dr. Bonners or another biodegradable soap and spray on foliage, stems and branches, and the dirt around the base of the plant. It works as an insecticide by inhibiting reproduction and eating and injuring soft bodied insects. I discovered neem oil in a fight against aphids and now spray regularly on all of my plants, including my apple trees.<br />
<br />
Fish Emulsion is a broad spectrum, gentle fertilizer that is known to not burn. Fish oil is made from scrap fish parts and may be fermented. Typically available in a 5-1-1 NPK ratio (meaning it contains 5 parts nitrogen to 1 part phosphorus to 1 part potassium), fish emulsion is beneficial to almost everything in the garden but weak enough that it must be reapplied twice a week for optimal growth. In addition to NPK, it contains valuable trace nutrients that are great for root growth and soil building. Different plants are going to need different amount of fish emulsion but I typically to 2-3T per gallon. Beware though, fish emulsion smells exactly like you think it would. Be careful with spraying it on your indoor plants.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">maybe weed first?</td></tr>
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How do I use these two rockstars in my garden?<br />
Twice a week I mix up 2-3T of fish emulsion in to my little 1 gallon sprayer and spray all over the everything, focusing on the ground around my plants. As I want this to get soaked in to the earth, it doesn't matter if it should be raining soon. It won't run off and be ineffective as pesticides do.<br />
Neem oil is used less often. Every other week, in addition to my fish emulsion I add about an oz and a half of neem oil and a good squirt of soap to my sprayer. As I mentioned above, you're aiming for a 1% ratio and need to add the soap to act as an emulsifier. Since we're trying to keep an oil suspended in a water, we also need to shake it up as we're using it. While we're spraying the neem oil we want to be sure to spray every surface of the plant. We're spraying the leaves, especially the underside of the leaves, the stem, and the ground around the plant, so that the whole antifungal, antibacterial, pesticidal actions can get flowing.<br />
<br />
These two, along with a healthy side dressing with compost midseason, are pretty much all I use in my garden after my initial soil amendments. As always, before using any soil amendments or fertilizers an initial soil test is important.<br />
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How are things growing with you?? <br />
<br />Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-92232257045039946422017-05-02T00:42:00.002-04:002017-05-02T00:42:35.550-04:00Client Garden Installation 5-1-17<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey Friends!!</span></div>
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I am beyond excited about what I got to do this weekend. I got to go and play in someone else's dirt!<br />
On Saturday I worked with a client (OK, my grandmother) to get her garden going this year. She hadn't done anything the past two years and so the whole area had gotten quite over run.<br />
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The yard itself isn't fenced in and is frequently visited by deer and groundhogs so the garden area is enclosed in an outdoor dog kennel with a gate that is roughly 7 feet tall.<br />
WHAT AN EXCELLENT IDEA!!<br />
I wish I could claim it as my own but it was like that when I got there.<br />
<br />
Install day was Saturday so we met up Thursday and talked abut our goals. We established two main goals:<br />
She wanted tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and beans.<br />
She needed to be able to maintain it mostly by herself but has family close that can help if needed.<br />
Easy peasy!<br />
Then we talked and talked about food she ate growing up in the country and foraging and herbs. I could have stayed much longer but had to go pick up a kid. Story of my life.<br />
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So once Saturday rolled around I recruited some hands and we got to work!<br />
It was a beautiful day to garden but HOT! It was our first over 90 degree day and we made it through with lots of water and with my helpers working in shifts.<br />
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Our first task was to clear out the debris and materials that were in the space. The beautiful apple tree in the middle had dropped loads of leaves that totally covered the ground. I'd initially planned to leave them in place and work them in to the soil as compost but there was just way too much in there for that to be feasible. Instead we raked most of it out and added it to the compost. With the leaves out of the way we were able to pull the plants that were coming up underneath. There was a lovely nettle plant in the corner that was to make her way home with me but alas, she was discarded accidentally. I was so excited to find nettle growing but now I know what she looks like and can find her easily again!<br />
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Once we were able to get down to bare earth, the real fun
began. I wanted to keep the plants to the perimeter of the space so that the
walls would be support and she would have clear space to walk without having to
step on rows. The ground was prepared initially by turning over by the
shovelfull to loosen and then compost was added and incorporated by hand with
rotary cultivators. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R842lNVA1yU/WQfq24pF2aI/AAAAAAAAGMs/he95zxj8mXUL2SgT-lJuDOlJOA3bgVCJACPcB/s1600/IMG_20170429_130618885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R842lNVA1yU/WQfq24pF2aI/AAAAAAAAGMs/he95zxj8mXUL2SgT-lJuDOlJOA3bgVCJACPcB/s640/IMG_20170429_130618885.jpg" width="360" /></a>After that, it was just planting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
put in two jalapeno plants, 5 tomato
plants and direct seeded some pole beans and cucumbers. To finish the
job, we
created a border out of some materials left from another project for
around the
apple tree and filled it with mulch, leaving an inch of space around the
trunk. Tomato cages were placed around the jalapenos for support and
individual poles are installed next to each tomato plant to tie them
to. </div>
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While small,
this little garden will provide tons of food and fun for my grandmother.
I know she'll love it and I look forward to talk to her about what
she's growing!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
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Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
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<br />Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-39684770960038690022017-04-20T17:06:00.000-04:002017-04-20T17:06:08.450-04:00GARDEN UPDATE 4/20/2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
HI FRIENDS!!!!<br />
<br />
I'm hoping this spring season is finding you well and your gardens flourishing.<br />
<br />
Here's what's happening in mine:<br />
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<b>Seedlings are beautiful and mostly ready for transplanting. </b><br />
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Of the 72 plants I started, very few didn't make it. My onions were from old seed and mostly an experiment that just never germinated, I killed my one okra seedling in potting up, and my Aji Dulce peppers are not growing as well as I'd like but overall I'm really really happy with my seedlings this year. I didn't forget about any of them! The curcubits (squash, zucchini) and herbs will get transplanted out this weekend and the tomatoes, peppers and eggplant will stay on the porch a bit longer.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Flowers go in next</b><br />
I'm trying something new this year! I'm going to be starting some flower seeds for my front beds in addition to my veggies. Can't eat them and they're not anything useful but they'll be pretty! I have zinnias, impatiens and snapdragons.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> Pretty sure my dang apple tree is dead</b><br />
Georgia said it's just growing sticks. The one that is still alive is BEAUTIFUL though. Probably won't get any apples off of her for another year but the blooms are just gorgeous. I've since cleared all the weeds, fertilized and conditioned with neem oil and fish emulsion, and laid fresh mulch since these pictures were taken. Sadly, the tree is just as dead.<br />
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<b>Direct seeded plants are popping off nicely!</b><br />
Cruciferous bed of broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, and cabbage is growing well. I have some radishes and beets mixed in there too. I'm hoping to get something out of it before it all bolts. The weather in Maryland changes so quickly. Winter drags on forever and then suddenly it's summer. I did an earlier planting that all washed away before it germinated so I fear I didn't get anything in early enough for cool weather. I've also planted a few rows of cucumber and okra that is coming along nicely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAVv-KNyXAo/WPZ9H77shoI/AAAAAAAAFPI/Tj5_KSPZAm8OV1LirF3j1wkRYfJ6qxiGwCPcB/s1600/cucumber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAVv-KNyXAo/WPZ9H77shoI/AAAAAAAAFPI/Tj5_KSPZAm8OV1LirF3j1wkRYfJ6qxiGwCPcB/s320/cucumber.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pickles loading...</td></tr>
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<b> </b><br />
<b>My strawberry bed is my moon and stars</b><br />
FINALLY I get to enjoy strawberries. Last year I reluctantly pinched off flowers, knowing that doing so would force the plants to put out more runners and lead to larger yields later. I enjoyed the few berries that I missed. This year by strawberry bed is huge is popping off and I can't wait to dig in! It's full of pretty white flowers that will turn into tasty strawberries!<br />
I'll soon top the bed off with more compost and plant my beans along the edges. They'll share nitrogen love with the strawberries and provide shade, possibly prolonging their growth in the hot hot heat.<br />
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<b>My chickens are still dumb</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not pictured is the dummy that flew over the fence</td></tr>
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I currently have 3 and I'm getting an egg a day from each girl that they typically hide under the deck. It seems to be either feast or famine around here on the eggs. Either we have none or we have dozen or so just hanging out. I want to have more to be able to barter/give away to friends so we're adding 3-4 more to our flock.<br />
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I'm thrilled with what this season has to hold for us.<br />
What's going on for you??<br />
<b> </b>Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-49151404536683628242017-04-17T21:11:00.000-04:002017-04-17T21:11:41.064-04:00Allergy Protocol<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This time of year in the DMV is notorious. I constantly hear from folks that never suffered from allergies until they come here and suddenly they're itchy, stuffy, sneezy messes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what do we do?</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Do we treat with conventional medications?</b><br />
I'm not one to judge. If that's what works for you and your body chemistry, great.<br />
For me I prefer to avoid conventional medications as a first step and the side effect "medicine head" is worse than the allergies I'm treating. I get a headache and just feel out of it for days. Also, as a nursing mother, I need to be careful with what I ingest.<br />
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<b>Do we seek help from herbal allies?</b><br />
This is the route I go. I use mechanical and herbal interventions to alleviate my allergy symptoms.<br />
This is what works for me.<br />
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<i>Mechanical:</i><br />
Step one is to remove regularly whatever you're reacting to. Washing your face nightly, including warm compresses to your lids and lashes, gets the irritants away so they're not just sitting there bugging you. Cleaning your lids and lashes (either with just warm water or with something sold for this purpose) will help a lot with managing itchy, teary eyes.<br />
Now that you've got it off your face, you need to get it out of your sinuses where is really messing you up. When my allergies are bugging me it feels like there's ants inside my nose. Use your neti pot to rinse those ants out! Look it. Using a neti pot, for me, is miserable. I hate doing it. I'm convinced I'm going to drown or that I'm going to get brain amoeba. I'm calmly pouring water in my nose but inside my head I'm screaming. BUT y'all. It works. I hate doing it so much and put it off but when I do it I feel so much better. I use the little packets that come with it because I'm afraid I'll get brain amoeba otherwise and ALWAYS use distilled water.<br />
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<i>Herbal:</i><br />
This is what I do and what works for me. What works for you and your allergens might be different.<br />
Twice a day I ingest nettle and <a href="http://www.centroashe.org/" target="_blank">Centro Ashe's</a> Aller-Support (with nettle, eyebright, and goldenrod) tinctures along with my usual skullcap. I ingest tinctures by adding to a small amount of water in a shot glass and taking it like a shot. Sometimes I'll take my shirt off and yell SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS for old times' sake while I'm at it.<br />
My daily tinctures vary but almost always include skullcap and nettle.<br />
Along with my tinctures, I also consume 1/2 teaspoon bee pollen twice a day. Local is ideal and I have had great success with the brand pictured above. To consume the bee pollen I either just throw it in my mouth and swish it around with some water or I'll mix it in with yogurt or a smoothie. The difficulty with the latter is that you then have to make sure you consume the entire smoothie/yogurt so that you know you got it all.<br />
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I know that for me, this works. If I do this I will not be miserable. There will not be ants inside my nose and my eyeballs won't itch and I won't have a constant throbbing sinus headache.<br />
I'm dying to know what works for other folks.<br />
What's your allergy protocol?Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-31346698825821324112017-02-14T14:47:00.001-05:002017-02-14T22:04:09.692-05:00Garden Planning Services<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently met with my first garden planning client and it was fantastic. While it took me a moment to get my bearings, once we got rolling I LOVED it.<br />
I met with my client in her beautiful home last week. We discussed what she'd done before, where her knowledge currently lay and what I could help her with. For this client, she'd grown up on a farm and knew how to accomplish tasks but had never been in charge of deciding when what tasks needed to be done or sourcing the necessary tools for that task. I was able to help her map out what she wanted to grow, where to source her seeds and dirt, and how to put it all together. We accomplished this in about 2 hours together and I left her with a drawn out garden plan and a seed catalogue.<br />
I'm going to follow up with her with reminders (start your seeds! get your dirt! transplant!) and handy articles and information I think she'd enjoy.<br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Does this sound like something you can use?</span></u></div>
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I'm formulating how this can all work out but my current plan is:</div>
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-Initial 2 hour visit and garden site visit</div>
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-Sourcing assistance </div>
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-Rough sketch/plan of garden space</div>
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-Upkeep reminders </div>
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-Troubleshooting and pest control advice</div>
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I'm still working this out and am looking for TWO more clients in SOMD for this season. Cost is negotiable and I am open to bartering/work trades. Comment if interested!Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-42699806418687999232016-12-30T23:35:00.001-05:002016-12-30T23:35:25.586-05:00Amazon Fresh Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By now I'm sure you've probably heard of Amazon Fresh. If not hold on to your butts cus I'm finna blow your mind. Amazon Fresh is grocery shopping via Amazon. You can purchase anything you would normally purchase in the grocery store - meat, veggies, cereal, dog food - and have it delivered to your home in a time frame you choose. I've just received my third order yesterday and while I'm still not completely sold I am getting there.<br />
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How it Works -<br />
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With Prime membership, Amazon Fresh is an additional $14.99/month with a free trial month. You simply go to the Amazon website and select Amazon Fresh from the drop down menu on the left. Fresh is also available via the app. You first select the window in which you want your order to arrive. For me it typically shows as 7-10am or 10am-1pm starting the next day. Once you've selected your window you have a set amount of time to finish shopping the site.<br />
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Pros -<br />
Bruh. I don't have to take my kids to the grocery store. What else is there? Do you know how many times we've had "Whatever Mama can find to eat" for dinner because I couldn't imagine taking them anywhere?? It comes TO MY HOUSE. I don't even have to put on pants. It's fantastic.<br />
I live in what the USDA has determined is a Food Desert. We have two dollar stores, two liquor stores, a bunch of churches, and no place I can purchase a banana. Up the road in either direction I have a few grocery stores but to get all the things I want it typically requires a few trips to a few different stores. I need to go to MOMs for my organic stuff, Food Lion for staples, Target for household goods etc. My kids love a particular granola bar that might not be available. Amazon Prime has all the things I need in one place.<br />
Local merchants are highlighted. There is a Local Market option from which small businesses can sell their wares. I've purchased from CakeLove and Sweet Farm in the DC area and have been very very happy with both purchases. I wouldn't have known either existed otherwise. Sweet Farm sells locally made fermented foods which are, as you know, my jammy jam.<br />
Packaging. Everything is well packaged. Ice cream is frozen, bread is fluffy, eggs are uncrushed (so I hear). <br />
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Cons -<br />
Ease of use. It's your typical Amazon page and you can search as you would anything else on Amazon. However, similar things don't always pop up together and your least expensive option is never going to show up first. Just like in the grocery store, your eye level things are what they want you to buy. For example, I want to purchase 1 lb of turkey lunch meat. I search "1 lb Turkey Lunch Meat" and come up with a tube of ground turkey from Amazon, not Amazon Fresh. Not what I want. To get what I want, I have to search "Turkey Lunch Meat" and scroll through the 56 results to find the 1lb size. These 56 results also include frozen TV dinners and sausage links.<br />
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PACKAGING - Your food comes in huge Amazon Fresh totes that have insulation and ice packs or dry ice. This insures that your food gets to you whole but takes up a lot of space. The totes all fold down and fit into each other, the ice packs gets pitched and the insulation gets shoved in a bag. Insulation and totes are to be picked up on your next delivery but they were not on my last delivery. I contacted customer service and was told to leave them outside, they were picked up the next day.<br />
Produce. They have an amazing produce selection including both organic and conventional foods. By shopping only you're obviously unable to squeeze and sniff. Are you comfortable with that?<br />
Price - Whole chickens for $21. $14.99/month. No coupons. It's definitely pricier than the grocery store but how much does convenience cost? How much are you spending on impulse buys that you won't be getting here? For me it's worth the added cost for now. When warmer months come and I'm growing my own food and my meat source reopens I'll re-evaluate.<br />
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Thoughts? Have you tried Amazon Fresh? Is there another home delivery service that works better for you? Let me know in the comments!!Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-68669559849695819372016-08-11T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-11T00:00:40.102-04:00Five Ways to Start Your HomesteadYou have that itch. Not THAT itch, the other one. You want to be more sustainable. You want to grow your own food or reduce your carbon footprint or just stop having to buy that same stuff over and over and over again at the grocery store. Maybe the idea of dragging your kids to the Food Lion another time is enough to make you want to never ever leave the house again. Regardless of your reasons, you're interested in making a more sustainable home.<br />
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Today I'm going to go over <span style="font-size: small;"><b>FIVE </b></span>fantastic ways to start your homestead. </div>
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Managing your homestead, especially on a suburban scale, is really about reducing your input and your output. How can you eliminate unneeded things on both ends? I prefer to begin at the beginning. </div>
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1. Use reusable items whenever possible.</div>
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This is paramount in controlling out input and output.The less you bring in means the less you send out and the more independent your home can be. From diapers to napkins to toilet paper - if it's reusable it comes in and doesn't go anywhere. In my home the disposable items we use are paper towels and toilet paper. Paper towels are strictly for cat puke and turkey bacon (how do you make turkey bacon without paper towels?!).</div>
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2. Food sources<br />
Being
able to produce your own food is huge towards being self reliant. The
key thing is to ask yourself what you eat and if you can produce it
yourself in the room that you have. Beets are fairly easy to grow but if
no one in your house will eat them I wouldn't suggest putting them in.
If you're an omnivore, producing your own food can involve gardening,
chickens and meat production.<br />
There is always room to grow
something. My love of growing my own food started with two herb pots in
my kitchen window. Putting small seeds into dirt and producing something
tasty ignited a drive in me. No matter what your space is - whether it
be a window or a fire escape or a corner of your yard - you can grow
something.<br />
Do you have room for chickens? I love my chickens so
much I recommend everyone that can have them run out and get them right
now. They're pets that make you breakfast. Reliable, low maintenance,
relatively quiet and incredibly entertaining. While helpful, a rooster
is not necessary for egg production and has many drawbacks in a suburban
setting. They're incredibly loud and don't just crow in the morning.
They crow ALL THE TIME. I just rehomed one because he was so loud. He
would also walk along my fence line pestering people as they walked past
my house. As keeping chickens regains popularity, it's becoming more
common for them to be allowed in suburban settings. Check with your
locality to see if they're allowed where you are.<br />
Raising your
own meat in your backyard is not as crazy as it sounds. The chickens we
use for eggs can also be eventually processed for meat and rabbits are a
solid option to also.<br />
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3. ENERGY!<br />
According
to the Residential Energy Consumption Survey done by the US Energy
Information Administration, 48% of energy consumer by homes in the US in
2009 was for heating or cooling. You can make huge cuts in your home's
energy consumption by taking small steps like adjusting your thermostat
either higher or lower as the season allows, applying extra insulation
to your windows or doors, and changing your air filters regularly.
Appliances, lights, and water heating make up the rest of your energy
usage. Making sure the lights get turned off and unplugging unused
appliances may seem small but can add up big. <br />
In addition to
the simple steps, alternative forms of energy are becoming more
available. There are now solar companies that will lease your roof.
While you don't own your panels (at least initially) you may have the
option to purchase them later and it still reduces your dependence on
the grid. We have panels installed through Solar City and are planning
to purchase our panels (at whatever their current market value is) in
five years. There are also likely local companies that specialize in alternative energy or solar panels. Most states even offer tax breaks or grants to establish alterntive energy or heating/cooling systems residentially. For more information about Solar City and to find out if you
qualify, click <a href="http://share.solarcity.com/dabrownstead" target="_blank">here.</a> (this links to my referral page with Solar City. If you sign up from there I may receive a credit)</div>
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4. Find your people<br />
You can't produce everything. You just can't. But you can produce some things and your neighbor can produce some things and yall can trade. Or you can find an awesome local farm that grows and mills wheat (because you sure can't grow that in your yard) and either buy it to support your local economy or barter some volunteer hours. Chances are there are people local to you that are also interested in living more independently and, as the saying goes, many hands make light the work.<br />
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5. Find your Mister.</div>
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I hate to use gendered pronouns but honestly, it's what I call him. He's my partner and my cheerleader. He's my, "Sure. Why not, babe?' Most importantly, he can build stuff. A partner, whether it be your significant other or just a friend that's also into this kind of crazy stuff, is so important. He's my sounding board and his skills complement mine so much. While us homesteader types tend to want to do everything ourselves (that's why we're here to begin with, right?) it's incredibly sanity saving to have someone to be in this with.<br />
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These are my five steps towards starting your homestead. These can be daunting but think of it as baby steps. This year you plant a few things in pots and cut out most paper products. Next year you look into solar panels. Start small so as not to get overwhelmed and once one thing is habit add something else on.<br />
Where are you in your journey towards self reliance? What are your next steps? This year we got back into the chicken game with a new flock of laying hens. Next year we hope to branch into meat production with a few meat birds and maybe a rabbitry.<br />
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Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-19346333759130037972016-08-10T10:14:00.000-04:002016-08-10T10:14:19.696-04:00Weekly Garden Update 8/10/16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkgl-seacBjp0rqMopkNdE-mpunmigHyHLeCTC7EPO6av5c2P_TCHq7KLuOBqVpHAO2wpJ7SM901QX1lVS4CfI1xpOmmBTxELCuLI-UtkiLuwLFvL1dhH9NfZeC9HykCeiWyaciQYFR8/s1600/DELUGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkgl-seacBjp0rqMopkNdE-mpunmigHyHLeCTC7EPO6av5c2P_TCHq7KLuOBqVpHAO2wpJ7SM901QX1lVS4CfI1xpOmmBTxELCuLI-UtkiLuwLFvL1dhH9NfZeC9HykCeiWyaciQYFR8/s320/DELUGE.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Update time!!</div>
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We have, as of yesterday, caught FOUR groundhogs trying to make a meal of my garden. Sorry you adorable little garden munchers. I didn't start seeds and set alarms to remember to water and build beds and haul dirt so you could eat my maters. </div>
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Since we got the trap from a friend everything is coming in so much better!</div>
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Before we had the trap they ate all of my cucumber plants, much of my zucchini plants, and would nibble all of the tomatoes the moment they're start to maybe kinda sorta look ripe. </div>
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I've yet to eat a single (good) tomato out of my garden. </div>
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BUT.</div>
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BUT.</div>
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BUUUUTTTTT!!</div>
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Look at all them little flowers. All a dem little flowers are eventually going to be tomatoes and I'm going to be one of those people with tomatoes falling out of my ears. I can't wait. </div>
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The word to describe this week's garden update is SOON. </div>
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A few tomato plants have been pulled as they'd taken on too much damage. Remaining ones all have flowers and are setting fruit. </div>
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Pepper plants are setting flowers and fruit.</div>
Cucumber bed has been replanted with an early variety<br />
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Fall/Spring bed has been weeded and turned and will be seeded with cabbages, brussel sprouts, kale and a bean plants to replace the ones that were eaten.</div>
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Drying beans are rebounding well. Fresh bean plants were all destroyed by the groundhog.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkKLe48C-Ne1qInRhldLKdV7ZqvjN7YOVDC8pw9TkDYaaX4Umwkv0yoWRg1Kbj9qUjGaKLhzyptlJjWjmT9SsY7D3BATegpLjDPCbnD7PA9DjhdrSj_u-YnzOP45179oha1BfuyxQ8qo/s1600/IMG_20160804_195515025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkKLe48C-Ne1qInRhldLKdV7ZqvjN7YOVDC8pw9TkDYaaX4Umwkv0yoWRg1Kbj9qUjGaKLhzyptlJjWjmT9SsY7D3BATegpLjDPCbnD7PA9DjhdrSj_u-YnzOP45179oha1BfuyxQ8qo/s320/IMG_20160804_195515025.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ok. i ate this one but had regrets. It wasn't ripe :(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwW5K4pv0xqnbCTvexkHCDqQic_JWJrq5drqumemNg2eXeKf3nESQYmNDKBFdm3ywgBxrBEWwUf1Tij1ut-_gnUpqIr0uv6FMzWI5ANSv0-Ccl_Ox5B0fNKYlR4Hy15Q_OtJ2k_sxOlRE/s1600/IMG_20160804_195530713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwW5K4pv0xqnbCTvexkHCDqQic_JWJrq5drqumemNg2eXeKf3nESQYmNDKBFdm3ywgBxrBEWwUf1Tij1ut-_gnUpqIr0uv6FMzWI5ANSv0-Ccl_Ox5B0fNKYlR4Hy15Q_OtJ2k_sxOlRE/s320/IMG_20160804_195530713.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were 6 plants here but they ate them all </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk6gLKgdR2i-MR1WMe4m3C3srJgeuym1HTg9u26VlMyNBxOHIC4Z8w9KUxc7tZhUTDcET1-s8hp1I2z3M4iELhR-dlMBx01yeD3NW5oR_GANHvcBaxwrZ9SNFmNaCm1EPy1obvv-n7Kg/s1600/IMG_20160804_195655409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk6gLKgdR2i-MR1WMe4m3C3srJgeuym1HTg9u26VlMyNBxOHIC4Z8w9KUxc7tZhUTDcET1-s8hp1I2z3M4iELhR-dlMBx01yeD3NW5oR_GANHvcBaxwrZ9SNFmNaCm1EPy1obvv-n7Kg/s320/IMG_20160804_195655409.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was all OOOO EXCITING IS THIS WILD CARROT??!!<br />
nah. it's ragweed. Bye boo, bye</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaF73e7EDEvmW_B6FNmGPxp2SgXrJG3DG_-49FE64ea1B9iGKgeFsKLDTIQs7HcLWgWBmO9f7YVd1IGgJkjXqIAVhj8bhOOJbIqx-PMD1wkfInfdeohoRwYSg7sksiMS17-v5sk6pNUg/s1600/IMG_20160804_200042515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaF73e7EDEvmW_B6FNmGPxp2SgXrJG3DG_-49FE64ea1B9iGKgeFsKLDTIQs7HcLWgWBmO9f7YVd1IGgJkjXqIAVhj8bhOOJbIqx-PMD1wkfInfdeohoRwYSg7sksiMS17-v5sk6pNUg/s320/IMG_20160804_200042515.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bed was full of cucumbers. It's been replanted with an early variety.</td></tr>
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<br />Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-14205097072182358512016-08-03T00:00:00.000-04:002016-08-04T00:03:07.975-04:00July Ipsy Bag Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uO_ufTa0D7s4zIOMuhlsbKyVyDIwNHc-ycaKWWV5FiLLmJJwOb00g-mHt9oyCk40FgtC3sW7_mRVBy94ty6XbmEP7eTucp9FvF6uHqAfc1Kj35Ii9y9Orgrn15dWCEyq4vlAVIZFT5M/s1600/july+ipsy+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uO_ufTa0D7s4zIOMuhlsbKyVyDIwNHc-ycaKWWV5FiLLmJJwOb00g-mHt9oyCk40FgtC3sW7_mRVBy94ty6XbmEP7eTucp9FvF6uHqAfc1Kj35Ii9y9Orgrn15dWCEyq4vlAVIZFT5M/s320/july+ipsy+image.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I debated about posting about makeup. </div>
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Your blog is supposed to be about gardening and hippie shit, Yvonne. Not makeup.</div>
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Then I remembered it was my blog and I do what I want. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdj4X9jV4OFbeiFYqm8oLDv6giQLiPiPhDOzXa1PBZijz9RF6HONa8xQgZqoQJYNPSf1sZsKNttk8nQ_N6c8vnlIcmo_VXKbb40nvHhtktpUdGq_X83SKnIbtcKuNE__Mr8Df2Va4Z5E/s1600/IMG_20160719_192429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdj4X9jV4OFbeiFYqm8oLDv6giQLiPiPhDOzXa1PBZijz9RF6HONa8xQgZqoQJYNPSf1sZsKNttk8nQ_N6c8vnlIcmo_VXKbb40nvHhtktpUdGq_X83SKnIbtcKuNE__Mr8Df2Va4Z5E/s320/IMG_20160719_192429.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
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So here's my July Ipsy Bag. Forgive the crappy picture, I was wrestling all the shiny things away from little hands. </div>
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July's bag comes in a shiny iridescent bag with a pattern of beach umbrellas. </div>
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Included (from top, clockwise):</div>
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<b>Ofra Cosmetics lip liner in Maya</b></div>
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<b>Thrive Causemetics Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner in Lauren (matte black)</b></div>
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<b>Luxie Beauty Luxie Rose Gold Small Angle Eye Brush</b></div>
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<b>Too Faced Hangover Replenish Face Primer</b></div>
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<b>Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel</b></div>
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So what did I think of all these things?? Well, honestly, Ipsy has been banging it out of the park for me the last few months. It's been all sheet masks and marine cream over here and I've been so happy. This month was just "Meh". </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><i><b>Ofra Cosmetics Lip Liner</b></i></u></span> - I like the color. It's a brick red that will likely go well with a few lippies I wear already. I was going to try it with my NYX Liquid Lingerie in Exotic at work the other day and got in the office and realized I'd left the lippie in the car and only had the liner in my pocket (GASP). It was hot and we were busy so I just used the liner and some gloss and it looked fantastic. However, the liner itself is a little dry and didn't go on as smoothly as I would like. I would likely not buy.</div>
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<u><i><b>Thrive Causemetics Eyeliner</b></i></u> - OMG yall. I'm in love. This eyeliner goes on so smooth. So incredibly smooth. There's a bit of a learning curve involved though, because it goes on so smoothly. One light swipe and you're good. The end includes a sharpener and a smudger to give a smoky look. I will most definitely buy this when it runs out. </div>
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<u><i><b>Luxie Beauty Angled Brush</b></i></u> - Well, it's a brush. It brushes. I've used it to stamp wings and it does that mildly ok. It's very soft though so it's not even super at that.</div>
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Shrugs. Just another for my arsenal.</div>
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<u><i><b>Too Faced Hangover Replenish Face Primer</b></i></u> - This stuff is amazing. I was not sold on the usefulness of primer at all until using this. I'm not exactly sure what magic it infuses into my skin but that beat GLOWS when I put this on first. If nothing else in this bag is useful, I'm so happy I got this. I used the last little bit from my bag today and a tube is already bought and purchased and on it's way. </div>
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<u><i><b>Brigio Curl Charisma</b></i></u> - Ipsy had been doing well with the hair products. I'd gone two months without any. But here we are again. I'll give it to someone who can use it because I sure won't. My locs have tons of charisma, but thanks though. </div>
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Final rating of this month's bag? C+</div>
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I love the eyeliner and the primer but everything else was a wash. </div>
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What did you get? How did you feel about this month's bag?</div>
Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-88385606130666120182016-07-30T21:03:00.000-04:002017-01-02T21:31:31.256-05:00MommyCon DC 2016<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8zYFAbO8IU/WGsHdY_3ROI/AAAAAAAAAwI/Ag_PQ9gIbwgjxu00_7jw1D8tfm2L_zJywCPcB/s1600/IMG_20160723_084319335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8zYFAbO8IU/WGsHdY_3ROI/AAAAAAAAAwI/Ag_PQ9gIbwgjxu00_7jw1D8tfm2L_zJywCPcB/s400/IMG_20160723_084319335.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sign!!</td></tr>
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I'm a week out from MommyCon DC and I have to say, the feeling of community - the buzz, the fun, the energy - is lingering. I had such a great time.<br />
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I spoke about ways to be sustainable and how to start your own suburban homestead. I was one of the first speakers of the day but that was fine, gave me a smaller crowd to get my feet wet with that level of speaking and gave me the rest of the day to hear speakers and enjoy the exhibit hall (which I did, immensely!). I'm planning an upcoming blog post covering what I discussed so more about that.<br />
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After my talk, I enjoyed a talk entitled Queering the Birth Space that dealt with being purposefully inclusive in birth work. It isn't enough to being open to LGBTQIA+ and other nontraditional families. Value is in actively seeking them out and ensuring that they know that the services are there for them in both our actions and in our words and in our education. While I no longer work as a birth worker, I do hold great value in their work and in inclusivity. I really enjoyed what she had to say.<br />
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Unfortunately, I wasn't able to sit in on anything else! I was privileged to be able to assist in the facilitation of a conversation on raising racially conscious children that was a late addition to the schedule. When the email went out announcing that this was happening, I (and damn near everyone else that got the email) was shocked to see that both of the facilitators were white presenting women. I decided to contact MommyCon and ask if I could help. It was wholly inappropriate to have that conversation without a black voice in the lead. I found out that while they had tried to find someone, all the women of color that they'd asked had declined. The facilitators that they did have were from the University of Maryland and did this as professionals. MommyCon was thrilled to have me volunteer and agreed that it was needed. I was very happy with how the conversation went. While I'm not a professional anything by any means I really enjoyed talking and sharing my views and my only complaint was that we needed more time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNJKUSYrZHg/WGsHdYKwTbI/AAAAAAAAAwE/eEm8R4EMq-oClVj-GNP1DJuiAfyvykc-QCPcB/s1600/IMG_20160723_144708981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNJKUSYrZHg/WGsHdYKwTbI/AAAAAAAAAwE/eEm8R4EMq-oClVj-GNP1DJuiAfyvykc-QCPcB/s400/IMG_20160723_144708981.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also bought a bumper sticker with placentas on it because of course I did.</td></tr>
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The exhibitor space was amazing. So many vendors and information tables and SWAG. Yall, I bought $25 worth of butter. There were people there with this AMAZING ghee and I had to have it. Browned ghee on bread almost tastes caramelized. It was so good.<br />
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This was my second MommyCon and I loved speaking. While I do wish there were more brown faces there I enjoy the feeling of community. Here's to next year!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fNOguvQ_tU8/WGsHY9x2olI/AAAAAAAAAwE/K7XmTwZS634hcRIL5UDj-tXIJI7bLrmKQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20160723_144832340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fNOguvQ_tU8/WGsHY9x2olI/AAAAAAAAAwE/K7XmTwZS634hcRIL5UDj-tXIJI7bLrmKQCPcB/s400/IMG_20160723_144832340.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xza. The Mama behind it all. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UGZy6AqxwhA/WGsHcifZ4fI/AAAAAAAAAwE/j0GAZSVQnxYaKeuKDrtwgmID9fUFq1zDACPcB/s1600/IMG_20160724_075652732_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UGZy6AqxwhA/WGsHcifZ4fI/AAAAAAAAAwE/j0GAZSVQnxYaKeuKDrtwgmID9fUFq1zDACPcB/s400/IMG_20160724_075652732_HDR.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My swag</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babywearing in my MommyCon shirt</td></tr>
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<br />Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-59173924697785662692016-07-13T22:48:00.001-04:002016-07-13T22:48:35.247-04:00Suburban Herbalism - Warm infusing oils<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
Step one to making an herbal oil is to realize that the guy is coming to cut your grass OMG RIGHT NOW.<br />
Step two is to pick plantain behind the bushes and almost get runned over with a lawnmower.<br />
For herbs that are to be used topically, an oil is an excellent first step. From there you can apply the oil as is or use it as a base or ingredient in a salve or lotion. <br />
An herbal oil can be done by either a warm or cool infusion. For the majority of dried herbs a cool infusion is going to be the way to go. Roots or barks and fresh herbs typically need a warm infusion. Why warm for fresh? Because typically the water content of the fresh herb can cause the oil to go rancid in the time it takes to infuse. A warm infusion is done quickly, 8-10 hours max, and a cool will take weeks.<br />
Today I made a warm plantain oil. Plantain is a skin soothing, anti-itch herb found in almost everyone's backyard. I blogged about <a href="http://dabrownstead.blogspot.com/2016/06/backyard-herbalism-plantain.html" target="_blank"><i>here</i></a>. <br />
You'll want to use herbs as dry as possible. Knock off as much debris as you can but don't wash unless you absolutely need to. Only use unsprayed, untreated herbs and try to pick a few days out from the last rain.<br />
Technique is simple and straightforward.<br />
Chop or tear your herbs into small pieces to fit into your jar of choice, cover with oil of choice. Keep plant matter below the surface of the oil. Leave for 8-10 hours. <br />
I typically use olive oil as it is readily available, stays liquid at room temp, and I can buy a whole bunch of it at Costco organic for not a whole bunch of money. Other choices include coconut, sweet almond, avocado, or jojoba. Whichever oil you prefer is typically fine. For a heat source you can opt for the stove, a heating blanket or a crockpot. You need something that will maintain a low heat for a long time. You don't necessarily want this to get super hot as it can damage the volatile oils in the herb. Low and slow is the way to go here. </div>
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I like to use my crock pot as I can set it and go on about my life and
not have to fuss with it too much and I can do more than one oil at a
time. Place your prepared jar with herbs in oil in the crock pot and
fill with water around the jars. Leave it for 8-10 hours. I've done it for more and I've done it for less and it hasn't seemed to affect the quality of the oil too much. Leave it for 6 hours at least. When the oil is done infusing, strain through a sieve or cheesecloth. I like to use cheesecloth so that I can pour it all in there and really squeeze to get all that good oil out of the plant material before composting. Let the oil sit and settle for a little bit, then strain again through a coffee filter to get all the plant particulates out. Leaving those in there isn't going to affect the potency of the oil but it will affect it's shelf life and quality.<br />
So now you have a good infused oil that can either be used alone or as an ingredient in a salve or lotion! GO YOU!! We've all gotten eaten alive by mosquitoes the last few days and I rubbed this oil all over my babies when they got out the tub tonight to help with itching.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUrH_W9fVjYhk7XFnyGxZbNJf61eDa3m278E7GWeSEphCjBipxyE54EfV2is4pPCOVFhUq5YecfyygFbGCbvjAGn7BBk1aSIDm03g35rDWiaihsaSJlvhZpB_g0Wd6CsJw16xvZLJrvc/s1600/IMG_20160712_124908052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUrH_W9fVjYhk7XFnyGxZbNJf61eDa3m278E7GWeSEphCjBipxyE54EfV2is4pPCOVFhUq5YecfyygFbGCbvjAGn7BBk1aSIDm03g35rDWiaihsaSJlvhZpB_g0Wd6CsJw16xvZLJrvc/s320/IMG_20160712_124908052.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I maintain a collection of random small things that will fit inside jars. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">herbs, oil, jar, water, crockpot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the top wouldn't fit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">strain it and then strain it again.</td></tr>
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Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-91290629797761541382016-07-07T22:18:00.001-04:002016-07-07T22:18:35.084-04:00Groundhog, revisited<p dir="ltr"><u>That</u> damn groundhog!<br>
Do you know how much food I'd have eaten over the last few years if it wasn't for that furry butted scoundrel? Last year I had Alden in June so the garden really took back burner. The groundhog ate every single tomato the moment it started to turn even a little bit red and every bean and cucumber plant right down to the ground. Towards the end of the season I made some AMAZING green tomato salsa with what I could get out but still the whole season was a wash. <br>
This year we tore out all our old fencing and replaced it with new and better reinforced and moved our beds around so they'd all be in one place and in one fence. <br>
He's still getting in.<br>
Imagine my surprise when I read that fences are pretty much useless against groundhogs because they can dig 4 feet straight down! FOUR FEET!<br>
As soon as we find where he's getting in and block one hole he's coming in another one.<br>
The other day I visited my favorite tiny house homestead to borrow a havahart trap. It's baited with cantaloupe and waiting for him. It was initially placed where he's coming in but it seems he's found another entrance to come in since we set the trap and eaten even more!<br>
Now the question is, what so we do with it once we find it? Rehome or eat?</p>
Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-2256736074165960762016-06-28T22:00:00.005-04:002016-07-13T22:49:03.348-04:00Suburban Herbalism - PlantainWhen I was young, I remember playing on the playground with these plants with a long stem and a small oval shaped round thing at the top. We would pick the stem and tie a lose knot around the bottom of the round thing. Pull it just so and the round thing would fly off. Sound familiar? That was plantain!<br />
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Plantain is your best friend when bugs bite or your skin is itchy while you're in the yard. It's almost everywhere. There are two varieties of plantain typically found in yards - narrow leaf or broad leaf. Narrow leaf is the above described plant. At the base of the stem there are narrow leaves. The broad leaf variety has a broader leaf and the stem is lined with seed pods. I typically work more so with broad because it's what I have growing. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">broad leaf plantain, busted toe</td></tr>
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Using plantain is fairly simple. You'll use what's called a spit poultice. So lets say you're hanging out in your yard and get bit by a mosquito or stung by a bee. Just grab a leaf or a few of plantain, chew it up a bit, and slap it on your bite. Rub it in a bit and leave it on there, replacing as needed. You may cover it with a bandage to keep it in place but you want to let it breathe if possible. You can also prepare an oil. I'm making an oil this week so will post about that when I'm done so I'll have pictures to share!<br />
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A spit poultice is an effective, quick way to take the itch or sting out of an insect bite while on the go and a easy to recognize and use introduction to backyard herbalism. Plantain is everywhere, look for her while you're out and about and say hello!<br />
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Herb: Plantain</div>
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Use: Skin irritations, insect bites, stings </div>
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Preferred Vehicle: spit poultice, herb, salve</div>
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As plantain is used on broken skin, a tincture wouldn't be ideal as it would involve alcohol on a wound. A tea or infusion would also be less ideal as it's being used to treat an acute and isolated ailment. </div>
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Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-51652670759402283102016-06-12T18:08:00.001-04:002016-06-12T18:08:41.703-04:00Fermentation Super Duper Incredibly BasicCurrently, my favorite way to preserve is by lacto-fermentation. Basically, delicious controlled rot. <div>
Fermentation is using the good bacteria to crowd out the bad and turn ordinary vegetables into super veggies! Gut healthy, probiotic rich, bioavailable vitamin heavy, immunity boosting SUPER VEGGIES.</div>
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The good bacteria we're aiming for here is largely lactobacillus which is an obligate aneorobe which means it thrives in an environment free of oxygen. To get this we submerge our veggies completely in a brine solution. </div>
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So what's in this solution? How do we do it? </div>
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Salt is a must have. We have to control the numbers of bad bacteria with salt. Depending on what vegetable we use we may need a different salt solution percentage. Find a good recipe and follow it closely. </div>
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The controversy comes in with whey v no whey. Until recently I've always used whey, following the advice of Sally Fallon in Nourishing Traditions. I'm now experimenting with fermenting using a heavier brine solution without whey on the idea that whey, while introducing good bacteria, doesn't introduce the right good bacteria and can prolong the process. I'll let you come to your own conclusions on that. It makes sense but I've used whey all along successfully. They only draw back is if you're not a cheese or yogurt maker it can be a pain to come across which is why I'm trying not using it. </div>
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So that's basics. I highly recommend Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz to learn more. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SkFKAupKPRdOB1QV9YrbB1TWKMMCHM1AgO9jAIHhKE5aRvaoxBTLqHyi3QvbWMvhyphenhyphenYHiWZtxmNJikuNVfuZg7ZjX-wPjroZYih7ytRHoQTwlRIoVYCQP5TMtSPU3Sgfu2WykxPE_G6g/s1600/20160522_124304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SkFKAupKPRdOB1QV9YrbB1TWKMMCHM1AgO9jAIHhKE5aRvaoxBTLqHyi3QvbWMvhyphenhyphenYHiWZtxmNJikuNVfuZg7ZjX-wPjroZYih7ytRHoQTwlRIoVYCQP5TMtSPU3Sgfu2WykxPE_G6g/s320/20160522_124304.jpg" width="240" /></a>My fermentation station - ginger bug, honey garlic, lactofermented garlic, sauerkraut, kombucha</div>
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Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-23152664400022369952016-05-05T19:09:00.000-04:002016-05-05T19:09:40.494-04:00A returnI'd stopped blogging.<br />I let the domain lapse.<br />"I'LL NEVER BE REE" I told myself.<br />
I'm less concerned with all that now.<br />
I've landed a few speaking engagements and figure it'll be nice to have somewhere to direct people at the end of it to learn more if they're interested.<br />
Since 2013 we've added a new Fella to the family. He's the happiest, bounciest little 10 month old ever that is happily screaming at a purple ball at the moment. Little is bigger, 3.5. Big is biggest, 13. We've lost chickens and gained chickens and lost chickens and now, just this week, gained chickens again. We now have a 5 hen mixed flock that are around 10 weeks old.<br />
I've gone back to work 2 days a week and while I hate being away from the kids I love my job and coworkers and the awesome doctors I work for.<br />
So that's about it. I'll blog about my speaking engagements a bit more later.<br />
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<br />Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-32410222533593771472013-07-12T11:18:00.002-04:002013-07-12T11:20:14.540-04:00Community Supported Agriculture - CSA Box Week 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To keep is in yummy fruits and veggies this summer, I'm doing a CSA workshare weekly. In exchange for manning their Friday evening pickup, I get a full CSA share full of beautiful organic yumminess. This CSA in particular is awesome because they have a "Market Style" option which means I can pick and choose what I want to go into my box. If I'm gone for a week or don't need as much that week I won't lose my food. It also goes until December! So exciting. The farm is located in a national park and is a nonprofit and operated by awesome people that I'm happy to spend time with. They offer internships to educate new farmers and an market and farm tours on Saturdays. It's a great place that I'm happy to be affiliated with. An added bonus for me (as a SAHM) is this is 4 hours a week where I don't have a baby attached to me - although I miss my girls like crazy and can't wait to get home!</div>
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What is a CSA? Community Supported Agriculture means that you are buying into the farm. You pay a set amount for the season or year to help the farm with their costs and in exchange you get a box of their bounty every week. Depending on the season, weather and conditions you may get more or less. You may get a whole lot of one thing and not a lot of something else. What you definitely get is the feeling of giving back to your community and supporting small farms. </div>
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<i><b>So what did I get my first week??</b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhII7f4GeGYh7gZUNk3FNk8kdcH4I7rx8-SE8sTi1mR8HHDz-95wYeeL_CzxCl_zqcb32Q-ZRGTPRYYxaj4d4hzcIFwokb4jXflf0c2sotj2DoPx-omB1gTlm94BMHp3T2hQT52zamEY/s1600/CSA+Box+week+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhII7f4GeGYh7gZUNk3FNk8kdcH4I7rx8-SE8sTi1mR8HHDz-95wYeeL_CzxCl_zqcb32Q-ZRGTPRYYxaj4d4hzcIFwokb4jXflf0c2sotj2DoPx-omB1gTlm94BMHp3T2hQT52zamEY/s400/CSA+Box+week+1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Zucchini, squash (crookneck and pattypan) turnips, kale, rainbow chard, beets, eggplant, heirloom tomatoes.</div>
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Not pictured are the little grape tomatoes that I ate before I even left the farm. They were SO good. Sweet and still warm from the field. </div>
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What did I do with my bounty? The squash and zucchini were eaten with garlic scapes, shrimp and a butter sauce in orzo pasta. Amazing and possibly my new favorite dish.</div>
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Beets and Turnips were roasted and eaten as a side dish. My first time eating them and were so good. I will definitely make again! </div>
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Rainbow chard will be added to a chickpea stew this evening and will also be tossed in some scrambled eggs in a few minutes.</div>
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Kale was made into chips. Unfortunately I still haven't quite gotten that down yet :(</div>
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Eggplant was coated and fried and eaten as an improvised eggplant parmesean. I didn't have any parm so Big and I had eggplant mozzarella. It was delicious.</div>
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The bigger zucchini and crookneck squash are going to be shredded and made into pancakes that are going to be eaten with some shredded chicken on Saturday.</div>
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Next pickup is tonight, I'm so excited to see what we get!</div>
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Do you have a CSA? Any good ideas for recipes? I'm new to having this much yummy veggies to use in a week!</div>
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For more information, check out <a href="http://accokeekfoundation.org/tag/ecosystem-farm/" target="_blank">The Ecosystem Farm</a>.</div>
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<br />Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-22004597248055270592013-07-11T14:18:00.000-04:002013-07-11T14:18:14.521-04:00Peanutty ChickenThis isn't anything authentic. It's not Thai Chicken, it's not African Peanut Stew, it's somewhere in between and full of delicious. This is how I cook. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, look up a bunch of recipes online and figure it out based on what tastes good to us. This peanut chicken is a great example of that. Chicken is shredded into a spicy peanut and allspice sauce and served over rice. It is SO good. <br />
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Ingredients:<br />
4 chicken thighs<br />
1 good size yellow onion, chopped<br />
3-4 cloves garlic<br />
1/4 peanut butter<br />
3T soy sauce or tamari (gmo free!) <br />
chicken stock or bone broth (I really don't know how much. Enough to thin out the sauce enough to your liking and taste) <br />
2T all spice powder, divided<br />
2 t. red pepper flakes<br />
1 t. cinnamon<br />
1/2 c. flour<br />
salt and pepper<br />
butter, coconut oil or some other fat to cook it in<br />
2 cups cooked rice.<br />
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1. Dredge the chicken thighs in flour, 1T of allspice, salt and pepper. Brown in fat (don't cook through). Set aside.<br />
2. Add more fat as necessary, add onion, cook until beginning to brown.<br />
Meanwhile, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, 1T allspice, red pepper flakes, cinnamon. If it seems too think, add bone broth until it's thin enough for you, tasting as you go. If you're using conventional chicken stock it may get a little salty.<br />
As onions begin to brown, add garlic, stirring until you can smell it (don't let the garlic burn!), then add sauce.<br />
3. Add chicken back in and put the top on. Let simmer until chicken is cooked through. Check in the sauce periodically. Depending on the size of your thighs you may need more sauce. Sometimes I have to double the recipe, sometimes it's enough. It really depends on the size of your thighs. Did your chicken have a donkey or was she more svelte?<br />
4. Once thighs are done, remove and shred. Add back into sauce.<br />
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Serve over rice, with something green on the side. We had it with some broccoli tossed in butter and salt with naan on the side. It was delish!<br />
Hope you like it!<br />
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<br />Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-61693259450124934372013-07-04T10:00:00.000-04:002013-07-04T10:00:06.538-04:002013 Summer Bucket List<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big and I a thousand years ago</td></tr>
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Summa Summa Summa tiiiiime.<br />
Summer seems to simultaniously drag on and fly by, doesn't it?<br />
Days seem hotter and slower and then you look up and it's October! I can't believe it's Independence Day already. This year, Big and I made a bucket list. A bunch of awesome fun stuff that we want to do as much as possible this summer, my first as a SAHM. She has some summer camps and fun trips planned but I also want free time to go where the day leads and find fun stuff for she and I to do together. She'll only have one summer as a ten year old and Little is still small enough that she can't get into TOO much trouble if we're out and about. So, without further ado, here is our bucket list.<br />
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~Cosca Park- A great large park and playground with shaded areas for picnicking, a big pond with paddle boats, a skate park and a nature center. We've already gone once. <br />
~Great Waves - As it sounds, a water park. It's close and fairly reasonably priced.<br />
~Cove Point -Another water park. Further away but cheaper. <br />
~Library - Ideally we'd like to go once or twice a week. We recently went a little crazy in a used book store so haven't had a reason to!<br />
~Colonial Farm - I've been meaning to check this place out for years, this summer it will get done! It's close, it's free and it's educational. Win Win Win<br />
~Go to the Pool - What would summer vacation be like without frequent trips to the pool? This one apparently. It's been raining so much we haven't gone!<br />
~Visit the monuments and museums - We live about 20 minutes from DC. We need to take advantage of it more!<br />
~Visit Polyface Farm - If nothing else gets done, this will get done. Polyface is Joel Salatin's farm and it's about 2 hours from here. They have an open door policy - you can go down and look at everything, anytime.<br />
~Visit friends - Luckily, we live in a neighborhood with lots of awesome kids for Big to play with. <br />
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That's our list. Big wrote it up on pretty paper and it's on the refrigerator for quick reference. What do you have planned for the summer? Have you made a bucket list?<br />
<br />Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-13518968533861457502013-07-03T10:00:00.000-04:002013-07-03T10:00:08.097-04:005 things I've learned about chickens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My ladies have been home for a little over a month now and it has been fun! I've learned a lot from them- about chickens themselves and about MY chickens. I've never been much of a pet person. I mean, I have three cats that are my little furry babies but let's face it, cats aren't too needy and they're more roommates than pets. So here it is. My top 5 things I've learned as a new chicken mama.<br />
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1. <u><b>Chickens are FUNNY</b></u>! Seriously. I've heard people talk about "Chicken TV" and it's true. The way they interact with one another, the way they do their little T-Rex run over when they think you have treats, the way they fuss at you if you get too close...they're hilarious. Some days I want to sit out there and watch them all day. Other days, not so much. On that note...<br />
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2.<u><b>Chickens are pretty independent</b></u>. Yes, for most flocks, you need to feed and water them daily. My chickens have a pretty nice sized run with lots of yummy bugs and some greens growing. If I want to leave them alone in there I can and they'll be fine if I don't refill their food immediately or change their water every.single.day. I'd never let it go much further than that but they don't require too much babysitting. By the way they run over when I come near one might think differently but really, they're just nosy.<br />
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3. <u><b>Chickens form attachments and relationships</b></u>. Word has it that chickens are dumb. I've heard that (and said it) and I'm sure you have too. I'm finding the opposite is true. They know me and the kids. They know who brings treats. They know when I come down and they're free ranging in the back that it's time to mosey into the run. They make friends with one another too. I have two inseparable Buff Orpingtons and two inseparable Easter Eggers. They're besties. If one looks up and the other is too far, they'll yell, "Hey, wait up!" and T-Rex run over there. When I first got them, all four were noisy as hell. After talking to the woman I got them from I found that their rooster was too. They were calling for each other. They missed their man and were trying to tell him where they were! I felt so bad for them but they got over it. Now they're only loud when they want to be let out.<br />
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4. <u><b>Chickens get up EARLY</b></u>. Yeah, I know. "Up with the chickens". I didn't realize this meant 6 am, every morning. Sometimes 6:20 but always the number 6 first. They want OUT. I lock them in the coop at night to keep them safe but the moment they see the sun they want to get to hunting and pecking. Now that I'm missing a bedroom window this is especially difficult to ignore, so up I get to let them out and then immediately back to bed. Nothing worthwhile happens at 6am.<br />
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<u><b>6. Chickens look like dinosaurs. </b></u>Maybe this is a me thing, but they look like dinosaurs. It simultaneously freaks me out and fascinates me. I could so imagine these things as ginormous flesh eating beasts, stomping across the wilderness and fighting and stuff. Especially when they are tearing up some poor defenseless (yummy) worm or fighting over a chunk of pancake. Chickens love pancakes. The way they run reminds me of a T-Rex chasing down a torch wielding Jeff Goldblum. What's up evolution??<br />
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There are a few other things I've learned, like that having them eat out of your hand isn't the best idea (owch!) and that putting the compost in the run doesn't work the way you think it would (they throw it everywhere!) but those are my Top 5.<br />
Do you keep chickens? Any advice for a novice such as myself? What has surprised you about your ladies?Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-80295768026099423372013-07-01T21:58:00.003-04:002013-07-01T21:59:15.960-04:00Menu Plan Week of July 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Summertime, and the livin is easy!</div>
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I love this time of year. Life is slower, days are longer, food is better.</div>
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There always seems to be something fun going on and it all seems to come together this week.</div>
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There is so much going on this week around Independence Day. It is possibly my second favorite holiday. </div>
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Cookouts, BBQ, fireworks. What's not to love?</div>
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One of my favorite things to do is The Capitol Fourth dress rehearsal. As anyone that lives close to DC knows, you don't go downtown on the Fourth. It's crazy town. There's people everywhere, it's expensive, it's hot. You just don't want to be there. What you might not know is that they do a dress rehearsal the day before that's open to the public. The whole show. It's awesome. We've seen Stevie Wonder up close and personal, for free. Last year it was Earth, Wind and Fire and Josh Turner. This year it's Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond. Not exactly my cuppa but a good time none the less. We take a picnic dinner, sit on the mall and enjoy ourselves. </div>
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Friday marks the first CSA Day. I am doing a workshare at a local CSA. I'll man their Friday pickup and in exchange I'll get a share! More on that later. </div>
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Saturday we're hosting a Bring Your Own Chainsaw party to clean up the mess in the backyard. We're providing beer and pizza in exchange for cheap, friendly labor. </div>
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As always, this weeks plan is messed up. It got messed up before it was even posted! Today was supposed to be meatloaf but I had to take Mr. Brown to get some medical attention for some wicked poison ivy (he has a Popeye arm!) so it didn't get made. Now I have thawed hamburger and thawed chicken - which gets made??</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Monday - Supposed to be Meatloaf, corn on the cob, buttered noodles</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Tuesday - Peanut Chicken, broccoli, rice</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Wednesday - Picnic Dinner - tuna salad, egg salad, sourdough bread, cucumber salad</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Thursday - Fourth of July! We'll be cookout hopping all day, I shouldn't have to cook</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Friday - Pinto Beans in the Crockpot</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Saturday - BYOC</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday - Leftovers from Fri and Sat. </span></b></div>
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So why? Why do I still menu plan when we have this much going on? Because we have this much going on! It helps a lot to know where we have to be when and how it affects what we're eating. The best part is, we usually have most of this stuff on hand. Which means that on crazy weeks like this one I can plan easy peasy menus from stuff on hand so I don't have to squeeze in a big shopping trip. </div>
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What do you have planned for the Fourth? Have a great week!</div>
Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-15030167264527570722013-06-26T11:57:00.000-04:002013-06-26T11:57:02.584-04:00Damage!<div style="text-align: center;">
Remember how I said nature was attacking?</div>
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Shit just got real.</div>
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A storm blew through last night and took out our fence, a portion of our deck and came through the window where I was laying with Little. </div>
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I probably don't need to say it but it was effing terrifying. </div>
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We're in the process of figuring out our next step, unfortunately it's not pretty.</div>
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As you can see in the bottom picture, one particularly spiteful branch fell to the side and knocked out my beautiful plants. I think the cucumber plant is going to make it, I don't know about the others. </div>
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As the tree was on town property, we called them to let them know and see what they would do. Unfortunately, they came by unannounced and saw our illegal chickens.They didn't say anything so we're just waiting to see what happens.<br />
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I'm the type of person that finds humor and joy in everything. Otherwise, I'd rip my hair out and scream at people and my head would explode and that wouldn't be fun for anyone.<br />
It's kind of hard to do right now.</div>
Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-50478745874104422872013-06-23T22:35:00.001-04:002013-06-23T22:39:36.362-04:00Murray Must Die<div style="text-align: center;">
I thought Murray and I could peacefully coexist.</div>
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I was wrong.</div>
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Every last stinking bean plant has been decimated by that damn groundhog. </div>
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Every. Single. One.</div>
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I also have squirrels that have worked their way into my screened in porch to go after the chicken feed. We reinforced the open areas of the screen and they found their way around it. </div>
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Nature is attacking yall. </div>
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This is some bull crap. </div>
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To keep Murray out, I plan to run out this week and get some more chicken wire fencing to line the bottom of the fence where the little fart is sneaking in. Thus far he has only gone for my bean plants but I don't want him moving on to the next thing!</div>
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If that doesn't work, well, anyone know any good groundhog recipes?</div>
Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-45321689983518212992013-06-17T23:53:00.001-04:002017-04-21T15:30:11.058-04:00Something's Been Eating Me...<div style="text-align: center;">
Or really, something's been eating my garden!</div>
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I've been blaming the chickens. I let them out of their run in the evenings to free range in the back yard and figured they saw something tasty in there and went for it. My romaine plant is but a stalk and my bean plants have been nibbled down to the stems. Luckily, those are the only two things that it's been going for. I was able to deduce through incredible detective work and sleuthery (you know, like being a sleuth) that is was NOT the chickens that was in my garden. </div>
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There was a bag of sunflower seeds that I'd left out and when I came back something had torn it open - but the chickens hadn't been out! So I'm brainstorming ways to catch whatever it is, or shield my yummy stuff from him/her and mention this to Mr. Brown. He cuts me off, "There's a groundhog". </div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Groundhog-Standing2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Groundhog-Standing2.jpg" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Groundhog-Standing2.jpg" height="212" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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He's seen this thing for months and never told me! He smokes and I do not so he spends a bit more time outside quietly than I do. When I'm outside there's usually a show tune or two along with a running dialogue between myself, Georgia, and the chickens.<br />
It seems this fella was here last summer too but we had a dog then. The dog would run the groundhog off when he got too close. The dog then ate everything in my garden. Dog's gone now! </div>
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So now the question is - how do I keep this rascal from ruining my harvest?? </div>
Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7450262931587862406.post-51214209609470974802013-06-17T00:03:00.000-04:002013-06-17T00:03:01.285-04:00Menu Plan - Week of June 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0wGlbN0a9MYTDtV2hc5RgJqedEbc2U4P-iUcC_1_nB7BnD8P5l_VqoqjuyqLl7PloV78VtOFKAEQB6uNSJrzvvC68uHGByytF8Lg7geNaKwNI_Uazl1eAJFGr7HqaFKDaBP3tz7K_-k/s1600/menuplan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0wGlbN0a9MYTDtV2hc5RgJqedEbc2U4P-iUcC_1_nB7BnD8P5l_VqoqjuyqLl7PloV78VtOFKAEQB6uNSJrzvvC68uHGByytF8Lg7geNaKwNI_Uazl1eAJFGr7HqaFKDaBP3tz7K_-k/s320/menuplan.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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Just when you think you know what you're doing, everything gets thrown off, right?</div>
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This weeks menu is totally different than what I've been doing.</div>
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No big meat meal to last all week. No International Tuesday.</div>
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But we roll with the punches around here, right?</div>
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This weekend didn't go as planned - we wound up going to a cookout Saturday and ate lots of crabs (yum!) and went to another cookout today for Father's Day so neither of those meals were done, they'll be thrown in here this week.</div>
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Monday - Fish Sticks, French Fries, Slaw</div>
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Tuesday - Girl Scout Pool Party!</div>
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Wednesday - Falafel Salad</div>
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Thursday - Burgers, fries, beans</div>
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Friday - Pizza (any suggestions for toppings?)</div>
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Saturday - Orzo Pasta Salad with Shrimp, Spinach and Tomatoes</div>
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Sunday- Roast Chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits</div>
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I'm working on a document to keep on the refrigerator for Big to stop the inevitable</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I'm hungry and there isn't anything to eat!"</span></div>
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Quick stuff that she can make herself or are already made and waiting in the fridge. Any suggestions for a pretty open minded, constantly starving, active 10 year old?</div>
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Have a great week!</div>
Farmer Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08413181487483599928noreply@blogger.com0