My new perennial plants are all arriving at the same time. In the past few days I’ve received hops, currants, quince, bamboo, 6 new blueberry bushes, mushroom spawn, 3 plum trees and 25 strawberry plants. A pecan and a butternut are due any day now as are my potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions. I think my enthusiasm might have gotten the better of me as I ordered all of this without preparing homes for them. I could find spots for everything but the strawberries. I think I am going to have to make a whole new bed.
Bruce and I have a day ahead of us without any obligations until late in the afternoon so we are heading for the hills. We’re searching for a butternut tree that we remember being on a hill behind the homestead we used to live on. I’m bringing my gloves, a knife, a plant identification book and a collection sack with me as you never know what you will find. The first of the nettles are up already and will be ready to harvest in a couple of days. Nettles are excellent in both flavor and nutrition and dry in a couple of hours. I use them to make soup and tea and I add them to stock.
I am rereading Sharon Astyk’s book, Independence Days. If you want to give a book to friend or relative who is not on board with preparedness, this is the one. She’s a wonderful writer and this book is particularly accessible.
A friend from our sustainability group suffered a puncture wound while out in the woods a few days ago. His wife realized that she was really not prepared for a medical emergency and that has gotten us all interested in finding a speaker who will do a training on putting together a medical kit. We have a CPR class scheduled but we really need advanced first aid. I think my task for today, after butternuts, is to call the Red Cross and see what’s available. Our local fire department may be able to offer something too.
On a sad note-Last night we ate the first meal in months that came from a store rather than our pantry. I had picked up wild caught salmon, peas and frozen french fries. I had coupons for the fries, the peas were organic and the salmon was on a buy one get one free sale. It was just awful. The kids likes the fries but I could hardly stand them. I overcooked the salmon and the peas were mealy. I am literally scraping the bottom of the barrel for my meals. Another task for today is to make up some menus from the little I have left in my pantry.
April 14, 2010 at 8:41 am
my new plants haven’t gotten here yet! I hope they come soon because I will have help to plant them.
We have a small mature grove of black walnut trees in the back corner of our lot according to hubby. I’ll have to hike out to see them later this season.
Have fun on your gathering adventure!
April 14, 2010 at 9:54 am
I ear you about the store bough meal! I am waiting for this year meat order of organic beef and porc and we are scraping all that is left from last year. Something finding receipe to use the odd end are not easy! Soon we will be gathering the stock for the coming year, sun will be shining and food everywhere!
April 14, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Isn’t it amazing how tasteless things from the shops are when you get used to eating from your own garden??
April 14, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I too think I have bitten off more than I can chew. We are putting in 4 new raspberry beds, a strawberry bed, an asparagus bed and a bed of blueberry bushes. I also have rhubarb to plant and horseradish to find a place for (that one I will place in a large bucket first before I put it in the ground). Then there is the new herb garden to plant and I haven’t even mentioned the vegetable garden that needs to be planted, and I am raising all of those (vegs) from seed. I wonder why it is we do these things to our selves? Tho I know come harvest time I will be one happy woman. (Course then I will be too busy preserving it all).
April 26, 2010 at 7:43 pm
A couple weeks ago I finished reading both your book and Sharon’s book A Nation of Farmers. I have completely changed our family of 5′s life in the past month or so. We have quickly moved to almost exclusively local fare. We strive to get better at it each week. I have started a very modest garden and bought a csa. We have plans to have chickens either in the fall or spring due to some immenant substantial outside construction. So here’s my question … We have a very tiny yard with really poor sun. We cannot afford to move with the devaluation our property has taken. How do we become more self sufficient? I refuse to believe it is impossible! Our “lot” is about a tenth of an acre.