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Tag: Garden Favourites

Calendula Salve
September 19, 2006

Calendula Salve

I made a batch of calendula salve recently with some of the flowers from my garden. It’s a wonderful thing to have around the house – helps to heal cuts, sun and windburn, eczema, fungal infections, and many other types of owies. The flowers look …

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Garden Goodness, Preserving, Recipes
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Summer Lunchin’
July 20, 2006

Summer Lunchin’

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Around the House, Garden Goodness, Uncategorized
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Hello! Cheryl here – gardener and head of recipe development on a one acre homestead on Canada’s west coast. I’m passionate about growing, cooking, and eating plants.

My family has been farming and homesteading for generations, but over the years, we have been challenging the idea of what that looks like. Using no-dig, veganic permaculture practices, we work at growing as much of what we eat in as sustainable a way as possible.

Our small flock of rescue chickens and ducks serve dual purpose as both companion animals and green waste composters.

When not in the garden, I’m in the kitchen, tweaking old family favourites and devising delicious new ways to eat what we grow.

Posts dated before 2017 are from my old blog, Free Range Living. You can find all of the original content in the archives.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Tips for Easing the Transition to a Plant-Based/Vegan Diet
11 Ways to Ease the Transition to Plant-Based

Looking for Free Range Living?

You’re in the right place – all posts are archived here. If you’re having trouble with your link, try the search bar – or shoot me a message! (cheryl@eatwhatyousow.ca)

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July 🌼🐝 #farmstead #cottagecore #garden2024 July 🌼🐝

#farmstead #cottagecore #garden2024
Nine of 81 potato hills dug, 10 pounds total. Plan Nine of 81 potato hills dug, 10 pounds total. Planted on April 22, these are Yukon Gold and were the first of the potato plants to start dying back. 

I will be filling the space they vacated with fall cabbages and kohlrabi. I love the transition from summer to winter crops.🌱💚

#growfood #plantagarden #potatoes
We go through a lot of cabbage in our house - like We go through a lot of cabbage in our house - likely a head a week, plus whatever sauerkraut and kimchi we eat. This means we also grow a lot of cabbage. 

This morning I harvested 12 summer cabbages, leaving another dozen large varieties (kalibos, filderkraut) out there that will be ready in a month or two.

In their place and elsewhere, I popped another 30 quick growing cabbage starts in the ground for fall and winter harvests.

Any that aren't turned into kraut are popped into heavy duty plastic bags and kept in our basement fridge, where they should last until spring. (These ones won't make it that long, but they should see us through until the fall harvest.)

#growwhatyoueat #eatwhatyousow #eatwhatyougrow
Instagram post 17913547598967037 Instagram post 17913547598967037
After years of limited tomato growing success, I t After years of limited tomato growing success, I think I've finally landed on the system that works best for us. If you're looking for ideas, here's a rather long-winded explanation of what we do.

I no longer grow our plants in the greenhouse, as our summers have been so hot in recent years that the pollen would often not be viable (due to the heat) during extended warm spells, which significantly lowered our overall yield. We also get little to no rain over the summer and into fall these days, which makes plants less prone to blight than in previous years, making outdoor growing more viable in our typically wet coastal area.

We started using a trellising system inspired by @josh.sattin (second slide), which was a bit of an investment up front (T posts, aluminum conduit, and PVC T joints), but it was still much less expensive than something like cattle panels (which go for upwards of $70 here), and it has the added benefit of packing down and taking up much less space in storage (though ours stay up as we've grown our tomatoes in the same place for the past few years, which is along the north, east, and west sides of our garden fence).

Rather than training my plants to one stem as is often recommended, I allow two to develop, which doesn't take up much more growing space, but provides roughly twice the yield.

At planting, I tie biodegradable twine very loosely around the base of the plants to allow for stem growth (third slide), and then tie that to the conduit above, leaving a little bit of slack, but not too much. I wrap the main stem around the string, being careful not to flatten any flower trusses. 

When the plant is large enough, I cut back all lower growth, choosing a sturdy branch about 8-12" from the ground (which will have developed from an overgrown sucker) to train as my second stem, removing any other branches and suckers higher up. Some varieties produce a lot, which can be hard to sacrifice, but some don't seem to produce any at all. It's worth being ruthless and removing all but your two main branches, as this will keep things tidy and improve airflow.

(Continued in first comment - I told you it was long winded.)
This week marks a year since this little fluffball This week marks a year since this little fluffball joined our ranks. Rejected by his mother after he hatched on a neighbour's farm, our ever-broody Kiwi was more than happy to take him under her wing. We named him Luna after the orca calf who was separated from his mother and lived on his own off the BC coast many years ago.

Truffle was an excellent role model (though Luna is not yet the mature gentleman that Truffle is), and our loner hen Poppy gladly stepped in and helped Kiwi with the mothering duties.

Roos being what they are, we essentially have two separate flocks now. It takes a bit of juggling, but they share the coop at night and stay out of each other's way during the day, so we're hopeful that Luna will become more willing to share as he gets older.🐓🐓
Meet Leia! We are a house full of Star Wars nerds, Meet Leia! We are a house full of Star Wars nerds, and she came with the name, so that was exactly the push we needed to bring another dog into our family. 

Our last pup, Princess (who also came with the name), passed away on May the 4th (Star Wars day) 2020, so when Leia was posted to the @endless._.pawsabilities page last year, it seemed like a sign. We weren't sure that our hearts had healed enough to adopt another dog, but when she went weeks without being adopted, we caved, went to meet her, and the rest is history.

Leia is a sweet girl with a huge heart, who loves everyone she meets (though she can be nervous at first). She's gentle and attentive with her feline and feathered siblings and fits right in with our crazy crew. 🐾

#princessleia #rescueismyfavouritebreed #adoptdontshop #rescuedogs
I first tasted elderflower cordial while visiting I first tasted elderflower cordial while visiting my husband's cousin in England almost 30 years ago, and I've been obsessed with that flavour ever since. This year our black elder trees produced enough flower heads that I was finally able to make a batch of my own, and it's just as bright and summery as I remember. I now have seven jars of amber colored cordial tucked away for a bit of winter cheer.✨
.
#elderflowercordial #foraging #preserving #happymemories
June 15 - Our first major harvest of 2024! Napoli June 15 - Our first major harvest of 2024! Napoli carrots sown in an unheated greenhouse in late January. I sprinkled, raked, watered, and walked away. They were never thinned, and even those with their shoulders touching grew to a decent size (second slide).
.
This always feels like such a bonus crop for next to no effort, when the greenhouse would be otherwise unused except for a few hardy greens (could be done in a low tunnel as well). 
.
These were pulled a few days ago to make room for the eggplant, melons, and cukes. Twenty one pounds of crunchy goodness in the fridge!🥕🥕🥕
.
.
#gardenersofinstagram#carrots #rootcrops #carrotharvest #garden2024 #gardenjournal #smallholding #greenthumb #growfood #greenhouse #hungrygap
I almost gave up on growing sweet potatoes last ye I almost gave up on growing sweet potatoes last year, and I'm so glad I gave them one last shot. They're tons tastier than store bought, and have stored all winter with no problems.

Today I buried three nice ones in soil and set them on a heat mat next to the pepper seedlings. They'll grow roots, and then shoots, which I'll cut off and root in water before potting up.

I think they've earned extra space in this year's garden!🍠

#sweetpotatoslips #sweetpotatoes #growyourfood #homegrown #growersofig #greenthumb
We've just welcomed March, but I'm thoroughly enjo We've just welcomed March, but I'm thoroughly enjoying our last (??) taste of winter before spring (and the work of the growing season) kicks off with a vengeance. Days like this make me grateful for our snug little wood stove and the rituals that go along with it.🔥🪵⛏️🍵

#woodstove #woodshed #woodsplitting #kabintool #chopwoodcarrywater #wintervibes #homesteadlife #homesteading #wintermagic
Our birds don't usually like the snow, but when on Our birds don't usually like the snow, but when one of the new girls shows them up by trudging around the entire property looking for the perfect egg laying spot, there's only one thing they can do.❄️🐓
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Harrowsmith "Things We Love" feature, Spring 2018 - Eat What You Sow
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July 🌼🐝 #farmstead #cottagecore #garden2024 July 🌼🐝

#farmstead #cottagecore #garden2024
Nine of 81 potato hills dug, 10 pounds total. Plan Nine of 81 potato hills dug, 10 pounds total. Planted on April 22, these are Yukon Gold and were the first of the potato plants to start dying back. 

I will be filling the space they vacated with fall cabbages and kohlrabi. I love the transition from summer to winter crops.🌱💚

#growfood #plantagarden #potatoes
We go through a lot of cabbage in our house - like We go through a lot of cabbage in our house - likely a head a week, plus whatever sauerkraut and kimchi we eat. This means we also grow a lot of cabbage. 

This morning I harvested 12 summer cabbages, leaving another dozen large varieties (kalibos, filderkraut) out there that will be ready in a month or two.

In their place and elsewhere, I popped another 30 quick growing cabbage starts in the ground for fall and winter harvests.

Any that aren't turned into kraut are popped into heavy duty plastic bags and kept in our basement fridge, where they should last until spring. (These ones won't make it that long, but they should see us through until the fall harvest.)

#growwhatyoueat #eatwhatyousow #eatwhatyougrow
Instagram post 17913547598967037 Instagram post 17913547598967037
After years of limited tomato growing success, I t After years of limited tomato growing success, I think I've finally landed on the system that works best for us. If you're looking for ideas, here's a rather long-winded explanation of what we do.

I no longer grow our plants in the greenhouse, as our summers have been so hot in recent years that the pollen would often not be viable (due to the heat) during extended warm spells, which significantly lowered our overall yield. We also get little to no rain over the summer and into fall these days, which makes plants less prone to blight than in previous years, making outdoor growing more viable in our typically wet coastal area.

We started using a trellising system inspired by @josh.sattin (second slide), which was a bit of an investment up front (T posts, aluminum conduit, and PVC T joints), but it was still much less expensive than something like cattle panels (which go for upwards of $70 here), and it has the added benefit of packing down and taking up much less space in storage (though ours stay up as we've grown our tomatoes in the same place for the past few years, which is along the north, east, and west sides of our garden fence).

Rather than training my plants to one stem as is often recommended, I allow two to develop, which doesn't take up much more growing space, but provides roughly twice the yield.

At planting, I tie biodegradable twine very loosely around the base of the plants to allow for stem growth (third slide), and then tie that to the conduit above, leaving a little bit of slack, but not too much. I wrap the main stem around the string, being careful not to flatten any flower trusses. 

When the plant is large enough, I cut back all lower growth, choosing a sturdy branch about 8-12" from the ground (which will have developed from an overgrown sucker) to train as my second stem, removing any other branches and suckers higher up. Some varieties produce a lot, which can be hard to sacrifice, but some don't seem to produce any at all. It's worth being ruthless and removing all but your two main branches, as this will keep things tidy and improve airflow.

(Continued in first comment - I told you it was long winded.)
This week marks a year since this little fluffball This week marks a year since this little fluffball joined our ranks. Rejected by his mother after he hatched on a neighbour's farm, our ever-broody Kiwi was more than happy to take him under her wing. We named him Luna after the orca calf who was separated from his mother and lived on his own off the BC coast many years ago.

Truffle was an excellent role model (though Luna is not yet the mature gentleman that Truffle is), and our loner hen Poppy gladly stepped in and helped Kiwi with the mothering duties.

Roos being what they are, we essentially have two separate flocks now. It takes a bit of juggling, but they share the coop at night and stay out of each other's way during the day, so we're hopeful that Luna will become more willing to share as he gets older.🐓🐓
Meet Leia! We are a house full of Star Wars nerds, Meet Leia! We are a house full of Star Wars nerds, and she came with the name, so that was exactly the push we needed to bring another dog into our family. 

Our last pup, Princess (who also came with the name), passed away on May the 4th (Star Wars day) 2020, so when Leia was posted to the @endless._.pawsabilities page last year, it seemed like a sign. We weren't sure that our hearts had healed enough to adopt another dog, but when she went weeks without being adopted, we caved, went to meet her, and the rest is history.

Leia is a sweet girl with a huge heart, who loves everyone she meets (though she can be nervous at first). She's gentle and attentive with her feline and feathered siblings and fits right in with our crazy crew. 🐾

#princessleia #rescueismyfavouritebreed #adoptdontshop #rescuedogs
I first tasted elderflower cordial while visiting I first tasted elderflower cordial while visiting my husband's cousin in England almost 30 years ago, and I've been obsessed with that flavour ever since. This year our black elder trees produced enough flower heads that I was finally able to make a batch of my own, and it's just as bright and summery as I remember. I now have seven jars of amber colored cordial tucked away for a bit of winter cheer.✨
.
#elderflowercordial #foraging #preserving #happymemories
June 15 - Our first major harvest of 2024! Napoli June 15 - Our first major harvest of 2024! Napoli carrots sown in an unheated greenhouse in late January. I sprinkled, raked, watered, and walked away. They were never thinned, and even those with their shoulders touching grew to a decent size (second slide).
.
This always feels like such a bonus crop for next to no effort, when the greenhouse would be otherwise unused except for a few hardy greens (could be done in a low tunnel as well). 
.
These were pulled a few days ago to make room for the eggplant, melons, and cukes. Twenty one pounds of crunchy goodness in the fridge!🥕🥕🥕
.
.
#gardenersofinstagram#carrots #rootcrops #carrotharvest #garden2024 #gardenjournal #smallholding #greenthumb #growfood #greenhouse #hungrygap
I almost gave up on growing sweet potatoes last ye I almost gave up on growing sweet potatoes last year, and I'm so glad I gave them one last shot. They're tons tastier than store bought, and have stored all winter with no problems.

Today I buried three nice ones in soil and set them on a heat mat next to the pepper seedlings. They'll grow roots, and then shoots, which I'll cut off and root in water before potting up.

I think they've earned extra space in this year's garden!🍠

#sweetpotatoslips #sweetpotatoes #growyourfood #homegrown #growersofig #greenthumb
We've just welcomed March, but I'm thoroughly enjo We've just welcomed March, but I'm thoroughly enjoying our last (??) taste of winter before spring (and the work of the growing season) kicks off with a vengeance. Days like this make me grateful for our snug little wood stove and the rituals that go along with it.🔥🪵⛏️🍵

#woodstove #woodshed #woodsplitting #kabintool #chopwoodcarrywater #wintervibes #homesteadlife #homesteading #wintermagic
Our birds don't usually like the snow, but when on Our birds don't usually like the snow, but when one of the new girls shows them up by trudging around the entire property looking for the perfect egg laying spot, there's only one thing they can do.❄️🐓
Follow on Instagram

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