tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290458242024-02-29T02:12:31.230-08:00garden-dwellingsHerb farm, and outdoor learning center in North Dakota.The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-19647122249152683862017-01-22T11:31:00.000-08:002017-01-22T11:31:26.184-08:00The Right Tool For The Job<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The videos in this
blog are long, so those of you who are not dog folks, or not interested in
stock dog training, may not want to watch them, or at the very least you may
not want to watch all of them.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g4SFlJC1c2teDc12tX36SAefy0_nWJAgPHpc1uWZLATvNQmIfp1W7KJknmFRDBFpFWyN6X_5ETGuVkYmE0eilgZhnX5B4iPMPSNnFAf8wRUC6WtSmAjIJap11txPdAZ0utVH/s1600/new+millie+gaurding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6g4SFlJC1c2teDc12tX36SAefy0_nWJAgPHpc1uWZLATvNQmIfp1W7KJknmFRDBFpFWyN6X_5ETGuVkYmE0eilgZhnX5B4iPMPSNnFAf8wRUC6WtSmAjIJap11txPdAZ0utVH/s640/new+millie+gaurding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We were both feeling more than a little frustrated as I
looked at my beginning farmer son and said “that was like trying to drive a 10
penny nail with a screwdriver”.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">He
nodded in agreement.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We were both
struggling to analyze and comprehend what we had just seen.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was our first attempt at stock dog
training with our beloved Millie the Barn Dog.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To say our first attempt was a failure would be a discredit
to this wonderful animal we call ours and to our teachers, Campbell and Kaelene
Forsythe from Manitoba, Canada.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was,
however, a lesson in choosing the right tool for the job and an awakening for
me.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This first run of the day was before lunch.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">As we sat and ate our soup and sandwiches and
discussed the shortcomings of our Millie, still feeling embarrassed and
dejected as all the other dogs seemed to have no problem chasing and moving the
sheep around the little round enclosure, we discussed the thought of future
dogs on our farm and Adam’s future need for a real stock dog.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Campbell must have heard our discussion as we
passed our table and enquired if we would be interested in a ‘broke’ dog.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">My first thought was, “I already have one
that’s broken, why would I want another?” then I realized in stock dog terms,
‘broke’ means a dog already trained to work stock.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’ve trained dogs for over 30 years.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I train for obedience and rally obedience and
house manners and all sorts of useful jobs but I have never trained a stock
dog.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This is why I just had to take
advantage of this opportunity to see the best in action and learn a few things
about this wonderful working job for dogs on farms.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Little did I know that I would learn more
than I bargained for, like stock people think of their dogs as ‘stock’ just
like horses or cattle but a little higher up the evolutionary and pack order on
the farm.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have never thought of my
dogs in that way.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s not a bad
thing.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Good stock dogs are a thing of
beauty as they do what comes so naturally for them, bred into them over
hundreds of years, working in tandem with their instincts and their handlers.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A joy to watch, these animals have a job and
do it with enthusiasm and zest.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I on the
other hand have always thought of my dogs as a team member, my right hand, more
like dancing with a partner than using a tool.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In our first attempt in the pen with the sheep,</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Millie was very confused.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She kept looking to Adam, her dance partner,
for guidance and direction.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She was as
unsure of her role in this as a vegetarian at a sausage factory.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fHjwPOjFTRY" width="459"></iframe>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://youtu.be/fHjwPOjFTRY">https://youtu.be/fHjwPOjFTRY</a> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Up until this exact moment in time, Millie
has always been trained as an obedience dog, where focus on your partner
(trainer) has been the number one rule and Millie was determined to follow her
training. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3wuyk6LSo5xYo_yw-oEW_Pj3zxblCOIpVgL1rd_GnoKDeWKRJ_2oMmQiBDdZ2l3qCgd_FUGp6mwKAWhHahoxCh2fAO2Bh54b3NGbTEkrqX5LJ9IuXb_YgJgTbM0-siri5fHJ/s1600/100_3350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3wuyk6LSo5xYo_yw-oEW_Pj3zxblCOIpVgL1rd_GnoKDeWKRJ_2oMmQiBDdZ2l3qCgd_FUGp6mwKAWhHahoxCh2fAO2Bh54b3NGbTEkrqX5LJ9IuXb_YgJgTbM0-siri5fHJ/s640/100_3350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She had been taught NOT to
chase or harass the sheep, had been scolded for it, as that is how it works on
our farm.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">When Adam moves his sheep from
one area to another, he often lets the sheep roam freely for a while, munching
on every little bit of new forage they can find.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And in these peaceful moments, we have not
wanted Millie to move them anywhere; we have asked that she just let them enjoy
their few moments of freedom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Even when another dog, a true ‘broke’ stock dog was brought
in the ring to entice her to chase the sheep, she continued to stay almost in
heel position and focus on Adam as she was trained to do.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Campbell eventually decided they should try
allowing the sheep out of the round pen and into the open, hoping a little more
space and a little more action from the stock dog might assist Millie in
breaking free to chase the sheep.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">No,
go.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Adam left the ring frustrated and
Millie left confused as to what that whole exercise was about.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qeFTo3j2crI" width="459"></iframe>
<a href="https://youtu.be/qeFTo3j2crI" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/qeFTo3j2crI</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We spent the rest of the day watching other dogs work the
sheep.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Many of them were young and all
were at least half if not wholly Border Collies.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">What a breed!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">What a joy to watch in the ring.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">These dogs so focused on their job, with the ‘Border Collie’ eye always
on the sheep, anticipating their moves and fearlessly moving the sheep.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We learned as we listened to Kaelene and Campbell give
training tips and direction to the owners and suggestions for improvement and
next steps in training.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Then it was our turn again.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This time Kaelene along with a fresh set of sheep were to be the
participants in Millie’s education.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The
second try went better than the first.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Millie seemed more intent on moving the sheep and began to understand
the rules of this new game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fnS6twQL9zg" width="459"></iframe>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/fnS6twQL9zg">https://youtu.be/fnS6twQL9zg</a> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Afterwards, Adam and I returned to our hotel to discuss what
we had learned, about ourselves, our dog, and what we had seen.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We reviewed the videos of Millie with the
sheep and analyzed her behavior and Adam’s reactions to her in the ring.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Less dejected, but with a much clearer vision
of what the world of stock dogs is all about we came to some conclusions.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Millie is the best farm tool a person could have.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She makes SURE her livestock are protected
from every manner of threat, owls, hawks, coyotes, skunks, rates, and
snakes.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She protects her people and her
property from damage and harm.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She is
attentive and caring to every living thing in her charge.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She lets us know if the sheep are out of the
fence.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She lets us know if the chickens
are fighting or in danger.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She keeps the
rats and mice out of the barn and outbuildings and grain tubs.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She keeps the gophers and snakes out of the
production lots.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She will defend and
care for all of us to the end.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She does
help with the sheep.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She knows what a
gate is and is determined to keep the sheep well within their confines – no
slipping through gates or over downed fences.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">She will group and move the sheep to their new location each time Adam
moves the portable fences he uses for cell grazing.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If she is a farm tool, this is the type of
job she should be used for.</span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We ‘broke’ this dog in our own way.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We demanded from her things that will make it
difficult to teach her a new way and a new use on our farm.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And that’s OK,</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">because right now, she’s the BEST tool for
the job we have on this farm.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In the future, as Adam realizes his dream of a multi-species
grass fed, cell grazed meat operation, he will need a ‘real’ stock dog and most
likely a livestock guardian dog.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">But
those are dogs of the future.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For right
now, Millie is the most valuable tool on the farm.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The best partner you can have in farming or ranching is a good dog. The most valuable tool in the farm is a great dog.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">PS – if any stock dog people are out there and you would
like to chime in on suggestions as to how we might continue to work with Millie
to at least get her to drive sheep or ‘ware’ them – we’re totally open to it,
she’s young and trainable and with love and patience all hope is not lost.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-75340614506583526492016-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:002016-05-26T10:06:19.736-07:00It's Time!<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
It's finally time! <br />Time to get your tickets for the gardendwellers FARM <br />2016 Farm to Table Dinner.</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW97LmMzntUa7KOtPpEsOcSsMAz2UXTWkJjaOAK7y0znsoC4LQiAZfgkUL_kw97fzzRIBtvjYJTZZQ73-zW5PGZZ3UhjtBznRKZDFc13JLV_EByIkqDy_sLwPJwyhqkn0IzMv/s1600/100_4111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOW97LmMzntUa7KOtPpEsOcSsMAz2UXTWkJjaOAK7y0znsoC4LQiAZfgkUL_kw97fzzRIBtvjYJTZZQ73-zW5PGZZ3UhjtBznRKZDFc13JLV_EByIkqDy_sLwPJwyhqkn0IzMv/s640/100_4111.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ticket sales begin Tuesday, May 24th. Our Dinner date this year is July 21st. Our usual start time of 6:30 PM will hold true and tickets are $60 each. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to the overwhelming requests, we've raised the number of tickets from 40 to 50 but we're still anticipating that they will sell out quickly, so don't delay in ordering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tickets can only be purchased online through our website so be sure to visit the site using the link at the bottom of this blog to register for dinner and reserve your tickets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with previous years, we'll be sending out weekly emails with great information about the businesses, farmers, and ranchers that are sure to make this dinner a success. We also send out pertinent information like the menu, what you need to bring, and directions to the farm via email, so your email address is very important to the process. If you are ordering tickets for others, and its not a surprise gift, be sure to have their email address handy when registering so they can be included in the weekly updates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that we have the when, and where covered lets' take a look at what and why.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
What is a Farm to Table Dinner anyway?</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzVNuav7uB_2lt_q9MD9dGZXaKxxsnb_vTNoI1gfcz-DA9wQ5E8jLubShw3Y6nIsCZv-H6j1yo8F2Z15LTCe7eVj1Tfp1e4eDtayIXLF4i5-mTIHIeCBjQfum0x9lQ0y-WjzZ/s1600/plate+and+FTT+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzVNuav7uB_2lt_q9MD9dGZXaKxxsnb_vTNoI1gfcz-DA9wQ5E8jLubShw3Y6nIsCZv-H6j1yo8F2Z15LTCe7eVj1Tfp1e4eDtayIXLF4i5-mTIHIeCBjQfum0x9lQ0y-WjzZ/s400/plate+and+FTT+logo.png" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Farm to Table Dinner is a meal that is as identity preserved as possible. A meal where as many ingredients as possible are sourced locally, from people, businesses, farmers, and ranchers that you know. It is a way to encourage yourself and others to remember to purchase locally, and to support your local farmers and ranchers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you know that if each person in the counties of Benson, Bottineau, McHenry, Peirce, and Towner spent just $5, that's right - just $5 a week buying food from local sources that it would generate $10 million of new farm income for the region? (source: 'Next Steps for North Dakota REAP Zones' report by Ken Meter, Crossroads Center, March 24, 2015)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our Farm to Table Dinner is our way of helping people find and experience those producers so they hopefully go out and purchase even more from them in the future. It's way to get to know the people in our communities and the producers of food in our state.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year's meal will fe</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDuMQYUiRoDj4gqyRINLxHD_bFqJSQQoS_RfuGhSbUUYqIPSmQA3u0QrsYCNgpO48adNeFFAzc1m8krr4_hoDsD_Q02uWecyFC-gN5zQoOSqY2lRMgKx-rcsW3w029M7KaQnN/s1600/100_4071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDuMQYUiRoDj4gqyRINLxHD_bFqJSQQoS_RfuGhSbUUYqIPSmQA3u0QrsYCNgpO48adNeFFAzc1m8krr4_hoDsD_Q02uWecyFC-gN5zQoOSqY2lRMgKx-rcsW3w029M7KaQnN/s400/100_4071.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ature great food like North Dakota raised beef, locally baked breads, gardendwellers FARM fresh herbs, and Summit beer. What local tie does Summit beer have you ask? The barley for their SAGA beer is grown right up the road by a great farm near Barton! (More on that at a later date) As always, we'll do our very best to source only the freshest and tastiest food and pair it appropriately to give you the ultimate dining adventure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven't done so already, check out our pre-dinner video on YouTube: </span><a href="https://youtu.be/YIezlYgL2RY" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PreDinner Video</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a blast last year and we're really looking forward to seeing new faces and familiar ones at the 2016 Farm to Table Dinner. Remember to purchase your tickets quickly as we sell out fast and provide your email so you can stay up to date with all of our preparations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Purchase Tickets by following this link then clicking on the 'events' tab at the top of the page: <a href="http://www.gardendwellersfarm.com/" target="_blank">gardendwellers FARM</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you in July!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barry, Holly, and Adam</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-69328675385973311652016-02-02T11:26:00.000-08:002016-07-24T07:49:22.159-07:00Post Canadian Thoughts<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While on our trip to Neepawa Manitoba to present at the Manitoba Horticultural Association conference we were asked to share our presentations so that people could see the notes and some of the tables/slides that weren't included in the handouts. We feel pretty honored that folks would want to reference the information presented.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first presentation, Plant Power, was designed to remind all of us exactly how powerful plants are and to remind us to be mindful as we get caught up in pulling weeds, killing bugs, and the hard work of gardening to take some time to marvel at the magnificent powers these beings have. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's kind of ironic then that a Facebook friend posted this image today:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second presentation was about how to recognize plant problems using a basic method of identification. The presentation contains a step by step process for determining exactly what is bothering your plants. I'd like to site my resources here:</span><br />
<a href="https://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/damage/symptoms.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/damage/symptoms.html</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id194/id194.pdf"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id194/id194.pdf</span></a><br />
<a href="http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-714/426-714.html"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-714/426-714.html</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had a great time in Canada. We learned a new word or two, admired their pretty money, got to use our passports for the first time and returned home with what I'm thinking will be a new hobby - vermiculture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-10296990986189942712015-12-17T08:30:00.000-08:002015-12-17T08:30:18.598-08:00gardendwellers FARM and the Mawby's Year In Review<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2015 was a year of learning for us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new year started off with a new look to the website. Learning all about what people are looking for on the internet, how to catch their attention, and how to build a good looking and useful website took a lot of time, effort and a lot of 'supper table talks' among all three of us, but it happened and the new site went live without a hitch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Check it out: <a href="http://www.gardendwellersfarm.com/">www.gardendwellersfarm.com</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very early in the spring, we - especially Adam - started the journey of learning about sheep. Adam is working hard to learn livestock so he can begin his own multi-species intensive grazing livestock operation. Millie took to her herding duties right off the bat and loved the little babies with all her heart. As the year progressed, she learned some basic herding instinct and was great at letting us know when the sheep had escaped their fence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's been working with a rancher in our area for over two years now so he now has worked off 5 cows that have now been confirmed as pregnant. His next step was to learn about sheep. He began this learning exercise with two Kahtadin hair sheep bottle lambs. Cute little things that at first were very needy but turned out to be a great asset in keeping down tall grass and weeds in areas where we don't like to mow and eventually ended up in the freezer so they are now feeding us over the winter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the first two had gone off to the butcher, Adam decided it was time to start his flock for real and invested in three Kahtadin ewes. They now peacefully graze off the back of the barn and share the inside of the barn with Millie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of Millie the barn dog - she too was on a learning journey this year. She began her agility training early this year and by early summer had competed in several Agility Runs and Trials. She does very well and is rock steady on all the obstacles however she isn't really built for speed (being built more like a Sherman tank than a missile) and didn't qualify in the trials. Nonetheless, she had a great time and having a working dog with a busy mind is a thing of beauty.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next thing we learned was that the Cedar Wax Wing birds will eat honeyberries - which we knew - but what we didn't know was that they would eat them while they were still green and rock hard! So after watching the honeyberries bloom and hoping for a big harvest, it was surprising to find not a single berry when I did go out to cover them with netting - you can bet it went on the calendar to cover them up earlier next year! Below is a photo of last year's crop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next our learning journey took us into the world of hazelnuts. After years of waiting and hoping for a hazelnut crop, we were finally rewarded. Hazelnuts form catkins the prior fall and then pollinate the flowers in the spring. The flowers are almost microscopic little red filaments that come out pretty early in the year and are difficult to see unless you look very closely. AAWWW, there was hope after all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were not tons of nuts, but enough to get an ice cream pail full. The question was how to know when they were ripe? When to pick them? How to care for these crazy looking things in the greenish husk once you picked them? We did a lot of research and some trial and error and finally learned to leave the ones on the ground - they're empty shells, pick them when they are still in a green husk, dry them in an oast until the husks fall off and then leave them to 'ripen' longer before shelling, toasting, and eating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next was experience with a new vegetable. In anticipation of our first Farm to Table Dinner at our Esmond/Fillmore location, we wanted to try something new and unusual - and that's exactly what we got! Rat Tail Radishes are an above ground pod in the radish family that is crunchy and crisp and has a mild radish, peppery flavor to it. They are great on sandwiches and quick pickled. Although we learned that actually pickling them in the traditional way doesn't work as well as they lose their crunchy texture and get mushy. We also learned that they are extremely prolific! They bloom and produce pods in even the hottest temperatures and continue through most of the summer. By the time the Farm to Table Dinner rolled around, our three little 3 feet rows produced more than enough for a huge bowl to feed all of our guests.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which leads us to the dinner itself. We have done farm dinners before but had not had one here at the Esmond/Fillmore location so with the installation of the restroom last fall, it was definitely time. We were blessed with almost 50 of the nicest guests and the best food you can source from the area. Chef Ken came all the way from St. Cloud, MN to help us cook and Amber Jaeger, our summer right hand gal, helped in serving. We had the BEST weather and the backdrop provided by the newly harvested wheat field was the perfect setting. Holding the dinner here helped us learn all the in's and out's of the logistic for our location and will make future event planning very smooth indeed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it was time to learn about our hops. We've always grown a few hops but used them mostly for decoration. We have installed three different varieties and are growing them up using a teepee method. Our first real harvest was this year and although it was a small one, it was enough for us to truly learn how to test for moisture content before and after harvest, how to properly dry and store them after harvest, and what to look for as far as quality is concerned. Barry and I built an oast - which is a fancy hops name for a huge dehydrator - which was another learning opportunity. It came out quite well and we're pretty proud of it - especially since it works well for not only the hops, but also the hazelnuts and large batches of herbs. We'll be using our hops this winter to play with a new product line for the farm - so watch for it and if you're one of the lucky chosen few, we may even invite you over to be a 'test subject' for the new product!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Late in the fall it was time to butcher the old laying hens (who had been residing with the sheep since the replacement laying hens arrived in September). I had never butchered a chicken before so this was a new one. Since they were old and we knew they would not have much meat on them, we decided to just skip the whole plucking routine and skin them out to be used for chicken stock. Thankfully the ordeal went well with no torture or prolonged suffering to our dear old birds. Millie, who was put in the barn during this process, was a bit confused as to where her chickens were but after a day or so she stopped looking for them. She had become very attached to her chickens and she actually herds chickens better than sheep. Luckily the new chickens were there to fill the void. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Late fall found us learning about my new 'tool', the apple press. We had enough apples from our orchard, which is still quite young, to press a batch of juice. Adam helped to crush and press the juice from the apples which I then pasteurized and bottled without any sugar. It is delicious! I had never pressed apples before and I had never used the fresh juice to bottle either so it was a grand experiment that turned out great. I can't wait to have a whole stockpile of it in the pantry in years to come as the apple trees begin to produce more and more. All in, we have about 20 apples trees that will give us juice and hard cider in the future and this press, which was a present from tall, dark, and handsome last winter will make the job fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly in the year came the learning that was a bit harder. All summer we had struggled with the heat and drought and having enough water to get all the crops soaked up as they should be. Late this fall we had the opportunity to dig a new well so we took it. The new well was dug not 10 feet from the old well but deeper. At first, we were really excited as it looked like we would have all the water we ever wanted, needed, and more; and it's true, we do have lots of water. However, the happy was soon replaced with unhappy as we realized that the new water is not good. The old well was crystal clear and the water analysis was beautiful for crops and household use. We never needed a softener, filter, or other device and the water never left stains in any appliance or sink. The new well = lets just say it is a challenge. The water is very hard, full of minerals, has a lot of sediment in it, and tastes horrible, which for me - who drinks four bottles every day - is a tough one to take. We're still working on figuring out how to make this work for us, and I have no doubt we'll figure it out, but still right now it kind of feels like a $7,000 mistake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also learned that when you do what we do - it's tough to get others to see things the same way. With low interest rates, we thought it might be good to refinance the house to get a shorter term on our mortgage and be able to pay off the house quicker. We began the process with our bank - who we have been loyal to for 16 years. They are great to work with, however, the hold up was the appraisal. In this part of North Dakota, appraisers are difficult to come by and you need to wait months to get one. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the appraiser came and unfortunately - deemed our land 'commercial' because of the way we grow and package our products. She was unwilling to split off the residence from the areas we use for growing and packaging our products and she was unwilling to designate it 'split use' or 'farm'. This meant that after months of waiting and hoping - we were unable to refinance as you can't get a home mortgage on a commercial property. We were pretty disappointed but we did learn things through the process. Now with interest rates going up, I doubt we'll try again anytime soon but when we do - we know what to say, do, and how to approach it, to make sure the appraisal goes well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the year, when all was tallied and counted, gardendwellers FARM had their best year yet. We harvested more herbs, delivered more product, served more grocery stores and restaurants, had more events, greeted more visitors, did more demonstrations than ever before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a safe and joyous Holiday Season! Thanks for a great year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barry, Holly, Adam, Ida, Millie, the sheep and chickens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-10752808044582458362015-12-07T06:21:00.001-08:002015-12-07T06:21:18.880-08:00Eating Seasonally<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just because we are a fresh herb company, doesn't mean that eating our fresh herbs stops for gardendwellers FARM when the frost takes the basil. There are some herbs that are down right cold hardy, and this warm weather has us eating fresh herbs straight from the field even in December.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an example, thyme is downright evergreen and with the right conditions it can be picked throughout most of the winter. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQSsG-HVkJlA0uFSZoCrVlWXT2WQooTr8K2lwX0C0pdCzSsA8YRZuCvd3cv5-Kiv_RqhPYBGKwyy56audVG6HvB_teE3LoiWwMyOM50NgD90shw95G8fOcfmxtxwtJYEXOzSd/s1600/fall9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQSsG-HVkJlA0uFSZoCrVlWXT2WQooTr8K2lwX0C0pdCzSsA8YRZuCvd3cv5-Kiv_RqhPYBGKwyy56audVG6HvB_teE3LoiWwMyOM50NgD90shw95G8fOcfmxtxwtJYEXOzSd/s400/fall9.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I made a wonderful soup with just a few ingredients. Thyme is the main character in this one along with carrots - those wonderful root vegetables that last forever in our cold storage room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All you're going to need for this one is the following ingredients:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 large carrots - which is relative I know. What's a large carrot in the grocery store is not a large carrot from our garden, so I only used 6 of our 'giants' and the soup worked fine. The majority of large carrots for us this year were of a variety that had red skin on the outside and were orange on the inside so I knew that the soup would have that wonderful orange color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll also need one onion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll also need a nice little bunch of thyme. I went right out to the field and picked the thyme I used. You can see that in the winter, with the cooler weather, the thyme takes on a darker color and the stems turn a reddish or purplish color. Wash your thyme and then tie it into a nice little bundle with a piece of string.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peel and course chop the onion and begin to sauté it with 2 or 3 tablespoons of butter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chop the carrots into thin slices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the onion in the butter has softened a little, add the carrots, your thyme bundle, a little salt, a little pepper and 32 ounces of chicken broth or stock.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now sit back with a good book, do some laundry, or gather your chicken eggs while all of this simmers for a while. It will take at least a half an hour but I like to let it go for longer until the carrots are nice and soft.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then remove the thyme bundle and either run the whole mixture through your food processor or use an immersion blender to pure' it until its nice and smooth. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFoq2w5zVQ1MnYv5J6zX7q9BBlP6_yOL8Nf-A-hmmY5s6K2f9dOZEzW0uGtLlpR6ILxZzxkf7KwsYVmCh1Ck0R20Im5GT64M4fRSrjuWQNTiSaok79i06FgCrL1lcqN9H5nBh/s1600/100_3948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFoq2w5zVQ1MnYv5J6zX7q9BBlP6_yOL8Nf-A-hmmY5s6K2f9dOZEzW0uGtLlpR6ILxZzxkf7KwsYVmCh1Ck0R20Im5GT64M4fRSrjuWQNTiSaok79i06FgCrL1lcqN9H5nBh/s640/100_3948.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then put it back on the stove and add just a little (about a quarter of a cup) sour cream just to bring out the flavors and add another dimension to the soup. This soup can be served warm or cold but I prefer it warm topped with some chopped parsley for garnish and added flavor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn't it beautiful? Winter stored carrots, especially ones you grew yourself are sweet and tasty and the thyme and parsley add just the right amount of flavor without overpowering the carrots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Growing carrots doesn't have to be back breaking work either. We grow all of our carrots in a bed raised to waist high. The box is only 10 inches deep and filled with wonderfully soft, rich, compost. Each year we get all the carrots we need for our little family of three without having to break our backs with a shovel digging them all out.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT02_CKunVK6cGBYs-MZ9lGtjaNVb-pvtpMMwFhMwl4VFNIRWzyn_R4WaFIEpPHuoMSnf_-ygcrXnbQf10bO4eDLq8YrZusPE-iKT4QHkfM4_6iCGdgI_Qn3w3JrKCxhiLClW1/s1600/100_1189_00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT02_CKunVK6cGBYs-MZ9lGtjaNVb-pvtpMMwFhMwl4VFNIRWzyn_R4WaFIEpPHuoMSnf_-ygcrXnbQf10bO4eDLq8YrZusPE-iKT4QHkfM4_6iCGdgI_Qn3w3JrKCxhiLClW1/s640/100_1189_00.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is just a small selection of the carrots we harvest from our little bed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg9ZZ3BMUGuMGTwtGU7oG8a70_i_Dg8VcTe24S7-2cVaomTyE3kITDJ_cgfMTM09fiTO6mVSwFPOoAYlaoWAa62ensdEUEtpQxNVs5zZ9qo9us9PmlYOQ91cm4Zu-Mdks_KFH/s1600/100_1190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg9ZZ3BMUGuMGTwtGU7oG8a70_i_Dg8VcTe24S7-2cVaomTyE3kITDJ_cgfMTM09fiTO6mVSwFPOoAYlaoWAa62ensdEUEtpQxNVs5zZ9qo9us9PmlYOQ91cm4Zu-Mdks_KFH/s640/100_1190.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once dug, we wash them lightly and place them in plastic totes with lids and store them in our cold cellar for the winter. They will last until spring for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter is the time to eat these and other wonderful root crops and long storing vegetables like squash and pumpkin and with the cold hardy herbs like thyme and winter savory you can add flavor to make wonderful winter dishes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the soup recipe in a nutshell:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Carrot Thyme Soup</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 large carrots - chopped into thin slices</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one large onion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Tablespoons butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one bundle of thyme (about 2 ounces), washed and tied with a string</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">32 ounces of chicken stock</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt and pepper to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">parsley to garnish if desire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup sour cream - optional</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until almost soft. Add carrots, tied thyme bundle, salt, pepper and stock. Simmer until carrots are soft - about 30 minutes. Remove the thyme bundle. Puree the soup with an immersion blender or food processor. If desired add the sour cream and stir in until smooth. Garnish each bowl with chopped parsley or a dollop of softened butter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This recipe is from the cookbook: From Asparagus to Zucchini and was originally submitted to the cookbook by Pat Cook, Neenah Creek Inn and Pottery and Madison WI. Herb Society.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-7466032671053108912015-10-01T10:32:00.001-07:002015-10-01T10:32:23.239-07:00Season's End<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2015 harvest season has now officially concluded. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In all, we officially harvested and delivered 171 pounds to restaurants and individuals and 552 pounds to grocery stores for a total of 723 pounds of herbs, that's 8,832 individual one ounce packages and 173 bags for a total of 9,005 packages of herbs this year! In all, we harvested 800 pounds of herbs this year (that includes the amounts we over-picked or picked and did not sell). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doing what we do is not easy, but it is rewarding. I can't think of any job that smells as good as what we do. It's a LOT of work but we do it with LOVE and have some fun along the way. It takes time and diligence to follow the health and safety rules that keep our customers and product safe but it is SO worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now it is time to do the things that come when harvest concludes, cleaning out the fields, adding compost, preparing for next year by making notes on what went right and wrong this season, planning for facilities upgrades like new plastic on the high tunnel or screens for the high tunnel to assist with grasshopper control. It's time to put things to bed...and maybe, if I get time...clean the house really well for the first time since spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since what we do is work with herbs, and most people only purchase or use one two packages at a time, it doesn't seem like it would take a lot to accomplish, but when you put out over 9,000 of those little buggers over a 14 week season, it is work. Granted, we're not hauling around tomatoes or squash or other heavy veggies, but it's still back breakingly long days. We'd like to share with you what it takes to get our product from field to customer on harvest days so we've put together this little video. We hope you enjoy it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And thanks again for all of your support, good wishes, words of encouragement, and feedback throughout the year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barry, Holly, and Adam</span><br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5YrLcgkdArM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5YrLcgkdArM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-68594885756521504842015-08-28T11:49:00.000-07:002015-08-28T13:03:53.065-07:00After the Dinner<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, our first Farm to Table Dinner in our new location turned out quite well. A good time was had by all.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsShoCytJ77Mj_yedAKoWDeX0Amze_z9Xs8823AnwkrPP4q8xjS1hDO_-_UINZpxuleYVq64WdxGsc4uQLc_qkXVysBEKBNsITMI496OfyJhJMy9_VG8L58IbcFtWANfhaKHux/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsShoCytJ77Mj_yedAKoWDeX0Amze_z9Xs8823AnwkrPP4q8xjS1hDO_-_UINZpxuleYVq64WdxGsc4uQLc_qkXVysBEKBNsITMI496OfyJhJMy9_VG8L58IbcFtWANfhaKHux/s640/IMG_2253.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had the perfect weather for the evening with a slight breeze to keep the mosquito's away and it was warm but not too hot. Our backdrop, as provided by our neighbors the Jaegers, was a beautifully harvested wheat field with the golden straw and bales showing off their fall color in the setting sunlight.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ro59G5gK5BLikrJAEhUEfVcgbAbdI1ZfFuvWqmn0EyOC6QBhZd1U1427wVsOO5IJH7_2go-jYU7Gyq8F82pf7KHowF6beWTQQjudk1Vy4VXm072BAkGFIGtSAOr04_N9eGlp/s1600/IMG_2222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ro59G5gK5BLikrJAEhUEfVcgbAbdI1ZfFuvWqmn0EyOC6QBhZd1U1427wVsOO5IJH7_2go-jYU7Gyq8F82pf7KHowF6beWTQQjudk1Vy4VXm072BAkGFIGtSAOr04_N9eGlp/s640/IMG_2222.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aaron Hill, from Fargo Brewing Company, was an excellent co-host for the evening and did a fabulous job of teaching us all about the great microbrews from their business.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkg-TErxztVRXg4wWGepNVsLMoaB4ADyvFYF5rumpdiPobhwr5iIB_tIq6vdWdMGFoMfvjzMyVaQ1FsirnQw9Nx5m-_XjilE7Vy5GmTqVnn-3KsaHEnfAnSisY79vYnt_ZRrw/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkg-TErxztVRXg4wWGepNVsLMoaB4ADyvFYF5rumpdiPobhwr5iIB_tIq6vdWdMGFoMfvjzMyVaQ1FsirnQw9Nx5m-_XjilE7Vy5GmTqVnn-3KsaHEnfAnSisY79vYnt_ZRrw/s320/IMG_2232.JPG" width="213" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiR-CnPW_C-LVzdYWZwOWbCNvieTzzfh96hxRTUsnm-i6Z7m3HLw9qMBLVYO2bKmhJCnBCNXu4QnYxa6BeyMeycIStiwz5ry5Ll5ksCxJFb8pjyUAr6VSW_krxLq8KABPemol/s1600/IMG_2213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiiR-CnPW_C-LVzdYWZwOWbCNvieTzzfh96hxRTUsnm-i6Z7m3HLw9qMBLVYO2bKmhJCnBCNXu4QnYxa6BeyMeycIStiwz5ry5Ll5ksCxJFb8pjyUAr6VSW_krxLq8KABPemol/s320/IMG_2213.JPG" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were able to perfectly pair these wonderful microbrews with some GREAT food sourced from North Dakota producers and businesses and that made it all the more special. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first course of the dinner, the appetizer, was pizza. Guests had three pizza's to try out. The first was a lemon basil marinated chicken pizza on a BBQ sauce sourced from Oakes, ND - Dad's Ropin' Good BBQ sauce. We had to search long and hard and do more than a little begging to get our hands on this no longer made sauce, but MMMM, MMM, MMM, was it worth it! The second pizza was a pesto sauce, made with the pesto recipe on our website, topped with garden ripened tomatoes from Jerry's Gardens - Jerry Harmel of Rugby - and mozzarella cheese. And last, but certainly not least, was the lamb pizza. Several people were unsure of eating lamb and it was interesting to see after the first round of serving how much lamb pizza was leftover, but it wasn't long before people started coming back for seconds and thirds of the lamb pizza and before we knew it not only was it gone but people were demanding the recipe. Which, by the way, is now posted on our website <a href="http://www.gardendwellersfarm.com/">www.gardendwellersfarm.com</a> on the main dishes recipes page. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64ErpQgbxyp7rJy5Dk2lYAtwWasxuGeQX09zNHhZsCMceVAQQPRhzw_LsQiaQcDQvylLghIyYIa4YDw5j9lix2w1jNiw6x2MIDSzDHBP3JOJyuda_MZd402qH_oGz0Y2oUyyD/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64ErpQgbxyp7rJy5Dk2lYAtwWasxuGeQX09zNHhZsCMceVAQQPRhzw_LsQiaQcDQvylLghIyYIa4YDw5j9lix2w1jNiw6x2MIDSzDHBP3JOJyuda_MZd402qH_oGz0Y2oUyyD/s640/IMG_2240.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It worked out well that opposite the view of the fantastic straw bale field was a view of Adam's sheep and with so many people asking questions about the lamb, we had Adam take a few minutes away from cooking to explain about his fabulous 'hair' sheep, the Katahdin's. One of them is visible in the photo below in the lower right hand corner of the picture, along with two of our 'free range' hens. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next course was a little surprise as well. Along with a great herbed salad with pistachios and pepitas, we served apple bobs dressed with a yummy lime cilantro sauce. This was another item people came back for seconds and thirds on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main course, the beef kabobs made with grass fed beef marinated in an herbed marinade turned out perfectly grilled by Adam and Chef Ken and the colors of the peppers from local producers made it just as lovely to look at as to eat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kabobs were served with two sides that also brought a lot of interest to the dinner and were items that few guests had experienced before this evening. We planted some rat tail radishes this year and found them to be the perfect snack with beer when quick pickled and along with those, our 'Pea Currant' cherry tomatoes made the best red/green combination!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The final course of the evening, as described to me by one of the guests, was 'life changing'! Stephanie's gingerbread cake, made of course with the darkest molasses, local honey, local eggs, dark brown sugar and Fargo Brewing Company Sodbuster Porter beer, then served with that same beer and topped with Pride Dairy vanilla ice cream - was literally the grand finale'!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo above courtesy of Christie Jaeger</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A good time was had by everyone and we certainly enjoyed having them all with us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even as the sun was setting on this perfect evening, people enjoyed the food, farm, fun, and new friendships made with everyone at our Farm to Table Dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been one week since your 2015 Farm to Table Dinner and Social and I think we're finally all cleaned up. This past week has been a true roller coaster ride! We were in the middle of clean up when we received a call from our Grand Forks Hugo's stores wanting an additional delivery of herbs as they had placed them on sale and they needed more! It made for a very hectic Saturday and put some of the clean up chores on hold. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday it was back to the hectic pace of harvesting, packaging, and deliveries. Then yesterday, we were in Grand Forks to showcase our herbs by doing a demo at the Hugo's store on 32nd and doing some radio spots to highlight our products.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back at home today we just finished cleaning, washing, and putting away all the utensils and other items from the dinner and updating the website with all the recipe's we used. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're very thankful to everyone that attended the dinner. We hope you had as much fun as we did! And...we hope to see you again next year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember to look on our website: </span><a href="http://www.gardendwellersfarm.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.gardendwellersfarm.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on the recipes pages for all of the instructions on how to recreate this great food in your own kitchens and</span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Live Life Well Seasoned!</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH6nT48MBBTZ-Dt5plhS1HJaTKfilK0Ypv8NXHcPgVMl7E3I1WM-o3k4dn33RV6RYnEAhBaPkF3b4XtkVUilolDbCaiRcVu8PAaTx3K-kdYnMqF7aE9Z-VK0PPek7xDs9zt5K/s1600/adam+wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH6nT48MBBTZ-Dt5plhS1HJaTKfilK0Ypv8NXHcPgVMl7E3I1WM-o3k4dn33RV6RYnEAhBaPkF3b4XtkVUilolDbCaiRcVu8PAaTx3K-kdYnMqF7aE9Z-VK0PPek7xDs9zt5K/s400/adam+wave.jpg" width="237" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW38UqaNeK4kkkUhsJd-3HlnMLCro9RUrWo2iOxbcRR2z1kda3aIFahR4b9xmeJQfqj80BR5IcN1ei62gocjsSv2pw5lyoW4-2MnNu9VhmnCZBmMemfXoMS3CYSYgxyomLUn6/s1600/IMG_2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW38UqaNeK4kkkUhsJd-3HlnMLCro9RUrWo2iOxbcRR2z1kda3aIFahR4b9xmeJQfqj80BR5IcN1ei62gocjsSv2pw5lyoW4-2MnNu9VhmnCZBmMemfXoMS3CYSYgxyomLUn6/s320/IMG_2214.JPG" width="213" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW38UqaNeK4kkkUhsJd-3HlnMLCro9RUrWo2iOxbcRR2z1kda3aIFahR4b9xmeJQfqj80BR5IcN1ei62gocjsSv2pw5lyoW4-2MnNu9VhmnCZBmMemfXoMS3CYSYgxyomLUn6/s1600/IMG_2214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barry, Holly and Adam</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH6nT48MBBTZ-Dt5plhS1HJaTKfilK0Ypv8NXHcPgVMl7E3I1WM-o3k4dn33RV6RYnEAhBaPkF3b4XtkVUilolDbCaiRcVu8PAaTx3K-kdYnMqF7aE9Z-VK0PPek7xDs9zt5K/s1600/adam+wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-62218653887267490622015-07-14T09:37:00.002-07:002015-07-14T11:05:11.354-07:00Much Rains Makes for Muddy Harvest<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've had some awesome storms here in the last few days. Hot, humid weather seems to make the clouds boil then burst forth with waves of rain followed by high winds to push it along.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMvjAt38ytSLV6EQZaL8ubma0jUOsjYrdbxvkoPhsLnk-OmlTBWLNnBbEeDAE4FsqPeheSw5t-FcL34wDt8q1yn9JjT1VehZF7R9Mx0DEBpuVLkemEXLHeII6Br88DxYY-Uqz/s1600/100_3657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMvjAt38ytSLV6EQZaL8ubma0jUOsjYrdbxvkoPhsLnk-OmlTBWLNnBbEeDAE4FsqPeheSw5t-FcL34wDt8q1yn9JjT1VehZF7R9Mx0DEBpuVLkemEXLHeII6Br88DxYY-Uqz/s640/100_3657.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All total, we've had over three inches in the last three days.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iqxRpaHB4RnwaCsJWHuGHawbWW87msb9vWJNUPrxX6BgYmz8jSh6R94GsnpzQFm3lGNOag7NLmKi5NYDs6NIudZ03y9HJtm_yfnEU22iFyPlyZpEEP939oj0M2wQ0F-NP299/s1600/100_3659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iqxRpaHB4RnwaCsJWHuGHawbWW87msb9vWJNUPrxX6BgYmz8jSh6R94GsnpzQFm3lGNOag7NLmKi5NYDs6NIudZ03y9HJtm_yfnEU22iFyPlyZpEEP939oj0M2wQ0F-NP299/s640/100_3659.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This photo is the one I took, just before I did this...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Va350IKzmTQMKIqVNWyxKm8h73eQ9kuPICFOWb_0dTxUT2sk8iIcJcP6x8DWT3bYiG58p0psBq9GJVE_QcbpO2JSQFx8oQlxSW7T9n_s81_f0Osv92olrZ0g7LSDTFXR2N5S/s1600/100_3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Va350IKzmTQMKIqVNWyxKm8h73eQ9kuPICFOWb_0dTxUT2sk8iIcJcP6x8DWT3bYiG58p0psBq9GJVE_QcbpO2JSQFx8oQlxSW7T9n_s81_f0Osv92olrZ0g7LSDTFXR2N5S/s400/100_3667.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just goes to show that chubby old ladies like myself that move at less than 2 miles per hour should not try to out-run storms moving at 35 miles per hour. We're hoping it's just a bad sprain but if it is not better by Monday they will do an MRI to see if I did more damage than the awesome storm photos were worth. Look out world, I might be selling 'awesome storm photos' in color, glossy, 8X10's with descriptions on the back to make money for the doctor bills. (Some of you may notice a slight reference to Alice's Restaurant in that last sentence!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday when we came home from the doctor (for the aforementioned issue) the rain was coming down so hard the fields were literally running like little streams. My heart was in my throat as I looked at the herbs in the field laying so flat and wet, hoping that some sun today would show me a better picture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, for the most part, it has. The Spearmint took kind of a hit with some of the new tender leaves sustaining tears or rips, but most of the rest of the herbs survived their immersion just fine. Luckily we have a high tunnel and the very tender basil, lemon basil and precious rosemary were inside - they look GREAT!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has made for a muddy mess today and with it being harvest day, there is no time to just sit around and wait for things to dry out. You still have to call customers, take orders, and then begin harvesting. It means washing the herbs more times than normal to ensure they are clean and being careful to only pick those you know didn't take too much abuse in the wind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also means very special footwear, or lack thereof, for our harvest workers:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PVvl2LkdO4RxJpAnoBgt_wIkxZJrhxym2OJeyiSmP796uxS367_vk7UVxg2M6xezo9tECeyrgqeKHvE6YPexJuMcorYMQzOQMoRnxFZAZJ3Bqh0u2O4H8XHEW8TuFPPyRCs5/s1600/100_3664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PVvl2LkdO4RxJpAnoBgt_wIkxZJrhxym2OJeyiSmP796uxS367_vk7UVxg2M6xezo9tECeyrgqeKHvE6YPexJuMcorYMQzOQMoRnxFZAZJ3Bqh0u2O4H8XHEW8TuFPPyRCs5/s640/100_3664.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for me, I'm sidelined today. Just sitting here icing my knee and wondering if there was any way I could play in the mud too!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Until next time - <span style="color: red;"><strong>Live Life Well Seasoned!</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-79272822259196606072015-07-08T06:42:00.000-07:002015-07-08T06:42:46.517-07:00Another Year of Harvest<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week began our first harvests for 2015. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike conventional large farmers, our harvests are weekly and start in June and end hopefully in October. It's a stressful time. It's tough to wait to hear from your customers that the product they received is what they expected. You work really really hard to plant, water, weed, then water and weed some more, and then harvest, package and deliver a high quality product.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu99zeN4BuVXUUYcaE3YabOiXx_a1dFLoaX8h7x7IH25cGztpyXht1bLCu4VeAdI4xLzCaHFnPk9MeU2eoWIdxpAusANRcMZ79eKiZ_O1etz8ThWjbnmoKvcTlx3ArHSOamNV8/s1600/100_3638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu99zeN4BuVXUUYcaE3YabOiXx_a1dFLoaX8h7x7IH25cGztpyXht1bLCu4VeAdI4xLzCaHFnPk9MeU2eoWIdxpAusANRcMZ79eKiZ_O1etz8ThWjbnmoKvcTlx3ArHSOamNV8/s320/100_3638.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, some of our product is being delivered to a grocery warehouse where it is then shipped to stores in Minnesota and North Dakota that we just can't get it to ourselves. That was REALLY nerve wracking...to put your product in the hands of someone else and hope that all went well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we called for orders this week, we found that indeed our herbs had landed in the grocery stores safe and sound and everyone was happy. Our Minot customers especially, who have been with us for many years, were happy to have us back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were glad to have our summer help, Amber, back again. It meant that we finished harvest and packaging yesterday in record time and even had time to go out last night and pick some of the Carmine Jewel cherries that were ripe. Having time to do anything else on harvest day is almost unheard of here, making it an especially nice treat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTvsqmOR4R-g9pwz37u-Gu_LWGMESZ4LhJLA4-7Drf-GMc1cvjFWeLC4NjwC_LumC2cQ0drRjCT5nhCuGZFvaAjqcVHYywsxIE_WglLWnGqG-L89-I_Eg6-E6lAKT-pRazEYf/s1600/amber+barry+package.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTvsqmOR4R-g9pwz37u-Gu_LWGMESZ4LhJLA4-7Drf-GMc1cvjFWeLC4NjwC_LumC2cQ0drRjCT5nhCuGZFvaAjqcVHYywsxIE_WglLWnGqG-L89-I_Eg6-E6lAKT-pRazEYf/s640/amber+barry+package.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The one worry we've had lately, how dry it was, is not an issue anymore with two inches of rain soaked into the soil in the last three or four days I'm confident that we're ready for the heat wave coming our way in the next week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've got some busy times ahead with groups visiting and touring the farm and taking classes here and the Farm to Table Dinner and Social to prepare for, we'll have our hands full. We love hosting people and teaching them about herbs and we still have a few open days, so if you have a group that would be interested in visiting or having a class, please contact us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For now, remember to Live Life Well Seasoned!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holly</span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-35258304113468019172015-06-20T16:07:00.001-07:002015-06-20T16:07:29.210-07:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">So
What <b><span style="color: red;">IS</span></b> a Farm to Table Dinner?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">The
gardendwellers FARM Farm to Table Dinner and Social is sold out for this
year. We are taking a waiting list as a few folks have not yet paid for
their tickets and just in case someone has a crisis come up and can’t make it –
so if you know of someone who is wanting to be on the waiting list, please have
them contact us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">The tickets went fast, we knew they would. Who
doesn’t love a good picnic with beer? But while we’re sure some signed on
for the great North Dakota brewed beer, there’s more to a farm to table dinner
than just the beverages. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TT3TVGXfHFTvVDXh3D7TGD_JHkEk1auqKK1jUyf-G4ylIeQuz9kno5AuxS2SD6dctcY5-LeNYS0cRaIbWtDIBQ1o1lwyH-bRjHznb7Fd1tzGKPwOkgeb14ijOT7dI7BZwxuv/s1600/54eb32de6818f_-_meal-with-a-mission-dining-table-0710-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TT3TVGXfHFTvVDXh3D7TGD_JHkEk1auqKK1jUyf-G4ylIeQuz9kno5AuxS2SD6dctcY5-LeNYS0cRaIbWtDIBQ1o1lwyH-bRjHznb7Fd1tzGKPwOkgeb14ijOT7dI7BZwxuv/s640/54eb32de6818f_-_meal-with-a-mission-dining-table-0710-de.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Farm
to Table dinners are a way to connect the people that grew the food with those
that are eating it. It’s a way to showcase what a region or area has to
offer, good things that fill our bellies and make us joyous for the bounty that
comes from a place so beautiful. It’s a time to meet new people, taste
new tastes, and learn about new things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">gardendwellers
FARM has done dinners on the farm in the past. We’ve featured our herbs
used artfully in well prepared dishes and paired with beer or local
wines. These were fun events but they weren’t true Farm to Table Dinners
like the 2015 event. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Pictured
in the photo: Stephanie Blumhagen of Meadowlark Granary gives us an inside look
as she and her Dad plant the wheat that gets ground into flour that gets made
into our dessert for the Dinner! Doesn’t she look just like her Dad?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">This
year, it’s a true Farm to Table dinner, with as many of the ingredients as
humanly possible sourced from farms, producers, and businesses that we know
personally and that grow and create right here in North Dakota. Of course
we’ll use as many of our own fresh herbs as possible, but it’s also flour,
bread, vegetables, meat and dairy products that are nothing but North Dakota
goodness. Before each course we’ll be telling you about each dish, where
the food came from, and how it was made. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">In the coming weeks, we'll be telling the story of the ingredients in this year's dinner and along with that - the story behind the farms and small businesses that produce them. Like the Meadowlark Granary, County Line Meats, The Double Batch, Slavic Heritage Farm, Pride Dairy, Fargo Brewing Company, and more. Stayed tuned is we introduce you to our friends in food and keep you up to date with what is going on at the FARM. Until then, Live Life Well Seasoned!</span><br />
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The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-49156871416903135252015-06-01T11:33:00.000-07:002015-06-01T11:33:07.111-07:00It's a Fast Paced World For the Farm Dog
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s the last week in May and first week in June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the crops have been seeded, the fruits
are far from ripe and the weeds have not yet become an issue so it’s one of the
few times that we have within our season to take a moment and do something for
fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This past weekend was Devils Run Car show in Devils Lake
so we took a little time to enjoy all the classic cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also took a day to enter Millie the barn
dog into an Agility trial in Minot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
not much other than baby seedlings to photograph or write about this week, the
Agility Trial gets the spotlight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s tough being a barn dog in a competitive dog
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Millie, A.K.A Don’t Coddle the
Barn Dog, has successfully taken and passed basic obedience, advanced
obedience, foundation agility, introduction to agility courses and her Canine
Good Citizen test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s at home in the
local bar, in social situations, on the ranch and has been asked to be tested
as a therapy dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when faced
with over 50 other ‘citified’ dogs, house dogs with owners who pamper them and
who live in houses and get baths and regular treats and have ready access to
training facilities; it’s a hard row to hoe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Agility is also a confusing, involved, and intense sport
– not one to be taken lightly and certainly not one for every dog or owner. If it were not for the caring spirit and encouragement of the Action Agility volunteers and club members, the day would not have been nearly as enjoyable. Thanks go out to all of them for putting on a great trial and making it fun!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The bottom line good news is Millie was able to take home
a third place finish in her Touch N Go class, a fourth place finish in Jumpers
class and a fifth place finish in Tunnelers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She finished every single run with not a single fault - meaning she
didn’t make any mistakes that could have cost her points and she correctly
completed each obstacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made
friends with a horse at the show grounds, was able to beat out an extremely
pampered pooch who’s owner thinks the world revolves around her high priced pup
(and Millie was free), she got to spend the whole day with Adam, AND she was
the only dog there who was able and WILLING to kill the garter snake that was
lurking at the show door waiting to terrorize every participant and small child
entering or exiting the show building; saving many lives – if not skipped heart
beats – in the process I’m sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
also earned a new admirer who had a soft spot in her heart for ‘farm collies’,
those working dogs who really do WORK for a living and are an integral part of
any farm or ranch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These things all made
it a worthwhile day.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>Above: Adam and Millie take a break from the ring - Millie enjoys a belly rub while wondering why she can't just go play with the horses in the pasture next to them.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The bad news is she did not do a good enough job to earn
any points towards an Agility title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
(and Adam), was just too slow to make the necessary course run in the allotted
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now while this might make her
sound slow, keep in mind that there were over 50 dogs in each class she entered
and no more than 14 made the run in the allotted time without faults to
qualify for points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So; she was not
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><em>Above: A courtesy at the show was to offer a raffle drawing to those that did not receive a qualifying score - as you can see, there were more than a few entries in the jar</em>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A whole day without being able to chase the pigeons off
the grain bins, the swallows out of the barn, and the gophers out of the field
or check the chickens and sheep is tough for a dog like Millie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting on some speed to race to my call and
protect me from harm and alarm when I almost step on a snake or spot a mouse in
the barn is her true joy and forte’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Racing to jump over a bar or sprint through a tunnel – not as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p><em>Above: Adam and Millie wait ringside for their next turn to try a few tunnels and jumps.</em></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This summer Millie will continue to practice her Agility
training but she’ll also concentrate on Rally and Regular Obedience where speed
is not such a big factor but accuracy is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By August we’ll hopefully be ready for the ring again and Millie will
enjoy another day of trials where she can hopefully make more new friends and
maybe even save the day…if there’s a mouse or snake around.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><em><span style="color: red;">Post script note: Not all dogs entered in the agility trial, in fact not many, were 'pampered pooches'. Many are great athletes, that like human athletes, train hard for their sport. They were a joy to watch and it was a pleasure to get to know them and their owners. A dog with a job - or a sport - is a thing of beauty.</span></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><em><span style="color: red;"></span></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong><em><span style="color: red;">For more information on Agility dogs, training, and events, check out <a href="http://www.action-agility.com/">http://www.action-agility.com/</a></span></em></strong></span><br />
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The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-15199933567900303262015-05-19T13:15:00.000-07:002015-05-19T13:15:48.401-07:00Another Season for gardendwellers FARM<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2015 brings another season for gardendwellers FARM. This year we're pretty excited as we have taken on a few more grocery stores and we're back in the business of inviting guests and visitors to the farm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although this spring has been crazy, one minute 70 and sunny and perfect planting weather; we've also had our share of cold. Last weeks rains brought us over 3 inches of total precipitation with 3.5 inches of snow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today the weather is better and back to sunny and warm. We're banking on tonight being the last of the damaging frost and we'll be hauling butt planting after Wednesday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The high tunnel is already planted with Basil and Rosemary and has escaped damage during the cold weather. That puts us on track for first deliveries to our customers the end of June. The parsley, fennel, and thyme seeds in the field are just coming up and they too survived the snow and cold. Soon they will be joined by their friends marjoram, oregano, winter savory and sage. We also have over 200 mint plants just begging to be planted.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguB_hyphenhypheneAisn1klpOLM1UtV5NFSVMGX40H-ZhyEwnN2f5ajlpch_IKquXAnFx9aEvayAXmfU5YSt3Il_Su8v9B7wa3_vhyphenhyphenDZS4cvET5-0KEfSBjpekg-RwCh8vyx1I8EyzJxnvt/s1600/FBC-Logo-RedGold-Web.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; height: 273px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 203px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguB_hyphenhypheneAisn1klpOLM1UtV5NFSVMGX40H-ZhyEwnN2f5ajlpch_IKquXAnFx9aEvayAXmfU5YSt3Il_Su8v9B7wa3_vhyphenhyphenDZS4cvET5-0KEfSBjpekg-RwCh8vyx1I8EyzJxnvt/s320/FBC-Logo-RedGold-Web.gif" width="207" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're super hyped about a few other things this year as well. One of which is our Farm to Table Dinner and Social that we will hold in August. We're proud to announce that </span><a href="http://fargobrewing.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fargo Brewing Company</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> will be joining us for the evening where owner Aaron Hill will talk about the brewing process, their business, and how it pairs with the food we'll be serving. Watch our website and facebook page for more details as they become available. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dinner will be about more than just food and beer. The food will be sourced from small farmers in North Dakota, those that actually touch each and every piece with love and caring. We will also have some of the farmers and businesses on hand that evening so guests can visit with them about how they grow and produce their products. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're hoping for a nice evening so we can pull out a few of the lawn games and let people socialize and enjoy the farm while they are here. We need to take time to enjoy our meals, and this will be a great way to do just that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We've also been working quite hard on the new website design. If you're reading this on the new site, please feel free to leave us some feedback about the new site. It's never too late to change things and constructive criticism is always welcome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The orchard was blooming heavy but with the freezing temps I am afraid we'll have lost some of our potential for a big fruit harvest. Some things like the black currants will be just fine, however I am worried about the Carmine Jewel cherries and the apples as they were in full bloom before the snow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For now though, all I know is I can't wait to get the seedlings and transplants out of my living room! As you can see, they've gotten quite leggy waiting for Nature to get her act together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Planting everyone! Hope to see you at the FARM this summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-58502167112635554912014-10-29T13:00:00.003-07:002014-10-29T13:00:32.023-07:00A Special Video Blog for you!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this time I decided to try something new - a video blog! I buy all kinds of kitchen gadgets and up until now I have not found one that was worth the money but this one has me so excited I went out and bought three more! If you cooking, herbs, kitchen gadgets or just don't have anything else to do for about 5 minutes, please watch!</span> <br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/DgOV2KbWzt8" target="_blank">Herb Kitchen Gadget review by gardendwellers FARM</a></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>And as always, Live Life Well Seasoned!</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs5F26LEnXYu3mzN-FCi_jCpt55H8ALrapxhfPaxHtITl-tSkS7FgUXLKe5saRl2Z723WucHfVIIvGXXaIXmn-Y3JlDORzAEn21sMNmvVMTEkx1nymi1FPAlRP6HW6Z372k3p/s1600/100_2586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggs5F26LEnXYu3mzN-FCi_jCpt55H8ALrapxhfPaxHtITl-tSkS7FgUXLKe5saRl2Z723WucHfVIIvGXXaIXmn-Y3JlDORzAEn21sMNmvVMTEkx1nymi1FPAlRP6HW6Z372k3p/s1600/100_2586.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-22406367236173010622014-09-04T12:06:00.001-07:002014-09-04T12:09:44.401-07:00Why Buy gardendwellers FARM Herbs?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here it is, the post about how gardendwellers FARM herbs are better than others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could spend a lot of space and words to tell you the benefits of buying local. To explain why buying local supports small farms and farming communities, keeps farmland farming and productive and how it boosts local economies, but when it comes down to it - it's your money and you want a good product for your money. I've never heard anyone sit down to a good meal and say, "My, this tastes like it boosted our economy by $100!" Nope, never heard that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What you want to know is "Am I getting my money's worth"? So, let's take a look.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To conduct random quality tests, I regularly buy back a package or two of our herbs when we make deliveries to our customers. By that time, our herbs have been on their shelves for a week. I also regularly purchase herbs from our competitors. Since the package I bought yesterday was dill, today we'll just take a look at dill but in future posts hope to also cover basil and mint, our two other biggest sellers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the package of gardendwellers FARM dill I purchased yesterday in Minot:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Ias41DW8bwzVnHbMq5Tt5SUNuTTXE-BKk3PFfE2AgYDCPNEiVgPN9NBnwwUMt3iZuISvnWVJX3oevtHv7XdTtk9GV_ymLNP7-LSo9Odhq2lWoe7BioCfDJsVx-gLEidC_YF/s1600/100_2964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Ias41DW8bwzVnHbMq5Tt5SUNuTTXE-BKk3PFfE2AgYDCPNEiVgPN9NBnwwUMt3iZuISvnWVJX3oevtHv7XdTtk9GV_ymLNP7-LSo9Odhq2lWoe7BioCfDJsVx-gLEidC_YF/s1600/100_2964.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aB7JuwaxyCOvnaZ9toYqBvRDDbGCIVqFE0dOWXZQG0M4KLEHftCJybtr-YUjnG7aklB9l4GUKafSefKSOPn-y_f971TQz8vf900LzSR875bwhicEwE7rKHK6IbBqiTz4XTuc/s1600/100_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aB7JuwaxyCOvnaZ9toYqBvRDDbGCIVqFE0dOWXZQG0M4KLEHftCJybtr-YUjnG7aklB9l4GUKafSefKSOPn-y_f971TQz8vf900LzSR875bwhicEwE7rKHK6IbBqiTz4XTuc/s1600/100_2966.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvB4hfpa5b-RVYyibRurK0Dd6IpcyhW3ufY4TbZdJYx-m3dn8jVRxVFu492EZMP1uE1cyUlGN-iPrsO5q4URh1dthtLalga9TT4Wr69flQP6JRs8dT7-h_7MdyDkybtlRQkUI/s1600/100_2967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvB4hfpa5b-RVYyibRurK0Dd6IpcyhW3ufY4TbZdJYx-m3dn8jVRxVFu492EZMP1uE1cyUlGN-iPrsO5q4URh1dthtLalga9TT4Wr69flQP6JRs8dT7-h_7MdyDkybtlRQkUI/s1600/100_2967.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are photos of our competitors product.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6sovQgtkY7aExmvTYavHv6MtroDCMVe8b0Q4_gcWUG_EAyFM0dnbvLfBVOh_6P8BNS-A3oI2YfB5mTx2wFSUDw8iB0hxv8DirFRTZgec74iZEGCbve6wBZ6SppZcGDwc4Khd/s1600/100_4259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6sovQgtkY7aExmvTYavHv6MtroDCMVe8b0Q4_gcWUG_EAyFM0dnbvLfBVOh_6P8BNS-A3oI2YfB5mTx2wFSUDw8iB0hxv8DirFRTZgec74iZEGCbve6wBZ6SppZcGDwc4Khd/s1600/100_4259.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9J1knF8F-Hhl9k_vLNmmrC-OU6JIe5yooWYy9us8u4d7GfkQOY4XTG9pUyeIQgR_6sr-NdxWTXYPskeQNU4G8_UAYI9eGMvCoMGSzOLIkYt1bRlW5HToJxyhvrQblVVF_XEtf/s1600/100_4264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9J1knF8F-Hhl9k_vLNmmrC-OU6JIe5yooWYy9us8u4d7GfkQOY4XTG9pUyeIQgR_6sr-NdxWTXYPskeQNU4G8_UAYI9eGMvCoMGSzOLIkYt1bRlW5HToJxyhvrQblVVF_XEtf/s1600/100_4264.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqplg7Gx9upSmLMPfv3Im9vXnVpmry5z8o4GunQuZWiRxNWcrgOy3NyUPpqu2Ea7l0bhEVbj_7-qfNoI-cnmni8vdXQi2FV_zUaY7Jg857qoN7lDwI83-amBTR56DKt7v5qZ2-/s1600/100_4266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqplg7Gx9upSmLMPfv3Im9vXnVpmry5z8o4GunQuZWiRxNWcrgOy3NyUPpqu2Ea7l0bhEVbj_7-qfNoI-cnmni8vdXQi2FV_zUaY7Jg857qoN7lDwI83-amBTR56DKt7v5qZ2-/s1600/100_4266.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because we hand pick every piece we can ensure that our customers are not paying for a lot of stem that is not useable in their dishes. Nothing against this particular competitor, but I was pretty flabbergasted when I opened up this package. Let me assure you - like any consumer, I take a pretty good look at what I am buying and I TRY to buy the best of what is on the grocers shelf, even for this comparison testing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll see that in our package not only was there a lot more useable product, but also the quality is better. That's why we want you to buy gardendwellers FARM fresh herbs - because the quality is better. And you deserve the best.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have recently purchased our herbs, especially mint or basil or thyme - please send us photos. We'd love to compare your results with our product to our competitors photos.</span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-37876065973680837632014-08-22T10:15:00.003-07:002014-08-22T10:15:52.706-07:00A Quiet Day<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some days here on the farm where it is just
quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be environmental
factors, like air pressure or humidity, but some days are just quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s the blanket of clouds in the sky,
holding the noise to a minimum and allowing the Earth to nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I know is that it is quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No people asking me questions about what to
harvest or when.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No dogs barking, frogs
croaking or chickens cackling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No trucks
or tractors on the road. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sounds of
distant combines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just quiet.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGoMIy05iWCYt49gHUHRKPRRnQgcRg3YVBBEEmKQerDxGCJMAUdL8cvcX93V44nBoLIJ4HT2usrg8_39ePG_pE89SKFoI2eP-48oXyOwz48FTu6NbQaSas0jp0GL-2aFy-_n7/s1600/100_2944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGoMIy05iWCYt49gHUHRKPRRnQgcRg3YVBBEEmKQerDxGCJMAUdL8cvcX93V44nBoLIJ4HT2usrg8_39ePG_pE89SKFoI2eP-48oXyOwz48FTu6NbQaSas0jp0GL-2aFy-_n7/s1600/100_2944.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hear
the little twitter of birds but even they are soft background whispers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not like the loud honking of geese in the
spring and fall or the shrill cries of crows in mid-summer as their young get
old enough to fly; just the occasional flutter of wings and soft chirps as they
go about the business of finding food – be it bug or nectar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pLbqTbZqN9Pebc1s2YwiQj9-odwGf5BiBMrTtso28F9AaqXLP4LUo80SgyCSAA5pFP-PKrEo8NraMDNKKigJUack556_EW4VGbbL3Y2nzTYR5gUVedzSLsqtjsU0NHRPePKa/s1600/100_2900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pLbqTbZqN9Pebc1s2YwiQj9-odwGf5BiBMrTtso28F9AaqXLP4LUo80SgyCSAA5pFP-PKrEo8NraMDNKKigJUack556_EW4VGbbL3Y2nzTYR5gUVedzSLsqtjsU0NHRPePKa/s1600/100_2900.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the ever-present North Dakota wind is quiet today,
preferring to keep things to a small breeze, just barely enough to move the
leaves on the top of the trees. Not even a sound from the softly fluttering
wind sock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually you can hear the
trees moving and swaying, the leaves rustling together and the branches waving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But not today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today is quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1Fv_cfai1yALPvgouH-oWhiUVGtgBEJNuiXOpjJt7gwZZMZ5ugvT0ruhXAIR-pJtyD6FpaUWtK0L2qMLd4n0bZjAG5VNAKExoat6KvfbtPePdeVdo2q_uZrYi_5uADbFi6_Q/s1600/100_2942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1Fv_cfai1yALPvgouH-oWhiUVGtgBEJNuiXOpjJt7gwZZMZ5ugvT0ruhXAIR-pJtyD6FpaUWtK0L2qMLd4n0bZjAG5VNAKExoat6KvfbtPePdeVdo2q_uZrYi_5uADbFi6_Q/s1600/100_2942.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The outside world has all but disappeared today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can feel it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No phone calls, no IM Yahoo’s, no pings from
the email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just quiet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have struggled to maintain the quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned off the fans in the bedrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned off the fan on the furnace – no need
for air conditioning today and the temperature has stayed a comfortable one so
need to move more air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have left all
devices on stand-by for later use – no radio, no television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a day for a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a day for a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
a day for drawing or painting a picture as the world sits quietly to be
immortalized in charcoal or ink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
a day for prayer and silent reflection or meditation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
quiet day. For tomorrow we shall resume our regularly scheduled chaos and
clatter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-88845351359928938332014-07-30T15:39:00.000-07:002014-07-30T15:39:39.902-07:00The Chaos Town edition.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of you are farmers or producers, so many of you will know when I say this is the time of year when we all live in Chaos Town. It's this time of year that always gets to me. The stress level gets high and that one little extra thing always threatens to push me over the edge into either a trip to an insane asylum or alcoholism - which ever I can achieve faster. The kind of chaos that makes me think my best friend is Curios George</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week has been full of those moments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The looming disaster as our well decides whether or not it wants to continue to work this hard in dry times is top of the list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The health inspection that happened yesterday and then had to go through two separate health districts for approval - two who each have their own ideas about how we should do things - so we end up trying our best to do it all. This time around it is the need for an 'approved food grade' hose with approved 'food grade' fittings on the end for filling our wash tubs - which by the way get filled with the same water we drink, water that is tested two to three times per year and is treated with a sanitizer to ensure food safety and filled from the garden hose that I drink out of all the time. Haven't died yet but then again maybe I just have a phenomenal immune system. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or how about the fact that the Health Dept. insists that we need a 1,000 gallon septic tank on our little restroom in the barn? Yes, the little sink and toilet that will use a total of about 3 gallons per visit and that will only be used when and if we have tours or classes. Maybe a total of 100 times per year. And guess what? The usual box stores and home improvement places are not allowed to sell 1,000 gallon plastic holding tanks in ND. I could go concrete but then how would I get it in the hole? Guess we'll be sneaking one in across the state border - right after I blow my project budget and fork over the extra $400 for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or how about the fact that we have grown so fast this year in our number of customers that we're short on a few things. Yeah, that would push me over the edge. I've found a grower with large plants in the varieties I need however he's 162 miles one way away. Our new dependable vehicle is tied up two days a week running deliveries and we are tied up two other days a week harvesting and maintaining - leaving very limited time to go get these little gems - especially when we need them NOW!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today my issue is GreenSource Windows out of Minnesota. <a href="http://www.greensourcewindows.com/">http://www.greensourcewindows.com/</a> They very kindly came and put in four new windows last year - did a good job from what we could see and were good at customer service at the time. However in the -28 degree cold snap of January, one of the windows snapped. Just snapped. No one touched it, it just broke. Getting a replacement on their warranty has been grueling. Contacting them has been a nightmare and although after many many phone calls they did say they would be here today to install a new one - it's late afternoon and not so much as a phone call. I think I can feel myself drooling and talking to myself as I slip into a psychotic break. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">These are the kind of things that make me put the running suit on the dog because I shouldn't be the only one who's miserable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things aren't ALL bad. A few things that were threatening to give me the proverbial shove off the cliff this week have been fixed - woohoo! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rat that I've been trying to catch in the barn for almost a month is now deceased. On Sunday I proclaimed to the whole family that it had now become a family mission to rid the barn of the rat. It was a battle I could no longer fight alone. The guys went 'hunting' on Sunday with no luck. However - our barn dog Millie was listening to my 'this is a team effort' speech and Monday night she took it upon herself to rid the farm of the vermin. She was awfully proud and I was awfully relieved. PS - the rat was a male - we checked. We're hoping we was a lone bachelor but we (Millie and I) are keeping a watchful eye - and ear - out just in case. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did get the Carmine Jewel cherries picked - beat those birds out and that's good. They are now gently soaking in a nice rum. It's turned a delightful shade of red and when they're done soaking they are headed for a coat of dark chocolate. MMMMM, can't wait. They make me happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also picked a bucket load of fresh raspberries. Got them all in the freezer for later eating pleasures - later when we're not in Chaos Town and we can really enjoy them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also got invited to a wine tasting event tomorrow. Sounds like great fun and maybe a little relaxing is just what I need.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third succession of dill and basil are up and the zinnias are starting to bloom. Maybe its time to do another recreation of a famous painting...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mOSxvRUeBFXJmJHyVATDPgTOvLaa4GMKiXa33LRFo8GkrZ3X2lezcEjwauT4BZCsXDaPkZAxuTrI0eNyHMsJB1HgFyHhdgDTVxzRHie3z4JCdLDI8_2igO4GJshhgFxbYROa/s1600/gdf+version+of+the+Flower+Carrier+by+Diego+Rivera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mOSxvRUeBFXJmJHyVATDPgTOvLaa4GMKiXa33LRFo8GkrZ3X2lezcEjwauT4BZCsXDaPkZAxuTrI0eNyHMsJB1HgFyHhdgDTVxzRHie3z4JCdLDI8_2igO4GJshhgFxbYROa/s1600/gdf+version+of+the+Flower+Carrier+by+Diego+Rivera.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And of course, I have my family - Tall Dark and Handsome and the Boy stand beside me daily, hold me up, pour me another drink and some days the fact that I love them more than anything in the world is all I really know for sure. </span><br />
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The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-7617019470291054852014-06-17T07:51:00.001-07:002014-06-17T07:51:41.463-07:00Kickin' It Into Gear With Diversity.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things are really moving right along here at gardendwellers FARM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cover crop we put in of winter wheat is coming along nicely and received a mowing this weekend so that the weeds, which are also in there and doing well, don't get too tall and go to seed. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizr3S-28MyTmbcC9xfKdBZsFlLabdaA_l8QLzvhfWHbrZKAiwSCM1uR3B10jLtVjWaF3b_KpMJf4NOkKvKhrcMC0xgQ5jCLlfks8Z_X25cGO2swfW4L-DuSDuc7XOrHtN1WdKH/s1600/100_2677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizr3S-28MyTmbcC9xfKdBZsFlLabdaA_l8QLzvhfWHbrZKAiwSCM1uR3B10jLtVjWaF3b_KpMJf4NOkKvKhrcMC0xgQ5jCLlfks8Z_X25cGO2swfW4L-DuSDuc7XOrHtN1WdKH/s1600/100_2677.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This cover crop will grow a bit more and then be cultivated in to add organic matter and help build the soil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The perennial flower bed - a simple pleasure of mine as it does not contribute to anything but beauty here on the farm, is in its third season and starting to really look like something. The yellow iris and peonies, gas plant and chives are combining to make a lovely show along the driveway.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5Xa5jnMTtd7zY7hsUyXwWUAPEnayFdYlp2pDCyjcrfKgiMtXMGp8EIZr6y8KD0om8g1vtURCSq-4J-bCykGN3ZHZJhnV6UgY_JQrh8a0N0BwQ14UCRcuKmxDa_9UfUlJB_Ha/s1600/100_2675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5Xa5jnMTtd7zY7hsUyXwWUAPEnayFdYlp2pDCyjcrfKgiMtXMGp8EIZr6y8KD0om8g1vtURCSq-4J-bCykGN3ZHZJhnV6UgY_JQrh8a0N0BwQ14UCRcuKmxDa_9UfUlJB_Ha/s1600/100_2675.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've had several pans of rhubarb bars and you can see that the rhubarb is in full flower. I just love rhubarb in a flower bed, it anchors the ends so well. Soon this bed will be filled with daylily blooms, coneflower and a variety of others followed in fall by the asters and Joe Pye Weed. Season long color. The zinnias are planted on the other side of the driveway and the two will make the perfect entrance to our little farm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just giddy about the orchard this year. We finally have the weeds under control, all the straw on the beds and just about every fruit or nut in the orchard bloomed this spring so we're hoping for at least a tasting of everything this year. The first to give us that is the honeyberries.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdmUeSaQXjGNJ0xA54H9JdRpzOwyeM94yyZc9JEdkaUy53x_as-UUOPiFocHWu9WFDC-UmIBcLmWDHvc92pjOIdeAdNf5uh-hOm0dkT8P2qR0DnMjLuov9eHz_Y4RO2WfWpsw/s1600/100_2684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdmUeSaQXjGNJ0xA54H9JdRpzOwyeM94yyZc9JEdkaUy53x_as-UUOPiFocHWu9WFDC-UmIBcLmWDHvc92pjOIdeAdNf5uh-hOm0dkT8P2qR0DnMjLuov9eHz_Y4RO2WfWpsw/s1600/100_2684.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honeyberries are in the honeysuckle family, look like a football shaped blueberry and kind of taste like a blueberry. They are full of antioxidants and are very good for you. Ours have quite a few berries this year and Sunday we got the bird netting out and so far have successfully kept both the birds AND the vegetarian barn dog Millie out of them!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaWgNW2L4PT0RuMbuwMnm6XMNt-agk47YVzhuRVtuHNs-DK0oMvxTmZxvuHx-pfrITcTqPgf1KyAo87UzdzgOqEDgKXE668MGQn8nmySELoyUYFxNu4b3ahGHARrwnTARGAJj/s1600/100_2597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaWgNW2L4PT0RuMbuwMnm6XMNt-agk47YVzhuRVtuHNs-DK0oMvxTmZxvuHx-pfrITcTqPgf1KyAo87UzdzgOqEDgKXE668MGQn8nmySELoyUYFxNu4b3ahGHARrwnTARGAJj/s1600/100_2597.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got a new toy this winter and have been having fun trying it out. I got a Brix meter. A Brix meter measures the sugars of things - like fruit - and can help you determine when it has reached its peak of ripeness. It is also a good indicator of plant and soil health. So far, the honeyberries I've tested are ranging from 12 to 15. A reading of 12 would be an average fruit but 15 is very good and ready to eat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week we were informed that we have received a </span><a href="http://www.ndtourism.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">North Dakota Division of Tourism</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Expansion grant. We will use these funds to complete the restroom facility in the barn. This will allow gardendwellers FARM to host larger tours once again. We're very excited to be inviting guests back to our operation and hosting events. The guys have been working hard on building walls and insulating the new restroom and last night they had a major step forward when they got the water line in from the well to the barn. The good news is that the existing old line - that used to water cattle in the barn - still works as does the hydrant. No need to trench in new or to buy a new hydrant! WOOOHOOO! Now all that is needed is a trip to a big town to get the necessary holding tank, systems and a little more wiring. Can't wait! A big thank you to the Division of Tourism for helping with this project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another major hurdle this summer will be completing the rest of the irrigation system that will take water directly to the field. We have an NRCS contract to assist with the technical expertise and funding and hopefully soon will have water spigots right at the edge of the field. Up to now, we have had to run a garden hose from the house all the way to the field - it's slow, it's tedious, and by the time you finish watering everything you need to start all over again. What a time saver that will be!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last but not least, we finally got the hops in. After years of putting things in the ground in a hurry and most often not doing it quite right, I have decided that taking extra time and doing it the way it should be done is the wisest choice. (With Age, Comes Wisdom, as Uncle Jim Wilkie used to say.) So they got put on teepee's. Hops grow up from the ground each year. They can grow to 25 feet in one year. The best and easiest way to harvest them is to have them on a single ling and cut them off at the ground each fall. With the teepee system is it easy to do just that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have started with just 8 plants, four Willamette and four Nugget. We have some Cascade hops on the hill - not planted as neatly as this of course. Hops form rhizomes and once established it is easy to multiply the number of plants you have simply by harvesting those rhizomes. Each teepee now holds 4 plants but can hold up to 8 or 10 and we have plenty of room to add more poles if need be. Each set of hops was mulched with newspaper and then straw to keep the weeds down, hold soil moisture and still allow us access to dig rhizomes in the future. Since the hops die back to the ground each year, we're hoping we will not have winter mouse trouble with the hops the way we do with our other woody plants. Eventually we hope to sell our hops to North Dakota breweries and home brewers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So you see, even though we are a culinary herb farm, and we will ALWAYS be a culinary herb farm, we believe in diversity. Diversity makes for a healthier eco-system, business, and world. Having fruit and hops and bittersweet and mushrooms and nuts keeps us from being totally wiped out by any strange new disease or pest that might come along and have a hankering for only one species. It gives our business a back up plan in case Mother Nature decides its just not the year for herbs to grow well - something to tide us over in rough times. It gives the birds and bees and other living things places to live and things to eat and makes the soil richer than if we were cultivating a mono-culture. Diversity is key and that's what we strive for. Herbs will always be who we are and what we do - but we have a back up plan just in case!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next time - keep on weedin'!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-41010208639703821012014-05-06T14:44:00.004-07:002014-05-06T14:45:23.809-07:00Small Equipment for a small Farm<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think spring is finally here. The barn dog is beginning to blow her coat and the fields, ours and those around us have begun filling with equipment on the move.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQAdu9jv8KQnJKxyqP3YemcdQBAPzKnpTFHFIT0FauQal3rGhCqwf6498MDQ2x5Nq2ZaYG9ZeYXRqgz0dva5xVJDoy8sv62jqRueE8B685TDHSCiZtktsnWdPYMsGwSuGlw-u/s1600/100_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQAdu9jv8KQnJKxyqP3YemcdQBAPzKnpTFHFIT0FauQal3rGhCqwf6498MDQ2x5Nq2ZaYG9ZeYXRqgz0dva5xVJDoy8sv62jqRueE8B685TDHSCiZtktsnWdPYMsGwSuGlw-u/s1600/100_2509.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So what type of equipment does a small farm like ours use to plant an acre or two? That's a question I get a lot through my work at <a href="http://www.dakotacollege.edu/ech.php" target="_blank">Dakota College ECH</a>. At gardendwellers FARM we wondered the same thing when we first moved to this fabulous place in 2011. We were unsure of what type of equipment to best manage all that we needed to do without spending thousands upon thousands of dollars for many different pieces of equipment. We also didn't want to use our John Deere garden tractor and tiller for all of the weeding and maintenance required. So we put the question out to our Facebook followers and we soon had the answer.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Plotmaster.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, folks, that's right...it's called a Plotmaster.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qRt_YWm8gvB61XTuB6mYq5El1FlHdFdc5NrbxQh8q_gtKuo_T5S6ntcaMKilefP6fhaeAYUMwuZtrslVIKiJsFosxG45vxvcX9mWnnywkDgokuU8COMx97ACI-vrnMaYBXNG/s1600/100_2497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qRt_YWm8gvB61XTuB6mYq5El1FlHdFdc5NrbxQh8q_gtKuo_T5S6ntcaMKilefP6fhaeAYUMwuZtrslVIKiJsFosxG45vxvcX9mWnnywkDgokuU8COMx97ACI-vrnMaYBXNG/s1600/100_2497.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This handy little piece of machinery pulls behind our ATV and does many jobs - all at once or by themselves. As you can see, it has two sets of disks, a drag, a roller, a seeder and we have another attachment that will plow when we need it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've used this wonderful contraption for two years and we love it. By using the disks and drag we can keep our fields weed free and looking good with minimal effort and in a small amount of time. The plow has helped to break into hard or cold ground and this weekend we used it for the first time to seed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We grow sustainably. That means we need to care for our soil in the best way possible. For us, that means no chemical fertilizers so instead we use green manure and compost to ensure a healthy soil environment. This year we have chosen to green manure winter wheat. By planting winter wheat in the spring instead of the fall, the wheat will stay shorter and not head out. We will let the wheat grow to a desired height then disk and drag it back into the soil where it will decompose that add tilth to the soil and a fertile place for worms to romp - if worms can romp.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Plotmaster works well for seeding.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It has a seed hopper that fits most sizes of seed and works well with the wheat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> It took a little bit of adjusting to get it worked out so the seed was laying down correctly and covering up abut very soon the Boy got it right and finished the seeding of our green manure in no time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then Barry went in with the John Deere and the tiller and made a great new spot for the chives. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Together we replanted the chives that accidentally got dug up last fall and with the dividing we did on them we ended up with over a wheelbarrow of chive plants leftover!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then it was time for a little fun break and a few kisses between the Boy and his favorite girl.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-13262143150883797642013-11-29T10:00:00.000-08:002013-11-29T11:21:50.866-08:00An Epic Duel<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An epic duel has ensued at our normally peaceful farm and I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm hoping our readers and followers can help us out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see, the favorite nursery rhyme is playing itself out right before my eyes. Yesterday the barn dog discovered a cat. Black and shivering, overtly skinny the black little bundle decided that our barn was the place to spend Thanksgiving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now first, let me say that I am NOT a cat person. Definitely NOT a cat person. Their lack of obedience, loyalty and self centered nature is not for me. Don't get me wrong, I love <em>other people's</em> cats and a soft kitten purring in your palm is a hear melter no matter who you are. But as for keeping a cat, I don't know how and don't know that I want to know. But lately, with the field mice finding homes in our out buildings, I have to say I have considered getting a farm cat, for the mousing factor alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's why I have not yet gotten a farm cat. I believe in spaying/neutering and vaccinating our pets. This is a vow I take seriously, the vow to properly care for the animals under our care. If I were to spend the money to vaccinate and spay a cat and then, as cats do, it decided that the pastures - or mice - were greener on the other side of the pasture and thus wandered off to another farm or to live in the wild, I would be angry. I have never had a cat. I don't know how to make a cat stick around if it lives outdoors or prevent it from leaving - even if it did like its home here, at some point, wouldn't it want to hunt elsewhere?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when Millie the Barn Dog in doing her job decided that the black intruder in the barn had to go, I was really unsure of how to deal with it. This little black cat looking so weak and emaciated but yet with clear yellow eyes and even in her sad state a shiny black coat tugged at my heart strings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The duel started in the barn where Millie fretted out the cat and grabbing it by the tail pulled it into the yard. The little black bugger growled and hissed, Millie barked and the duel was on. The En Guard was first followed by the Attack by the gingham dog and a Parry by the calico cats razor sharp claws. On and on until it caught the attention of Tall, Dark, and Handsome who quickly pulled me from the house to decide how to end the battle. With no other decision except total annihilation of one participant or the other on the horizon, separation seemed the only answer. The gingham dog was thus pulled kicking and screaming to the shop and the calico cat was left to wander off into the woods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I would have included photos in this blog post but all you would have seen was a blur of black and white and tan.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was Thanksgiving after all so my heart got the best of me and once inside the house, looking at the poor shivering creature still sitting in the snow, I decided it wouldn't hurt to feed it just a little. I quickly warmed some sausage we had in the fridge and put it into a bowl but by the time I got it to the woods the little black cat was gone. Later, when Millie was released from her prison in the shop she used what the Lord gave her to sniff out where it had gone but found the sausage instead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This might have been the end of the story. Except...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see Millie the barn dog has an outside kennel with a doggie door that allows her free access to her inside kennel where her heated dog house and heated water bowl and food bowl reside inside an enclosure in the barn. Every morning Millie appears in the outside kennel around 7:15 or so, just before I go to work. This morning, no Millie at 7:30. No Millie at 8:00. No Millie at 8:30. That's when I got worried and went to check on things and you guessed it. The little black furball had taken up residence in the barn again. I'm hoping the cat found it warmer than the outdoors and with the abundance of mice I'm hoping it found a meal or two overnight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's where you come in. I removed Millie from the barn - she's pacing outside the barn door as I write. What's your opinion? What should I do? Let the Duel ensue or try to keep the cat around to act as mouser for those little varmints that Millie just can't reach? Millie does mouse - some - but as a larger dog there are places she just can't get to. If your suggestion is to let the cat stay - do I need to feed it or just ensure that Millie doesn't kill it? How do I end this duel so it doesn't end like the nursery rhyme? Please chime in. Or the Dutch Clock will be retelling his tale.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Duel</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> by Eugene Field </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gingham dog and the calico cat<br /> Side by side on the table sat;<br /> 'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)<br /> Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!<br /> The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate<br /> Appeared to know as sure as fate<br /> There was going to be a terrible spat.<br /> (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I was n't there; I simply state<br /> What was told to me by the Chinese plate!</i>) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gingham dog went "Bow-wow-wow!"<br /> And the calico cat replied "Mee-ow!"<br /> The air was littered, an hour or so,<br /> With bits of gingham and calico,<br /> While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place<br /> Up with its hands before its face,<br /> For it always dreaded a family row!<br /> (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Now mind: I'm only telling you<br /> What the old Dutch clock declares is true!</i>) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Chinese plate looked very blue,<br /> And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"<br /> But the gingham dog and the calico cat<br /> Wallowed this way and tumbled that,<br /> Employing every tooth and claw<br /> In the awfullest way you ever saw—<br />And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!<br /> (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Don't fancy I exaggerate—<br /> I got my news from the Chinese plate!</i>) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next morning, where the two had sat<br /> They found no trace of dog or cat;<br /> And some folks think unto this day<br /> That burglars stole that pair away!<br /> But the truth about the cat and pup<br /> Is this: they ate each other up!<br /> Now what do you really think of that!<br /> (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The old Dutch clock it told me so,<br /> And that is how I came to know.</i>)</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22063#sthash.Zj1cOFYW.dpuf</span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-61942984269924469152013-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:002013-11-18T10:11:37.731-08:00Hitting Oil at gardendwellers FARM<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's time for another installment of "what do gardendwellers do?"!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what DO gardendwellers do when its the first snow that stays for the season?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9789IDC5FnTS8St_BEX1q5jLD4UDTDBWyq8tJXdkkG1UB3jRqu3wUnfh6lvtdLiBUhtUzmGqrYY8d9LBVp7lgR_xRZY9PtYTLMTPCxcAWwq8xs2HWH0TwgGx2LtzZCvvgmB4U/s1600/EO1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9789IDC5FnTS8St_BEX1q5jLD4UDTDBWyq8tJXdkkG1UB3jRqu3wUnfh6lvtdLiBUhtUzmGqrYY8d9LBVp7lgR_xRZY9PtYTLMTPCxcAWwq8xs2HWH0TwgGx2LtzZCvvgmB4U/s640/EO1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first thing I do is look at what's left and says "Man! I hate to see this stuff just go to waste." And then I set about putting Tall, Dark, and Handsome to work getting the still together to take the rosemary from the high tunnel and turn it into essential oil and hydrosol.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is the rosemary right AFTER I picked - so you can see we still have a bumper crop left - but not for long with the cold weather.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIN9jrR-usij5c0pG5dHf485bU3dwogKeL-e41Oiv_lgzaHYnshlqq4UPaj1y-G-s-mwIbtgFnd1Z4Y9hXUpCs-JWowfAS5K67vWNzpECPkwgFwCxeJNwfY4Q-QB2PMvox-ks/s1600/EO2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIN9jrR-usij5c0pG5dHf485bU3dwogKeL-e41Oiv_lgzaHYnshlqq4UPaj1y-G-s-mwIbtgFnd1Z4Y9hXUpCs-JWowfAS5K67vWNzpECPkwgFwCxeJNwfY4Q-QB2PMvox-ks/s640/EO2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, we have a still. If you're a fan of the show Moonshiners then you're familiar with the concept. Except we're after what others in North Dakota are after right now, oil - not moonshine. AND, our oil is not black - but it is worth a lot and if you try to buy a barrel of it you'll be paying way more than you would for a barrel of crude.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got our still as a part of an APUC grant back in 2007. We were trying to determine if essential oils from herbs grown in ND would yield more than other herbs and if there was a market for them. In the end, we learned a few things: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One - getting oil from herbs is a difficult and time taking task.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two - separating the oil from the hydrosol (the water containing the oil) is a difficult art to learn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three - finding a market for it once you have oil or hydrosol is just about as difficult as the first two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we could find a market for it - this would be an excellent way to utilize the herbs we have at the end of the season or even during the season - the ones that are not quite high enough quality to go to the grocery store shelves. Instead, many times these herbs just feed the compost pile. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I got a wild hair and decided it was time to try the still again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, you pick the rosemary and wash it. Then you set up the still. Then, once you remember how it all goes together like a puzzle and figure out all the steps so you have the gauges and outlets all facing the right way - you pack it full of herbs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgauLBzBIL4VVrmWvJo_OIZ84S2YvNRPSOBpyQFqX59J_a1RWn4Wo28DS5dqFa7ySXsEnppUZlXZGDhS5UEwngKNAp061Kd9XJZQdFfbbED3A0tvPtGLNUKfSpFpll-3kXJrZ/s1600/EO3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgauLBzBIL4VVrmWvJo_OIZ84S2YvNRPSOBpyQFqX59J_a1RWn4Wo28DS5dqFa7ySXsEnppUZlXZGDhS5UEwngKNAp061Kd9XJZQdFfbbED3A0tvPtGLNUKfSpFpll-3kXJrZ/s640/EO3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have to pack it as full as you can. Really stuff it in there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWx58ROPvc583poq70tGid-0K-ObDA1nqt9657wZA0_Wf4_dL-5k7WJZ2MibqovTaQuo8eG3ZvLaqyJHq8yHW8CRMUHoPJMuYUWR_TYmWvn5_O0wUElb-jWoJlVHXNES3l-BTt/s1600/EO4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWx58ROPvc583poq70tGid-0K-ObDA1nqt9657wZA0_Wf4_dL-5k7WJZ2MibqovTaQuo8eG3ZvLaqyJHq8yHW8CRMUHoPJMuYUWR_TYmWvn5_O0wUElb-jWoJlVHXNES3l-BTt/s640/EO4.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, we use distilled water in the tank. Using distilled water ensures there are no impurities in our hydrosol or oil.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs5YJPscd7sz3oJfDL6X3PO61w-hQUIuyuvZxUsF91PEreyBVfREQGr0nR2McrBQ4jg1OGriqLhDtn1aywnU1EEnqgYAasnQoIR1QEl2HCXnya3i6wjvohfqomRrI1W9T-afH/s1600/EO5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCs5YJPscd7sz3oJfDL6X3PO61w-hQUIuyuvZxUsF91PEreyBVfREQGr0nR2McrBQ4jg1OGriqLhDtn1aywnU1EEnqgYAasnQoIR1QEl2HCXnya3i6wjvohfqomRrI1W9T-afH/s640/EO5.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then you put the 'beak' on it and connect it to the condenser.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0M5ukSdfgCld4anGi_CRBHEt3242G6FpxeDsn4Q9D57EmzPH4TVRxfT_71co79thmKWesgBQp2XSR9gg_rC2qLgy_ctBqrvJjmo_uaXlaxNWuGobxCVqhKWPej3XEBzntC09/s1600/EO6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0M5ukSdfgCld4anGi_CRBHEt3242G6FpxeDsn4Q9D57EmzPH4TVRxfT_71co79thmKWesgBQp2XSR9gg_rC2qLgy_ctBqrvJjmo_uaXlaxNWuGobxCVqhKWPej3XEBzntC09/s640/EO6.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The condenser has coils inside that the product steam flows through. It's purpose is to cool the steam back into the distillate which is separated hydrosol and oil.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUBAeoDjvZ7J2sjEe127r4OKssjU1nLPOdkUcXW9Ldx83GcDOb4l31ovky-qtIeJqtSfaShbRzOLkI5oe2OESsBXqcKDZaWQR8pG6PB_EhYntzpuLrcfUv8tMv7FoV6V3EFlU/s1600/EO7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUBAeoDjvZ7J2sjEe127r4OKssjU1nLPOdkUcXW9Ldx83GcDOb4l31ovky-qtIeJqtSfaShbRzOLkI5oe2OESsBXqcKDZaWQR8pG6PB_EhYntzpuLrcfUv8tMv7FoV6V3EFlU/s640/EO7.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-c_RFHvDNFNT7TAS-GcDVTT2eew4jNvYyHlCxJMQNXVbaivVFe3mKBz4XEnfgDzdc1QDl77CUTPDIPJmMfFhOKzXDzuKs4vGL0JDJ3_HN5SYRsijcNP6enbSafToFuijl47tp/s1600/EO8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-c_RFHvDNFNT7TAS-GcDVTT2eew4jNvYyHlCxJMQNXVbaivVFe3mKBz4XEnfgDzdc1QDl77CUTPDIPJmMfFhOKzXDzuKs4vGL0JDJ3_HN5SYRsijcNP6enbSafToFuijl47tp/s320/EO8.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After these two are connected you add the final piece of the puzzle - the essencier. This is a special piece of equipment that helps to separate the precious oil. Learning to use this piece of equipment is the key to the whole process.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWQXyfwrRqf_6U6AGCqzjNSv0u0nuWMrG-ptqOfeUQskb2IGaFnVD4nJ6eWJBuaucVHiMx_Mzl0aPw4CGlcwJ5ek03TYiZtITRpznfq4KE_fVTd3FScLZQQuz795akA8v3Mz9/s1600/EO9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWQXyfwrRqf_6U6AGCqzjNSv0u0nuWMrG-ptqOfeUQskb2IGaFnVD4nJ6eWJBuaucVHiMx_Mzl0aPw4CGlcwJ5ek03TYiZtITRpznfq4KE_fVTd3FScLZQQuz795akA8v3Mz9/s640/EO9.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see that one tube goes into a clean gallon jug, we use the ones from the distilled water. This tube will collect the hydrosol. The other little tube going into the small jar is for the oil.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then you just plug the thing in and wait, and wait, and wait. The whole process takes about 6 hours and needs to be tended the whole time. There is a spout coming off of the condenser, if that begins to spout steam, you need to draw water from the condenser and replace it with cold water. If you are losing steam, you are losing oil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, little drops of water begin to fill the essencier. It takes a lot of time to get to this point and even more to fill that essencier. Some times we will pre-fill the essencier with warm water to speed up the process but that's not really recommended if you want really good hydrosol or oil.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW7Dm4bC1nFw0HztOjtm29GG63rpme59T_UljMddwkQo1IbIw1-N4KyFCDRM9bFr73Qj8ouifGMKFky9ZgLFv4hxR8jdaxkJoDBXzi3c5k4j_Sv2821lCc0C500H-K7Zsnw_E/s1600/EO11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW7Dm4bC1nFw0HztOjtm29GG63rpme59T_UljMddwkQo1IbIw1-N4KyFCDRM9bFr73Qj8ouifGMKFky9ZgLFv4hxR8jdaxkJoDBXzi3c5k4j_Sv2821lCc0C500H-K7Zsnw_E/s640/EO11.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The esssencier has a little tiny hole in the top where the oil collects. There are set screws that you need to monitor and raise and lower according to the level of hydrosol and oil. We're not very good at using these screws and usually end up with a high quality oil and then a lesser quality oil in the end. In this photo you can see the really rich rosemary oil on the top of the jar and the lighter oil on the bottom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh how I wish this blog had smell-o-vision! At this point in the process it really is beginning to smell great! Holy Rosemary its strong this year!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-2dKwoAQ_pWQMIgYT5pfhGk0PalW9fp5N5HlfqMfHyBBP23FqDq8f8zaigEt6WAg20BGgcTxZ9A3S2nh3bnecEAfB08qVLzmcii49plI3nvAIq0Z95cgcQ8mJlqrD8JnTKzB/s1600/EO12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-2dKwoAQ_pWQMIgYT5pfhGk0PalW9fp5N5HlfqMfHyBBP23FqDq8f8zaigEt6WAg20BGgcTxZ9A3S2nh3bnecEAfB08qVLzmcii49plI3nvAIq0Z95cgcQ8mJlqrD8JnTKzB/s640/EO12.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, after hours of tending and adding water and removing oil we have over a gallon of hydrosol and over a pint of oil. It's great stuff because the herbs have been cold, making them keep all of their oils in the plant instead of transpiring it out like they do in the heat of summer. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjREAVo_awB-Eur1DiOF_zVqF_ju1jq6pIywSTQ369J86OOVj52a5It2CBJAeTc2n2pYjSw5Hlvy6fddVknMDqZ4Vs25YKsYfHON4NSlwz4gzoeO6cP5-Yw0LRS8xw_4n1LJ92/s1600/EO13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjREAVo_awB-Eur1DiOF_zVqF_ju1jq6pIywSTQ369J86OOVj52a5It2CBJAeTc2n2pYjSw5Hlvy6fddVknMDqZ4Vs25YKsYfHON4NSlwz4gzoeO6cP5-Yw0LRS8xw_4n1LJ92/s640/EO13.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a few tests, I have decided that the hydrosol still has an amazing amount of oil in it and the essential oil is awfully pure too. Very pleased with this batch! Now if we could just find a market for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now, online, you can find other herb growers that sell rosemary hydrosol for $7.00 for 3 ounces. That makes our product worth about $500. The oil sells for $7 to $8 and ounce. That makes what we have in oil worth about $150. All totaled $650 worth of product - but its not worth anything if you can't find anyone to buy it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hydrosols and essential oils are used in bath and body products, in candles, in homeopathic remedies and in many other ways. They smell great. Heck, you could even dump a bunch in the bathwater if you just want to treat yourself some time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here's the thing- if you know of anyone who uses hydrosols or essential oils - send them our way. We've got some GREAT rosemary product that we'd love to get rid of - I'd even make them a good deal!</span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-70356758887364698512013-10-23T13:11:00.000-07:002013-10-23T13:11:21.937-07:00The Voice of a Woman Farmer<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m almost 51 now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
realized this in the shower this morning as I was thinking how good the warm
water felt on my aching knees and hips and how I wished I could be our little
black dog who lays in the sun all day, gets fed when she wants it and gets played
with on her terms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIM2HIah1u0xa12UTqfiU83KkoXiUilffipg6BtvSxwFb7a4m1i2hIrxj050-1l4KNh_YtzCgdqWL5W2wgwayPYCvaQzkIsxG0HlaqMrIob2gE-Od88sEEjihqPfIrEJdxwjx/s1600/100_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIM2HIah1u0xa12UTqfiU83KkoXiUilffipg6BtvSxwFb7a4m1i2hIrxj050-1l4KNh_YtzCgdqWL5W2wgwayPYCvaQzkIsxG0HlaqMrIob2gE-Od88sEEjihqPfIrEJdxwjx/s640/100_1654.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m old enough to remember rotary phones, manual
typewriters, black and white television, computers with paper punch cards, DOS,
party lines, riding in the car without a seatbelt and biking without a helmet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old enough to know that kids should play
outside – play – tag, kick the can, freeze tag and kick ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m old enough to remember the burning of bras and the
entering of women into the workforce en mass but I wasn’t old enough to
understand the revolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At my age, at
that time, I would have much rather burned the body pillow size sanitary
napkins and the belts used to hold them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, bras are decorated and pink is worn by our NFL athletes and you
have to be ‘Tough Enough To Wear Pink’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5TobTWAY3dpYDrGNvOLOxM8FQocVx8Viguv7SfPbQTr1zndg_guQmC-50V9pHCK7zkGqrhZWOQ66lf3NQmywlD8ZmX2H7b7H3BgLc8bBf14_zMt8o5rMrCtNS251dCpGjqQa/s1600/100_1878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5TobTWAY3dpYDrGNvOLOxM8FQocVx8Viguv7SfPbQTr1zndg_guQmC-50V9pHCK7zkGqrhZWOQ66lf3NQmywlD8ZmX2H7b7H3BgLc8bBf14_zMt8o5rMrCtNS251dCpGjqQa/s640/100_1878.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Seems the bras have come out of the closet and women’s issues are no
longer a silent curse to discuss in hushed voices in dark alleys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m old enough to have been told by my high school guidance
counselor that women didn’t belong in the landscaping or forestry industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I
was wise enough not to listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
worked in male predominated fields all my life and done my share of working on
the cracks in that glass ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
landscaping company I worked for, with all the men I worked with, I had to work
harder, lift more, sell more, and carry more just to be considered an
equal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit, when I was
younger, out-doing my male counterparts was a source of pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One day at a landscaping company I worked for in Minnesota,
the mother of three of the men I worked with came in and stated she just had to
see what we were doing as ‘the boys’ were coming home and falling asleep on the
couch and in the recliner instead of going out to play baseball and hunt and
fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt so good to know that they
had been working hard to keep up with me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But of course, at almost 51, I now pay the price with varicose veins
from lifting too many heavy things a 5’2” gal ought not to lift, and bad knees
and shoulders that just won’t lift those things anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what does all of this have to do with gardendwellers
FARM?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m getting there, bear with me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently a farmer I work with through <a href="http://www.dakotacollege.edu/" target="_blank">Dakota College atBottineau</a> blogged about her experience as a woman farmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her frustration at being marginalized shown
through her words like the beam of a flashlight on a cloudy night with no
moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s 33.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s a farmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s also, by the way, a mother, a wife, a
community member with lots to give (and she does) but the acclaim for the
success of their farm goes to her husband – every time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s frustrating, for her and for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can read her blog post here: </span><a href="http://www.riverboundfarm.com/blaahg.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.riverboundfarm.com/blaahg.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought we had come a long way – but in reading her blog
and upon more consideration, I see that we have a long way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began thinking about my neighbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She works side by side with her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She drives the tractors, works the cattle,
tends the crops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, she is a
fabulous mother and a very involved and giving community member for our
township and the small towns that surround us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And yet, when describing to locals where we live, listeners always respond
“Oh, you live near the (insert the husbands name here)’s place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why isn’t it ‘her’ place or ‘their’ place?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At gardendwellers FARM, Tall, Dark, and Handsome and I have
always worked side by side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp72_Mq3VHz_T7-LxstrobWEI2u-4sWEg-gsi6v-q31FXMGs87ckvhjjFjU7VxfXPy16I4oDZ3tahjrT8WRDrID27v2bHH0aYcy3ODSgAYIunhE3sC2s4GFmaQTLDjDpAenK9/s1600/100_1517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp72_Mq3VHz_T7-LxstrobWEI2u-4sWEg-gsi6v-q31FXMGs87ckvhjjFjU7VxfXPy16I4oDZ3tahjrT8WRDrID27v2bHH0aYcy3ODSgAYIunhE3sC2s4GFmaQTLDjDpAenK9/s640/100_1517.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>With sales
at farmers markets, our customers have always seen us as equally a part of the
business and man are they quick to notice if one of us is missing from the
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Our customers expect to always see us together - like some sort of odd Siamese twins. </span>We usually don’t get called by name
but instead are called the ‘gardendwellers’ or the ‘dwellers’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been lucky to feel equal in every way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the media people we have come into
contact with have been very balanced in their approach to the stories they tell
about our farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there was the
one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I, like my friend, experienced a media person – a male
reporter – that insisted Tall, Dark, and Handsome take the day off from working
road construction to be at the farm when he came to interview us about
gardendwellers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We obliged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the whole interview, the focus was
on Tall, Dark, and Handsome, even though my son and I had been the ones to run
the operation for most of this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suppose I could have stolen the show by putting on a bikini and laying myself
over the hood of the tractor but then you know for sure that the focus would
have been on the tractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My point is this; while I have had my share of ‘struggles
against huMANity’ in my almost 51 years, I’m awfully lucky to live and work
with a man that sees me as an equal, to have customers that recognize we are a
team and that’s how gardendwellers operates, to have a life where I do not feel
marginalized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLxZPPBDN_LTm0nZ7uqeSaNuuVoBXB-uCP_NfgMPn0zFABiloVbbInhkwFeh8nZqo1b2IMM54xAaDB3xzxdVgTU5BE4W3PNP-MQXk81rXPUHC40S59W-QkTCgLLjpzckrTsor/s1600/1-minot+market+2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLxZPPBDN_LTm0nZ7uqeSaNuuVoBXB-uCP_NfgMPn0zFABiloVbbInhkwFeh8nZqo1b2IMM54xAaDB3xzxdVgTU5BE4W3PNP-MQXk81rXPUHC40S59W-QkTCgLLjpzckrTsor/s640/1-minot+market+2010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>A life where I am the one
who is asked to serve on committees, to teach classes and to share my
passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Believe me girls, I’ve been there, I know what it feels like
to be the one whose work goes unnoticed, and it’s no fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I worked for 6 years as a manager in a
landscaping company with an almost absentee owner and every day even repeat
customers would come in and ask for Jeff instead of speaking to me first.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere along the way, like my friend, I
found my voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to speak up,
toot my own horn and call the little bastards who wouldn’t recognize me as an
equal on the carpet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not until you
speak up that you begin to realize your true potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find your voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speak loud and clear and don’t let the
cavemen get away with not realizing that you are the glue that holds that
farming operation together – not just the cook and baby watcher.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In two weeks I will be speaking at the <a href="http://wfan.org/cultivating-our-food-farms-and-future-2/" target="_blank">National Women Foodand Agriculture Conference – Cultivating Our Food, Farms, and Future in DesMoines Iowa</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be days filled with
women who have found their own voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
will be invigorating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to keep
this problem that our North Dakota women farmers have in mind while I’m
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll look for answers, and if I
find any – I’ll try to implement what I’ve learned when I return to my home
state and farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-65106720771838690302013-08-22T08:16:00.000-07:002013-08-22T08:16:12.400-07:00Why I Have a Dog Part 2.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I've already written about why I have Ida Done It Anyway - our little cocker spaniel house dog - who by the way now has two of her three legs in Rally Excellent through the AKC - heading for the final leg in a couple weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I haven't written about why I have dog number 2 - Don't Coddle the Barn Dog, A.K.A Millie. And yes, that is her official name with the AKC Canine Companions - American Mixed Breed registry. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQaTB5gPzaWxjx6XMvQV6LRbyW2l_lJFekOt8DKXRW4YMhktUhUKm7L2cNDC6JlmwYg_Mc2go83ruhRJRHu1PAvMl_yY7AhbaDhFqXHgcDQhSUObpPUUyN4UsZPjDEAoOEDqu/s1600/Millie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQaTB5gPzaWxjx6XMvQV6LRbyW2l_lJFekOt8DKXRW4YMhktUhUKm7L2cNDC6JlmwYg_Mc2go83ruhRJRHu1PAvMl_yY7AhbaDhFqXHgcDQhSUObpPUUyN4UsZPjDEAoOEDqu/s640/Millie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although we got her second, second hand so we're not sure exactly WHAT kind of dog she is, we were told she is half Australian Shepherd and half German Shepherd, both herding breeds with good instincts. The Aussie I believe as she certainly follows the Aussie rule number one: If it's on the ground, it's MINE. That includes gloves, mittens, unused soaker hoses, frogs, tools, and anything else left on the ground unattended.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Millie's job description was always to be:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Live in the barn</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep the barn, farmyard, orchards and production field from predators</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get underfoot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't bark unnecessarily</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't bother the neighboring farmers</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's done a pretty good job of bothering the ground squirrels and gophers enough to keep them from the yard and production lot. She has caught a mouse or mole or two and she loves chasing the birds out of 'her' barn. She has befriended the chickens and loves them dearly. She doesn't bark unnecessarily and thus far hasn't bothered the neighboring farmers except this spring when she also thought it was her job to keep the ducks out of the wet spot in the field across the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, this canine has exhibited some unforeseen vegetarian attributes. She showed signs of vegetarianism early on but now, with my personal vegetable garden in full swing - she has become the ultimate veggie thief - going so far as to forgo the expensive dog food the Boy purchases for her in preference for vine ripened tomatoes, peas, cucumbers and the like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No veggie is safe: (sorry for my shadow in the photos - I'm no photographer and catching her in the act is no easy task - she's gotten pretty sneaky)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peas are good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedtnrToSMdaAYz_yfIQ_ZNPb0s-uYiUBVRCyFUhFpojV4QhGRxiK-uoRB_E6vaYhDUF8rqIvMGzzcF7o_tOn4MPDw8MpHbP7Ml5u5FIrulRyRjNywAD_ooB9jkpDmHSN3Az_5/s1600/eat+peas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedtnrToSMdaAYz_yfIQ_ZNPb0s-uYiUBVRCyFUhFpojV4QhGRxiK-uoRB_E6vaYhDUF8rqIvMGzzcF7o_tOn4MPDw8MpHbP7Ml5u5FIrulRyRjNywAD_ooB9jkpDmHSN3Az_5/s400/eat+peas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cherry tomatoes grow right at mouth level - how convenient!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGj4Bwp3JAbnH6cbwJ0Y468U5xyfr6e0gw0Z0FIoCAhjEcpVBpR7zP_tcN5jEslrsGcmbPBm7JMsZoiDyYEOLFqI49UhJSgJE3Q5aUTvrdPZJ-X1RSlYTX9jjYfnu_LuudIjhr/s1600/eat+cherry+tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGj4Bwp3JAbnH6cbwJ0Y468U5xyfr6e0gw0Z0FIoCAhjEcpVBpR7zP_tcN5jEslrsGcmbPBm7JMsZoiDyYEOLFqI49UhJSgJE3Q5aUTvrdPZJ-X1RSlYTX9jjYfnu_LuudIjhr/s400/eat+cherry+tomatoes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vine ripened tomatoes are the bomb and she knows exactly which ones are ripe.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZf1wOtg5Kzp8IcOvPYA_VeC1PUtlndAAW9O9XbHYehdHMnYhSkHqdFvwJba6_i3dqLUTLSjswJe3DC-qHJZNOJSz5pTWAycMUrIY_GwYvYuMg4BPJr-0xcdKl9Qby7_QWDzA/s1600/eat+tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZf1wOtg5Kzp8IcOvPYA_VeC1PUtlndAAW9O9XbHYehdHMnYhSkHqdFvwJba6_i3dqLUTLSjswJe3DC-qHJZNOJSz5pTWAycMUrIY_GwYvYuMg4BPJr-0xcdKl9Qby7_QWDzA/s400/eat+tomatoes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of choosing only the ripe ones, when it comes to raspberries, this dog knows a thing or two. One day Tall Dark and Handsome was very concerned as Millie had 'blood' all over her head. On further inspection the 'blood' was raspberry juice from a run through the raspberry patch. On hot days, she goes out and lays in between the rows and eats what she can reach. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately, as our mushrooms go into their fall flush, a mushroom has been just the thing for breakfast each morning. That's what's left of the white stem laying on the ground, the head of the mushroom is in her mouth.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgTnjtJn3Uwp44ZSiZmRJ5KO5wzsha0IefkphyphenhyphenN6frpNlMfdJn46BfY0cB_xop3wyoQ4teR8j0XgXfSAegm7ojmiwox2KSMkb4XH-rX6-pRUlCFc6JJtc1QMnvaNIqAnr6CmT/s1600/eat+mushrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgTnjtJn3Uwp44ZSiZmRJ5KO5wzsha0IefkphyphenhyphenN6frpNlMfdJn46BfY0cB_xop3wyoQ4teR8j0XgXfSAegm7ojmiwox2KSMkb4XH-rX6-pRUlCFc6JJtc1QMnvaNIqAnr6CmT/s400/eat+mushrooms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So far she has shown no signs of being an 'Herbivore' but that is only because she is not allowed in the herb production lot. To follow Good Agricultural Practices and the Food Safety Rules we need to follow to pass inspection, no domesticated or non-domesticated animals are allowed in production areas - thus we need a dog that is trained to stay out of them and trained to keep other animals out as well. A very important job on gardendwellers FARM. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So - why I have a dog part 2 - to cull my tomatoes, to keep my from eating too many sweets covered in raspberries, to ensure that I do not have to spend too much time picking beans, peas, cucumbers or cherry tomatoes and to trim the mushroom bed. Oh, and maybe to keep those pesky birds out of the barn. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgis69BXwPPBYmLekP-5_zubcD9L-GtxKbwWtJmNKTxxMV5ckzKnutVgPToNfhBRz7zmsEwGyWlwZyCm-cWBNrZMQHVQ-agGfqRZuRTR3W3dRcHBkk_wiJSECIMr7zGJbHR34ei/s1600/100_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgis69BXwPPBYmLekP-5_zubcD9L-GtxKbwWtJmNKTxxMV5ckzKnutVgPToNfhBRz7zmsEwGyWlwZyCm-cWBNrZMQHVQ-agGfqRZuRTR3W3dRcHBkk_wiJSECIMr7zGJbHR34ei/s640/100_1574.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't Coddle the Barn Dog, AKA Millie, in her winter coat, taken January 2013.</span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-17373946305412073562013-06-25T13:46:00.000-07:002013-06-25T13:46:14.095-07:00Mushroom Extravaganza!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This spring we</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">have been blessed. Well, maybe its overwhelmed more than blessed...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see, all of this rain has brought about a flush from the mushroom bed I installed last year. Now we have an overabundance of beautiful, tasty, wine cap mushrooms. With my several posts on Facebook regarding what we'll do with them, one person requested a blog post about our experiences. So, this one's for you Annie!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, let me just say that growing mushrooms is easy - even in North Dakota. I purchased peg spawn from Field and Forest </span><a href="http://www.fieldforest.net/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=3&chapter=0"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.fieldforest.net/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=3&chapter=0</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. They were rather inexpensive and you can grow wine caps on wood chips or straw. They are also great because they have a very distinctive wine or brown 'cap' to them, making them easy to identify if other species come up on your bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wine caps grow on many different types of wood chips. For best results make it at least 40% hardwood, and aged no more than 3 years.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYKArGXdRgAkkkHQA9eUUY1oFZpCWZCf5OBULWDGE7EKKELkTExjU-GuJMxx3LQx3gIohzrIkACXNw3sQPeiTF_b_VL1skw_PVpfzvor6-yml9GAR-tgW070tYEvgKfltav-q/s1600/the+perfect+mushroom+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYKArGXdRgAkkkHQA9eUUY1oFZpCWZCf5OBULWDGE7EKKELkTExjU-GuJMxx3LQx3gIohzrIkACXNw3sQPeiTF_b_VL1skw_PVpfzvor6-yml9GAR-tgW070tYEvgKfltav-q/s640/the+perfect+mushroom+1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peg Spawn is just as the name implies comes as a little wooden peg covered in white 'mushroom sperm'. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCWWwRj-T_fxk0irH7G4vTPWAWV-IT_pXTZYBqm11-a2WVqlxZU9LYl-gtVxXh6xAQuzl26xXrad69nABaQaY0l-HvnJk_2B6XqbOpJjPM4Y-1wXTQPKxnBx5CUsq6IIJDuId/s1600/peg+spawn+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCWWwRj-T_fxk0irH7G4vTPWAWV-IT_pXTZYBqm11-a2WVqlxZU9LYl-gtVxXh6xAQuzl26xXrad69nABaQaY0l-HvnJk_2B6XqbOpJjPM4Y-1wXTQPKxnBx5CUsq6IIJDuId/s400/peg+spawn+1.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxgJhhl9nkrFlJfh3AYOEfZppPb9gPPyns4te-7g_gQnOW9iMNyzrt_4zzSCDTgfY2zXQOFQPVbl6gokGgyYCGnLonrDeppxiz1WpwEopgT7GTzH2Fn9P-R6aGea1rQCvikYI/s1600/peg+spawn+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxgJhhl9nkrFlJfh3AYOEfZppPb9gPPyns4te-7g_gQnOW9iMNyzrt_4zzSCDTgfY2zXQOFQPVbl6gokGgyYCGnLonrDeppxiz1WpwEopgT7GTzH2Fn9P-R6aGea1rQCvikYI/s640/peg+spawn+2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prepare your wood chip bed so they are at least 4 inches deep on top of well drained slightly scuffed up soil. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAldb8ejrMZkr0pYoWtE2XLgwoZkRCdHjbw6wScILVZn7YdPcjmF-pyRHq2Bff4AEOIzxgr8afHz8XuxYKhalGVNCtin7ULjpkUXp0GDPljlJcXvgmdPMP4afWus37GJ_3Y6dS/s1600/wood+chips+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAldb8ejrMZkr0pYoWtE2XLgwoZkRCdHjbw6wScILVZn7YdPcjmF-pyRHq2Bff4AEOIzxgr8afHz8XuxYKhalGVNCtin7ULjpkUXp0GDPljlJcXvgmdPMP4afWus37GJ_3Y6dS/s320/wood+chips+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mine is right next to the barn where cattle used to be so the soil is rich and filled with composted hay and straw - how perfect! Now all you have to do is toss some water to them during dry times.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJQqIsryGRn07Yut4Qq0yXOPEXO5S6Jr20awgSdAymWoX2-5ITvFbGYitvfDic10WCZ0eRYQ6I6e-Bfl5CCh8Llnua1FGpIsUY5i_7_aY03AuHQ4Fi_81wbLM1h8BXwRcBCAe/s1600/wood+chips+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJQqIsryGRn07Yut4Qq0yXOPEXO5S6Jr20awgSdAymWoX2-5ITvFbGYitvfDic10WCZ0eRYQ6I6e-Bfl5CCh8Llnua1FGpIsUY5i_7_aY03AuHQ4Fi_81wbLM1h8BXwRcBCAe/s320/wood+chips+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyujletiyEq6FGrmZtPEoj9I_97D_TO9SygYtHYnvBnllUtTdiD5N1c2xJwSQZ6GBhlqySp38W6b9zsxw9IzMHoEF9J3RSv-9WLseDA8VuRJc5mnk9buEpxvH80VIVvZjphK0W/s1600/bed+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyujletiyEq6FGrmZtPEoj9I_97D_TO9SygYtHYnvBnllUtTdiD5N1c2xJwSQZ6GBhlqySp38W6b9zsxw9IzMHoEF9J3RSv-9WLseDA8VuRJc5mnk9buEpxvH80VIVvZjphK0W/s640/bed+2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After several months of sitting and stewing (get it, stewed mushrooms?) they will start to poke their little heads up. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_z1slOWn0Y6Y684NY7TtgULwYx5a-X3SPGaCUtG2LGvWrctVcg1SeVb8zsDgXX-walx7ToXEsz9f8xzwSOcYMQMfFztJgosZ1mOFq7KYTivSBkRMuZOFDUJZq4Cqi7WXUGRk/s1600/emerging+shrooms+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_z1slOWn0Y6Y684NY7TtgULwYx5a-X3SPGaCUtG2LGvWrctVcg1SeVb8zsDgXX-walx7ToXEsz9f8xzwSOcYMQMfFztJgosZ1mOFq7KYTivSBkRMuZOFDUJZq4Cqi7WXUGRk/s640/emerging+shrooms+1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then more little heads will appear.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeat7JVpUZWauJspoLQDagCpb6XI4wv6eYNKhCFdn9d0_Ho_EE3bnkBxoOrjF4qUgCnjbxKDJ5ehxb60m7B-1RKlB3y13eQ2BUNj_br0oH9cd7JfwjRnySRh2g41TpgrjRu-i/s1600/cluster+of+shrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeat7JVpUZWauJspoLQDagCpb6XI4wv6eYNKhCFdn9d0_Ho_EE3bnkBxoOrjF4qUgCnjbxKDJ5ehxb60m7B-1RKlB3y13eQ2BUNj_br0oH9cd7JfwjRnySRh2g41TpgrjRu-i/s640/cluster+of+shrooms.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you have a wet spell like this spring - a lot of little heads!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC3IkZMo86xe5cPRt-Xh6428Y41gWOWWohrGqwKppjdgU3Rf-d8Vo1HAiNTExYTS1H7-m7EYcNUf0gPBhmwQFtNXQQ861rtr39NA8o2MgIGQwDV7a2HvgLHwyVTLzc4oK3XpZ/s1600/a+bed+of+shrooms+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC3IkZMo86xe5cPRt-Xh6428Y41gWOWWohrGqwKppjdgU3Rf-d8Vo1HAiNTExYTS1H7-m7EYcNUf0gPBhmwQFtNXQQ861rtr39NA8o2MgIGQwDV7a2HvgLHwyVTLzc4oK3XpZ/s640/a+bed+of+shrooms+1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to pick them while the cap is still nice and round instead of being flared out. Once the mushroom cap flares out they are getting ready to 'spawn' or send out their spores so if any of them get ahead of me and get to the spawning stage, I like to just leave them go. I'm not sure it is true but it makes sense to me that the ones I leave are spreading spores for next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once picked, I store them in the fridge in a paper bag. Storing mushrooms in a plastic bag or container just holds too much moisture and they get soggy, slimy - yuck. So into paper bags it is.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwS_DbAr04H72rHkOg4gXqUvU1BiII1-rMZywTJa0EATJcCbjnISC9J_3V3-nw_JL9PrlMpvyVJeVYgwHrT8QX9_nfIi2LlokwYUnb5F-9YdHyy4fQ8kfWWSs10WlOi7dxdpCx/s1600/bags+in+fridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwS_DbAr04H72rHkOg4gXqUvU1BiII1-rMZywTJa0EATJcCbjnISC9J_3V3-nw_JL9PrlMpvyVJeVYgwHrT8QX9_nfIi2LlokwYUnb5F-9YdHyy4fQ8kfWWSs10WlOi7dxdpCx/s640/bags+in+fridge.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After we eat our fill on the grill, in salads, sandwiches, wraps, sautéed with steaks, deep fried stems and what not, I dehydrate the rest. These will be perfect in soup and stew this winter. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmv-TypPAOHdv9bb12K3oAZy451zGPX0qlvFCe832bP4KnXiN0uGAWFIvWKJ3loCzLE2IywJzGNXyqKLvRQGz7k6KU0Tx7KfYz_7x88muB8XBCCsdDMCs-dVEMMuzYt72ky2w/s1600/dehydrating+shrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfmv-TypPAOHdv9bb12K3oAZy451zGPX0qlvFCe832bP4KnXiN0uGAWFIvWKJ3loCzLE2IywJzGNXyqKLvRQGz7k6KU0Tx7KfYz_7x88muB8XBCCsdDMCs-dVEMMuzYt72ky2w/s640/dehydrating+shrooms.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wine cap mushrooms have a very distinctive taste - nuttier than a portabella and very woodsy as they would say on Food TV. I like it. I have noticed however that when cooked, they take on the flavor of whatever they are cooked with and amplify it - the MSG of the mushroom world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's it - you'll want to be sure to check them twice a day when they are in season as they grow really fast. They will show up early in the year and if you're lucky once again about September in our area. You should refresh your bed with new wood mulch every or every other year and add new spawn every other year to keep it going. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Enjoy and remember, mushrooms for Fun Guys!</span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-57213155622137788782013-05-02T11:00:00.000-07:002013-05-03T06:25:45.090-07:00First Farmer in the Field in Benson County<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As winter receeds and snow melts, farmers across Benson County ready equipment and feel the need to scratch the itch to get to work. But one farmer has already tilled and will plant today. On the first of May 2013, gardendwellers FARM tilled, raked, and are ready for seeding on the 2nd.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7drdXF7_dcUpyX0DkpLJE9pm4v6Tnx7-EhHa7n9PShFeR8ByLyGNIAl728cBj8VnIacBMqAGfNM23VIumrwRnZe8xBmPPNg7inE3u2PAEooTzNXZPcBOzAPe7aBvc_KE6OKk2/s1600/may1+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7drdXF7_dcUpyX0DkpLJE9pm4v6Tnx7-EhHa7n9PShFeR8ByLyGNIAl728cBj8VnIacBMqAGfNM23VIumrwRnZe8xBmPPNg7inE3u2PAEooTzNXZPcBOzAPe7aBvc_KE6OKk2/s640/may1+1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Headlines like that will get you attention where we live. All over the county farmers are receiving deliveries of seed, preparing their equipment and waiting, waiting, and waiting for the fields to dry so they can till and plant their already late crops. Being the first in the field is an advantage. It's an advantage over your neighbors and kind of like being the one to have the first ripe tomato of the season, a reason for glory and local heroism. Well maybe just a little good natured ribbing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, its true. We tilled yesterday. While snow still lay on our fields and run-off filled the eastern half of our planting beds, the soil inside the high tunnel was warm and dry. The site we chose for the high tunnel is high in organic matter and fluffs up nicely when tilled. It's been warm in there for at least three weeks with good soil temperatures but the night time temps have kept us from planting our most important crop, basil. The basil really doesn't like night time temps below 45 or so. The high tunnel will only provide about 8 degrees of additional heat and an extra row cover over sensitive seedlings an additional one or two. We had night time temperatures in the mid to low 20's at night up until now so we have been waiting for a little more warmth before seeding. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qwd_qrcAJU4oOHtoabl5WwdmmC7nxkoE9ZzZi9S7uIWQLh9KHlrZxSQYKU513o4TS1KuQM6O-FP2vK5if-6_nbKtB8PotMApVWIL8vPy2vdNABlO4euqiB32r_EmurhAbNIa/s1600/May1+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qwd_qrcAJU4oOHtoabl5WwdmmC7nxkoE9ZzZi9S7uIWQLh9KHlrZxSQYKU513o4TS1KuQM6O-FP2vK5if-6_nbKtB8PotMApVWIL8vPy2vdNABlO4euqiB32r_EmurhAbNIa/s640/May1+2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I know, all of you 'regular' farmers out there are saying "sure, but they're not really farmers". I tend to disagree. A farmer - according to the USDA's FSA is someone who grows a crop for sale. We do that. Our crops, although unconventional, are crops. We tend them in the same way any other farmer would. We till, plow, rake, seed, cultivate and harvest. Oh, and we sell - we sell a lot. Our harvest comes all summer long instead of just in August or September. Our equipment is smaller. We apply for farm programs and follow the markets just like 'regular' farmers. The commodities market, yes there is one for herbs, helps us determine what to charge for our product. We are a farm, in every respect. We're even getting a few laying hens next week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here we are, waiting for 55 days, the time it takes from seed to harvest on basil, before we can begin our harvest season in earnest. In the meantime, we're glad to see the snow receed on the outdoor fields and our mulched perennial herbs are appearing more and more every day. Once the sun hits them, it won't be long before the chives, sage, Greek oregano, thyme, tarragon, and savory are up and growing well. As soon as the field is tillable the parsley will get seeded.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGqG9YVFtVxAozOyduJDDejyUnH33nWA4oxYwWeMtiIRpNowim2t1hJOnothCSS8FLx85yIp1qPZPUBPGHDgagOk_SkLyPDPMxHpOc-5XFOS1tCTHEFSsFRqNbkWFDDA4tz40/s1600/May1+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGqG9YVFtVxAozOyduJDDejyUnH33nWA4oxYwWeMtiIRpNowim2t1hJOnothCSS8FLx85yIp1qPZPUBPGHDgagOk_SkLyPDPMxHpOc-5XFOS1tCTHEFSsFRqNbkWFDDA4tz40/s640/May1+3.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In looking back at our log books we have seeded basil in the high tunnel as early as April 18th in 2010 and as late as May 6th in 2011. The parsley is usually long since planted so for us this will be late. Hopefully the warm weather will speed it up a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I look forward to seeing all of our farmer friends as they begin to work the soil around our farm. Your big tractors are a welcome sight. Here's hoping for a good harvest this year for us all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29045824.post-57795829798691618612013-03-14T15:00:00.000-07:002013-03-14T15:17:19.405-07:00What to do when it snows, AGAIN...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">March came in like a lion and what do you do on Lion days when you're gardendwellers FARM? You cook!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">During our last snowstorm, about a week ago, I busied myself with making home made soup and bread. I made my favorite stand by, Venison Mushroom Barley. Since the weather man insists on predicting snow for tomorrow and cold weather this weekend, I thought it might be a good time to share my recipe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">First, I have to say that I've made this soup so often that the recipe is kind of more like a 'guideline' than a cast in stone commandment. But here goes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">First, choose some good venison. I use a roast and then cut it into one inch chunks. After years of processing our own deer, the guys have learned that I prefer to have some packages of chunks to use in soup and stew and stir fry so now I always have bags ready for just such an occasion. I thaw the meat then put it into our own marinade. This is Barry's own made up by him recipe and I most likely shouldn't share it but I'm going to: one tablespoon Lowry's Seasoning Salt, one tablespoon Steak dust - any brand, one teaspoon mesquite seasoning and a few jiggers of Worcestershire sauce in about one cup of water or enough water to cover the meat. Let that marinade in the fridge overnight or for 6 hours or so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then, brown the meat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">While the meat is browning, chop up carrots, onions, and celery. I like to chop about a cup to cup and a half of each with the exception of carrots which Barry doesn't like cooked so I chop just enough of those to add some color - you could do a cup or so. I put these veggies in my soup pot with a big daub of butter (about two tablespoons) and let them saute until slightly tender.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I chop up two containers of mushrooms. I just use the button or shitake mushrooms but when I can and when I have them, I use the winecap mushrooms we grow here on the farm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I chop up some garlic. I like garlic so normally I use at least three cloves but for this batch I had to use up the last of the North Star Organic farm garlic from last year - pretty sad that its all gone but looking forward to buying more this summer. You can see the variety I like best is Fire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I add the mushrooms and the garlic to the sauteing veggies and let them cook another 2 to 3 minutes more then add the stock - one box of each beef and chicken...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I add the winter savory. You'd think as an herb farm I'd have this fabulous spice rack and spice cupboard - but its not true. I keep a lot of my dried herbs in resealable plastic bags. That way I can keep them as whole as possible until I use them and the added benefit is that you can just kind of crush the bag to remove them from the stems and then reach in to the bottom of the bag to get the herb leaves.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter savory has a little peppery flavor that goes well with the venison and veggies and it also has that strong, warm, comfort food feel to it. Again, I don't measure, I just add a lot because I know we like it. If I had to guess I'd say about two tablespoons of the dried winter savory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stir that all up then add the meat back in and finally I add a little salt and the barley. About a cup of dry barley goes in because I like barley.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here comes the best part. Let all this sit and simmer for an hour or more. It fills the house with this great smell and you'll find the whole family sneaking in for a nibble every once in a while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While that simmers I bake off the bread that has been rising all day. That also made the house smell great.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made two baguettes as I like a crusty bread with soup.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it! My favorite winter time, stuck in the house cause its snowing outside activity. Enough to be shared with everyone! It always amazes me when I can eat venison that tastes this good that some hunters make their whole deer into sausage - what a waste! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this weekend, if we get more snow and you end up inside - do a little cooking. It's good for the heart.</span>The gardendwellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17104183452963265455noreply@blogger.com0