Thanks for the rain dance ya’ll June 28, 2011

June 28, 2011

3am, rolling thunder, crazy, booming bolts of lightening.  The clouds finally had something to say and boy are we grateful for the release.  1 3/4 inches fell in an hour and ran off without absorbing much.    The scramble to close windows and grab laundry off the line got me out in the thick of it and I loved the nightlight, vibrant intensity of it all coming down.   Water catchment is a bit fuller, the potatoes (which were slowly dying back and had just begun to flower)  got the drenching they needed.  Everything feels happy and refreshed today.

Happy Garden

About a week ago, while the moon was in the earthly element of Capricorn (great for root crops) we harvested around 400 heads  of garlic and hung them to cure in various places.   Glad to have that work guided by the celestial bodies to get them up and out before this rain came.  Hoping the amount will give us enough for the year and a good seed crop.

Garlic drying in the greenhouse

Looking forward to new discoveries at the creek today.

Hey friends! June 25, 2011

June 26, 2011

7pm and 90 degrees in the shade.  It was 101 again in the bottom lands of the Barren Fork Creek.  Luckily, it  is still flowing , fed by a large watershed and cool springs .   Though it has been dry, we still have hundreds of gallons of water catchment for the garden during this time of rain wishes.  The weather isn’t just polite, small talk here.   Summertime hits and I am often cursing it ad nauseum.   I am most definitely sweating while writing this and swatting a mosquito buzzing in my ear.

The Basil is ready to harvest.  Pesto, hydrosols and dry herb from a powerful plant.   I should mention that we have had much success using its essential oil for neutralizing the toxins of copperhead and cottonmouth bites.   Yes, snake bites.  Sure,  friends get bit while walking along the creek but, more often than not, it is the dogs that get it.  Interesting that they only get sick for about 24 hours while we tend to take it hard and go down for a week.

Non poisonous water snake who shares our swimming hole~

Wild-crafting time

Needing a boost of chlorophyll and minerals?  Yes please.   How about some nettle tea? It’s just about time to put on big gloves and wade through the creeksides to harvest stinging nettles.  Check out some of the wonders of this pot herb by visiting-http://www.farmtotableonline.org/2010/03/stinging-nettles-are-good-for-you/  We love the magic of the silica, the boost and healing they provide to our family.  That being said, I am often less than thrilled to get out in the thick of them, clothed from head to toe in 100 degree heat and heavy humidity.  I do grin and bare it as I know how soothing they are to my women ways and drink the cool tea all year long.  My wonderful husband clears the path and sings their praises as well.  We cut the tops off just before they flower, de-stem and dry them in our solar dehydrator.  The hairs no longer sting after that and are easy to powder for tea or to add to sauces.   If you are motivated, you can let the stems dry and  practice twinning the fibers to understand how they can be used to make cordage and clothing.

Peace Nettles drying in the solar dehydrator~