Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 12
Plant something- Started gooseberry plants, amish deer tongue, Russian Kale, Tomato- Black prince, Tomato- orange russian; tomato Radiator Charlie's Mortgage lifter; Tomato- Clint Eastwood Rowdy Red; Tomato- Julia Child; Tomato - spoon; Squash "aunt Shirley Squash" aka Zapallo; Cauliflower
Harvest something- Alfalfa sprouts, chick pea sprouts
preserve something :
Local Food systems :
Preparation: Extended my heating grow mats with a little foil
Eat the food/eat something new-Cheese and Alfalfa Burritos ( a recipe I found in the direction pamphlet for my sprouted); Salad with Chick pea sprouts

Cheese and Alfalfa Burritos
A little butter or margarine
Alfalfa Sprouts- about 1/2 cup
Cheddar Cheese -Shredded
2 table spoons of sour cream- or I substituted 2 tablespoons of Greek Yogurt- I had no sour cream

Lightly butter one side of tortilla, put in hot fry pan, and spread the cheese. Heat until cheese is melted, remove top with sprouts, and sour cream/yogurt. Fold into a burrito. Eat and enjoy!

waste not- Using old clamshells, yogurt cups saved for starting seeds
want not - Ordered some tomato seeds (I know - I said no more tomato starting- but these are varieties I grow for planters - Window box Romas, Tumbler, Red Robin… and yielded into temptation and got some Clint Eastwood Rowdy Red, Julia Child, Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter, Orange Russian and Spoon tomatoes. Along with Bolivian Rainbow and Chichen Itza peppers. Pretty much I went to the dark side of the force. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, I get an itch to start tomatoes… Always happens. Damn you Gary Ibsen! At least I have some success with peppers.

Well one small change I am making is re-using the water that has run through my sprouter to water my seedlings and plant starts… You can smell the nutrients in the water, and if starting something like beet sprouts, see it. Not a significant change, re-using this small amount of water… but a change is a change. And if it helps fertilize seedlings, a bonus to boot!

Friday I had a slice of cheese pizza and a baked potato. No bacon bits for the potato :( , but pretty good just the same. Bought no candy this week and no I wasn't chased by girl scouts selling cookies. ‘Course the candy cravings might have been cured by the fact I am experimenting with "mocktails" so I get a sweet charge out of that, and fresh juice to boot! Pretty good week all in all