THE MODERN VICTORY GARDEN CHALLENGE

What??? I thought I was through with these things. I mean over the years I have taken prt in buy nothing new challenges, freezing my ass off challenges, saving my urine challenges, etc.- Most of these put on by the Crunchy Chicken. But I was perusing my blog the other day and grew reminiscent (and add the fact I am retired now and need a project) for the Independence Day Challenge, put on by Sharon Astyk. It was such a great tool to use to learn more about self sufficiency, and preparing one's self to become more independent. The trouble is it seems to have vanished over the years, so I thought "Rob we need to bring this back". So here it is, The Modern Victory Garden Challenge!

 THE MODERN VICTORY  GARDEN CHALLENGE:

 

1- Grow your own- means grow your own food be it from a huge multi-acre farm/garden, or a backyard garden or even a few pots. Maybe just some sprouts grown indoors. Just grow something!

2-Repair your own - from a brken shovel handle to rebuilding a tractor, repair it yourself and share

3- Learn something NEW! learning a new technique or something to help your garden grow. Could include but not limited to learning seed starting, recipe to cook something or new way to preserve food

4-Eat It! Share how you eat your homegrown food!

5- PRESERVE IT! Share how you are preserving your home grown food. Could include home cannin freezing or dehydrating

There you have it. Sounds pretty easy? I will post monthly and hope you all will join in!

Rob's Independence Day Posts from the past!

Weekly Challenges Update

Sharon's Independence days challenge:

1. Prepped something: prepped new bedding for worm bin
2. Planted something- Planted Broccoli, string beans, beets, for fall crop, and replanted radishes
3. Preserved something: Froze some blackberries, Blackberry jam, Started some Blackberry brandy, started some apricot brandy

4. Harvested something: Picked Blackberries on my work lunchtimes, Radishes, Swiss Chard, Some borage!
5. Managed your reserves: Put up fancy wood holders in garage rafters to store and manage lumber left from remodel project. Cleans up the yard, makes more room in garage for storage
6. Cooked something new: Tried Chile’s fried rice (but I put chicken in it),
7. Work on Local Food Systems: Picked the blackberries at work, Signed up for a food preservation class at the community center,

8. Composted, repaired, re-used, reduced or recycled something: Repaired broken couch, prepped new bedding for worm bin, changed worm bedding, got the worm castings out and fed plants; put old printer on freecycle; put up a giveaway on my blog to give away low flow shower head, shower timer, and low flow faucet aerators.

9. Learn a skill: Can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
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FINAL POST FOR CHILE’S ADDICTIONS IN A PEAK OIL WORLD- August is finally over and I can say No Diet soda this month at all. I have drank a lot of Ice tea, Coffee and sparkling water- but no sodas at all this month. Good luck to those who are carrying on this challenge! It will be mind opening.
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CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ 5 MINUTE SHOWER CHALLENGE- Still at 5 minutes. NEW NEWS!- my local water district, which is part of the Seattle Saving Water Partnership, which sent a neat coupon book in the mail, is giving to their customers a low flow shower head, a CFL light bulb, and a shower timer. Very cool! And I am putting up the shower head, timer and aerators as a giveaway!

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CRUNCHY CHICKENS' SWEATY BUTT-CRACK CHALLENGE No A/C at all this week. haven't needed it as it has been nice and cool all week.
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MELINDA'S GROWING CHALLENGE- I decided to plant some broccoli seeds in addition to the borage I already planted. Yes I must admit to never growing broccoli before! The borage is getting bigger- I thinned it, and not being a guy who can leave the thinnings alone, ate them and yes- the leaves do taste like cucumber!

CHALLENGE UPDATE

Here is how I did on the current challenges I am involved in:

SHARON'S INDEPENDENCE DAYS:
Preserved:Dehydrated walla walla sweet onions, dehydrated summer squashfor soups. Made beef Jerky!

Storing: Stored the onions and squash for later. Ate most of the beefjerky!

Prepped:Dehydrated walla walla sweet onions, dehydrated summer squashfor soups. Learned that the dehydrater wants thinly slicedveggies, so got out the mandolin slicer. Worked like a charm!

Harvested something:Harvested some pansy petals to put in a salad! Ijust figured out that edibleflowers should count too

Managed:Cleaned out pantry

Cook Something New:Cooked for the first time, morning star farms soybacon-found out that if you cook it on a plate in the microwafe, use some wax or parchment paper underneath it as it sticks to the plate- of course works out if you want crumbly bacon bits to put on a salad!

Work on Local Food Systems: Found a local bakery

Compost something: did the chickster's pee party and pissed on mycompost pile, put some old bread in my worm bin- nothing is too goodfor my babies!

Learned a skill: Learned how to Dehydrate veggies and fruits! Learnedhow to make Beef Jerky! Oboy oberto! or rather Oh Boy Roberto-98168!

CHILE'S PEAK OIL WORLD CHALLENGE: No restaurants or take out this week! No bratwurst at the farmers market! And I made pizza... the Danish Bakery sells pizza dough so I just formed it out,and then added turkey pepperoni, cheese, and sauce and baked!

THE CHICKADEE'S GOLDEN SHOWERS GARDEN PARTY- Filled my watering can 3times with the 10% solution and fertilized my tomatos, peppers, pansies,huckleberrys and my herbs. Went up to the compost pile and gave it afull strength treatment. Peeing outdoors is so wonderful. My dogs did look at me strangely though (Jealousy)

CHRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS' The Five-Minute Shower Challenge :Still five minutes- combined with the Chickster's peepee challenge- very little flushing going on here!

CRUNCHY'S GOLDEN SHOWERS GARDEN PARTYAll day June 21st,Just PISS ON IT!
Ok this has to be the strangest thing I've done since I started Blogging- altough folks 'round here will tell ya it isn't. Think of all that water saved not flushin' the turlet! Think of all that money and energy saved not buying miracle grow! Think of how your neighbors will look at you admiringly. Would Captain Planet do this ??? yes, he would- so unzip and let it flow!

WTF IT'S COLDER THAN SIBERIA!

Gots bedonya comrade! We are experiencing cooler than normal weather. It is the middle of June and we have had snow on the mountain passes. The bright side - the A/C has been off since memorial day, and the heater kicked on this morning (I shut it off). I can never remember having to have a jacket in June. Doesn't seem to be bothering any plants or gardens, seems to hasten my plums from ripening, but really I want some summer heat! Could be worse. Back east is experiencing heat waves! Maybe i need to join the polar bear swim club. Just be thankful I am not a bunny- Ms. Chicken has her fangs sharpening! Interesting post on her blog today. Vegans beware of the topic- "Crunchy Plans to see if Thumper has a flavor"I wish I knew how she comes up with these topics. I wish i knew what goes on in her head- Maybe I should be wishing I don't!

Tribute to a legend!!!

Chickiness Crunchiness

A TOAST!(this is where you throw a slice of toast at your computer monitor) Here's to the one and only Crunchy CHicken or as I like to call her Chicky!

Although I have only "known" you a short while I appreciate you showing me the error of my consumeristical ways with the "buy nothing challenge".

I appreciate your wit, your sense of humor and your ability to sniff out the bullshit.

So here's to your insane challenges, your diva cups, and your boob bags/balls and your butter shaker, babe! SALUT!

Visit the Tribute to Crunchy blog and donate to "Goods for Girls" You will feel better. Really!

Thoughts On Chicky and Chile's Challenges

I'm sitting here refelcting on the past month- mostly on Chicky Lady's Don't buy Nuthin' challenge- 3 days left to go. If I learned anything at all it is to stop, think "do I need this now (or ever), ask myself "can I get along without it?" Surprisignly the answer would mostly be no or not now. I can also see this helping out with Chile Womman's Cut the crap challenge too buy asking myself the same questions plus, "where the hell will I put this?"

These ladies have come along to help me green up my life, and for that I am grateful! I however will not do chicky's Diva Cup challenge since I am a guy and I don't have a menses cycle. Not that I am complaining! Since I am a guy, perhaps I could get a DEVO Cup! Anyway During this challenge time I gave up cigarettes, with the help of Chantix, Of course now i eat my weight in sunflower seeds. Which I promplty spit out the shells. On the sidewalks. They are biodgradeable. I call that revenge of the smoker! Especially at my employers as they are the ones outlawing cig's on their property!!!

Any hoooow, while I will never admit to feeling better about quitting smoking, I do feel better about saving the money.

I do love my money. And my non-taxable by the State of Washington Sunflower seeds!

really.

FAREWELL OLD VIDEO GAME CABINET

You have served me well. Well at least you held and old computer and monitor.
YEA!!! Some one came and took the cabinet! WhoHooo! I hope they get much enjoyment out of it. I wonder if they looked at it and thought "Hmmm...That would make a good cabinet to put a computer in" That is the trouble with putting things out on the sidewalk with a free sign on them- you never know what the people intend for them! I hope they take it to the next level, hack wise that is.

CRUNCHY CHICKEN WOMMAN CHALLENGE DAY 3
This must be what quitting smoking is like. I have the basic urge to go and buy something. I had to go pick up a prescription at Bartell's today- I love that store. The nicely stocked shelves were calling to me - but I was good and said Get behind me evil consumer goods- I ain't buying! We'll see how the weekend goes <>. Luckily I have a car club meeting on Saturday, and my aunt and uncles 40th anniversary party/breakfast on Sunday morning and already have a gift for them. Thank god for re-gifting- the finest form of Re-cycling!!!