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!

Earth Hour 2012- Are you going to participate?

Saturday is Earth Hour. I must admit while half heartedly participating in years past, I cannot this year. I will be at work, so shutting down the power for an hour is off. I can how ever make sure the escalators are shut down, and rest room lights are off. And that doesn't mean I can't participate later when I get home. I think the earth needs more than an hour or just a day. Personally, I believe we all need to do things to be kinder to our Mother Earth 365 days a year, 24 7. Saturday also marks the end of Crunchy's Frozen ass challenge, but thatdoes not mean I will be turning up the thermostat either. Are you going to participate in in Earth Hour this year?

Freeze Yer Buns 2011

Time to break out the blankets and the fur lined under wear... Ms. Chicken has Announced the Freeze yer Buns challenge 2011. Yes Folks, the annual challenge where The Crunchy Chicken encourages all to lower their thermostats (at least a few degrees), and reap the rewards... A frozen butt and blue balls? No, but save $$$. I figure I saved at least $300 last year doing this, and more this year (no Martin running his A/C all night long with the heater on) so I should be in for a whopping savings! Even if you can only drop one or two degrees it should still show up on on your electric and/or gas/oil bill. And save a few energy units at the same time! And you know that is a WIN WIN!

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 14

Plant something-

In the greenhouse: Ever the optimist, started some Habenero and Jalapeno peppers, started some Bell peppers;

In the community garden plot: Rosemary and Thyme; Onion Chives

At home: Bought 2 Red Currant Bushes to plant and celebrate Arbor Day; added another rhubarb plant to the rhubarb patch ; Planted some spearmint and pepper mint in pots

Harvest something: Some sprouts; foraged some chickweed as well

Preserve something: Nada

Community: Attending a Community Garden Board meeting Today!

Preparation: Made a soil block maker and shared how on my blog!

Eat the food/eat something new: Strawberries “Shortcake” Strawberries and whipped cream over biscuits- great for breakfast! Some foraged chickweed in a salad.

Waste not: Used an old clamshell to start seeds; reusing pop bottles to plant the wall garden Want not: Bought 2 Red Currant Bushes to plant and celebrate Arbor Day Made it through this winters frozen bun’s challenge. Did not get a cold this year. I survived by wearing sweatshirts, using my snugglie, and my electric warming throw blanket. The boys survived with help from their “Petzzz” Heated Pillows. And Romeo survived with help from the electric throw as well. With an occasional Sammy Cat visit. Well my first fail on this one… I forgot about meatless Friday and had chicken legs for lunch. Oh well, dust myself off, wipe the chicken grease from my chin and start over again.

Return of the Weekly Challenge Update

Ok I cannot leave. I need this challenge to keep myself honest. LOL, this year I am dividing it in the following categories:

• Plant something- includes starting seeds, planting plants, sprouting
• Harvest something- harvest what I planted, or what I have foraged
• preserve something- preserving food by canning, freezing, dehydrating or fermenting
• Local Food systems- helping out others with food projects
• Preparation- preparing something to A) help with food production B)earn a living C) storage
• eat the food/eat something new-show different ways to eat the food, discover new things
• waste not- what is being done beyond recycling
• want not - what is coming into the house to improve any of the above

Plant something: Started some leeks and chard, Started some basil, thyme and dill, started some tomatoes (I know I said I was done starting tomatoes but then someone gives some seeds and I feel obligated to give it one more try)started some bok choy. Celebrated my inner urban homesteader and set up my sprouter to sprout some beet sporuts, alfalfa sprouts and chick pea sprouts

Harvest something- nothing as of yet. Am lookingat removing the last of the carrots in the community plot, and of course will eat them

Preserve the food: Nothing yet

Local Food Systems- Nothing yet, but am encouraging a friend of mine to get a plot at the community garden.

Preperation- Moved the green house to a better location on the porch, Including battening down the hatches so to speak (screwing the bottom flaps of the green house to the porch floor- Remember it is like a tent, and the wind will carry it away); Set up my sprouter to use. Also got a Cricut “die cutter” for my birthday, experimenting and learning about it – future work for retirement.

Eat the food/eat something new- Tried some zuchinni/chicken casserole that mom made- didn’t much like it

Waste not- just the usual recycling/composting- Just about done with my studio, so far no new furnishing etc. in it- everything is something from somewhere else.

Want Not-Bought a heating tray for my plant starts

Friday went okay- It was easy not to eat meat as I just got done with a colonoscopy and wasn't hungry- so I ate Onion Soup and some bread. No candy this week, but i do have to admit to buying a package of girl scout cookies. Why oh why do they find the cutest little cherub of a girl scout to stand outside of Safeway? Oh well- it was after all for the girl scout programs
Still freezing waiting for April- not so bad this year as I have not had a major cold. Of course this year I have snugglie blanket and an electric throw blanket that I use in the bedroom to keep toasty.

Pet-ZZZ Pads and Electric throw blankets- The Freeze Your Buns 2010 Update

Dear Chrunchetta- My buns are totally froze and have been solid ice for about a month now. I have been successful at keeping my thermostat down to 55 when not at home or in bed. The only difference with this years challenge is my increase in bad thermostat usage or BTU. This year, instead of keeping my thermostat off in the bedroom, I turn it up to a balmy 62 degrees about a half hour before I go to bed, then turn it to off. A bad habit I got into a few weeks back in the freeze fest here in the Puget Sound region. Even with my electric throw it gets very cold in my bedroom even with Romeo and Sammy Cat curled up under the comforter. Oh yeah the other thing I did for their comfort is I got them 2 Pet-ZZZ pads- a heating pad for pets that turns on when they lay on them- supposedly they use very little power but keeps my pets warm while at work! Something I worry about. I think they may be the answer for keeping your chickens water thawed as well. As seen on T.V., but also available at Bartells!

Swiss Chard, Kindle Covers and Freezing My Buns- the Weekly Challenge Update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Year 3, week41
1. Plant something: Started some Chard indoors
2. Harvest something: some greens from the green house
3. Preserve something: nope
4. Waste Not: Repaired my garden shears for another season of use, oiled my garden weasel as well; Replaced the old worn out draw string form my sweat pants with some elastic. I bought these sweat pants from the thrift store and 3 years later still wearing them for pj's. L.L. Bean makes good stuff!
5: Want not: Made a Kindle cover for my kindle using a small canvass bag, and another for a gift.
6. Preparation and Storage: Still working on shed between rain drops
7. Build Community Food Systems: Helped out TEDx and Beth Terry by using my blog to broadcast the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Seminar. Not really a Building community food systems thing, but without clean water there is no food, right?
8. Eat the food (cook something new): Mesclun greens on a sandwich

Growing Challenge Extreme Evangelist Edition- I started some Swiss Chard Indoors, and I harvested some mesclun greens from the green house

Freeze Your Buns Challenge- first week has gone pretty good- thanks to some warmer temps earlier in the week.

The Annual Crunchy Chicken Frozen Rump Fest!

Well the seasons come around and just like clockwork, so does Ms. Chicken's Frozen Rump-Fest. I join in on this one grumpily- she's not asking you to literally freeze, but rather, just turn down the thermostat. I am turning mine to 55 when in bed or at work, and 65 when at home. There are many advantages to this- lower utility bills, runny nose, pneumonia. But really it isn't that bad- just sit around in a snuggly blanket and wait for the goddamn winter to end. I guess I am not making it sound any better. Suffice it to say- I have survived the last 3 years doing this-so give it a shot

Start of Abbie's Challenge, End of Crunchy's Challenge

Today I am posting about Abbie, the farmers daughter. And her first challenge. You see, Abbie is a science teacher, new mother, wife, farmers daughter and pie baker extraordinaire. And she put up this challenge to all- Ab's says on her blog:

"I’ve decided to host my very first challenge at Farmer’s Daughter!!! I
challenge YOU to participate in National Environmental Education Week. At
some point during the week of April 11-17, educate someone about the
environment. It doesn’t have to be fancy! You can work with your kids,
your significant other, friends, or even pledge to educate yourself! Then write
a blog post about it and send me the link, and I’ll share the links here on
my blog."

Sounds pretty simple now, yes? I will be working on my Mom... not a total loss eco-speaking but being an apartment dweller she has some pretty small needs to be more eco-friendly. So here we go - a new challenge.

Crunchy's Skanky Stripping Weather Woman

My Not As Skanky as Crunchy's Stripping Weather Man

CRUNCHY'S FREEZE YOUR BUN'S OFF CHALLENGE WRAP UP: Well made it through another season of Ms. Chicken expecting us to shiver. I did however, manage to get a new thermometer with a stripping weather man- although not as sexy as Crunchella DeVil's. But then what is?? Anyway, with the help of programmable thermostats (Yes they do make them for baseboard/wall heaters) And a light cold season and no flu, I would say this one is a success for the year. Except for that week I had a horrendous cold and could not get warm no matter what.

Dodging Mammoth Raindrops- The Weekly Challenge Update

Very Busy. I am getting to like the greenhouse very much, It rains, you stay dry! And might be planing on building a more permanent one in the near future. Of course, I will free cycle the plastic behemoth if I decide on building one

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Year 3, week 13.

1.Plant something: Started some gourds, Mortgage lifter tomatoes, some ground cherries; Obtained some brandywine, Oregon spring, Striped German, Black Russian and Cherokee Purple tomato starts, obtained a flat of strawberry plants; planted radishes, peas and beans
2. Harvest something: Foraged some Dandelion greens and flowers.

3. Preserve something: Nada

4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Made a bench from a skateboard deck, the usual recycling, composting crap that I do always
5. Preparation and Storage: Separated some onion bulbs that I discovered wintered over and replanted them, Bought some Red Clover tips, lemon grass and Dried nettles for making tea until I see these things growing here.
6. Build Community Food Systems: No contact made with New Futures about taking the seeds I had for them (not for lack of trying)… Maybe a giveaway in the near future- but first I am going to call the food bank on Monday and see if they want them for their little garden at the food bank. As Gawd is my witness I shall give the seeds away!
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Strawberry Ice cream made from strawberries in the freezer; salad with dandelion greens
　

　
Freeze Your Buns off challenge- My little thermometer man has been keeping his clothes on. Typical Seattle Spring. I think I need to build an Arc

One Small Change- Decide and started the last leg of this challenge. TAKE OUT: No non-compostable containers, plus no non compostable or compostable utensils (As I have decided they wont compost, at least not in a home composter). Got a great start this month as Martin brought home some Mexican from someplace in downtown/SODO area of Seattle. Came on a paper plate with foil as the top. And of course we ate pizza, which I reuse the pizza boxes for weed block.

Garden Challenge "Extreme Evangelist Edition"- Started some gourds, Mortgage lifter tomatoes, some ground cherries and Obtained some brandywine, Oregon spring, Striped German, Black Russian and Cherokee Purple tomato starts, obtained a flat of strawberry plants, Separated some onion bulbs that I discovered wintered over and replanted them; No contact made with New Futures about taking the seeds I had for them so… Maybe a giveaway- but first I am going to call the food bank on Monday and see if they want them for their little garden at the food bank. As Gawd is my witness I shall give the seeds away!

Mouse in the House- Sammy's first Kill of the year- Weekly Challenge Update

Sammy say In Your Face Mouse!

Well nice week this week... got into an email argument with my right wing cousin... sending me some Glenn Beck inspired propaganda about our president. And Sammy killed his first mouse of the year. Way to go, Sammy! Maybe I should wrap it up and send to my cousin! The UNION way!!!
On the home front, Got some more seeds started in the greenhouse. Trying to decide what to plant for Arbor Day.
On to the Challenges:|
Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Year 3, week 12
1. Plant something: Started some Chamomile starts so I can make tea. Don’t know how it will work out. Keeping my fingers crossed. Planted more seed starts more tomatoes, squash, artichokes. Planted some mesclun in one of my lettuce boxes

2. Harvest something: Foraged some Dandelion for greens and flowers.

3. Preserve something: NADA
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Used an old skate board deck to make a bench, composted some cooked veggies from St. Pat’s day;

5. Preparation and Storage: Ordered some more seeds;

6. Build Community Food Systems: Nada

7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Mac and Cheese Pie (Something New); Dandelion Greens and flowers in a salad

Freeze Your Buns off challenge-Not freezing so much. Spring appeards to be here now.

One Small Change- Still no pop or water bottles thanks to the Soda Stream

Garden Challenge (Extreme Evangelist Edition)-Still trying to figure out this years garden. And I am on Information Overload. Yesterdays post finds a lot of different methods. Brain having a meltdown

Hope Springs Eternal- The Weekly Challenge Update

Well this was a pretty Okay week. Got some seeds planted and even had some starts decide to make a show!

Some of my tomato starts are up, as well as punpkin, cukes and zukes, and Butternut squash. Hopefully it will be a successful year gardenwise! Even mowed the yard a bit (yes with my Nueton Rechargable Mower!) Onto the Challenges:

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Year 3, week 11
1. Plant something: More tomato starts, some pumpkin starts, starting some evil broccoli, planted Minnesota Midget Cantaloupe in the green house, planted some more lettuce and mesclun for salads in the green house; planted peas
2. Harvest something: Some pea sprouts; Radish sprouts
3. Preserve something: Nada
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Found an old kid’s wading pool in mom’s dumpster, decided to try a raised bed in it; Reused an old recycling bin for planter for cantaloupe;
5. Preparation and Storage: Nada
6. Build Community Food Systems: Nothing
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Pea and Radish sprouts in a Broccoli slaw

Freeze Your Buns off challenge-Have not raised the temp once this month. Or turned the heat on. Or taken off my sweater.

One Small Change- Decided on my final “one small change” challenge for April. I think it is a doozy, more on that later- For March, I have not bought one pop or seltzer water, using my Soda Stream faithfully

Garden Challenge"Extreme Evangelist Edition"- Found an old kid’s wading pool in mom’s dumpster, decided to try a raised bed in it.

Weekly Challenge Update

Can you believe it is the 11th week of 2010 already? Things are on track here to be a great year in the garden as long as I pay attention to the seeds I've started. Been very busy with that and diving into dumpsters to find shit to make furniture with, as well as artsy crap. Gave bot puppy and kitty their first flea treatments for the year, Romeo needs a haircut... I need to learn to shear my pup and save $80 a pop! Or $80 a pup! Any way life goes on and so does the challenges:

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Year 3, week 9 & 10

1. Plant something: Started some sweet pepper, 5 varieties of tomatoes, Butternut squash, Cucumber and onion plants, planted some Chard and planted a lettuce box, planted some Minnesota Midget cantaloupe seeds- suspect they will be long term residents in the greenhouse

2. Harvest something: Some Khol Rabi that wintered over

3. Preserve something: Pickled some radishes I bought at the store- a stretch but it is short term preservation, Pickled some onions as well.

4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Saved a bunch of boxes for gifts for the holidays, made a vase out of an old 300 watt light bulb- more on that Tuesday; obtaining large parcels of cardboard to use as weed block again in the garden

5. Preparation and Storage: Got the stuff to put some shelving up in the Kitchen l set out some Praying mantis egg sacks for the season; Got a book on Foraging in the NW - I am bound and determined to learn to forage for more than Blackberries and Dandelions.

6. Build Community Food Systems: Donated some seeds to New Futures garden; Trying to obtain screening rights to show a screening of Mad City Chickens the Movie (Thanks to Jenna for the idea!)

7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Got off my Chazuke kick. Succumbed to pressure and bought a can of Batter Blaster pancake batter- and my suspicions as far as pancakes go are correct- CRAP! Not only bad packaging but worse pancakes! Give me Melinda’s Pan Crack pancakes any day- but waste not want not attitude tells me to try making churros out of them- maybe useful for something!
　　
Freeze Your Buns off challenge- No problems here, letting the programmable thermostats keep me honest!

One Small Change- I am so loving the soda stream. Found that stainless steel water bottles are excellent for taking pop to work for lunch

Garden Challenge- Starting seeds right and left! Sharing seeds I got from Hometown Seeds with New Futures Community Garden- otherwise I would do a giveaway with them.

Japenese Rice and Tea Soup- The Weekly Challenge Update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year 3, weeks 5 & 6
1. Plant something: FINALLY! Started some tomatoes, “Syrian” Summer Squash; pumpkin and peppers in the greenhouse, planted some Camellia Sinensis plants
2. Harvest something: Nada
3. Preserve something: Nada
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Reused Rice from Saturdays dinner in Chazuke.
5. Preparation and Storage: Hydrated 5 gallon bucket of Coco Peat (Coco Noir)
6. Build Community Food Systems: Helped out at the (L)New Futures community garden digging fence posts, putting up gates, spreading woodchips that came from local power company during last years windstorms
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Reused Rice from Saturdays dinner in Chazuke.
RECIPE:
CHAZUKE (JAPANESE RICE/TEA/SALMON SOUP)
3 c Leftover cooked rice
1 tb White sesame seeds
1 Sheet asakusa nori
1 sl Salt-grilled salmon
2 -(up to)
3 tb Chopped coriander
1/4 ts Wasabi
2 c Very hot; freshly brewed green tea

PREPARATION
Chazuke (also called Ocahzuke). The salmon version is called Sake Chasuke (Sake meaning salmon, here, not rice wine). There is also a rice-and-egg porridge called Zosui. Divide the rice among four deep bowls. Dry roast sesame seeds in dry skillet until golden, and crush them coarsely (in a suribachi, or a blender or with a heavy knife) and sprinkle them over the rice. Dry roast the nori by waving it over a gas or electric burner for up to a minute; fold and tear the sheet into 20 small rectangles and place 5 in each bowl of rice. If making sake chazuke, remove skin and bones from the salmon and break it into little chunks; divide it among the 4 bowls. Garnish each bowl with a little coriander and a small dab of wasabe. Pour 1/2 cup of very hot tea over each bowl and serve immediately.




Freeze Your Buns off challenge- Still going strong, still at 55/65. Still have nice temps outside so that of course is helping here

One Small Change- Finished insulating the wall plugs and sockets on the exterior walls. Time to think of next months One small change challenge.

Food waste challenge- Ended this one on an up note. The only food I put in the foodwaste bin was about a cup of beer with some onions in it (Yes I was making bratwurst again- this time the brats where local handmade brats from some friends

NOTE ON THE GORILLA GARDENER CHALLENGE: Not an “official” update, but I found the perfect place to place a planter at my GGC site! There is always time to join in the challenge- it is open enrollment folks!

Easy Up? Greenhouses and cooking school- The Weekly Challenge Update

Putting up the Greenhouse Well it finally got nice enough outside (read No Rain!) to put up my green house, from flowerhouses.com. Easy "Pop Up Assembly" my ass, although it wasn't that hard to set up after you figure out the instructions, which I did glance at - last night. Instructions??? I don't need no stinkin' instructions. It went up like IKEA furniture, whose instruction sheets are a language all their own. Now to decide where to put the shelves. The Shelves? I am going to reuse some shelving in the scooter shed. And I need to find some big squares of cardboard to put down as a floor. Then gravel over it. And hopefully this week start some seeds!Also this week I signed up for a class on cooking borscht two ways (I love borscht- and this would also allow me to learn to make it- new use for beets. And I will find out if you can freeze it as well though I don't see why not)
Sharon's Independence Days Challenge: Year 3, week 5

1. Plant something: Nope

2. Harvest something: Sprouts

3. Preserve something: Saved some bread for bread pudding

4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Going to reuse some shelving in the "Scooter shed" in the greenhouse!

5. Preparation and Storage: Set up the greenhouse.

6. Build Community Food Systems: Signed up for a class on cooking Borscht!

7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Pickles, Pickled onions, pickled tomatoes
　
　
Freeze Your Buns off challenge- No changes this week.


One Small Change- Started sealing the outlets and Light switches on the exterior walls-


Food waste reduction challenge- No changes- ate some pizza the next day for lunch at work, Find that I think ahead before cooking supper- as in "What can I make that I can eat leftovers the next day" type of thing.

The Growing Challenge (Extreme Evangelist Edition)- Set up my greenhouse… now to start those seeds!

Greenhouses and fake peat- The Weekly Challenge Update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge: Year 3, week 5

1. Plant something: Nope

2. Harvest something: Nada

3. Preserve something: Made a big pot of Curried Carrot soup and froze 2 quarts.

4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Got some great Ideas on re-using things at the NW F&G show; Reused an outdoor light fixture from the house before the addition; Chopped up branches for the compost bin for garbage pick up

5. Preparation and Storage: Ordered a greenhouse to start plants in. Have wanted one for years; got a big bale of Coco Noir (Beats Peat) at a local nursery to use instead of peat moss to start plants and use in Hypertufa

6. Build Community Food Systems: Can’t say I did anything

7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Some carrots and onions in more Curried Carrot Soup; ate some pickles
　
　
Freeze Your Buns off challenge- Not so bad as the temps here have been above normal, in fact I am thinking it is early spring - hoping the fruit trees do not agree

One Small Change- Started sealing the outlets and Light switches on the exterior walls-

Food waste challenge- started off pretty good. I was able to get rid of some beer been here since my birthday almost a year ago after reading Red Icculus blog and he had made some brats in beer with onion. Then I went further and made some Curried Carrot and Apple soup, and used the leftover beer/onion mixture in that.

The Growing Challenge (Extreme Evangelist Edition): Ordered a greenhouse to start my plants in, Obtained a big amount of Coco "Peat" (Coco Noir) , contemplating Contcting the school down the street about having the third grade enter Bonnie Plants Annual Third Grade Cabbage Growing Program

NEW GROWING CHALLENGE; The Weekly Challenge Update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year 3, week 3
1. Plant something: Nope, but got three beds ready
2. Harvest something: Sprouts
3. Preserve something: Made up a big mix of homemade instant Oatmeal and stored it in the Oatmeal canister.
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Dumpster dove to retrieve some milk crates and a big old plastic tub to mix “Hypertufa” in
5. Preparation and Storage: Made up a big mix of homemade instant Oatmeal
6. Build Community Food Systems: Attended the “Empty Bowls Event” in my city
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Some carrots and onions in more Curried Carrot Soup


Freeze Your Buns off challenge- Not so bad as the temps here have been above normal

One Small Change- Well I am claiming SUCCESS with the paper. Less in the recycle box at work. For this month I am thinking eliminating some of the heat loss in this old barn. Anything I do will help lower the power bill as well as my house is total electric.

GROWING CHALLENGE- EXTREME EVANGELIST EDITION

Yes Melinda is starting early this year, The Extreme Evangelist edition is one were the challenge is to:

1-Grow 3 Crops from Seed this Year.

2-Plant the Seeds in 3 New People- inspire 3 new people to grow crops from seed this year

3-Tell the Stories About Your Seed Planting Here

4- (The Extreme part) Grow 3 crops from seed, and save the seed from each of those 3 crops to grow them next year. That means you do have to buy open pollinated seeds (not hybrids), and learn a bit about the crops so that you save the seed well enough that they’ll produce a good quality crop next year.

Sounds like a lot of work and a lot of learning and a lot of fun!

I got lego... actually K'Nex boxes- The weekly challenge Update

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Independence Days Challenge: Year 3, week 3
1. Plant something: Planted some Rhubarb and a raspberry bush in some pots, and put the pots on my wagon to wheel them in and out until spring, when I can plant them
2. Harvest something: Sprouts
3. Preserve something: Nothing
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Made some magazine holders out of Cereal Boxes; Made a lamp and a candle holder out of a thrift store candle holder; Used some found old K’Nex boxes for tool boxes at work (they really do make great toolboxes for some of the specialty tools I use like drain kings. No toy pieces though. :(
5. Preparation and Storage: Getting my seeds together both the seeds I order and the Seeds I saved from last year
6. Build Community Food Systems: Got an idea to turn a trailer I have into a mobile garden to demonstrate the ease of planting in a raised bed and shared with other community garden members
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Used some pickled onions in a salad

Freeze Your Buns off challenge- Were did winter go? With the warmer temps we have been having, I notice I don’t go over to the thermostat to override as much.

One Small Change- I noticed my “Recycle paper box”at work is not as full. Must have something to do with reusing the paper first for notes; or it could mean I am not working as hard- Nope must be the first one.

Weekly Challenge Update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year two, week 22
1. Plant something: Nope
2. Harvest something: Sprouts
3. Preserve something: Had a bag of greens- turnip, kale that I did not use for pot luck -Blanched and froze them for use later;
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Bought some old obects D’art at thrift store- turning them in to new useful items; Took and old thermal coffee carafe and turned it into a lamp
5. Preparation and Storage: Found an old Radio Flyer wagon at the thrift store- will get much use around the garden!
6. Build Community Food Systems: still working on the Ryobi cultivator I got for the community gardens.
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Nope. I did use what I had available making a version of PB Crunchers


Freeze Your Buns off challenge- Not so bad this week. Temps have been higher, so easier to “freeze my ass off”

One Small Change- Still doing great on this. LOL I never knew how much paper was wasted until I started cutting it for my own notepads. Have to think what to do for next month.

Carrot Soup!?! The weekly challenge update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge- Year three, week 01
1. Plant something: Some sprouts
2. Harvest something: Some sprouts
3. Preserve something: Froze leftover Curried Carrot and Apple Soup, made some trail mix from the leftover nuts, raisins, from a salad I made for a potluck, added some carob chips
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce, repair or compost something): Took apart wreaths from the holidays- saved the frames, spread the evergreen clippings from the wreaths to compost around my huckleberries- they love acidic soil!
5. Preparation and Storage: Nothing
6. Build Community Food Systems: Worked with some guys from SuBu on helping an organization create their own community gardem
7. Eat the Food (cook or eat something new): Used my Swiss Chard stalks and some onion and carrots in Curried Carrot Soup


Freeze Your Buns off challenge- Still freezing, Still at 65/55 temps. Somebody remind me why I do this???

One Small Change-Have started off well. Made a pad to keep my reused paper for notes in. Pretty simple- just cut two pieces of cardbard about 4 X 6, put the cut paper from print outs, etc. in the middle and secure with two Binder Clamps