The hens are also growing in leaps and bounds....hopfully eggs will start coming soon! Excited by having our own eggs again!
Chloe is sick, we are now in limbo, waiting to see who else will fall to this sickness that is taking over!
This blog is from a Homeschool Mom, who is an artist, living now in the Pacific Northwest.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Gardening, hens, and sick children!
The garden is going leaps and bounds! I am hoping to be able to harvest many wonderful things soon!
The hens are also growing in leaps and bounds....hopfully eggs will start coming soon! Excited by having our own eggs again!
Chloe is sick, we are now in limbo, waiting to see who else will fall to this sickness that is taking over!
The hens are also growing in leaps and bounds....hopfully eggs will start coming soon! Excited by having our own eggs again!
Chloe is sick, we are now in limbo, waiting to see who else will fall to this sickness that is taking over!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Coming to the end of summer
Summer will be over soon, even when we did not have much on one here in the PNW, but still I love it here.
One of my many reasons for moving back here is because the weather is much nicer, no extreme heat.
Our garden is growing rapidly...still not a lot to harvest yet. The chickens are in their coop, we have painted the kitchen and the bathroom. Next is to get the girls room decorated how they would like them.
We will be starting our official year of homeschool...yes another year of this! It will be out 9th year! WOW! I still worry that they are learning what they need, but then I watch them, and see what they do everyday on their own, and I know that they are exactly were they need to be at this moment.
I still worry about the reading issue for the girls, but I also know that it will come.
I watch them, my three beautiful, sweet children, and I just know that we are doing everything right. Each are bright, beautiful, happy, and are complete human beings.
Everyday I look at my children, and I know that we are also exactly where we need to be.
One of my many reasons for moving back here is because the weather is much nicer, no extreme heat.
Our garden is growing rapidly...still not a lot to harvest yet. The chickens are in their coop, we have painted the kitchen and the bathroom. Next is to get the girls room decorated how they would like them.
We will be starting our official year of homeschool...yes another year of this! It will be out 9th year! WOW! I still worry that they are learning what they need, but then I watch them, and see what they do everyday on their own, and I know that they are exactly were they need to be at this moment.
I still worry about the reading issue for the girls, but I also know that it will come.
I watch them, my three beautiful, sweet children, and I just know that we are doing everything right. Each are bright, beautiful, happy, and are complete human beings.
Everyday I look at my children, and I know that we are also exactly where we need to be.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Life on my little urban farm is never really boring.
Thw chickens are now over a month old, and will soon be moved to the outside coop...they will happy!
All 16 chicks have survived, which surprised me, since they were mailed from Texas, Ideal poultry is amazing, I highly recommend them.
The lasagna garden is growing amazingly well. The creole tomatoes are doing so well, which I was really worried about this since the soil here is so different here.
The kids are still doing school type work, but right now they are more 'free ranging' it all right now. Which is good for them since they are being very creative this way.
Thw chickens are now over a month old, and will soon be moved to the outside coop...they will happy!
All 16 chicks have survived, which surprised me, since they were mailed from Texas, Ideal poultry is amazing, I highly recommend them.
The lasagna garden is growing amazingly well. The creole tomatoes are doing so well, which I was really worried about this since the soil here is so different here.
The kids are still doing school type work, but right now they are more 'free ranging' it all right now. Which is good for them since they are being very creative this way.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Chicks and the garden!
Today the baby chicks arrived in the mail! We have a total of 16, and all seem to be doing well at this moment.
We decided on many different kinds, that way we can see what type we like the best.
I have never thought about buying chicks from a mail order place, but this time we decided to try it, so far Ideal Poultry has done a great job!
The chicks were hatched on June 7th at 10:00 AM I love knowing that! In 7 or 8 months we should have eggs!
The garden is coming along nicely, I am excited about the thought of all that home grown veggies!
Tomatoes coming in!
Arugula! This my make shift green house frame!
Creole Tomatoes! In Washington!
My beloved lavender, one of my most favorite things ever!
Over all I feel that it is all coming along nicely. I am going to be heading to Farmer's markets a lot, I will be canning in August. I am hoping to make many items that we use a lot of during the year, and that way they will be put up for the year.
We decided on many different kinds, that way we can see what type we like the best.
I have never thought about buying chicks from a mail order place, but this time we decided to try it, so far Ideal Poultry has done a great job!
The chicks were hatched on June 7th at 10:00 AM I love knowing that! In 7 or 8 months we should have eggs!
The garden is coming along nicely, I am excited about the thought of all that home grown veggies!
Tomatoes coming in!
Arugula! This my make shift green house frame!
Creole Tomatoes! In Washington!
My beloved lavender, one of my most favorite things ever!
Over all I feel that it is all coming along nicely. I am going to be heading to Farmer's markets a lot, I will be canning in August. I am hoping to make many items that we use a lot of during the year, and that way they will be put up for the year.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Homeschooling-unschooling
The summer is upon us, and we had to sit down and think about what we wanted to do for the summer.
Do we just keep going, or do we have a vacation? We have decided to do both!
Since we moved in March, our homeschooling/unschooling was not very active. We still have a lot of catch up to do, and well we have been rather slow about it.
With having a daughter severely dyslexic, and another one that feels she should not have to do more work than her older sister, it has been a challenge for us. Evan is on his own thing, he really is closer to a traditional unschooler, as he goes with what he want to learn at that moment. Of course I have to throw in things, but still he is doing really good, and is bring up historical people, that I have never even heard of!
I am worried about the girls, they are not up to the reading levels that they should be, and this is really scary. I want so much for them, and I am afraid that they may not be getting all that they deserve at home!
I know that they want to remain at home, that has become very clear, when I had to promise them that I would not send them to that "horrible" place!
Lamar County (TX) School's really damage my kids! I am still amazed at how fast a school district can ruin education for a child, for our it was less than 1 year! I know it is not fair to blame the who school distric, but the kids ended up with some really horrible teachers, and only a couple of really good ones.
I know that we will get a handle on this, but it still scares me that they will not have the love of books that Aidan and I do. Evan does, but the girls not so much. I am hoping that this will change soon!
Do we just keep going, or do we have a vacation? We have decided to do both!
Since we moved in March, our homeschooling/unschooling was not very active. We still have a lot of catch up to do, and well we have been rather slow about it.
With having a daughter severely dyslexic, and another one that feels she should not have to do more work than her older sister, it has been a challenge for us. Evan is on his own thing, he really is closer to a traditional unschooler, as he goes with what he want to learn at that moment. Of course I have to throw in things, but still he is doing really good, and is bring up historical people, that I have never even heard of!
I am worried about the girls, they are not up to the reading levels that they should be, and this is really scary. I want so much for them, and I am afraid that they may not be getting all that they deserve at home!
I know that they want to remain at home, that has become very clear, when I had to promise them that I would not send them to that "horrible" place!
Lamar County (TX) School's really damage my kids! I am still amazed at how fast a school district can ruin education for a child, for our it was less than 1 year! I know it is not fair to blame the who school distric, but the kids ended up with some really horrible teachers, and only a couple of really good ones.
I know that we will get a handle on this, but it still scares me that they will not have the love of books that Aidan and I do. Evan does, but the girls not so much. I am hoping that this will change soon!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Lasagna Garden, grren house and chickens! OH MY!
Today was a day of working on getting the garden ready. Late I know, but here in the Pacific NW the spring has been very late this year.
I am making a "Lasagna garden" I have seen in mutiple place over the past few years the first was on "B. Orginal" with Michele Beschen, I loved the idea then. Then in MaryJane's Farm there was an article about it...I had to do!
This was what was done today. We layed cardboard boxes on the group(from our move! Reuse!) Then there was a huge pile of compost that was left here, so we then spread that over the boxes. This will wet down between layers, and on Friday we will place our Tagro dirt! I will let add another layer of cardboard, compost and then dirt.
I also cleared out the green house, now I need to get some PVC clear plastic to fix the broken glass.
I just ordered our chicks from Ideal Poultry. I ordered:
Rhode Island Red 3
Ameraucana 3
Barred Plymouth Rock 3
Silver Spangled Hamburg 2
Silver Laced Wyandotte 3
Standard Sultan 2
That is a real good start!
I have more to do tomorrow...I am also thinking about other things that I can do to make our lives more substainable.
I am making a "Lasagna garden" I have seen in mutiple place over the past few years the first was on "B. Orginal" with Michele Beschen, I loved the idea then. Then in MaryJane's Farm there was an article about it...I had to do!
This was what was done today. We layed cardboard boxes on the group(from our move! Reuse!) Then there was a huge pile of compost that was left here, so we then spread that over the boxes. This will wet down between layers, and on Friday we will place our Tagro dirt! I will let add another layer of cardboard, compost and then dirt.
I also cleared out the green house, now I need to get some PVC clear plastic to fix the broken glass.
I just ordered our chicks from Ideal Poultry. I ordered:
Rhode Island Red 3
Ameraucana 3
Barred Plymouth Rock 3
Silver Spangled Hamburg 2
Silver Laced Wyandotte 3
Standard Sultan 2
That is a real good start!
I have more to do tomorrow...I am also thinking about other things that I can do to make our lives more substainable.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Upcoming Self-Reliance Food and Broom Classes May 2011 in Seattle, WA
Self-Reliance Food and Broom Classes May 2011 in Seattle, WA
with Linda Conroy and John Holzwart of Moonwise Herbs (Wisconsin)
Linda Conroy is an herbalist and whole food enthusiast. John Holzwart is a wild forager and broom maker. To Learn more, visit: www.moonwiseherbs.com/seattlehappenings.htm or check out Moonwise Herbs on Facebook! or email mailto:rosemarygoddess%40moonwiseherbs.com with questions!
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May 21, 2011
Home Cheese Making Beyond the Basics: From Curd to Press with Linda Feta, Cheddar, and Gouda (10am-4pm) with Linda Conroy
Discover the art of making these classic aged favorites at home. Review cheese making basics and explore approaches in pressing and curing cheese. Leave with recipes and confidence to begin the journey of cheese making at home. Lunch will include a salad served with several types of home-made cheese for inspiration.
North Seattle Community College for registration, visit www.learnatnorth.org or call 206-527-3705
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May 25, 2011
Introduction to Cheese Making (6-9pm)
Making cheese in your own kitchen is fun and easy. Discover how to create soft, spreadable cream cheese, mozzarella and paneer. Learn about fermented milk products like yogurt, kefir and piima and how to transform them into delicious fresh cheeses. Go home with simple instructions, recipes, a culture to get you started and delicious cheese samples.with simple instructions, recipes, a culture to get you started and delicious cheese samples.
North Seattle Community College for registration, visit www.learnatnorth.org or call 206-527-3705
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May 21, 2011
Broom Making: A Functional Art (6-9pm) with Little John
Discover the art of making handmade brooms! You will be guided through this beautiful and functional art. Students will learn to make one round or one flat hearth broom (your choice), weaving and sowing the broom corn into place by hand.
North Seattle Community College for registration, visit www.learnatnorth.org or call 206-527-3705
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May 23, 2011
Beer, Wine and Soda Making! (6-9pm) with Little John
Learn how easy it is to make beer, wine, mead, and soda in your own kitchen. Learning the basics participants will leave feeling confident in making their own beverages at home. Discussions about influencing your beverages with herbs for promoting health will be included. Each person will leave with a bottle that we cork together as well as a soda culture to get you started.
North Seattle Community College for registration, visit www.learnatnorth.org or call 206-527-3705
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May 24, 2011
Mini-Quidditch Broom Making (AGES 7-11) (5:30-7:30pm) with Little John
Calling all Harry Potter fans! Create your very own 24 inch mini-quidditch broom. Tie, wind and cut to create your broom made of broomcorn, string and wood. All materials provided. Wear long sleeves as the broomcorn can be itchy!
Anderson Center, Edmonds, WA for registration, visit www.reczone.org or call 425-771-0230
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May 24, 2011
Herbal-Milk Based Soap Making (6-9pm) with Linda Conroy
This class is for the experienced as well as the beginning soap maker. We will explore the art of creating luxurious soap that incorporates fresh goat milk (cow as well as whey will also be discussed). Milk based soap makes the creamiest soap around. It is considered a delicacy in the soap market. This class will offer essential tips to creating your own. We will also learn about a variety of whole herbs that can be included to create unique batches of soap. Participants will take home recipes as well as some of the soap we create in class. Bring rubber gloves, 4 small yogurt containers with a lid and an old towel. All other supplies provided. Material fee $7
North Seattle Community College for registration, visit www.learnatnorth.org or call 206-527-3705
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May 26, 2011
Pine Needle Basketry Class (6-9pm) with Linda Conroy
Make your own gifts! Learn to coil and stitch to craft a miniature pine needle basket. Discover basket styles, decorative options and how these techniques can be applied to other mediums. $10 materials fee includes supplies to make a second basket at home. Bring thimble, small scissors and reading glasses if needed.
Anderson Center, Edmonds, WA for registration, visit www.reczone.org or call 425-771-0230
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June 1-5, 2011
9th Annual Herbal and Seaweed Harvesting with Linda Conroy
Travel to Lopez Island and learn to wild harvest herbs and seaweed.
For more information and registration, visit www.moonwiseherbs.com
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