gdp's Comments

Starving off the Land : Berried alive

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:51:32 +0000

Paula -- You must be some strange mutant strain of human. I didn't think there was a single solitary soul who preferred vegetables to fruit. But anyone who likes vegetables that much must be getting a full complement of nutrition. Sure, there are nutrients that fruits have in greater quantities (anti-oxidants, particularly, I think), but I make it a rule to never eat for the nutrient, as long as I'm getting a wide variety of healthful foods. (The exception: resveratrol in red wine is a fine excuse to uncork a bottle.) Chris -- You're a year ahead of me on the Brown Turkey Fig. We planted it last spring and got four figs! Are you in a place where you wrap it over the winter? Jen -- Kevin is definitely low-maintenance. Liking a fruit that grows like a weed is yet another example. Of course, he also likes foie gras ...

Starving off the Land : Berried alive

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 10:51:20 +0000

Sara -- Given that first-year harvests are generally slim, I may have to take you up on your offer to help pick next year instead! All in all, though, the 3-to-1 ratio is pretty good. I've been known to not pick at all -- just stand in the raspberry patch and snack. Rick -- Kevin says we need more readers like you. Fiona -- Funny you should mention currants. They're next on my list, since it seems they can thrive without full sun. Next year ...

Starving off the Land : Shroom bloom

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:33:51 +0000

Judy -- You don\\\'t know the half of it! I\\\'m all over the oyster mushroom thing, and am about to embark on my second attempt to grow a crop of them in spent grain from our local brewery, Cape Cod Beer (which everyone should be drinking). Stay tuned!

Starving off the Land : Eggs in a sub-standard frittata

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:32:37 +0000

That about nails it, I\\\'d say.

Starving off the Land : Assembly required

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:04:23 +0000

Greg -- Thanks for passing on the fruits of your experience. The more experienced beekeepers I hear from, the better my chances of success, I think. Not that you all agree or anything -- as you point out. But at least I know what the choices are. I've been told that it's important to leave honey, but additional feeding is often required when it's cold because the bees won't break cluster to get the honey on the sides of the hive. Fondant right over the cluster can make the difference. But I'll be starting to make my own mistakes in about two weeks, when the bees arrive.

Starving off the Land : Splitsville

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:03:07 +0000

Dianne -- I've discovered that the secret to blogging is to get people to make smart, interesting, funny, engaging comments on your posts. That's what keeps readers coming back, and it takes the pressure off! Sara -- I'm sure it says something about you that you enjoy a video of a woman running a log splitter. It certainly says we're meant to be friends. Tracy -- What a nice thing to say! SInce I seldom give any good advice, the best I can hope for is to make someone laugh. I hope you get through the next 36 hours successfully! (I just filed my extension ...)

Starving off the Land : Splitsville

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:45:44 +0000

Pat -- There are so many things I never needed in Manhattan. Don't get me started on leaf springs! Mom -- If I didn't live in the machine age, you can be sure I wouldn't be splitting wood. True to my roots, I'd probably be engaging in the traditional business of Jews -- money lending. You don't make many friends, but at least there's no heavy lifting. Jen -- As I was writing the post, I was trying to think of a chore involving something that sits around but doesn't season. It's laundry, of course! Why didn't I think of that? I'm glad we have your thumbs-up on the logsplitter. It's an amazing machine. HZ -- Thanks! Elliot -- How 'bout that? It's Internet magic. I mention Lovejoy couplings and there you are! So glad to have you! I figured Lovejoy was a family name, but I couldn't let anything spoil my little joke. And your coupling works like a dream! (Notice the restraint in the lewd jokes department!)

Starving off the Land : Shroom bloom

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:30:08 +0000

Chris -- Thanks for a great reference. That guy's in Massachusetts, so he may be dealing with hardwoods and conditions similar to mine. I'll spend some time on his site.

Starving off the Land : Shroom bloom

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:59:52 +0000

Cathy -- Sorry to hear about your beekeeping woes! Since this is our first time, I haven't had the chance for woes, but I suspect they're in my future (we don't have bears, though ...). If you're interested in mushrooms, check out Fungi Perfecti atwww.fungi.com. Shiitakes are the easiest way to start (and they do stay out year-round, but you don't get mushrooms in the winter), and you can buy the spore there. You can also get books, but it's easiest to start by just Googling "mushroom cultivation." A lot of people do it, and there's lots of information out there. Good luck!

Starving off the Land : Shroom bloom

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:34:25 +0000

Rodney -- I watched that video, and now we want to force our shiitakes, too. If you've ever had a mind to do mushrooms, you should. It's a big payoff for very little in the way of work or expense. Paula -- I'm going to watch the Stamets video as soon as I get a chance. I have a couple of his books, and I've even considered making the mushroom hajj to Seattle for one of his workshops. Thanks for the reference. Fiona -- Growing things is tough if you're nomadic. You should have goats that move with you, like the Bedouins! Jen -- Definitely check in with your local mycological society. It's not that you learn so much about which mushrooms are which (although you do), it's that it gives you confidence to go foraging, compare your samples to pictures in books, and actually eat them. All -- Sorry about the temporary comments glitch. It should be all better by now. Thanks, Amanda, for handling it so smoothly.

Starving off the Land : It's a girl thing

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:05:15 +0000

Mousehunter -- All summer long, eh? That's not music to my ears. I was hoping she'd snap out of it in a few weeks. We'll see what happens. We do try and collect the eggs regularly, and distract her by taking her out and putting her with the other chickens while they free-range, but that hasn't worked so far. We may have to take drastic measures!