Make your window into a Greenhouse!

 Last year, I discovered by accident that the plastic that you tape around your windows to seal them up actually creates sort of a mini-greenhouse effect between the plastic and the window! I decided to put some of my plants in that space, and they enjoy the warmth there. It also allowed me to save some money on the electricity I would have had to use to put all these plants under lights.

Last week I decided to put up some of the window plastic, and put some of the dinky tomatoes out there. I think it's helping them to perk up a little bit- hopefully they'll start to grow!



I don't currently have a greenhouse or any hoops over my beds, or even a coldframe outside to transition warm season plants. I think those are all projects for the future, but right now, this will do!


What kind of season extension do you utilize at your house? 


How are your plants growing so far?

What's Up Wednesday

I can't take credit for these eggs, or even for the chickens that hatched them. I basically just want to share that my neighbor gave me some eggs from their chickens and that the eggs were delicious. How awesome is neighborhood bartering? More on this soon.

Oh, Oregano- You grow so well by the side of my house where I didn't plant you, and so poorly in my garden where I did.

The Cilantro I started indoors in January is now epic- it's being housed in the kitchen window until it's warm enough to plant outside!

That's right- those little green guys on stems are prehensile CHERRIES!

The raspberry vines are starting to form pre-rasperry clusters.
I Cannot. Freaking. Wait.

What's Up in your Garden Today?

Tuesday Takehome- My Haul from the Market & What I'm Making!

Today was the first day of our Farmers' Market season here in Ypsilanti!! We have two great markets, the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers' Market and the Depot Town Farmers' Market. My workplace runs the Downtown Mkt, so I was there early today helping to set up, getting things ready, and catching up with vendors after a winter "off".

It's an unbelieveably nice priviledge to live so close to a farmers' market. All kinds of people come down to shop, chat, and support local food. I always see at least 15 different people I know- owners of businesses downtown, work colleagues, fellow alumni from the local college, neighbors, and more. While I am really thankful for our local food co-operative and I am a proud member, there is something to be said for interacting directly with the farmers that grow your food- that just can't be replicated. 

Another reason I was at the Farmers' Market was to pick up my CSA share! As previously mentioned, a CSA is a Community Supported Agriculture membership that you buy into for the season. I chose to go with a nearby farm called Bridgewater Barns, run by Janet and Tony. My co-worker and I are splitting a Half Share- that way we can still go around to each vendor every week and buy a little something: I really feel like that's important.

Our Half Share today included:

1 bag Spinach

1 bunch Radishes

1 large bunch of Kale

6 Rhubarb stalks

1 small bag of Basil

1 small bag of Pea shoots

1 small bunch of Sorrell

1 bunch of wild Green onins

2 stalks green Garlic

2 stalks Lovage

I also picked up:

2 lbs ground beef

mini shallots

more amazing rhubarb

I'll openly admit that I don't even know how to cook or make a dish with half of those things! Luckily, we recevied a generous amount, but since we split a half share, I don't have a TON of anything that's new to me. Sorrel? Lovage? Pea shoots? No clue, folks. But my mission this week is to find a dish to include each of them. As I experiment, I'll share the successes (& the failures) that I have, through a new feature on my blog, Tuesday Takehome- My Haul from the Market & What I'm Making! If I've never had Sorrel I'm assuming there have to be a handful of folks out there who are eager for an idea of how to use it- I know I am!
Tune in on Tuesdays for ideas on all these new veggies I come across and how to prepare them :)

In the mean time, if you have any amazing recipes, out with them!

Kitchen Gadget acquisition!

A month after I post about my Kitchen Gadget wishlist and I've already knocked two items off of the list- Whoa!

For my birthday, which is coming up here in a few days, my aunt and uncle got me an awesome 12" cast iron skillet from Cabelas! My uncle is a great cook, and has really gotten in to trying new and creative recipes- it's nice to talk about gardening and gadgets when we visit each other! I'm pretty psyched to use this skillet, and when I break it in, you know I'll be posting about the awesome recipes I try and how to care for it! Skillet Cornbread wins as first skillet-made recipe, hands down.

I also crossed another item off of the list-my mom gave me this Mortar and Pestle set (pictured right), which has evidently been in my family for several generations. I think that it might have been in my family since the Bronze Age- look at that thing! It's sort of a crazy shape, it's narrow and deep, and it seems to be made of brass or something- when I tap it, it sounds like a gong. In short- it's totally awesome.

I'm half-laughing just looking at the picture right now. Does it crack anyone else up? When I set it next to the granite mortar and pestle that my roommate has, it looks totally weird, and it's reeeally heavy. I'm collecting all of these new gadgets that double as weight-lifting equipment :)

I'm excited to use these two tools- cast iron seems to be really versatile and it's so neat that it can go from stove to oven. The mortar and pestle will be great for all those herbs I'm growing outdoors this season!