Build a Solar Dehydrator

October 1, 2008

Appropriate Technology, Preparedness, Solar

Like many of you, I suspect, we’ve got a few too many tomatoes at this time of the year. One of our favorite ways to preserve our modest harvest is with our solar dehydrator. There’s nothing like the taste of sun dried tomatoes, but unless you live in a very dry desert climate like Phoenix, Arizona you can’t just set fruit out in the sun and expect it to do anything but go moldy. In most places in the world, including here in...

Growing Watermelons

Mr. Homegrown

September 4, 2008

Gardening

9 Comments

...y got two melons from one vine. But, learning from these twin mistakes, I suspect that next year’s watermelon harvest will be larger, and two other watermelon vines I have going (in a better location) already have a few fruits developing on them. Some things I’ve learned about watermelons: 1. Fighting powdery mildew. Our inland coastal climate, with its hot summer days and cool evenings, is not the best place for melons as we tend to...

Interview With Apartment Gardener Helen Kim

Mr. Homegrown

August 27, 2008

Gardening, Herbs

1 Comment

...off to bigger pastures. And, since I visit every two weeks, I always come back home with an armload of this or that. I’ve had a strawberry plant that is doing pretty nicely these days at my place, but not bearing much fruit… so I’ll be shipping him off mom’s in a couple weeks. HE: What do you use as fertilizer? HK: Shockingly, I suppose, before this year I didn’t use anything! I always thought plant vitamins, ‘f...

Why You Should Avoid Staking Trees

Mr. Homegrown

November 26, 2012

Fruit Trees, Gardening, Miscellaneous, Trees

6 Comments

...ansplants University of Minnesota’s guide to Staking and Guying Trees Linda Chalker-Scott’s pdf on The Myth of Staking Update: Please note an exception to these tree staking rules regarding certain kinds of dwarf fruit trees. See the comments for the details. Thanks C....

Legalize Baking!

Mr. Homegrown

August 15, 2011

Thoughtstylings

16 Comments

..., namely: baked goods (but with no cream or meat fillings), jams and jellies, candy, granola and other dry cereal, popcorn, waffle cones and pizzelles, nut mixes, chocolate covered non-perishables (such as nuts and dried fruit), roasted coffee, dry baking mixes, herb blends, and dried tea. Many states already have cottage food laws making it possible for folks to start small businesses out of their homes and to allow religions organizations...

Picture Sundays: Can the Kaiser

Mr. Homegrown

September 2, 2012

Picture Sundays

RLeave a comment

A WWI era pamphlet from the National War Garden Commission with the memorable slogans, “Can Vegetables and Fruit and the Kaiser Too” and, on the first page, “Back Up the Cannon by Use of the Canner.” You can download a copy via Archive.org....

Barley Water

Mrs. Homegrown

August 2, 2012

Food, Recipes

26 Comments

...ou follow my recipe and just soak it, you’ll need to finish the cooking. Cooked barley can be dressed up many ways–it can become a nice snack (with salt and pepper and Parmesan cheese) or breakfast (with honey and fruit). Cooked barley can also thrown into stews or folded into breads. I just found an interesting barley cake recipe that I just might share soon, if it works. Some other recipes you might enjoy: A post explaining why barl...