The compost bin

So, in my previous post I told you that we built a compost bin. Its something that I have been wanting to do for a while now. Before I had the bin I composted some, just into the rhubarb patch,things like food scraps, apple shavings, rhubarb leaves, some banana peels... basic stuff. But now, anything that will compost goes into the bin, coffee grounds, egg shells, leftover dinner, along with the apple shavings, banana peels, and rhubarb leaves. We also toss in there the grass clippings and used sawdust from the chicken pen. And the best part of it is I believe that most if not all of the materials used to build the bin were from recycled or repurposed items.

I started with 4 boards I salvaged from my grandfathers broken down barn (see the faded red paint on the front one!), 4''x4'x1/2''. I nailed them together with posts in each corner that were taken from some old pallets to form a box. I then took some lathe (skinny little boards used for walls) that were left over from another project and nailed those to each side along the top edge. I wrapped the whole thing in chicken wire that was left from the building of the chicken coop. I set it up behind the garage/barn and that is where all our compost goes. I feel so green! It all only took about an hour to build and it has saved on throw away trash. So join me in my "green movement" and do something great for the environment!

We've gone country!

In my absence from blogging, we have got a garden tilled into our back yard and planted, tilled and planted a strawberry patch (conveniently next to the rhubarb patch!), built and started filling a compost bin, got chickens (and are about a third of the way to getting eggs! only about 11 more weeks!), and are collecting rainwater for the plants and chickens... We have been busy! Baseball is about over for the boys and the heat is laying into us hard! I have started my Farmers market season and it is going very well, with a new Monday night market starting in a couple of weeks. I will try and keep in touch with my blogger, but it's been tough. I appreciate those who have stuck with me over the past few months and ask that you just keep checking back for more! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

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Sorry for my disappearance....

I have been so very busy with life. My son had his first prom, my daughter had her golden birthday (4 years old on the 4th), my in-laws were in town, baseball is in full swing, and the grass is growing, so it needs to be mowed on occasion. All excuses, I know, but they have kept me from my blogging. I hope to get back into the swing of things now that prom is over, the birthday is finished, and the in-laws have headed home. Baseball is still here and the grass continues to grow, but regardless, I will try and be more vigilant. Here are some pics...

A Thousand Words Thursday

April 19, 2009

9 K's. That's what he did. His 1st time out to start for the varsity team and my son struck out 9 batters. He only allowed 6 hits and 1 walk in a complete game 5 inning victory. Isn't he just awesome!

Recipe Corner: Fluffy Biscuits

I found this recipe somewhere on the internet a while ago and it has become my family's favorite biscuit recipe, especially when served with sausage gravy! Give it a try and I am sure your family will love it too!

Fluffy Biscuits
makes about 8- 10 biscuits

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar (can be increased if you want sweeter)
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (cannot substitute and maintain the same results)
  

1. Preheat oven to 480 (not a typo, really hot oven! yes really, 480!)
2. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray
3. In a medium bowl combine all the dry ingredients.
4. Add cream (no substitutions... they won't get as fluffy, trust me, I've tried!)
5. Stir together just until it sticks together and forms a ball.
6. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently press dough out to about 3/4" thickness.
7. Cut out biscuits using about a 3" biscuit cutter, or a glass will do!
8. Place biscuits on the greased cookie sheet leaving about an inch in between.
9. Bake in your preheated, very hot oven, for approximately 10 minutes, until golden brown on the top and the bottom. They will rise pretty tall while baking and will sink a bit after you take them out.

I recommend serving hot with sausage gravy to drown them in! YUMMY!

Trash to Treasure.... a school project

My middle son, who is in the 3rd grade, had a project due today. So like we always do, we waited until the last minute to complete it. We had it all planned out, but just didn't get it done until late last night.

We built an art table made from plastic bottles, pizza boxes, & recycled paper. Then used a few staples & glue to hold it together, and paint to make it look pretty!



I had some chalkboard paint from another project, so we used that on the top to really make it a cool, functioning art table. The papers in the bin are from a large envelope that would have been thrown away, a paper bag that once held apples, which also would have been thrown away, and some comics cut out of the newspaper. The crayons in one of the holders were broken and getting lost on the floor, so we salvaged those and put them in a good place to be used. His colored pencils probably wouldn't have been thrown away, but they weren't getting much use where they were. The chalk was broken, it probably would still have been used, but now has a new home!

We had a lot of fun with it, and would recommend you give recycling and re-purposing a try with your kids!