vegetable – Shoots and Roots

What’s Happening

By: Melissa July 30, 2013

The Gardenbirds, Food, gardening, homestead, photography, summer, vegetable3 Comments

Hello! Summer has been speeding by here! Its been cooler on average too which has been very nice. Several times I thought it was Fall already, but then realized that no, it was still July. Anyway, here is a little of what we have been up to this month. – Our landlord is replacing the…

Garden Update 7/7

By: Melissa July 7, 2013July 7, 2013

Photography, The Garden, UncategorizedFood, garden, homestead, plants, vegetable1 Comment

I forgot to tell you I would be out of town for the last two weeks. My little sister got married! Congratulations to Kristen and her new husband Kevin! It was ridiculously hot in southern California while we were there. Over 100 degrees for most of the trip. Tom tells me that it was hot…

Garden Update

By: Melissa June 20, 2013

The Gardenbackyard, Food, homesteading, summer, vegetable, vegetable gardeningLeave a Comment

Above pic: Two weeks ago 2 days ago It seems kinda silly to continue my 30 days when I am obviously not blogging everyday. As much as I want to, it is impossible for me to blog everyday. I have to choose between spending time with Tom after the kids go to bed or blog. …

Green Salad with Beet and Carrot

By: Melissa November 16, 2012June 10, 2018

Food, Lunch, Salad, summer, Vegetablesbeets, egg, Food, recipe, salad, vegetable, vegetarian5 Comments

The rainy season is here! Bright green grass now covers the ground. The grapevines are rapidly losing their leaves. A fire in the wood burning stove is now a nightly necessity and we have swapped our summer clothes for winter ones. This is my favorite time of year. Around here we get rain that…

Garden Update

By: Melissa July 11, 2012July 9, 2012

The Garden, Vegetablesbackyard homestead, garden problems, gardening, vegetable3 Comments

The garden has been a huge disappointment so far this year. After two years of harvesting 100 pounds each summer I had big expectations this year, but it is not to be. We have been plagued by problems. Mostly of the small furry tunneling variety. The gophers are back and they have moved into the…

With Crossed Fingers – Gopher Madness Part 2

By: Melissa June 24, 2012

The Gardenbackyard garden, Food, gardening, gopher, pest, summer, vegetableLeave a Comment

Today Tom and I moved the gopher ridden backyard garden bed. I’ve put this off for days because I know I will probably lose plants from shock. BUT, after finding another plant, my zucchini, being sucked down another hole this morning I was convinced that it had to be done. I’ve never wanted to kill…

Gopher Madness

By: Melissa June 22, 2012

The GardenFood, garden, gophers, pest, planting, summer, vegetableLeave a Comment

What do you do when for the third day in a row you go out to water the garden and find another plant has gone missing? Completely vanished without a trace. That makes twelve plants now; two strawberries, two lemon cucumbers, my crookneck squash and seven bush beans. 1. Kick yourself for being too lazy…

Around the Yard

By: Melissa May 3, 2012

Animal Helpers, The Gardenchickens, Food, gardening, homestead, plants, spring, vegetable4 Comments

Have your allergies been bad this year? Ours are horrible! I don’t know if it’s the climate in Sonoma County or if this is just a bad pollen year, but we have been suffering big time. I bought a new allergen hepa filter vacuum and it has helped a lot already. I didn’t realize how…

Spring Pea and Baby Potato Salad with Yogurt

“Mom, can I pick some peas too?” The pea vines in front of me begin to tremble. I look down to see her tugging on a pea pod, pulling the whole vine to one side. “Whoa there sweetheart, you need to cut them off, not pick them. Pea vines are too fragile to just yank…