The garden is still providing, despite temps sinking in the mid 20s last week, brrr! This week we harvested some gorgeous lettuce. Fall lettuce is divine, so tender yet toothsome, and nice and sweet. Yum.
I also harvested some yummy Red Russian kale for a delicious batch Kale and Sausage Soup on Saturday, which I served with an apple pie made from apples procured from a local orchard. YUM!
I know the pie is not technically countable for Daphne’s Harvest Monday, but hey, if you made a pie that looked that pretty, chance are you’d want to show off a little, too, right?
November 9, 2009 at 9:59 am |
Yup – pretty/handsome pie : )
Snow already?
For the chickens…how about building similar to an Amish coop. You could buy them too….but they are expensive. Here are some of the plans. I think you could buy the plan and make it yourself.
http://www.earthwaveliving.com/catalog/Chicken_Coops-36-1.html
oh…also you could get Geese…they ARE good. I reduced casualty a lot this year from the hawks…..
I love the little shed in that top picture. What do you use it for? Would love some closer shot of it. Lovely wood.
November 11, 2009 at 8:06 am |
WF, Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately, the coop isn’t the problem. We have a very cozy and secure coop for the girls. See it here: http://henbogle.wordpress.com/2006/05/13/the-grand-opening-of-henbogle-house-aka-the-chicken-palace/
We are having a problem while they are ranging in the large fenced-in yard. Raccoons are apparently very able climbers and can readily go over the fence even while carrying one of our poor hens.
We really want them to be able to free range and eat the grass and bugs and scratch in the dirt…. but may need to build a secure pen for them, which would be sad, but safe.
Or get a goose. Maybe.
November 9, 2009 at 10:02 am |
http://www.horizonstructures.com/mini_coop.asp
Here is a better link.
November 9, 2009 at 12:08 pm |
Oh definitely show off the pie! And the lettuce – it looks so good…
November 9, 2009 at 12:10 pm |
Thanks for visiting my blog recently! Gorgeous pie – it reminds me I need to go pick my apples. There is a sweet reward for doing so!
November 9, 2009 at 2:28 pm |
http://cnj.craigslist.org/grd/1458152864.html
Ok..last comment for the day : ) See attached for a coop. I am sure you can find local ones there as well.
November 10, 2009 at 8:57 am |
I agree – show off the pie :>
The lettuce looks good too, but the pie really outdoes it.
November 10, 2009 at 11:37 am |
What mouthwatering pictures! Your lettuce is perfect and the pie…wow…that is one pretty pie! Nice work on the crust – don’t we all strive for that kind of crust?! :-)
November 11, 2009 at 10:27 am |
Ali, your pie has very much outdone what Martha S. could do!!!!
weez
November 13, 2009 at 9:00 pm |
Hi Ali: I saw a comment you left on the idaho small goat garden blog where you mentioned pressure cooking an old laying hen for stock. I have a hen in the freezer that I know will be tough as old boots but I dont want her to go to waste. I dont have a pressure cooker but I have a big pressure canner. Do you think I could use that? Some directions would really be appreciated if you could help me .
kathi in NB, Canada
November 13, 2009 at 11:04 pm |
Hi Kathi,
I made the stock in a stockpot as you would with any chicken, then canned it in quarts using a pressure canner. I used the directions from the National Center for Home Food Preservation http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_05/stock_broth.html
I did not use the meat in the broth, but canned quarts of clear stock at 10lbs pressure for 25 minutes. It is delicious!
November 14, 2009 at 11:35 am |
Thanks Ali! This made me think of a story my mom used to tell, of a vicious banty rooster that would attack her as she went to gather eggs. She had to knock him back with the carpet beater repeatedly. She finally decided to cook him for a fancy dinner she was hosting and fearing he would be tough from all that exercise, she pressure cooked him. The rooster had the last laugh by turning to mush from too much steam pressure.
November 19, 2009 at 1:31 am |
Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my blog. It is nice to know of other folks who do similar things…like growing vegetables.
You lettuce is a reminder to me, of when I harvested our first leaves of the season. It looks wonderful! Oh, and your pie does too. {wink}
Stay warm!
~Kris