Earth Mother Market

It was a sunny and pleasant day in Fort Thomas, where the debut of Earth Mother Market took place. Northern Kentucky's newest farmer's market, which consists of wholly Certified Naturally Grown and Organic farms that are owned or managed by women, had people standing in line when the market opened. Five vendors were on hand for the day, and local television and newspapers covered the event. Napoleon Ridge was supposed to have been there with our eggs, but a conflict arose. None the less, we did stop by at 6pm, and business was booming. We even bought plants for the farm that we did not have. The market will be every Wednesday from 3-7 at 1038 S. Fort Thomas Avenue, Stables Building in the Midway district of Fort Thomas. It looks like it is going to be a well attended market, and there are lots of great surprises planned. Next week, the Atwood Pickers bluegrass band will be playing from 5-6pm, Future plans will include cooking demonstrations, flower arranging, clogging and so much more. How exciting!

Zen and Now

One of the really beautiful gardens that prompted me to buy this house is the Zen garden, full of cobbled stones. Of course, there is nothing Zen about taking care of it, and every year I have the spring fling, flinging weeds that is. This year, it took me on and off 4 days to get it cleared out (and there is still work to be done). Whoever lived here before us loved gardens as much as we do, but I think they must have had more time than us to keep everything clean. However, once the Zen garden has been cleaned out, it really does bring a peaceful aura to the evening if you are sitting on the porch.

And as is always the case in spring, the flowers are beginning to bloom. My peony is open and wafting its scent across the yard. I need to plant more of these...

And last for today, is the Japanese Iris. My good friend from Vermont, Glenn, gave me these several years back, and now I have them in two gardens and need to split them into some more gardens. While short lived like all the Iris, I love their beauty.

Strawberry Wine

I have been remiss in my blogging, if you are following, I apologize. Spring snuck up and did a Tigger...so I am trying to regroup. I Tweeted everyone and said to come visit I would have pictures of my new strawberry beds. A week has passed, but at last here they are.

Not much to look at now, I know. But considering they looked dead when I planted them last week, a dramatic change! They will not be allowed to bear this year. I'll pull all blooms and most runners until late in the season, then tuck them under a bed of straw for a winter nap. Next year, they will be allowed to bloom and we will have fresh strawberries. I will probably add two more beds so I can rotate them every couple of years and still have a crop.

Remeber the garlic I showed you back in February? Here is how it looks now, and I don't even harvest until late summer. I will probably expand garlic production, too.

And one more, to make the title of today's blog have some meaning. We started with strawberries, now for the wine. We have had bud break on the grapes, here is the little clusters of grapes to be, just getting started. This variety is Cabernet Franc.

Violets

Well, we finally got our taxes figured out, and sent them off. Looks like we'll be able to do a couple of our projected projects, yeah! Had our excavation guy, Tony, over yesterday. So, part one is the greenhouse (sure wish I had it now...) floor. He has to get it all graded, then I will put down the mulch cloth and he will finish with #8 stone. (Almost sounds like I know what that is...I guess it is a smaller crushed stone, he says it is what I need, and I trust him). We'll then be putting another frost free pump over by the greenhouse, and running water line the remainder of the way to the barn and putting another frost free in the new henhouse (formally the tobacco stripping room). Finally, Tony will regrade and finish the drive to the barn, and run a new drive down the side of the barn to the back so I can unload chicken feed.


Took today off, and got going starting seeds. I got 8 flats done...only another 50 or so to go! The back yard is filled with violets, so I though I would get a shot before Fran goes crazy with the mower and cuts them all down. So dainty and pretty.

Ahhh, summer.

After this weeks cold and blustery weather, I came across this picture from last summer...and instantly felt warm all over! This was taken last July from the farmhouse porch, now I just need a lemonade and a warm breeze.

Cotton Candy

Every year I get treated to the beauty of my Japanese cherries. I have two, one regular and one weeping. Sometimes their blooming coincides, though not this year. The weeping cherry is just getting started, but the regular cherry looks like a big puff of cotton candy.

If it sets cherries, (though Mother Nature is about to pitch us a fast ball, with temps below freezing and snow for Monday and Tuesday) which are not edible by humans, I can depend on the Cedar Waxwings and Cardinals to come and gobble them all up when ripe. That's about the same time they are wiping out the mulberries.

Spring is popping up everywhere now, the perennial flowers are starting to show some green. My russian sage, echinacia, bee balm, hostas, tiger lilies, hollyhocks, betony, agastache and even my false prairie indigo are up. And one of my spring favorites, the peony is up a good 6 to 12 inches.

Saving your tomato seeds

Remember, a hybrid tomato that has been cross pollinated will not grow into what you planted, unless you are sure not to allow that cross pollination. Heritage tomatoes are the best ones to save seeds from. Here's how:

1. Wash tomatoes and then cut across them. Do not cut from stem tip to bottom, cut across the other way. Gently squeeze juice and seeds into a container, label it with the variety and date. Fill the container half way with water. Tap water is fine, but you can use distilled or spring if you wish.

2. This needs to sit for approximately 3 to 5 days. During this time, a whitish mold will form on the top of the water. This is good! Your fermentation is taking place. Be sure to set your container out of the direct sun and someplace where the fermentation odor will not bother you. Once the 3 to 5 days have passed, use a spoon to carefully remove the mold, taking care not to remove the seeds with it.

3. Add a little more water to the container, then stir with a spoon. The seeds you will want to save will sink to the bottom, any others you will discard.

4. Drain off the water, taking care not to pour out your good seeds. Place your seeds in a single layer on a plate for drying. This will take about three days. Once dry, place in a jar or envelope.

That's it. Your seeds are ready for use next spring!