A good frost puts an abrupt end to all the fun, overnight.

We got to harvest the last of the tomatoes before the snap of cold and found ourselves throwing all the ripe ones in the dehydrator to preserve.  (Still have to contend with the green ones…tonight, maybe!?) With a new baby and work, there wasn’t a lot of time for canning or that right now, and I find myself hooked on the taste of the dried tomatoes, anyway.  Seriously…they are SWEET, YUMMY and ADDICTING.

Yes, I’m falling more and more in love with the whole dehydrating process every day.  

There are many benefits…

• Retains more of the nutritional makeup of the produce than some of the other methods.
• Less time consuming and less mess/cleanup.  All I had to do was slice them, set them on a tray, turn on the dehydrator and walk away.
• They take up WAY less storage room than if I had canned them.
• The shelf life is longer.
• They make a delicious grab and go snack!
• They’re great for soups,  pizzas, and toasted sandwiches throughout the winter.
• They’re also very pretty…..

Cheers to dried up food….lol!

michele.

While some of us are ‘working’, others are apparently playing games around here! LOL…

You can check out our FB page and see what they’re up to or you can also play along here.

Are you good at puzzles? e-mail me your answer to what the 5 symbols stand for above….stay tuned for prize info! Don’t give me your answer on Facebook….email me:  dee@borganic.net   Make it a delightful day!!!

Play away, kids….(and don’t ask me for help…this game is a new one for me, too!) HA!

Back to work for me!

Cheers to my co-workers for stirring up some fun today!

michele.

The best part of this job is the friends we make along the way and the learning that takes place on a daily basis……

I ran across a feature on Tim and Debbie’s home several years ago in the newspaper and was immediately drawn to their story.  The salvage aspect of the materials they used and the intentional choice to live small was definitely something I myself wanted to hear more about and I knew that others would enjoy it, too.   The visit certainly didn’t disappoint…..They welcomed our crew, all our gear, and were very patient with the sometimes lengthy process of shooting (especially on a 100 degree kind of day).

Their homestead was charming to say the least.  Tim and Debbie were so hospitable and I could have sat and talked with them for days.  Like minds were connecting and I always cherish when that happens.   I appreciated the refreshing honesty when it came to discussing their motivation for creating this new lifestyle.   They weren’t down on their luck, they weren’t following a ‘green trend’, per say, they were simply doing everything that just ‘made sense’ to them and what they were wanting for their life.  There was also the resourceful challenge of it all.  The ‘green / sustainable’ factor just came about naturally, the greater connection to nature, the do it yourself, ‘working with what you have’ mentality, the realization that they didn’t need all the prior stuff they had in their lives.  They weren’t afraid to try different things and LIVE with them.  I LOVE that.

Some of the memorable takeaways from the day:

• Debbie likes to swim in a primitive looking basin that gets filled with rain water.  There’s a bungee cord hooked to a tree that she latches on to for her own unique version of a lap pool.
• Their home runs entirely off the water that nature provides.

• They have a toaster oven outside their back door that they cook in to prevent heating up the house during the warm summer months.
• I loved the fact that they could just hook up to their carefully crafted home and take it with them.  (The side that juts out is actually detachable and designed to fit inside the unit if they decide to move it.) Build it once and then live your life to the fullest, putting your natural gifts and talents to work each day, the way YOU want.
• I was surprised to learn that their city had a rule in place preventing people from building a home less than 1,000 sq. feet?
• The cats were carefully considered in their design plans.

• Their ‘bedroom’ actually felt spacious and cozy….we all wanted to crawl up inside there and grab a good book.

• Their gypsy wagon inspired chicken coop and their delightful new family of chickens brought me closer to raising chickens in our own backyard this coming spring.

• The simple, made from scratch approach that stocks her pantry and fuels her kitchen creations .  She prepared a delicious zucchini quiche  for us along with a loaf of her ‘no knead’ bread.  (Here’s a link to her ‘no knead’ baking friend who lives down the road from them).  

• The creative use of every ‘inch’ (versus ounce) ha… of space for storage.  The filing cabinets with the ‘built in’ dresser function and the overhead options.

• The economical heating and cooling system..Doesn’t take much to keep this small open space comfortable throughout the year.

• The oriental long beans she had growing in her garden…I will definitely be planting them in our garden next year.

• Debbie is a beautiful seamstress and has her own line of children’s clothing that celebrates reclaimed materials, the idea of double duty, and clothes kids can ‘grow’ into.

• Tim is a very gifted furniture designer/woodworker, yet I found it refreshing to see how he still appreciates the imperfections and beauty that come with working salvaged materials into his own home.

• Did you see Debbie’s closet?  How many of you ladies out there could do that?

I know I went home and looked at my wardrobe a bit differently.   My whole house for that matter.  I understand there are a multitude of variations to the smaller, simpler living plan for people, but a common thread to it all is the freedom that comes with living more debt free, to be able to sustain ourselves better by growing as much food as we can, and by being resourceful with what is naturally available to us ALL.

They graciously introduced us to some of their friends in the area and it’s our intent to get back there soon to capture more of these inspiring lifestyles to share with all of you.

You can learn more about this interesting duo at their website…..and see a slideshow tour of their home….they’re also in the process of writing an e-book about their home, designs and such, so keep an eye out for that in the near future.

Anything about smaller, simpler living that appeals to YOU?!

Cheers, all!

(A reminder for those of you across the rest of country….that this new round of shows that’s currently airing here in Iowa will roll out nationwide in about 11 weeks for more of you to see!) 

michele.

To see someone get SO excited over the wild edibles that are out there was a pretty cool experience.  That was exactly how Andy Benson, our guest from today’s season premiere was.   We all could’ve wandered around with him all day, soaking up more and more.  ”What’s that?, What can we do with this?, Can you eat these?”  (Having your very own personal wild edibles tour guide is a pretty sweet thing, you know!)

It’s funny how once you start being able to identify certain things, you naturally want to know more and more.  I only hope I live long enough to learn about everything that’s out there! ::)

We originally planned to go to Andy’s home in Dubuque, Iowa to shoot this particular show, but his area was affected by flooding over the summer and he ended up coming our way instead.  (I really wanted to see what he had stored in his cupboards, too!) lol  Andy chooses a bicycle for his transportation, so his dad was generous enough to drive him all the way out here, and we had fun getting to know him, as well.  One would assume that maybe Andy got some of his foraging enthusiasm from his dad, but that wasn’t the case. Andy said it was actually his dad that was always telling him to stop eating those things when he was little. His dad laughed about that and told me that while he personally wasn’t all that into ‘eating weeds’, ::) he was pretty proud of all that his son had learned, what he does with it and how he goes about teaching others.

I was pregnant in this episode, (obviously) lol….so I did exercise moderation with some of the ‘new’ things that I was trying.  I did try everything, and I can’t say that I found any of it to be disappointing.  Everything truly was tasty and I even went out and harvested more throughout the weeks after and started incorporating them into the menu.  Andy admittedly likes to prepare the things he harvests very simply..he’s a bit of a purist like that! ::) ..I, on the other hand will continue to have some fun playing around with the recipes, adding a few other ingredients here and there and ‘spicing things up a bit’.  

Andy’s resourcefulness also went beyond just edibles..he also made twines/ropes out of some of the different plants and he has quite a collection of didgeridoos that he handcrafts…we would’ve needed an hour-long show to share it all, so unfortunately we had to table some of those things for another day!

I encourage you guys to check out the group he started on Facebook and join in.  There is a WEALTH of knowledge and expertise being shared on there day after day.  Excellent place to learn and converse with fellow foragers.

Andy and others like him are the people whom I consider to be the ‘celebrities’ in the world.   People definitely worth talking about and giving precious air time to. There are so many other interesting foragers out there just like Andy and I look forward to being able to share their stories with all of you in future programs.

Cheers to foraging!

michele.

It has been a wild year for exploring the ancient art of foraging at our house.  Our backyard has always been a primary resource for me whether it’s for gathering natural materials to work with or simply for inspiration.  This year, however, things elevated to another level as we really started to delve into all the native plants that are edible.  We were busy introducing new foods into the menu such as milkweed pods, young maple seeds, chicory root, cattails, sumac, burdock, and wild bergamot.  Wild greens like solomon’s seal, bristly greenbrier, nettles and lambs quarters were plentiful and found their way into refreshing new salad combinations, teas and smoothies.  The wild berries such as elderberries, gooseberries, raspberries and mulberries were harvested with vigor and preserved for continued enjoyment throughout the year.

I reached out and connected with other passionate foragers and was excited to learn of the varied reasons each of them got started with their own daily foraging efforts.   Some are cancer survivors who strongly believe that these natural offerings are incredibly beneficial to their health and wellness while others have simply been very connected to nature since childhood and love the variety, the flavors and the overall nutritional benefits.  For me personally, foraging has been a healthy, rewarding adventure….one where I’ve gained some very useful knowledge about nature, health, and nutrition.

Here are some of the foraging tips that I have learned along the way:

• Connect with other foragers through groups in your area or online. It’s an excellent way to learn and get your questions answered from other experts.
•  Plant identification.  It’s important to positively know your plants so get a couple of field guides to help you learn a plants’ features, where it typically grows, the parts of the plant that are edible, when to harvest, and how it can be prepared.
•  Pick a handful of new plants to learn about each year.  Don’t try and learn them all, all at once.  It can be overwhelming and take away from really getting to know a plant.  Just pick a few to start with and keeping adding to the mix each year.
•  Know your area.  Only harvest from areas that you are familiar with and that you know haven’t been sprayed with chemicals and other undesirables.  Ask for permission if you’re wanting to explore on someone else’s property.
•  Be a responsible, conscientious forager.  Just collect what you need and leave enough for future harvests and other wildlife.
•  Research different ways to prepare.  Some plants are better ingested cooked rather than raw and vise verse. There are food and medicinal uses for a lot of plants and some of that may be determined by what parts of the plant you’re harvesting and when, as well as how they’re prepared after harvest.
• Exercise moderation.  Refrain from going overboard your first time out and dining solely on the wilds.  Do a sampling and consider mixing the wild foods with other ingredients as you experiment. Add to it from there.

There really is an abundance of food that just naturally grows all around us and it’s my hope that we all do a better job of learning more about the different plants and making the effort to be more resourceful with all that is naturally available.  Wild edibles truly are natural delicacies we can benefit from nutritionally and economically.

Tune in tomorrow for the premiere of Season 3…we kick things off with another show on foraging, featuring our friend Andy Benson from Dubuque, Iowa……We’re always looking to feature other foragers, so if you are one, or know one….send them our way.  Valuable stuff to share and learn.

Cheers everyone and thank you all so much for watching!

michele.

The recent launch of the b. organic cooperative efforts has generated a new kind of excitement around here and I thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to our Co-op director, Dee House.  

She’s been busy working on some of the pretty cool ways that our members can be more involved with the television show both on-air and off.  Members will soon begin enjoying discounts on upcoming workshops, the weekly giveaways, healthy products in our online storefront, contributions to the show on a variety of levels and most importantly, a resourceful connection with like-minded folks all around the country.  She welcomes all inquiries and LOVES to meet new people. You’ll find that she is an absolute delight to work with and strong, positive energy all the way around.  (and I don’t just say that about anybody!) ::) lol.

A lil’ about me…Dee.  You’ve heard it is always about the journey…well I had worked hard in the corporate world, designed and built my dream house on a sweet lakeside property.  A great destination for the past 13 years!  I would find myself saying if I could do it over again I would do this or I wish I would have done that.  Today, I find myself on a new journey.  I am no longer in the corporate world and I sold the house on the lake and am looking for a small spread of land to live a life that keeps my journey going forward in a natural way!  I feel the need to create my own harvest from this rich Iowa soil, continue my journey in the art world and be more relaxed in every day life.  Back to basics with hopefully a little more smarts to leave a colorful footprint.  It is amazing what you can accomplish if you just give yourself the chance.  Looking forward to some chickens, aronia berries and lavender fields!  I am simply jazzed about connecting all of you wonderful people to each other to better your today!  Jump on board the b. organic co-op where you will find great savings, expert advice and your connection to a vibrant tomorrow!  Join the b. organic co-op journey today – I am anxious to meet YOU!

(dee@borganic.net)

Make her feel welcome, my friends!

Cheers!

michele.

It’s seed harvest time!

Each spring, I must be more focused on the ‘flower’ aspect of things rather than the ‘crop’, because I always find myself wishing I had planted more.

Next year……we WILL do a better job of planting these cheerful blooms as a crop.  That way we end up with a bit more to work with.

There’s so much you can do with them, you know….feed the birds; use them for next year’s plantings; and healthy snacks

for US!

It’s such an easy flower to grow, the seed is a cinch to save and they’re incredibly nutritious ….. for us and our feathered friends…. (they especially love the black oil seed variety — they have a higher oil content and are a bit meatier)

You want to harvest the seeds when the petals have fallen off, the back of the flower has started to dry out and is brown.

(a good tip for preventing the birds from getting to ALL of them before you is to cover the head with a mesh/lingerie type of bag)

The seeds will be plump and striped, and should come out of the head easily.

You’ll simply cut off the head and remove the seeds.

Store some in a cool, dry place for planting as well as a nice supply to feed the birds throughout the winter months.

You can enjoy them raw, or you can roast them.

The raw hulled seeds can also be sprouted for those of you who enjoy sunflower seed sprouts.

There’s also the delicious option of creating sunflower seed butter.  Do the same process as you would making any other type of nut butter.  Run them through your food processor, high speed blender or the old school way — mortar and pestle.

You’ll find yourself like I do…wanting to plant more and more….it’s such a BEAUTIFUL crop.

Cheers to sunny goodness!

michele.

When you work for yourself, ‘maternity leave’ is…..

well,

not always an option……..

you simply have to keep on, keepin’ on….

Only difference is you’re loving and caring for one more as you go about your work.

It’s definitely a new kind of juggling act around here…

while she’s eating, Jon works…

while she’s napping, I work.

while she’s just chillin’….. it’s hard for either of us to do much work because it’s easy to get caught up in just looking at her and talking to her.

We don’t get do-overs with any of these precious moments, yet we can’t just abandon post and neglect all the responsibilities and commitments we already have in place, so taking care of home, work, family, pets and anything else that pops up on any given day, is certainly a team effort.  I’m forever grateful to have such a supportive and helpful partner.

Working with your spouse can be, um, shall we say…a BIT of a challenge some days?! LOL….it can also be a pretty cool and fortunate thing, especially when you’re bringing a baby to work. ::)

Cheers to ‘working’ it out…..together.

michele.

Bob

(of Bob’s Auto)

located across the street from us here at the studio

Gave me some sweet new additions for my office the other day.

Just look at these beauties….

The patinas …….

He made mention that I could sandblast them…

Are you kidding me….

The patinas are GORGEOUS, right?!

All I need to do is clean them up a bit and seal them with some shellac.

Would love to use them at the house somewhere unexpectedly, but from the looks of my desk and the floor surrounding it, they’re desperately needed here in my ‘corner office’.  (yes I’m still ‘officing’ downstairs, literally in one corner of the studio, and could use a bit more of a ‘thought out’ set-up.

His wife, Nancy, also gave us her grandmother’s old stove.  It too is a beaut.

Bob’s suggestion was to set it up in the bedroom so I could cook Jon breakfast in bed each morning……hmmm…for those of us who like quirky decor…I actually thought about that one for a minute….(not the ‘cooking him breakfast in bed every day’ part), but how it could be a really cool, unexpected piece of furniture for the room……

However.……I think what we’re going to actually end up doing is try and fix it up, get it running and use it in one of our workshop settings for canning/maple syrup, etc. …Equally as fun as bedroom decor. lol.

Cheers to good neighbors and their discards…

(Thanks Bob and Nancy)

Have any of you scored any neighborly treasures, as of late?! 

michele.