Geek.Farm.Life

Comment by John G

September 24, 2006 @ 7:03 pm

Love the pics and glad you liked the peppers. We don’t grow any squash anymore because of the bugs. Same with potatoes. This has really helped our tomato yields as it seems the squash bugs tend to reinforce the tomato bugs. Problem is, I’ve learned to appreciate and like squash a whole lot more, especially winter varieties (acorn and butternut are my faves). Sevin is pretty effective, if you keep on it, and it does pass on the organic scale if you squint. |-)

When there is a surplus of zucchini, we shred it, drain it, mix it with a bit of sesame oil and pine nuts, and stuff homemade tortellini, which can then be frozen. Great treat with a cream sauce!

Really enjoyed Caroline’s contribution!

Misty, you really should get some thermometers and PAY ATTENTION especially when heating fat. You could start a fire very easily. I have a couple of digital thermometers that beep when they reach a programmed temperature. Not only is this very practical, but it results in better products and less time and fuel wastage.

Pretty soon we should have a show on winterizing the farm, eh?

Cheers, kids!

Comment by Joy Wandrey

September 24, 2006 @ 11:47 pm

Hi Misty, Hi Andrew, Love your show! Listening to you both has really made me want to be back on a farm. I’d love to have goats and bees, and a couple of sheep. BTW, can we hear some more about your little flock of sheep? how many do you have, what kind are they? I assume you have some of the lamb butchered? I’d also love to see some photos of your knitted stuff and your handspun. What kind of wheel do you have, do you ever use a drop spindle, about how long does it take you to fill a bobbin? etc. Oh, yeah, I’m also looking forward to hearing about Andrew’s experience in learning to butcher the kid goats. Are you guys going to do any hunting for venison this fall? or do you hunt? Anyhow, love the show, and thank Caroline, she’s how I found out about you. I also keep eagerly checking each week to see if she has re-appeared, I miss hearing about her projects and her farm too. You guys are great!
Peace,
Joy
knitnick@gmail.com
www.geocities.com/knitnick
knitnick.blogspot.com

Comment by misty

September 25, 2006 @ 7:07 am

First to JohnG, I was using a thermometer. You are right though, I should have been watching more carefully. I forgot to turn the heat down to Low, and got distracted. It doesn’t take long for 15 pounds of fat to get hot. We don’t have a thermometer that beeps. We used to have some “probe” style ones that did that, but the cables always got melted, and they were so expensive to replace that we gave up.

Joy, you bring up a whole lot of future podcast topics. :) To answer some of your questions though:

I don’t use a drop spindle. I did try it for a very brief time while I was saving up the money for a wheel, and I did not enjoy it. I’m not coordinated enough, and it would take me so long to get a useable product that to me, it just wasn’t worth the effort.

I use a Lendrum double-treadle folding wheel. I’m a Lendrum evangelist. I think it is one of the best, most versatile wheels out there. The only possible drawback is that it doesn’t have a traditional look at all. I love modern furniture and clean line, and I do not like fussy turnings and carving, so it’s perfect for me.

Depending on the grist of yarn I’m spinning, it may take me one hour to four hours to fill a bobbin with a single. Plying is much faster. If it’s a really fine yarn it may take me an hour to ply it.

I think I’ll save the rest of your questions for a future podcast. We’re hoarding topics for the winter, when the Farm section may get a little slow.

Comment by Julie

September 25, 2006 @ 2:28 pm

Hi! I just wanted to let Misty know that I also talk about Spinning on my podcast. (I talk about all kinds of crafts, actually.) In fact, Episode 4 of my podcast is just about spinning (http://www.stitch-cast.com/2006/05/episode_4_spinn.html)

Love your podcast — I’ve listened to every episode!
Julie (www.stitch-cast.com)

Comment by andrew

September 25, 2006 @ 2:29 pm

Hi John G!

Good idea on the winterizing show. I think it’ll be late October before we start thinking about that. But it’s a great idea. We’ll see how long the grass keeps growing. :)

Welcome Joy! I may go deer hunting one day this year. We have enough meat that I’m not really interested in getting a lot more. If I get a deer I may just turn most of it into jerky.

Cheers,

-Andrew

Comment by misty

September 25, 2006 @ 2:34 pm

Thanks, Julie! I’ll have to give it a listen!

Comment by Carol

September 26, 2006 @ 6:14 am

I recently found your show thanks to Charles of Mostly News. Its been fun listening. The best thing about podcasting I have found is hearing from people I never would have otherwise. Great show guys.