Goodbye...

The bad news is that this will be my last post on this blog. It has been fun sharing by life through pictures and stories on here, but it is time to move on. The good news is this is not the end. You can still follow my crazy adventures over on my farm blog. It  has simply become too complicated to keep up two separate blogs. I was making the mistake of double posting both here and there and now I have a big mess. So now I am going to work towards integrating both blogs into one, possibly moving to a new blogging platform, and hopefully making it easy for you to subscribe to either my more personal posts, my more farm related posts, or both. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you will enjoy the farm blog just as well.  Come visit it at: http://engells-simplegiftsfarm.blogspot.com/

My little boys helping plant hazelnut bushes this spring.

Winter Sparkle

Crabapples with sparkling ice crystals

Potato Party

Well this post is a little late, but I figured better late than never. Back in September we were blessed to have the help of friends, family and neighbors to get our potato crop out of the ground. We made it into quite a party. In the evening we all had a harvest dinner of potato soup and Asian cabbage salad. We also celebrated David's 4th birthday with a some cupcakes, balloons, and gifts.

The Potato Harvest Crew

Matthew Helping Sort Potatoes

Picking up Potatoes

Potatoes

Happy Birthday

David Turns Four

Planting Garlic

This fall we planted a large area of the garden to garlic. We have ten beds, one hundred feet long with four rows in each. It was quite a bit of work to get it all planted but we did it. It was just in time too, before the ground began to freeze and snow stared to fall. It looks so nice all planted and mulched.

Harvest

Harvest was bountiful this year. Summer was busy, sometimes even crazy. We had a great season at the farmer's market. We always had a full table. I had an abundance of produce to can and freeze as well. We have been so blessed and have so much to be thankful for.

Pumpkins and garlic in the living room. We don't have a proper storage area yet so when it started getting too cold outside our abundant harvest filled the living room until we sold some of it, used some of it and organized the rest in the other room.

I did so much canning this year; pickles, jams, chutney, salsas, beans, tomato sauce and more. It is so satisfying to have it all on the pantry shelves. I also froze and dried quite a bit of fruit.

Digging Potatoes

These pictures are a little old now, but here we are digging potatoes.

Raspberries

I am starting to see a few ripe raspberries.

First Tomatoes

I picked the first ripe tomatoes out of the hoophouse this morning! I am so excited.

Farm Kittens

Our barn cat had five kittens a few weeks ago. They are very cute. Hopefully they will help keep the mouse and gopher population down :)

David Sells Vegetables

New Potatoes

We have been harvesting new potatoes the last couple of weeks and bringing them to market. It is so amazing to have them already. These are ones we started in March in the hoophouse. Then later after we stopped having frost we moved the hoophouse off and put tomatoes in it.

Bird's Nest

Andrew found a little nest when he went out to move the tractor. It is so adorable. I took it off the tractor and have it sitting on my hutch. I didn't know what else to do with it, because Andrew moved and was going to pressure wash the tractor so it couldn't stay there, and I figured the mama bird wouldn't be able to find it anyway. But I feel bad for the little bird.

Chewelah Market

We have been enjoying the Chewelah Farmer's Market so much this year. The new location in the park is so beautiful. It has been staying pretty busy and is lots of fun.

Green Strawberries

Hopefully we will have ripe strawberries soon. I can't wait. They are blooming really well this year.

Zucchinni

We brought our first zucchini to the market on Friday! These pictures were taken a few days earlier.

In the Greenhouse

Tomatoes and squash growing in the green house.

Planting Potatoes

We have been very busy this past week working in the garden; planting weeding, and watering. Planting potatoes took up quite a bit of that time. We planted 24 rows. We have several varieties including Yukon Gold, Russet, Red Norland and Fingerling.

David loves to help us plant things, especially onions and potatoes. His method of planting potatoes is to take as many as possible and put them in on area(most likely the path) then try to bury them. It is very cute so I had to snap some pictures. After I took the pictures though I replanted his potatoes.

Spring Greens

We have been enjoying delicious and resh greens from the garden this past week. I have been enjoying using them is some different recipes. I thought I would share a few with you.




Pasta with Mustard Greens

1 lb small pasta
1 small steak thinly sliced
1 bunch mustard greens
1 bunch green garlic
1 small onion
1 lemon
3 Tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Cayenne pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and toss with a little olive oil.
While pasta is cooking heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté steak until browned. Chop mustard greens, green garlic, and onion. Add onions and garlic to pan, sauté. Add mustard greens and continue sautéing until greens are just wilted. Add salt and pepper to taste and a dash of cayenne pepper. Grate the zest from the lemon then squeeze the juice. Combine with other ingredients and toss with pasta, adding more olive oil if needed. Serve and enjoy!

Mizuna and Mustard Green Quiche

1 unbaked pie crust (see recipe below)
Olive oil or butter
1 small onion
1 large handful fresh mizuna
1 large handful fresh mustard greens
1 large green garlic
5 farm fresh eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup grated cheddar or jack cheese
Salt
Pepper
Dash of nutmeg

Sauté onion and green garlic in oil or butter until tender. Add chopped mizuna and mustard greens. Sauté until wilted. Layer vegetables and cheese in pie shell. In a mixing bowl beat eggs and milk until well blended. Add salt and pepper and a dash of nutmeg. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Whole Wheat Pie Crust

makes two 10 inch pie crusts

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 ½ sticks butter, cut into small pieces

½ cup cold water

Cut butter into flour using a pastry blender or your fingers, leaving some of the butter in fairly large pieces. Pour in most of the water while stirring with a fork. Add the rest of the water until dough comes together in a clump. Divide dough in two. Roll out on a floured board until about ¼ inch thick. Fold into quarters and transfer to pie pan. Trim edges and pinch with thumb and forefinger to finish.

Spring Green Salad with Tomato Basil Dressing

1 bag salad mix with mustard greens

1 bunch radishes

1-2 small green garlic

1 handful dried tomatoes

1 cup olive oil

½ cup apple cider vinegar

1 clove garlic, crushed

½ tsp. dried basil

Salt

Pepper

Place salad mix in bowl, tearing any large pieces. Chop radishes and garlic greens, sprinkle over the top. Combine all other ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth..Toss with salad or pour over individual servings.

Tomato Hoophouse

We just put up a new hoophouse for growing tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers in. I am planning to transplant tomatoes into it this afternoon. Here is a picture of it partially up. I will put some more pictures up with the tomatoes in it.

David Rides the Tractor

Last Sunday afternoon was beautiful. While the sun was shining Andrew took David for a tractor ride. He loved it! It was so fun to watch.


Waving at Mommy

This is exciting!

Posing with the tractor.

Afterwards the lighting was perfect so I snapped a few more photos of the tractor.