Category: Gardening & Permaculture

All things “food production.”

The Lazy Girl’s 3-Step Guide to Veggie Gardening

The Lazy Girl's 3 Step Guide to Veggie Gardening

It pains me to say this out loud, but I am insanely lazy. If there is a shortcut to take, you can bet I’ll find it. Luckily, when it comes to gardening, there are a number of plants that acquiesce to my laziness — allowing me to have all the deliciousness of home grown veggies, without the backbreaking labor.

I’m here today to share with you my three step guide to lazy veggie gardening. However, as is so often the case with convenience, this system involves spending some cold-hard cash. If you’re looking for frugal gardening tips, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction!

Continue reading The Lazy Girl’s 3-Step Guide to Veggie Gardening

Why Keeping Bees Might Be the Best Thing You Ever Did for Your Garden

Keeping Bees Best Thing for your garden

On Keeping Bees…

I was absolutely petrified of bees as a child — like, running away, screaming, and waving my arms petrified. It wasn’t until I attended a local lavender festival a few years ago that I changed my mind about our little striped friends. As I snipped branches of culinary lavender and placed it in my basket, I noticed the honey bees swarming the flowers had absolutely no interest in my activities. They didn’t dive bomb me, nor did they sting me.

Continue reading Why Keeping Bees Might Be the Best Thing You Ever Did for Your Garden

Gardening Like a Ninja: Giveaway, Free Course, & Interview

Giveaway, e-course, and interview

The secrets to food production in landscaping are here!  You’ve got a front row seat.  I’ll wait while you go get a cup of tea.

We’ve got a fantastic giveaway and a huge announcement about how you can take an edible landscaping course for free.  So stick with me.  But to truly understand how far you can still come on your journey to food production, you just must read this interview!

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5 Things You Didn’t Know Before Reading This Blog

5 Things You Didn't Know Before Reading This Blog--Pantry Paratus

This blog is a shameless plug for my favorite winter pastime–snuggling up in fuzz gear with my favorite tea and a good read.  Now, I’m not much of a fiction reader, although I do enjoy a good classic now and again.  The truth is that my time is shredded in 10 different directions on any given day, and I have to make the most of my reading indulgence during the winter so that I am better equipped for summertime food production, preparation, and preservation.

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Preparedness & The Simple Life: Announcing a Free Summit to Get You Started

Preparedness and Simple Living

Preparedness.  The Simple Life.  Self-Sufficiency.

 

God never meant us to live this way, I’m convinced.  There are people who never see the light of day, never talk to a neighbor, never eat something out of the ground. They may never sit at the table for a meal, be asked how their day went by a loved one, or pet an animal.  This is not normal.

Continue reading Preparedness & The Simple Life: Announcing a Free Summit to Get You Started

5 Foods You Can Easily Grow in your Backyard

5 Food You Can Easily Grow

This is an inspiring guest post with the effect of getting us all to start small and branch out from there.  There is so much we can do–even 10-15 minutes a day spent growing food will save you real cash and nourish your family.  Enjoy!

If you want fresh and organic options for your meals, fruits and vegetables from your home garden are a good choice. Not only does growing food save you money, but it also assures you that the foods you’re eating are not treated with pesticides and other chemicals. Start growing food today!

Continue reading 5 Foods You Can Easily Grow in your Backyard

Tastes Like Lemon: The Time I Ate Ants (& more about eating insects)

Photo of Beondegi by Alpha

This is the most self-deprecating thing I have ever posted online.   But you know what they say: If you can laugh at yourself, you will never cease to be amused.

My interest in this topic started with one of only a handful of regrets I have obtained through life. I’m just not prone to regrets, apparently, given that this makes that short list.

Continue reading Tastes Like Lemon: The Time I Ate Ants (& more about eating insects)

Shout Out to the Farmer’s Market

The Farmers’ Market

Making the most of the harvest for the winter’s pantry

 

Shout Out to the Farmers Market

It was late August, and the temperature went from summer in the 90’s to autumn– raining– in the high 40’s.  I do believe that our eggplant got a case of frostbite; at least the leaves seem to indicate so.  We had not yet fully gone “all in” on our summer food preservation so the untimely weather had me at the Farmer’s market, since our gardening was lackluster this year. 

 The downside is that it was very cold and wet, and only a few booths were open.  Trying to find the upside, I took some photos of all of the colors that struck me on the cold, rainy day.  If beautiful, brightly colored veggies cannot make you happy on a dreary day, then you may be too far gone for this blog. 

Vegetables at the Farmers Market

As it turns out, Pantry Paratus, Inc. started out in a farmer’s market years ago.  It was prior to our website launching, but we were passionate to get our products into the hands of people who wanted to preserve their food, too.  All through the cold wet spring in Northwest Montana, Chaya set up the booth, passing out free samples of Tattler lids.  All throughout the desert-dry summer, Chaya offered breadbaking troubleshooting to anyone who asked while Bugaloo (still in her two’s) fought against taking a nap in the sloping backseat of the truck.  In the dead heat of summer when there was no respite from the sun, we built our brand.  So shopping a farmer’s market now brings about a bit of nostalgia, perhaps even moreso on a day like that. 

Root Veggies

 We had been strategizing all summer long with whom we would make the big end-of-summer bulk food push.  Chaya has a very tender spot for businesses that support people with disabilities, so the booth selling tomatoes will likely be selling us at least four cases of tomatoes to dehydrate and to make into sauce for the winter (we like pasta)–it is work program for people with disabilities.  I  found a farmer who pasture-raises his pigs, so we reserved a whole hog with him.  We have enjoyed produce from some very industrious youth, and some cases of apples (of which some are in the dehydrator as I type this) from the couple who drives them all the way in from a no-spray farm in Washington State. 

Carrots in the Rain

But this day I was just there for the basics; I needed to pick up some produce for a dehydrating demo class that Chaya is holding at the Zone 4 Live! event in Pray, MT next week.  $18 was the arbitrary amount that I had in mind to get, and also happened to be the amount of money in my pocket.  So I shopped around and here is what I took home. 

Summer Produce

This picture does not do justice to the scale; that is over 1/2 of our dining room table.  Not bad all told, and all of it went to use.  This is actually the secret multiplier to making summer last—do not waste anything!  Any bruised spots, stems, cores, or dried ends go into the jar in order to later go out to the compost pile.  Some other tougher bits and peels go into a bag in the freezer for Chaya’s totally free homemade broth.  Sharon Peterson from Simply Canning has a blog on how to make stock, too.  

Compost JarCompost Keeper available at Pantry Paratus

Nothing goes to waste.  Why?  Because we are taking the best exports of from a farm into our home as our inputs, and what a shame it is to not use all of it.  And, in the next two blogs I can show you how to make use of those left over bits that may not seem all that tastey . . . come back and see us for Preserving Summer’s End Part 1 and 2. 

Zucchini at the Market


Pro Deo et Patria,

Wilson

 

 Proviso:

Nothing in this blog constitutes medical or legal advice.  You should consult your own physician before making any dietary changes.  Statements in this blog may or may not be congruent with current USDA or FDA guidance.

 

 

Pantry Paratus: Garden Tour 2014

Pantry Paratus:

Garden Tour 2014

We are on a family vacation deep in the Rocky Mountains, and I am often struck at the gardening contrasts found within our beautiful country.  Ohio’s peonies are replaced with Georgia’s Gardenias; Florida’s Birds of Paradise are replaced with Colorado’s “rock gardens.”  We are a diverse nation.  I asked our facebook and blogging friends to share their favorite garden spots with us so that we can tour the nation!

 

Jared, a friend who happens to run J & J Acres, shares his zinnias with us.  He is a true permaculturist at heart and reminds us that permaculture means so much more than just traditional food crops.  He says, “Growing flowers, like Zinnia, has multiple uses in a vegetable garden. They are, of course, beautiful to look at, but also bring in a lot of pollinators, like butterflies. Best of all, you can even clip a few to bring inside your home as well!”

 Zinnias at J&J Acres

And just as Jared hopes to educate others to positive food production, so does Christina, who works with the younger set.  I’d like to do the garden tour if that’s okay. Christina in Oklahoma is teaching her daycare kids to grow their own food with her opus, “Little Sprouts Learning.”

Little Sprouts

 I recently found some great advice on Green Talk about how to get rid of unwanted garden visitors, and began admiring her beautiful squash, which did its part in converting her to square foot gardening–you will have to check out Anna’s blog to see all of her great pictures and advice.  I was, however, wondering why I have never tried to grow daikon radishes when I saw this picture! It’s gotta go on my garden list for next year!

Green Talk

 Halfway Oak Farm tried a new method of gardening this year – raised beds. It was such a success, they have enough harvest to fill their pantry through the winter. Next year they plan to triple the number of beds. 

 

Halfway Oak Farm

Donna and I have something in common this gardening season–our eggplant!  Hers are still blooming in the Phoenix desert, whereas ours are about the size of your palm in Montana. She says, “Here in the desert, eggplant is one of the few crops that grows best in August.”  Read about her gardening adventures at Sharing Life’s Abundance.

Eggplant Blossom

 Erica from MomPrepares.com says “Plant it and they will come!” as she plugs flowers into the corners of her garden beds in hopes they’ll attract honeybees to pollenate her vegetables. And hey, they’re pretty to look at too!

Mom Prepares

 

Along with Erica, Samantha is doing her part to encourage the birds & bees.  Samantha at Runamuk Acres in Maine plants herbs and flowers with her vegetables as part of her companion planting strategy; and also to benefit her honeybees and local native pollinators!

Runamok Acres

Vegetables combine with flowers and herbs in Teri’s garden to create a overspilling hodge podge of edibles and soul-nourishing ornamentals. This garden was created using the sheet mulching, or lasagna gardening technique, which she writes about here. This was her garden in early July!

Homestead Honey Garden

Oh, there is so much to love on this garden tour, but this next picture is the most inspiring one yet (to me personally, anyway).  One Acre Farm entered their bounty of everything from vegetables to eggs to maple syrup to extracts, in their local agricultural fair, and pulled off second place in the Farm Products Display!

One Acre Farm

It’s always great to be reminded we can produce so much even with little space! Nicole may not have a huge garden, but she is doing everything she can to homestead right where they are to help supplement their pantry! By the way, she’s pretty convinced it’s gonna be a good year for salsa. 

Little Blog on the Homestead

Andrea from LittleBigHarvest gardens in all the nooks and crannies she can find on her 1/6 acre. Her favorite spot is the sunny south wall of the house, where there are currently tomatoes, peppers, onions, kale, kohlrabi, ghost..jalapeno…habanero peppers, cabbage, green beans, and plenty of herbs! Check out her latest projects here.

Little Big Harvest

The next garden is a little closer to home for Pantry Paratus, a Montanan–Annie and her family–put in a 7,000 square foot dream garden at their new homestead and planted close to 100 tomato plants to make homemade salsa, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, and more! You just have to see more of what there are doing here.

Montana Homesteader

I hope that you are inspired.  And for those who may be beginners, I highly recommend starting with herbs!  You can get nearly immediate satisfaction and a new beginner can grow and preserve enough to enjoy their bounty throughout the upcoming year.  They are practical and reap a lot of economic benefits, especially considering the outrageous price they charge for fresh herbs in the grocery store.  So, to complete the tour, let’s look at 2 herb gardens.

It’s no secret that I’m an admirer of the gardens you will find at The Organic Kitchen.  Look at these herbs!

The Organic Kitchen

My friend Tessa from HomesteadLady.com has this to say when I asked her for a recommendation on getting started:

“If you’re looking to start an herb garden this year or augment your existing herbal patch, mint is a wonderful addition to the garden.  Mint is easy to grow (although it does like to be damp-ish) and, once its established, you may discover it taking over if you’re not vigilant.  The flavor of mint may just be the most widely recognizable herbal flavor in the world.  From toothpaste to candy, you’ll find mint in many edible items.  It also lends itself well to handmade cosmetics and to home remedies for tummy aches and sore throats.  With a wide range of minty flavors (chocolate and orange being two examples), every gardener is bound to find a mint variety that appeals them.”

 

Spearmint by Homestead Lady


Let’s go grow something,

Chaya

Pantry Paratus hopes to encourage you to produce, prepare, and preserve your own harvest.  Check out our full catalog of kitchen self-sufficiency supplies!

All photos were used with permission from the blog associated with each one, respectively.  Please honor these hard working homesteaders by enjoying their photos without taking them.

Food Foraging: Get Started with These 7 Tips

Food Foraging: 

Get Started with These 7 Tips

 

The treasure hunt for fresh, local food sources can literally be as “local” as your own yard.  Dandelion jelly, puffball mushrooms, clover for your tea, and so the list continues.  Delicious foods that pack a nutritious punch may be common “weeds” or might be found in a neighbor’s field or a local park.  A treasure hunt indeed–there is a thrill to finding and identifying early springtime wild asparagus or an onion blossom (ooh, yummy “fritters”).  Your mind races with all of the plans you have for the delicacy that only reveals itself for a brief season.  This is food that requires living in the moment, and can serve as your trophy from a day out in the bright sunshine. 

 

Tip 1

There are some things you must know before you get started.  First and foremost, you must know the land, know the owner and something about it.  Has it been sprayed with any chemicals?  One of my favorite foraged herbs (Mullein) is deliberately sprayed by our county because it is considered a noxious weed–this means that I can only forage it from my land or from that of a friend who verifies it safe. 

 

Butterfly on Oxeye

 

 

Tip 2

Secondly, only pick a few things you want to forage.  Get a great guide like this one and learn only a few items well.  Once you decide what you want to try to forage, look up the food in alternate books and guides; sometimes the difference in artwork can help you clarify what it is that you are searching.  Plan on no more than three foods to start this season, and every year you will add to your repertoire.  This keeps foraging safe for you; you are not guessing or getting confused.  You can also use good books to learn the fakes and look-alikes.  Some edible plants have poisonous counterfeits.  Know them both by heart.

 

Backyard Foraging

 

Tip 3

Thirdly, get talking!  Someone in your area loves to forage, no matter how unlikely it seems for your neighborhood.  I have found many kindred spirits at my Farmer’s Market and through the local food co-op, so these are great (and natural) places to strike up the conversation.   They’ll give you suggestions as to where to look, the effect recent weather has had on the crop, and anything else you should know.  One piece of advice given to me when first moving to Montana was by two older women that I would guess to be in their late seventies: “Always wear bells on your clothes; it helps scare the bears away.”  Your newfound foraging friends may offer to take you along to show you a trick or two!  If they do not offer, do not hesitate to ask; this might help you make positive plant identification and will ease any concerns you have about it.  If you live in a community with a cultural center for an immigrant population, this might be a starting place.  I once took Russian language lessons from a Russian cultural center that taught everything from ballroom dancing to chess, to—mushroom hunting!

 

Huckleberry Picking with a Friend

 

 

Tip 4

My fourth tip might be controversial to some, but follow me out.   If you are starting, skip the mushrooms altogether.  There are about 10,000 known species of mushrooms out there–dizzying, isn’t it?  Out of those, only approximately 1,000 species are edible (edible, not necessarily delicious).  Mushroom hunting is a wonderful skill and a very rewarding one, but not for the beginner.  There is a Russian saying: “There are Brave mushroom hunters and Old mushroom hunters, but not Brave, Old mushroom hunters.”  Try something easier first, then spend this next winter attending your local mushroom hunting club to gear up for Spring when you have the expertise and companionship of Old mushroom hunters.  

 

Morel Mushrooms in hand

photo credit: Chiot’s Run via photopin cc

 

Did tip #4 make you mad?  For those who understand that a world of opportunity lay at your feet with mushroom hunting,  understand that the fear of poisoning is what keeps most people from ever attempting food foraging!  By eliminating mushrooms altogether for the newbie, we have opened up a world of delicacies from the forest floor and eliminated the initial fears that would inhibit them from these delicious discoveries. We need to be careful with all foraged foods, but mushrooming is the one area I say should be reserved for hands-on instruction with a veteran.

 

Tip 5

Make a day of it!  Plan on hiking.  Invite a friend.  Take good maps, a change of clothes in the car, lunch and snacks, tell others where to find you.  Carry a bucket or bag for the food you collect.  Let me recommend the Roo apron; it will keep your clothes clean, your cell phone handy for emergencies, and eliminates the need for a bucket when you traipse through the woods.

 

Make a day of it

 photo credit: yvestown via photopin cc

 

Tip 6

Wait until you get home to taste test.  This is another safety tip.  It might be exactly what you think it is, but if you personally have an allergic reaction, the side of a hill is not where to discover it.  Just wait until you get home, cross examine the food item with your other books and resources, and then nibble.  Wait a half hour.  By then, you will know that you positively identified a nourishing food on your hike. 

 

Fiddleheads & Lemon Slices

photo credit: libraryman via photopin cc

 

Tip 7

Finally, experiment in the kitchen.  Your books will recommend the best way to eat a food item, and you can learn some great recipes through resources like this book.  Play, eat, and enjoy!

 

Preserving Wild Foods

 

 

Staying Safe, Sun-kissed, and Satisfied,

Chaya

 

 

Proviso:  Nothing in this blog constitutes medical or legal advice.  You should consult your own physician before making any dietary changes.  Statements in this blog may or may not be congruent with current USDA or FDA guidance.

 

 

 

 

Produce, Prepare, & Preserve.