Wednesday, September 28, 2011

26th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Conference

I'm thinking of attending this years ag. conference which would be my first ever.  Speakers include Joan Dye Gussow, Richard Wiswall, Ross Conrad, Greg Judy, Ellen Polishuk and many more.

The conference is three days of top notch seminars discussing topics including insects, bees, mushrooms, vegetables, fruits, high tunnels, food, livestock, business, energy and more.

I think it would be well worth the registration fee.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Yard Sale Goodies!


I hit up quite a few yard sales this summer. Here are some of the goodies I came home  with.  Mostly old bottles, jars, books, baskets, dishes, etc.  Not the most useful things but I like them either way and have decorating ideas for all of them when I finally have my little farm house.

 I love these little cookbooks and baskets.  The cookbook in front is from the 30's.
 I scooped up these old jars, enamel ware and juicers for dirt cheap at an antique shop that was selling out.
 My mom scored these German dishes for $20 at the same antique shop.  They are worth hundreds!
 I love old kitchen utensils.
 The handle broke off the pitcher on the way home.  Luckily it can be glued on without a problem.  What a cute little enamel coffee cup and saucer.
 An awesome one gallon jar.
 More baskets and jars.
 The jar on the left used to be a blending jar.  The handle has broken off though.
 Tons of old, wood picture frames.  I must have 50 of them by now.
 And more baskets.
I love these old canning jar lids.  I must have around 100.  I scored them for a total of $8.  I'm told they sell for about $2 a piece.  I plan to keep them though.  I have Ball, Presto and a no name type.

I also bought some very old sheet music.  I plan to frame them since the images are so pretty.

I inherited the yard sale bug from my grandparents.  I remember going with them as a child.  My grandpa would purchase anything music related or electronics.  He had quite the massive collection of things.  Seven Pianos, 10,000 vinyl records and 2,500 rolls of piano sheet music to name a few.  It was a sight to behold.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Summer's End

Labor Day was a blast as usual. The weather didn't cooperate at all, however. It was by far the coldest temps we've seen so far, this late summer, and of course, this weekend is sunny and 70's. Labor Day is when the tiny town of Brethren hosts it's annual Brethren Days festival. Mostly, it's an excuse for all of us Brethren High School Grad's to get back together and drink at the beer tent, dance and just be crazy kids again, not that we ever stopped.  And so we did.  We drank, we danced, we shivered, all in the spirit of friendship.  I wouldn't miss Brethren Days for anything.

 Earlier in the week I was a kitchen dweller.  I canned a whole bushel of peaches and made several peach cobblers and few loaves of zucchini bread. It was all so delicious.  I made sure to share and also passed out a dozen or so jams to everyone.

 Last night I got home from work and made zucchini and banana bread and at the same time, canned peaches. I'm really turning into quite the little kitchen diva (I hate that word). And not to brag, but, I haven't had a single jar not seal so far, out of 100 plus jars. I must pat myself on the back as this is really my first season of canning ever.  More than likely, beginners luck.

 I've been doing lots of blog reading lately and have stumbled across some amazing gems in the farming, agriculture, sustainability, and food categories. Here are some goodies for you.
Honest Meat
heinennellie
Throwback at Trapper Creek
Walden Effect
fast grow the weeds
The Wild Homestead Blog
girl.meets.farm
A Farmer and Her [57=+] Purses
Green Mountain Girls Farm
Nature's Harmony Farm
meat
Boucher Family Farm
Farmgirl Fare
Chez Pim
Cannelle et Vanille
Orangette
Buns in My Oven

For me, summer is nearly over.  I will be driving back to North Carolina on the 21st.  I only work three more days as an orchard scout.  This is always a sad time of year for me as I hate leaving this place and the people in it but at least I am going to another beautiful state and rejoining Andrew and our two crazy cats.  I will resume sewing groups, garden tours, tea parties(not the political kind), visiting my wonderful Carolina gal's, babysitting three little rascals and longing for my family and home, Northern Michigan.

Perhaps next summer, when I return, It will be for good.  We can buy that farm I've dreamed of and start living the life I've been waiting for.