Topsy-turvy Tomatoes

Topsy-turvy Tomatoes

Tomato plants love the sun, so even if you plant them upside down, they'll find their way to the light. For a fun family project, give it a try and see for yourself. You can buy hanging planters from garden suppliers (such as gardeners.com) or make your own. Here's how.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Sturdy bucket with a metal handle and cover
Drill with large bit
Sphagnum moss
Tomato seedling
Dirt and compost

Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours
1. Thoroughly clean out the bucket. Drill and cut a hole about 2 to 3 inches in diameter in the bottom of the bucket (a parent's job). Put some moss in the bottom of the bucket all around the hole to keep the tomato plant from falling out when you first hang the bucket.

2. Gently thread the upper 2 to 3 inches of the seedling through the hole, keeping the roots inside the bucket. While you hold the plant in place, have your child loosely pack dirt around the stem up to the root-ball. Then you can let go and add enough soil to cover the roots by about 2 inches.

3. Add a couple of cups of compost and more soil so the bucket is filled to just an inch or two below the rim.


4. Hang the bucket by its handle and water the plant thoroughly, until water starts running out of the hole. Water the tomato plant regularly, adding more soil and fertilizer if the level in the bucket falls. Keeping the bucket covered will help retain some moisture. As the plant grows out of the bottom of the bucket, its leaves will curl up toward the sun in search of the light until the tomato fruit appears and weighs them down.

Carla's Notes: There are some great buckets to use at Home Depot for about $2.38 each (in our area.) A serious savings over the original of this product. Also, remember that these are significantly heavier than a normal hanging planter, especially with water in it. Make sure you hang it in a VERY sturdy spot.

Lend a Hand

Lend a hand to one another,
In the daily toils of life;
When we meet a weaker brother,
Let us help him in the strife.
There is none so rich but may,
In his turn, be forced to borrow;
And the poor man’s lot to-day
May become our own to-morrow.

Lend a hand to one another:
When malicious tongues have thrown;
Dark suspicion on your brother,
Be not prompt to cast a stone.
There is none so good that may,
Run adrift in shame and sorrow,
And the good man of to-day.
May become the bad to-morrow.

Lend a hand to one another;
In the race for Honor’s crown;
Should it fall upon your brother,
Let not envy tear it down.
Lend a hand to all, we pray,
In their sunshine or their sorrow:
And the prize they’ve won to-day
May become our own to-morrow.

Out of the McGuffey Readers

EMHE - The Bell Family

14 year old Lizzie Bell, from Tuscon, AZ, has a rare blood decease that requires her to receive blood transfusions. There are only about 750 people in the whole world who have this decease. She is dedicated to inspire people to give blood. What a noble cause! This story will help so many people.

Although I am unable to give blood, do to a childhood illness, Glenn is a member of the "Gallon Club" at our local blood bank. He is one of only 7% of all people that have O negative blood. This is the type of blood that is the most universal in the ability to give to others. It means that in a pinch, if there is not enough blood of a specific type, they can transfuse O negative blood. Unfortunately, that also means that he is only able to receive O negative blood. But thankfully, he has never needed a blood transfusion.

The design team gave the Bell Family a beautiful "green" home, complete with solar power, and tube skylighting. There was a wonderful outdoor kitchen for entertaining in the Arizona outdoors.

Ty made Lizzies room his "special project." She loves the color yellow and designing clothes. Ty made her room an incredible and bright shade of yellow, and took one of her designs and had it make up into the first of her own line of clothing "A Positive" How special is that? It was really cute, by the way... I think she has talent!

One of the things that Lizzie said is: "If you give blood only one time a year, you are saving a persons life. It might be an accident victim, or it might be someone, like me." WOW! Make's it worth it, that little pin prick. It sure makes it worth it.

Good job, Lizzie.

Cinnamon Apple Rice

4 Eggs + 1 Egg's Egg Whites
2 Cups Of Apples Chopped Well
1 1/2 Cups Cooked White Rice
1/2 Cup Dates
1/4 Cups Granulated Sugar
3/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
2 Tablespoon Butter Or Margarine
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg [optional]

In a large mixing bowl combine 4 eggs, apples, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, rice, dates and sugar, blend together gently. In another small mixing bowl add the egg whites and whisk until you create stiff peaks. Fold egg whites into the other mixing bowl. Add all into a large baking dish and sprinkle the cinnamon on top the dish. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and bake the dish in a water bath for 1 hour. Garnish with apple wedges. Serve hot or cold. Refrigerate left overs. For water bath just place baking dish into another baking pan that has 1 inch of water in it.

Spanish Rice

Spanish Rice

6 Bacon Slices
1 Medium Onion Chopped Well
1 Small Green Pepper Finally Chopped
1 Can Cut Tomato's, 28oz
1 Cup Cold Water
3/4 Cup Long Grain Rice
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 Teaspoon Salt + 1 Teaspoon Chili Powder
1 Pinch Fresh Ground Pepper
5 Drops Hot Sauce

In a large skillet cook bacon to a crisp. Lay bacon on paper towels to drain. Crumble bacon and set aside for later use. Save 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings and add finally chopped onion and finally chopped green pepper until tender but still crispy. Stir in can of tomatoes will juice, cold water, long grain rice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, chili powder, pepper and drops of hot sauce, cover and simmer 30 minutes until rice is done. Top with bacon.

Cajun Fried Rice

Cajun Fried Rice

1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Cooking Sherry
1 Teaspoon Sugar Water
2 Medium Garlic Clove Minced + 1 Teaspoon Gingerroot Minced
2 Teaspoons Hot Sauce
3 Large Eggs
1 Teaspoon Table Salt
2 Tablespoon Pure Peanut Oil + 1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
1 Medium Onion Chopped + 1/2 Cup Bean Sprouts
3 Cups Cold Cooked Rice

In small mixing bowl, add soy sauce, half sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and 1 teaspoon hot sauce blend well and set aside. In another small mixing bowl, mix 1/2 table salt, the rest of the sesame oil and hot sauce and mix well. set aside. In a large Wok or skillet add 1 Tablespoons peanut oil, once hot add onions and stir try till tender but still crisp and set aside. Heat the rest of the peanut oil, once hot add egg mix and stir fry till cooked. Add cooked cold rice to the stir fry for 3 minutes, add onions sprouts and salt cook 2 more minutes.

IT'S SPRING!

2009 Garden Plan

It's the day before Spring arrives! And our garden plan is finished! Well, not likely! But that's the beauty of a "plan." You don't have to follow it! I am always tweaking, and changing, and adding and subtracting. This is for our 2009 garden, and I had so much fun using my children's paint, colored pencils, and markers. 

It is based on the sad fact that we still do not have one greenhouse, much less the two I'm plotting for. So I am limited to what I can't pre-start, again. Most of the garden will not need pre-starting, I will direct sow. I am thinking of moving my living room around to try to squeeze in a rack to start tomatoes. We'll see what we come up with in the creativity area for our too small living room. I would really like to pre-start enough veggies and flowers, that we can have enough for our own use, and I could sell starts from our property.

Are you planting a vegetable garden this year?

Needing? A Greenhouse

It happens to me every year. I get to this point in the season, and I wish, desire, NEED a greenhouse (or two.) But we also have too many things working against us. Too many "needs." Now I put the word need in parenthesis because I truly do not have any needs. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and clothing to wear. I AM thankful for what I have. God IS taking care of me. So is it truly a need? Well, no. And, I understand that.

But I keep thinking about what I could do with a greenhouse that would really be a blessing to others, as well as myself and my family:

- Have enough starts to grow extra food and flowers on our property, for needy families to gleen. (Beautiful flowers are important to the needy, too!)
- Have enough starts to sell extras to local families at reasonable prices.
- Have enough starts that our garden is more affordable.
- Each year the greenhouse would help pay for itself (amortization.)

Anyway, that is some of the ways I can justify my desire (not need) of a greenhouse (or two.)

I desire the biggest that Ziggy's can deliver on-site (8' X 16'). We need the extra stability because of the spring winds.

"Car Picnics"-How to Eat on the Go: The GOOD

This is a great article from Big Red Kitchen Blog. A great reminder for the coming months.

"Car Picnics"-How to Eat on the Go: The Plea

This series from Big Red Kitchen is a great reminder for this time of year. Be sure to read the comments after. I learn so much from them as well. I love the one about hot brats in a thermos. I've done that before, but it's been a long time, so it was stuck in the cob webby part of my brain.

Ice Cream Trough

What a unique idea! This might be Kolina's birthday treat in July! Or Molly's in May (I'm not sure I want to wait until July!)















Here's another idea for an Ice Cream Gutter:

Potatoes - Home Canned

This is a great article for Home Canning Potatoes, plus ideas for using them.

Garden Update: 'maters and 'taters'

I know it's early... but these people are in Tennessee, and their planting right now. She's posted a great article on planting potatoes in tires. I won't be able to find it if I wait, I'll forget who it was and where it was, so we're getting it now!

Farm Chicks Giveaway!

If you go to the Farm Chicks webpage, you'll find they are having a giveaway! In true Farm Chick style, I'm confident it'll be wonderful, and I'm confident you'll (or I'll) absolutely love it! You can always put them on RSS feed. (Hey, you could do that with my blog as well! That's a great idea! Glad you thought of it!)