tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21176646321816312622011-12-15T06:06:49.465-06:00Homesteading in the SuburbsBill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.comBlogger91100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-91205098705212321722010-04-24T07:13:00.000-05:002010-04-24T07:13:17.448-05:00

    Oh yes, folks!  We have started making our daily rounds, armed to the teeth, searching for bad guys in the garden.  The pests are out and we're trying to get ahead of the game!  It's open season for cut worms, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, and grasshoppers to name a few.  Also, the roly polys, snails, and slugs are out in full force.  We have applied Sluggo Plus because we have a huge roly

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-88951814141899888322010-04-07T19:36:00.001-05:002010-04-07T19:37:07.431-05:00

Wanted to get the word out, in case anyone's interested.  This Sunday (April 11, 1:00-4:00 p.m.), Bill & I  are attending the East Austin Urban Farm Tour.  The self-paced tour will connect Boggy Creek, Rain Lily, Springdale, and HausBar Farms, where participants can walk the rows, visit chicken coops, get inspiration for growing, and enjoy cooking demos and tastes of local food right out of the

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-88624639754112507402010-04-03T08:12:00.000-05:002010-04-03T08:12:39.686-05:00

A few weeks ago, Bill and I came to the sad conclusion that our dishwasher is on it's last legs.  It still runs, but nothing comes out sparkling clean--yuck!  Since we just purchased our new stove, the thought of another major appliance purchase was not appealing! We've been hand-washing our dishes, and it hasn't been bad at all.  I'll be interested to see how much of a difference it makes in

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-15255407291006250932010-03-21T09:11:00.000-05:002010-03-21T09:11:40.806-05:00

One of our loyal followers asked if I would post the recipe Bill mentioned in his Sweet Potato post (OK, she's my sister-but I'd like to think that even if she wasn't, she'd still read my blog!)  Ask, and ye shall receive!  I love this recipe for a few reasons--first, it's delicious!  Second, it's easy--dump all the ingredients in your slow cooker, turn it on, and when you come home from work

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-64282621963877994452010-03-18T11:28:00.002-05:002010-03-19T08:02:43.731-05:00

   Growing up, it seems the only time I ever saw sweet potatoes was at Thanksgiving.  Quartered and chopped, swimming in a pool of butter and brown sugar with semi-charred marshmallows piled on top.  I know a lot of you out there know what I'm talking about.  It was the dish right next to the green jello salad.  As a kid's perspective, it was like getting dessert before actually getting through

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-58425008026477852872010-03-14T12:23:00.005-05:002010-03-15T18:18:30.123-05:00

Hey everybody, this is Marin.  I'll be honest with you--I don't have Bill's gardening knowledge and expertise, but what I do know about is harvesting, storing, cooking and EATING the delicious food that comes out of our garden. One of our favorite crops to grow is escarole.  Escarole (a variety of broad leaf endive) can be cooked, or used raw in salads.  It grows extremely well here in Texas. 

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-56453484089386419582010-03-12T08:39:00.005-06:002010-03-12T08:56:26.031-06:00

     Last year, I went to It's About Thyme nursery in South Austin to look around at some of the fruit trees that they had available.  I have always wanted to grow fruit.  After all, sometimes it can get tedious growing veggies all of the time.  I had considered it a new challenge.  I took my time as I walked around, looking at what I could possibly cram into every inch of available space.  Then

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-36541801783781223612010-03-08T12:08:00.003-06:002010-03-09T22:39:45.762-06:00

     Several elements come into play when planning a garden.  Like all living things, food and water is needed to survive.  First, we will start with a proper foundation for our garden.  Having fertile soil is very important in achieving a successful garden.  Here in Austin, Tx, the soil is riddled with limestone.  It is next to impossible to dig down more than a couple of inches before hitting

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2117664632181631262.post-48470468015418002332010-03-07T14:51:00.003-06:002010-03-09T22:40:43.107-06:00

         Spring garden time is here!  The soil is prepped, the seedlings have been sprouting indoors, and my pots and containers are ready to fill.  The temperatures are rising so I have been "hardening off" the seedlings slowly throughout the week.  Our spring garden has almost doubled in size this year with the addition of 6 raised beds on our small south-facing side yard(5'x50'). 

Bill and Marinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702035463200784773noreply@blogger.com0