Looking for guests this summer

We were thinking of trying out a residency program this summer but have not cleaned or renovated the studio spaces yet. However, we have finished the guest room and would love to have visitors this summer. Call it an visiting artist position if you like. Come relax, have fresh organic produce, sit by the fire at night and sleep in the hammock. It's pretty quiet out here on the farm. We would love the share our experience with anyone who wanted to stop by. Check out the rough draft of the new residency website and gallery.

Spring Chickens

It was such a lovely spring day that I could not help taking a few new pictures for the blog.

recent renovations

It's not a porch, it's a nursery for little plant babies.

Planting Potatoes

Highs in the 80's today, if I close my eyes I can almost believe I'm back in Florida.

Planting potatoes this week. As the UPS man pointed out, we are indeed running two weeks late using Good Friday as the standard planting date in Iowa. However, last year we did not plant until May 18th and we still had an outstanding potato crop.

(exhausted from stealing potatoes)

Finally Spring

The chickens are adorable. They now come when called and follow us around the farm all day.

sprouting

I love sprouting. I've up-graded from simple sprouting with mung beans and lentils to growing sunflower sprouts. They are a little more work but so worth the effort. Plus they are ridiculously overpriced at the store.

If you have never sprouted before here are the simple directions. Sprouts are great during the winter, they sprout in 3 to 7 days and add a touch of green to the house.

Want to start sprouting today?

Supplies:

-an old jar

-a rubber band and cheese cloth (or paper, old cloth, fancy sprouting screen)

-water

-brown lentils, french lentils mung beans, sunflower seeds

1. soak mung beans over night in warm water (they will vastly enlarge so use maybe an 1/8 cup)

2. place cheese cloth on jar and drain

3. place jar in a warm well lit area but not in direct sun light

4. rinse mung beans twice a day (I place mine by my coffee maker to remind myself to wash them)

5. After about three to four days when sprouts look almost full grown place them in direct sun light to green for a day.

6. rinse and place in refrigerator.

Sunflower seeds are a bit more complicated.

Follow steps 1-4 like regular sprouts. After rinsing the sprouts for two days transfer to tray with growing medium. I use a plastic take out container as my tray. I then cut holes in the bottom for drainage. I use an extra lid under the take out container to catch water.

Water the seeds then cover the tray with the lid and keep out of direct sun light for two days.

Then remove the lid and place tray in south window to green for two days. Be sure to keep the growing medium moist.

Trim with scissors then place your sprouts in a bag with a little water and refrigerate.

Bread Making with Papa Steve

We finally achieved a measure of success with our bread making. After producing five loafs of brick like whole wheat bread, we sought out Papa Steve's advice. He introduced us to the magic of Vital Wheat Gluten. (which I now refer to as the magic powder which must be added to everything just incase)

The results were two lovely loafs of honey roasted sunflower whole wheat bread.