I like to do things “from scratch.” At least I want to know how to do and make things from the most basic steps onward. A lot of times knowing saves me time and money. For years it sometimes crossed my mind that I’d like to learn how to make cheesecake from scratch. This summer …
The topic of sweet potato diversity is pretty obscure. If they think about it at all, most folk believe that the extent of it is that there are some red colored sweet potatoes beside the regular orange ones, found in the supermarket. Don’t let the supermarket fool you. Sweet potatoes are far more diverse than …
Some years ago I think I actually coined the term, “feel good crop.” You see, here in Oklahoma we garden in an extreme environment. We hold the continental US record for the hottest 40 days and nights in a row and, I’ve seen colder winters here than we ever saw on the East Coast. We …
One of the things about fall is that as the weather turns cooler, most of us no longer want to drink a cold coffee in the morning. Especially once the morning moves from cool to cold. So, I’m going to lay out a very simple recipe for you all that closely mimics a Frappuccino only …
Let’s talk about ornamental squash and pumpkins as food. Have you ever noticed that in late summer many beautiful squash and pumpkins appear in the produce section? Not many people purchase them for food, and, judging by the price, I can understand. They’re usually quite expensive! However few realize that they can be used for food, …
While in the garden this morning I thought of an axiom: “One can never make too many observations.” I thought of this while inspecting a bean variety I’ve grown for years, yet examining it today I saw details about it which I had never before noticed. This is true for so many facets of gardening. …
When I was in high school, I understood homesteading to be something that was only done back in the 1700 to early 1900s at best. However, as I have been living on my own for some years, I have come to realize something. Homesteading is still modern. It can be. There are some advantages …
Rodents can be a real problem in the garden and homestead. It seems that one day they’re not a problem and then one blinks and… they are a big problem! “Rodent” can refer to a good many different species. The term encompasses not only rats and mice, but also moles, voles, ground hogs, rabbits and squirrels, …
It’s mid August and my tomatoes haven’t done very well this year. Weeds abound and tomatoes don’t. The other night I was weeding and discovered this tomato plant, hiding in the weeds. I had planted it very late. It looks feeble. It made me think of the question of when to pull the plug on …
Homemade Frappuchino: Beat The Heat Hey all, During the summer months Oklahoma, I learned how to make a really good homemade frappuchino. I had discovered the caramel frappuchino was just addictive, but expensive if bought in a coffee shop. Where I live, it runs between $6-$7 per 20 oz cup. So, here is the recipe I …
