Hey chicks! See you at the Renaissance Faire!

Alyssa, I completely understand if you need to stay home with you little one. Ear infections are just miserable. Let me know if you are coming or not and if you are coming, when you'll be there.  Stacey and I are meeting around noon in the food area, but I can meet up with you any time that works for you.

I am thinking that it would be really cool to work on our "homesteading" skills. Like spinning, making soap, candles and canning. I want to learn all of these skills and so much more, I hope that I can learn it all. I need to be 20 again only not so dumb =)

See you all soon!
Annika

Planning for the 16th of May already!

What a week! Started out last weekend with the flu and I still feel funky. Alyssa, you had the flu bug too. Hope you are feeling better, poor girl!

 I got to thinking that since both of you ladies work long hard hours, maybe next month we should just concentrate on welcoming new members and backyard bbq type things. Alyssa, you mentioned having everyone over and tossing something good on the grill during our last visit. Would that work better for you for the 16th? Kind of cook n'chat =) I would be more than happy to bring food for everyone...lets talk!

We can do the seed swap thing a little later when everyone else has some seeds to share. I went gung-ho early with the seed catalogues *Blush* and still have some from two years ago!

Anyway, I just want this to be a casual easy thing for all of us.

So tell me what you think?

Wanna do a garden seed swap?

Ok...I admit, I may have gone overboard a bit in my seed buying =P
So I'm going to have extra and I thought while our group is still pretty small, that we could have a garden seed swap! All that we need are seeds  that we have extra of, labels, little ziplock bags and some egg cartons!
How about May 16th? Cuz we are going up to Bonner's Ferry to see Drew's parents for Mother's Day =)

Let me know what you think!

Mirabelle plum jelly, my place, late july!

I have three trees of small European mirabelle plums....they all are ripe at once! usually I have heaps of dying plums in my yard, but I figure we can have a marathon canning session and a have jelly and comfits and fruit for all of us. You girls want to help eat all of these luscious little beauties?

Hypertufa projects this summer

Hypertufa directions!

They look like hand-carved stone, but hypertufa trough planters are actually cleverly cast concrete planters you can make yourself!

The principle behind these versatile, easy-to-make faux-stone planters is that their composition of mixed sand, peat moss and cement facilitate excellent drainage, which allows you to grow plants that otherwise probably wouldn't make it in the ground, such as certain herbs, alpine plants, dwarf evergreens and others. The planters' sturdy antique look will add interest to your garden on their own as well!


What you'll need:
 2 parts sand
 1 part peat moss
 1 part Portland cement 
 plastic or other mold 
 2 wooden dowels, 1/2-inch thick in diameter
 rubber gloves and a protective mask
 plastic to cover the planter
 wire brush
Procedure:
1. Mix the sand and peat moss thoroughly. Then, wearing a mask so as not to inhale cement dust, add the cement to the mixture and mix it again.
2. Slowly add water — it's important to add it a little at a time, mixing it in well with each addition. This will help avoid over-saturation. Add just enough to achieve a stiff consistency.
3. Wearing gloves, apply the mixture to the bottom of the mold and press firmly. The base should be about 2 inches thick. Then apply the mixture to the sides of the mold. The sides should be about 1 inch thick.
4. To make drainage holes, firmly insert the two dowels into the base of the mold, screwing them in until they reach the bottom. Leave the dowels in the mold and cover the entire planter with plastic (grocery store plastic bags work well). Let the planter dry for 24 hours.
5. To unmold the planter, remove the dowels and turn the mold over. The planter should slide out easily. Clear out the drainage holes and smooth the edges of the planter to your liking with a wire brush.
6. Finally, cover the planter again with plastic and place it in a shady spot for one month. Before using, flush it well with water.
So there you have it — a very attractive "old" planter that looks like stone, perfect for alpine plants, small evergreens and more. And best of all, it's handmade!

Saturday at Hemp Fest, East City Park in Moscow!

I'm going to be there around 11 or so until when ever Drew decides I've spent enough money and drags me home LOL!
I hope to see you there!
Thanks for the heads up on Facebook Stacey!
I'm bringing some chapter flyers to pass around to likely ladies.
And a camera to mug it up on HAH!

Cheers sisters!
Annika

When life gives you dandelions, make jelly!

Aunt Jenny's Dandelion Jelly


Dandelion Jelly
2 heaping cups dandelion petals (it takes about 4 cups whole flower heads)I cut only the yellow part off with scissors
2 c. boiling water
1/4 cup well strained fresh lemon juice
4 cups sugar
3 oz liquid Certo pectin (no substitutions)
a couple drops yellow food coloring if desired
Poor boiling water over petals in a quart jar, cover and let sit for at least an hour..but no more than 24 hours (refridgerate it if you are going longer than an hour(after straining this will be your infusion)
Sterilize jars (I use 4 oz or 1/2 pint jars) and keep hot until ready to fill, get lids in hot water and rings ready too.
To make jelly: stir lemon juice and sugar into infusion in a 3 quart pan. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Add liquid certo and continue to boil for two minutes (exactly).This is when to add food coloring if you use it. Skim any foam from top with metal spoon.Ladle quickly into hot jars to 1/8" from top. Clean each rim with hot wet clean cloth and put on lid as each is filled. Water bath can for 10 min.
makes 4 or 5 1/2 pint jars...or 8 or 9 of the 4 oz jars.
Have fun girls! I am finally noticing just a few dandelions popping up in my yard (when the snow melts off and on!) so I know it won't be long until my next batch either.
OH!! If you can't gather enough for a whole batch at once you can freeze the cut petals in a baggie until you have a full 2 cups of petals..adding new ones each day.

My sample invitation poster, what do you think?

~ Palouse Prairie Girls ~


Are you the kind of woman that loves old fashioned ways and crafts, new fashioned sustainability and green living? Clotheslines, aprons and making your house a home?

Are you crafty? Love to garden? Re-purpose/Recycle? Make things with your hands?

Do you long for a community of like minded women and want to share your ideas and skills with them?

Do you farm? Have a homestead? Raise animals? Or simply dream of having a farm one day?

If this is you, then you are a farmgirl!
See www.maryjanesfarm.org to find out more

The Palouse Prairie Girls are a chapter of MaryJane's Farm farmgirls who are looking for a few ladies interested in meeting a couple or three times a month to craft, share ideas and have fun.

Please contact Annika at annikal@moscow.com to find out when and where the Palouse Prairie Girls chapter is meeting

Happy April!

Hasn't it been moody weather on the Palouse? If you don't like it wait 5 minutes!

I couldn't resist the bunnies LOL! The pic is just sooooo cute!

Stacey ~ I need to get with you soon the give you the heirloom seeds for your mom. I have so many seeds, we will be swimming in tomatoes by July!!
Alyssa ~ Let me know more if you find out, about me adopting your neighbours chickens...I Neeeeeeeed some chickens !

Also, we could meet for some kind of fun project on the 25th if you like...if the weather isn't too wicked, maybe we could work in some one's garden and all pitch in and share the labour? just a random thought.
We could all cut out and start on our aprons too.

I have plenty to donate to the thrift stores, so maybe we could have a "Naked lady clothing and accessory swap"

Stacey, you have the most incredible ideas! candle part, pampered chef party...let me know what you both want to do!

Diana~ we missed you Sunday, I hope that you can find the time to make it to a gathering, we all have such fun ideas to share.

Please feel free to post thought and ideas here. I like comments =)



Annika

Happy Easter!