tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28155261527590479612024-03-06T02:06:52.230-05:00Porcupine Creek FarmWe grow certified organic herbs which we use to make handcrafted herbal teas, culinary blends and herbal body products. We made our exodus from Toronto to our 100 acre farm north of Stirling six years ago. Of the 100 acres, three are certified organic. We share our farm with two goats, two dogs and a cat.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-42062451045129726392011-04-14T21:33:00.000-04:002011-04-14T21:33:27.310-04:00Finally getting my hands dirty!At long last I got down on my hands and knees and started to work in the vegetable garden. I hadn't done a thing to it in the fall, thinking that the dead plant matter would serve to boost the organic matter in the soil (yeah, right, who am I kidding! I actually ran out of time), and it showed. Today I tackled the pea patch. Motherwort plants were everywhere. Not my favourite weed, it's so stinky, but easy to dig out, and great for those unfortunate women who suffer menstrual cramps. The garden gave birth to hundreds of small rocks again, so they all went into a bucket and were taken to a new home. Of course the Mantis tiller wouldn't work until it had been drained of last year's gas, and then it took lots of tweaking to get it running, but by suppertime the peas (Oregon sugar pod snap peas) were planted, and we could go in and enjoy some yummy vegetarian chili that had been simmering on the stove since lunchtime.<br />
Thanks to the holes in the index and middle fingers of my right glove, the cracks in my hands are full of dirt. I need to find someone with the same-sized hands as mine who wears out their left glove first, and then we can trade! And my right knee is looking more grey than the left.<br />
I did stop to enjoy the crocuses and dwarf irises in one of my flower beds, and admit I abandoned the practical job of planting peas long enough to clean out the perennial flower bed!<br />
Happy spring!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-82522833298068341822011-04-12T21:32:00.001-04:002011-04-12T21:34:08.395-04:00Busy Days of SpringWith spring come good intentions and big plans - one of them being to post blogs more regularly! Here's what's been keeping me busy lately:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgUtfO2Aeby_-Fo9C73sn1WvNHlFYDDzJcltHCsO8a-dqbNXPodFuFcDA0YuMUwVgn51nCpJUIHcqMAa2GasBsI-Wnjk1kBFiD-2mFegMKpsrE_ZOWK_5VTzRw8hYlfwSTpzvcIucFiXr/s1600/MapleBees+008cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgUtfO2Aeby_-Fo9C73sn1WvNHlFYDDzJcltHCsO8a-dqbNXPodFuFcDA0YuMUwVgn51nCpJUIHcqMAa2GasBsI-Wnjk1kBFiD-2mFegMKpsrE_ZOWK_5VTzRw8hYlfwSTpzvcIucFiXr/s320/MapleBees+008cropped.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br />
Watching our (?) honeybees collect sap from our tapping holes...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-PhifSXu307W119rQXm85oy3TcJLic37gQm91A1L8rWBqdvMcx_RqBZy_loAtGBqSRrR7mip2OSfJ-G5VkeaHLVYxetQxbG-1Ii9juX_PSe1TMnMPnuVRZeMgeQWy1WRpcqDaRgXhMW4/s1600/MontanaSheepShearing+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-PhifSXu307W119rQXm85oy3TcJLic37gQm91A1L8rWBqdvMcx_RqBZy_loAtGBqSRrR7mip2OSfJ-G5VkeaHLVYxetQxbG-1Ii9juX_PSe1TMnMPnuVRZeMgeQWy1WRpcqDaRgXhMW4/s320/MontanaSheepShearing+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Helping our friend Montana at <a href="http://www.wholearth.com/">Wholearth Farm</a> shear her sheep...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbzIEbvRbPtdZ5fcy6kVPQM55UhDD6P2-2c7nZBcxA45Wx193u53vlyg8lyeF48xJsCmoQmCikiyyJUSQikZKHLEOmvoJzoFEVfZv770CTvFvLmVd32jRvqfTFKAyK7R_OYFYLr8SmQEZ/s1600/Noodles3compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbzIEbvRbPtdZ5fcy6kVPQM55UhDD6P2-2c7nZBcxA45Wx193u53vlyg8lyeF48xJsCmoQmCikiyyJUSQikZKHLEOmvoJzoFEVfZv770CTvFvLmVd32jRvqfTFKAyK7R_OYFYLr8SmQEZ/s320/Noodles3compressed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Making pasta...<br />
<br />
Selling my wares at the <a href="http://www.peterboroughgardens.ca/Showhome.html">Peterborough Garden Show</a>, planting seeds, keeping the goats from escaping, selling at the Peterborough Farmers' Market on Saturdays...<br />
<br />
Stay tuned!<br />
<br />
KarenKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-19513662731601702562011-03-24T13:12:00.000-04:002011-03-24T13:12:00.645-04:00PaperworkIt's organic certification time again - everything is due March 31, so I'm holed up in the office right now, stealing glances outside and trying not to procrastinate... hmm, it's sunny, maybe I should do a load of laundry, eat some lunch, hang the laundry up outside, get the mail, clean the bathroom....Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-55008501917725504212011-01-11T20:52:00.000-05:002011-01-11T20:52:25.693-05:00Winter blahsI love winter, don't get me wrong, but this winter has yet to impress me. No snowstorms in our area, no minus 20 nights, no cracking in the rafters... The snow isn't quite deep enough to cross country ski, unless you like being hung up on rocks, fallen branches and grass. Give me the winter of 2009, when our driveway looked like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsF1y-48XnX45YU3gc3IHrcSAY2yE70lNWk41TcErQtT6xfemyo_xTKbYw5Y_rX4SfHHDMSwNYmgJlCYOJ3r347VfbflwED1JEllK1cYxdRF6oUQ7tbRDhqoGGoO-JXhIYOUJ5J9C6Nvh/s1600/P1050873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsF1y-48XnX45YU3gc3IHrcSAY2yE70lNWk41TcErQtT6xfemyo_xTKbYw5Y_rX4SfHHDMSwNYmgJlCYOJ3r347VfbflwED1JEllK1cYxdRF6oUQ7tbRDhqoGGoO-JXhIYOUJ5J9C6Nvh/s320/P1050873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>That of course was the winter we moved from the white cheesemasters house to the brick farmhouse. The winter we couldn't use our driveway because the snowblower stopped working. The winter I moved most of our household by sled, up the driveway...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRi_ig2a5SKfXF-qBNihe5ZEGhn_oopkWaCihBF_5XPRC4sOWPEN2FYotN_XLFIzPqNpGTtp1U9dWwbBRzlGLgl9wQen3yM149plQb8VViZ5Wfl9b2qQUXwjtmlAnOTf2uFMgHeZLr-omV/s1600/P1050756edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRi_ig2a5SKfXF-qBNihe5ZEGhn_oopkWaCihBF_5XPRC4sOWPEN2FYotN_XLFIzPqNpGTtp1U9dWwbBRzlGLgl9wQen3yM149plQb8VViZ5Wfl9b2qQUXwjtmlAnOTf2uFMgHeZLr-omV/s320/P1050756edited.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It was tough work, but it was a memorable winter. So bring on the winter!!!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-37872330563156407722010-12-01T11:44:00.001-05:002010-12-01T11:50:35.326-05:00Going SolarAt long last our solar panels have been hooked up! Of course the first two days of going live have been cloudy, but despite the clouds we have made $2 and saved 5.6 lbs of C02.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP5TcRoQD0lMLWu23ccksCEgrJsWDJq0n1Rk7_PbjELbkP0twvYRnZzJXbcGRjJNbSc80BbWLtNLUZl7Wu5kTA1klNgK51sY-izS8SwIQPN8aCGriOqVTC4m1NATFp3C9wJlFg7dqLayB/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP5TcRoQD0lMLWu23ccksCEgrJsWDJq0n1Rk7_PbjELbkP0twvYRnZzJXbcGRjJNbSc80BbWLtNLUZl7Wu5kTA1klNgK51sY-izS8SwIQPN8aCGriOqVTC4m1NATFp3C9wJlFg7dqLayB/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aptly named Sunny Boy, this unit displays C02 saved, KW produced and number of hours of production.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRv-ILmzrcvSSjoR1oDACq2JpzzYOdKoXLdBslFAixWkBNu4uDimEPkSBzgvhEjm7zzO8HTl1PJN4jXlJ1BDjdxNDU_F_VHhHBBB2TmtWZOb-28m3eOJGHBiJ-Y2_hHwWh6Qcot5lEvIRK/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRv-ILmzrcvSSjoR1oDACq2JpzzYOdKoXLdBslFAixWkBNu4uDimEPkSBzgvhEjm7zzO8HTl1PJN4jXlJ1BDjdxNDU_F_VHhHBBB2TmtWZOb-28m3eOJGHBiJ-Y2_hHwWh6Qcot5lEvIRK/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The panels seem to be larger than the barn! Just wait until you see the panels beside the solar fence charger we use for our goats' moveable electric fence...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2v1RyZ8JjQ0pLMh7HAiaHdLXS7WcJeqtZT6DFVNXTclIbdGwfEtNWTAIo3MJ7phusT4OC22oqAhYXtoTRCy4o6BH2lTMn6auTrpxE0npSdA9XRNhx_Or7jXQXFp0qz40wjiQHowSSh1J/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2v1RyZ8JjQ0pLMh7HAiaHdLXS7WcJeqtZT6DFVNXTclIbdGwfEtNWTAIo3MJ7phusT4OC22oqAhYXtoTRCy4o6BH2lTMn6auTrpxE0npSdA9XRNhx_Or7jXQXFp0qz40wjiQHowSSh1J/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Unfortunately, the goats can no longer access their jumping platform - they might <br />
play with the joystick and risk electrocution!</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-7050728812892037312010-11-18T20:59:00.000-05:002010-11-18T20:59:01.982-05:00Homemade hot sauceThis summer was a great one for peppers! Now that they've all been harvested, it's a great time to experiment with different hot sauces. It's amazing, how different they call can be. They're not just hot, there are subtle differences between all of them!<br />
I've made harissa, a north African hot sauce with hints of cumin and coriander, Chinese chili garlic sauce, Thai hot sauce, and Thai sweet and sour sauce. Let me know if you want any recipes!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIP0DsItf1xEVynGJijzVqVATsrq9tqXuw0kX99Q6cftC0s4q8ONBdoiggtEtCAT-6d237qriWRkVZo-ACxHtWiYGwIxlATZCeb7xXXIvyOHinDneAVDZagozHi-BfmniohaRhiFAZEX1/s1600/HotPeppers+018Compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIP0DsItf1xEVynGJijzVqVATsrq9tqXuw0kX99Q6cftC0s4q8ONBdoiggtEtCAT-6d237qriWRkVZo-ACxHtWiYGwIxlATZCeb7xXXIvyOHinDneAVDZagozHi-BfmniohaRhiFAZEX1/s320/HotPeppers+018Compressed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-39964760531458841202010-11-15T22:07:00.000-05:002010-11-15T22:07:04.009-05:00Thoughts of springLooking out over the fields that are, for the most part, put to bed and ready for the big freeze, I find myself optimistically looking forward to the next growing season. But I find that while I have dreams of perfection from October to May, when the garden is still in the planning stages, I resign myself to reality come July and August!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-66100943198696480572010-11-14T19:43:00.000-05:002010-11-14T19:43:05.588-05:00Sunday shoppingI still think it ought to be banned. Was it worth having our little Porcupine Creek Farm store open today for the studio tour? Not really. A few window shoppers, a few curious onlookers, and a few little purchases. But I had some good chats with a few friends, and when there was nobody there (which was a lot of the time), I got to run across the way and keep on painting the little white house, in preparation for our new tenants, who are moving in at the end of the month. Nothing like a fresh coat of paint to brighten up the world, even on a rainy day.<br />
Cheers!<br />
KarenKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-12432179928857987392010-11-13T20:22:00.000-05:002010-11-13T20:22:52.683-05:00Of crocodiles and making lip balmPlaying store today at Porcupine Creek Farm wasn't quite like working at Walmart on a Saturday, but the day went by quickly and my Walmart greeters, Molly and Jack, barked enthusiastically at each arrival. I might increase their wages, they behaved so well. Fortunately, they get paid in kibbles, so the farm won't go belly up. Speaking of bellies, they just might get a tummy rub to boot.<br />
Well my first workshop, making lip balm using all natural ingredients, went really well. I had five participants, all women. Unfortunately, the older man who drove up our driveway last Friday evening in his little red Mazda pickup to ask if men were allowed to take the workshop, never did show up. I'm sure he would have been a welcome addition. But the five women who attended appeared to have lots of fun. They got to sniff dried calendula, learn how to make herbal infusions, shave chunks off a one-pound beeswax bar, melt their concoction over the woodstove, flavour their lip balm with an array of essential oils, and break out the coloured markers to pretty up their lip balm labels All went home with stocking stuffers and a recipe. I wish them all happy lip balm making in the future.<br />
Of course Thomas stopped by to entertain us with a sweater that invites playfulness. He asked me to add a hood to the sweater I made him for his birthday last February, but I couldn't resist garnishing the hood.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiNiLmcyGMdSonRL5IqjvG-ngNT-c65QmLQqLfKj4VlSOnOjDTFksd2IvVBPBe5q08lKe8EXYR8ycP8S5fvr9CxXjv8mTYvuOL9cW23_Vxw1lVrz8dC_6td4wyHcuR92Dbo2fGVk_T4Qy/s1600/TommysSweater+006Compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiNiLmcyGMdSonRL5IqjvG-ngNT-c65QmLQqLfKj4VlSOnOjDTFksd2IvVBPBe5q08lKe8EXYR8ycP8S5fvr9CxXjv8mTYvuOL9cW23_Vxw1lVrz8dC_6td4wyHcuR92Dbo2fGVk_T4Qy/s320/TommysSweater+006Compressed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sorry, I can't figure out how to flip this picture upright in the blog editor. You'll have to lie down to see the picture properly.<br />
Sleep well.<br />
KarenKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-83504874108002087992010-11-12T20:13:00.000-05:002010-11-12T20:13:18.270-05:00Playing StoreCan't complain about today! I got to play store and greet the odd visitor stopping by for the <a href="http://www.porcupinecreekfarm.ca/HastingsStudioTour2010.pdf">Heart of Hastings Studio Tour</a>, all while getting our former home, the little white house, nicely painted for our new tenants, Matt and Leslie of <a href="http://www.punklesfarm.com/index.html">Punkle's Farm</a>, who we're absolutely thrilled about! The weather outside was gorgeous, the dogs barked to let me know when visitors came. Life is good.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2815526152759047961.post-1260518973421477842010-11-11T21:09:00.000-05:002010-11-11T21:09:05.586-05:00Welcome to Porcupine Creek FarmWhat better topic to start with than garlic! Healthy, tasty, good for the immune system...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDflZ9oDeC6RHRtLbrPBJjU4r3bZUVPgwEe1wZRdWLGJw_vSfBFzXoyf3Kewj9FXUI9DaOQnm85YX7oeFhVC4NYghstew5AxTqiDMVeEuD28GqJfMEZFeFpxThQf-vROwoRBn5IgO9mFVV/s1600/GarlicPlanting+002Compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDflZ9oDeC6RHRtLbrPBJjU4r3bZUVPgwEe1wZRdWLGJw_vSfBFzXoyf3Kewj9FXUI9DaOQnm85YX7oeFhVC4NYghstew5AxTqiDMVeEuD28GqJfMEZFeFpxThQf-vROwoRBn5IgO9mFVV/s320/GarlicPlanting+002Compressed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> This is a picture of Thomas taking a day off school to help me plant garlic. No, I don't employ young children! I thought it would be healthier for him (and his classmates) if he kept his snotty nose at home and spent time in the sunshine planting garlic.<br />
In the background you can see our home and our barn, as yet empty except for our two goats, Lily and Billy Jean.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08980524857025925512noreply@blogger.com0