Author Archives: susanmsink@gmail.com

Prairie Walk

Sometimes you just have to let the prairie speak for itself. The lupine spreads every year, and the milkweed does, too. I saw my first Monarch butterfly from my window Sunday, and one today but couldn’t catch it with my … Continue reading

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Figuring Out Onions

Every year I learn many things in the garden, but usually I also have one large leap forward. The first year I discovered radishes. Last year was more a kitchen discovery: carrot top pesto, which answered the question of what to … Continue reading

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Early Eats

Now that I’ve been at this several years, the blog provides a good garden diary. Last night as we dug into a plate of gorgonzola broccoli pasta, it just seemed impossibly early. And sure enough, the record shows that broccoli … Continue reading

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All In

As of last night, the garden is officially “all in.” There is something in all of the 15 raised beds, the onions, potatoes and beans are going strong and the two projects: chicken coop and squash bed, are complete. It’s … Continue reading

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Coop Update

I’ve been avoiding a coop update for a few weeks now because the construction proceeded really pathetically. It was hard to get Steve’s help unless it was a rain day, and who wants to build a chicken coop in the … Continue reading

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What is Homesteading?

Recently, more “homesteading bloggers” have been finding my blog. I am pretty sure it was the addition of “backyard chickens” to my entries. A few days ago I read an entry by a young Canadian blogger I really like at … Continue reading

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Harvest Day

Thursday has become my harvest day here on the farm. I’m trying something new, focusing my harvesting here during greens season on one day a week instead of just going out there randomly for a salad or two. Sure, the … Continue reading

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Asian Pickle Stir Fried Rice

Tonight I took some risks and the things turned out just as I hoped: bright and flavorful. I had some drumsticks thawed and wanted to do something Asian. Something sweet (hoisin, sweet pepper sauce, ginger, wine) and savory (soy sauce, … Continue reading

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Eva and Ava: Dream Girls of the Future

If you read the film reviews on this site, you’ll know there are two kinds of films I love: AI/futuristic sic fi of a dystopian bent and foreign films (though not French so much). In the past week it’s been my … Continue reading

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Chicken Wars

I should have known it would go down this way. When we put my five chickens in with Tim and Annie’s four chickens last Sunday, it was obvious that mine were bigger and (let’s face it) more beautiful. The Rhode … Continue reading

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