Pokeberry dye is made from the berries of the pokeweed plant. Pokeweed is considered a perennial herb plant. The stalk is thick and often droops over under it's own weight and the weight of the berries. The pokeberries grow on stems similar to a bunch of grapes. Don't mistake them for edible grapes, however. The pokeweed plant has varying levels of toxicity depending on the part of the plant used. Although the pokeweed is toxic to humans, people have enjoyed eating pokeweed salit for many … [Read more...]
Using Spinach Dye for Natural Wool Color
Using spinach dye to color our natural wool yarn seemed like a good idea. Natural dyes are easy to work with, but a little time consuming. I had spinach growing in the garden, and more in the refrigerator. It was a really hot Sunday afternoon, perfect for staying inside to beat the heat. Put it all together and you have the makings of a great dye experiment. My beginning efforts with natural dyes was after reading the book , A Garden to Dye For, by Chris McLaughlin. Her ideas for gathering … [Read more...]
Container Gardens for Fall and Winter Indoor Growing
Indoor container gardens are the perfect way to extend the growing season for some of your favorite edible herbs and greens. Now is the time to begin planning or planting a container garden that can be brought inside before the first frost. Recently, I planted a couple of small gardens that I plan to carry into the house. Right now it is 100 degrees in the shade and plenty humid but planning ahead for the fall growing season is a must. What to Plant in a Container Garden I have a handful of … [Read more...]
Easy Patriotic Decor And Treats
Do you need ideas for easy patriotic decor? When Summer arrives we often decorate our homes and yards with easy patriotic decor to brighten up the table. Decorating with American flags, red, white and blue and stars, is a fun way to show our patriotic spirit. Red, white and blue decor is often associated with a 4th of July picnic. Some decor is easy to make on your own. To help inspire you to grab the craft tools, wood working tools and paints, I gathered together a few awesome blog posts from … [Read more...]
Shipping Hatching Eggs (For the First Time)
Shipping hatching eggs is very easy. Follow the steps below for an easy to follow method. Last year we hatched out three batches of chicks and ducks from our flocks, so I know we have a fairly good fertility rate. I don't intend to get into the hatching egg business for a few reasons. One, I don't separate my breeds of chickens so the offspring are mutts. Second, I have enough to do already! But for the person just looking to hatch out some egg layers for their family or chickens … [Read more...]
