This Week at Ramsey Farms

Happenings 'Round Here...

• Cold frame installed & seeds planted! It can easily reach 70 degrees inside the cold frame when it's sunny and outside temps are in the 40s. You can see the pics by clicking here.
• Tossed out my broccoli sprouts - they smelled bad! Ewww! I will try it again with the seeds made just for this purpose.
• Harvested some more kohlrabi.
• The cantaloupe and watermelon seeds (inside germination trays) have multiple sprouts along with my sweet basil seeds. Finally the red pepper seeds sprouted - took them 14 days. I made a seed testing tray to see if my seed inventory I've had in my freezer and fridge since 2008 and 2009 is viable! LOL Laugh all  ya want but those watermelon seeds that are now 3" tall seedlings are from the 08 stash.
• Another cold snap - my sweet daughter helped me to cover the remaining broccoli, kohlrabi, cabbage, kale, garlic, herbs, and the cold frame with the snazzy retro sheets! Left the sheets on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as the temps barely rose about freezing (if at all) each day. I did remove the sheet from the cold frame's plastic top about noon so that more of the bright sunshine could get through the opaque plastic and further warm the soil and air for those seeds but Friday our temps never reached 32 so I just left it on for insulation. Saturday it finally got warm enough to uncover all but my tender broccoli.
• Made croutons for our kohlrabi leaf salad! So easy...take a loaf or slices of "day old" bread. If it's not dry enough,slice it, and bake it on 200 for 10 minutes to dry it out. So butter each slice of bread then cut into cubes, spread out on a baking sheet, sprinkle with powdered garlic, onion, or whatever dried herb blend you wish. I used rosemary, basil, garlic, onion, cumin, and black pepper. And bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. (Watch them! Burned croutons aren't good.)
• Conducted a new seed swap with someone on the American Seed Project page! They are sending me lavender and heirloom pumpkin seeds. I sent lemon thyme, lettuce, and green bell pepper seeds.
• Easy Pumpkin Muffins: Mix 1 box cake mix (flavor of your choice) and 1 can pumpkin. Fill muffin pans. Bake following time & temperature directions on cake mix box. Cool. EAT! These are great for dessert, snack, breakfast on the go, or even brunch! :) Kids loved them!
• It's cold so Chris has been out there splitting and chopping and stacking wood...thank you! :) We love a good cozy fire in the fireplace on these 20 degree (and lower) nights!

It was fairly busy 'round here this week. If you missed any of the posts this week, here is the list of new posts below - be sure to check 'em out! 

• Make Ahead Refrigerator Dough - Easy dough to whip up & use for meals for up to 2 weeks!
• DIY All Natural Laundry Detergent - Simple, inexpensive, no harmful chemicals or fragrances!
• Rosemary Hair Rinse & Body Wash - Easy hair rinse will make your hair so soft & voluminous!
• See the pics of our newly installed Cold Frame - the first outdoor seeding of 2014!
• Compost - Pics of the ever exciting compost bins, worm bin, and the end product: Gastony Gold, fertilizer of champions! ;)
• 40 Minute Hamburger Buns - Quick, easy, & fresh homemade sandwich rolls in under 1 hour!

I hope this past week has been fun & exciting for you too! Tell me about your week - what's happening in your world?  Y'all drop on by "the farm" this week for lively conversation or just to sit a spell & relax or enjoy a cup of coffee or some fresh-from-the-oven bread with me while we daydream about warmer spring days to come...whatever you do, make it the best week it can be! :)