Late Christmas Shortbreads

Any simple shortbread recipe + Kids = memories
We did ours late this year, due to baking orders for Bailey's field trip fundraiser.
And an attempt to make a little more cash doing something we're good at.

Check out our efforts on facebook

Bailey's Birds Fundraiser

Please Consider this fundraiser
Get a cool Long Sleeved tee Designed by Bailey
Help a good person.

Shoo Fly Strudel Muffins

Shoo Fly Strudel Muffins
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F



1/2 sick butter (soft)
3/4 c sugar (granulated)
Mix together well, until light and fluffy
2 eggs (large)
Mix in 1 at a time just blending into batter.
Then mix for about 1 min. until light and fluffy again.
1/2 c Sorghum or Molasses
Mix Well
1 1/2 c flour (All Purpose)
3/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix in until blended & thick
1/2 c sour cream
1/2 c milk
Mix util smooth

Fill greased muffin cups 1/2 full

for Streusel topping
mix together 1/4 c flour
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c sugar (Granulated)
1/4 c fine chopped pecans
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Sprinkle this on top of muffins BEFORE placing into oven

Bake for 10 minutes and check 1rst time
add time if needed, add no more time than 18 minutes total.
Makes 12 muffins

Adventures in Baking

This week we have had some Baking Adventure.
I wanted to make sure Bailey's cakes were AwesomeSauce.
Also this would be a trial run for my oldest daughter's
birthday in September.

We found an excellent pound cake recipe
It came from a lady's recipe box from
her mother's mother from England.
works great in a layer cake, & in cuppys.



This recipe makes 2 8" - 9" rounds
or 24 cupcakes.

6 oz Butter (soft)
13 oz Sugar (granulated)
Beat together for 5 minutes (Medium speed)
4 eggs (Lg.) room temp add 1 at a time
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
Beat on Low speed 3 minutes (scrape bowl 3 times)
9 oz flour (All Purpose, Sifted)
3/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
Sift flour into bowl & wisk in B.P. & Salt
1/2 C. Sour Cream
1/2 C. Whole Milk
Add flour alternately with milk & Sour Cream (Low Speed)
1/3 flour, milk, 1/3 flour, sour cream, 1/3 flour

Mix on med for 2 minutes
Bake at 350 degrees F until done
Start checking at 15 minutes until, no crumbs come out on toothpick
& top in light golden brown.

For cupcakes we filled 3/4 full and had to remove tops.
(for uniform tops for decorating, we simply laid a bread knife on the pan edge &
sliced thru & across. Common practice when cuppy grow too far out of tin cups.)
We also will only fill 1/2 full next time to see results.



We started checking cakes at 12 minutes &
added time in 5 min intervals till done.
Different ovens cook differently.

We removed from pans & cooled completely before
decorating.

I must add that I mix all my cakes with a paddle attachment in the
Large capacity Ninja Food System Blender, it works great

TIP:
all ingredients should be room temperature
for best results. (Old Tyme Baking Tip from my Nanny)

Finished Cupcakes


Finished Cake


Marshmallow Fondant coming up next.
I will share the decorating products used in this
particular cake.

Have a great day
If you try this recipe please share in the comments
your experience, or maybe a photo at our twitter.com/HerbGir1972
~V

Biscuit Pizza

We needed a quick, satisfying, fun dinner last night
so the little one & I came up with this.
It was a suprizing winner with the whole family.
We also used up some leftovers.

Here's our Leftover Fried Chicken Biscuit Pizza



What you need
Cutting board
Knife
18-inch Pizza Pan
Oven or grill

Ingredients:
Crust: 1 roll butter flavored Grands Biscuits

Pizza toppings:
3 Roma tomatoes, sliced thinly
2 pieces of leftover chicken, we used one breast & one thigh fried, thinly sliced
about 2 ox cheddar cheese, grated
about 1 oz asiago cheese shaved thinly
1/4 cup small diced onions (Vidalia)
salt
pepper
garlic, granulated
oregano
spice to taste
about 3 large basil leaves, rough chop
about 3 stems of cilantro rough chop for garnish

Assemble:
preheat oven to 400 degreesF
open and separate biscuits (this is fun for the kids) smash or roll them flatter
and spray pan with butter flavor spray lightly, place flattened biscuits onto pan
and close what holes you can, it will cook together.
Start with placing the tomatoes on the biscuits we worked in a circular fashion.
Then sprinkle on just a little cheddar cheese.
Add onions Let the young ones help & they'll eat the onions.
Add thin sliced, chicken pieces, make sure each piece will get a little chicken.
Now sprinkle your spices on as desired.
Top with cheddar cheese then the slices of asiago, arrange so each slice gets an
even amount.
Bake in oven for 21 minutes or until edges look golden brown and top is bubbly.



Sprinkle with chopped herbs as desired, we gave the option of yea or nay, as folks
like them. the herbs give it a fresh taste and just adds that finishing touch.

I hope you try this recipe and let us know what you think in the comments
Have a Blessed Day
~V

I apologize for the lesser number of postings, we've been quite busy with the chickens,
working, end of school, as well as trying to make a go at the food gardening with back
and forth weather patterns. Oh and we've rescued a baby mallard duckling this week.
Also our computer has been on the fritz
So we've been in the weeds pretty deep.
We'll try to do better

One Dollar Challenge

Please Support EarthSource Services and accept our

One Dollar Challenge

all you have to do is go to

http://gofundme.com/keepteamessfree

and donate Just One Dollar



One dollar for us will buy a pack of seeds for an 4' X 4' square of
raised bed gardening, & who knows how much produce from that one small plot.

One Dollar for us will print the handouts we need for the kids at 1 Workshop
Fun Informational Take home inspiration
(They might inspire their entire family)

What can you give up so you can share Just One Dollar with us.
An unhealthy candy bar
One less plastic bottled drink to add to a landfill
Less than 1 whole beer on college night or happy hour...LOL
A pack of Gum

Please help us
We want to teach the next generation to be more considerate of the world around us
maybe making them a more Organic/Sustainable society
of Generous, Caring, Intelligent, & healthier Young People.


^^This address works too http://gofundme.com/2weyus^^

We only have one planet Let's not Blow it.
Thanks for your time and consideration of our Challenge
Please Share with Everyone
~V


One of our seminars is also about how lots of people giving just a little
can really make a BIG difference.
You'll be a part of that when you Donate Just One Dollar.

(If you'd like to share more with us, we understand, and proudly accept)

New Chicks Interview 4/12/2014

ESS :Hello Bailey Hope you are well this a.m.?
Bailey :Yes I am well

ESS :We Hear you're getting possible Easter Chicks this year?
Bailey :They hatched from eggs in 20 days at my School.

ESS :How do you feel about baby chicks, what do you expect to do with them?
Bailey :I feel very very happy about the baby chicks. I expect to take good
care of them.

ESS : Do you expect to make them a pet?
Bailey : Yes, but we can't keep them out in the open or cats will get them.

ESS :What do chickens do for a garden?
Bailey :They Poop to make fertilizer, and scratch the soil loose.

ESS : What do Chickens Eat?
Bailey :They can eat about anything.

ESS : Will your chicks be omnivores or vegetarians?
Bailey :I will feed them Vegetables, so they will be like me vegetarians.

ESS: Thanks for a little time this morning, see you later.
Bailey: Hugs and Kisses to all

Homemade Valentines

I had come across a very cool box of chocolates as I was scrolling through my Twitter Feed about a month ago. I was inspired to make my daughters Valentines treats this year.

I found The seller ConceptsInCandy on eBay

I'll be making the Easter & Christmas candies as well this year :)

Here is a picture of my inspiration with my own creation side by side
Do The Math



My cost was:
Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips 1 bag
3 molds $2.50 each
2 decorative boxes about $1.00 each X2
about 1 hour of time

My candies are delicious dark chocolate
The hearts are filled with Nutella
The Skull is Marshmallow filled
There are solid bones & love shrooms
And 1 large chocolate covered marshmallow.

I planned to color some white chocolate but my girls were home on a
snow day, I got these finished because if the ice storm coming tonight
is bad I'll have no power to work with it tomorrow or maybe into The next day.

Simplicity is the answer th making it a better world.



Have A Happy Valentines Day 2014 ~V

Homemade Carrot Ginger pops

Carrot Ginger pops



Vegetables in Popsicles...?
Has She Gone Mad....?
They're Delicious & Nutritious.
So much better for you than Store-Bought & cheaper too.

Ingredients:
3 carrots chopped, lightly steamed
1/4" X 1" round of ginger root, peeled, lightly steamed
1/2 c apple juice
1/2 cup almond/coconut milk
1 tsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp agave necter
2 Tbsp raw honey
1 tsp lemon zest minced very small

Directions:
The beauty of making these is you basically let a blender
do all the work for you.
We have a NINJA

First scrape & chop Carrots & ginger.
Toss into a steamer/strainer over boiling water until just
forking tender.
Into blender with coconut oil, syrups, zest, then hot carrots
(this melts the oil & releases Lemon essence),then liquids.
Whiz it all together until relatively smooth.
Pour into clean popsicle mold.
Set in freezer for at least 3 hours.



We started making these pops when our young ones started getting sick this winter.
Craft your pops to the ailment.
Just about everyone likes a popsicle, so Don't Worry, Be Appy.

Tofu Tacos

I know you all have done a Taco Night
Change it up every now and then or make a forever change

A Smart Food Swap was mentioned in an earlier Blog
So we had to try it out
It was a WINNER in our house
No Taco Flavored Tofu was left over (Big Smile)



Ingredients:
We used a prepackaged Taco Seasoning Mix
1 Package of Extra Firm Tofu, Pressed it ourselves for about 2 hours
3 Roma tomatoes, dices
1/2 white onion, diced
sharp cheese, grated
Lettuce, shredded
3 carrots, shaved into ribbons
1 avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Corn tortilla shells, Hard or Soft

Salsa if you like
hot sauce if you like

Directions:
Pressing Tofu: Open package discard water. We replaced plastic film
and placed a 12oz can on top and put back into the refrigerator
while we went to pick up the kids.



Prepare the other toppings when you get back leave the lettuce for last.
Chop Lettuce With A Plastic Lettuce Knife to prevent Discoloration
When preparing the avocado toss in the lemon juice to prevent browning.

Tofu crumbles: discard water from pressed tofu. Place on a cutting board
and crumble with a fork (Easy)

Then prepare Tofu in a pan with just a touch (2 tsp) of oil to sizzle
(I used bacon grease)and flavor. Then to Taco Seasoning Directions on the package.
No need to drain oil, I did add only half the water directed on the package.

We served with Cuban Style Black Beans & Rice
Cook on Med Heat
We had about 1 c leftover cooked white rice
we added 1 can refried black beans and mixed in about 1/2 c water
Watch this don't let it get away this will burn to bottom of pan.
stirred until smooth and put in 1 1/2 Tbsp Garlic powder.
Let it heat through. Fast & Easy a great side for Tacos.



This recipe and more will be in our <i>Upcoming Cookbook

Your family will love it and you'll love the fact you're Feeding Them a Healthier Meal
Look up more Tofu Exchanges it's an amazing food.

Happy 2014

Happy New Year to everyone
We Wish You Good Fortune & Good Health.

Did you become resolute about something new,
or are you making the same resolutions as New Year's Past?

We have resolved to bring Hope to the forefront in our Community.



Giving Hope to others & greening it forward
will in turn make things better for more and more folks.

I speak to people at times and the convenience of things today
have blinded and even consumed some people's lives. Even if I
reopen their eyes for just a moment, it sets a spark that maybe
can be fanned into a flame. If only one person goes forward and
makes a simple change they'll make more because it makes them
feel good too.

Gardening is a simple language, that has but one result, Pleasure.
Food & Fragrance are two of the most fulfilling senses we have.
So let's grow better food for our bodies, by ourselves.
The Earth is ours, it can feed us, house us, heal us, please us.
Let's make a conscious effort to not Kill it.
Teach what you know, if you know how to grow great tomatoes, teach someone
else to do it too. Also, why it is better to grow things the right way.
No chemicals, Feed The Soil, Use non GMO items. Why do they have to keep breeding
new hybrids??? The Heirlooms are still around, still growing, and used as
bases for hybrid plants, why...Because they are a good pure thing.
Grow things the way it is intended in their original form.

Children are our Hope, it is our responsibility to teach them.
If they are taught in a lab, they will continue the cycle of destruction.
Take them outside, put their hands in the dirt, there is a connection that
needs to ne made. Technology in different forms are stealing our children away from us.
Yes they can find out all sorts of information at just a touch, but they
are losing touch. We need a true New Generation of young people, versed in the
art of balance. Green, Sustainable practices do create balanced, caring children.

So the #GreenKids of today will be
"Greening it Back by Greening it Forward."
They are our 'New Hope' for a better future.
Let's all stick together and teach them.

I am but one person, with one voice, but I believe
my Hope will spread through my Free Seminars for the kids.
Even if it's a trickle effect, Kids influence their Parents
with each child I touch with our message I know at least 2 folks
are impacted even if just a small way. Encouraged to become
and Advocate for a Better Quality of Life in all ways.

Our goal is to get everyone to try & share (Green it Forward) to 3 people each day.
It's not a challenge it's a goal.
It's even easy if you share or retweet any of our social media messages.
Or even become affiliated as a supporter in some way.
We're only moving up come with us Please.

Have a Great Weekend
Victoria ~ EarthSource Services ~#GreenKids

Please Participate in our Fundraiser

We are desperately trying to keep our #GreenKids Free Programs Free.
But it will take some Generous folks to contribute to our efforts
Please share this with everyone and encourage them to do the same.
If we reach our goal it should fund us for another year.
It really is a small amount considering the scope of the results.
Please check out our social connections at
Twitter ~ @HerbGir1972 & @EssSc7
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/earthsourceservicessc7
K+ on Klout ~ Victoria Meetze

Scroll thru and see what we're about
and Remember the #GreenKids & EarthSource Services needs your help

This fundraiser needs to have at least 20 shirts ordered to print
and 500 is our goal.
Thanks for your time and consideration of our efforts.
PLease purchase at least one(1) tee today


https://www.booster.com/ug-13875204664578543

If you'd simply like to "DONATE" check out our Sponsorship Levels note here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/earthsource-services/earthsourceservices-greenkids-sponsor-levels/613922642001289

What are #GreenKids? (Happier, Healthier, Caring)

https://www.facebook.com/notes/earthsource-services/what-are-greenkids-happier-healthier-caring/557649750961912

Christmas Crack ~ Crazy Good Candy

Christmas Crack

Ingredients
1 sleeve saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sug
12 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped nuts - depending on how many you like

Directions
Put sleeve of saltines in a single layer on parchment paper on a large rimmed cookie sheet.
Melt the butter and brown sugar in medium saucepan. Cook for 3 minutes, stir constantly.
Pour hot mixture over crackers and spread evenly. Bake 10 - 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. When they start to melt, spread evenly over crackers.
Sprinkle chopped nuts on top before cooled.
Refrigerate 1 hour, then break into pieces and serve.
I use a 17.5" x 12" rimmed pan.
And you can also mix butterscotch chips with the chocolate and it is really good too! Enjoy!!

We had to use Toasted Salted Pecans this year and it's AWESOME

Tastes ALOT like a SKOR CANDY BAR

Tiny Trees on a Tray

I've seen similar trees in one of my favorite catalogues for years at quite exhorbant pricing and had a little leftover oasis this year and decided What The Hey!

The most worrysome part of this project is cutting the oasis, it's dusty and messy (wet or dry) but it is so worth it in the end. I was going to Just Do It and have my kids oh and ahh and that be the end of it. But I put my 5 1/2 yr old daughter in charge and it was just the right kind of project for her.
I cut the stems (branches) all the right size and just let her go at it, and it's one of the most perfect decorations in our house. (both to look at & for fragrance)
And will be as much as a tradition in the future as making Gingerbread houses.

The oasis I had was in a square portion but you may be able to purchase cones and spheres as well.
So I recycled the old Oasis and cut it down into triangular shaped forms. (Shown here)Soaking in a bowl of water.

Arborvitae required quite a bit of branches. But was fun all the more.
We started from the bottom & worked our way up. We had to have longer stems for the damaged parts of the oasis.



Fraiser Fir was quite sappy & sticky
I plan to let my youngest finish up the boxwood tree tomorrow whilst I start the Holiday Baking.

Watch for homemade Grasshopper Cookies Recipe

Homemade Fig Newtons

First we oven dried our figs, took a long time.
We will from now on use a dehydrator.



I think we are going to try some other flavors as the fall season is upon us and a new fresh produce season is upon us, maybe pumpkin newtons, apple newtons, pear newtons, date newtons...Somebody Stop me...LOL

For the Dough
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 stick (or 1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs honey, or corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon orange zest
3 egg yolks
1 ounce orange juice

For the Filling
1/2 cup dried figs, finely chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 tbs honey or corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Making the Dough
Your dough will need to chill for at least 4 hours before you begin, so make sure to do it ahead of time!

~Cream together the butter and sugar. Add honey (or corn syrup), baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest and continue mixing until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Add in your sifted flour all at once and mix it in slowly. Drizzle in the orange juice and continue mixing until just combined. The dough should be very soft and wet.

~Prepare a large sheet of plastic wrap and use a rubber spatula to transfer the dough from the bowl to the center of the plastic. Fold the plastic over the dough and flatten into a disc. Wrap with remaining plastic and refrigerate for four hours or overnight

Preparing the Filling
~Combine the figs, applesauce, honey (or corn syrup), and cinnamon in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Scrape the bowl down and pulse again to ensure no chunks remain. Transfer the fig paste to a bowl and set aside.

Baking and Shaping the Cookies
If you don’t care about the shape of your fig newtons, you can play around with other looks and appearances too! Just keep your cookie dough about 1/4th an inch thick and it should still bake up the same way.

~Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

~On a well-floured surface, roll out your chilled dough to about 1/4th an inch thickness. Make sure the dough is floured enough not to stick to any surfaces. Cut your dough into several 3 1/2 inch wide strips. It’s easier to work with strips no longer than 6 inches long, so you might want to cut them down a size.

~Spoon your filling down the center of each strip and spread it so that it’s about 1 inch across and 1/4th an inch thick. Fold the dough edges over the middle line of filling. The edges should overlap a little bit. Flip the cookie over so that the seam side is down. Transfer your newtons to a prepared cookie sheet and bake for approximately 12 minutes, or until cookies are puffed and browned all around. If they are still moist to the touch, continue baking for a few minutes.

~Once your cookies are done, cut each of your bars into 1 inch pieces. Layer them into a plastic ziplock bag or seal-able Tupperware container. If you’re stacking cookies, place a sheet of parchment paper in between each layer. Stored at room temperature, they should stay moist and tasty for about 2 weeks!


This is not my own recipe but one I found on the internet at
http://www.yummly.com/blog/2012/11/how-to-make-fig-newtons-from-scratch/

Mystery Nut No Bake Cookies

Mystery Nut No Bake Cookies
Makes about 24 1" Balls



1/2c coconut oil
2 tbsp peanut butter
4 tbsp corn syrup
1 1/3 c plain rolled oats
1 square ramen noodles, very well broken down.
2oz. Garden of Life Raw Protein powder Chocolate

Mix together coconut oil, peanut butter & corn syrup until well blended and smooth.
Add Raw Protein Powder, and stir until all is blended in.
Add Oatmeal and Ramen noodles, stir until everything is covered. Everything should be off the walls of the mixing bowl as well. (No Waste)
Scoop out into 1 tsp or 1" balls and place on waxed paper on cookie sheet.
Set in the refrigerator about 30 minutes.
The coconut oil will set making your cookies beautifully opaque.

I served these to a couple neighbors, who loved them but were totally confused about what kind of nut I had used. (The Crunch is from the Ramen)

Watch for more recipes as I tweak some flavors in similar no bake recipes. These are quite vegan, and uses no electricity so you're in the Green ;)

We're exchanging the regular peanut butter for cashew butter next time, adding chopped pistachios, and chopped dries cherries. Watch for them...I may back down to 3 tbsp. sweetener as well. What to call themmmm....

Homemade Cheeze Crackers/Biscuits

I made this recipe for the first time this week and let's just say
The recipe says they'll keep in an Airtight Jar for 2 weeks.
Good luck having them last that long.



My first batch I rolled out onto the cookie sheet cut with a pizza cutter and baked for 15 minutes
They were a little poofy but again didn't last...LOL



Second recipe I got a little crazy with the teenie cutters, longer prepare time, very good (I also
Tweaked the recipe...GASP...NO)
I also cut into 1" circles looked very professional.
I was thinking playing with a pasta roller may be the key to getting thinner dough
Thinner dough = crisper crackers, thicker dough = biscuits

Anywho here's the recipe (My Tweaks in Parenthesis)

5 Tbsp Ice Water
1/2 teaspoon salt (1/8 tsp)
1/2 c grated fine parmesan cheese (add 1/4 c grated cheese, Mexican mix)
1 stick butter cut into 8 pieces
1 1/2 c all purpose flour (I used self rising)
(Paprika, Cayenne, Mild Tabasco Jalapeno sauce 7 splashes, & pepper)
use these tweaks to taste

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees
lightly grease 2 baking pans
In processor/blender combine flour, (Spices), butter, salt, & cheese
Pulse until it looks like course meal.
Add 5 tbsp. ice water
Pulse until it just comes together, remove and form into a disc.
On floured surface roll out until thickness of 1/4 " is reached



Cut as desired, any small 1/2" - 1 1/2" cutters are good
Transfer to baking sheets then gather up excess and roll out again until all DOUGH is used up.



Bake from 7 mins - 15 mins depending on cracker size.
Transfer to wire rack or paper towel lined pan and let cool



Keep in a airtight container up to 2 weeks.



I'm thinking the teensies + worstershire chex + candied pecans = Da Bombe Mix



You Control the ingredients and make a better product for your family

WARNING THESE ARE ADDICTIVE BE CAREFUL

This came off a page that looks to possible be a Martha Stewart Mag
But I'm not sure since it's just one page ;)
This was not my own original recipe

Fried Green Tomatoes

There is nothing like the
impatient gardener who just
has to pick something.
(pointing thumb at self)
But one delicious unripened treat is

Fried Green Tomatoes
I do not always have the ingredients on
my recipie cards so there is loads of
improvision in my kitchen.
Today was one of those days

There are oodles of recipies out there
it's a simple thing to make.
Mine had an italian twist today

1/2 c italian bread crumbs
3/4 c flour
1/4 c parmasean chz
4 med green Cherokee Purple tomatoes

Step 1)
choose smooth green fruit, wash & pat dry



Step 2)
Slice thin slices, leaving skin intact



Step 3)
Dredge in desired coating



Step 4)
Fry until golden brown
bread crumbs and chz turn very dark and crisp, Watch closely



Just thought I'd share the first ever Fried Green Tomatoes eaten by my youngest daughter.

Here is Grandmas Recipie
Grandma's Fried Green Tomatoes

3 green tomatoes
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cornmeal
Oil

Wash and dry tomatoes. Slice with peels thin but thick enough to hold together. Heat 1-2"oil in a large skillet to sizzling. Season both sides and dredge in meal. Lay in skillet without sides touching-don't crowd them and fry brown, flip them over and cook them brown on the other side. Drain well on a rack over a papered sheet.
**Flour may be used in place if desired**.
http://www.nancyskitchen.com/2011Recipes/Oct/grandmas-fried-green-tomatoes-recipe.html

Next week we will be picking old tyme yellow plums.

I Wormapost

I cannot tell you how much organic refuse we create in this day at my household.
In an attempt to eat better, we do make a fair amount of refuse.
In having to peel certain superstore purchased foods due to commercial coatings.
But alas I have employed several thousand refuse workers to tend to this problem.
Thankfully I came into a broken large chest style freezer.
Here is where the magic takes place.
I simply feed my workers in a box formation from corner to corner covering each weeks
organic refuse.
These amazing creatures supply me with plenty of nutrient rich material for all my
gardening needs.

It is possibly the easiest and quickest way to recycle into usable composted material.
If you have leaves and grass clippings, they love them too.
I even add a little bit of shredded black and white newspaper from time to time to buffer the
wettness. It mseems to keep things at a consistant state and adds a little bulk.
I have a complete a - z listing of Composting Do's and Donts
I wouldn't give anything to my worms you couldn't regualrly compost safely.

My worms are getting a kick this week with a little starbucks coffee grounds.
I intend to give them a 25 gallon bucket of houre manure too.
I like to give things a good feed inthe beginning of July, to make them stronger for the
harsher, everchanging weathers of SC.

check out this site for that information
http://buffy6900.tripod.com/id10.html

Weak Wormy Tea is excellent for watering your seedlings. Make them happy from the start

I am going to try and get a pic to add here before the day is through ;)

Green It Forward
EarthSource Services
Victoria

Blueberries are a Win Win planting choice

Growing Blueberries ~ As a Hedge

Everconsidered an edible hedgerow?
Blueberries are perfect, you get 4 seasons of interest, wildlife food, early flowers for bees, and best of all an healthy treat for you.
Planting in a row also allows you to easily cover if you wish to do so to protect from the birds. (although if you plant an entire hedge there should be enough for all)
http://www.plantra.com/Blueberry-Netting
Choose your varieties for your spaces and or containers. They range in heights from 18 - 24 inches tall to over 8 feet.
Check with your local extension office for the varieties that grow best in your region.
Blueberries are naturally pest resistant so they are great for growing organically.
They do like acidy soil Pine Straw is a way to make the soil perfect organically as it breaks down.

Most bluberries bloom white but I know of one variety we added to our double lined patch that blooms a pink color. 'Sunshine Blue' it is also supposed to be a bit more compact. they have withstood alot of dry times already since planting in May/Mothers Day I am even giving one a try in a porch container to accompany my other small variety 'Top Hat.'



The foilage in the winter is sparce and twiggy but mine never loose all of their leaves.
Summer they bush out and are quite dense. one practice to add to maintenance each year. Remove dead or damaged branches. Blueberries bear in the summer, I try to make sure fruit is really plump by giving supplemental water at least every other day.



Fall you get amazing colors and in a mass hedge planting this can be absolutely stunning.
If you want to grow your stand after you see how quick and easy blueberries are to grow. You can dig new rooted shoots from the base of the plant in the winter (we do it about Feburary here in SC)
I hope this inspires you to plant a couple Blueberries, they are easily incorporated into landscaping, even existing planting beds.



Thank You for taking the time to check out this post
Green It Forward. EarthSource Services ~Victoria
(photos in the blog are not mine)