we CAN do!

For descriptions of canning procedures see our past blog reports HERE

If you go to www.papercrave.com, you will find all sorts of printable canning stuff including little invitations if you want to have a canning party! These are all free to be downloaded.
Miss Marie tells her "secrets" for raw chocolate cake:

8 raw organic dates (soaked but not necessary)
1/3 cup of organic raw cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash of sea salt
1 cup walnuts
add water to desired consistency (no more than 1/4 cup usually - but I do this by eye)

blend all ingredients in a food processor. make sure it mixes well. take small scoops of mix and create "cake balls" rolled in additional ingredients (I like to use coconut and/or chopped walnuts). refrigerate until cooled and enjoy.

if too much liquid is added, this also makes a yummy raw chocolate "mousse" - equally decidant. feel free to experiment!





Tal went home to MORE canning! She writes: " I finished 18 pints of salsa from the tomatoes I so generously got from my friends Nick and Linda. And look how many more tomatoes I have! More salsa to come tomorrow night and then some peach jam and chutney next week (to share with N&L)"

Here's the link for the USDA's Complete Guide to Home Canning from Kelli

http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html. Wyatt says its the most comprehensive resource for canning.

Sticking Together

July 21,2012 preparing for adventure...

For this year's Jam Session, we made green apple pectin and ginger rhubarb jam with Brent Prindle. For his recipes, click on Jamming and scroll to our 2010 report.Tal Hadini-Pease led us in making blueberry-honey jam without sugar. According to reports from our participants, EVERYONE went home to pick fruit and make MORE jam! YUM!Our fearless guides through the Jamberry Jungle were:

Tal and Brent

SOULStice Sing

After a veritable pot-luck feast, we shared a melodic pot-luck of song to celebrate the longest day of the year. Thank-you Richard Griggs for the fine fotos!

Big n Small Fun 4 All

More'n 50 people frollicked in our June 9 Big Little Kids Dance under guidance of caller Tom Hanford.

Miss Marie's EGGS-perience

Miss Marie came to our workshop because she hopes to keep her own laying hens someday. She saw a variety of ways to house, feed and water chickens but chose not to participate in harvesting a broiler to take home. She wrote: I am glad I took your class, even if i could not take a chickens life, it gave me an appreciation for the process of obtaining meat that I had not had before. thank you for sharing that with me... and sent these beautiful photos of Local Farm

A WOOLY Good ShEWE!

May 12, 2012 - 32 gathered at Local Farm for a first hand experience handling sheep and their wool

Next, arrived 5 Sheep in a Jeep and their border collie friend, Joker

Shepherd Joe Benete and Joker demonstrated "working the flock" and gave us all a spin at herding wayward lambs.

Tal Hadani-Pease gave a New Twist to spinning our wheels and soon we were all turning out our own-made yarn.

WOOL EWE be my friend?
Click HERE for more photos.

Gardin' Guards

 We sanded...

and painted whirligig parts to vibrate the earth to deter moles and mice

...and learned about using ground eggshells to stymy slugs.

marigolds, tansy, and garlic to inhibit insect invaders,

urine, soap, human hair, and blood to discourage deer and ward off wabbits!

AND the watchful eye of a friendly scarecrow/garden goddess!