The Slapshot

Sunday, 16 January 2011

The Slapshot

I found this Slapshot Rake at a local Gardening store for $1.00.

When these came out a couple years ago they were sold as a more efficient and fun alternative to the classic rake design.  It never caught on and the Slapshot was discontinued. Here's a video from the diy network featuring the Slapshot rake from 2008.

 

Mushrooms

I started two mushroom kits today. One white button and one Portabella.

The kits are comprised off a large bag of compost with the mushroom culture and a small bag of soil.

The white stuff growing on the compost is the mushroom mycelium.

The soil is poured on top of the compost. the mushrooms will form on this soil.

After the kits are assembled I loosely closed the bags and put them in a warm part of my basement to let the mycelium grow through the soil. I will check on them in about five days.

If the white growth is coming through the soil then I can open the bags and move the kits to a cooler spot (around 65 degrees) then I wait for the mushrooms to grow.

While cleaning the basement Saturday I came across this mid 1950's Duncan Hines Food and Vegetable cutter that was left behind by the house's previous owner. Although I haven't tried it out yet, it appears to be in working order and the only things missing are the feet.

This will come in handy when I try my hand at canning this summer.

The Homestead

Location: Northeastern Wisconsin

Zone: right in between zone 4 & 5

I grew up in the country but moved in to the city a number of years ago. The first house I bought in town was small, on a small lot and was almost entirely covered in shade. Not ideal conditions for growing food.  A little over two years ago my wife and I welcomed our beautiful daughter into the world. As our small house began to fill with "baby" things we realized we'd be more comfortable in a larger home.  After about a year of house hunting we found our current home. A 1930's craftsman on a 1,800 sq. ft. lot! Not only is the lot huge but it came with a mature white mulberry tree, two established rhubarb plants, a red currant bush, two gooseberry bushes and two old apple trees. It was perfect for us. 

Last year my wife and I revitalized the neglected flower beds and added a large shade garden. I did put in a small vegetable bed but we had a lot of rain last summer and the bed was submerged for the majority of the growing season so nothing grew. I also planted a new apple tree, service berry, four gooseberry bushes and a Bartlett pear.