Growing Chipotle Peppers!

You actually can’t grow a chipotle pepper, because it isn’t a type of pepper in itself. A chipotle pepper is a Jalapeño pepper that has been allowed to ripen and go red, and is then smoked and dried. This past summer I smoked the green and the reds that I harvested along side some HungarianContinueContinue reading “Growing Chipotle Peppers!”

3 Perennial Vegetables that you need to plant now!

Lucy with the a first harvest from the compost rhubarb! Rhubarb actually a vegetable with second year harvest! I planted a crown in early Fall 2023, but have previously had established plants that went gangbusters! Rhubarb likes a rich compost/manure and needs to be left undisturbed. The crowns grow underground and can get too bigContinueContinue reading “3 Perennial Vegetables that you need to plant now!”

September Garden Update

July was perfect weather for the sun loving veggies, August saw a few things bolt, but it was nowhere near as hot as Kelowna on the last weekend in July, when Alex and I went to the Okanagan Tattoo Convention! On our way out of the city, we stopped at a farm stand to getContinueContinue reading “September Garden Update”

Small Onions…why? And what to do about it

I planted some onions this year from onion sets that I purchased locally. They are Yellow Sweet Spanish Onions which I understood from the lady who sold them to me, to be large and good for storing. However, mine are falling over and one has even produced a flower, telling me they are near readyContinueContinue reading “Small Onions…why? And what to do about it”

Companion Planting for Vegetable Gardens

After an unsuccessful Onion Harvest this year, I’ve started looking at companion planting for next year so I can be ready for next Spring and hopefully generate higher yields, better volume and avoid pests. I’ve learned that companion planting works because it is more akin to nature, with diversity of plants instead of the singleContinueContinue reading “Companion Planting for Vegetable Gardens”

July Garden Update 2023

For more updates follow me on instagram @moonsnailmicrostead The heat is finally here with temperatures pushing 30°C this week! The garden as sprung to new heights in the last couple of weeks with the tomatoes and squash setting lots of fruit. I am especially excited about my Blue Hubbard, Kabocha Squash and Galeux d’Eysines PumpkinsContinueContinue reading “July Garden Update 2023”

Do it Yourself – Self Watering Seed Beds & Grow Light Frame

The last frost date is fast approaching and its time to get the tomatoes, peppers and greens going for the garden. But, going to be away for a couple of weeks! What to do? It turns out that self watering seed beds and grow lamps are pricy. So If you want to save some coinContinueContinue reading “Do it Yourself – Self Watering Seed Beds & Grow Light Frame”

Sourdough Discard Blueberry Scones

I am trying to work through some of last years fruit from my freezer. These scones will help if you’re interested in doing the same thing! Lots of sweetness from the fruit gives you the opportunity to go a bit lighter on the sugar, and using grated frozen butter and sourdough starter discard means lessContinueContinue reading “Sourdough Discard Blueberry Scones”

Update from the Garden! Building Beds and Starting Seeds!

I had to move again! That’s two summers in a row, but I’m stoked to be in a permanent location at last. I’ve been installing garden boxes which has involved some insane woodworking, during which I actually used some high school trigonometry. Remember that thing with the triangle? Yeah, I used that! I wish IContinueContinue reading “Update from the Garden! Building Beds and Starting Seeds!”

No Waste Christmas Pastry!

I hate kitchen waste with a passion, everything gets used if possible and when I’ve squeezed the last scraps out of the carcass or the vegetables they either go in stock or to compost. Pastry has always stumped me though. I always end up with little scraps that have been rolled multiple times and areContinueContinue reading “No Waste Christmas Pastry!”