gardening – The Poquette Zoo and Kitchen

Spring!

It is spring, my favorite season of the year. So much potential. So much excitement. So many new beginnings. More than at New Year’s, I find myself coming up with resolutions to do better, be more focused, use my energy in more productive ways, and to find happiness in everyday moments. This winter has beenContinue reading “Spring!”

Our Visit to the Seed Savers Heritage Farm

What a wonderful weekend we had in Decorah, Iowa! Our good friend, Gretchen, grew up there, and we’ve enjoyed her enthusiasm and love for her hometown in dozens of conversations throughout the years. Since Andy and I began gardening in 2007, we have purchased our seeds from a non-profit organization called Seed Savers Exchange,which isContinue reading “Our Visit to the Seed Savers Heritage Farm”

Gardening: Good for the Soul

I’m not going to lie. I had a hard week. Those that know me personally know that I had invested a lot of time and energy in a little Wisconsin election held recently. My side didn’t win, and it hit me hard. The first few days afterward, I walked around aimlessly, trying to fight backContinue reading “Gardening: Good for the Soul”

Berry Blast: Aronia, Honeyberry, Hardy Kiwi, and Elderberry Plantings

Aronia flowers today Our bees will soon arrive and will they have plenty to pollinate! An early spring jump-started our annual trip to Jung’s Garden Center, and we had pre-ordered 10 aronia plants from Bellbrook Berry Farm in Brooklyn, Wisconsin, so the yard is buzzing with young fruit plants (pun intended). To start with, we plantedContinue reading “Berry Blast: Aronia, Honeyberry, Hardy Kiwi, and Elderberry Plantings”

Spring Onions

It is only March 13th….but we hit the 70s today, and spring fever runs high. We decided to plant100+ Alisa Craig onions for scallions and take our chances. If temperatures dip, we’re ready to cover the bed. And we proactively put up some hardwire clothe to keep the resident songbirds and chickens away from ourContinue reading “Spring Onions”

10 New Year’s Resolutions

Someone once sent us a cartoon eluding to a gardener’s dreams being bigger…way bigger…than what reality will be. It’s impossible to argue with that! Right around the start of the new year, our minds shift from the holidays to visions of plentiful fruit trees, bumper tomato crops, and perfect transitions from spring crops to fallContinue reading “10 New Year’s Resolutions”

Fall Harvest: Beans and Greens

Beautiful Swiss Chard We’ve been busy, busy the past few weeks and weekends, as I’m sure most of you all have been. Luckily, the weather has been such that we personally haven’t been too worried about the veggies left in our garden or the amount of work yet to be done before the first snowfall.Continue reading “Fall Harvest: Beans and Greens”

Green Bugs!!…Help!

Because of the bug invasion, most of our Oaxacan green dent corn looks like this. All summer long, we were plagued by a tiny flourescent green bug. Many of our squash plants were eaten, our corn kernels devoured, and today, we discovered our sunflower seeds were gone too. Does anyone have any idea whatContinue reading “Green Bugs!!…Help!”

Stealing from Squirrels: Harvesting Black Walnuts

Today’s harvest We moved into a house on a one-acre plot of land and were lucky enough to inherit five full-grown black walnut trees. Our first year here, we didn’t realize our fortune and probably just complained about the slipperiness over which we had to mow in the fall. I remember almost falling with theContinue reading “Stealing from Squirrels: Harvesting Black Walnuts”

When the Parents are Away, the Kids (Hens) Will Lay

We spent the weekend with family at a cabin which sits by a pristine lake. When we arrived home this afternoon, we found two beautiful brown surprises. Sadie, our barred rock, 5-month-old hen laid her first two eggs! Sadie, today’s star! Right now, her eggs are as small as Janis’ eggs. Janis is our PolishContinue reading “When the Parents are Away, the Kids (Hens) Will Lay”