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This week we are finishing up pruning our raspberries and blackberries.  Pruning can be a daunting task or a real joy, depending on how you think about it. Isn't that true with so many things in our life? As I prune...this is what I do...1.  Cut out the obviously bad stems.2.  Take out the little stems that are "good" but not really going to be useful in the long run--ones trying to grow outside of the row and small ones.3. Leave the right amount of strong & healthy stems.  Do you ever have a hard time deciding what to spend your time...

Want to bring out the flavors in your food without excess salt or fat?Mild herbs and spices used in traditional or creative ways can enhance flavor or provide taste-tempting variations.  Some useful tips: Add salt to soups at the end of cooking and to dried beans and peas after they have already softened. Cold foods may require more seasoning than hot foods. When doubling a recipe, don't double the seasonings.  Increase by 1 1/2 times, taste, then adjust as necessary. Fresh herbs infuse foods with a greater depth of flavor than do dried.  Microgreen basil or cilantro are even more...

It's winter, the garden is dead from the hard freeze, and you are tired of the grocery store selection this time of year.  Now what? Stock up on our microgreens! Yeah, well, my family is a little big or my budget is a little small so that feels expensive and they are kinda finicky to grow myself.What's another option?Sprouts -- it's super food in a jar. It's pretty easy!  Yes, even you can grow it at home with just 5 minutes a day.You can have your own little miniature garden right in your kitchen.  Fresh sprouts peaking out of a sandwich is...

Ah, I love to have just what I need in the kitchen and not a bunch of useless gadgets that just get in the way...peak in my drawer.One year, I sorted through all my kitchen utensils and put all the "useless" items in a box and eventually gave those away.  It felt SOOOO good and was much easier to close the drawers, keep clean, and enjoy.Hmmm, Christmas is coming up faster than I'm ready for.  Do you ever feel that way?  Well, these useful kitchen gadgets just might give you some great gift ideas for that special person AND help...

Yay!  We did it, the garlic is all planted.  Now to wait patiently until July, 2024. Have you noticed that life is full of instant things these days? Quick push of the button, instant foods, harder to sit still for long periods of time without a phone to look at, fast switching between screen shots on TV, etc.  I've noticed AND experienced it. So much in society actually trains us to give up quick or rely on “crutches” like a movie, coffee, social media, a beer, or just “do what you want” to cope with hard situations or give up.I...