Rowangarth Farm

Apologies and an explanation

2011-09-02T09:04:00.004-04:00

Hi, folks: Just a quick note to let you know that we haven't been overrun or consumed by rose chafers. Life just got really busy since my last post on June 22. The kids have been home for summer holidays, we've been dealing with a lot more predator issues this year (deer and foxes and bears, oh my!) and I got another job (in addition to the one(s) I already have). I also took a 10-day solo trip

They're rose chafers... I think!

2011-06-22T11:49:00.006-04:00

I think I've finally figured it out -- these little beasties are rose chafers, or Macrodactylus subspinosus!According to Jeffrey Hahn, Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota:• An adult rose chafer is a moderate-sized insect, slender, pale green to tan in color with reddish‑brown or orangish spiny legs and short antennae.• The larval stage, or grub, has

Help with pest ID.... please!

2011-06-22T09:37:00.011-04:00

It was late May when I first noticed them in the sumac.Then they moved onto my beloved roses and peonies.But when they attacked the strawberries, they made this fight personal.Just a few days ago Ella help me pick a small, but beautiful, harvest of strawberries.Now the patch looks like this. Decimated.I've been calling these pests Japanese Beetles, based on their behaviour, the damage they

Madcap Monday -- duck daycare

2011-06-20T12:18:00.007-04:00

The ducklings are getting too big for their brood cage (and my office!) so I put them outside to acclimatize while I figure out where to move them to. No sooner had I turned my back to go into the house to get their water when I heard movement behind me -- it was Henry, the Mother Hen... or is that Mother Duck?Henry wouldn't even look at me while I tried to take his picture (I used the zoom lens

Purple bees!

2011-06-17T10:22:00.018-04:00

On Wednesday I brought home three colonies of honeybees, and while I still want to write about that trip/adventure/travelling gong show involving a minivan, escaping bees and road construction, I was too excited about what I saw this morning not to share these photos now.As I was checking the almost blooming peonies for signs of Japanese beetle damage, I heard a low humming sound coming from the

The aftermath

2011-06-16T13:26:00.010-04:00

After passing four days in the company of beeswax candles and our generator, we got our power back. When one of the forestry workers from the hydro company came to our door late on Saturday with the news, I almost jumped up and kissed his weary cheek. (As he was leaving he said to Lucas that he always liked working in rural areas. When folks say, 'thank you' they really mean it!)After that first

And the winner is...

2011-06-15T22:45:00.002-04:00

... Josee! Please email me at info [at] rowangarthfarm [dot] ca with your mailing address so Penguin Canada can mail out your "Whole Foods to Thrive" prize pack!Thanks for all of your comments and I'm sorry for the delay in posting the winner.

Down and out, again

2011-06-09T13:36:00.004-04:00

Amidst a sizzling day of record-setting temperatures, another wicked storm ripped through our farm yesterday; two, in fact. The first knocked out our power around 3 p.m. while the second touched down around 7:30 p.m., bringing with it hail, gale-force winds and intense lightning strikes.We're safe, thankfully, but this time the damage is more widespread. I know I should be cultivating some sense

Growing under glass: a cold frame update

2011-06-07T20:40:00.019-04:00

I realize it's been ages since I've written anything about what's growing in the cold frames.My last post was in late April, when the spinach was in its just-sprouted stage and the parsley hadn't even germinated yet.That was then:And this is now:And taking a peek in the leaf lettuce and mesclun mix box... then:And now:I still find the transformation extraordinary -- from seed to food in just

First strawberry!

2011-06-07T16:41:00.001-04:00

Madcap Monday -- the "fresh" edition

2011-06-06T21:10:00.006-04:00

This is can of my kids' apple juice.Notice the band at the top:If the "special edition" contains fresh Ontario apples,dare I ask what's in the juice the rest of the time?

Rhubarb made three ways

2011-06-03T12:17:00.014-04:00

One of the things I love about growing food is that my kids get to experience the full spectrum of local, in-season eating -- the waiting, the watching, the harvesting and the eating. Ever since we discovered the pleasures of rhubarb last year, Jack has been eyeing up rhubarb row, waiting for the time when we can once again pick some fresh 'barb.While asking the children to help me dig up weeds

2 + 1 = 3

2011-06-02T17:31:00.000-04:00

And then there were two

2011-06-01T22:48:00.004-04:00

Now that May (aka Mrs. Nibbles) has a companion, my office is quiet again: her incessant peeping finally stopped. She took one look at June (that's the new one), bopped her on the head with her beak a few times as if to say, "What took you so long?" and then promptly snuggled up to her and fell asleep. Now that's baby duck love.Ed. update: So much for the quiet! Now that it's morning, it's twice

Even more duckling photos...

2011-06-01T14:47:00.007-04:00

... because you can never have too many.Hey, you gotta see what's in here. Hello. I kept escaping from that bin thing, so now I'm locked in here at night.I love eating...and burping. OK, not really.This water thing is kinda cool, too.I dip my beak in...... and then let 'er rip!Phew, I'm exhausted.

"Whole Foods to Thrive" giveaway!

2011-06-01T08:57:00.009-04:00

Brendan Brazier's message is simple: eating nutrient-dense, plant-based food is the best choice, not only for your health but also for the health and sustainability of the planet.And Brazier knows a thing or two about nutrition and optimum performance. A former professional Ironman triathlete (a competition whereby participants swim 3.8 km, bike 180 km and then run 42.2 km) and two-time Canadian

Baby duck love

2011-05-31T22:05:00.016-04:00

It looks like my computer issues are finally resolved. It wasn't the satellite after all, but the router that probably got fried during the big windstorm. My internet service is still slow at times (granted, the signal is travelling up to space) but at least it's not timing out anymore.And that's great, because tomorrow I'm offering another giveaway sponsored by Penguin Canada.But before I get to

Internet bothers

2011-05-18T11:57:00.003-04:00

Hey, folks: Just a quick note to let you know that I haven't dropped off the face of the earth (again) -- our internet satellite has been acting up, making blogging and uploading photos tricky. Back soon! xo

Our {this moment}...

2011-05-13T20:53:00.001-04:00

...inspired by SouleMamaA single photo, no words, capturing a moment from the week.A simple, special, extraordinary moment.A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.Wishing you a weekend filled with laughter and love!

Wildcrafting fiddleheads

2011-05-12T09:29:00.000-04:00

Before we moved the farm, I'd heard lots of foodie hubbub about the deliciousness of fiddleheads, but never had the opportunity to taste them. Turns out we're sited on a treasure trove of these coveted wild edibles.This springtime delicacy is actually the unfurled head of the Ostrich Fern (a telltale feature is the papery chaff) and can be found in woodlands or in our case, in the ditch along the

Reflections on a woodland walk

2011-05-11T15:04:00.008-04:00

“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately,I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life,To put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to dieDiscover that I had not lived.”- Henry David ThoreauIt may be something of a cliche to quote from Thoreau when talking about the simple life, but he was my introduction to the idea of intentional living -- at least

Madcap Monday -- Together again

2011-05-09T11:43:00.007-04:00

Last April, I posted about an unlikely pair: Jemima and Betsy, a Muscovy duck and a Columbia Rock x Rhode Island chicken who had decided to co-nest on a clutch of eggs.Looks like they're back together for a 2011 hatching!Happy belated Mother's Day to all you wonderful mamas!

Yarn Along -- Jack's socks are done!

2011-05-04T14:06:00.010-04:00

Taking inspiration from Ginny over at Small Things, here's this week's Yarn Along update:I don't have anything new on the needles right now (just give me an hour), but I do have a project freshly off the needles -- yes, Jack's socks are finally done!Author Malcolm Gladwell discusses in his book Outliers, that the key to success in any field comes from practicing a specific task for a total of

Nature's balance

2011-05-02T10:35:00.010-04:00

I went for a walk on Saturday morning,to survey the damage from the windstorm.While we lost a number of trees,I know we were very, very lucky.Our home and our outbuildings were unscathedand the wood can be used to keep our family warm.But as I walked, I still felt melancholy.The wounds seemed so raw.But about three-quarters of the way through my walk,I realized I'd spent so much time looking for

Madcap Monday -- Let sleeping ducks lie*

2011-05-02T10:19:00.003-04:00

* A nod to James Herriot, author of "Let Sleeping Vets Lie".

Back in business!

2011-05-02T09:15:00.006-04:00

After a slightly worrying visit from the hydro folks on the weekend (they took one look at the lines, turned to us and said, "Well, how are we supposed to get to that?") our power is restored!Thanks very much for all your kind words of support, encouragement and 'been there, done that' stories.I learned a lot from these past few days: firstly, there is a big difference between essential and

Blown away

2011-04-29T09:42:00.011-04:00

Yesterday was poised to be another productive day on the farm. The sky was a brilliant blue and the clouds were like white cotton candy -- a perfect day for working in the kitchen garden. As I sat at my desk, finishing up the day's editing work, I noticed the wind picking up. It started out gentle at first, playful, but as the dark clouds rolled in, it became menacing and then violent.At first,

Between the rains

2011-04-27T21:00:00.014-04:00

We've had a lot of rain lately, and while the day started out clouded by a thick fog and the weatherman said to expect more heavy showers, we were pleasantly surprised by a large orb in the sky that resembled something called "the sun."I took advantage of this calm between storms to capture some of the new life in the garden.Even the lilac buds have started to sprout!As I was clearing away last

Me, versatile?

2011-04-27T16:46:00.007-04:00

Lori over at Little Scotia was kind enough to award me with the Versatile Blogger award -- how lovely!I've never won a blog award before, but I guess there are some "rules" that go along with accepting this.Rule #1. Link back to the person who gave you the award. See above.Rule #2. Share seven things that folks may not know about you. I'll get to that in a minute.Rule #3. Name other bloggers you

Forest walks and spring magic

2011-04-26T17:18:00.015-04:00

We're not church-going folk, so Easter weekend is more of a secular holiday around here -- but it's a celebration just the same. For us, Easter is about honouring the earth's rebirth and all the green goodness that spring brings. (I just hope the green goodness stays, because if I see one more snowflake, I think I'm going to snap!)While Ella was sick with a high fever for the first two days of a

And the winner is...

2011-04-23T09:19:00.003-04:00

... Sparkless!"Oh wow a contest for us Canadians! How can I resist. I'd love to win this book."Please email me with your address at:fiona [at] rowangarthfarm [dot] caCongratulations!!

A week with no poo

2011-04-21T08:58:00.009-04:00

I've been a week without poo and I'm loving it! No, I don't need a gastroenterologist -- the kind of "poo" I'm talking about is "shampoo."I'd heard about the "no poo" movement a while ago but I wasn't motivated enough to try it. I don't fuss much with my long hair -- it's often in a ponytail or tucked into a cap -- but a read through Deacon's book has stoked my interest in liberating myself from

Test driving an idea

2011-04-20T14:58:00.008-04:00

I've written about my dreams of making this a working farm again; to grow food that nurtures others, as well as ourselves. I'm a long way from that dream as I still have so much to learn, but I think I'm coming closer to figuring out what comes next.I've said that it's easy for me to come up with ideas, especially with all the reading and research I do. It's a trait/hobby/compulsion that members

"There's Lead in your Lipstick" giveaway!

2011-04-18T07:49:00.016-04:00

Have you ever looked at the ingredient listing on your shampoo, deodorant or face cream? Chemicals such as diethanolamine, sodium lauryl (ether) sulfate or triclosan are common to many everyday body care products. Even when the product label reads "organic" or "natural" the ingredients are often anything but.Confused? You're not alone.The average woman uses a dozen personal care products each

Digging post holes, building dreams

2011-04-17T11:09:00.015-04:00

When we left suburbia almost three years ago, a surprising number of people said to us something like, "I'd love to move to a farm! I'd make apple pies, knit by the fire -- it'd be so relaxing!"While rural living offers those moments, there's also the less "glamorous" side to farming. Take fencing. With an old farm comes old fencing and many of our fences posts are on their last legs. The cedar

Making homemade yogurt

2011-04-14T09:58:00.009-04:00

Yogurt is a part of our family's daily diet and that's a good thing -- it's rich in calcium, high in protein and teaming with good-for-your-gut bacteria. But not all yogurt is created equal and many store-bought varieties are also loaded with sugar, artificial dyes, preservatives and stabilizers such as gelatin.I'm always on the lookout for ways to buy less and make more, so I started making our

Yarn Along & announcing another giveaway!

2011-04-13T12:59:00.008-04:00

Taking inspiration from Ginny over at Small Things, here's this week's Yarn Along update:As we're almost halfway through April (does anyone else feel like time is just flying by?) I thought I should check in with the Year in Colour project -- and this month's colour is green. Perfect. This is the motivation I need to finally get Jack's second sock off the needles and on to his foot!As for the

I only have eyes for ewe

2011-04-12T21:40:00.014-04:00

A few weeks ago, a farmer friend (the lovely and very knowledgeable Montana Jones of Wholearth Farmstudio) put out a call for volunteers for her annual naked sheep party and spa day.To say I jumped at the opportunity is something of an understatement. While I think I responded to her request with a perfectly respectable, composed and dignified reply (something like, "I'd love to help out on

They're back!

2011-04-11T20:37:00.015-04:00

The sights, smells and sounds of spring are a delightful assault on winter-weary senses. And for the last few weeks I've been noticing -- and savouring -- many of the classic signs: succulent daffodil tips poking their sunny crowns through the soil, red-breasted robins punch drunk on juicy worms and mild breezes kissed by the scent of rich earth. But tonight, it sounds like spring.There is

Foto Friday -- Seedling update

2011-04-08T09:30:00.007-04:00

I find this time of year to be both exciting and nerve-wracking. The seeds that I started last week are poking their way through the soil but each looks so delicate and fragile. This is my first year starting some of these seeds indoors and I'm in awe that when planted outside, they manage to survive the elements and mature into full-grown veggie goodness!These are are a handful of leftover 2010

A rant

2011-04-07T09:30:00.012-04:00

"Well-behaved women seldom make history."~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich My brain is buzzing with about a thousand thoughts this morning. I'm often one to embellish, but today that figure actually seems like an underestimate. Last night I attended a lecture on the future of food and farms and while I was hoping to be inspired, turns out I was outraged.While some of the information presented was

Madcap Monday -- a homecoming

2011-04-04T09:55:00.026-04:00

I don't have much farm news today as I'm just getting back into the groove after a weekend away with a great friend of mine. We passed three beautiful days exploring the nation's capital on foot, eating delicious food and talking non-stop. To top it all off, we spent Saturday night blissing out to amazing live music and kicking up our heels at a show by my favourite musicians.Since our flight

Yarn along -- baby cardi and a thrift store read

2011-03-30T16:01:00.014-04:00

The sun is shining, the thermometer is climbing and I'm itching to seed at least one of the cold frames -- but it's been a quiet day inside. Jack left for school at 8:30 and promptly returned at 9:30 looking greener than my yet-to-be-planted spinach.He crawled back into bed and fell asleep almost immediately. I could have slipped outside but I had some editing work to do; besides, I wanted to

Better than Christmas

2011-03-29T12:47:00.013-04:00

My seed order finally arrived*! And with eight weeks left to our last frost day, it couldn't have come at a better time. Phew!While I have a number of seeds saved from last year, I'm growing some new veggies this year -- good eats such as broccoli, brussell sprouts, leeks and parsnips, plus some more winter squashes.I decided to change up some of the varieties, too -- Bull Nose peppers instead of

Madcap Monday -- Cold frame update

2011-03-28T12:33:00.006-04:00

Today's outdoor temperature at 12 p.m. : 6 degrees Celsius/42.8 degrees FahrenheitToday's temperature inside the new cold frames: 19 degrees Celsius/66.2 degrees FahrenheitBring on the four-season growing! Now if I could only get my compost pile to thaw out...Ed. update: As of 9:30 p.m., the outside temperature has dropped to minus 2 degrees Celsius, but it's only 1 degree in the cold frames -- a

Building our cold frames

2011-03-26T17:44:00.011-04:00

When we first moved to our farm, our barn was filled with decades of, ahem, stuff. Much of it was beyond salvage, but we did find many well-seasoned tools that linked us to the hands that once worked our land and treasures from a time when this smallholding provided a livelihood and sustenance for its caretakers.The farmhouse has been renovated and upgraded over the years, but there are still

Foto Friday -- Spring blessings...

2011-03-25T08:39:00.005-04:00

... and Nature's miracles.Wishing you a joy-filled weekend!

A question for you green thumbs -- heat mat or not?

2011-03-24T09:14:00.008-04:00

How many of you use heat mats when starting seeds? And how much of a difference do you see with germination rates and overall plant health?I have a number of heat-sensitive seeds that I want to start this growing season (last year I bought transplants for those 'tricky' varieties) and I'm considering buying a heat mat. I don't relish the idea of relying on supplemental heat (or specifically,

Yarn along -- Sugar snaps and baby sweaters

2011-03-23T14:00:00.008-04:00

I've been so preoccupied with thoughts of baby goats this morning that I totally forgot it was Yarn Along Wednesday.So here's what I'm reading and knitting this week:I'm still working on last week's chunky baby cardigan. I'd been looking for a 'stock' baby sweater pattern that would be a good quick-knit gift, so I decided to try this one.Thing is, I'm liking the pattern but not loving the yarn.

Remember when -- The triplets' birth day

2011-03-23T09:50:00.019-04:00

Spring is a time for birth and new beginnings and I've loved reading about the many new arrivals on other farms and homesteads (see here, here and here.) In fact it's inspired me to write about the time we welcomed our own new arrivals.This is Lucy and her wee one Sammy. We brought them to our farm in November 2008 as our wether, Oscar, was showing signs of stress due to what we thought was

Madcap Monday -- the Spring (?) edition

2011-03-21T08:54:00.007-04:00

I heard them before I could see them. And then there they were -- three massive V formations that spanned the width of the bright azure sky. The Canadian geese were back. With a hearty 'whoop' I called out to Ella and we welcomed our friends home. It was a perfect way to usher in the Spring Solstice. That was yesterday.This is today.While yesterday the snow seemed to recede before our eyes and

A good day

2011-03-17T14:22:00.017-04:00

I've been working in the barnyard for the last few hours: today's gorgeous spring-like weather demands it.I started at the top of my mental to-do list and managed to check a few quick items off it: re-hang the barn eavestrough, measure for new gates into the back paddock, re-wrap the basswood tree to protect it from donkey chew attacks, dig out the seed trays from the potting shed.I was alone,

Yarn Along

2011-03-16T10:50:00.005-04:00

Last week I wrote about Ginny over at Small Things, who has a fun way to share two of my favourite indoor winter activities -- reading and knitting. The idea is to take a single photo of what you're reading and/or knitting right now and share it on your blog. At the bottom of her weekly Yarn Along post, there's one of those Mister Linky's Magical Widgets where you can share your blog

Lessons learned -- Wood heating

2011-03-15T13:20:00.014-04:00

Blogger Mama Pea recently wrote a post on "Getting in wood", which inspired me to write a (slightly cheeky) update on our own heating adventures.Back in December 2008 (seems so long ago!) I wrote a post on "Winter prep, homesteading-style." In it, I described how we used a combination of an external wood furnace and a Elmira cookstove to heat our home and garage.We still do, but we've learned

Madcap Monday -- Adventures with round bales

2011-03-14T14:10:00.014-04:00

Since we first brought animals to the farm, we've always fed them with small square bales of hay.Measuring approximately 3.5 ' wide by 2' by 2' and weighing between 40 to 50 lbs, they're easy to move around and use as we simply break open the bale and peel away the number of flakes needed. We've also found the hay stays fresher longer and there's less waste.Last fall we thought 215 bales would be

Eating my words

2011-03-14T11:48:00.025-04:00

Remember when I wrote that blog post last week about how knitting provides me with some important life lessons -- that starting and sticking to one project at a time fosters patience, focus and finishing what you start?Yeah, I'm over that.I mean really, life is just way too short to "should" myself over something like knitting, for goodness sake. And there is far too much beautiful fibre in the

Knitting therapy

2011-03-11T08:07:00.011-05:00

Yesterday I had a Bad Day. There was no catastrophic event or anything; just a series of small horrible ones... work bothers, family spats, a bad case of mummy guilt and a soupy mucky flooded mess in the barnyard brought on by two days of monsoon-like rain/slush/sleet.The children were away at school and I was feeling a wee bit sorry for myself. So I threw a pity party. While some women turn to

Yarn Along

2011-03-09T11:52:00.015-05:00

Blogger Ginny over at Small Things has a fun way to share two of my favourite indoor winter activities -- reading and knitting. The idea is to take a single photo of what you're reading and/or knitting right now and share it on your blog. At the bottom of her weekly Yarn Along post, there's one of those Mister Linky's Magical Widgets where you can share your blog post.Here's mine:I'm still

Painting the night sky

2011-03-08T21:03:00.003-05:00

"After a day of cloud and wind and rain Sometimes the setting sun breaks out again, And touching all the darksome woods with light, Smiles on the fields until they laugh and sing, Then like a ruby from the horizon's ring, Drops down into the night.”~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Madcap Monday -- Goat silliness

2011-03-07T09:24:00.010-05:00

Goats are extremely intelligent creatures. At least that's what my goat-raising books tell me. Goat kids also love squeezing into tight spaces.So last year when our Rosie started crawling into the feeder to eat (and even sleep), I didn't think much of it. The chickens didn't seem to mind either.I think mama Lucy was a bit curious as to her babe's latest antics. Or maybe she was just jealous --

Fruit trees!

2011-03-04T10:50:00.006-05:00

When you think of Canadian fruit production, exotics such as Asian Pears, kiwis and lemons don't typically come to mind. One man is out to change that-- Ken Taylor of The Green Barn Nursery, located just south-west of Montreal, Quebec.He led one of the sessions at the EcoFarm Day conference and his message was simple: if you're looking for a sustainable, viable way to farm, grow more fruit and

Taking the next (baby) step

2011-03-02T21:16:00.007-05:00

As I'm sure there are people in my life reading my last blog post (Lucas? Dad?) and wondering what I'm getting myself into now, I wanted to reassure you that despite my enthusiasm, I'm doing my best to be smart about this small farm gig. So while I think it'd be noble and admirable and exciting to launch a 50 family vegetable CSA, raise heritage turkeys and sell honey, all while knitting handspun

Taking the next step

2011-03-02T09:27:00.015-05:00

Firstly, thanks to all of you who commented on my last post, This farming life. I never cease to be amazed at how you folks are my most supportive and generous cheering squad -- and we've never even met. I am so very grateful.While going away is always stressful and it takes a few days for me to feel caught up, this time it feels a bit different; I've spent the first half of this week being

This farming life

2011-02-25T09:23:00.011-05:00

The kids are on the school bus, the barn chores are done, and I'm getting ready to drive three-plus hours east of here to attend EcoFarm Day, a conference hosted by the Canadian Organic Growers.I'll be attending workshops on the overwinter storage of fruits and vegetables, as well as food safety on the farm, but the one I'm most looking forward to is 'Decisions for the viable and sustainable farm

For the love of zucchini

2011-02-24T09:32:00.008-05:00

The kids and I were working on our seed "wish list" the other day (yes, while some of you are coddling your seedlings, out here in zone 5a we're still at the dreaming stage) and I thought it was fun to see what was on each of their 'must-grow' list.Jack wanted to grow pumpkins, beans, peas, tomatoes and watermelon; Ella agreed, and added cucumbers, corn, peppers, carrots and of course,

Birthday wishes and simple dreams

2011-02-23T10:00:00.017-05:00

Jack turned nine years old on Monday and while I feel so privileged to share my life with him, to watch him grow and blossom, it seems the years are passing too quickly. There are days when I'm caught up in the day-to-day routine and I forget just how precious this time is; and then there are moments when I take a step back, look at him with fresh eyes and think, 'Who is this big boy?'I know that

And the winner is....

2011-02-22T12:24:00.005-05:00

Sorry, folks, for the delay in announcing the winner of my Valentine's Day Giveaway. The kids and I were out of town for the last two days and upon returning home late last night and finding a sick husband (he's a bit better today), an empty wood stove and a barn full of hungry animals, I simply couldn't get to my computer.Without further ado, the winner is...... Annie's Granny! Please email me

One of these things...

2011-02-18T10:07:00.001-05:00

... is not like the other!

Not just a knitted dishcloth

2011-02-17T10:14:00.015-05:00

"The quality of a thing comes from the knowledge and beauty it carries more than from its expense." ~ William Coperthwaite, author of "A Handmade Life"I'd hope to make a pair of socks for February's 'Year in Colour' challenge project -- I even cast on a pair using a funky orange twist yarn -- but I put those aside as I'd like to get Jack's birthday socks finished first.But I still needed a

How (not) to make granola

2011-02-15T14:17:00.017-05:00

I'm always looking for ways to create wholesome, nourishing food for my family and save money at the grocery store. Both my kids love eating cereal for breakfast but with all the empty-caloried, sugar-filled yuck on the market, there are only a few brands that we'd buy -- and these don't come cheap. So I started making my own.Here's our favourite wintertime cereal recipe : a simple Honey

Valentine's Day Giveaway

2011-02-14T07:56:00.008-05:00

In the spirit of Valentine's Day -- a day that's all about love, love, love! -- I'd like to offer a small token of gratitude for reading about our madcap life here on Rowangarth Farm: one copy of Louise Riotte's garden classic "Carrots Love Tomatoes."Since its first publication in 1975, gardeners worldwide have learned how companion planting -- growing certain plants in close proximity to one

Love, cookies and simple things

2011-02-13T18:31:00.015-05:00

I'm not a dozen roses, expensive chocolates or a fancy dinner kind of girl when it comes to Valentine's Day, but I do love the idea of simply celebrating love. Around our house, that means two things: handmade cards and home-baked cookies.We spent the first part of our day enjoying our annual tradition of making simple cards for the kids' friends at school.Then it was time to make the cookies.

Done!

2011-02-13T09:51:00.008-05:00

I got over my case of finishupitis and completed this quick-knit mitten project. Just don't ask me how late I stayed up to do it.Next up on the needles: I've got an uber quick idea for the Year in Colour challenge and I've got the perfect yarn to to make some socks for Jack's birthday, which is, incidentally, in eight days. Have I mentioned I tend to leave things to the last minute?P.S. Remember

Bulk store goodness & my soon-to-be first giveway

2011-02-11T12:18:00.016-05:00

While my blog posts are often lengthy sagas (who knew someone could write so much about knitting one sock?) this will be a quick one: I've got a pile of work to get through, the barn is in a sorry state, I just picked up two more balls of sock yarn (I'm going to need a knitting intervention soon, I think!), I've got two kids that'll be home from school in less than three hours and I've got a date

Gettin' knitty with it -- Mittens!

2011-02-10T09:08:00.009-05:00

I love quick-knit projects. Like Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (a.k.a. The Yarn Harlot), I often get a case of Startitis, only to be stricken with a worse case of Finishitupitis. Translation -- I'm often really good at starting, not so good at finishing.In some cases, this is a good thing -- when I get too frazzled or invested in any project, sometimes it's just best to walk away, take a break,

Sock monkey love

2011-02-09T14:18:00.010-05:00

While I can assure you that I haven't been spending all my waking hours crafting (though that'd be much more fun that what I have been doing too much of -- working, shoveling, thawing, moping), in the spirit of Monday's post on 'Making time for creativity', I'd like to share how I spent the first day of 2011.Many moons ago, I’d spend New Year’s Day in a prone position with a bottle of Tylenol,

Making time for creativity

2011-02-07T08:58:00.019-05:00

February is a tough month for me. It's around this time every year that I am done with winter. Don't get me wrong -- there's a lot that I truly love about the snowy season, such as:: walks in the woods: snowmen and snowballs: warming up by the woodstove: baking with the kidsBut with yin, there is a yang, and the list of what I'm tired of is growing: rationing wood, rationing hay, shovelling snow,

Our {this moment}...

2011-02-04T12:20:00.002-05:00

...inspired by SouleMamaA single photo, no words, capturing a moment from the week.A simple, special, extraordinary moment.A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.Have a lovely weekend!

Calm after the storm?

2011-02-03T12:24:00.005-05:00

Maybe not...

Baking up our own storm

2011-02-02T15:02:00.023-05:00

It’s here. Weatherman said there was a big storm coming. It even has a name -- the “Groundhog Day Storm” -- and it’s expected to dump anywhere between 20 cm and 30 cm of snow in 24 hours. It's hitting hit hard and fast. Outside my window the flakes fall and swirl like those from a snow globe; the scene is achingly beautiful, but deceptively treacherous. Snow is blowing into huge drifts,

Snowstorm!

2011-02-02T11:01:00.003-05:00

Done!

2011-01-31T08:33:00.006-05:00

It took knitting into the wee hours of the morning (Ok, it was midnight... but that's really late for me. I'm a 'need my sleep' kinda girl!) but I got Jack's hat done. Phew!I'm doubly pleased because I recently found this knitting challenge issued by Bridget Allin, owner of Needles in the Hay, a new yarn shop in Peterborough, Ont. I haven't been to her store yet, but I've been oogling it from

Almost done...

2011-01-30T19:13:00.000-05:00

Must... knit... faster!

Gettin' knitty with it -- A ribbed hat for Jack

2011-01-29T08:52:00.010-05:00

Last Christmas, my dad gave me four hanks of lovely hand-spun wool that he'd purchased from a Port Hope, Ont.-based based family farm: Osland Sheep & Beef Farm, home of Cindy's homegrown yarn.Jack has been asking for a new ribbed hat, so I thought this would be the perfect yarn for it. I found this pattern in Judith Durant's lovely One-Skein Wonders book, which has "101 original and charming

Seedy mail call!

2011-01-28T15:11:00.005-05:00

Seed catalogues are to me like a new issue of Vogue or Elle is to a fashionista. I love flipping through the shiny pages, filled with glorious colour that dazzles with this year’s must-have blooms, like the award-winning Magic Star, a fragrant double oriental lily, or Cherry Brandy, a modern hybrid twist on the classic “plain yellow” black-eyed Susan. I devour page after page of food growing

New life for old socks

2011-01-27T13:48:00.011-05:00

You know when you experience those lightning strikes of sheer brilliance, when you think to yourself, "why didn't I think of that before?" and you've just got to share it? I'm having one of those (rare) awe-inspiring "man do I rock!" moments.I've discovered a new use for old socks.I'm all about sewing and darning old socks, but there comes a time when there's just not enough material left to darn

Confessions of an absentee blogger

2011-01-26T09:04:00.009-05:00