Sunday Bits #51 (Autumn tasks, falling leaves, grain bowls)

Happy Sunday! Boy, have I ever made myself a long to-do list for today. The weather has been so windy and cold the past two days that I barely peeked my head outside. I can handle cool weather, you warm up as you work, but windy? Nope, I'm out.

See all the mushy apples that the grackles left on the tree?

Today is not that day. It is gorgeous out there so my outdoor tasks are getting seen to! I am looking forward to spending the day soaking up some Vitamin D.

- Bulb planting.

- Chipping up the sunflower stalks and other garden debris. ( I have an awesome chipper/shredder that I will have to share with you all one day)

- Raking/mulching a bit in the backyard. Not doing anything out front as the leaves from the shrubs have just fallen to the base of the shrubs, so there they will stay to feed the soil life. Bonus, eh?

- Planting my golden raspberries.

- Saving seeds.

- Watering. On the wet, west coast, no need for this. Here on the prairies, water in your perennials, trees, and shrubs with a good soak once they have lost most of their leaves. For me, that is today.

- Water my carrots so they don't get soft. Will be a few weeks yet till I harvest them.

- Putting stuff away for fall (not really going to happen today, I leave that job for hubs).

My apple tree is a multi-graft (just found out in August). Two of the varieties are ready in September, good-sized, good looking apples. One variety is ready in August. The apples are small, very yummy... for about 2 weeks. They go soft and mushy very quickly. We had a flock of grackles/starlings come through in early September. They ate all the yummy apples off my tree, and the neighbour's tree.... but left all the small, mushy ones!

Wanting a new bed in spring? This article will save your back and the time spent doing it. Is easy and organic. Turn Poor Soil into a Thriving Garden with Lasagna Gardening (attainable-sustainable.net)

Here are two articles about mulching with leaves and using leaves to feed your soil life in the garden. This one, and this one, too. Both are good reads. I use my leaves in the raspberry patch, on top of perennial beds, and basically just leave them be to do their thing most everywhere, except my veggie beds. (if you missed why, see that here) . Leaves make everything better. You want to know what kind of leaves you are getting though, and be prepared. I once got some bagged leaves from a co-worker of mine. They were maple leaves... with loads of the wingy seeds in the bag! I was pulling little maple trees out of my organic vegetable bed for a couple of years. Since then, I have preferred to put them in a pile to break down into leaf mould, haha. Oh, and I leave them whole. I do not shred them as many insects overwinter in them.

Have you ever wondered what I am talking about when I say that I am feeding the soil life? Here is an explanation of the wonderous world beneath the ground, in your soil.

Here is a growing guide to shallots. How do you all feel about shallots? I, personally, really love them. I would use them on anything and in anything calling for an onion, especially if the recipe called for a nice, mild, mellow flavoured onion. However, hubby, the chef, does not like them, never uses them, would never grow or buy them. Is a mystery to me.

How to grow tulips, but also a guide to knowing more about your tulips. Which ones to grow for early, mid and late blooming. Plus, tulip problems. I used to get tulip blight at the acreage, out in the long potager beds. I now see that I should have been planting in November or December to prevent this fungal issue! I had no idea!

https://extension.wsu.edu/raingarden/

These are terrific tips for your organic yard and garden. 10 Traditional Native American Gardening Techniques | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Homey Bits

Well, these laundry rooms are what dreams are made of. 8 Impressive New Laundry Rooms (houzz.com)

Oh, and while on the topic of laundry... have you ever tried the dissolving laundry strips? This is on my list of things to look into. Apparently, although we all are busy putting those recyclables into the blue bins, most all of that stuff is going to the landfill. Yep, not actually being recycled. Yep, right here in Canada. I had heard inklings of this before but now it is official, they came out with a study that says only 22% of plastics are actually being recycled. Time to find new alternatives. First no glass recycled, now this. Anyway, laundry strips is just one small thing but the more alternatives we find for packaging, the better off our planet will be. Try this laundry strip or this one.

*If you buy anything from one of my Amazon links, it does not cost you even a penny more than if you went there yourself, but it puts just a wee bit of money into supporting my blog : )

This chic Shades of White cottage in Sweden is divine. So cute, so serene. I could move in there today and not change a thing about it. I especially love that kitchen and the stairway. A dream of mine has always been to do up a cottage Scandi-style as a short term rental and maybe my own little getaway, too. Oh, that reminds me... those of you who shopped at my wee shop in Cedar, the new owners made the shop into a 2-bed rental cottage! My former selling area is now a kitchen and living room. How amazing is that, eh? I would love to stay there someday.

This cute cottage is so pretty, I especially like the outdoor area (and love that sheepskin chair!). This cottage has such an amazing kitchen, and yet another lovely outdoor area. How they make the outdoor areas look appealing when the trees are bare of leaves, I don't know, but I want to go sit there!

These natural linen napkins are super easy to make, and look so nice, too. I was just going to breeze on by this article but then I noticed that they are no sew, super fast, and super easy to make. Besides, linen just adds such lovely vintage charm to the table. I wish I would have had this for the thanksgiving table but Christmas is coming!

Recipe Bits

Here are 16 healthy grain bowls, perfect for lunches. All sorts of grains to use, top with a protein, veggies, and seeds or nuts... Here are two that I want to try....This quinoa, veggie bowl ( I will switch out the quinoa for a different grain though, and leave out the apple) and this Freekeh, haloumi bowl (I don't really eat cheese much but it I do, haloumi is my guiltly pleasure).

How to make dehydrated tomatoes for that yummy taste of summer this winter. Use up those leftover late season tomatoes.

Do you still have one or two zucchinis hanging around? Here is a loaf recipe that has oats in it. Oatmeal-Orange Zucchini Bread Recipe – Mother Earth News

What about flourless, or low flour baking? These look good! Baking Recipes Low Flour Flourless | Almanac.com

The Wee Workshop is coming along...

That's it, you guys. I gotta get outside!

Have a great day and a great week!

Happy Gardening~ Tanja

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