17 June 2018 - I Can Taste Colors

Check Acid Needs of Shrubs Near House Foundation

"Don't plant acid loving shrubs or trees too close to the foundation or, if you must, take care to treat them regularly to a dose of acid soil-conditioner such as aluminum sulfate."

According to our Almanac, certain foundations can seep basic calcium compounds into the soil that can actually poison your plants.

So the danger isn't that the plants could hurt your foundation, it's that your foundation can hurt your plants. This is important if the plants are trying to grow are blueberries or strawberries.

Some of the shrubs, vines, and whatevers that produce good food to eat love acid rich soil.

So how do we make soil more acidic?

1. For small gardens, try using sphagnum peat aka "peat moss".

2. Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar for each gallon of water.

3. Buy fertilizer that has ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate.

Some gardening soil will tell you right on the package "ACID SOIL".

Not be confused with actual acid that can burn you.

Recreational Acid

You don't want your garden dwelling birds and squirrels having bad trips in your front yard.

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7 May 2018 - Mary Had a Little Lamb.....Had...

Tips on Buying Lamb "A reference to "spring lamb"may make your mouth water - and well it should." Lamb is typically thought of as a seasonal meat with celebrations of Passover and Easter where lamb is usually eaten. A spring lamb is usually 3-5 months old so that the meat is very tender. Anything at the store that is labeled "LAMB" is a sheep that is a year or younger. These lambs are sometimes only milk fed. So keep these in mind as we keep talking about how to choose meet from a baby sheep. Meat from a lamb is taken from one month to one year. Lamb Chops, Leg of Lamb, and Lamb Shank are the most popular cuts. These cuts are perfect for dry-heat cooking, broiling, or roasting. You can find some delicious recipes here! Go ahead... Take a peek and eat one of these adorable babies You monsters.

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Scotch Woodcock - Two Recipes "From Mrs. Beeton's nineteenth century homemaking guide: Spread hot buttered toast thinly with anchovy paste. Pour over a sauce made by stirring three beaten egg yolks into 1/4 pint cream, bring to a boiling point, but do not allow to boil or the sauce will curdle." This is a traditional Victorian recipe as you can tell because we get a return from Mrs. Beeton in today's Almanac post. Basically this becomes a creamy scrambled egg on toast with anchovy paste. This is the second recipe for today "Add finely chopped hard cooked eggs to a white sauce that has been seasoned with anchovy sauce and paprika. Pour over toast." If you are wondering what eggs has to do with the title of the recipe just know that most Scottish recipes that contain chicken in it will have the word "Cock" in there too. (Don't blush you prudes) I'm not trying to be silly. (Get your head out of the gutter) ...

8 May 2018 - Join the Club!

Your County Agents Offer a Lot of Good Help "How much use have you made of the free services offered by your county agent? Today is the anniversary of the Cooperative Extension Service, established May 8, 1914." The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture. Our Almanac says that your County Agricultural Agent offers many free publications about lawn care, gardening, shrubs, trees, flowers, food and cooking, clothing, home furnishing, and house hold money management. Here is my take... I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE! Seriously! I got on the Google to see if my county has a County Agricultural Agent and we really have one! You can find your agent by following this site. Pick Your Own My county agent even has a Facebook Page! Most of these agencies do. Except you may not know them by their title above. You may recognize the title 4H . ...

Almanac for Homemakers

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