Happy New Year!!!

January 1, 2008

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest …
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!


~ William Arthur Ward



Happy New Year everyone! I have a few resolutions for myself. One is to get my raised beds into the greenhouse by April 30th. If I can shovel out the path to the greenhouse, that is something I can work on well before growing season. I also want to get a potting bench done. Another is to get back into my yoga routine each day to help my back out. I am also doing another fun thing which helps my dexterity. When I am better at it, I will reveal to you what it is. I also resolve to finish those three socks which do not have mates yet. And finally tackle the spare room to get it in order again, so my guests do not have to sleep in the livingroom anymore. That one has to be done before the end of the month when I have guests again (and so I can get to my knitting stuff).

In my new job, I want to be able to use the position to help as many people as possible. Bring wrongs to right. Single out those who are perpetrators and should clean up their act. Showcase those who go out of their way to make life better for others. I am really enjoying my job and even though I feel like I am floundering at it from time to time, they reassure me that I am doing great and it will come with time.

The root cellar got all done yesterday. Good enough until summer/fall to finally get that false wall in. Normally I have a 'guesstimation' of time to finish a project and I tend to be overly optimistic. Amazingly enough this one took half the time I thought it would. There is a sense of relief to get that puppy done I tell you, it was a worry.

I am repairing my dog sled tonight (to take a break here and there from writing on the magazine) after I haul it into the livingroom to dry and warm up. Two days ago I found a critical bolt which was missing from my brake system which could have been highly dangerous. I am glad I saw it sooner than later. Yikes! There are also a couple little things to fix on it which are not critical but need to be done. And then go over everything to make sure it is all sound. The sled has very few bolts or screws on it. Most of it is drilled and hand tied. That gives it the flexibility for going around corners or moving the sled from one side of the trail to another. I cannot run my dogs or use it for chores until it passes my inspection and repairs. From now on, I can only train them at night. I do not mind running with the dogs at night, as it is rather surreal, but doing 20 milers on unfamiliar trails at night by myself does not excite me overmuch. I have three weeks to get my dogs (and me) conditioned.

I also got a few little annoying home repairs done last night. One of which was the 2 facades on the face of the counter under the sink which have been held on marginally by duct tape for the last 3 years. I finally got tired of that cheesy duct tape system. I bought four 60 cent angle brackets and some screws and it was fixed in about 8 minutes. Now that is one thing I do not have to worry about. They even look straight!!

I think 2008 is going to be a lovely year.

www.downtotherootsmagazine.com "Down to the Roots" homesteading magazine

Did you get your seed catalogs yet?

December 31, 2007

Did you get your seed catalogs yet? It is not too late. These are some of my favorite seed companies I have ordered from over the years, plus a few for those of you in countries other than North America.



Canada

Agrestal Organic Heritage Seed Co. P.O. Box 646, Gormley, Ontario L0H 1G0
905 888-1881
fax: 905 888-0094
www.agrestalseeds.com
farmerbob@agrestalseeds.com
Canadian owned and operated company specializing in certified organic heirloom vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Catalogue online this year as they are moving.

Aurora Farm Creston, BC
www.soulmedicinejourney.com
There has been, for 10,000 years and more, an honorable custom of gifting seeds; the grandmother to her granddaughter on the occasion of the young woman's marriage, to and from the neighbors, in the celebration of life. Giving the promise of life, the wish for fertility, in the certainty of abundance. Our Gift Seed Packages revive the tradition. Each contains five packets of righteous, old fashioned, organically grown seeds. Gift Packages come in five varieties: "Garden", with carrot, spinach, lettuce, swisschard, hollyhock; "Flower", with poppy, calendula, gallardia, primrose, hollyhock; "Old Fashioned Tomato", heirloom varieties "Medicinal Herbs" "Three Sisters", with native corn, beans, squash; "Bee and Butterfly Garden", with flowers very attractive to our insect allies. at soulmedicinejourney.com/GiveSeeds.html

Boundary Garlic P.O. Box 273, Midway, B. C. V0H 1M0
250-449-2152
fax: 250-449-2152
www.garlicfarm.ca
sonia@garlicfarm.ca
Heritage varieties of seed garlic organically grown. Catalogue free.

Butchart Gardens Ltd. P.O. Box 4010, Victoria, B.C. V8X 3X4
866-652-4422
fax: 866-652-1475
www.butchartgardens.com
giftstore@butchartgardens.com
Hand packaged seeds and seed collections representative of those found in this wonderful garden. Catalogue free.

Dominion Seed House P.O. Box 2500, Georgetown, Ontario L7G 5L6
800-784-3037
fax: 800-282-5746
www.dominion-seed-house.com
mail@dominion-seed-house.com
Mail order catalog of seeds, plants, and bulbs for gardeners. Catalog free and on-line.

Richters Herbs 357 Hwy 47, Goodwood, Ontario L0C 1A0
905-640-6677
fax: 905-640-6641
www.richters.com
orderdesk@richters.com
An enormous selection of unique seeds and plants. On-line catalog gives descriptions and uses for plants. Catalogue free.

Salt Spring Seeds Box 444 Ganges P.O., Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 2W1
250-537-5269
www.saltspringseeds.com
dan@saltspringseeds.com
Dedicated to sustainable agriculture. Organically grown open-pollinated seeds. Specializes in beans. A large and interesting variety of vegetables grains and garlic. Catalog $2 or on-line.

Tomatoes etc. 63 Nelson, Outremont, Quebec H2V 3Z8
514-272-5185
fax: 514-272-5185
www.web.net/tomatoesetc/
tomatoesetc@yahoo.ca
Catalog by e-mail request. Offering over 50 varieties of heirloom tomato seedlings. Orders by phone or e-mail Payment Cash. Both official languages served.

West Coast Seeds Ltd. 3925 64th St., RR#1, Delta, B.C. V4K 3N2
604-952-8820
fax: 877-482-8822
www.westcoastseeds.com
info@westcoastseeds.com
Many excellent organic varieties especially chosen for coastal B.C. On-line catalog also includes growing information and planning for year round harvesting. Catalogue free.

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United States

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds 2278 Baker Creek Rd., Mansfield, Missouri 65704
417-924-8917
www.rareseeds.com
seeds@rareseeds.com
This company sells only non-hybrid vegetables, flowers and herbs. None of the varieties sold are hybrids, gene-altered or patented. Well worth investigating. Catalogue free.

Cook's Garden Box 535, Londonderry, Vermont 05148
802-824-3400
fax: 802-824-3027
Cook's Garden are committed to ecological and sustainable farming methods. All seeds are untreated and time tested. Claim to have the largest selection of lettuce and salad greens in the world. Catalogue free.

Heirloom Acres Seeds PO Box 194, New Bloomfield, MO 65063
573-491-3001
www.heirloomacres.net
A Christian family business selling over 450 open pollinated and heritage seeds. Catalogue free.
Tell Thom that tenzicut send you!!! They are one of my top 3 favorite seed companies.

Seeds of Change Box 15700, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506-5700
888-762-7333
fax: 505-438-7052
www.seedsofchange.com
gardener@seedsofchange.com
Organic and open-pollinated flower herb and vegetable seeds featuring many heirloom traditional and other rare seeds collections built around specific themes. Catalogue free.

Seed Savers Exchange 3076 North Winn Rd., Decorah, Iowa 52101
563-382-5990
fax: 563-382-5872
www.seedsavers.org
A grassroots seed exchange. Members receive two information filled issues and a huge seed listing. Membership $U.S.35 SSE subsection "Flowers & Herb Exchange" U.S.$12 A free heirloom and products catalog published for the general public.

Territorial Seed Company PO Box 158
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Phone Orders: 800-626-0866
Fax Orders: 888-657-3131
Customer Service/Gardening Questions: 541-942-9547
www.territorialseed.com/
Territorial announces over 200 new items for 2008!
One of the best parts of my job is evaluating our trials. I literally get to taste thousands of different vegetables and herbs, and view hundreds of beautiful flowers. Each year, I find both new favorites and get reacquainted with old favorites. The problem (if you can really call it a problem) comes when it is time to start choosing new varieties... Catalogue free.
My family has been ordering from them for at least 20 years.


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I do not know anything about the companies listed below, but I thought they were noteworthy.

England

Chiltern Seeds Bortree Stile, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7PB
011441229 581137
fax: 11441229 584549
www.chilternseeds.co.uk
info@chilternseeds.co.uk
4600+ varieties of wild and cultivated plants from around the world. Seed packets are usually generous. Catalog listed by ethnobotanical names. Payment by credit card or postal order. First catalog Can $4. Free after first order.

Thomas Etty Esq. 45 Forde Avenue, Bromley Kent, Britain BR1 3EU
11020 846667 85
www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nfarley...etty.html
rwarner@tometty.freeserve.co.uk
Online Seed catalog with heirloom seeds dating back to medieval times. Postal money orders only to R. Warner. An interesting book "Roots of vegetables" is offered at #9.00. Catalogue free.

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France

B & T World Seeds, sarl Paguignan, Olonzac 34210, Olonzac, France 34210
33-6891-29-63
fax: 33-46891-30-39
b-and-t-world-seeds.com
matt@b-and-t-world-seeds.com
Extremely large selection of over 35,000 common and exotic seeds. Publishes a master catalog and several sub-lists. Catalog is also on CD or on-line. It can be downloaded to any database (ask for schema). Minimum order U.S.$ 9.00 Catalogue $24

Genesis Seeds 10 Plaut St. , Weizmann Science Park, Rehovot, Isreal 76122
972-8931-8966
www.genesisseeds.com
genesis@genesisseeds.co.il
Israeli seed breeder Genesis Seeds is promoting its organic vegetable, flower and herb seeds to the conventional market. There are about 10 companies in the world producing organic seeds and Genesis is among the big players, producing over 350 varieties of heritage, open pollinated and F-1 hybrid seeds. It has an 11-year history in the field. Catalogue free.

Graines Baumaux B.P. 100, Nancy Cedex, France 54062
03.83.15.86.86
www.baumaux.com
contact@graines-baumaux.fr
French Company with a huge selection of vegetable and flower seeds both organic and chemical. Online ordering is very easy with a catalog. Catalog is totally in French. Orders take 2-3 weeks to arrive. Catalogue $1

L'Association Kokopelli Oasis, 131 impasse des Palmiers, Alès, 30100
0033466306491
www.kokopelli.asso.fr
kokopelli.semences@wanadoo.fr
Association Kokopelli endeavours : - to promote the preservation of biodiversity through the distribution of organic and open-pollinated seeds of heirloom varieties of vegetables and grains. - to create a network of gardeners involved in seed saving. - to help Third World countries to develop sustainable organic agriculture through the gift of seeds and the setting of seed grower networks. Catalogue free.

To start out the new year, I am buying a new vacuum cleaner today since my ex wanted his back. And since time and light ran out yesterday, the root cellar is a definite must today as it got down to -17C/1.4F last night, although it warmed up to -12C by 5 am.

I made some seafood chowder last night, of organic or locally grown items, except I did break down and buy pollack. It is also yummy for breakfast, which I am currently having as I type this before I head about my chores.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful evening bringing in the new year and I hope 2008 is wonderful for everyone.

www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Blaugh Part III (die or get better already!!_)

December 30, 2007

Someone painted pictures on my
Windowpane last night --
Willow trees with trailing boughs
And flowers, frosty white,

And lovely crystal butterflies;
But when the morning sun
Touched them with its golden beams,
They vanished one by one.

- Helen Bayley Davis, Jack Frost



t is funny sometimes. I get all these emails and handwritten letters mailed to me about how I inspire you all and how so many of you have made the leap into this homesteading thing due to my magazine and blogs. But on the flipside, I also receive letters of inspiration from you people as well, which keep me going when things get rough on me too. I got two of these such letters last night that I would like to share with you all, as I do from time to time.

Hi tenzi,

I just visited your DTTR site today for the first time in a couple of months. (I have neglected checking in--am very sorry for not being more attentive.) I was shocked when I realized your recent blogs were all about you doing everything alone--no boyfriend, no teenagers, etc. So I tracked back--read through two months worth of blogs to find your announcement about your split with your boyfriend. I am SO sorry to hear that.

I know this is late (2 months late), and I apologize for that, but I wanted to let you know that I wish you the very best. I am so happy to see you continuing on the homesteading path--even if you have to do it alone. Somehow, I think there is someone special out there for you--maybe in a few years after you have had a chance to heal.

I know things are tough right now--you don't get over a 4-year relationship in 2 months, so I will be praying for you--that God would meet all your needs, financial, emotional, spiritual, physical. You are not alone.

Hugs and God bless,

Brenda (artistmama)
Zone 6, Boise, Idaho



Hi tenzi,

I want to wish you a very Happy New Year. 2008 is going to be a good year, I believe! I still want to order your magazine very soon. Got to get past the holiday spending.....

You are a neat person and one that I am glad to call a friend. Talk soon. I still have a very "little something" to mail you....call it a very belated Yule present.....

Take care!!
Cheryl in South Carolina

ooooo...to have a few icicles!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thanks you two (and everyone else who sends me emails/letters). I am feeling kinda 'sucky' (which is a Canadian term apparently) with being sick, so it lifted me for the day.

It got to -12C last night. Not too bad. Dogs kept me up all night and I had about 2-3 hours of sleep. There must have been something up behind the barns as the guardian dog kept wanting to take out something in that direction. I wanted to put the pillows over my head to sleep, but I couldn't, as I had to listen to any other kafuffle going on.

Blaugh Part II

December 29, 2007

I still don't feel very good this morning, to the point I even broke down and had 2 aspirin. I still have a major headache and coughing. So after I finally got out of bed this morning (I am taking advantage of this last few days of 'vacation') I am having Blueberry-Pomegranate juice, Wasabi, organic oranges, my special Chinese herbal cough medicine and peppermint tea with honey and lemon for my breakfast. That should either cure me or kill me. I may just top it off with 1500 mg of Vitamin C today and homemade chicken noodle soup with fresh ginger and hot peppers for dinner. It is the headache which is really making me feel yucky. Pomegranate juice provides 16% of an adult's daily vitamin C requirement per 100 ml serving and pomegranate juice is a good source of the B vitamin (which I am always low in), pantothenic acid, potassium and antioxidant polyphenols. I think I have drank at least a half gallon of the stuff since yesterday afternoon. I also have a whole Pomegranate in my fridge as they are generally on sale this time of the year. I remember getting one in most of my Christmas stockings when I was growing up. I may have that for a snack after dinner tonight.

My prototype for snow removal off my driveway worked excellently yesterday, so I am building a proper one today. Unless I get a huge dump of snow here, it should work out most awesome.

I also got called into town yesterday, so I did not get a chance to deal with the root cellar yesterday, but that is also on the list of things which need to get done today. It is not as easy as it sounds, as I have to dig out the door to the pumphouse, to move enough snow to get the door open enough to get the extra insulation out of it. Then I have to dig out and drag the lumber wrap out from under feet of snow and drag the roll to where I need it. It could be a couple hour project at this time of the year, whereas in the summer it may have taken 30-40 minutes.

Tonight I also want to fix the facade of the kitchen counter under the sink. It has needed repair for three years and it was never gotten to. I bought brackets for it yesterday (60 cents each) so tonight is the day... I think. But I am tired of it falling off so I need to do something about it, and then I do not have to think about it anymore.

Then I am off and writing on the magazine again. It is getting there and soon it will be done and mailed. I am trying to get chores done in the light and write when it is dark and I am inside. Lots of subscriptions and orders for back issues are coming in. I will get the current issue out first and then fill the back orders for you guys as many need to be reprinted. I thank you all for your patience as I am only one person and doing this all on my own.

Afternoon Update:

I did not really get moving until 3 pm, I think I am running a fever, so I only got one of my chores done. Since there is more snow coming, that project took priority. Maybe I can get to the other one tomorrow morning.

It is nice and sunny today, but the sun does not get any higher than that during this time of the year and it is already touching the mountain a bit before 3 pm. I want to be out in the sunshine today and the couch just really sounds good.

www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Blaugh!!

December 28, 2007

I don't feel very good this morning. Well actually it started before dinner last night, I started to get a headache and about 2 am to current, I have a stomach ache to go with that. I think I will make some tea here fairly soon. I need to go out and build 2 things for the magazine here in a bit as well as being practical items around the farm here. One of the snowmobilers whom was here yesterday told me of a great idea for my driveway snow situation and I am really wanting to try it. I had another 4-5" of snow to shovel off 2 days ago and it is a slow process and taking up valuable time I really do not have right now. There is light snow coming down currently and up to 4 cm of snow today. The rest of the day I plan on writing on the Winter issue.

Last night I went to dinner at a friends home and it was an excellent dinner and even better company. I am turning into quite the social butterfly lately. I had never had Ratatouille before. The word Ratatouille comes from "touiller," which means to toss food. Ratatouille originated in the area around present day Nice. It was originally a poor farmer's dish, prepared in the summer with fresh summer vegetables. Appetizers was toast pieces with cream cheese and spruce tip jam. It was quite good as well.

Looking out my bedroom window this morning I saw a curtain of icicles. The second one from the right is as big around as my arm. They have been there awhile, I just noticed their beauty a bit more this morning.

I also need to work in the root cellar this morning as I had a few spuds which happened to get frosted on that last freeze. I know more of the cold snaps will happen so I am insulating the front wall with R-40 insulation. I also have a good tote full of soft potatoes to take to the compost.

www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Build your own cow..

December 27, 2007

Do you still have a full belly from the holidays and not quite moving around yet? Do you want some kind of quiet homesteady project to do? I found this one on how to make your own cow. Try it out! www.benjerry.com/assets/im...on_cow.gif

It is from Ben & Jerry's ice cream company and I do not mind promoting them as they are fighting for anti-rBGH labeling on their products. If you want to help them out, click here www.benjerry.com/features/.../index.cfm . In Pennsylvania, new rules are set to go into effect in February 2008 that would effectively ban rBGH labeling on all dairy products. This means that someone does not want to let you know what is in your food. Do you want that? I know I want to continue to get hormone free 'Cherry Garcia' and they have a good sounding organic one coming out I want to try.

Recombinant bovine growth hormone, known as rBGH or rBST, is a genetically engineered hormone that is injected into cows to make them produce more milk. Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and all 25 countries in the European Union do not allow the use of rBGH.

Both Ohio and New Jersey are considering rBGH labeling restrictions, and other states may follow. Let's not let another such thing as Oregon's Measure 27 to fall through. www.voteyeson27.com/

In other news around here, I have been getting company left and right the last 2 days. I have a friend up from the island who is visiting for a couple days. Just after she showed up, then Barb came over. Pork chops with apples and onions, organic salad and homemade dressing for dinner. I am glad my dinner turned out good as my island friend is a professional caterer.

Just as I have morning coffee on the go, another friend calls up and she is coming over for morning tea.

Snowmobiles are coming over today and we are going to pack trails for my 2 mile track at home. Then I am going to show them the local trail systems to ride on. Last night we took the dog team out about 9 pm, but the trails are so powdery, it is very difficult for the dogs to pull 2 full sized adults. It will be nice to get my trails packed.

www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

I thought about all the holidays at home in Oregon with my family

December 26, 2007

Oh Man!! I ate too much!! At first I felt strange going to celebrate the holidays with other people's families... like I was invading their private celebration. But then I thought about all the holidays at home in Oregon with my family and how we had people there from all over the place, elderly neighbors who couldn't be with their families and students who could not go home to their countries to be with their families. This is the first year I celebrated Christmas without family. I was not sure I would have a good one, but I really did.

Dinner last night was home grown turkey, homegrown and home-cured ham, local organic potatoes, organic carrots I grew, I took bread I baked (they love my bread), wassail for me since I did not drink wine with everyone else at the table, and home baked goodies. It was delicious.

My friends gave me a stainless steel pot and pan set as a gift, so I actually have cookware again. I thought I must have been a bad girl this year as Santa did not come to my house, not even a lump of coal. But He did. My refrigerator/freezer is magically/mysteriously working again (and it is no longer leaking to boot) and Santa apparently knew I was going to my friend's house and he left me a few tools over there to add to my new toolbox.

Christmas Eve I went to another set of friends. It was odd to me to go out for dinner, but from the restraunt being filled to capacity, it must be a fairly common thing with many families.

I actually had so many invites for both nights that I had to turn alot of them down. I will try to make the rounds today on Boxing Day, in order to visit everyone, but I am also on day 3 of the magazine, which I hope to have done within another 3. Today I also have out of town friends coming by to visit and maybe have a dog sled ride. That would be good since I have only had my team out three times this season. I will not get them trained and conditioned at this rate *sigh*. I also noticed I need to bring more wood down to the cabin with "Cyrus" at some point today. It also snowed last night so I should shovel out the driveway. I still have not figured out a dog sled plow yet.

I had many emails regarding "The Cinnamon Bear" vintage radio show I have been posting for the last couple weeks and I am glad everyone enjoyed it and I hope you had alot of children listening to it as well. I so remember that show as one of my Christmas memories as a child. I hope you all had as good of a Christmas as I did.

www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Christmas Day

www.downtotherootsmagazine.com/Bl...htm

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2007

Christmas Eve. Have a wonderful day everyone.

I got to 'open' one of my gifts already, since it was not wrapped. But my carpenter friend gave me a great gift of a tool box with some new tools he thought was essential for around here. And 3 chocolate bars. Note that there is only 2 in the picture. Hehe!!!

I just plan on just working on the magazine today. I hope to have it done within the next three days and then into the mail. Postage costs are going up again in January. I am not sure how badly this will affect the mailing of the magazines. I will keep you posted.

Cinnamon Bear Episode 26: Returned to the Attic
Santa, Paddy, Judy, and Jimmy pursue Crazy Quilt to the North Pole. As Crazy Quilt begins to climb the Pole, the group scares him. When he falls down, they recover the star and the twins find themselves magically back in their attic with their mother shaking them out of a sleep. When they finally place the star on top of the tree, Judy and Jimmy wonder if it has all been a dream. Then they hear the Cinnamon Bear's song one more time.

www.downtotherootsmagazine.com

Darn refrigerators

December 23, 2007

Apparently if it is not one thing it is another. Well bit by bit I suppose I will have everything under control. My refrigerator in the house is the newest one which went astray on me. It has been having an issue for awhile and draining out the front of the fridge for 6 months. A towel has taken care of it and no one could figure out what was adzactly wrong with it. This morning I went to get something out of the freezer and things were thawing in there. It is currently only 13C/55F in my house currently, it is not like it is too warm from the woodstove.

The refrigerator seems to be holding its own, just not the freezer. So if so, I will hold out and the worse case scenario is to put everything in a cooler in the mudroom which is about 38-40F. It is not like I have not had to do this before. So after a bit I will check the temperature in the fridge and see what is happening with that. I checked prices and I just cannot afford a $800 refrigerator right now.

On my list of things to do today, I also need to bring wood down and continue to work on the Winter 2007 issue of DTTR. It is back to work at the magazine today and tomorrow, as I want to get it done, printed and out to you since it is already late as of yesterday.

Thank you to everyone who has sent in your magazine renewals recently. For those of you thinking about sending yours soon, remember the mailing address has changed.

Cinnamon Bear Episode 25: Betrayed by Crazy Quilt
With the silver star now safe, and the Wintergreen Witch turned into a wreath, Santa offers to take Judy, Jimmy, Paddy, and Crazy Quilt back to the attic, but Crazy Quilt wants to remain in the snow country. As the group climbs into Santa's sleigh, Jimmy hands Crazy Quilt the silver star for just a minute - and, true to his nature, Crazy Quilt dashes off with it.


www.downtotherootsmagazine.com