S Ydok

Don't forget that eating things that sting will also have swelling in head/ neck.

Mountain Norcal here. I got some pie pumpkin volunteers this year. I snipped 3 off the vine last night ( bc bears). Definitely smaller than the parents.  I forget which early month they came up on their own, and the 3 i planted later are not going to fruit, vines are much smaller too. I've had to water them everyday to survive the heat in the raised bed they are in.

Will I try them again?  Yeah. Does the raised bed need more fill? Also yes.

A few years ago had some nice success with buttercup squash in a 3sisters set up, the beans didn't do anything and died, but they too were irrigated pretty regular.

I've been splitting them up at their .... natural split? Then slicing kinda thick coins (but also enough left to nubbin end to make a smaller button) to sand down for smoothness and desired thickness.

Too thin and they can't take sanding or drilling a hole when dry. Putting a hole in the slices while they were wet was a guaranteed broken button for me. Trying to cut them as a whole pit coin were also guaranteed broken buttons too as the natural split of pit, they bust apart after drying/during, but look cute as dried half moons too!

Thekla McDaniels wrote:

Joseph Becker wrote:I save, dry, and carve them. They are great to carve as they have no grain like wood does and take detail well

I like the idea!  Are they tough enough to make into buttons and beads?

If i wanted buttons would I carve them before they dry?  Then sand them after they’ve dried?

I've been making some avocado pit buttons. It's been a fun little journey. They look neat and I'm hoping to use a few on a pancho for some securement. Might do a little pryomancey on them for decoration. Maybe sell a few at the Farmar.

The failed buttons are going into the rest of the dried skins to also try some dying or ink making from that process. We don't eat so many. I've been saving the few that come my way.

The pits are surprisingly easy to cut through. I'm not a carver, but there are some cute carved ones for necklaces (or a big bead).

Caryn Macdonald wrote:Avocado skins and seeds can be used to dye fiber in the pink-peach-pinky brown range. According to the second link below, the dye, when mordanted and rinsed, is very colorfast. I have been saving seeds and skins for a while, but have not yet tried dyeing. I plan to try it on wool yarn and cotton fabric. the results I have seen online are attractive. The problem is that you will still have waste after, waste that shouldn't be composted for a food garden if a toxic mordant is used.

https://thebarefootdyer.com/natural-dyeing-with-avocados/
https://fibercurious.com/avocado-natural-dye/

Ernie Schmidt wrote:I have Midget White turkeys.  For a "homestead" type of turkey it can't be beat.  They are small enough to breed well and lay eggs well.  I have eggs in the incubator as we speak.  

Seriously? If you still have them , they were considered kinda lost/gone. But not so long ago they found a little flock. No idea if they've done done too much with them though.

Jane Mulberry wrote:I love grated broccoli stem slaw! The stems are the best part of broccoli, I think!

The stems are also delicious sliced and added to stir fries or roasted veggies.

Y'all don't just eat it while chopping florets...?

I too have started a freezer bag of veg ends, leafy Herby stems, wilty veg along with raw chicken bones. Takes us awhile to get a full bag, but feels nice to have a couple jars of chicken juice for soups or rice.

Brian Stretch wrote:...Set up decent Internet, with Apple Cache and Lancache servers to save bandwidth. If it's too far out to run fiber get Starlink.

Unless Starlink has gotten more mainstream, it'll take closer to a year before you'll get it. At least that was about how long we got it. With no service number.

r ranson wrote:Just letting you know my aloe is still alive.

And it's poking me in the eye most days.  I need some way to keep it alive without it being so big.  Can I cut off the bottom leaves then put it in a deeper pot?  Or will it hate me?

Um ...I'd snip the eye pokers off first. I still have the same aloes and I should have just put them all in the same pot, but it was stressful for forever repotting it since I had been murdering them...

Steve Zoma wrote: But some items, like excess napkins from a fast-food restaurant may never be put into use at all, they are just included because a worker thought you needed all them.

I haven't purchased napkins in years bc of fast food. Extra napkins in the car were always welcome for "an emergency" ...let alone for mopping up a spill in the car. When they got too numerous in the car, into the house for whatever was needed. No reason to toss them just bc a fastfood worker put them in the bag bc if they don't they get reprimanded (at least in the states).

This is my favorite easy scone recipe. I don't remember where I found it originally, probably Pinterest years ago.


Cream Drop Scones
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
coarse sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

Preheat oven to 400F. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the cream and stir just until the dough comes together. Drop by the large spoonful onto a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet; if you like, sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden. Serve warm.

I usually get 8 smaller ones or 6 if I am feeling fancy about putting something on it to bake ie a jam well or mini pb cups. Generally though it's a dash of cinnamon and 3 shakes of cardamom to the dry before the addition of the cream. Best eaten day of, but if flattish enough and fit in the toaster is a great way to revive them!