My Favorite Garden Tools

My Favorite Garden Tools


Today I will be featuring 6 of my favorite garden tools.  Now, I'm not talking about the basics - I always recommend wearing garden gloves and using a kneeling pad to protect the knees.  I also always use a rake, hoe, rototiller, shovel etc.  The features today are unusual but still extremely useful and now that I've used them, I can't garden without them.

Newspaper Pot Maker

Instead of buying and using those little plastic pots to start my seedlings I use this wonderful garden tool that forms a seedling pot out of newspaper.  I have been making my own newspaper pots for almost 2 decades now.

There are 4 positive points for using this type of a pot as opposed to plastic pots:

1.  The roots do not get disturbed because you plant the newspaper pot along with the plant - the newspaper is so thin and decomposes - you don't see any traces of paper that next spring when you are tilling your garden.

2.  You are recycling any newspaper that you might have laying around the house (many newspapers have gone digital but I still have enough paper newspapers in my area for this to work).

3.  The newspaper ink protects the roots from some ground pests (that's the theory from the manufacturer but I think it does help).

4.  You are saving money because you don't have to buy plastic pots.

The Weed Bandit

After Weeding

This tool's success is dependent on the soil type: it is ideal for sandy/loamy soil conditions.  It's metal loop slices through the roots of each weed with ease. 

My advise if you have clay soil -  don't waste your time - this tool is useless for clay.

High Wheel Cultivator

This is one of my favorite garden tools.  There is no bending over or working on your knees - just simply walk behind this garden tool and push.  This was an anniversary present from my husband a few years ago..........yep - I'm strange - I'd rather have a tool like this as a gift instead of diamonds or store bought roses.

There are a few flaws however, there are 3 different heights and it is not easy to change from low to high and since my husband is 6'3" and I am 5'5" - this causes a problem.  Also, there are different attachments for creating rows or for making a furrow and those are also not simple to change back and forth.

The good far out weigh the bad when it comes to the High Wheel Cultivator.

Garden Velcro

I use this wonderful product to tie up my tomato plants but it can also be used to secure many other plants, trees and shrubs.  In the picture above you will see one of my crazy tomato plants.  I have about 20 tomato cages but since I plant between 80 & 100 tomato plants I needed to find another way to lift my tomatoes off the ground.

Lacrosse Fruit Picker

This tool isn't really Lacrosse gear - it just looks like a Lacrosse stick to me.  It is however one of the most helpful garden tools available.

As a child I remember watching my dad climb this exact pear tree that you see in these pictures  - climbing higher than I ever thought possible just to get that prize pear.

A few years ago I bought this tool for my dad and I think it has been a life saver (literally because my dad's tree climbing days are over - lol).



The Weed Hacker
This is one of my favorite and most effective garden tools.  "The Weed Hacker" is much more sturdy and much easier to use than the "Weed Bandit".  These two tools are similar in that they cut or tear the weeds at the root level.  However, "The Weed Hacker" is superior because it is made from much stronger metal and it is also a back saver since you don't have to bend down to use.  This durability makes "The Weed Hacker" efficient in all soil types including the most difficult clay soil. 

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Benefits of Eating Healthy Fermented Foods

Healthy Fermented Foods

The purpose of this post is twofold:
- to show the health benefits of eating fermented foods
- to share with you the newest fermenting tool/kit that I have found

Health Benefits of Eating Fermented Foods

"Fermented Foods" are things like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, pickles, kimchi and much more.  I'm sure that you have heard of "healthy bacteria" like acidophilus and bifidus (contained in yogurt) - well, homemade fermented foods contain even more good bacteria like: Lactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus plantarum. 


These "probiotics" (healthy bacteria) aid in digestion, increase metabolism, can help prevent allergies and some studies have shown that fermented foods can help prevent cancer. (IMPORTANT - Please read my disclaimer at the bottom of this post - I am NOT a doctor & I am NOT giving medical advice - I am only sharing information from online research &/or from my personal experience)

On a personal note, since eating fermented food everyday I have noticed most of the benefits listed above, as well as better skin.  Usually every Winter my hands have such deep dry cuts but this Winter was the first in decades where I barely had any cuts.  The only thing that I did differently this season was eat fermented food everyday (or almost everyday). I don't understand the science behind this but fermented food seems to be helping my skin.

Fermenting Tool/Kit

Years ago I used an old fashioned crock to "ferment" sauerkraut and pickles (click HERE to view my crock pickle recipe).  However, there were many times when I had to throw the entire batch out because the fermentation did not work and rather than fermenting the cucumbers rotted and spoiled.

This past Fall my husband bought a unique quart jar size pickler/fermenter called: "The Perfect Pickler".  This is totally sealed and has a bubbler on top (see picture below) which allows the gases to escape safely.  This has revolutionized my fermenting life resulting in no waste whatsoever!  (NOTE:  I am NOT receiving any benefit monetary or otherwise from promoting this product.  I found something that worked and I am sharing this information with you).  The "Perfect Pickler" takes only 4 to 5 days to ferment and since it is in a quart jar, we are able to finish eating the fermented food before the next batch is ready.

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Learn More About ESSENTIAL OILS!
We learned about the difference between
 Single vs Blends detailing unique benefits for each type (whether single or a blended oil.)

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/essential-oil-saturdays.html" rel="”nofollow”" target="_blank"><img alt="Essential Oil Saturdays" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/My%20Blog%20Stuff/EOSbutton_zps63oq92te.jpg" /></a>

Click HERE to learn more!

Swedish Christmas Chocolate Molds

Swedish Christmas Chocolate Molds

Swedish design has always been simple yet so sleek and special.  These chocolate molds are exactly that - simplistic beauty.  No detailed decoration is necessary - it is just the shape itself that makes these chocolates so special.






I found these molds at IKEA and they are unique because there is a spot at the bottom where you pour the melted chocolate.  After the chocolate has hardened then you simply open the mold like a treasure chest (see picture below showing how easy it is to fill these molds)(also - see collage above showing all the steps).






These little chocolates stand on their own and are perfect additions to any Christmas cookie tray.
ENJOY!

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Green Bean Fortress - Protecting Against Rabbit Monsters

Green Bean Fortress - Protecting Against Rabbit Monsters


I was so excited about our bean crop this year.  I had 5 different heirloom bean packets that I had ordered through the mail.  My anticipation continued to grow as all seeds were planted and they were growing so wonderfully.  Then one morning I noticed that these healthy plants looked strange from a distance.  When I came close I knew that some critter had eaten the tender leaves (at this time it was only the tender leaves).


I first tried sprinkling "Shake Away" (which is coyote urine granules) around my bean patch but that didn't work.  I had read somewhere that sprinkling cayenne pepper on the leaves prevented wildlife from chewing away.  This was not a success.  Then my dad said that one year he had that problem and spread baby powder onto all of the leaves.  I thought that this method was working and I continued to talcum powder my plants until that horrible day of devastation.


As I walked towards my garden I saw two giant rabbits - I immediately began yelling, running and flailing my arms.  I was saying something like: "you idiots!  how could you - how dare you!  Get out of here!"  I have been known to yell at squirrels and I think my neighbors believe that I am mentally disturbed.  I also threw a stick at the monsters and since I still throw like a two year old toddler, this stick throwing just adds to my neighbor's suspicion that I have mental issues.




The chomped bean plants look like the plants above - there is one remaining healthy plant below.





We knew that we had to do something to take back our garden.  We happened to be shopping at our local "Tractor Supply" and found a mesh fence on clearance.




Instead of heirloom seeds I had to settle for any bean seed that my local store had available - the new crop is heavily protected now.  ENJOY!

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Curly-Q Parsnip Fries & an Amazing Slicing Tool

Curly-Q Parsnip Fries

Parsnips are a wonderful taste of Spring.  We always winter over our parsnips by mulching heavily and this makes our parsnip harvest such a joy because they are harvested before anything else is growing in the garden.


Every Spring I always try to create new recipes and ways of using up these parsnips.  This year I was inspired by this amazing slicing tool/gadget that my husband purchased for me from Williams Sonoma.   This fun gadget has a curly-q attachment - you will see how easy it was to slice the parsnips in the pictures below.

Preparing Parsnips for Curly-Q Fries: After slicing the parsnips I placed them in salt water for about 20 minutes, drained them and patted them dry with a paper tower.  There are 2 methods of cooking these fries:
Oven Method:  After preparing the parsnips - toss with some olive oil, place on a sprayed cookie sheet & bake in a 425 degree oven until desired golden brown color is achieved.  (this method made somewhat soggy fries - unless you leave them in too long then they will quickly burn.  I prefer the next method).
Frying Pan Method:  After preparing the parsnips - heat up some canola oil (or coconut oil) in a frying pan.  Test the oil by placing one curly-q parsnip - if it sizzles the oil is ready.  Place about some of the parsnips in the oil & remove when they float or when they reach your desired crispiness.  Place on a papertowel to drain & salt to taste.  Continue frying until all of the sliced parsnips have been fried.

Below the slicing pictures please see all of the other Parsnip recipes that I have shared with you over the years!  ENJOY!









Below are the parsnip recipes that I've shared with you on this blog so far:

Cashew Parsnip Chocolate Chip Cookies

Orange Parsnip Cake with Cocoa Hazelnut Crumb Topping

Creamy Parsnip Soup with Tarragon

Parsnip Brownies with Raspberry Frosting

Spice Parsnip Bran Muffins with Currants

Springtime Chicken Pot Pie with Parsnips

Jam-in Lemon Parsnip Muffins

Candied Carrot & Parsnip Medley

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Springtime Cherry Blossom Tarts

Springtime Cherry Blossom Tarts

I found the Flower Cookie Cutter Set below at the grocery store for $1.25 & I couldn't resist!  I actually bought it a few years ago and forgot about it.  I decided to use the large flower shape as a tart cutter.  I then used the petal cutter as the cherry blossom cutter for the top crust design.  If you do not have a similar cutter set then you may use a round plastic lid as a template & then cut a flower petal template out of wax paper or parchment paper.  Or, there are other tart pans with cutters available like this:
Fancy Tart Pan & Cutter (<click title to view)




Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/3 cup butter (I use unsalted)

1/3 cup lard (see note below)

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt (omit if you are using salted butter)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (ONLY if you are making a sweet pie.  Omit the vanilla if you are making a savory pie)

4 to 5 tablespoons cold water (preferably filtered water)

1 can cherry pie filling

1 tablespoon cream

cinnamon sugar for dusting

1 twelve count muffin tin (sprayed or buttered to avoid sticking)


Stir the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  "Cut" the butter and lard into the dry ingredients until it is crumbly looking.  Now add the vanilla and 4 tablespoons of water and mix together (still use the pie cutter or fork to mix in the liquid).  Only add the 5th tablespoon of water if the dough still seems dry.  Now form the dough into a ball with your hands.

NOTE:  If you only want to use butter then you may omit the lard and use 2/3 cup butter instead.

 

Now you are ready to roll out the dough  - first divide the dough into 2 equal parts.  Now you must dust the rolling surface with flour and you might even need to dust more flour onto the dough half way through rolling.  Keep rolling until the dough is a little less than 1/4 inch thick.  Use your tart cutter & cut as many as you can on this rolled out piece of dough.  While the dough is rolled out - around the tart pieces use the rolled out scraps to cut your petals with the petal cutter.  Remove the cut tart pieces & gently press each one into a muffin space (see pictures above).  Remove the petal pieces from the rolling surface & set aside until later.  Continue cutting & placing in the muffin tins until all dough has been used up (I had enough to make 9 tarts - the amount will all depend on the size of your tart cutter & the thickness of your dough.  Remember to cut out enough petal pieces for each tart - you will need 4 petal pieces per tart.  So, for my 9 tarts I used used 36 petals.  Then I also used the last bit of pie crust dough to make little round balls for the middle of the flower ).


Open the can of cherry pie filling & distribute this filling into each tart crust (see picture below).

Begin placing the petals on top of the cherry pie filling (see pictures below)



 


Add the little crust dough ball in the middle of each cherry blossom.





With a pastry brush - spread a little cream on top of each dough flower & dust with cinnamon sugar.





Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until desired golden brown color is achieved (see picture below).







Remove the pan from the oven & place on a cooling rack for about 10 minutes.  If any filling bubbled over, gently take a dull knife and move that knife under the dough edges (be very careful!!).

IMPORTANT - If you do not spray the pan properly OR if you do not allow the tarts to cool a little then this will happen (see picture below). 






Dollop with a little whipping cream or just serve plain & ENJOY!

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