Judith Browning

Hoping these bits of info from my dye book might be helpful in the future...after years I have finally have had my madder plants outlast the deer and rabbit pressure so plan to dig roots in a year or so also.

Rita Buchanan, in 'A Weaver's Garden' says this about madder....

Wash fresh roots thoroughly to flush some of the yellow and brown pigments out along with loose soil.

Chop fresh into tiny bits and mash or use blender to grind into paste.

Use Hard water...add some lime or chalk or even baking soda one tbs per gallon.

Soak ground roots overnight or all day then heat dye bath very slowly to 140-160F
Strain, add premordented wool, simmer at that same temp for one hour then let fibers cool in dye bath.

Rinse in soapy water then clear water.

...and she has lots more to say but I thought these most relevant.

John C Daley wrote:How or why did the bricks fall off?
Is it an older home?

Yes it is an older home, early sixties...not sure why the brick slumped off though?
Just on that back wall and the rest is solid.

Update...

They are halfway through the bricks the slow tedious way and now working on rebricking the foundation....the siding is pine from son's bandsaw mill.

It was an excellent moringa season here and now they are in a back room all cut back and tucked into a tub of decomposed pine chunks that steve has been 'chipping' with an ax.

The roots that look more like carrots are new from seed.  The more bulbous are 2, 3 or 4 years old.

Trace Oswald wrote:I'm moving this back to the top.  I have to learn how to do this!  I just love the beautiful rugs people posted.  Thanks so much for posting this, even if I missed it until now.

I wonder if I just set a record for giving an apple to a post furthest in the past  7 years late, but better than nothing I guess.

Thanks for the apple Trace!  I wouldn't have thought it was seven years since I started this thread...time flies

I'm not on line much anymore but would be happy to answer questions if you have any.

Cris Fellows wrote:

Judith Browning wrote:Since I stopped eatting wheat it is less often but we make a tamale masa cornbread almost every day in a little six inch skillet.  Baking this way uses much less gas than the oven and maks a really nicely browned crust. It usually needs to be flipped  so small works better.  My oven works just fine but hardly gets used.

Judith or whoever else has done this, can you share recipe?  I am wheat-free and also hate using oven!  Thanks a bunch!

Hi cris
I just substitute tamale masa for cornmeal and use buckwheat instead of wheat flour....otherwise all is the same. Eggs, oil/fat, milk or water, leavening (i use rumfords baking powder)Add the batter to a hot skillet with a bit of oil to begin then turn down. flip when it sets up before it burns.  Keep lidded until flipped.

I love buckwheat as a wheat substitute...we made brownies with it recently and everyone loved them.

It's frog time on the figs again

Hi Megan!

I'm not on line much anymore so slow to reply.....

The peach sprouted from your pits is doing great...at least 12 inches tall and will go in the ground when the rains begin again.

The newer pits are divided between some pots outdoors and a soil mix in a bag in the refrigerator.

Fingers crossed

Your trees and fruit look wonderful!!!

I did a bit more past the last photos and called it good enough...peened and sharpened now and back in action.  

I'm working on that 'toothy' edge now Benjamin as wirey bermuda grass is most of what needs cutting.

Thanks for all of the advice and encouragement.

Flowers!
Odd assymetrical, tubular...some in pairs, others three or four opening together.
Five petals...seemed slightly lavender when faded.
No scent to leaves or flowers and still the only plants I've found.