Tie dyeing the natural way.

The girls and I wanted to have some fun this week, so we decided to tie dye some clothes. (Nothing says summer like pots of dye in the yard. :) ) Instead of buying expensive kits, we pulled some beets and picked some blackberries around the block, and grabbed some turmeric and spinach. Basic and bright colors. Red, yellow, and green (although, I'm not sure if the green will work). They will set overnight in the pots and we will ready our fabric with a mordant in the morning. After that, we dye! The clothes will soak a day or two and hang to dry. This is our first attempt at natural dyeing, but I have a good feeling. The girls have been open to learning how people dyed fabrics before the use of artificial and synthetic dyes used today. It's nice to know they now consider the many uses of plants and the natural world around us as something more than just vegetation. 

Whatever our results, I'll post photos soon! 

What $6 can buy us.

Here is our loot from our Farm to Table order from Matilde's preschool. It's a fantastic partnership bringing fresh organic fruits and vegetables from local farms to families at an affordable price. We plan to purchase a bag of produce every other week for only $6 a bag. Can't beat that! 

Anyone know what that purple sweet potato looking veggie is?  

My EXTREME produce stand visit!

Thanks to Sarah for the heads up about a MASSIVE carrot sale!  I purchased FIVE 2lb bags of baby carrots for $1!  Couldn't stop at a dollar, so I bought 30 bags.  Believe it!  The rabbits are going to feast!  I spent a whopping $11 dollars for all of the veggies and fruit you see in the picture. There are two lbs of strawberries, mushrooms, and grapes all at a buck each, a 50¢ honey dew melon and a 50¢ watermelon!  ACK!  I went bananas, pun in-tend-ed!  

TIME TO JUICE!! 

Juicy Jay would be proud!

Today we decided to buy a "Juice Weasel!" Our fruits and veggies will never go bad again! Compost? No! Chicken food? No way! The box guaranteed we would outlive everyone in our family. That means YOU!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=b21MQqHthPs&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Db21MQqHthPs

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The kids enjoyed their Swiss chard, carrots, and grapes tonight! Can you think of any better way to get kids to eat their veggies? GENUIS! They picked out all of the veggies and fruits, and we experimented with tastes and smells. Ultimately, we would like to be able to use everything we are growing. The juicer is perfect because the pulp doesn't go to waste. That includes seeds, stems, rinds and peels. It all goes in. I froze the pulp in a mini muffin pan and the chickens and rabbits will have yummy treats this week!