I am sitting in the Hugging House doing bookkeeping. I get distracted in the Main House. I could be digging sunchokes, but the books need to be done before next week, so we can go on Christmas vacation. Brigid is home, Seba is coming today, so the party with our college kids is on!
The garden got cleaned up. All the big nets are out away, the irrigation is picked up and the high-tunnel is rolled up to the top, so no snow or ice can bend it in while I am gone.
The guinea pigs got to go outside a few days in December when it was 58F. They were happy to come back in when we tried to catch them. Sometimes they give us the run around in the evenings. They love carrots and sunchokes.
The cows are happy too. Daisy was in heat again this Sunday and got bred for the 5th time. The calf runs like crazy around the fields. He is full of it. We lock him away at night so we can get 1.5-2gal milk in the mornings. Its good to be back on cheese making. They also like carrot ends and sunchokes.
Today is pick up day. The kale is all done for the year. That was a long season. We just cooked the last soft tomatoes yesterday!
Here is a recipe for our favorite coleslaw:
Shred 1/2 cabbage small
shred 3 carrots
shred 1 beet
shred 1-2 apples
add raisins and walnuts if you like
for the dressing:
1/2cup of olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice (or vinegar)
1/2 cup water
salt, pepper,
a bit of maple syrup
the beets will turn the salad into a pretty pink. The apples and maple syrup make it a hit for kids. (If they don't like the cabbage you can leave some without for them)
This is our winter salad until the greens come in next spring.
alternative dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
1Tsp mustard
1Tsp or more tahini
garlic
salt and pepper
We make 1/2 gallon dressing for the week and add it as needed.
Let me know what you think of it.
Today is pick up day. The next pick up day is January 1. Please let me know if you are not picking up, so our host families don't wonder what is going on. I can hold your bags at the farm until you are ready.
Have a peaceful and happy holiday time.
Dulli