Independence Days Challenge

Anya's Ready For Spring

Independence Days Challenge-
I realized it's been a while since I did one of these so here's a review of the last month or so...

1. Plant Something- Will start seeds soon. We'll be setting up our new/used/free shelf system Dave got free at work last year. Get some lights and we'll be all set! I'll be able to start all kinds of seeds indoors now, and NOT under my kitchen under-cabinet lights! Took up way too much counter space last year.

2. Harvest Something- Eggs, still working on the compost.

3. Preserve/Store Something- Still getting good deals and stashing in the chest freezer. Such a good investment!

4. Manage Reserves- Get a Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep- Ditto, keeping the pantry well-stocked of basics.

5. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipe- Tried some local Momo's, yummy. Like dumplings, but from Nepal. Eating lots from the freezer. I made a strawberry/rhubarb cobbler Sunday with some of the free rhubarb I got from my neighbor last summer. Held up great in the freezer! Still working on my jams, jellies, and pickles from last summer.

6. Build Community Food Systems- Had to worm the flock, so no eggs sales this last week, but will start in a couple of days. Will work on buying/bartering more fruits/veggies from friends and neighbors this spring/summer, for canning and drying.

7. Recycle/Re-Use- Got some nice used stuff off eBay- purse, blouse. Found a new Ikea comforter cover only $20.00 for a queen size! Still composting, got the new compost bucket out (we don't compost scraps in the winter) and starting up again. Scraps to the girls.

8. Skill Up- I learned all about leather care after buying a used Fossil purse. Saddle soap worked great, and good neutral leather conditioner did a nice job rehydrating the leather. Now knowing how to gauge what a sick chicken may have going on, I was able to save one of my girls from a really nasty worm infestation. Learning that skill a while back made for a smooth and easy treatment. I don't think she would have lasted more than a few more days maybe. She had really started to waste away, poor girl. It really pays to have an emergency chicken kit on hand, ready to go. She's just like new now!

9. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something- We're going to raise the roof on the coop in the next week, to make it a little bigger and much easier to clean. Small ones are great and low profile, but hard to get into. Dave has found a huge amount of free and used lumber, etc. at the local Habitat store. I'll post photos of the re-build. The girls should love it- more roosting space and airier.