Friday Favourites

One Friday each month I will be posting links to things that I have found useful, helpful, beautiful, or interesting within the categories of this blog.  These posts may contain affiliate links for which I may be receiving financial compensation, but each of those is something I have used, loved, and 100% would recommend.

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Grow

• Sustainable Seed Starting: Using Coconut Coir Instead of Peat from My Minnesota Garden
• Decoding Your Garden Seed Catalogues from Garden Betty
• Free Printable Seed Starting Journal from Garden Therapy

Find

• Ethical Foraging 101: What You Need to Know from Learning Herbs
• Rules for Forging on Public Land in the Pacific Northwest (Compiled on the blog "Wild Harvests")
• Foraging for Oysters from Regather

Eat

• Forest Vinegar from How to Cook a Weed
• Sumac Creme Caramel from Hummingbird High
• Crisper-Clearing Recipes to Keep your Leftovers from Languishing from Food 52

Make

• How to Sew Your Own Leggings from A Beautiful Mess
• Tweed Cardi Crochet Pattern (Free) from Hooked on Homemade Happiness
• Coastal Rope Coasters from Picklee

Miscellaneous 

• Simplee Cloth Diapers by Nuggles (seriously easy zero-waste parenting solution) 

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Gardening and Foraging Goals for 2018

Foraging Goals

1. Learn More

I don't think this goal will ever leave my list.  There is so much to explore in this world that even if I got to live several lifetimes I wouldn't even scratch the surface.  This year I am making it an extra priority to find workshops, books, and other resources.  If anyone reading this has something they find valuable, please let me know in the comments!  I would love to know what has been useful to you.

2. Mushrooms

My plan for this year is to get a good field guide, and head out to find what I know is supposed to be growing in my area.  I have a few ideas of where to start looking, but I am not amazingly confident in my ability to ID.  Thankfully I have a few resources for this, and after getting a field guide I think that will help a lot.  

3. Medicinal Herbs

I know a few already, and have used them to great effect in the few salves I made last year. This year I'd like to know even more, and to make greater use of them.

4. Evergreens

I really loved the taste of the evergreen tips I gathered last year, so I'd like to use them more.  I want to be more confident on my tree identification as well.  I am reasonably sure of a few of them, but I hope to make this more of an area of expertise over the coming year.  You might have noticed so far that a lot of these goals have to do with the first one I said.  "Learning more" might be the theme for the year.  I'd also really like to learn more uses for evergreens than just using their new growth in the spring.  According to Euell Gibbons, the whole of the pine tree is edible, so I'm interested in exploring that more.

5. Fishing

If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you will know that I have terrible luck with fishing.  We have quite a few factors against us, but I'd like to get a few of those out of the way this year.  Maybe we will get some sort of boat.  Or even just getting someone to watch Little Forager more often so we can get out will help.  Also not having a wildfire season like last year would be a big bonus in terms of getting outside.

6. Wild Remedies

I've had great success with the salves, and bath soaks I have made so far with wild remedies such as dandelion, and yarrow.  I want to get to know a few more beneficial "weeds" and really make use of them this year.  

7. Orach

This one should be super easy, since there is SO MUCH of it growing even in just our back yard.  Last year it got away from me, though and I barely used any of it.  It seemed like such a waste at the time, so I want to make a greater effort with using it this year.  My landlord might also be happy about that since it grows so thick in the yard it blocks their access to the kids' play area if they don't stay on top of it!

8. Wild Culinary Herbs

I've been inspired by others who have really got to know the flavours of their terroir, so to speak.  I feel that I don't know what that might be for me, but I am interested to find out.

9. Wild Lettuce

This is another one that is absolutely rampant in my yard and garden.  I didn't realize last year until it was all overgrown and not nice to eat anymore.  This year I want to keep a better eye out and use it when it is young.

10. Wild Staples

This year I am also hoping to get to know some wild foods that could be more of a dietary staple.  It's unlikely that I'll be replacing my wheat flour with acorn meal, but I want to get a better handle on what those foods are, and how to use them to some extent.

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Gardening Goals
 

1. Get a Head Start

This spring my goal is to get working on what I planned, but was financially unable to complete last year.  We have half the structure built for mini poly tunnels over a few of the raised beds, but that's as far as we got.  I am planning to get a jump on the season this year, since where my garden is located is not the most ideal.  It takes a long time for the soil to warm up, so things germinate late, and then when the weather gets really going they often get sunburnt and bolt.  

2. Try Some New Varieties

I don't have a specific plan at the moment, but I am always looking for some new, and interesting plants to try out!  I have my eye on some perennial vegetables to include this year.  Ever heard of perennial cabbage?  I hadn't until last week!  There are so many options and it's really exciting to consider them all!

3. Use the Herb Garden More

I hope that everything survives this winter, and that the plants really take off for me in the spring.  Last year I had to replant almost everything, so that was a disappointment.  I mulched well this year, so hopefully it's all doing well under the snow right now.  I have plans for so much pesto, herbs in my salads and smoothies, and bunches of dried herbs in the fall!

4. Overwinter

I tried to keep a few plants alive by bringing them inside over the winter.  Some have done well, and others didn't make it at all.  My citrus tree is still alive, as are several paprika pepper plants.  I also brought in one Malabar spinach to see if it would survive, and so far so good!  My plan to root tomato cuttings kind of failed, but I think one of the cuttings brought some blight in with it and didn't make it.  I really like these kinds of experiments.  

5. Cabbage and Other Brassicas

I've had very minimal success with these types of plants, so this year I plan to really focus on them.  Maybe this is the year I will be able to grow my own cauliflower!

6. Onions

This is another one that I have had limited success with in the past.  I did put in a patch of bunching onions (perennial) last year and that helped a lot. I really like eating onions, so to have ones I've grown myself would be just so amazing!

7. Jerusalem Artichoke

I really, REALLY love eating these.  Some may jokingly call them "Fartichokes" (and this is a reputation they have well earned), but they are so incredibly delicious.  The reason they give you gas when you aren't used to eating them is because they are actually full of good probiotics, so they are good for your gut health.  They are also a native plant to North America, and I love the idea of cultivating more of these plants in my garden.

8. Squash and Melons

Every year with these I think "this is the year"!  And hopefully this one actually is.  Farmers in the area grow these beautiful squash, melons, and cucumbers, but I have had really bad luck (except with volunteers the past couple years).  I have a few ideas on how to extend my season and get the soil warmer for them.  Hopefully the plants I start this year will thrive!

9. Perennial Vegetables

I love the idea of perennial vegetables.  I have some berry bushes and a rhubarb plant, and it's so much fun to see the harvests get bigger and bigger from them as they get established.  I have been looking into a few options that are not usually just for dessert, though.  I got the idea to look into this when I realized that there were perennial onions (and I got some from a neighbour) so now I am curious to know what other low maintenance, perennial vegetables I can add to my garden.

10. Grow Enough to Give

This was one of my goals from last year that I was successful with.  I think it's another one that I want to keep around since I have enjoyed it so much.  If you missed reading last year's goals, basically many people in my Church bring their excess garden produce to they Church and leave it in the foyer for whoever needs or wants some to take home with them. I have been the beneficiary of this free mini market many times, so last year I wanted to try to contribute something myself.  I was able to bring several bunches of herbs, snd I loved it so much I want to try to be able to bring something every year!

Reflections on Last Year's Season

Before I get started on all the brand new content for this coming year, I wanted to spend some time reflecting on how things went in 2017 in terms of gardening and foraging.  As you remember I posted my goals at the beginning of last year, and as I was coming up with some ideas and plans for this year I spent some time going over them to see how everything played out.

Last year contained a lot of surprises, and I was surprised to find that while I felt things in the garden went really well I actually didn't achieve most of what I put on my list, or at least had mixed results.  I don't feel bad about this.  Setting goals in this area helped guide me, but gardening is so unpredictable, and I'm also the kind of person who makes decisions on the fly, so it's not a shock to see that I missed the mark on a lot of things.  Every year of gardening is such a learning experience and I feel that I grow each year as much - or more - than the things I plant.  I do this to grow food, for sure, but I also do this because it is good for me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  I've made some goals again this year, but I fully expect that there will be some that I won't meet again, and that will be ok.  I do hope to keep gradually getting better with tomatoes, squash, and peppers though!

In terms of specific goals, foraging went really well this past year.  For the majority of the plants on my list I was either able to learn how to find and identify them, or learn how to use the things I already knew were available.  Some of the things I missed were my fault, and some - like the Oregon grapes - just weren't producing this year.  I also learned to use medicinal flowers a lot more this year and I am very happy to have added that to my life.  I made an amazing dandelion and daisy salve that works so well on minor injuries and especially blisters.  

There were so many new plants or new varieties of familiar plants to grow this year.  We tried wheat for the first time, and I planted some potatoes that I got from a local farmer that are pink all the way through and keep their colour so well during cooking.  Even though most of my herb garden didn't make it through the uncharacteristically harsh winter I still got respectable harvests from it.  I grew my first substantial carrots this year, and had great success with mystery volunteer compost pile squash.  I bought a tea plant and learned to process the tea leaves into a couple very drinkable types of tea.

I hope I can always be experimenting.  I have loved the past couple years of becoming familiar with this land.  It amazes me that in the place with the least rainfall in the province (and I believe maybe in the entire country) there is still so much abundance.  

One downside of this year that did hinder my time spent foraging, and to some extent gardening also, was the terrible wildfire season we had.  I am sad to say that it broke all the records and became the worst wildfire season our province has ever seen.  There were so many days that the health authority issued air quality advisories, and since we have Little Forager we opted to try to find indoor fun a lot of the time.  Hopefully that is not the case as much this summer, although I am sure a few fires are inevitable.  As devastating as they can be in a human environment, wildfires are actually a natural part of the rejuvenation process of the land, so it's not all bad.  Looking on the what positive sides there are in a situation like this we also got quite a few spectacular sunsets because of the smoke in the air.

One of the things I was so excited about for this year was a chance to teach Little Forager about the garden.  I knew he would be potentially also a source of chaos and destruction, but I still couldn't wait until he was old enough to understand some of what he was seeing.  I am happy to say that the destruction was minimal, and that he so enjoyed "helping" me.  His favourite things this past year were to pick random leaves, to dig with his little shovel, and to spot (and eat) berries and peas.  I hardly got to eat any of my strawberries this year because he was so good at finding them.  It also didn't help that he considered any berry with the slightest blush of colour ready to eat, but that's ok.  Part of the reason I am doing this is to pass on the joy that comes from being in the garden, and if that means fewer strawberries for me that's a fair exchange.

Foraging this year included some items for food, and some items for wreath making.  I was able to open the A Forager's Home Shop this past October, and that has been a lot of fun as well as a learning experience.  Things are going really well there and I am so grateful for all the support as I try to navigate this whole e-commerce thing.

Although we had terrible luck again this year, I still enjoyed all our fishing trips.  We need to get our hands on a boat, or some fly rods since we never catch anything!  There are some amazingly beautiful places to fish in Kamloops so I never feel like I wasted my time in going.  I think we also need to plan ahead more and get babysitters lined up for when we want to go since it is getting really hard to wrangle a wriggly toddler determined to explore everything as fast as he can, and still try to catch fish.  In not too long he might be old enough to try fishing himself, and I can't wait for him to have that experience.  

2017 was a really amazing year.  I can't wait to see what the coming year brings.  I have loads of plans, goals, and dreams for it, but obviously life will bring its own twists and turns.  I am sure there will be many challenges to navigate, but many wondrous opportunities as well.  

How did your year go?  What are you dreaming about for your future?  I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below.  I'm not just saying that, either.  I really do want to hear from you - especially after taking the time to read such a lengthy post like this!  Best wishes to all my readers for a bright and happy 2018.

Product Review: Simplee by Nuggles

Every once in a while on the blog I like to feature products that I really love.  My focus for them is that they are eco friendly, ethical, and I especially love it when they are made by Canadian companies.  In this case I am even happier to share a product from a company in my own town!  

Nuggles is a cloth diapering company based in Kamloops, BC.  The diapers are designed by moms, and they create all their own prints (I especially like the "Outdoorable", "Up and Away", and "Isbjorn" prints), and the solid colours they choose are really beautiful as well.  The diaper I am reviewing here is called the Simplee.  It's a one size, "all in two" that can also function as a pocket diaper, and it is made from bamboo, micro fleece, and TPU.  

There are lots of features in this diaper that make it extremely user friendly.  You can either layer the bamboo inserts on top of the diaper and change them out for new ones when you need to, or you can stuff them underneath the micro fleece and use it more as a pocket diaper.  If you do the former, it's much cheaper as you don't need to buy as many covers.  Nuggles sells the liners separately.  If you do the latter it's a simplified process, and typically easier for babysitters, daycare workers, or other family members who are not quite as into cloth diapers.  It's totally up to you how you use them, but having all the options is really great.

The pictures below show a few of the other features that make these diapers so user friendly.  The liners/boosters have a convenient hidden snap to keep them in place but they also come apart fairly easily in the washing machine so you don't have to worry about getting messy.  

The rise snaps and waist snaps have so many different options to fit all sizes of babies.  This one diaper goes from most 8 - 40 lbs babies!  Buying a one size fit diaper saves so much money since you're only buying one size of diaper for the entire time your child needs diapers.  We still aren't on the largest setting and Little Forager is almost two!

The other feature that I am most happy about are the hip snaps.  There are these extra snaps at the hips of the diaper that help hold the wings up.  We've had some trouble with other diapers in that way and it's so nice not to worry about it!  I hope that this is something Nuggles might consider including on their Tuck-Wrap-Go covers as well.  

Our other favourite thing about the Simplee is how easy it is to take on the go.  Most cloth diapers are much less scary to take on trips and outings than you would think (read my previous post about cloth diapering on a road trip for more information about that), but this one makes it all even easier.  We took Little Forager to the beach and changed him while he was standing up in the sand and it only took a few seconds.  

The other great thing about all of this is that I have a discount I get to share with all my readers for your purchases at Nuggles.  Click this link to get your discount!

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Nuggles provided me with some of the items in my review free of charge, but all opinions in this article are my own.  This post contains affiliate links, for which I may receive compensation.