Thinking Ahead

Thinking Ahead

By Nikki Tafoya

My garden is finished for the season, and I'm already thinking about next year's garden. A few years back, I decided to go organic. What a difference it has made! DE (dietemacious earth) is my only pesticide. And I enjoy every moment my children help me in the garden that I'm not worrying about the chemicals that may be seeping into their skin. Not to mention the chemicals that make their way to our dinner table! I also do not use chemical fertilizers any more. And that is what has me thinking about the garden now in November. In order to keep the soil full of all the nutrients that it needs to grow fruits and vegetables that are full of vitamins and minerals, I must put back into the soil. All summer long I begged grass clippings off my neighbors, who were more than happy to oblige! I used the clippings as mulch to smother out weeds in the garden, but I have since raked them up for further use. Now it's time to ask for everyone's fall leaves. I might even rake up their leaves for no other payment that the leaves themselves. Next is manure. I'll take all the trailer loads of fresh horse, cow, goat, sheep, and chicken manure I can get my hands on and together with the recycled grass clipping and fall leaves I will add them to my garden. I used to till them in, but now I just layer them all on top and cover it with black plastic. Next spring it will be beautiful composted garden soil! I still have a pile of compost going. It is very small right now, but I will add whatever kitchen produce I would otherwise throw out and add it to the pile. And by spring, it too will be good compost, as little as there may be. After a few years of this, all of my garden soil will be dark and rich! Which is good, because I have clay for sub-soil! I challenge each of you to do the same in whatever garden you grow, even if it's just a few flowers in the pot on your porch. Add a little something to it, and you'll be amazed at how much better your plants do each year.

Why I Homeschool

Why I Homeschool

By Nikki Tafoya

Homeschooling is a subject that is ever so dear to my heart. My parents homeschooled my sister and myself when homeschooling was virtually unheard of. In fact, my mom didn’t even know it existed! She just knew that she wanted us to learn the things we were ready to learn when the public school said we weren’t. So she took it upon herself to teach us to read and write, and it went from there. My dad gave her a sound piece of advice that I will pass on to you. He said, “If you teach them nothing else, teach them to learn.”
When I am asked why we homeschool our daughters, I’m often stumped for an answer. It’s not that I can’t think of an answer, it’s that my first thought is “Why wouldn’t you?” and I’m sure that’s not the answer most skeptics are looking for. Is it because I am worried about safety in our schools? Honestly, no. Safety is always a concern, but a fear of a lack of safety is not why we choose to keep our children home. Poor education then? No, not even that. If my children were only receiving a “public school” level of education then they would be no worse off than the other 98% of American children who are not homeschooled, educationally speaking of course. What’s more important than either of those things to me is my childrens’ character.

I want to raise polite, capable, intelligent, godly ladies! In Luke 6:43 the NIV reads “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.” The phrase “stored up” means that we have to take something and put it somewhere. I want to see to it that that they have “good things” surrounding them to be stored up in their hearts.

I enjoy spending the time with them. I know that these times are fleeting and never again will I have the chance to shape and mold them. Does this mean that I enjoy every minute of homeschooling? No, it can be hard and it’s defiantly demanding. But it’s the investment of a lifetime!

I believe that I will better be able to help them deal with the issues they will face as teenagers because I know them better than if they were away at school most of the day. I know their strengths, I know their weaknesses, I know how they learn and thus I know how to speak to them in a way that speaks to their hearts.

I can instill standards in them that the “world” frankly does not have. The public school system does not care if my children have foul language, wear provocative clothing, have boyfriends at age 11. The public school system does not care that my children know the God of the entire universe and their personal Savior and Friend, if they know how to find answers to their life problems in the Holy Bible, if they are deepening their relationship with God through their prayer life. But I do care!

Oh, there are so many more reasons to homeschool. I would challenge any family who has considered homeschooling to take the plunge! You may have to make a financial sacrifice for mom to quite her job. And you will certainly have to make the sacrifice of time, but….
If you don’t allow yourself to dwell on those things, they will fade away into nothing before the joy of finding your children!

A few homeschooling recources:

http://oldfashionededucation.com/

http://www.mfwbooks.com/

http://www.sonlight.com/

http://www.rodstaff.com/

Time to Plant!

HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING

A COMPLETE AND PRACTICAL GUIDE
TO THE PLANTING AND CARE OF ALL
VEGETABLES, FRUITS AND BERRIES
WORTH GROWING FOR HOME USE

BY

F. F. ROCKWELL

Author of _Around the Year in the Garden_,
_Gardening Indoors and Under Glass_,
_The Key to the Land,_ etc., etc.

All copywrites on Rockwell's book, including the portion which I have copied here, have expired. Such pieces are avaible for reproduction. Books like this and many others can be found at Project Gutenburg ~ Nikki Tafoya

CHECK LIST

Jan. 1st--Send for catalogues. Make planting plan and table. Order
seeds.

Feb. 1st--Inside: cabbage, cauliflower, first sowing. Onions for
plants.

Feb. 15th--Inside: lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts,
beets.

March 1st--Inside: lettuce, celery, tomato (early).

March 15th--Inside: lettuce, tomato (main), eggplant, pepper, lima
beans, cucumber, squash; sprout potatoes in sand.

April 1st--Inside: cauliflower (on sods), muskmelon, watermelon, corn.
Outside: (seed-bed) celery, cabbage, lettuce. Onions, carrots, smooth
peas, spinach, beets, chard, parsnip, turnip, radish. Lettuce, cabbage
(plants).

May 1st--Beans, corn, spinach, lettuce, radish.

May 15th--Beans, limas, muskmelon, watermelon, summer squash, peas,
potatoes, lettuce, radish, tomato (early), corn, limas, melon, cucumber
and squash (plants). Pole-lima, beets, corn, kale, winter squash,
pumpkin, lettuce, radish.

June 1st--Beans, carrots, corn, cucumber, peas, summer spinach, summer
lettuce, radish, egg-plant, pepper, tomato (main plants).

June 15th--Beans, corn, peas, turnip, summer lettuce, radish, late
cabbage, and tomato plants.

July 1st--Beans, endive, kale, lettuce, radish, winter cabbage,
cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and celery plants.

July 15th--Beans, early corn, early peas, lettuce, radish.

Aug. 1st--Early peas, lettuce, radish.

Aug. 15th--Early peas, lettuce, radish in seed-bed, forcing lettuce for
fall in frames.

Sept. 1st--Lettuce, radish, spinach and onions for wintering over.

NOTE.--This list is for planting only (the dates are approximate: see
note I at the end of the chapter). Spraying and other garden operations
may also be included in such a list. See "Calendar of Operations" at
end of book.


PLANTING TABLE


DEPTH TO -DISTANCE APART-
VEGETABLE PLANT[1] SOW--INs. SEEDS[2] ROWS


I. CROPS REMAINING ENTIRE SEASON

Asparagus, seed April-May 1 2-4 in. 15 in.
Asparagus, plants April 4 1 ft. 3 ft.
Bean, pole May 15-June 10 2 3 ft. 3 ft.
Bean, lima May 20-June 10 2 3 ft. 3 ft.
Beet, late April-August 2 3-4 in. 15 in.
Carrot, late May-July 1/2-1 2-3 in. 15 in.
Corn, late May 20-July 10 2 3 ft. 4 ft.
Cucumber May 10-July 15 1 4 ft. 4 ft.
Egg-plant, plants June 1-20 .. 2 ft. 30 in.
Leek April .. 2-4 in. 15 in.
Melon, musk May 15-June 15 1 4 ft. 4 ft.
Melon, water May 15-June 15 1 6-8 ft. 6-8 ft.
Onion April 1/2-1 2-4 in. 15 in.
Okra May 15-June 15 1/2-1 2 ft. 3 ft.
Parsley[4] April-May 1/2 4-6 in. 1 ft.
Parsnip April 1/2-1 3-5 in. 18 in.
Pepper, seed June 1st 1/2 3-6 in. 15 in.
Pepper, plants June 1-20 .. 2 ft. 30 in.
Potatoes, main April 15-June 20 4-6 13 in. 30 in.
Pumpkins May 1-June 20 1-2 6-8 ft. 6-8 ft.
Rhubarb, plants April .. 2-3 ft. 3 ft.
Salsify April-May 1 3-6 in. 18 in.
Squash, summer May 15-July 1 1-2 4 ft. 4 ft.
Squash, winter May 15-June 20 1-2 6-8 ft. 6-8 ft.
Tomato, seed June 1/2 3-4 in. 15 in.
Tomato, plants May 15-July 20 .. 3 ft. 3 ft.

NOTE.--The index reference numbers refer to notes at end of chapter.




PLANTING TABLE


DEPTH TO -DISTANCE APART-
VEGETABLE PLANT[1] SOW--INs. SEEDS[3] ROWS


II. CROPS FOR SUCCESSION PLANTINGS

Bean, dwarf May 5-Aug 15 2 2-4 in. 1-1/2-2 ft.
Kohlrabi[4] April-July 1/2 - 1 6-12 in. 1-1/2-2 ft.
Lettuce[4] April-August 1/2 1 ft. 1-1-1/2 ft.
Peas, smooth April 1-Aug 1 2-3 2-4 in. 3 ft.
Peas, wrinkled April 10-July 15 2-3 2-4 in. 3-4 ft.
Radish April 1-Sept 1 1/2 2-3 in. 1 ft.
Spinach April-Sept 15 1 3-5 in. 18 in.
Turnip April-Sept 1/2-1 4-6 in. 15 in.

III. CROPS TO BE FOLLOWED BY OTHERS

Beet, early April-June 2 3-4 in. 15 in.
Broccoli, early[4] April 1/2-1 1-1/2 ft. 2 ft.
Borecole[4] April 1/2-1 2 ft. 2-1/2 ft.
Brussels sprouts[4] April 1/2-1 1-1/2 ft. 2 ft.
Cabbage, early[4] April 1/2-1 1-1/2 ft. 2 ft.
Carrot April 1/2-1 2-3 in. 15 in.
Cauliflower[4] April 1/2-1 1-1/2 ft. 2 ft.
Com, early May 10-20 2 3 ft. 3-4 ft.
Onion sets April-May 15 1-2 2-4 in. 15 in.
Peas April 1-May 1 2 2-4 in. 3 ft.
Crops in Sec. II.

IV. CROPS THAT MAY FOLLOW OTHERS

Beet, late July-August 2 3-4 in. 15 in.
Borecole May-June[2] 1/2-1 2 ft. 2-1/2 ft.
Broccoli May-June[2] 1/2-1 2 ft. 2-1/2 ft.
Brussels sprouts May-June[2] 1/2-1 1-1/2 ft. 2-1/2 ft.
Cabbage late May-June[2] 1/2-1 2-1/2 ft. 2-1/2 ft.
Cauliflower May-June[2] 1/2-1 2 ft. 2-1/2 ft.
Celery, seed April 1/2 1-2 in. 1 ft.
Celery, plant July 1-Aug 1 .. 6 in. 3-4 ft.
Endive[4] April-August 1/2 1 ft. 1 ft.
Peas, late May 15-Aug 1 2-3 2-4 in. 4 ft.
Crops in Sec. II.


II. CROPS FOR SUCCESSION PLANTINGS

------------------+---------+------------------------------------------
SEED FOR
50 FT.
VEGETABLE ROW VARIETIES
------------------+---------+------------------------------------------
Bean, dwarf 1 pt. Red Valentine Burpee's Greenpod,
Improved Refugee, Brittle Wax,
Rust-proof Golden Wax, Burpee's
White Wax
Kohlrabi 1/4 oz White Vienna
Lettuce 50 Mignonette, Grand Rapids, May King,
Big Boston, New York, Deacon, Cos,
Paris White
Peas, smooth 1 pt American Wonder
Peas, wrinkled 1 pt Gradus, Boston Unrivaled, Quite Content
Radish 1/2 oz. Rapid Red, Crimson Globe, Chinese
Spinach 1/2 oz. Swiss Chard Beet, Long Season, Victoria
Turnip 1/3 oz. White Milan, Petrowski, Golden Ball


III. CROPS TO BE FOLLOWED BY OTHERS

Beet, early 1 oz. Edmund's Early, Early Model
Broccoli, early 35 Early White French
Borecole 25 Dwarf Scotch Curled
Brussels sprouts 35 Dalkeith, Danish Prize
Cabbage, early 35 Wakefield, Glory of Enkhuisen,
Early Summer, Succession, Savoy
Carrot 1/2 oz. Golden Ball, Early Scarlet Horn
Cauliflower 35 Burpee's Best Early, Snowball, Sea-foam
Dry Weather
Corn, early 1/3 pt. Golden Bantam, Peep o' Day, Cory
Onion sets 2 pt.
Peas 1 pt.

Crops in Sec. II.


IV. CROPS THAT MAY FOLLOW OTHERS

Beet, late 1 oz. Crimson Globe
Borecole 25 Dwarf Scotch Curled
Broccoli 25 Early White French
Brussels sprouts 35 Dalkeith, Danish Prize
Cabbage, late 25 Succession, Danish Ballhead Drumhead
Cauliflower 25 As above [Savoy, Mammoth Rock (red)]
Celery, seed 1 oz. White Plume, Golden Self-blanching,
Winter Queen
Celery, plant 100 White Plume, Golden Self-blanching,
Winter Queen
Endive 1/2 oz. Broad-Leaved Batavian, Giant Fringed
Peas, late 1 pt. Gradus

Crops in Sec. II.

Grow Where You're Planted

Grow Where You're Planted

by Nikki Tafoya

I often get frustrated because I don't have as much space as I would like. Our house is small and every nook and cranny is packed - tightly! We don't have a garage to store "stuff" in or have any room to use as "cold storage" for food from the garden such as potatoes or carrots. There is no place to dig any kind of a root cellar. There isn't enough space to keep dairy animals. And so and and so on. I could take up more of our lawn (I am not a big fan of manicured lawns, and I do plan on invading into the lawn eventually) for gardening, but then I would need more space to store the food! Do any of you ever find yourselves in the same situation?
I find myself daydreaming of owning five acres. I know what the house would look like, how the garden would be layed out, where the hen house would be....
I also find myself not wanting to invest much (such as fruit trees, berry bushes, etc) into this home and yard because I am so eager to move to bigger space (which is financially impossible, not only now, but quiet possilby forever). Then I read this verse:
"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement." Proverbs 12:11
It gives no specifics to the size of the land. It just says to work it. It is my job to work the land that God has already given me to the best of my ability without holding back. It is lack of good judgement on my part to reserve my best for what may come - for my fantasies. It gives me encouragment not to hold out for "better" but to put everything I can into what I already have. And some how, that seems like enough. I have new plans now! I am going to plant apple, peach, and plum trees, raspberries and chokecherries as the Lord provides. Maybe I'll turn our front yard into a very mini-orchard! But I'm not going to do nothing with what God has already given us.

What can you do with what you already have?!!!

Homemade Christmas Cards

Christmas is just around the corner and soon it will be time to send out warm Christmas greeting to all our friends and loved ones. I have to be honest though, there are very few cards on the market that seem to be worth buying. Either they are too politically correct, too “cheap”, too gaudy, or too expensive – and rarely are they personal. In fact, up until a few years ago, I never sent out Christmas cards for those very reasons. But then I felt guilty because of all the people who thought of me and sent me a card, but didn’t receive one in return. So the girls (my daughters) and I got creative. We went on a Hobby Lobby spending spree, when they were having a 50% off sale of course, and bought some scrapbooking paper with Christmas designs on them. With our paper, fun cutty scissors (you know, the kind that make cute edges), markers, glitter, and glue at hand we made all our own cards. Every one was different and it was a lot of fun to decide which one we would send to each of our friends or family members. It felt very personal and meaningful. And it was a big hit! Everyone loved them. So much so in fact that we make all our own cards now, for birthdays, anniversaries, and every special occasion. Sometimes we get into a card making mood an we’ll sit at the table for an hour or so and put a few cards together and then just stick them in a drawer so that they are waiting for us when we need one. And often times I’ll get an idea for a card that would be exactly perfect for so-and-so’s next birthday, even though it isn’t for another five months, and I’ll go ahead and make it and set it aside. There are so many benefits to making our own cards: it is a fun activity I can do with my girls, it is more personal that picking up a card at the store, and it is also less expensive than buying cards. This year each card will run me $0.24 a card plus an envelope! So head on over to a shop that carries some colored card stock and get creative!