I used one of the transporting boxes my neighbour gave me to make a new mushroom patch in the backyard. It’s in a shady and usually a little damp spot and I hope it’ll provide good growing conditions for pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom).
Homemade Mushroom Grain Spawn (Sterile Method)
I just officially opened my personal little mushroom growing season. I have already (even successfully, occasionally 🙂 ) made grain spawn by just propagating mycelium plugs in pasteurized grain in the past, but while this is a cheap and simple way to use up “leftover mushroom seeds”, it’s also unfortunately very prone to contamination and failure. I decided to try a more professional approach this time and got myself some liquid mycelium in a syringe and this time aimed for a sterile procedure.
Spring is Finally Coming and Plants Go in the Garden
Finally it’s time again to care for the garden, the various vegetables, fruit and herbs. I’m hoping bitterly that the upcoming summer will not turn out to be as much of a complete failure as last year.
Chilies and Red Bell Peppers
These are both going into pots on the patio in may. Each need a sunny spot and much light to grow. Bell peppers must be pruned for robust and bushy growth.
New Chicken Coop! (Review)
The chickens have moved to their new palace recently! The old wooden coop was finally rotten beyond repair – I suppose this type of pre-fabricated wooden structure is not meant to last forever anyway. So a new one had to happen and I put much emphasis on durability and strength. This in mind while doing some research, I came across “Nestera ™” coops from the UK on the internet, read several different reviews and finally bought one. Here’s an overview.
Baked Eggs and Spinach in Ricotta and Parmesan
It’s cold outside. And rainy. And generally clammy and deterrent – I’m so, so done with this wintery weather. A good time for hot, filling and delicious comfort food, served with toasted bread, directly from the pan.
Pickled Cauliflower and Green Beans
I made pickled cauliflower and beans using lactic acid fermentation. I know these from my childhood where it was served as an extra to various home-style dishes.
It is basically the same practice as for making Sauerkraut but with some different spices added and a little blanching beforehand. The veggies here are both larger and more firm than thin cabbage slices used for Sauerkraut, and in order to become more pleasant they need a little treatment in advance. I’ll know more in about two weeks.
Fallout Inspired Plant Stand
I’m a passionate Fallout 4 player and one of the many decorative things you can create in Fallout’s settlement system are various plant stands. I like that style and made my own, inspired by the one in the screenshot.
Wild Bee Hotel
I learned a little about wild bee hotels the past few days and decided it would be a nice winter project to make one for later installation in spring. My personal little “green hell” is presumably already pretty suitable for bees, but I like the idea of supporting the little fellows a bit – also against the (only just a little selfish 🙂 ) background of facilitating the pollination of my veggie plants.
