30 Day Homesteading Challenge - October 2021

[tortoise]

Day 3 - Plant an edible

I planted romaine seed for microgreens or baby lettuce. I tried growing microgreens in soil a few years ago and it was a mess. I'm trying paper towel this time. Its under artificial lights I already have set up for my houseplants.

My family had the BBQ lamb sandwiches last night. Homemade bread, BBQ sauce and homegrown lamb. It was good! It got me thinking that I could make red pepper flake spice.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've got to get some micro greens started. I've grown them in soil and the only issue I had was some mold growth. I learned to add a fan for air circulation and didn't have any issues after that. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[tortoise]

Day 4 - Identify an [another] edible.

This one scares me. I know dandelion, burdock, berries, lambs quarters, oxalis, hazelnut.

There are so much I dont know. I dont know what I dont know!

 

[tortoise]

Wisconsin Native Culinary Herbs | Wisconsin Pollinators

Edible herbs have been grown and used for thousands of years for their culinary qualities. Their ornamental and aromatic qualities lend aesthetic beauty and fragrance

wisconsinpollinators.com

I have had access to explore wild spaces since childhood and have never seen (noticed?) these plants.

 

[tortoise]

My baby step for Day 4 is I bought 2 foraging /wild edible books by different authors. I took a class by one of the authors and his #1 safety tip for foraging was to check at least 2 books by 2 different authors before eating a new foraged food.

One of the books includes preparation /cooking instructions.

 

[tortoise]

Day 5 - Begin a Ferment

I'm doing day 5 with an online order too. DIY weights have never worked for me. I ordered glass weights and airlocks. I have a fermenting recipe book.

 

[flowerbug]

Day 4 - Identify an [another] edible.

This one scares me. I know dandelion, burdock, berries, lambs quarters, oxalis, hazelnut.

There are so much I dont know. I dont know what I dont know!

purslane, very easy.

 

[tortoise]

I got my days out of order. Day 5 was Replace One Pantry Item. I have making dry mix for Lipton's Onion Soup mix on my to-do list but havent done it yet. I made hot cocoa mix today, but it isnt a new recipe for me.

Day 6 - Start a Ferment (again)

I had a cup of leftover sprouted wheat berry mash. I guess that can sit out for sourdough starter and I started a ferment

Day 7 - Bake Bread

Baking bread isnt new to me, but starting with wheat berries is brand new to me! Mine were sprouted so I tried making bread. Its rising now, I will update. Its odd dough, I'm not hopeful.

Sprout wheat bread thread is here: https://www.sufficientself.com/threads/sprouted-wheat-berry-flour-and-grain-mills.16953/page-3

 

[tortoise]

Day 3 - Plant an edible

Update. "They grow up so fast"

 

[tortoise]

I'm going to delay Day 8 - Research Animals until the next time I cycle through this challenge. I want to learn about pigs, but I am too short on time or energy to add another animal (much less a new species) in the next year. I won't have time to read about pigs in depth for a couple weeks.