Author Archives: Quail Run

Vinaigrette Salad

This is a re-post from www.momzoolife.com
March 29, 2012


This salad is a lot like other salad recipes I have posted.  I love a good vinaigrette salad and I am always looking for different combinations of ingredients.  In this salad I especially loved the combination of bacon and feta cheese, very good!  I really liked this salad, Dadzoo liked this salad and about half of my little punks liked this salad (my children with the more mature palates).  It is defiantly a keeper!

Starting with the dressing we are going to need:

1 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 olive oil (use the good stuff!)
1 tsp poppy seeds

Throw it all in a blender and mix well

 

For the body of the salad we will need:

2-3 Romain hearts shredded
(I was lazy and used a spring mix)
1-2 apples, chopped
1 pkg bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 pkg walnuts or pecans, chopped
1 pkg feta cheese

Toss all ingredients together with the dressing right before serving and enjoy!

Dandelion

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One of the first flowers of the spring season is the much maligned dandelion.  Dandelion the bane of the manicured lawn. The cash cow of herbicide companies.

Dandelion, she is my friend and ally and I rejoice at her appearance.
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The uses for Dandelion are numerous: greens for salad, flowers for wines and jelly, all parts of the plant are medicinal and they are one of the first spring food for the bees and other beneficial insects.

Dandelion captures the heat and energy of the sun and lights a fire in the digestive track, helping nourish and heal.  It is a liver tonic, strengthening  and healing this most important organ.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis) is a persistent perennial of lawns and gardens and one of the best-known medicinal herbs in the world. All parts – the root, the leaves, the flowers, even the flower stalk – strengthen the liver. A dose of 10-20 drops of the tincture (0.5-1 ml) relieves gas, heartburn, and indigestion, as well as promoting healthy bowel movements. A tablespoon of the vinegar works well, too. More importantly, taken before meals, dandelion increases the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, thus increasing bio-availability of many nutrients, especially calcium. And the oil of the flowers is an important massage balm for maintaining healthy breasts. (There’s lots more information on dandelion in Healing Wise.)

Susun Weed

IMG_6060I am very careful when harvesting dandelion blossoms, to only take about half of what is there, leaving the rest of the flowers for the bees and to mature and spread its seeds.  Later in the fall I will harvest roots, taking only about half of the plants, giving thanks for gift of these weeds at my finger tips.
IMG_6057You can always tell it is spring on the farm when my kitchen window seal and the shelves in my pantry are filled with infusing oils.  The vinegars will be used in recipes and salad dressing. The oil will be made into salves and used as is on the skin to invigorate and refresh, giving the fire and energy of the sun to the body, the tincture and a digestive aid and liver tonic. I love using these simple plants that are right outside my door step to feed and nourish my family.

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The Little Sisters

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The little sisters have finally graduted to a larger yard.  The chicken tractor had become too small for them and they needed to be able to stretch their legs and wings, but they are still too small to be with the older ladies.
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While our chickens free range 99% of the time, they do have a yard that we can pen them up in if we need to.  For example, sometimes they decided that it would be fun to lay eggs in other places and go broody on me, when that happens they will be locked up in their yard for a couple days while they remember what the nest boxes are for.  The chicken yard is divided in half with a little coop at one end, that way was can isolate a chicken if needed or keep groups seprate.
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The little sisters are in this area.  I don’t love that they are there, the ground is very bare and has been picked clean so they aren’t getting green food right now and I like my chickens to be free to eat green food and bugs, its healthier for them, but for now this is what they have.
IMG_6073In a week or so I will introduce them to their older sisters during the day and they enjoy free ranging over the meadows and fields, doing what chickens do best.

If Heaven Had Given Me…

But I think I have observed that your countrymen who have been obliged to work out their own fortunes here, have succeeded best with a small farm. … It is at the same time the most tranquil, healthy, and independent.  –Thomas Jefferson April 29, 1795

If you know me, you know that I have a fondness for the Founding Fathers.  I see them as men with great wisdom before their time.  I give them, and God credit for the founding of the United States and the ability to setup a form of government that has lasted since 1776.  I like to read their sayings, their writings and their letters.  In doing so, I have come to understand them better, and to gain a greater appreciation for the country that I call home and love.

Portrait of Thomas Jefferson by his friend CW Peale (1791)

Portrait of Thomas Jefferson by his friend CW Peale (1791)

Thomas Jefferson had a friend Charles Willson Peale that exchanged letters with him off and on.  CW Peale was a known painter (he did this famous portrait of Thomas Jefferson), soldier, scientist, inventor, politician, and naturalist.  He also started a natural history museum that included the skeleton of a mastodon that was found, excavated, and mounted by Peale himself.

Jefferson and Peale wrote to each other for years.  The first letter was recorded in 1791.  They continued writing to each other until 1826.  The Jefferson Papers contain 188 letters between Jefferson and Peale.  You can find them at founders.archives.gov.

There was a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to CW Peale on the 20th of August 1811.  The August 20th letter contained this quote:

I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position and calling, it should have been a rich spot of earth, well watered, and near a good market for the productions of the garden.  No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden.

There are a lot of other quotes form the founding fathers that talk about their love for farming, agriculture and gardens.  Jefferson ends his letter with this statement, “Think of me sometimes when you have your pen in hand and give me information of your health and occupations, and be always assured of my great esteem and respect.”

A few weeks later, Peale responds to Jefferson’s letter with a lengthy letter on September 9th, 1811.

I am most cheerfully accept your kind invitation of a renewal of correspondence … I shall get instruction in my new occupation, that of a famer, which thus may be diffused to others, as I am willing to put into practice every thing that promises to meliorate the condition of Man.

CW Peale, Self-portrait (1791)

CW Peale, Self-portrait (1791)

Peale then writes a lengthy letter to Jefferson about what he is doing on his farm.  I am going to include some excerpts from this letter in the post.  I am hoping that the knowledge of these patriotic farmers will transverse the gap of time.  I feel the same way today as Peale did when he wrote his letter to Jefferson.  In a way, I want to also diffuse the information I have and will learn to others.  It is my hope that others will be able to gain insight from our little farm’s failures and successes, and it a small way will also help meliorate the condition of man.

In the letter, Peale starts out by thanking Jefferson for his design of a Mould-board (curved metal blade in a plow that turns the earth over).  He talks about how he is using Jefferson’s idea to create new plow.  Peale states, “if the form of it was given to every Plow, the land would be infinitely better plowed; greater products consequently, withall less labour to Horses.”  He then goes into detail on how to produce the Mould-board out of White-oak.

Drawing of Mould-board by CW Pearle.

Drawing of Mould-board by CW Pearle.

He then discusses the museum, and how he wants to retire from it.  He convinced his son to take over the museum, so he could “be out of sight, by retiring to the Country, to muse away the remainder of my life.”

You ask whether “the farm is interresting?” my answer is that it is exactly what you would wish, “a rich spot of Earth, well watered, and near a good market for the produce of the Garden.”  I am situated ½ a mile from Germantown and have the same distance to the old-york turnpike road—two Streams run through my land, who’s sources are within 3 miles, on each there are 3 mills above me, from the east stream I can have 23 feet head of water, and on the other 10 feet within my own land, and liberty from my neighbours land below to add 5 feet more—This stream is the nearest to my dwelling. It is my intention as soon as I can conveniently have it executed, to Build the End of a Mill-house, which may be extended if wanted in future, my object at present is only to apply it to the saving of labour of the farm, such as churning of Butter, Grinding our tools, beating of Homony, washing of Linnen, a turn bench &c &c all of which may be performed by bands, thus expence of wheels is avoided. on the other Stream I intend to Build a Grist Mill, after my farm is put into compleat order, if I am able to make it so.

He then talks about his trying to farm on shares, but found that it was more reliable to work the farm himself and not rely on the farmer he picked who turned out to be to lazy, and the crops were always put in the ground to late.

One of my favorite parts of the letter, from Peale to Jefferson, is when he discusses weeds, and how, “I found that where I had cut off one head, Hydra-like a half dozen had sprouted up in place.”  It looks like everyone has to deal with unwanted vegetation in the form of weeds.

…weeds grow so fast that the loss of labor could not be recovered, great part of my new Garden became a wilderness I am now taught to know that a garden must be constantly attended to—This is not the only mistake I have committed, even with the best intentions, I have laughed at my folly in thinking I could do wonders by my steady perseverance. I see my farm, and those of all my neighbors around having an abundance of weeds, I thought that if I cut off those weeds while in Blossom that I should prevent them from seeding, and by a persevering labor of cutting them off, I should at last have my place free of weeds…

The letter contains so much information, I strongly suggest that you read if for yourselves if you want to gain the knowledge that he is bestowing.  He discusses how he grows fodder for his cattle, a machine he made to take his milk from the cow-pen to the spring-house, a three wheeled carriage to take the milk to the market, how he Kiln dries fruit, and a discussion of his fruit trees, using plaster or ash on his land, and producing potatoes.

Machine by CW Peale to move milk.

Machine by CW Peale to move milk.

Three wheeled cart used to transport milk to the market. CW Peale

Three wheeled cart used to transport milk to the market. CW Peale

In conclusion he states the following:

Some of my friends told me that I would soon be tired of a country life, as others of their acquaintance had been. I believe my fondness for the farmers life is becoming daily stronger.

I agree with CW, the more I farm the land and enjoy the “country life” the fonder I become of it.

 

Deep Mulch

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Over the last little while (like the last couple years) we have been collecting a lot of green waste.  Most of it isn’t ours, it is waste that we have brought in.  The thing is, it’s not waste to us, to us it is brown gold.  Beautiful, rich, nourishing brown gold that is going to help us make this desert blossom and feed families.
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In the past we have rented chippers and shredders to process the trees, branches and bushes that we acquire, but this year we decided to invest in our own chipper/shredder. It will pay for itself in about two weeks.
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The shredded leaves and branches will become deep mulch for our gardens, the idea is that we are mimicking the natural fertility found in the forests.  In the most naturally fertile areas of the world you will find deep layers of organic matter, leaves that have fallen, rotting wood, worms and manure from animals. At the farm we are attempting to recreate this fertility, the chipped leaves and branches are icing on the cake, or the top of the sheet mulching.
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The bed above has layers of paper and cardboard, straw and horse manure, we are now adding 6-8 inches of the shredded mulch on top. Along with adding so much organic matter and fertility, we are also preserving water, the water in this dry, dry land will stay put under all the layers of leaves.  The deep layer of mulch will also snuff out weeds and the weeds that do make it through will be easily pulled.  A big bonus around here.
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The bed above is finished and has been planted with our spring peas, all tucked in among the beautiful leaf and wood mulch.
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Violets

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When I was a little girl we lived for a time in an apartment off the house of my great-grandparents.  The property was nice and large, with a corral and barn in the back and big lawns in the front. It was a great place for a little girl to explore.  In the spring time the lawns would be full of fragrant little violets. That was before everyone was so obsessed with thick green lawns of Kentucky blue grass, the lawns were more diverse, along with grass there would be clovers, violets and other such small plants.  It was beautiful and healthy for the lawn and land around it. I loved those violets, I would pick them by the fist full and breath in their fragrance.
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We lived there a year or two and moved on to a newly built home in a new neighborhood.  There were a lot of new lawns and no violets.  I think I forgot about them for a few years until we moved again to the most enchanting house.  The home was a the long time residence of an elderly couple who had raised their family there and then passed on.  They were gardeners and created the most beautiful gardens, the perfect place for such a girl as I was, full of day dreams and stories, always looking for the fairies and talking flowers. There was a particular area on the side of the house that was planted with many low lying trees and to my delight that first spring the fiddle shaped heads of ferns started pushing up.  I loved watching those green beauties making their appearance, ferns are very uncommon here in the high desert, this little micro climate was special indeed.  Among the ferns, little purple ladies bloomed, my beloved violets! Once again I basked in the beauty and fragrance of my dear little violets.
IMG_6053We left that home too, after a couple years, but I never forgot about my violets and I’ve wondered how to get a hold of these antique spring flowers.  Then about a  year ago I went to see my sister’s new house, and what was there to greet me at the door?  A carpet of sweet little violets “we are here!” they called!  This spring my sister brought me a little pot of violets, they will make their home in the orchard meadow among my other little botanical treasures.

Interesting, in the year since I saw the violets at my sister’s house I researched them a little more and found they are a wonderful medicinal.


  • Use the leaves, harvested any time, even during flowering.
  • Externally: Eases pain and inflammation, heals mouth sores, softens skin, antifungal.
  • Daily dose: Use without limit, non-toxic.
  • Fresh leaves: in salad, as desired.
  • Dried leaf infusion: up to one quart (1 liter).
  • Fresh or dried leaf poultice: continuously.
  • Internal and external use of violet can shrink a breast lump in a month.

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Susun Weed


Not only will my little darlings bring a splash of color and scent to my meadow in the spring she will nourish and heal my body.  I am so excited to make violet honey, vinegar, oil and tinctures in the next few years once she is well established here on the farm.


Violet Syrup

Yields 3 cups/750ml

½ lb/225g fresh violets

2 cups/500 ml water

2 cups/500ml honey

Enlist all the help you can to pick violet blossoms.  Boil water;  pour over blossoms;  cover.  Let steep overnight in non-metallic container.  Strain out flowers.  Reserve purple liquid.  Alternate method for loners:  pour 2 cups/500ml boiling water over as many flowers as you can get.  Strain liquid.  Reheat and pour over the next day’s harvest.  Do this daily until your liquid is pleasingly violaceous (purple).  Combine mauve-colored liquid and honey.  Simmer gently, stirring, for ten or fifteen minutes, until it seems like syrup.  Fill clean jars.  Cool.  Keep well chilled to preserve.

Preparation time:  Hours and hours of picking await you, and all in pursuit of some purple-colored sugar water.  Or is there more to it than that?  Perhaps Aunt Violet will open a gateway to ecstasy for you.  Uncle Euell Gibbons pours his on hot broiled grapefruit and proclaims, “Utterly delicious!”

Copyright 2011 Excerpted from Healing Wise by Susun Weed

 

Healing Wise (Wise Woman Herbal Series)

Planting Trees

In high desert valleys there are very few natural, native trees, the land is mostly grass and sage brush.  When you get to the foothills of the mountains the flora and fauna start to change a bit and the vast prairies of sage brush turn into large juniper forests. Quail Run Farm sits on the very edge of this transition, our property is mostly sage brush with three very treasured native juniper trees, just across the road the forest explodes with thousands of beautiful trees. We have often wished that there were more native trees on the farm, especially in our wild places. Dadzoo researched our local native junipers and found that they are truly one of a kind and that this specific variety of juniper only grows in the foothills around the farm, knowing how unique our trees our we felt like we couldn’t bring in imposter junipers, we needed the exact natives.  I contemplated taking cuttings from the Mother Tree and Greenman, its fairly tedious, but I was willing.  One evening we were at a neighborhood meeting (haha, neighborhood, meaning 5 families) and mentioned we were going to try to propagate the junipers and our neighbors invited us to come and hunt for baby trees on their property to transplant onto ours.

We live by some of the most generous people I’ve ever known.

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One nice spring evening we took a few of the kids and walked up the mountain side and hunted for baby trees.  The baby trees are there, but not in abundance, juniper trees take a long time to grow, they are old and wise, they can easily grow for up to 1,000 years and are slow to reproduce.
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We were able to find several and took only four we didn’t want to deprive the old forest of all its babies, but assured the wise old mothers that their children were going to be in good hands and well loved in our Shay.
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Garden Boxes

Last fall we were able to salvage part of an old wood fence.  We love reclaimed wood in all its shapes and sizes and conditions.  The old fence posts were too short to be used as fence posts again, but were perfect for making garden boxes. IMG_5982
In our main production garden we use wide rows and sheet mulching, but up in the yard area where I will be planting my flowers and medicinal herbs we are using garden boxes. The boxes will line the whole outer perimeter of the yard area.  Each box will have one type of either herb or flower, the large grouping will keep things neat and create a big visual impact.
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Each box is simply two 4×4 posts stacked on top of each other and bolted together.
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The bottom of each box is lined with several layers of card board to kill the weeds underneath.
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On top of the cardboard goes several inches of dry leaves that we gathered from families in town.
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My little helper, my star child, wetting down the leaves in the boxes.
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On top of the leaves, we layered several of inches of well composted manure.  In a few weeks, after planting, several inches of chipped wood will go in the boxes and all around, helping to conserve water and build fertility.
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