Crazy Summer for this Family and updates

   It has been a crazy Summer school break and really past year and a half. As you remember I asked for prayer for my son about a year ago. He is doing wonderful (Thank you Jesus), his problem is on the mends, he lives a state away now where he works and the best part is, the Lord Jesus found it fit to save his souls!!!! I stand in awe in the work that God has done in his life.
   As for my daughter she keeps us hopping with her interests. She is 13 and had her first vacation with another family, without out us. She is growing up way to fast! When she returns, which is today, we start many weeks of volleyball camps/clinics before school starts. It will only get busier!
   We have had three deaths in on my wife's side of the family since the first of the year, among other things! As for me, just trying to hold everything together and keep a trusting faithful eye on Jesus! Well the next two months will be very very busy indeed for this group. So be patient with me with my blog. If you have any questions that I may answer please email me at cbfom3@ymail.com.

God Bless you all,

"When do we harvest potatoes?"

The Redeemed Gardener

  I had a question emailed to me a few days ago and knew I needed to answer this, the question was; "When do we harvest potatoes?"

  Well, it all depends on what you are wanting. If you want “new potatoes”, small, immature potatoes, you should harvest them before their vines die or earlier in the summer (around the first day of summer). They will be about 1 to 2 inches in size.

 

  If you want mature potatoes, or “late potatoes,” (as Grammie called them) you should harvest them in late summer/early fall. Just wait for the vines and the flowers to die, and then harvest the potatoes at full maturity.

 

  Here's another method we used, If you have a lot of plants, you can harvest some of the plants earlier in the summer and get “new potatoes” and leave the rest to dig up later. Just experiment and try digging some at the end of July, some at the end of August, and some at the end of September. Then next year, you’ll have a better idea about how big they are at what time of the season.

 

 When you go to harvest your potatoes, here is an article that I posted a while back on a cheap Mini Root Cellar.   "Cool, Cheap, Mini Root Cellars"

 

 

 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 

Dad Passed this story on to me, Now I am to you!

The story of Grace!

David A. Baker Sr.

  A Fathers Son was brutally murdered by one of the must vicious and sadistic persons in the world. 

(Here are 5 endings to the story you pick)!

1) The Father goes and gets a gun and shots the murderer dead in the streets. (That's Revenge) 

2) The Father helps the authorities track down, convict and sentence the murderer to death by electrocution. (That's Justice)

3) The Father helps the authorities track down and convict but before the judge passes down the verdict, the Father asks the judge to lighten the sentence to life in prison, with no parole, so he does. (That's Mercy)

 4)The Father helps the authorities track down the murderer but before the trial the Father asks to talk with the judge privately. The Father tells the judge he wants to forgive the murderer, and drop ALL charges on the murderer and let him walk free. The judge allows the murderer to walk free!   (That's Forgiveness)

5) The Father helps the authorities track down the murderer but before the trial the Father asks to talk with the judge privately. The Father tells the judge he wants to forgive the murderer, drop ALL charges on the murderer, have the murderer move into His house, take care of the murderer and live in His custody the rest of the murders life.  The judge agrees!  (That's Grace)

 

  Which would you do if you were in the Fathers shoes?

   If you are saved and reading this, you were NO different from the vicious and sadistic murderer before

God provided you with His grace through His Son Christ Jesus!

   This Story my dad passed alone to me and know I am going to pass it on to you. Continue to pass if you wish!

Happy Father's Day!

Sun & Shade Quick Growing Veggie Tip

A simple little growing tip from me to you! I found this little picture to describe it the best!

"The object of saving faith is not a creed, not a church, not a pastor, not a set of rituals or ceremonies. Jesus is the object of saving faith." ~ John MacArthur

How To Freeze Broccoli

  How To Freeze Broccoli, its very simple! So fare this season I have harvested 16 heads of broccoli and I have frozen 8 heads, which made up 16 quart bags for later use. Yummy!!

  Supplies you will need: Large Pot, knife, couple bags of ice, quart or gallon size freezer bags, Sharpie, Large Strainer Ladle,

The Redeemed Gardener

Step 1: Wash it in a sink full of water, I mix a hand full of Sea Salts in with it. It helps with bugs!
Step 2: Cut broccoli up to sizes that are gonna be easy to eat.
Step 3: Bring a Large pot of water to boil.
Step 4: Put cut up broccoli in boiling water, for 4 to 5 minutes. Note: do amounts that are easy to handle.

While this is boiling, fill up sink half way with water and dump a half bag of ice in.

Step 5: After 4 to 5 minutes ladle the broccoli into the ice water, this will stop it from cooking. Let it set in the for about 5 minutes.
Step 6: Ladle the broccoli out of the ice water and allow water to drain off. I laid mine out on a clean dis towel, you could just use a big strainer. Whatever you choose will be finr.
Step 7: Put broccoli in Freezer bags, label with sharpie. try to get air out of bad. But you don't have to get it all out.
Step 8: Place in freezer til you are ready to cook. Its that easy!!

  If I can do it, anyone of you can do it. And by the way Jesus Loves You!

The Redeemed Gardener

Staring to Harvest in 2013

  Just a few pictures of what is going on and coming out of the garden!

Broccoli

Carrots

Potatoes

Turnips and Radishes

Before Starting My First Bee Hive

   Well its not really my first "Bee Rodeo" but it will be my first urban bee experience! See, my dad and brother had kept bees years before dad passed away. So now I'm gonna carry on the tradition in the urban setting. There are a few things that a person should do long before they get started keeping honeybees. See, I have started this spring getting everything together but I won't get the bees until next April or May, that's the best time to get a new swarm of bees, so that they can get all the honey they need to make it through the following winter.
  So what are things you should be doing to get ready for your new adventure of bee keeping?

The Redeemed Gardener

1. Read lots of books and articles about bee keeping (my favorite book, "The Backyard Beekeeper"). Get to know everything from the anatomy of the bee and hive to tricks that more experienced bee keepers have learned. Learn about pest and other things that could interrupt or even kill of your hive.
2. Find and join your local bee keeping club. Each county in West Virginia has a club, which meets often and you learn loads of stuff. Most libraries hold classes and clinics as well!
3. Find a neighbor or local that has kept bees for a while and talk with them about what they know.
4. Contact your local and county government to see if you have any laws or regulations to follow.
5. Blogs are a great source, just make sure the information is correct before using. Here is one I found in my research  "Early American Gardens".
6. Try to find a reputable bee supply company to pre-buy your hive body and supplies from. We have a local supplier through our club and the mail order one I use is Brushy Mountain Bee Farm.  
   
     Many thing should be do before you even think about buying your first swarm of bees. Even though I helped them a lot, I have still learned a lot during the preparation period. But most of all have fun!
   
   

    Proverbs 24:13 "My son, eat honey because it is good, And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;"