Month: January 2013

2013 Garden

It’s winter and I’m starting to gear up on the garden already.
Qty Ordered Item Number Item Description
2 08489 BLUEBERRY JERSEY JUMBO planted 4/7
4 13323 BUTTERNUT 1- 1 1/2′ planted 4/5
2 79728 HONEYBERRY ‘WILD HONEY’ planted 4/7
2 79729 HONEYBERRY ‘HONEY SWEET’ planted 4/7
4 08501 NANKING BUSH CHERRY 18-24″ planted 4/5
4 08509 HANSEN’S BUSH CHERRY 12-18″ planted 4/5
4 08517 CURRANT RED LAKE #1 planted 4/5
1 83409 CUCUMBER PICKLING SASSY HYB. PKT.
1 14513 CUCUMBER HYBRID BUSH PICKLE
20 Colorado Blue Spruce
20 Frasier Fir
20 Lilacs
Then I went into Big Lots and they had the seeds out already. I blew about ten bucks in there on tomatoes and herbs.
I already planted a bed of garlic here on October 20th.
Watermelon

Dad and the VAWT

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine VAWT, when I was a kid my father assembled some parts and built his own VAWT. Below is what this must have looked like in Dad’s head. Sadly I am unable to find a picture of it all assembled. Here is a link to something similar to what dad envisioned.

“That flywheel was from a bigger baler I think a NH 76 or 77 which was much heavier. I think the wheels were from some kind of hay rake the whole thing was mounted on a Ford Falcon chassis. I towed it from Mineral Springs to Carlisle behind my truck, I forgot how we got it to the farm from there I carried it with the bucket loader to his house because the frame had buckled it was so heavy the rear wheels on the tractor just barely touched the ground.”
Howard Crosby

And here is a parts list DC motor to work as the generator. The motor would be mounted to the axle where the drive shaft  would have been and making the ninety degree turn. The picture is an AC motor but the picture gives you the idea.
Flywheel and frame from the hay baler that his cousin Davy had lost his leg in.  I never understood how the wind would get this flywheel moving.
Steel wheels about three feet tall from some sort of wagon. These were turned on end and mounted on top of the truck axle with panels placed between the wheels to catch the wind.
A truck rear end with needle roller bearings in it. The axle was welded to the baler frame with one end down the other pointing to the sky with the metal wagon wheels on top of it.
 Along with other scraps of metal. As far as I know this never turned in the wind or made any power ever, but what a great concept. 

My mother called this Fulton’s Folly, and the thorn in her side. She said dad dragged that thing around from place to place when we moved and stored it at friends houses for years, until it was sold off for scrap, probably along with the retirement camper.

Carrot Apple Nut Muffin

Mother Earth News Carrot Apple Nut Muffin Recipe

Ingredients: 
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
2 cups raw carrots (about 2 or 3 carrots)
1 large apple
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar (brown, white or a combination)
3/4 tsp baking soda
11⁄2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp pure vanilla extract 
Instructions: 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease muffin cups or insert liners, if using. Peel and finely grate the carrots and apple, setting aside for later.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon. Stir in the nuts. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, ginger and vanilla extract. Fold the wet ingredients and the grated carrot and apple into the flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. Makes 9 standard-size muffins or 12 small ones. 

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/carrot-apple-nut-muffins-zmrz10zgri.aspx#ixzz2H7RpnhXC