Townhouse Homestead Tuesday

As summer progresses the desire to have a garden of my own strengthens and keeps the motivation strong for what may be in the next two summers. Here's hoping we can find that something that will fill that desire when we start our search for a home. For now I just keep going and appreciate friends who are letting me share theirs and for all the farmers that bring their goods to the markets.

The herbs on my small deck continue to do well. I harvested yet another bunch of basil that I used to add to my delicious stuffed portabella mushrooms for lunch and dried the rest for future cooking.

Last years tomatoes were approaching their expiration date so I use them up in this roasted garlic and basil tomato sauce. It was a low yield, but I have not lost them and wow did it come out great.

My Cilantro bolted with all the heat we've had but I am going to collect the seeds to start some more a little later this year and put the rest of the seeds in the cupboard in an up cycled pepper grinder so when I need coriander I can grind it fresh.

My parsley is providing an awesome amount and I've had it fresh and dried it for future use. It's nice to have for when I make my garlic bread. It looks like I may have to harvest more before the last bunch is fully dry.

My covert carrots have company. Temporarily any way. I started some butternut squash seeds that I'm hoping will be strong enough to transplant tonight when I go to my friends house to check on my tomatoes. I saved the seeds myself and was glad to know they will germinate. My container carrots are being called parsley so I can sneak them in on the deck. 

Saturday morning we got up early to go to a Church sale. The intention for going was large flower pots or containers for growing. I found two, cleaned them up and rinsed them with bleach and transplanted my rosemary. I sure wish I could bring these in for the winter, but I'm afraid I'd bring in insects and we don't need the problems. 

One of my daughter's co-workers sent her home with a large container of black berries and I got busy making black berry pancake syrup. It is so good and I was so grateful. Yes, I did send her some for her pleasure. This townhouse farm girl is doing the best she can with the space she has and it can be done. Thank you for stopping by to visit and have a wonderful week.

Townhouse Homestead Tuesday

It's been getting busier here at the townhouse, but every minute of busy is so welcomed and wonderful. I am so grateful for my wonderful life. 

With summer heat underway and my desire to eat better I continue to bake my own bread. This loaf of French bread was used for sides to salads, bruschetta and sandwiches. The rolls have been frozen for up coming holiday hamburgers and hot dogs. 

The oldest of our lavender plants bloomed this week and we have double the harvest of last year. As you can see it is hanging to dry for future use in soaps, lotions and salts.

My sage plant is growing well. I harvested a large colander full and made six sage bundles. They are drying well and I think I know some folks who can use some in their campfire to ward off mosquitos.

In a previous post I shared a gift of Kentucky bourbon and this week I made bourbon barbecue sauce. It is out of this world. I got some free frozen chicken this week and last evening I made bourbon barbecue pulled chicken for dinner and I was able to can two pints for future dinners. I have some sauce left for the 4th of July burgers.

Also canned this week was ground beef. I've never canned ground beef before so I tried while the caner was working. Four pounds became four pints that I could set on the shelf for future meals made easy. That's my goal to make meal preparation quicker and easier. I will be canning vegetable stock in the next couple of days to use up the veggie scraps I've been saving in the freezer and that will give me room in the freezer for more summer meal preps. With an apartment size refrigerator and freezer space becomes valuable. These are just a few of the homesteading activities going on here in our little townhouse this past week. We are thankful for what we have and that we keep finding ways to use the space wisely. We also hope that everyone has a week as wonderful as ours.