"Give them fruit, they will eat for a day. Give them a tree, they will eat for life."

The Shire in Lord of the Rings was a fruitful land, beloved by it's inhabitants.  Our initial hope for Redwoodshire was to GROW... fruit, vegetables, plants... anything and everything we could learn to grow.  Little did we know, someone else had previously had a similar vision.  The previous owners gave us a tour of the property, and much to our surprise there was a fertile foundation to build upon.  Near the house, is a very old orchard of cherry (both sweet & sour) trees, an asian pear tree, bartlett pear tree, & an apple tree.  These fruit bearing trees are HUGE!  I don't even know how we will pick the cherries or asian pears.  Unfortunately, those large cherry trees have grown so big and prevented the apple and Bartlett pear trees from the sun- thus making them unfruitful.  

Cherry Tree in early Spring

The Laird has researched pruning techniques online and applied what he learned by pruning that old apple tree.  It will take a few years, but hopefully we can get it to produce quality fruit again.  As the leaves grew back on the trees, we discovered 3 more overgrown apple trees along the borders of our woods.  The Laird's father, a retired history teacher, explained that in the time when the house was built (1860) drinking cider was common place, which would explain the collection of apple trees around the property.  

Cherry Tree full of blossoms

Flowering Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossom Buds

We planted 2 baby apple trees for a better guarantee of future fruit:  a Macintosh for the Laird, and a HoneyCrisp for me.  The Laird will try to resurrect those old apple trees along the wood,s and we will see how that goes.  But for now, we will patiently wait a few years for these baby trees to grow up and produce some juicy apples to enjoy.  

When planting fruit trees, it is important to have at least 2 in order for cross pollination to occur.  Oftentimes, there are varieties that do better paired with some than others.  For example, my HoneyCrisp apparently pairs well with Fuji.  Though not necessary, it may produce a more prolific fruit bearer.

This new Macintosh apple tree has tiny red budding flowers!  We look forward to the day it will produce wonderful, juicy apples for all to enjoy when they come visit Redwoodshire!

Saturday Afternoon Project- Building the Garden Fence

This past weekend the Laird and his father built a fence to protect the garden from the various wildlife that roam Redwoodshire.  Deer are the known and primary enemy at hand.  We've spotted a few garter snakes, bunnies, a groundhog, a red fox, lots of birds, chipmunks and a Great Horned Owl.  Unfortunately, the Laird and miss Genevieve discovered our beloved Owl dead in the woods last week.

Fencing the Garden- 
Building a fairly simple and somewhat inexpensive garden fence (when re-purposing old materials)

Materials:

1)  8-9ft. Cedar Beams from our house renovation

2)  Metal posts found near garage

3) Gardeneer Deer -X mesh fencing

4) String to attach the mesh

Tools:

1) Post hole digger

2) Staple Gun

3) Sledge Hammer

4) At least 2 people

STEP 1:  Dig 4 post holes 2 ft. deep at each corner of the garden.

STEP 2: Place cedar post into hole, then drive metal post into ground next to cedar post (for  additional support)

STEP 3:  Refill hole with dirt and pack dirt down

STEP 4:  Space additional metal posts 5 ft apart between cedar post corners

STEP 5:  Staple mesh to cedar posts and tie to metal posts- try to keep taught at 6 ft. tall

** We are temporarily using an old lightweight metal fence as a gate, until the real gate is built.

STPE 6:  Use left over cedar posts, metal posts and rocks to hold and weigh the bottom of fence down and prevent animals from crawling under fence.

The is the opening to the garden, where the gate will eventually be

Gardeneer Deer-X can be purchased online.  We ordered ours from Ace Hardware.  It is lightweight, and fairly inexpensive (for fences),  and pretty much invisible from a distance.  We used about 100ft and have about 100ft left over- that we will use to cover the blueberry bushes, raspberry hedge, and possibly the baby apple trees.  Easy to install and perfectly suited for a fence.  We have yet to see how effective it is with keeping the animals out.  

QUIZ- Perennials of Redwoodshire- Spring

Over the past few years, our love of plants has increased, and we've grown in our identification of different plants through gardening and landscaping.  Whether you are a seasoned gardener or simply desire to improve the look of your yard;  knowing a little bit about different plants is a great place to start in your journey.  Every year, the Laird and I enjoy visiting plant sales at garden stores and festivals.  We usually buy 1 or 2 different plants to add to our yard; but we mostly enjoy identifying plants we already have and learning their names.

Can you guess what common perennials these are? (answer below photo)

PEONIES-  

As this is our first year living at Redwoodshire, we are excited to see what color flowers this Peony will produce.  They are quite easy to identify because of their reddish color as they sprout through the dirt.  The flowers will bloom in late Spring.  They grow best in full sun, but can also be placed in partial sun locations.  Peonies make a great cut flower for vases and are soon to be a favorite.  Due to the size and heaviness of the beautiful peony flowers, it is important to use a cage to support the plant in full bloom.  Insert cage in early Spring before the plant gets too large.  They have special peony cages, but a cut tomato cage works as well.

TRILLIUM-

These flowers grew in the woods near the college where the Laird and I attended, and was the first flower he gave me while we dated.  A beautiful woodland plant that does well in full to partial shade.  A great option for shade gardens.  There are 40 different kinds.  In our region, they bloom in early May.  The pointy plant behind the trillium is a newly emerging hosta- also a shade plant.  We were delighted to discover these trillium growing here at Redwoodshire, as they are part of our history.

PRIMROSE-

We first found this plant at a garden store, and purchased a few for our yard.  We were amazed by how many flowers it produces in one season.  They are one of the first perennials to bloom, and some even bloom in late winter.  The primrose thrives is partial shade.  This is one of the Laird's favorite spring perennials.

SEDUM AUTUMN FIRE-

There are over 600 varieties of sedum.  This particular kind has nice foliage in early spring.  In the Fall it produces fuzzy reddish blooms.  They do best in full sun to partial shade.

DAFFODILS-

One of the early Spring perennials to bloom, the daffodil adds a burst of color before other flowers have bloomed.  They can be planted anywhere, but will bloom sooner if exposed to more sun.  They make a great cut flower for vases.  There are many varieties and colors of daffodils.

The Fall is generally the best time to plant new Spring perennial plants.  Perennials are a wonderful thing because they come back year after year, with little work to be done.  After a few years of establishment, perennial plants are usually able to be split, which allows you to expand your current area or plant your perennial in a whole new location.

Step by Step Kitchen Renovation- Part 2

Original Kitchen

And so the kitchen continues to come together!  The prior post left off with the cabinets, counter tops & sink newly installed.  Though there is only one photo depicting this next round of work- it has taken a few months to do all the parts.

1) Installed GE Slate gas range oven
2)  Hardwood floors
3) PVC Wainscoting Backsplash
4)  Installed GE Slate dishwasher

We moved into Redwoodshire in the midst of major renovations.  The contractor had finished raising the upstairs ceilings & installing new staircase.  The Laird took on the HUGE task of renovating the kitchen.  And because being Laird and "kitchen installer" is not his primary job, the work has moved at a slow but steady pace.  Each task took a bit longer than we anticipated.  We moved in, expecting that we'd get the cabinets installed within 2 weeks.  But it was discovered that the outer wall was leaning outward and needed to be leveled.

So we lived at Redwoodshire without a kitchen for... a month.  The apron sink was installed at the end of the first month and the gas range at the end of the second month- let me tell you what it's like to make meals with a microwave and wash dishes in the upstairs bathroom tub for that long!  Call us crazy, but we did managed.  A bit higher class than camping.  At the time Lady genevieve was only 8 months old!  Needless to say, we are more and more grateful for each piece that gets completed.

HARDWOOD FLOORS:  The original floors were a red and white checkered asbestos tile.  In pictures it appeals to some, but in real life it was quite dingy.  We envisioned hardwood floors for our farm kitchen.  We purchased pre-finished Red Oak flooring and moisture proof underlayment from Lumber Liquidators.  Though we would have preferred longer planks, they came various sizes under 4ft.  We chose to do mixed width planks of 3 1/2" and 5", and alternated them in a somewhat structured pattern.  We would have preferred 3 different widths for an old farmhouse look, but that was not available with the wood we purchased.

Slate GE Dishwasher

Slate GE Gas Range

APPLIANCES:  Of note are the new Slate GE oven and dishwasher.  GE is the only company to offer this Slate color.  Originally I had imagined that we'd get a white dishwasher (we weren't planning to replace to oven yet) because I wasn't a big fan of black and felt like stainless steel looked too modern.  But when I went to Home Depot I saw the Slate appliances.  Upon research I found that only GE carries Slate colored appliances.  I fell in love with them and thought they would go so well with our rubbed oil bronze knobs and faucet.  I also felt that a white dishwasher would detract from the apron sink.  After much convincing and a good case of price comparisons, I was able to sway the Laird to go with the Slate appliances.  A cool feature of the slate is that fingerprints do not show up on the surface- which is a common problem with the stainless steel appliances.  GE has rebates running on appliances all the time.  If and when you purchase new appliances and are considering GE, be sure to see the different rebates available and time your purchases right.  Check out current GE Rebates.  We currently have propane heat, and had to convert our oven to take propane.  When we searched how to instal and oven and convert it to propane, we found a YouTube video of a guy converting the exact model oven that we had purchased!  It was so helpful.

BACKSPLASH:  We installed a PVC wainscoting for back splash.  This can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes.  Easy to install with a nail gun and liquid nails.  It's quite amazing what a difference it makes.  It is also a wonderful solution for those old plaster walls that are difficult to repair.  My hope is to extend the wainscoting the full perimeter of the kitchen at some point.

The Laird installing the new dishwasher

The larger tasks (cabinets, sink, floors, back splash, & appliances) are just about done, however there are quite a few finishing tasks to complete (trim & window sill, finish painting...)  And in time we will get there.... Though it is sad that our makeshift "dishwasher in the box" island has disappeared- we are glad to finally have a working dishwasher.  Though not worn out or broken, the old dishwasher (the Lady of Redwoodshire) is grateful for a a break.   Eventually we want to build a breakfast island for the massive open space in the center of the kitchen. But this is a project for a rainy or snowy day in the future!  Right now it's time to be outside exploring, gardening, playing, and enjoying the arrival of Spring...

Farmhouse Stair Renovation- Part 2

The stairs have taken on a whole new form with the addition of the newel posts, balusters, and railings!  With a new crawler in the house, we are very excited and relieved to finally have our railings up.  And now the Laird can sleep more peacefully.  We hired a carpenter for this job, and he finished the job in 6 hours!

Check out Part 1 of the renovation to see the entire process.
Farmhouse Stair Renovation- Part 1

We purchased unfinished square Newel Posts and a traditional shaped railing- all Red Oak.
Preparation steps:
1)  Sand with grit #220 paper
2)  3 coats stain- Miniwax Provincial
3)  2 coats semi-gloss polyurethane- lightly sanded between each coat.

(All parts of our stairs were ordered through Morse Sash & Door)

It was necessary to add a support beam, in place of the wall that was removed.  We stained and polyurethaned 4 unfinished 1 x 8 boards to wrap the support beam.  The balusters came primed, and we painted them an off white to match the risers and stringers.  They are a simple style with square ends.

The stair renovation drastically improved the look and function of the stairs.  Unfortunately we lost a very large upstairs hall closet, and were seriously lacking in storage.  Though we lost one closet, we gained storage space under the stairs with a new closet.  We also re purposed one of the upper kitchen cabinets to be a linen cabinet (bordering the stairs on the landing) to make up for the lost closet upstairs.  That is one thing about old houses, they don't have nearly enough closets or storage space. More details on re purposing the linen cabinet to come in a future post!

Original stairs

Almost finished Stairs

The final tasks: to install flooring on the landing & Trim- hopefully within the next few weeks.  In the future, my hope is to wainscot the wall leading up the stairs.

Conquering Household Chores- A Tip from the Lady of Redwoodshire

As Lady of Redwoodshire, there are always many things that need to be done to keep up with daily life and upkeep of the house...  And quite honestly, it can get a little overwhelming.  One thing leads to another, and when I get a chance to think (and lady genevieve is asleep), I realize it's been a month since the lavatory has been attended to.  Which then reminds me that the upper level carpets are in need of some attention as well.   And the stairs have a layer of dust on them... "how on earth do they get so dirty considering we remove our shoes upon entering the house?" And suddenly I remember it's been a few weeks since they were cleaned as well.  Sound familiar?  This is my life.

  Prior to Lady genevieve's arrival into our lives and our move to Redwoodshire, I had a schedule of chores designated for each day of the week.  Which allowed me to keep a fairly tidy home; just the way I like it.  Years ago, an old friend suggested the principle of assigning each day of the week with 1 or 2 different tasks; which allowed for the whole house to be cleaned each and every week.  Vacuum one day... dust another, and so forth.  AMAZING and so simple!  Cleaning an entire house each week.  Wow!

  It's time to revisit this principle and introduce it to life here at Redwoodshire.  The reason this principle works so well, is that it breaks down the daunting task of "cleaning the house" which would take a couple hours, into manageable small tasks that can be done during small chunks of time each day of the week.  The beauty of it is that each task gets done each and every week.  Mopping the floor only takes 10 minutes, especially if the floors have already been swept.  But if I have to sweep and mop, this is more than I have time for in this moment.  And so it goes undone.  And that list of chores "to do" gets longer and more overwhelming to the point of paralyis, and then we think to ourselves; "it's been 3 weeks since I cleaned that toilet, what's one more?"

STEPS to the Efficient 

Accomplishment of Household Chores:

1) Make a List of all chores

2) Designate a couple chores to different days
(balance time consuming chores with small chores on the same day)

3) Make a chart or note cards 
with each days chores & post in visible place

4) START with today!
Even if the bathroom hasn't been cleaned in over a month- it will get done within the next week, if you stick with each day's tasks!

One reason this works so well for efficiency is that rather than thinking about and then deciding what you "should" do to clean the house today, (amidst all the many things that "need" to be done)- your LIST has already decided what is to be done today.  The time to think & decide is eliminated, and you just get right to work.  I like to list the shorter/ quicker tasks at the top, in order to check those off the list and then move along to the next thing.

I like using note cards!

It's so empowering to finish my "To Do" list, and makes me want to finish it again tomorrow.  With a couple tasks each day, the burden of cleaning my home is lifted a little bit.   

Breaking the "whole" of cleaning the house down into small tasks- one task at a time.

New to ComPOSTing- a Post about Compost

A lot of leaves!

The arrival of Spring has meant lots of raking and clean up at Redwoodshire.  With the big move and our house renovation, we were unable to rake up all the leaves in the Fall.  I have had the opportunity to rake a TON of leaves and see this place come to life.  It is likely that I dragged at least 15-20 carts full of leaves to the woods.  I consider it an opportunity because I actually enjoy raking and find it relaxing.  It is quite rewarding, considering you are able to see near immediate results for your hard work.  Transitioning from dead and brown, to green growth, and then finally to the vibrant colors of life.  A beautiful transformation occurs whenever you do spring clean up outside.  It did not take long, to realize that our compost/ leaf pile in the woods was not going to be big enough to hold all the leaves we had to offer.  So our "one" pile, multiplied to three.

Recently I was asked, "How do you compost?  Do you just put your food scraps in a pile?"  At the time, my experience and understanding of composting simply involved collecting fruit and vegetable scraps, along with grass clippings and tossing them to a pile at the back of my yard to let them do their thing. This practice saved the kitchen garbage from smelling like rotting food, and I felt a little greener.  But the reality was that I knew very little about how to effectively compost, because I didn't have a goal.

The Laird grew up in a house built by his parents out in the rural countryside of eastern New York.  There his family tended a garden, raised chickens for a time, and still raise rabbits.  The skies were so dark at night, that he could see the stars. His family had a very structured method of organizing and disposing of waste.  Under their kitchen sink, were (still are) 3 garbage cans, each labeled with their designation.  On the counter top sits a plastic cereal bag filled with food scraps; closed by a clothes pin.  They organized and separated their trash!  I, on the other hand had a very different experience.  Having grown up in Sunny Southern California, my experience with trash was that everything and anything went into a trash bag, then into the garbage tote and out to the curb the night before trash pickup.  I knew a thing or two about recycling, but I had never heard of anyone organizing their trash.  At Redwoodshire, we set out to see if we could live without garbage collection.  As we have applied some of the Laird's family trash practices (recycling & composting), we have successfully decreased our weekly trash production to 1 garbage bag.  And so begins our journey.

Why do we compost?
1) We love nature- hiking, gardening, camping....  We want to preserve the environment and decrease our cumulative waste.
2)  We love to Garden- and every successful garden needs good organic material to be productive.


 BASIC COMPOSTING 101-
Excerpts taken from:  Cornell Composting Article & Earth Friendly Gardening Blog.  Check them out for more detailed information.

Compost happens when yard & food waste are combined with oxygen in a way that stimulates microbial decomposition. Microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and molds are attracted to the pile by carbon and nitrogen—their favorite foods. These microbes in turn entice organisms such as earthworms, millipedes, and beetles to the pile…and together they have the biggest food binge you’ve ever seen.

These items should be shredded/crushed/broken down as much as possible to speed the decomposition process.

Browns

• Fall leaves
• Hay & straw, cornstalks
• Shredded cardboard & newspaper (newspaper inks are soy-based which are OK)
• Paper plates, bags, towels
• Chipped brush, sticks, twigs, branches, bark
• Sawdust
• Pine needles (but not more than 10% of the pile)

Greens

• Vegetable & fruit wastes
• Eggshells
• Coffee grounds, filters, & teabags
• Horse, cow, rabbit, chicken, gerbil, goat, sheep, rabbit, pig manure
• Weeds without weed seeds & other yard waste (without chemicals)
• Grass clippings (but not if you use harmful chemicals on your grass!)
• Seaweed (give it a good soak to remove excess salt)

What not to add. In theory, almost anything can be composted except the waste of humans, cats, & dogs. Commercial composters compost many things that those of us with home piles shouldn't, because they don't have to worry so much about bad odors, pests, or weeds. But as a general rule, avoid composting the following to keep your pile free of toxins, odors, pests such as rats, and weeds:

• Meat/pork, chicken, fish, bones
• Fat, grease, oils
• Peanut butter
• Dairy products
• Foods cooked with sauces or butter
• Dog, cat, or human waste
• Plants with diseases
• Weeds with seeds
• Weed vines

START COMPOSTING 

1) Decide on a compost unit that works best for your yard 
- On the ground compost
- Rotating Drum compost
- Continuous Feed compost
- Worm Compost

2) Designate a collection container in your kitchen for food scraps
- They sell Composting containers for the counter.  We use cereal bags with a clip.

3) Understanding the GREEN & BROWN BALANCE- 

- Greens- NitroGen Rich- Colorful- Wet (food scraps, grass clippings, fresh manure...)

- Adds moisture to compost pile.

- Browns- CarBon Rich- Dry (leaves, soiled paper products, newspaper, hay...)

- Adds energy, Soaks up excess moisture & adds structure to compost pile.  Also helps airflow and prevent compaction.

* It is important to have a balanced mix of Brown & Green matter (3:1) in your compost pile.

Too much moisture, and not enough oxygen/ airflow = Bad Smell

RATIO:  3 parts Carbon: 1 part Nitrogen

4) Put it all together- like Lasagna
- Start with a layer of Brown at the bottom (for air flow), and then layer green, followed by brown...
- Whenever a green layer is added, cover with brown material to prevent attracting animals.

5)  Turn pile at beginning and end of growing season to help facilitate compost process.  The compost will generate heat, that allows the composting process to take place.  On average, without turning or other help, it takes about 6 months for compost to be usable.


**  Composting & Recycling are great lessons for children too!