Spring is right around the corner

Yes, it snowed here again last week but never accumulated on the ground. The daffodils are in full bloom but it is still too cold for the seedlings to stay in the solar-heated, greenhouse over night. Now, for a few days of sun, please!

Reverse Engineering - Change a Book into a Tree! - Workshop

Unleash your creativity in this engaging, hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to transform an ordinary book into a beautiful, artistic tree. 

Reverse Engineering
Change a Book into a Tree!

Two hour workshops will be held in January & February 2025

Unleash your creativity in this engaging, hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to transform an ordinary book into a beautiful, artistic tree. By exploring the fundamentals of reverse engineering, you'll deconstruct and repurpose a book to craft a unique tree sculpture. This workshop is perfect for both beginners and experienced makers looking to explore new artistic techniques!

• Supplies and tools will be provided.
• A complete workshop will run for two hours.
• Capacity: Up to 10 Participants per workshop
• A followup Workshop Chat will be available at GroupMe
• Price per workshop $200
  

Send a text to 617-454-4804 with your name, phone number and email address.
I will reach out to discuss dates that would work for your group.

Suzanne Brown
Annisquam Herb Farm

#annisquam #annisquamherbfarm #craftmaker

Time to Propagate Hydrangeas!

 

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-propagate-hydrangeas-8672200

 

In the garden Sunday morning.... https://youtu.be/jxQsgEuiYwg

Again in 2024 - the Annisquam Arts & Crafts Show in October

Our celebrated, Massachusetts State Senator, Bruce Tarr and Gloucester Councillor, Val Gilman partnered to auction an Andean style hat to benefit the Annisquam Village Church. 

Gardening is only one of the activities here at the Annisquam Herb Farm. Years ago I learned to knit and more recently spent hours knitting with my wonderful friend, Grace Murray. Grace knit and gave away over 400 hats to family, friends and local non-profit organization like the Annisquam Sewing Circle. This hat is a nod to her generosity in sharing here talents. I was delighted when the final bid came in at $525! I have signed up again to be a vendor at the annual Annisquam Arts & Crafts Show. Every year the offerings vary. Will see what makes it to my table in October in 2024 :) More info at http://www.annisquamherbfarm.com/

Summer squash, Artichokes & Blueberries...

 

After three days of higher than normal heat, we have having much needed rain. 

The sad news first - A new bad was created in the spring and ten broccoli seedlings were planted in it. They were coming along very well until - the heat hit. The soil dried out extremely fast. The plants were nearly all reduced to skeletons. It is a perfect example of the soil not being amended well enough before the plants were installed. I have no one to blame but myself! 

 

The good news - the oldest blueberry bushes are loaded wit berries. Even the four transplanted shrubs have berries. The summer squash has put out a few baby squash. The artichokes, started in the greenhouse last year have a blossom a piece on five of the six. 

 

Now the bad news/good news - the artichokes are planted MUCH to close together so a new bed must be prepared for them.

New projects to try!

Coaster

Finding new ideas to create items for the Arts & Craft Show and the Christmas Fair are high on my list!

I keep looking at this website and want to try some of Ellen's projects. She offers step-by-step instructions using a medium that most of us have not used. (All I have done is replace some missing grout in the floor when the new thresholds were installed.) The coaster might be a good one to start with or maybe one of the planters! Concrete Planters

Lots of information to get started: Artsy Pretty Plants

 

Handy scale for the kitchen...

 

Small but mighty, 

the tab on the front of this digital scale pulls out so it can be read when a large container is placed on the scale. It also has the "tear" feature which cuts down on the need to do a lot of mathematical calculations.

While working in the kitchen, the office and in the greenhouse this small scale is extremely useful and time saving. It weighs up to 5 pounds which is enough for most projects.

Weigh your fruit for preserves, mail for shipping or fertilizer for your plants.

OXO Good Grips 5-lb Food Scale

 

Check out my Tips & Tricks page for additional helpful information.

A will receive a small amount of money from Amazon if you purchase an item from Amazon using the links above. It does not add to the cost of the item you will pay.

Preparing Preserves with Confidence...

Putting up delicious Raspberry Preserves for home, gifts and craft fairs

Every spring I begin to think about the Annisquam Sewing Circle Christmas Fair. Each member is asked to donate items for the Gourmet Foods Table. Preserves are always some of the first items to sell out. This year I am hoping for a bumper crop of raspberries from our ever bearing variety. Ever Bearing Raspberries can have two crops each year. I have chosen to only have the late season crop by pruning the plants in the spring. By pruning then there will be more raspberries in late summer. Our plants came from Corliss Brothers in Ipswich, Massachusetts, a wonderful nursery nearby. My suggestion is to plant in the first year about half the number you think you would like. They will spread every year which will give you plenty of plants as the years go by.

I found the best recipe in America's Test Kitchen's Foolproof Preserving: A Guide to Small Batch Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Condiments & More. The recipe is well laid out, easy to follow including beautiful photographs. The results - fabulous. A must have on your cookbook shelf! I have never made the raspberry preserve from frozen berries. Others have tried with good results. Of course there are many other recipes in this book. 

I will add a post on DIY Orange Marmalade soon.

You may have some of these items or be able to purchase them locally. If not here are some links to those items on Amazon.

Other items I have found super helpful:

• Small digital scales - I have this XOX Scale that weighs up to 5 pounds.
• Remote reading thermometer - I use the Thermoworks product that is sold directly from Thermoworks.

Check out my Tips & Tricks page for additional helpful information.

A will receive a small amount of money from Amazon if you purchase an item from Amazon using the links above. It does not add to the cost of the item you will pay.

The importance of temperature...

Cookbooks use to say, "Cook until done."

Now you have to find the temperature for doneness. How are we to know when that is? Press on the top until it bounces back or it does not!? Stick a sliver knife in and when the knife comes out clean the item will be done? By smell, look or time?

Tired of hovering over the seafood trying to cook it to perfection, I ordered this remote reading thermometer. It is an America's Test Kitchen - Winner.  

ChefAlarm® Cooking Alarm Thermometer and Timer

It is now a winner at the Annisquam Herb Farm. My bread comes out perfectly at 200 degrees every time. Pork at 140. Fish - 120 to 140 depending on the species. One less thing to worry about!

I have given the ChefAlarm as a gift to a busy Mom and a man who is trying to be helpful:) A great gift idea for Fathers' Day!

I tried a few of the many available at Amazon and returned them. This is not listed on Amazon at the moment but is sold directly from Thermoworks.