My good friends and neighbors, Darin and Carla, are finally realizing their dream of opening a brewery–and we are so lucky, because it is going to be right here in Columbia Falls, Montana. I’ve been drinking Darin’s beer for years (especially fond of the Ginger)–and it is amazing. Everyone thinks so. Take a peek at the video on their Kickstarter page–and then consider helping them reach their goal.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/881314505/backslope-brewing
It has been ages since I’ve written on this blog, but it has truly been a very busy fall and early winter. In addition trying to keep up with my kids, husband and the Giant Newfoundland, I took on some new projects.
Such a pretty girl.
In October, we put the Columbia Falls Community Garden to bed for the winter. We planted flower bulbs and garlic. It was definitely a successful season. Our growing season was amazingly long, and we were able to donate nearly 260 pounds of fresh produce to the Columbia Falls Food Bank. I feel like I spent the better part of September and October in the kitchen, processing tomatoes. I was able to put up 74 jars of tomato products though–should last until next year.
74 jars of tomatoes on the wall…
I started teaching a new course at the high school called History through Literature, which fulfills the required credits for both US History and English 11. Those of you who are teachers know how time-consuming it is to craft a new course. For this one, I have the same set of students twice a day, and I am trying to implement student-centered and inquiry-based learning. There have been some successes and some things that definitely needs reworking for next year.
In addition to my full schedule at the high school, I also began teaching World History for the Montana Digital Academy. MTDA is a fantastic program that offers (free) courses for high school age kids throughout the state of Montana. Montana high schools are often very small and far away from one another (the state is just barely under 150,000 square miles with just barely over a million people) and they can’t always offer the same buffet of courses for their students; this helps to fill that need. I have students from Columbia Falls to Wibaux, and from Shelby to Red Lodge and everywhere in between. Some are home-schooled, while others are trying to get caught back up so they can graduate. Many of my students this past semester are taking World History in addition to a full class load at school. So far it has been very rewarding.
Finally, I was elected to the Columbia Falls City Council this past November. I have my first meeting on my birthday, January 6th. I’m excited–I have an orientation with the city manager on Thursday morning so I I’ll know what to expect.
Other than these exciting additions to my life/schedule, I taught myself, with the help of my mother-in-law, the basics of crochet. This will accompany my knitting–there are just certain things that are better crocheted than knitted. Like baskets. I still find crocheting awkward and much more difficult that knitting–but I assume it will get easier.
My first attempt. It has issues.
So, that’s what I’ve been up to. It’s a full plate, but someone told me that I must like it that way, or it wouldn’t be. Very wise, very wise. My next post will be about my “Very Crafty Christmas”. Stay tuned!
It has been forever and a year since I last posted. Turns out, May is a ridiculously busy month at work, at home and at the garden. Who knew?
I don’t have too much time to write…I have to finish knitting an end of the year teacher gift, but I wanted to show you what has been going on in the garden. If you are not a fan of pictures of garden plots, emerging vegetables, and the like, this post may not be for you.
Remember when I mentioned that River’s Edge Park, where the garden is located, was closed for two weeks? This is what they were working on:
The new entrance to River’s Edge Park
There are cool trails that the little kids just love…and there are big rocks to climb on…
So, ultimately, it was worth having to adjust our gardening hours.
Here is a nice shot of the Garden sign with some of the new landscaping:
And another shot:
The rocks are so much better than the ugly barbed-wire fence that used to be there!
Now for a garden tour. Everyone has been doing such a fabulous job prepping their plots. For those of you in other parts of the country who are worried that we are getting a late start, rest assured that gardening in NW Montana is a late May, early June kinda thing. We had about 2 inches of heavy wet snow late last week…lots of branches down, but luckily no garden damage.
First, the community beds:
Our herb garden against the backdrop of the new landscaping
Chives in the herb garden
Gorgeous oregano
Majoram. I’ve never used this herb before…what do you use it with?
Raspberries
Community potatoes–looks like they need a little weeding!
Onion and garlic beds. The onions look great–but I think we put too much straw on the garlic over the winter. Always a lesson to be learned.
Kyle planted corn–another plot holder asked if the corn knows to come up through the little holes in the plastic. I think it does!
Strawberries
On to our plot holders’ gardens:
Tasha’s plot
Ken and Leslie’s plot is looking good!
Ken and Leslie Plot #2
Janina and Brian have some onions and potatoes going
A long shot of Marlene and David’s 2 plots. They have been working hard!
I think Kyle and Erin have a thing for onions. Look at those beautiful rows!
…and their sweet hoop house
Another shot of Erin and Kyle’s plots–I have a tinge of gardener’s jealousy going on!
Master gardener Robbie’s plot. She is growing it entirely for the food bank.
The dedicated CFCG Food Bank plot is coming along
Adam and Kristen’s plot
Natalie is getting her plants started in Wall O’Waters. Great idea!
Naomi and Arnold are experimenting with potato “structures” and they have some things flourishing in their hoop house
Lucy and Andrew’s hard work is paying off
Staci and Craig have been attacking that pasture grass every weekend. It will pay off, I promise!
Ric and Jenna’s plot is cleared and ready to go
…as is Karissa’s
Long shot of Erma and Gary’s plots. I am jealous all summer long about how meticulous their plots always are!
Rhubarb in Daniel’s plot
I always watch what Kyle does in his plot very closely…his peppers were amazing last year. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to make salsa–my peppers just never produced.
And finally, if you have made it this far, this is what is growing in my personal plots.
Pallet radishes
The beginnings of lettuce and spinach…not entirely sure the pallet was the best way to go with these, but it is always an experiment!
Kale
Tomatoes and peppers. I went with the “red mulch” this year, and wow…the soil really is so much warmer underneath. Even more so, I think, than under black plastic. I may put it under my peppers too, since they are so sensitive to cold. A little research, first, though.
Squash of all flavors
Long shot of my plots…note the wheat growing in my straw. Weed free doesn’t mean seed free.
Baby sugar snap and snow peas
French marigolds
Broccoli Lane, with a few cauliflower at the end. My youngest insisted on cauliflower. Seriously.
Pretty potatoes in a pretty crooked row.
Newly emerged bush bean
Cabbage and garlic
I just realized I forgot to take pictures of the hops being grown by Desert Mountain Brewing…I will edit the post to include them tomorrow. This is our wonderful community garden. We still have some work to do, but I am so very happy with what we have accomplished.
Happy gardening!
…standing on the shore in Apgar Village, Lake MacDonald in Glacier National Park…
…view from our hotel in Vancouver, BC…
…as seen through Montana’s crystal clear water…
…driving near Helena, MT…
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From Michigan to Montana 