Rejuvelac-The Energy Drink

Thought I would share a recipe today for an easy energy boost. It is a fermented drink and it is not hard to make. It only requires two things: clean (non-fluoridated) water &  1/2 cup of wheat or rye berries.

This is what Dr. Ann Wigmore , Living Foods Lifestyle founder, said about it: “Rejuvelac contains all the nutritional nourishment of wheat and is more easily digested. It contains the friendly bacteria that are necessary for a healthy colon and to remove toxins. It is also filled with B complex vitamins and vitamins C and E.”  
Rejuvelac is full of enzymes that help in the digestion process, lactic acid that creates a healthy intestinal flora and  additional protein, dextrines, carbohydrates, phosphates and amylases.

Soak the grains overnight in a warm area overnight in a half-gallon jar. The next morning, rinse & drain. Sprout the grain for two days, rinsing & draining twice a day, doing the last rinse with purified water. For a stronger rejuvelac, process the grains in a food processor until broken up & place them back in the jar again. Fill the jar with purified water & allow to ferment for 48-72 hours, or until the desired tartness is achieved. Pour off the rejuvelac into a container & store in the fridge. For a second batch, fill with water again, ferment 24 hours & pour off the rejuvelac. For a third batch, fill the jar with water one last time, ferment for 24 hours & pour off the rejuvelac. .Discard the grains (into your compost pile)

One the left is a new batch soaking. The other has been sprouted & fermenting a couple of days.

This is what the fermenting batch looks like today. You can see the berries floating in the jar. They are being pushed around by the fermenting bubbles. Almost like watching a lava lamp. :-)

I use a piece of screening & a rubber band for the top. It is easy to drain the berries that way. After I rinse the berries, I leave the jar in the dish drainer like this...

What a healthy & cheap drink. So put down that soda and get your energy from something good for you. :-)

Here in the Midwest, we are waiting for a winter storm to hit. Supposed to start tomorrow morning in our part of Wisconsin and we could see (depending on which weatherman you watch) anywhere from 3 to 12 inches. On top of that, it has been below zero temperatures & windchills in the minus 20+ range.
The wood stove is stoked, there is food in the pantry and the "snow dog" Vinnie is whining to go out (again) :-). At least Tigger is getting smart. This morning, she just had to beat Vinnie out the door when I went out to feed the chickens. She didn't even get off the porch :-).

I will leave you with a new photo of Hayley. It was taken by KB Photography. I love it :-)

Seed Orders (So Far)

For the last week or so, I've been looking through the seed catalogs & the other day I brought the seed packets out of cold storage to see what I need for this year. The companies I ordered from are Seed Savers, Baker Creek, Peaceful Valley & The Natural Gardening Co.
Here is a list of the new seeds I've ordered so far...

Potatoes
Yukon Gold
German Butterball
Sangre
Purple Viking

Peas
Green Arrow
Dwarf Gray Sugar
Amish Snap

Carrots
White Lunar Carrot
Parisian Carrot
Scarlet Nantes
Danvers

Florence Fennel
Slow Bolt Cilantro
Nasturtium-Jewel Peach Melba
Lacinato Kale
Cucumber-Homemade Pickles

Squash
Winter Dickenson
Summer Fordhook
Long Island Cheese
Hopi Pale Grey

Melon 
Collective Farm Woman
Hearts of Gold

Cabbage
Early Jersey Wakefield
Mammoth Red Rock

Snowball Turnip
Chinese Red Meat Radish (Beauty Heart)

I have other things on my list to buy this year too & many outdoor projects in mind. I've also been looking at making a seed starting table like this one at The Door Garden. This pic is from his blog of the table in progress...

Another idea I have been giving some thought is beekeeping. Making the top bar hives wouldn't be that difficult (for Steve :-) and I would like to do my part to help the bee population (honey would be a bonus).
And then there is the hoop house we'd like to get up in the spring. Winter greens for next year....yum.
We still have chard  & cilantro growing in the cold frame on the south side of the barn. This was taken on January 12th.

I planted the cilantro from the garden in Oct. when it re-sprouted.

Neither one looks pretty, but they are edible. :-)

Blue Jay...pesky, but pretty.

I am also going to take some cuttings from our Nanking Cherry bushes & lilacs to start new plants. Still looking into that. I'll have to find some older posts on Christer's blog about propagation.
Enough for now...time to get busy!

Another Project Done

This weekend, Steve put up the doors going to the basement & workshop. We have had temporary doors there since we moved to the west side of the barn. Big improvement! In look & warmth. I went to town today to check out some paint colors. We are sticking with the "fiesta" color scheme. We got  the Fiestaware dishes out of the cupboard & held them up to the doors :-).  Both the doors are exterior doors. The one on the left goes down to the basement & the right one leads to the workshop. They should be more sound proof than interior doors.
We also took time out to play with Tigger & Vinnie outside. It was such a nice weekend.

Tigger bounding through the snow.

At first, Tigger would only walk  in the existing footprints. Then she got brave when she wanted to go over by the bird feeder.

Vinne & Steve played catch with the tennis ball.

Vinnie would stay out all day if we let him. :-) He loves the cold & snow. His fur is so thick with the two layers he has. Sometimes he licks at his paws though. Snow gets caked in between the pads.

Woodpecker at the feeder.

Vinnie & Tig playing tug of war with some yarn.

We are expecting an inch or so more of snow tonight into tomorrow. That's okay. I don't have to drive anywhere. I'll be able to enjoy watching out the window.

Tonight's sunset.

Moon Set at Sunrise

The last couple of mornings, we've been awakened by a bright setting moon out the western window. I took a walk with Vinnie & Tigger to get a picture but it was already too light out for a good shot of the moon.

A thoughtful look.

Tigger investigating a stump.

The weather here has been so spring-like. It is a strange January indeed. But wait. Don't even think it is going to last. There is a weather advisory. Up to eight inches of the fluffy white stuff coming our way. Plus a little wind. How exciting! (Only if you don't have to drive anywhere.) Part of living here at the farm is being self-sufficient. Food on hand in the pantry, wood drying inside for the stove, and a neighbor who will plow the driveway :-).
Last weekend we went to Jaelyn's 2nd birthday party. Time is just flying by. Such a big girl now.

Mom made good cupcakes!

A new tricycle!

Here's those Minnie Mouse cupcakes Kristin made.

Hayley is such a smiley baby.

Going back in time a little...we had a great Christmas celebration with the family.

Amy & Rob cooked a great breakfast.

Steve made Rob & Tim baseball card display cabinets.

I made aprons for the crew.

Jaelyn hugging her new dolly.

Uncle Shane enjoying some "Hayley-time"

 The week between Christmas & New Year's, we painted. We've always done the neutral colors but decided to go a little "fiesta crazy". Put on your sunglasses...here is a pic...

It's bright & cheery & definitely out of our "comfort zone", but we like it. The rest of the walls will be pine & the the trim at the ceiling & floor too.

That's all for now. Time to sew some more curtains...

And Then There Were Four

Well, we did it. The decision was made. We no longer have Bubbles, the rooster. We were hoping that his disposition would improve. Hoping that he would go back to being the sweet rooster of his youth. The rooster who was so friendly that he jumped in my lap while we were sitting outside. But, it wasn't happening. He has threatened every pet sitter that we've had. He jumped on our neighbor not long ago when he opened the coop door. Luckily, he had a heavy coat on. So, bye bye Bubbles. The Amish neighbors came & took him away a few minutes ago. I told them to take him as long as I didn't hear about what a yummy dinner he made. As far as I will know, he might be running around their barn, terrorizing them & not in a stew pot.

Bubbles & the girls.