acreage renovation: a garden for brother + sister bear

This spring we decided to make a garden for our children. We were wholly inspired by “The Berenstain Bears Patience, Please” after reading it to them. They begged us to have their own garden just like Brother and Sister Bear. One that they could till, plant, weed, and water and grow whatever they wanted. Of course we had to agree to such eagerness.

We used my small corn garden for their new garden. It was south facing and the best location in our yard for one. Geoff ripped out the old and temporary fence we had around it to keep the animals out. Then the kids and I each took a shovel and spread our composted food into it. We also moved all of the rocks and heavy stones from behind the garage. This was all hard work but they did very well. Next, Geoff rototilled and worked the compost into the garden, expanding it by a lot. Finally, he built a new fence to go around it.

I spent an entire spring morning planting seeds with them. I planned it out and made all of the little holes in the dirt. They wanted corn, carrots, cucumber, sunflowers, tomatoes, snap peas, watermelon, and flowers.

The kids meticulously filled each hole with seeds. Then we watered it all. They continued to water on the days where it didn’t rain. Within a few weeks we had sprouts. From there, and with occasional weeding, we had a full (albeit somewhat messy) garden!


They are so proud of their work. I am, too! Mostly everything came up, and we snack on their snap peas daily. I hope to do this with them every year until they are no longer interested. It’s such a special and rewarding thing.

Emory

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pink gin cocktail with grilled watermelon : independence day recipe

Gin Watermelon Cocktail - Kinfolk 1This recipe is perfect for any Canada Day or Independence Day celebration. The combination of gin and grilled watermelon make it such a fun and summery drink. The best part is, this recipe serves four people (or one thirsty individual)!

Have a great Independence Day weekend!

<3

Emory

Items pictured above are available in the Potomac Trading Post store.

Kinfolk_Vol16_TickledPink-4Pink Gin Cocktail With Grilled Watermelon (Kinfolk Magazine)

This refreshing cocktail will start off your warm summer evening right with a kick of gin, honey, lime and verbena.

Ingredients:

1/2 medium seedless watermelon (about 2 1/4 pounds or 1 kilogram)
4 fluid ounces (120 milliliters) gin
1 tablespoon honey, preferably acacia 3 limes
1/4 cup (5 grams) fresh lemon verbena, lemon balm or mint leaves, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup sugar
Ice cubes, for serving

Method:

1. Peel the watermelon and cut half of it into small cubes and the other half into larger wedges. Put the cubes into a blender along with the gin and honey. Add the finely grated zest and juice of the first lime, plus the juice of a second lime. Blend until the mixture is smooth and frothy. Let the cocktail stand for 5 minutes to infuse the flavors.

2. Pulse the lemon verbena and sugar in a food processor until the herb is very finely minced and blended with the sugar. Transfer the mixture to a small plate and set aside.

3. Meanwhile, heat a grill pan over high heat until smoking hot. Grill the watermelon wedges until marks appear, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Arrange the grilled melon on a platter and sprinkle with the finely grated zest and the juice of the third lime and a little coarsely chopped lemon verbena.

4. Rub the rim of 4 cocktail glasses with one of the squeezed limes to lightly moisten, then dip it in the sugar mixture to get an even coating. Fill the glasses with ice and pour in the cocktail through a fine strainer. Serve immediately with the warm grilled watermelon.

Recipe by Mikkel Karstad. Top Photograph by Emory Ann Kurysh. Bottom Photograph by Anders Schønnemann.

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  • Hello! My name is Emory. I am a wife, mother of four (three on earth in heaven). This is our life on the Canadian prairies.
    email: helloscarlettblog@outlook.com

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