A New Dimension

I'm sure you've noticed the changed name and purpose statement of my blog. I hope it has piqued your curiosity as to how the content will change.  One major addition will be adding UrbanTerra Lifestyle fashion posts. These posts will show how you can save hundreds, if not thousands, on your wardrobe and still be current, stylish, less participatory in our throw-away society and help those in our community that need it most all in the process of choosing your wardrobe. Welcome and I hope you enjoy my first UrbanTerra Lifestyle Trunk post!

I'm gearing up for Fall and Winter in my closet. I've perused all the runway shows, fashion blogs, and style magazines and have condensed them down to four major looks for you. If you are like me, an eclectic soul, you'll be sporting all four throughout the Fall/Winter season. Most everything you see here has come from a Thrift Store. If not, it was purchased for 50% off or more on clearance at major department stores or Premium Outlets. Rarely do I ever purchase full price!

"Florals in Earthy Colors"
Choose patterns with slate gray, tawny brown, and/or midnight blue. Fennel green, clear crystal blue and rustic red will brighten things up a bit. Adding fur extends your outfit into winter.

Go Urban with slate gray and tawny brown. This slate gray chainmail knit brings out the lovely silvery blue tone of the fur. Add some chunky artistic jewelry to bring the look together. Like leather? This is the outfit that cries out for a sleek pair of caviar ankle boots.

Fair Isle knits are in. Nordic patterns can work as well if you choose those patterns that incorporate many colors. Pass by patterns with snowflakes.  Look for faux seal or faux otter accessories (these boots are vintage found at a small church thrift store).

The Russian-style fur cap and ankle boots warm up this crystal blue and ice necklace. Pair with a brightly colored folk-inspired floral print.

And lastly, my style forecast for fall/winter formal wear. A trend toward medieval, a nod to "The Game of Thrones".

Shopping Tip: If you know the color, print, or material type you are searching for there is no need to slog through each item on the rack. Just walk the isle with your eye looking at the tops of the hangers. You'll spot what you are looking for with more efficiency using this method.

Do you like this UrbanTerra Lifestyle Trunk post? Tell me what you think!

Spring Arrivals

 The Mighty Honeybee. Does she know the power she holds? Driven by the instinct of survival and the greater good of the hive, she literally flies until her wings are shredded and expires crawling on the ground. A lowly demise for a noble creature. In her short few weeks of life she has pollinated millions of plants, in fact 1/3 of the plants that produce the food we eat. She has helped produce pounds of honey for our enjoyment and beeswax for lip balms, soaps, candles and lotions. With so much impact on our world it's no wonder images of the honey bee have been found since the beginning of civilization.

This Spring I set up six hives. Three at UrbanTerra and three on Vashon Island, Wa. at Dragon's Head Cider where Wes and Laura Cherry grow fields of apples destined for fermentation. My husband and I have planted our fair share of those apple trees and now our bees will pollinate them. 

I installed the hives at UrbanTerra first. I inspected the queen for health, placed her in the hive and then dumped in the workers. They tumbled into their new home and went straight to work. They were created for that purpose. 

In just two days after being gathered into their package for shipping comb building began around the queen's cage in preparation for her laying. Little did they know that the wire box was not their permanent home. Isn't this a great visual for "Busy as a Bee"?

The following morning we headed west to catch the ferry to Vashon Island to install the prepared hives at Dragon's Head Cider. It was a brilliant Puget Sound day!

The still snow-laden Olympic Mountain range soared above the Sound waters and the unusually warm spring air was welcoming and refreshing. 

This ferry was headed towards Downtown Seattle. The Puget Sound ferry system allows commuters to live on the offshore islands yet only be a few minutes from their offices in the bustling city. Island life is a sanctuary and reprieve from the daily grind.

 Two ferries run between Fauntleroy, Vashon, and Southworth making the trip less than 30 minutes from West Seattle. From UrbanTerra to Vashon including a wait in the ferry line is usually only around 1 hour if my timing is right. Once I'm done working the bees I head out to explore the island's farms, beaches, sights, restaurants and shops. Soon I'll be posting about touring Vashon Island on my travel blog. www.expressionstravel.blogspot.com

Meet Wes. A young man with a big dream that he's living! Yes, we are drinking his lovely cider and enjoying one of the most beautiful Springs I've experienced in years strolling among his flowing orchards. Creating a symbiotic relationship with a local company who shares similar environmental ideologies is an ideal situation. Responsible farming that benefits local food producers that serve our communities creates a full circle of healthy living. Fabulous honey, fabulous cider.

I have now taken on the moniker "Bee Whisperer" by my husband. It's a pet name by which he bestows his complete approval and admiration for my activity as beekeeper. The only time I don a coat and veil is during a full inspection or if I have to get into the hive during inclement weather when the bees will be very unhappy of my intrusion. He finds that amazing and thinks that I have some special calming vibrations that the bees can perceive. I think it's because my bees are happy and content and I know when to leave them alone!

The hives at Dragon's Head are in an open situation and the entrances face east to capture the first rays of the sun. The trees to the north will give protection form cold north winds in the winter. Wes tilled up the grass underneath the hives and sowed wild flowers to make the bees happy and create a picturesque scene from the house.

My friend, Aaron Russell,  is filming a documentary video for my website. He has amazing talent and spent the entire day with us documenting the installment and interviewing me about beekeeping and UrbanTerra. These things take time and I am busting at the seams to see the finished product. 

Beekeeping is an integral part of a complete urban farm and a smart addition to a lifestyle of self-reliant living. If you live in the Seattle area attend my Natural Beekeeping presentation at Olson Kundig Architect's "DabbleLab" in Pioneer Square located at Jackson and Occidental next to Starbucks. It will be held at the lunch hour on May 22nd from 11am to 1pm. You can sign up for the class or just drop in.

Check back soon for more UrbanTerra Lifestyle.

Winter Plans Coming To Life!

I think the last we met I had mentioned warm hearth fires and Spring planning. The fires burned bright along with my imagination and creativity. With credit card in hand much purchasing ensued and now I'm paying the price with projects mounted up like hay stacks!

In those cold months we did accomplish plenty of pickling, sauerkraut making and a small batch of Mead.

Our sauerkraut featured at a friend's German dinner party.

We managed to stuff this crock full of cabbage added some whey creating a natural fermentation within. The kraut that went into that crock in November is now gone. Eaten or given away to friends and family it was enjoyed in so many ways by so many...but alas, the kraut is just a memory.

So much for looking backwards...let's be moving ahead to all those wonderful inspirations garnered in front of the fire!

Look at these strawberry growing ideas! Here on the west side of Washington State we get approximately 38 inches of rain annually and come springtime the slugs and snails emerge eating everything in their path. This is why I don't grow strawberries - the critters get 'em every time before they ripen enough to harvest! If the critters don't get them the soggy ground does. What I like about both of these structures is that they are space savers, growing up or overhead adding another dimension to your growing footage. I rather prefer the columnar one as the new runners can just crawl down into the planter below and plant themselves. Project 1.

We have decided to make beer this year...that only means one thing...we have to grow hops. So we ordered three varieties from our local homebrewing establishment, Mountain Homebrew in Kirkland, Wa. Fantastic people! 

Tettnang is used for flavor and aroma, Nugget is used for bittering with an herbal note and Golding the traditional English hop is smooth and sweet and is used for flavor, aroma, and bittering.

Hop rhizomes are planted in the Spring and take off growing 15 feet very quickly. Once their height is reached the upper stems send out laterals and these are what bear the hops. 

This leads us to Project 2. Building support for three varieties of hops. Chosen apparatus: Decorative vinyl arbors laced with twine in a pattern to accommodate fast, tall growing vines and have plenty of horizontal space for lateral growth. This project actually took Project 1's place as I have made plans for a documentary video of the UrbanTerra apiary project which happens this week. More on this in a future post. So, no strawberry columns made but three arbors built, holes dug, cement poured, and pier blocks being set as I write. Why am I sitting here writing you may ask? I had to take a break from lifting those 50lb blocks and bags! Oy Vey, my back!

Project 3: Get out of the shade! Not my shade but that cast by the tall trees on our southern property line. Plan of attack...take the neighbors some farm fresh eggs and have a conversation. Worked like a charm!

Plenty of those golden rays streaming through the southern border now. I'm happy, chickens are happy, bees are happy, hops are happy! Project 3: Complete (except for splitting the wood.)

I have wanted to plant fruit trees on this property since we moved in. Finding a place for them just wasn't happening until now. Introducing the mini-dwarf apple orchard.

I've planted three mini-dwarf apples and one columnar. These will only grow about 4' x 4' except for the columnar which will grow 8' x 2', and between them all produce a crop large enough to supply us with apples for the year. The varieties are Gala, Gravenstein, Zestar, and the columnar is Tangy Green Urban. The trees are planted but the "orchard" is not quite cleaned up the way it should be. Old blocks and ground covers will need to go, the soil tilled and amended. Since the trees are small and planted inside their composting pots it will be at least a year before their roots venture out into the surrounding soil. Thankfully that gives me time! Project 4 almost completed.

One more project has been hanging over my head for some time now. Years in fact. It's the north side-yard. You know, the side of the yard with the garbage cans. It's dark, wet, and the only reason people go there is if they can't get to the back yard through the sunny south side-yard. (grinning because we all have one). Well my north side-yard leads straight into the apiary and desperately needs something done. The project is all planned out I just can't bear the thought of moving 3 or 4 tons of flagstone again. So I think I'm going to hire some men to come and do the carrying for me and I'll do the bossing. I'm pretty particular about the pattern the rock creates. Plus, I want to do some rock sculpting so this project will be put off until this lady has more time on her hands. I'm hoping that means this summer.

Thanks for stopping in for another run down of creating an urban farm here at UrbanTerra. Keep in touch so you can see my new video and photos of all these projects completed!