Kombucha, Kimchi and Frugal Accomplishments

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Valentines Day.  My man got me organic red roses, so I could use the petals in my soaps.  He is so thoughtful, and I'm sure they weren't very frugal.  Once again, I'm joining in with The Prudent Homemaker's Frugal Accomplishments.  Last week, I made yogurt & kefir.  At our Ladies Homestead Gathering, we made kimchi & were given kombucha starter.  I'm a little dubious about the kimchi, and have not yet mustered the courage to try it.  I find the aroma a bit challenging, and welcome any suggestions to get over that hurdle, and how to best use it.  Years ago, I made kombucha for a time, but it seems there are lots of additions people use now... herbs, fruit juices, spices, and I look forward to trying some of these.

I made suet for the birds, and kept a pot of water on the woodstove to add to the chicken waterer and the birdbath.  It's turned quite cold for North Carolina, with some single digit lows, and a forecast of wintry precipitation expected on Monday through Tuesday morning.  We'll be fine, whatever comes our way.  We both feel blessed being self-employed, which means we can stay right here, unlike the years we were expected to travel in less than safe conditions for our employers.  Besides not having to venture out onto the roads, we are happy to be able to keep an eye on all the animals and keep the woodstove fed.  The upcoming forecast calls for snow, sleet and freezing rain at the moment.  Our most common winter precipitation is some sort of ice, rather than snow, which is difficult to drive on, and our rural roads are rarely salted.  Warm up water was used in the teapot (for humidity) on the woodstove, and to water plants.

Several batches of soap were wrapped.  My soap shelf is full again, and I delivered some to one of the local shopkeepers.  I've been mulling over a new soap to create.  I shopped at the discount grocery & purchased 8 Annie's organic mac & cheese @ .40 ea., organic black beans .40/can, and organic Pomegranate juice $2.  I made Brandy's black bean burgers, and used homegrown sweet potatoes and collards, as well as homemade vegetable broth.

garlic patch, next to greens

The leeks and garlic are coming along nicely, and one of the rhubarb plants has poked up.  I hope I have enough to experiment on some recipes this year.  This week, I need to decide which plants I'll be starting first, and make that happen soon.