2017 july 1100

LATE AUGUST PROGRESS: 2017

by GardenGreenhouse

It's time to update the progress in the garden, which I have been putting off because: I’m too busy working in the garden to spend time writing, and choosing & editing photos. I’ve thought that what anyone wants to see is results. Results won’t fully be in until the end of the season. It's a big project and somewhat overwhelming. But, I have several observations to share near the end of our first season of high-altitude gardening. Some things have gone well, others have not. I ...

Building the Garden

APRIL 2017 GARDEN PREPARATION

by Garden

It’s springtime, and although there is certainly more snow to come, the garden process has begun! Tim is busy clearing the area where we will have our raised-bed fenced garden, and Laurie is busy planning and starting seedlings indoors, under grow lights. It's a big, exciting year for us, and we look forward to planting, tending & harvesting!   FIRST THINGS FIRST For the past couple of months, I (Laurie) have been planning what to grow, where to put it, and when to start each plant ...

cabinet-upper

FINALLY – THE CUSTOM KITCHEN IS UNDERWAY

by Mountain Gaitway

It's been a while since we posted, but that doesn't mean we've been slacking off. Routine things like trimming the horses hooves, making trips to get hay, taking care of the ducks, etc. keep us pretty busy. We also try to make sure we take a little time off once in a while to eat out or take a road trip to enjoy this country that we live in. We're also getting to know some of our neighbors more and are enjoying occasional meals with them and helping them out with some of their projects. Laurie h ...

IMG_5210

THE GARDEN SITE

by Garden

We've begun planning for our new garden, which should be well in place and ready to go in Spring and Summer 2017. We have been reading up on high-altitude gardening, looking for information about what to grow, where to grow it, when to start and how to do it. We want to know what to plan on and what to be prepared for. South side of the house Conventional thought suggests that gardens should be on the south side of the house in full sun. That's what all the books & websites will ...

hclbanner8967.jpg

HIGH COUNTRY LIVING IS LIVE!

by Garden

My new website, High Country Living.net is now live! There is still a lot to add to it, but I wanted to get it out there. High Country Living will focus on high-altitude gardening, raising ducks and recipes adjusted for high altitude. It will primarily be instructional, rather than blog-ish, but will also contain a blog featuring what's new at the ranch. If you're looking for information about living at high elevation, particularly in a rural area like ours, glean whatever you can from o ...

SOURDOUGH ENGLISH MUFFINS

SOURDOUGH ENGLISH MUFFINS

by Cooking

I'm not taking credit for creating these Sourdough English Muffins--I found the recipe on KingArthurFlour.com. I just wanted to pass along that they are delicious and quite easy to make. I added cranberries to mine. I used a 3.5" round cutter, and they came out great. I omitted the yeast, which isn't necessary because of high altitude. I fed the sourdough starter the night before, and it was quite active. I added cranberries while rolling out the dough. My cook stove has a grill on it, wh ...

squiche300

SQUASH & EGGS :: A GREAT COMBO!

by Cooking

We have lots of eggs from our ducks. I love butternut squash and onions, and grow as many of each as I can. How'm I going to use all these? Butternut S’Quiche! This is a savory butternut pie, perfect for dinner, especially in the fall when winter squash is readily available. It's a great way to use leftover squash after cooking one that’s just too big to eat at once. 

IMG_5336

WINTER DUCKS

by DucksSix-Pack of Ducks

Our ducks fare well even in the winters here at 9,000 feet. Our temperatures can range from roughly +60F to -20F. The other day it literally started out at -5F and reached +60F in the afternoon! Most often the sun is out at least a portion of the day, occasionally not. Sometimes it's quite windy, other times not. Sometimes there is snow on the ground, other times not. No matter the weather, the ducks will usually spend most of the day outside, and often out foraging for whatever tidbits they mig ...

goldie-doghouse

GOLDIE’S NEW YARD

by CrittersMountain Gaitway

As winter looms in the not too distant future, we have been thinking about a yard for Goldie where she would have protection from the elements when we have to go away. We also had started thinking about another shed at the end of the driveway and near the house. We came up with the idea of making the yard extend from the end of the deck and attaching to the shed where Goldie would have a sheltered area and a warm dog house. Here's a pic showing Goldie heading out to her yard that extends off ...

IMG_5225.JPG

GARDEN PLANNING FOR 2017

by Garden

We've begun planning for our new garden! Tim and I have been reading up on high-elevation gardening, to be aware of where to put the garden, how to lay it out, and what to be prepared for. We want to have a pretty good idea of the big picture soon, as I want to plant what I can before winter sets in, namely onions, garlic and asparagus. Our first thought was to put the garden on the south side of the house in full sun. That's what all the books & websites will tell you, right? So, this is ...