Welcome to Homemade and Hops!

Here goes my first ever blog post! I am hoping to use this to document my adventures in gardening, eating local, drinking great beer, and cooking up some original (vegetarian) recipes. I also recently bought a house with my "partner" (some would say boyfriend, I think buying a house together bumps up the title) so there will be documented adventures in the joys of home ownership as well.

Here's the backyard with our newly made raised beds. Note the gravel "yard".

We had spent the last year participating in a local CSA (community shared agriculture), which rocked our socks, but decided this year to attempt growing our own vegetables. However, we're currently battling a mystery creature that is munching to the roots most things in our garden (not the tomatoes for some reason). We are lucky enough to live close to a wholesale produce shop that sells a lot of local produce so we have been taking advantage of that while we attempt to salvage our crops.

Why did we choose to give up the wide variety of produce from our CSAs again? I mean, just look at this amazing stuff!

 Popcorn!

Wild Walnuts!

Well, we aren't growing our own popcorn or walnuts but we do currently have tomatoes (3 varieties, more on that later), Waltham Butternut Squash, Peas, Jalepeno and Bell Peppers, Eggplant, Brussel Sprouts, Broccolli, Zucchini, Rainbow Chard, Kale, and Cilantro. Whew, sounds like a lot but it isn't too much really. Especially since our mystery guest has eaten most of the Chard, a good amount of the kale, and decimated our Brussel Sprouts. Hopefully we'll get something!

I am looking forward to documenting my successes (and failures) in trying to make as much as possible from scratch using local stuff as well as the work that is ongoing on our home. Now it's time to feed the dog!

Simcoe! Yes, he's named after the hops.