Had to try something new. Today that was making Tomato Paste. Since I didn't want to prep tons of tomatoes to do this, I bought Cento pureed Tomatoes (I love their flavor and use their peeled San Marzanos to make all of my sauces anyway). I decided to go that route. Now let me say that unless you grow your own and use those for Tomato Paste, this is way more cost-efficient. So why did I do this? Often I cook a dish and need only a teaspoon or so and after putting the rest of a 6 oz can back into the fridge, it'll remain there until it either grows legs or gets its own junk mail Making 4 oz jars is far far closer to what I actually use. My homemade Tomato Paste contains nothing but a bit of salt, Tomato and lemon juice for acidity since I water bathed the finish product. Not a single junk ingredient. No stabilizers, no preservatives, nothing! It tastes SOOOO much better. Seriously, I can't begin to convey how much better it tastes than conventional cans you can buy. Super simple to make: 2 cans of Cento pureed Tomatoes Salt (I used 3/4 of a tbsp per can) 2 tbsp of lemon juice per can Heat oven to 350F put both trays in the oven. I stirred my batches 1 hour in and from there checked on them every 15 min until it has the consistency I wanted. Filled 5 x 4oz jars, water bathed for 40 minutes and voila, all done.

Building an insect hotel is a fun and eco-friendly project that provides shelter and nesting spots for various insects in your garden. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to build an insect hotel: Materials You'll Need: Wooden pallet or wooden planks Bamboo canes of various diameters Hollow stems (reeds, sunflower stems, etc.) Pinecones, bark, and small branches Clay pots or bricks Straw or dry leaves Wire mesh or chicken wire Hammer and nails or screws Saw Drill and drill bits String or wire for hanging Optional: wood paint or sealant Step-by-Step Instructions: Design and Plan: Decide on the size and design of your insect hotel. You can keep it simple or get creative with the design. Insect hotels can be single-layer or multi-layer structures, and they can be hung on a wall or placed on the ground. Prepare the Frame: If you're using a wooden pallet, disassemble it into individual wooden planks. Alternatively, cut the wooden planks to the desired dimensions for your insect hotel. Create a rectangular or square frame by nailing or screwing the planks together at the corners. Prepare the Insect Habitats: Bamboo Canes: Cut bamboo canes into shorter sections, leaving one end closed. Arrange them inside the wooden frame, packing them tightly to create nesting tubes for solitary bees. Hollow Stems: Gather hollow stems like reeds and sunflower stems. Bundle them together and place them in the frame to provide nesting spaces for various insects. Pinecones, Bark, and Branches: Create nooks and crannies by placing pinecones, bark, and small branches between the bamboo canes and hollow stems. Clay Pots or Bricks: Stack clay pots or bricks to create small cavities where insects can hide and nest. Straw or Dry Leaves: Fill gaps and spaces with straw or dry leaves to offer additional nesting material. Add Wire Mesh or Chicken Wire:Cover the open side of the wooden frame with wire mesh or chicken wire. This helps keep the nesting materials in place and provides stability to the structure. Secure the Backing:Attach the wire mesh or chicken wire securely to the wooden frame using nails or staples. Hang or Place the Insect Hotel:Attach a string or wire to the back of the insect hotel to hang it on a sturdy support like a fence, wall, or tree branch. Alternatively, you can place the insect hotel on the ground. Maintain and Enjoy:Check the insect hotel periodically to make sure it's in good condition. Replace any damaged materials and observe the insects that come to inhabit it. Different insects may visit at different times of the year. Remember that insect hotels can attract a variety of beneficial insects to your garden, such as solitary bees, ladybugs, lacewings, and more. They contribute to pollination and natural pest control. Customize your insect hotel according to the insects you want to attract and the materials available to you.

Cranberry Hibiscus, also known as Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), is native to West Africa but is now cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant, as well as for its culinary and medicinal uses. Here are some key points about where Cranberry Hibiscus grows: Climate: Cranberry Hibiscus thrives in warm, tropical and subtropical climates. It prefers temperatures between 60°F to 90°F (15°C to 32°C) and requires a frost-free environment to grow. It can tolerate a wide range of conditions but grows best in areas with high humidity and ample sunlight. Soil: Cranberry Hibiscus grows well in a variety of soil types, including sandy loam, clay loam, and well-drained soils. However, it prefers fertile, slightly acidic to neutral soil with good moisture retention. It does not tolerate waterlogged or poorly drained soils. Water: While Cranberry Hibiscus is relatively drought-tolerant once established, it requires regular watering, especially during dry periods. It is important to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to promote healthy growth and flowering. Sunlight: Cranberry Hibiscus thrives in full sun to partial shade. It requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce abundant foliage and flowers. In areas with intense sunlight, some afternoon shade may be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. Cultivation: Cranberry Hibiscus can be grown as an annual or perennial depending on the climate. In tropical regions, it may grow year-round as a perennial shrub, while in temperate climates, it is often grown as an annual or brought indoors during the winter months. Propagation: Cranberry Hibiscus can be propagated from seeds or stem cuttings. Seeds should be sown directly into the soil after the danger of frost has passed, while stem cuttings can be rooted in water or soil. Overall, Cranberry Hibiscus is a versatile and adaptable plant that can thrive in a variety of growing conditions, making it suitable for cultivation in many regions with warm climates How to make a Beverage from Cranberry Hibscus Flowers Making a beverage with Cranberry Hibiscus flowers is a refreshing and simple process. These flowers are known for their tangy and cranberry-like flavor, making them an excellent addition to drinks. Here's a recipe for a Cranberry Hibiscus Flower Iced Tea: Ingredients: 1/4 cup dried Cranberry Hibiscus flowers 4 cups water Sweetener of your choice (e.g., honey, sugar, agave syrup) to taste Ice cubes Lemon or lime slices for garnish (optional) Instructions: Rinse the dried Cranberry Hibiscus flowers under cool water to remove any dust or impurities. In a saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the dried Cranberry Hibiscus flowers to the saucepan. Reduce the heat to low and let the flowers simmer for about 10 minutes. This will allow the flavors to infuse into the water. After simmering, turn off the heat and let the mixture cool for a few minutes. Strain the liquid to remove the Cranberry Hibiscus flowers, leaving you with a vibrant red hibiscus tea. Sweeten the tea to your liking with your preferred sweetener. Start with a small amount, then taste and adjust as needed. Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature. Once the tea has cooled, transfer it to the refrigerator and let it chill for at least an hour. When you're ready to serve, fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled Cranberry Hibiscus iced tea over the ice. Garnish each glass with a slice of lemon or lime, if desired. Enjoy your homemade Cranberry Hibiscus Flower Iced Tea! It's a delicious and refreshing drink that's perfect for hot days or any time you're craving a tangy and fruity beverage. You can also experiment with adding other flavors or herbs to customize the taste to your liking. Candied Hibiscus Flowers: Great in Popcorn like snacks or salads! Clean and dry your hibiscus flowers, petals or calyx. Paint a super thin layer of egg white onto each side of the flower petals or blossoms. Coat with fine sugar (can sprinkle it on or roll in it) Place them on a piece of parchment paper. Place in a dehydrator or Bake at 170 degrees for about 7 hours. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea) Recipe 2 quarts water 3/4 to 1 cup sweetener to taste. Use your favorite sweetener. 1 cup dried Hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus sabdariffa) 1/2 Cinnamon stick (Ceylon cinnamon) optional A few thin slices of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) optional A few Allspice berries (Pimenta dioica) optional Dash of Lime juice Orange or lime slices for garnish Bring the water to a boil the water. Add the Cinnamon, Ginger, and Allspice to the water, reduce heat and allow to simmer for 10 minutes; then add the sweetener, allowing the sweetener to dissolve fully. Add the hibiscus flowers and remove them from heat. Allow the flowers to infuse for 20-30 minutes. Strain the mixture into a pitcher and add your fruit slices. If you want to shake it up, add raspberries or mandarins. This drink is refreshing and nourishing. Agua de Jamaica is a refreshing beverage made of dried hibiscus flowers. It is refreshing and light—ideal for family bbq's, picnics, or Sunday brunch. This tea is a diuretic; it is beneficial for blood pressure and contains vitamin C.

As our Summer Gardening season is just about wrapped up (we still have some stragglers producing) and some of the fall crops are planted and growing, I can look back and go "Ok, what did we do differently this year that we succeeded? And why did it work..." We planted native Florida varieties a lot or things that were adapted to this climate. Growing things that grow better in different zones are going to struggle here because they are not adapted well to our heat/humidity/bugs etc. If you stick largely with Florida-adapted plants, your garden will have a much easier time flourishing! We didn't spray anything... at all. Our Garden was full of predators and we had wasps, ladybugs, spiders and everything else under the sun that basically did the pest controlling for us! Our Narnia (Cowpea) tunnel was fuuuuuuulll of predatory stink bugs and we identified a lot of hunting insects there. BUT... we didn't lose any crops. They literally did all of the work for us, and the tunnel, while finally thinning out, is still producing healthy cowpeas. We started with really good composting soil. Last spring we had ordered a truckload of topsoil and they delivered the most amazing composted soil that helped us grow healthy plants in abundance. I actually came across a video last night from "David the Good", where he laid out these exact things and explained why they work. It really is worth watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX_jHn-oXv8

I add a bunch of Milk Kefir (No measurement, I eyeball this one) to a blender, a can of sardines in water, bone broth powder, and a tbsp of coconut oil. Blend everything up and put them in silicone molds in the freezer. Once frozen, I put them in a container and keep them in the freezer. Both of my dogs are HUGE fans! You can adapt this to pretty much anything. Don't have milk kefir? Use plain yogurt. Blend raw liver or brains (which are secreting organs) with Yogurt to make a slurry, add to silicone molds, freeze and voila! You can make all kinds of treats. Here is a good rounded list of ingredients to use to mix and match: Milk Kefir, Goats Milk or Yogurt for Probiotics Pumpkin for upset stomach Coconut oil for shiny coat Beef or Chicken Broth (if you can make this at home even better because you omit all of the crappy added ingredients and stabilizers) as slurry medium(it's great for your dogs gut, joint and hip health) You can also add one 1 Tblsp of these to keep Dogs calm: Oatstraw Passionflower St John’s Wort Valerian Chamomile Kava Kava Lavender CBD oil Blueberries or Blackberries (Anti-inflammatory) Spinach or leafy greens (half a handful is enough for vitamins) Turkey Tail Mushroom (incredibly good for dogs) 1 Tblsp of Raw Honey (antibacterial and anti fungal) Chicken Hearts (Heart health) Egg shells (Calcium) Hemp seeds (Heart health) Sardines (Brain function) Kelp (iodine) Eggs (Raw or cooked for coat health)