Henry’s Hobby Homestead

06/03/2026

Just a little peak in the garden before bed

05/31/2026

There may not be 100s of arugula seeds but there will be peppers

05/29/2026

The last few wind storms I ignored and lost a handful of plants I could have easily protected. This time I pulled out the steaks and trellis wire I already had on hand, and should be using regularly anyway. Then I moved some things into the safety of the east side plant room. Living in the gorge is at least helpful in that I know which direction the wind will be coming from. I’m not going to stress too much about what will survive. I have back up plants just itching to get out of their pots and into the ground. So glad I don’t have to work tomorrow.

05/25/2026

We picked up free vintage doors last night and I’m trying to decide what to do with them. Visualize each door in different bright or natural colors. Option #1 patio side of the garden divide. Pros: keeps the trellis for plants on garden side, looks better on patio side, don’t have to disturb plants already growing. Cons: how do we erect it? Option #2 garden side pros: looks better on garden side, can still use trellis on patio side using pots or grow bags, my original vision for fence was a solid privacy fence and backdrop, can add planters and art. Cons: might have to take out fence we just built to install wood posts for in between doors, will have to disrupt all the seeds I planted and peas growing. Option #3 use doors to enclose “plant room”. Pros: easier build, inexpensive materials for needed enclosure Cons: not as fun for garden, might make structure of house look j***y, less air flow for plants.

05/24/2026

I tried the rose bath salts out to see what they’re like. Looks like they’ll be 4 ounces a bag. The muslin bags held up great in the bath water but let salt dissolve. One unexpected occurrence, the water turned blue instead of pink. Apparently it’s butterfly pea petals I grabbed instead of hibiscus. Kind of an esthetic problem, blue would fit lavender where pink was my first choice for rose. My tea collection from my kombucha brewing days is off the hook. At least butterfly tea is an anti-inflammatory and soothes skin.

05/24/2026

Since I won’t have very many veggies to sell on opening day June 1st, I made botanical bath salts. I have been enjoying mine all winter long, so I thought I’d share the experience. I also started a batch of hops tincture. I have two jars of dried mojito mint and I saw a recipe for cucumber mint bath salts. Once I have some cucumbers to peel, I’ll be making that for sure! Sounds like a refreshing, summer scent.

05/24/2026

05/22/2026

We put the new tent up for the first time, love the 4 walled shade panels. Still need a sign. A check out table would be nice.

05/22/2026

A mantra that keeps going through my head, “if you don’t plant it, it will never grow.” It’s comparable to gambling, if you don’t play, you can’t win. No matter what bad weather, nasty bugs, or diseases could possibly ruin a harvest, nothing is worse than never being planted. So just plant the thing!

05/21/2026

https://theherbprof.com/hops-tincture-recipe-a-simple-and-effective-guide/
I won’t have much of anything ready in the garden so I have been brainstorming some things I can offer for June. I still have last years hop harvest dried and frozen. I have been looking into hops recipes for so many conditions. Personally, I would love it for scalp treatment, anxiety, sleep and estrogen. I’m going to pick up some ever clear today. I’m already familiar with tincture making from homemade vanilla.

Hops Tincture Recipe: A Simple and Effective Guide - The Herb Prof - Learn how to prepare this potent herbal extract at home.