Wild Squirrel Acres

These dandelion poppers are a great appetizer. When battered and baked in the oven, they are crispy on the outside and tender and oh-so-fresh on the inside.  When harvesting dandelion flowers, make sure you have chosen a site that has not been treated/chemically sprayed.  Harvest dandelion flowers during full sun, otherwise flowers tend to close up. Leave some flowers for the pollinators! Honey bees love these. You can just pick the flowers, if you are only making dandelion poppers. Or, pick the entire stem from the base of the plant and eat the stems. Or, bring a shovel and dig up the entire plant...the entire plant is edible! My favorite recipes, from the top of the plant to the bottom, include: Dandelion poppers (flowers) Dandelion "noodles" (stem) Wild harvested salad with mustard vinaigrette (leaves) Roasted dandelion root tea (roots) Ingredients: Dandelion flowers Egg Milk Bread crumbs (half Panko, half regular) Salt & pepper Instructions: 1. Heat oven to 350 degree...

Got a tear in the knee of your pants? Skip the sewing and just glue on a patch with fabric glue!  I have definitely sewn the tear in the past, but I find that the fabric tears again just above or below where it is sewn! I've also sewn on patches, but working in the narrow leg of toddler's pants gets a little tricky.  I found this glue called Tear Mender on Amazon a few years ago and decided to give it a try: Since using this method, I don't even bother sewing anymore. The glue is very simple and very strong. It dries in about 3 minutes and doesn't have a strong odor. The patches have withstood countless washings. First, cut out a patch that is a similar color to your pants. Make sure the patch is larger than the torn area, and round the edges. Then, turn the pants inside out and place a old rag inside the leg of the pants. If you don't, you risk gluing the pant leg to itself! Trust me....😉 Next, apply glue to the patch and a little to the inside of the pants. Make...

This simple, healthy vinaigrette is delicious on almost any type of salad! It's great to make up a big batch in a shaker cup or quart-sized mason jar so you always have a quick, healthy solution and don't reach for that store-bought dressing with hydrogenated oils and corn syrup.  I like to mix store-bought greens with foraged greens, like chickweed, dandelion greens, garlic mustard, etc, for extra nutrition and a taste that you can't buy at the store. I find that when I chop them into small pieces, the kids are more apt to eat it....have you ever  noticed this? The extra virgin olive oil delivers heart-healthy fats, while the honey provides antioxidants, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.  I've tried both yellow and dijon mustards, and definitely prefer the yellow mustard, but feel free to substitute as you like! The vinegar is also versatile, and is delicious with balsamic, white balsamic, and apple cider vinegar. Don't skip the garlic, and don't skimp on th...

Refer to  How to Make an Air Pruning Bed 1: Plans, Shopping List, and Budget for planning and further instructions. Process: 1. Cut the 10' douglas fir/cedar/pine boards, using a circular saw, into: 4' (qty: 2) 2' (qty: 2) 2.Cut the lath, using a circular or miter saw, into: 4' (qty: 2) 2' (qty: 2) 3. Cut the hardware cloth in half using tin snips. 3. Construct main box frame by attaching the 4' sides to the 2' ends. Secure with four of the 3 1/2" screws at each juncture. Pre-drilling the holes helps to prevent the wood from splitting. 4.  Place hardware cloth on bottom and wrap around sides. Staple into place. Fold the edges like you're wrapping a present. 5. Reinforce the stapled hardware cloth with pieces of lath. Secure with the 1 1/2" screws. I used 5 screws on the long edges and 3 on the short edges. Again, pre-drilling the holes helps to prevent the wood from splitting. 6. Set the box on pedestals. You could use landscaping bricks, milk...