[JerseyJen]

Kiwis grow on vines and yeah, totally hardy except ours hasn't produced any fruit yet.
Ours grew really fast.

meal planning was my line in the sand against having a totally chaotic life as full-time working parents. Onefin, having given generously of his time with my never-completed-refi (still not done, btw) can attest to how insane I am.  Things degenerated such that we were never sitting down for dinner together and family dinners are super important in preventing your child from becoming an estranged drug-addicted felon, or so I've read. Additionally, meals were getting funny since we were food shopping by whimsy and coming home with random ingredients. The only way things work is if we plan and prep in advance, cut veggies/cook beans the night before, etc.
We have a rotating menu of about a 12-15 meals for weekdays. Thanks to no-boil lasagna noodles, I can throw together a main course in 15 minutes night before and my husband chucks it in the oven when I am on the way home.  You can totally do this Snaggle, even if you shoot for 1-2 nights a week that typically don't run too late. I think we used to spend so much time wringing our hands saying "what do you want? I don't know, what's in the fridge? and looking inthe fridge/freezer again as if something might magically reveal itself" that I've gained about 30min back a night. (plus I am eating more thoughtfully, more healthy and I am spared the heartache of seeing $$ of organic veggies turn to compost)

wow - i've never seen a kiwi tree. it's hardy in our zones? neat! i can't wait until we also have land to plant trees. right now, almost every square inch of our place has something growing, so we've got all we can deal with now (except bats - i really want a bat house!!!)
 
i admire your ability to do the food planning. it's my biggest problem right now. i'm just not able/organized enough to do it. working 70 hours a week doesnt help, but that's nothing compared to working AND raising a little guy, so you're proof it can be done. i just haven't put in the effort to make it happen.

[JerseyJen]

to add to the "little things" list...while I make heavy use of a clothesline sometimes it rains for a few days and laundry comes to a head. I've had good results cutting down the time I've got my clothes in the electric dryer using dryer balls.  The little nubs on the balls help separate the layers of your clothes and keep them from balling up together so they dry quicker...allegedly. My anecdotal evidence has been positive using 6 balls...two sets of cheapies and one set of Nellie's PVC free.

Been using the pressure cooker a lot lately too...cuts down on cooking times easily by half.

[snaggletooth]

to add to the "little things" list...while I make heavy use of a clothesline sometimes it rains for a few days and laundry comes to a head. I've had good results cutting down the time I've got my clothes in the electric dryer using dryer balls.  The little nubs on the balls help separate the layers of your clothes and keep them from balling up together so they dry quicker...allegedly. My anecdotal evidence has been positive using 6 balls...two sets of cheapies and one set of Nellie's PVC free.

Been using the pressure cooker a lot lately too...cuts down on cooking times easily by half.

great ideas!
 
i'm re-inspired by your comments above this one about meal planning. maybe i will buy a freezer for the basement, so i can cook a ton of stuff at a time and freeze it. on the pressure cooker - i'll have to get one and look into vegetarian recipes. there must be tons. only thing that bums me out at work is i have no way to heat up soups. there's a microwave, but i refuse to use them. soups are so easy.

[JerseyJen]

Snaggle, get a good ,insulated, stainless steel thermos for soups.  (I don't really dig microwaves either)
Even on the chilliest day of the year the stuff I heat and pack in the AM is still steaming early evening.
I got a set of 16oz and 32oz for the holidays 5-6  years ago and still use them both several times a week.

pressure cookers own it if you use dried legumes. I did about 5 cans worth of garbanzos in 20min w/o presoaking and then made a huge pot of channa masala in it.  Presoaked beans, better in my opinion, cook up in like 5-10min.

I try to throw my beans out to slow cook in a solar oven when I have time to plan in advance but life and weather don't always cooperate so the pressure cooker has def been helping to fill in the gaps.

[snaggletooth]

Snaggle, get a good ,insulated, stainless steel thermos for soups.  (I don't really dig microwaves either)
Even on the chilliest day of the year the stuff I heat and pack in the AM is still steaming early evening.
I got a set of 16oz and 32oz for the holidays 5-6  years ago and still use them both several times a week.

pressure cookers own it if you use dried legumes. I did about 5 cans worth of garbanzos in 20min w/o presoaking and then made a huge pot of channa masala in it.  Presoaked beans, better in my opinion, cook up in like 5-10min.

I try to throw my beans out to slow cook in a solar oven when I have time to plan in advance but life and weather don't always cooperate so the pressure cooker has def been helping to fill in the gaps.

thanks! it's on my wish list

[ya_bloody_wanka]

parents are getting solar panels. i never litter, i pick up trash on beach, i yell at friends for littering and tell random people i see to pick up their trash

[MATT JOHNSON]

I try to do my part aswell. I switched all my light bulbs in my house to those engergy saver ones . I use cloth bags for groceries ,  and the stuff my work does like i mentioned in another thread . Helps alot .

[ChopChaser]

I have to say that Onefin's mom Pennie gave us the best most fresh honey I have ever tasted. It was complex, savory and not to sweet or heavy, so different than the commercial monoculture stuff. Jen I have been experimenting with hardy kiwi and tropical kiwi (wintered now in my rooftop greenhouse) no fruit here either on the two year old vines. Also trying stevia for sugar, green tea for caffeine, mint for the mojitos, and goji berries for the antioxidants (as high as acai)
For my wife I have been growing several types of passion fruit with success (her favorite flower and fruit).

[JerseyJen]

My husband just got his bee boxes for next year.
I keep telling him to reach out to Momma Onefin!
Our kiwis must be about 6 years old now and have yet to give us anything but shade.
I did get a handful of figs last week though...yumyum!

Did you move your mint indoors?
I have a bunch in the front and was going to try bringing some in. The mojito food group should not be neglected!
This year I also tried freezing some of my basil...have not tried thawing and re-using yet.
I'm jealous ChopChaser...I want a greenhouse!

Next week is the last week of my local farmer's market.
Anyone else root cellaring local veggies this year? We've got about 20lbs of potatos, 20lbs of apples downstairs. I am going to stock up on beets, onions & winter squash at the last market this weekend.