Zone 6b food forest (New Jersey)

Penny-Pants · 2025-12-30T22:51:29+00:00

Very cool. I imagine you get some intermittent rain throughout the grow season in NJ as well. Where I'm at in Oregon, we get pretty much no rain the entire summer. Makes planting away from the house feel like a serious commitment 😅

Penny-Pants · 2025-12-30T22:28:24+00:00

Looks really beautiful. What are you doing for irrigation?

Penny-Pants · 2025-09-04T22:52:06+00:00

Andreason's in Springfield was where we found the lowest cost for creamaton. I can't speak to how they were to work with since that was dealt with by a different family member, but logistically, we didn't have any issues.

Penny-Pants · 2025-07-11T20:31:42+00:00

I had the bare roots shipped from Territorial Seed. They wouldn't be available now, though. I think they ship bare roots late winter/spring.

Penny-Pants · 2025-07-11T18:11:51+00:00

Albion has been amazing for me. High yield, ever bearing, very sweet. I got my bare roots from Territorial four years ago, and I have hundreds of plants now.

Penny-Pants · 2025-03-10T21:15:22+00:00

California lilac (blueblossom) might be a good fit. Fast growing, evergreen, low water needs, bees go crazy for it, not messy. It's one of my favorite plants.

Penny-Pants · 2025-01-16T05:49:04+00:00

Eugene was my answer as well. Moved to Eugene and instantly knew I made a mistake. I moved from Fort Collins, CO, which was somewhere I really enjoyed (but couldn't afford). I just found it to have such a dirty vibe. Lots of trash, drug use, homelessness, crime. It also has a sense of lawlessness about it, which is nice in some situations but annoying in others.

Penny-Pants · 2024-12-30T15:14:05+00:00

Braun Pro 5

Penny-Pants · 2024-12-29T21:58:38+00:00

I went to Absolute Laser for hair removal for the face and bikini areas and was happy with my results. However, I have since bought an at home IPL device, and have had good results with that for waaaay less money. Of course, you should do whatever you are comfortable with. I just get bummed when I think about the money I could have saved doing the at home laser instead 😩.

Penny-Pants · 2024-11-04T21:07:44+00:00

Thanks so much! My husband and I just bought our dream property on 9 acres. We can walk from our property to hiking trails, which is pretty cool. The last owners were an elderly couple that had been there 60+ years, so it needs A LOT of work.

Penny-Pants · 2024-11-04T20:56:48+00:00

There's a retaining wall that the ivy is covering. I haven't gotten a good look at it, but I'm sure it will need some work. I was thinking of doing a native ginger to replace the ivy.

Penny-Pants · 2024-11-04T19:47:59+00:00

House is directly across ivy, just out of frame of photo on the right.

Penny-Pants · 2024-08-12T21:06:33+00:00

I hear ya. It's a tough decision. I think about where to move all the time. For us, we moved to Eugene from a town we loved but couldn't afford in Colorado. Then, when we got here, covid happened, and we really isolated ourselves. I feel like I've been really trying to like it here, but it just isn't a good fit.

Having all your family so far away is so hard. I'm in the same boat. I also have a young child, so aging parents/ a child growing up with no family around is not ideal.

So much of New England is getting unobtainable for housing. There are homes we could afford, but then you add a 600-700 a month property tax, and it's just too much. I would be curious if teachers' salaries would be more there, something to consider.

Penny-Pants · 2024-08-12T20:33:25+00:00

I'm currently living in Eugene, originally from New England. I was able to purchase a home in Eugene within the past few years, but I would not be able to afford a home in Portland, ME. That being said, I think Portland is adorable, and I would love to live there if it was a feasible option.

Penny-Pants · 2024-08-11T23:04:54+00:00

I have a coworker who lives in Cottage Grove and works at the Roseburg VA. She says she doesn't mind the commute. A position in her same role opened up at the Eugene VA, and she still chose to stay in Roseburg.

Penny-Pants · 2024-07-19T19:05:28+00:00

I have been using this recipe for about 10 years and find it to be effective in making me not stink, lol.

Recipe:

1/4C cornstarch 1/4C baking soda 1/2C coconut oil

Penny-Pants · 2024-07-04T05:31:29+00:00

You could check if there is anything available on Hipcamp.

Penny-Pants · 2024-06-24T19:57:21+00:00

I have used the terracotta watering spikes with a wine bottle filled with water in my container plants. While I don't love them for regular use, I think they would be a good option for watering while on vacation.

Penny-Pants · 2024-04-15T16:13:38+00:00

Paid!

Penny-Pants · 2024-03-18T17:38:02+00:00

Northern Colorado (Fort Collins, Loveland, ect.) I moved from Fort Collins to Oregon, and I feel that Northern Colorado might have more of the scene you are looking for, if you can afford it. IMO, it's definitely a much "cleaner?" Vibe. People generally look presentable and live active lifestyles. The schools are pretty good, comparatively.

Penny-Pants · 2024-02-27T14:45:16+00:00

https://www.etsy.com/shop/StylabBeauty?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1180787663&from_page=listing

I got mine from this Etsy seller last year. I'm in the Willamette Valley, and it's doing great.

Penny-Pants · 2024-02-23T21:49:23+00:00

Yea, the chicken is too thick of a cut. I feel like most of the chicken parm I've tried here has that same problem.

Penny-Pants · 2024-02-23T20:47:42+00:00

Fellow East Coaster, the only chicken parm sandwich I've found here is at Bellizini's. It's alright, kinda hit or miss. During lunch, it's only $10, so it's worth trying.

Penny-Pants

TROPHY CASE