Ask Mavis – Strawberry Freezer Jam, Chickens, Bakerella and More!

It’s that time again. You ask, and I pretend to know things and answer your burning questions. It really is so much fun to open my inbox and see the wide variety of questions you guys have. Reminds me that my readers are so diverse and pretty dang awesome. So keep those questions coming and I’ll keep racking my brain for answers.

Hi Mavis, I saw a recipe for strawberry freezer jam on your blog last summer but I can’t find it now. Can you please share your recipe again?

~Suzie from Corvallis, Oregon

Here is the recipe for my Fast and Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam. It’s the bomb diggity {and so simple to make, too!}. Hope you like it as much as we do.

I have followed your blog for several years and am envious of your success with everything you plant. My question is about cucumber growing. I plant 3-5 plants in spring/summer and I can never successfully get them grow more than a couple inches and all die. This is my 8th or 9th year and I want to grow them to harvest. Thanks in advance.

~ Cindy

Cucumbers can be a bit finicky at times. They LOVE warm, rich soil. That mean plenty of sun {they prefer soil temps around 70 degrees to thrive!} and adding fertilizer to your soil. Do you live in a cooler climate? I’m wondering if your soil is too cold for them to survive? You can check out their complete growing guide for all the tips and tricks that might help: How to Grow Cucumbers Start to Finish.

Mavis, love your blog. This year I planted peppers and beans. I had thought that the slugs were attacking them. I put out beer traps and got a bunch of them at first then lately only one or two. I don’t think it is the slugs that are still attacking the seedling but something is eating them. I check them each morning and some of the plants are just gone. Poof! Any ideas?

~Dale

That’s a hard one because it could be any number of critters! I know sow bugs seem to love to eat the sprouted bean seedlings and the leaves. Sluggo Plus might be a great option for you. It contains both spinosad {which kills the sow bugs} and iron phosphate {which kills the slugs}. Is it possible for you to plant them in pots and then transplant them when they are bigger? That might keep some pests away. Hopefully that helps!

Hi there Mavis! I am a long time follower of your blog. It is full of great resources and tips that I live by! I know you have hens in your backyard…..well, right now we’re trying to get our city council to allow chickens here! Do you have any resources, tips, or advice for raising and caring for chickens, or anything you think that could benefit us in our endeavor? Anything would help! Please and thank you!!!!!!

~Kate

Chickens are the best! I was so sad to have to rehome ours when we moved, but they went to a fantastic home where they are very loved! As far as advice, you can check out every last post I’ve ever done on my chickens by heading HERE. A few highlighted posts I’d check out are How to Raise Baby Chicks, How to Care for Chickens in the Winter, How to Maintain a Chicken Coop, and How to Collect, Clean and Store Eggs. Good luck. I think you’re gonna love being chicken parents!

Hey, Mavis – Have you seen Bakerella today?

~Jennifer from Facebook

Ohmygoodness. Those pug pops are freakin awesome!! I might have to throw Lucy a birthday party and make them for all of her fur friends. Ha! Thanks for sharing!