<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Fineness &amp; Accuracy]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://finenessandaccuracy.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Scott Madin]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://finenessandaccuracy.wordpress.com/author/smadin/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Hops!]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>I started trying to grow hops in my backyard last year.  Between being busy developing their root systems, and occasional run-ins with a weedwhacker, they never got very far, and only the Cascade (I had also planted Mt. Hood and Sunbeam) made it through the winter.  This year, though, I put up a proper wooden trellis and a little fence around the base of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops#Methods">bine</a> to make sure it was clear that <em>this is a thing that is supposed to be here</em>.<!--more--></p>
<p>I&#8217;m very happy to report that the Cascade is now bearing flowers!  Some of them look close to ready for harvest, in fact.  I am <em>very</em> excited about the prospect of brewing beer with hops I grew in my own yard.</p>
<div data-shortcode="caption" id="attachment_380" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-380" class="size-full wp-image-380 " title="Hop flowers — poor quality cellphone photo" src="https://finenessandaccuracy.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/hops-for-real.jpg?w=500&#038;h=375" alt="Hop flowers" width="500" height="375" /><p id="caption-attachment-380" class="wp-caption-text">Hop flowers — poor quality cellphone photo</p></div>
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