And the garden is off! The heat of summer arrived late May and the tomatoes, beans, corn, and cucumbers haven’t looked back. To help you keep up with what’s growing at Cottage Farmstead this year, we’ve put together a June 2021 homestead video roundup highlighting the latest happenings around these here parts. Enjoy! With the […]
June 2021 – Homestead Video Roundup Read More »
Do you suddenly have blisters on your arms and hands after working in your garden? You may have been a victim of phytophotodermatitis. Also known as parsnip burn or plant and sun dermatitis, it is a blister that appears after plant sap touches your skin combined with exposure to sunlight. If you’re reading this, I
Phytophotodermatitis – Plants that cause it and home remedies Read More »
May found us finishing up our summer garden planting. I used to try to plant everything all in one big plant-a-thon day right after our last frost date. That worked just fine when I grew a small garden with a few plants. However, that doesn’t work as well when you try to grow as much
May 2021 on the homestead – Saved over $150 Read More »
Maybe you’ve finally found THE tomato variety of your dreams or maybe you’re just trying to save a little moolah in your seed budget next year. Either way, learning how to save tomato seeds is a great skill to have in your homesteading toolbelt. Why save seeds? Saving seeds is a super economical way to
How to save tomato seeds – Beginner’s Guide Read More »
Yogurt has always been one of those foods that I knew was good for me, but one I was never able to palette. No matter how many times I tried to acquire a taste for store-bought yogurt, I could never stop from gagging at the chalky flavor. So gross! Shortly after I married Farmer Nathan,
How to make yogurt with just 2 ingredients Read More »
We are starting our fourth year of growing loofah and we’ve certainly learned a few things on how to grow loofah successfully (and unsuccessfully) from trial and error. Year one, we tried direct sowing in a partial shade location. The vines grew like crazy. All the way to the top of a nearby juniper tree…but
How to grow loofah – Tips to grow your own sponges Read More »
You’ve planted your very first indeterminate tomato plant. You know you need to start pruning your tomato vines…but you’re worried you might accidentally kill your tomato plant. Don’t let fear keep you from snipping away the suckers or taming the vines. This guide will help you learn how to prune tomatoes to keep your vines
How to prune tomatoes and not kill your plant Read More »
I don’t know about you, but April’s weather made us nervous! Our last average frost date is typically the first week of April…except this year we ended up with freezing temperatures and ice on the chicken waterers that week. Yikes! We had already planted our potatoes at the end of March and had our fingers-crossed
April 2021 on the homestead – Save nearly $300 Read More »
You’ve probably seen a myriad of ways to plant potatoes on Pinterest. From pots to wire cylinders, from raised beds, to specially made bags, and the list could go on and on. But you may be wondering how to plant potatoes simply and cheaply. No frills or major upfront investment to get started. Thankfully potatoes
How to plant potatoes – Simple and Cheap Method Read More »
The beginning of a new growing season is upon us. With the sun warming up the earth, memories of nasty pest infestations from last year, large hairy caterpillars, tiny aphids everywhere, or beetles eating the peppers may present itself. We grow all of our vegetables pesticide-free and know that the struggle is real. But what
Top 5 predatory insects and where to buy them Read More »