Back in high school I was assigned to read the short story “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker. Two granddaughters wanted mementos of their deceased grandmother and there was conflict over a handmade quilt. The eldest daughter wanted to take it to display on the wall of her city home to show off to friends and […]
How to use an antique wood butter mold Read More »
It’s nearly time to pick up that peeping box from the post office or pick up a few cute little baby chicks from the feed and seed store. It’s hard to resist such cute fluffy little biddies chirping peep peep peep. Even our dog adores baby chicks! But before bringing them home, there are a
Preparing for Chicks – 5 Essentials to be ready Read More »
After our January of skipping the grocery store to clear out the freezer we realized we still have a ways to go to be ready for the summer harvest coming our way in just a few short months. So while we relaxed our grocery shopping limitations for February 2021 on the homestead, we continued trying
February 2021 on the homestead Read More »
Spring is in the air. We’ve started our seeds and are dreaming of our summer vegetable garden. Only one little problem…we still have half a freezer full of veggies from last year! We need to finish up what we spent so much time preserving last year before we are overrun with this year’s harvest. What
Clean out the freezer vegetable soup Read More »
March brings a few welcome changes to the winter. The days are growing longer. The air gets a hint of the scent of new life. But unfortunately, it also comes with mud, debris, and the need for good cleaning both inside the house and outside. Hence, spring cleaning! Today we will venture into the garden
Spring Cleaning the Garden – Get ready for veggies! Read More »
You see the transplants starting to pop up at the garden centers. Or transplants that you have nurtured and grown from seed yourself, both eager to be planted. This can be a tricky prospect as either way you have time or money invested and it is hard to see that wasted in the form of
How to plant transplants in your vegetable garden Read More »
The days are slowly but surely getting longer. The daffodils are blooming. Spring is around the corner! And with it comes the annual spring cleaning marathon! To prepare for the season, we begin making our first batches of DIY citrus vinegar cleaner. Over the winter we eat more citrus, so we toss the peels into
Citrus Vinegar Cleaner – Non-toxic! Read More »
Farmer Nathan and I both grew up in the low-fat generation complete with skim milk and fat-free labels on so many packages at the grocery store. Fat was the health enemy to be avoided. So naturally, neither of us grew up cooking with some of the traditional fats (lard, tallow, shmaltz etc.). Other than the
How to Render Lard – Busy Person Method Read More »
It may be winter outside, but it isn’t too early to be thinking about your spring garden! The frosty temperature and occasional snow can make the coming season feel far off. It also can feel a bit intimidating when you feel like you’ve just gotten a handle on growing a few summer vegetables. Good news!
Beginner Spring Vegetable Garden – Step-by-Step Read More »
Oh, what joy can be found in growing your own seedlings for your garden! To be able to watch a seemingly inert dry seed spring to life as it emerges from the ground is truly amazing. There are many advantages to starting your own seedlings and an opportunity to enjoy the springing forth of life
Seed starting – How to jumpstart your garden Read More »