If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that we once owned a farm where we raised pastured, soy-free, corn-free chickens, hens for eggs, a few dairy cows, pigs, geese, ducks, turkeys & a pretty big garden. We worked really hard, and made some stupid, newbie mistakes along the way. Jumping … Read more
I asked on Facebook, “where do you get your garden seeds?” And of course, since “everything I need to know, I learned from Facebook,” I decided to share this information with all of you! This is what people said: Adaptive Seeds Adaptive Seeds is located in Oregon, and they specialize in “artisan quality, public … Read more
I know that there are lots of different methods for organizing gardening supplies. I thought I’d share mine today! In the photo above, you can see lots of garden goodies! On the left is the basket I carry with me every time I go out. In it, I keep plant labels, gloves, big packets of … Read more
In the quest for self-sufficiency, it is best to start with growing foods that are easy to grow. This builds confidence in the homesteader. When you put simple, tiny seeds in the ground and then harvest lovely greens a few weeks later, you feel like “I can do this!” Not only that, but through little effort, … Read more
We purchased soil/compost mixtures from two different local companies last month. One of the products looks great. It’s got ground coconut shells, and ground up bark, and an organic fertilizer. It is fine and free of clumps, and appears ready to plant in. We needed more soil on a Saturday, and the original place was … Read more
Do you know how much your family eats in a year’s time? As a farmer’s wife, I am keenly aware of how much meat, poultry, eggs, honey and dairy we consume. Raising enough food to meet our own needs, as well as an abundance to sell is an integral part of our life. To be … Read more
It’s been snowing here this week (I know! In March!?), so it hardly seems like time to plan the garden. But the truth is, IT IS time to plan! So far, I have cauliflower, cabbage, celery and celery root plants in pots, and I’ve got more on my list to start this week (like kale … Read more
(my pea seedling nearly two years ago…my first year of my own garden!) You are going to love this…the first step in starting a garden is dreaming about it! Easypeasy, right!?! Start thinking about where you would like to have a garden (if you have never had one)…even if it’s just in pots on a … Read more
{photo credit} Are you tired of zucchini right now? I’m not. 😉 If you’re stuck in a rut and you don’t know what to do with the last of the zucchini from your garden, maybe this will help you! Try some Zucchini Lasagna: Make some Zucchini Noodles. Serve them with Swedish Meatballs or beef … Read more
I have been spending a lot of time in the garden. I got to thinking, really, who needs INSANITY when you’ve got one of these: Seriously? Yesterday I think I spent about 5 hours using something like this (mine isn’t this exact one, but close!). This kind of tool is AMAZING for getting out big clumps … Read more