summer list review

-sew apron for jaden
-start fall seedlings: cabbage, broccoli
-direct sow parsnips, kohlrabi, kale, turnips, rutabega
-plant hay fields, pumpkins, okra (again!)
-trellis grapes
-harvest wheat
-harvest peaches
-harvest plums
-harvest apples
-harvest cherries 6 gallons
-gutters on barn and shed
-research toxic plants for sheep
-muck out goat stalls
-weed, weed, weed
-work on fencing for goats
-start root cellar
-renovate garage into summer guest cabin (to by used primarily by wwoofers)
-fence garden in on chicken side perimeter
-set up hot wire fencing around front yard for sheep

a rather productive summer here at the little homestead! we (thanks to our helpers) got the perimeter fencing complected which allowed us to stop tethering the sheep & goats. a bittersweet moment as i miss the daily contact with them.

the grape trellises are started, we just need to put on the wire.

poor thing...

just heard this from the next room...

'i don't like this...i want my boogers to go away, i don't want to be sick like sage, i didn't touch him.'

jaden is coming down with sage's cold & doesn't like it one bit.

independence days - week 21

since i'm struggling to get the garden in again this year due to my rambunctious toddler, i thought taking the id challenge would be a good moral booster for me. i try to practice this idea anyway during the growing seasons so it's a great reminder of how much i really do even when it feels like i don't.

this week was all about preparing. i've been reading justice desserts' 21 day challenge which got me back into the mood to prepare for the worst. filling in the gaps is my theme this week...

1. plant something:
^need to start planting garlic

2. harvest something:
^eggs, milk
^tomatoes
^okra

3. preserve something:
^okra

4. prep something:
^sewed 24 more t.p. wipes
^set up brooder 4 25 layer chicks that arrive today!

5. cook something:
^

6. manage your reserves:
^three bags clothing to thrift store
^stored 20lbs. potatoes, 2 bottles wine, 2 bags chocolate, 8 bottles vinegar, 1 bottle bleach, 1 box washing soda, 1 box borax, 4 big boxes baking soda, 1-24 pack of conventional tp (yuk!), 6 cans shortening (for making soap, i would never use it in cooking!)
^hand crank honey extractor, smoker, uncapping knife, deep supers & frames (purchased from a fellow marketer)

7. work on local food systems:
^sold eggs and jellies at local farmer's market
^bartered with produce vendor: milk for veggies
^picked up 25 day old layer chicks

8. reduce waste:
^use canvas bags at grocery store and farmer's market
^re-use egg cartons for our nest run eggs

9. Learned a skill:
^printed out information about baking w/o an oven/electricity to start attempting

hoopin'

maria! i'm going to have to make us some hoops. we had a lot of fun playing at a festival last weekend while i sold my herbal products.

independence days - week 20

since i'm struggling to get the garden in again this year due to my rambunctious toddler, i thought taking the id challenge would be a good moral booster for me. i try to practice this idea anyway during the growing seasons so it's a great reminder of how much i really do even when it feels like i don't.

summer is winding down drastically. plants are not producing much anymore. wed. my feet stung as i walked across the cold gravel driveway that was covered with dew to go milk the goat.

1. plant something:
^

2. harvest something:
^eggs, milk
^tomatoes
^okra
^elderberries


3. preserve something:
^1 quart dried apple slices (great nibbling snack)
^1/2 gallon sun dried (with dehydrator) tomatoes
^2 more - 1/2 gallon milk jars into freezer for winter consumption/use
^elderberries made into tinctures

4. prep something:
^sewed 24 more t.p. wipes (yes, i'm in that camp & i'm slowly recruiting more family members)
5. cook something:
^

6. manage your reserves:
^

7. work on local food systems:
^sold eggs and jellies at local farmer's market
^bartered with produce vendor: milk for veggies


8. reduce waste:
^use canvas bags at grocery store and farmer's market
^re-use egg cartons for our nest run eggs
^return containers to farmers at the market
^collecting packaging from grocery stores to store apples

9. Learned a skill:

my lil' devil

like the einstein hair???

still don't have my keyboard fixed & i've been swamped with making products for three upcoming festivals & taking master naturalist classes so i haven't had time to get it fixed.

i'm in search of...

a noodle recipe to make noodles without using eggs. anyone got one?

independence days - week 19

since i'm struggling to get the garden in again this year due to my rambunctious toddler, i thought taking the id challenge would be a good moral booster for me. i try to practice this idea anyway during the growing seasons so it's a great reminder of how much i really do even when it feels like i don't.

summer is winding down drastically. the wwoofers have all left. there is already a chill in the air.

1. plant something:
^

2. harvest something:
^eggs, milk
^tomatoes
^okra
^elderberries
^apples


3. preserve something:
^11 half pints ketchup
^froze 1 gallon okra
^sun dried (with dehydrator) tomatoes
^6 - 1/2 gallon milk jars into freezer for winter consumption/use

4. prep something:
^

5. cook something:
^

6. manage your reserves:
^

7. work on local food systems:
^sold eggs and jellies at local farmer's market
^bartered with produce vendor: milk for veggies


8. reduce waste:
^use canvas bags at grocery store and farmer's market
^re-use egg cartons for our nest run eggs
^return containers to farmers at the market
^collecting packaging from grocery stores to store apples

9. Learned a skill:

independence days - week 18

since i'm struggling to get the garden in again this year due to my rambunctious toddler, i thought taking the id challenge would be a good moral booster for me. i try to practice this idea anyway during the growing seasons so it's a great reminder of how much i really do even when it feels like i don't.

my parents' neighbors have a garden that produces enough veggies for the three households. since my garden isn't doing too hot, i've been accepting the overflow and reaping the rewards of filling my larder for the winter.

1. plant something:
^kohlrabi, parsnips, cabbage, carrots, rutabagas, chard, beets

2. harvest something:
^eggs, milk
^tomatoes
^grapes from my parents house
^okra
^green beans from neighbor's house again


3. preserve something:
^11 half pints ketchup
^froze 1 gallon okra
^sun dried (with dehydrator) tomatoes
^blanched and froze 1 gallon corn
^4 pints grape jelly

4. prep something:
^raised beds weeded & mulched
^replaced lemon juicer (thrift store find)
^thrifted three bags of clothespins

5. cook something:
^

6. manage your reserves:
^reviewed sheep shears and food processors
^made soap

7. work on local food systems:
^sold eggs and jellies at local farmer's market
^bartered with produce vendor: milk for veggies
^gave green beans to friend who gave me corn

8. reduce waste:
^use canvas bags at grocery store and farmer's market
^re-use egg cartons for our nest run eggs
^return containers to farmers at the market
^collecting packaging from grocery stores to store apples

9. Learned a skill:

garden in september

sorry for the absence...i'm still struggling w/o several keys.

the garden is amazing looking right now. the wwoofers (who are leaving friday..sniff) have done an amazing job with it.

some weird events have taken place this year:

-my bushing cucumbers are vining
-my volunteer pumpkin is actually a pumpkin and not a gourd
-my planted pumpkins look suspiciously like butternut squashes (which is great since the ones i planted got eaten by the bugs)


heart shaped tomato

this ain't no stinkin' pumpkin!

but this thing the size of my head is!

entrance to veggie garden from herb gardens

going off to the left

tomatoes!

okra behind the weeds

raised beds weeded, mulched & sown with fall crops


butternut pumpkin on the right

green cotton

very productive!