Homestead Revival

Sunday Blessing

2012-05-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”

Thus the sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the Lord spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place and put them down there."

~ Joshua 4:6-8

Photo Credit

Stars and strips...

to serve as a memorial...

for all those who have served to keep freedom alive...

May we show our gratitude by not squandering what so many sacrificed to give us.

By God's providence, we may still worship Him today. Lord let us use it wisely!

'Behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation".'

~ from 2 Corinthians 6:2

What Will You Do This Summer?

2012-05-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Summertime. Three months of bliss! Not that the other nine months aren’t equally captivating in their own way, but when the regular academics are over for the year and the pressure of meetings, regular events, and school commitments has come to a close, the freedom that summer offers (along with the great weather) is a bit intoxicating to say the least! If you’re like me, the “wanna do” list is often more than time allows.

It’s easy just to write out a list of things YOU want to accomplish, but what’s on your list for the future homemakers in your family? While I believe in training daughters on a daily basis by having them work along side of me on just about everything I do, there is a time and place for learning a specific life skill that goes beyond the fundamentals or essentials and captures their passion for learning.

Certainly, I want them to know all the basics of homemaking. This does not change from daughter to daughter. Before they are grown, every child should know how to do laundry, cook a meal, clean a home, etc. But there are areas of specialization that they may find especially compelling and stimulating to their mind and soul.

The rest of this article is at Raising Homemakers where I'm posting today. To finish reading, click HERE.

Friday Inspiration: Camping Food!

2012-05-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

What would summer be without camping? Or at least a day-long picnic? Now is the time to mark a few days off on your calendar and reserve a site for your overnight stay, wherever that may be. And when we camp, it seems everyone gets a bit hungrier. So whether you camp in a tent, a camper, or a cabin, planning the food is a big event for the trip!

Get Campie has a Recipe Box of ideas (along with great photos and leads on campers - my dream camper is a vintage canned ham!).

This idea from Truly Simple was totally new to me... Orange Cinnamon Rolls, in oranges no less! Okay, so I don't do rolls in a tube, but perhaps an easy monkey bread recipe could be adapted for this? And use the orange pulp to make the icing? May have to try this one. Hey, I've camped with a sour dough starter. How hard could it be to do monkey bread?

Sure enough, someone is way ahead of me. Donna Kelley who is a contributor for "Mom Click" of the Daily Hearld came up with a blueberry muffin in an orange. Check it out!

Here's a link for 64 camping recipes from Better Recipes, including the traditional Banana Boats. The recipes are rated on this site, so it will give you a good idea of things that worked well for camping. I'm not promising these are healthy recipes, but the list will get your brain thinking so you can maybe adapt them to fit your eating habits.

Last year I found this list of recipes on Quiet Journey's site. It's quite extensive and has a little something for everyone. Most of the recipes on this site are from scratch, but easy to prepare, which is really nice since most camping recipes focus so much on cutting corners that they opt for ingredients I prefer not to use. (I'm fine with it for once in a while, but a whole trip on processed food will make us all come home needing a vacation from our vacation, if you know what I mean!)

Along the lines of healthy camping food, Katie Kimball has two ebooks you might want to consider. The first, Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods, features recipes for real food camping. The other book, Healthy Snacks To Go, has over 45 portable food items you can make for the hungry crowd.

I saw this Ina Garten Baked Fontina Dipped recipe on Pinterest and thought it should work for camping if you use a lid with coals on top. Going gourmet sure makes for some fine eating while in the woods! Get creative and think outside the box!

I like to try and gather some local food from the area where we're camping and make something. Last year, we camped at the beach and picked up some fresh clams. I planned this in advance and brought along everything I would need to make clam chowder (which was perfect on a cold foggy night at the beach!). Be sure you research farmers markets as well as recipes you might need.

If you'll be cooking in a dutch oven for the first time, you'll find Backwoods Home Magazines post on the Seven Secrets of Dutch Oven Cooking a must read as well as Scouting Magazine's guide for controlling the temperature!

Don't forget, if you're using a dutch oven over the open flames, a Grandpa Jake's Campfire Cooker would be a worthy investment! It allows you to cook items at various temperatures while having a few shelves for setting things on - always a need when camping! I have mine ready to go!

Finally, don't forget the snacks. I don't need to give you a list of junk food... all you have to do is walk down a grocery isle and you can fill your cart fast. But for those who want to take some healthy snacks along the way, consider making some homemade granola bars or trail mix to take along with you. Here's a list from Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans to get you started...

If you're going to have food, you'll probably have yellow jackets (wasps) as well. They are also called meat bees for a reason! (They're not bees at all! Bees are our friend, yellow jackets... not so much.) Last year, as we were wrapping up a fantastic camping adventure on a river in the mountains, ~~I got stung~~ several of us got stung and it was miserable! We could hardly eat our food on the last night because they were so thick! From now on, I'll take along my Rescue Disposable Yellow Jacket Traps to hang in the trees. I've used them in our outdoor dining area at home, but it didn't occur to me to take a couple camping. I can assure you, I won't forget again! (And they don't trap the bees, just the wasps.)

So, where will you be camping this summer? Please share your best camping food tip!

Goats and Roses

2012-05-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

According to public perception, goats can eat anything. That's not exactly true, but they will TRY to eat just about anything. And one thing they love... roses!

It's amazing how fast they can consume an entire plant. And if they KNOW it's there, the minute they're out... they go right for it! In the time it takes for you to catch on, it's probably too late.

But I'm one determined gal.

Recently, after they ate my roses (a second time), I got smart and pulled out the Repels-All. I've used this on my roses in front of the house because the deer like to eat them at night, but I hadn't thought about using it to deter the goats. So I tested it on the goats by holding the spray bottle up to their nose. Oh, yeah... it's totally offensive to them!

Repels-All is a natural repellent made from like dried blood, putrid egg, garlic, cloves, fish oil, and other nasty smelling stuff. It's totally natural, safe, and considered organic so you don't have to worry about using it. And it won't matter anyway because they are NOT going to like it!

Repels-All is made by the same company (Bonide) that makes MoleMax, another must have gardening product that I use. I wouldn't be able to grow potatoes without it because gophers around here are as thick as flies! Both products repel rather than poison, and so I hope my purchase encourages companies like Bonide to work toward making more great items that work naturally to discourage garden pests.

Believe me when I say, you want to be upwind when you spray the Repels-All. And wear gloves or you'll be smelling it for hours afterwards. When you initially spray your plants (it's works on anything), you'll think it's way too nasty and you won't be able to enjoy your garden! Thankfully, after it dries, you really can't smell it, but the animals still can. Once it has had time to dry, it won't just wash off either. It lasts a LONG time before you have to reapply. I think I use it about 2-3 times all summer long and never have a deer issue with my roses (when I remember!).

And now, I don't have a goat issue.

Bring on the roses!

2012-05-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Monday Homestead Barn Hop where you're invited to link up your blog with your very best post of the week; something happening at your homestead or something of interest that will help benefit fellow homesteaders. Plus, each of the 3 Homestead Barn Hop hostess selects her favorite post of the week to highlight the following week. So be sure to visit all three blogs because the "Featured Homestead" could be YOURS!

This week Elaine at Sunny Simple Life brought up an interesting fact... raw pumpkin seeds can be used as a natural wormer in chickens. I had never heard this, but always looking for a good holistic remedy, I looked into this a bit and seems a lot of people put stock in this tasty treatment. According to the posts I read, pumpkin seeds are coated in a naturally occurring chemical that paralyzes the worms so the chicken can then expel them (some feel you need to follow up with buttermilk to help with the elimination). You can read more about how this works at The Backyard Chicken Coop. At the very least, your hens will get a real tasty treat without nasty side effects!

Thanks for sharing Elaine! Hope your flock continues to flourish!

Join The Barn Hop!

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead

Kendra @ New Life on a Homestead

and Amy @ Homestead Revival...

...invite you to link up and share your homesteading adventures!

1. Write a blog post about what's going on at your homestead or a post on something you're learning or an item of interest that will benefit the homesteading community. Be sure to add the red barn button and link back here so others can join in the fun.

2. Come back here and enter your information in the Linky. Please be sure to link to your actual post (click your title and then copy the URL above) and not your home page so those participating later in the week can find your post easily.

3. If you don't have a blog, leave a comment and tell us what's going on at your homestead!

Please Note: As hostesses of the Homestead Barn Hop, please understand that we reserve the right to remove any links that are not family friendly. While this may be subjective, we will err on the side of caution in order to keep our blogs appropriate for all readers. Thank you for your understanding!

Occasionally there is a problem posting due to glitches in the internet or the Linky Tools. If you have difficulties or see that your post is removed and it follows all "family friendly" guidelines above, please wait a little while and try re-posting. We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, be we do not have absolute control over the internet. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Inspiration Friday: Al Fresco Dining!

2012-05-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

Pictures motivate me. I'm visual like that. So it's not surprising that I've been thinking about doing a pictorial inspiration series on Fridays for a while. All work and no play makes Jane a dull girl, indeed! Well, this Jane, anyway. And you?

Some weeks I may have a theme, but other weeks, it will just be a hodgepodge of fun things I've found that inspire. Or something just pretty to see. Decorating, gardening, animal care, camping, ... who knows where this will lead! Fridays should be fun, right?

So, on to the inspiring...

About this time of year I start to think about dining al fresco. I LOVE to dine outside!

A simple table covered with a white cloth and folding chairs can help focus attention on the people and the surroundings rather than distracting from the scenery. Foodies who follow "Outstanding in the Field" will be familiar with this theme. (Click the link to view their gallery of dinner settings!). This is something everyone can do... just set up a folding table somewhere in your garden or back yard, throw a sheet over it, and let the garden be the focal point. (You can just drag out your regular dining chairs if you need to!)

Still not simple enough? What about this...

Too much sun or heat? Go covered!

BHG

Apartment Therapy

Martha Stewart

Do you have an urban setting? Why not create a garden like space?

Blythe's via Apartment Therapy

Perhaps you live in an apartment building. Do you have a balcony? Background music and a small table top water fountain can help mask traffic noise. If you have to, keep the table indoors, but put it right up against the window.

Canadian House & Home

How about some creative ideas for something totally new? Check out this incredible homemade outdoor chandelier that doubles as a planter. I'm thinking an old galvanized watering trough might work for something similar as long as you had hefty hooks! And it looks like just about everything in this photo is reclaimed. It's a great way to furnish a patio for not much money.

BHG

Where I live, evenings can be a bit chilly. Perhaps an optional heat source wouldn't be a bad idea!

The Enchanted Home

Pottery Barn

I don't think it's so much about the items on the dining table itself, but rather placement of the table. Have you given any thought to where you could dine outdoors on your homestead? Perhaps a little TLC in a favorite spot would make for an enchanted setting. Add some white christmas lights or a few candles and comfortable seating (so people want to linger at the table).

If you live where mosquitoes are a problem, be sure to use citronella candles and offer guests a natural repellent. Chilly evenings? Keep a few scarves or sweaters on hand for guests who don't have a light jacket. Sometimes I like to play soft instrumental music in the back ground (songs with words make conversations difficult). After all, ambiance is part of the experience along with good friends, home cooked food, and great conversation!

Don't forget... outdoor dining isn't just for when you have company over. Why not dine outdoors every night? We do! After all, summer is fleeting and you've got to sieze the day (or in this case, the night)!

Now it's your turn. I'm making this into a Linky Party and the Featured Post on the right sidebar. You have till next Friday to take a picture of your own dining area and write a post on it. Tell us all about it and give us your best ideas! Talk chairs, do-it-yourself, or settings, but just keep it to outdoor dining. I can't WAIT to see your ideas!

The Great Tomato Experiment

2012-05-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

We all know tomatoes love heat and need at least 75 days to make that wonderful delicious fruit we all crave. My problem is that I just don't get enough heat in my micro climate to really grow to nice sized tomatos. In fact, the last two years, I didn't get to harvest any until late October! If it freezes before then, the whole tomato season is over in one night.

Determined to solve this and grow great tomatoes, I'm trying something new things this year. Like short season variaties that mature in 55-65 days.

And tomatoes in a bucket...

First, I acquired a LOT of food grade buckets for free from a local bakery. (Good for them in that they're recycling; good for me in that I can afford this project!) My husband cut the bottom off each bucket on a saw - can't remember... table saw or ban saw? Either might work.

Next he cut chicken wire in a square large enough to cover the bottom and continue a bit up the sides. Then he attached it with a staple gun. We didn't bother about the sharp prongs sticking out inside because they're way down at the bottom and it's not likely we'll be working in that area. However, he did use a round piece of lumber that he inserted into the bottom of the bucket to keep it from collapsing when he stapled. This just kind of helped it keep it's shape. Once stapled, he removed the wooden form.

Finally I dug a hole large enough to sink almost the entire bucket in the ground, leaving just the rim sticking up above. Before placing the bucket in the hole, I fluffed up the bottom of the hole and added a bit of amendment. After placing the bucket inside, I filled in around the outer edges.

Finally, I removed all the side leaves from the tomato plant except the very top set in order to encourage root growth from the stalk of the plant. Then I filled in with a mix of soil and amendment almost to the top leaves and added straw as a final step.

So now to explain the WHY behind this all...

• Protection. First and foremost, I needed to keep the gophers from eating my tomato plants! They take the entire plant down into their hole if you're not on top of them. The chicken wire will eventually wear out, but not this season. It can easily be replaced in necessary.

We live with wind all year long (although my property is one of the least windy in the area). The sides of the bucket will protect the seedlings from high winds until they are a bit stronger.

Although rare, we've had snow as late as June on the mountain. Since I saved the lids, if we have a late cold snap and the plants are still short, I can just put the lid on to keep them warm (and maybe weigh it down with a rock).

• Root growth. The open bottom allows for roots to go deep (as long as Mr. Gopher doesn't notice). If the bucket were closed, there wouldn't be a need to sink them in the ground. If you're gardening on a balcony, this will certainly still work, so go for it! But if you have the land, utilize it for mineral nutrients and maximum growth.

• Heat. The plastic will help trap some needed heat! A friend used black buckets at first, but that cooked the plants, Later she tried the white buckets and was successful. So I'm hoping the bucket makes the tomatoes very snug and happy so they'll produce lots of big fruit!

• Watering. Even as the plant grows larger, the bucket will act as a water well, concentrating the water right where it needs to be. The straw will help it from drying out (our summer humidity is usually around 10% - pretty low). It's important that tomatoes not get too much water, but rather consistant water, otherwise the fruit will get cracks. With a dripper down in the bucket, this will make for very efficient watering!

For support, I'm installing 6' metal posts - one between each bucket. Sturdy and strong, these will allow me to tie up the tomatoes as they get larger.

Perhaps not the prettiest planting arrangement, but I'm desperate! I think once the plant fills in, it will look a lot better.

And now I wait...

And dream of juice, ripe, homegrown tomatoes...

Updates forthcoming!

Have you ever tried this method? If so, please chime in with tips and let us know how successful it was!

The Garden Plan

2012-05-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

If I'm going to spend so much time in my garden, then perhaps I should show you what I'm up to! Sort of...

I've been taking pictures of my garden the last three years and every now and then I've posted a photo or two. At this point, I think I'll create a bit of suspense... I'll wait to "unveil" it when I get it a bit more "finished". (A garden is never REALLY completed, is it?). In the meantime, I'll keep showing your little snippets. And how about a map of it? Be sure to view the Garden Legend just below the map in order to identify each item.

So let me tell you a bit about what you CAN'T see...

This isn't a flat level garden. Remember... I live in the mountains! Those green areas with squash, potatoes, tomatoes... each of those are a different terrace, which means little retaining walls that need to be built. Oh, and the raised bed boxes are on another terrace.

Now you know why this is taking so long! I'm going to have to add masonry skills to my repertoire! I've started digging out the foundation for one and the block is all over the tomato area. And in the meantime, I still am planting and raising veggies. (By the way, I rotate those three green areas each year.)

The raised bed boxes are where I grow all my greens and other tender or smaller sized plants: basil, cilantro, lettuce, chard, peppers, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages, peas, etc. I don't have all 8 raised beds in place yet, but getting there! Each year we add a couple more.

The bees live tucked away in the upper left corner. You may be thinking that a beehive in the garden would fall into the category of "two's company, three's a crowd". But based on my own experience, I have found that bees and beehives are a lovely fit! However, because I live where rogue animals would love to have honey as a treat after dark, fencing around the hive is pretty much a necessity. (Have you ever seen pictures of a hive knocked over and destroyed by a predator? It's a sad sight, indeed! Trust me... you don't want to go there.)

Thankfully, the brown wood fencing was already in place. And since I planned to put my goats in a paddock in the garden, their corral fencing would secure a third side. I left one side open, but if necessary, I can fence this off, too. A cypress-like tree (this one is actually a Japanese Juniper, but it looks like a cypress; the other three really ARE Italian Cypress), a couple of bay trees that will be pruned to large shrubs, and a rosemary plant will act as winter wind breaks on the north side of the hives. These are all evergreens that are safe to eat should the goats manage to get their heads through and consume ~~some~~ a lot! (They just decimated my roses when a little someone didn't get the gate closed all the way.)

Most of the items on the map are in place, but I didn't mark all the bee friendly flowers that I've added or will be adding. My sweet friend, Gail, sent me a packet of seeds from Botanical Interests called "Save The Bees". I'm planting them on the other side of the fence, right in front of the hives! Lavender (another bee favorite) has been interspersed among the espalier apple trees and annuals such as zinnias and chrysanthemums will be scattered throughout.

I still have some plants waiting to go in the ground, as well as a few spaces that still need to be filled with something special, but the journey is half the fun! And I'm getting a really good farmer's tan!

What would you add that I haven't thought of? I'd love some input!

Barn Hop #62

2012-05-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week I'm featuring Nancy from...

Nancy had a great post on doing a soil test from your garden. I'm very interested in knowing how nutrient rich my own soil might be and this post really caught my eye! If the soil is depleted, your vegetables will be, too!

Living in Vermont, Nancy was able to send her sample to the University of Vermont for only a $14 fee. Very reasonable in my opinion! You could certainly do a home test sold over the counter, but according to the Contra Costa Master Gardeners, these will only test for N, P, K, and pH. (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium). However, a professional or academic lab can test for macro and micro nutrients for a few dollars more and should also provide literature for interpreting the data. I'd say that's well worth the investment!

Nancy also included some great instructions for getting an accurate sample. If you're interested in such things, I suggest you take a quick look...

Join The Barn Hop!

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead

Kendra @ New Life on a Homestead

and Amy @ Homestead Revival...

...invite you to link up and share your homesteading adventures!

3. If you don't have a blog, leave a comment and tell us what's going on at your homestead!

I'm Out In The Garden...

2012-05-11T21:51:00.001-07:00

And yes... I'm still around and haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Springtime on a homestead is always busy. I've sat down to write a post several times, but I can't seem to get one finished for the life of me! This I can say with confidence... it's not dull around here! The rattlesnake that made his last visit to the yard today (before succumbing to a sudden death) is just one example of the heart stopping suspense we've experienced recently. The good news... I think I have the mice under control, though the bobcat has still eluded us.

Potatoes and tomatoes should be in the ground tomorrow, along with a gazillion zinnias, a few squash, and maybe the peppers and eggplants. And hopefully, the new chicks will move out of the two brooders in the house and take up residence in the coop. Of course, the new chicks out there will have to move over, but there's room for all!

I have been falling into bed exhausted every single night, waaayyy past my usual bedtime. But it's all good! I wouldn't have it any other way. And hopefully, I shall return to posting SOON! Lord knows I've written about 10 posts in my mind already. Now if I could just get them typed out...

Winner: Preparedness Challenge #34

2012-05-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 34th Preparedness Challenge that is held the last Saturday of every month! I'm thrilled that so many of you have continued to add to your food storage, gather emergency supplies, and make your homestead more sustainable month after month! I'd love to hear some testimonies from you about how a little bit put aside every month has made a difference!

The winner of the 5 gallon water barrel and drum pum from the Preparedness Challenge sponsor, USA Emergency Supply, is...

Trina!

Congratulations, Trina! Please contact me so we can get your items on their way to you. (You'll find a link to my email on the right side bar by clicking "Contact: Email" - be sure to scroll down a ways!).

Start a list now for the May Preparedness Challenge on Saturday, May 26th. If you're like me, you need to be PROACTIVE on some of the more "challenging" items. I find food storage and sustainable living pretty easy, but emergency items are often a bit harder. However, I've already scored big on this for the next challenge! I can't wait to show you what I have ready to go in an emergency! Be sure to stop by to find out what it is.

Barn Hop #61

2012-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Katie of This Chick Cooks had a really easy and unusual recipe for Roasted Chick Peas that looked awesome (which I hope to make today!). I confess, I'm drawn to gluten free recipes right now since my own Katie (oldest daughter) is currently on a gluten free diet. And then there's the whole legume thing... I'm always looking for creative ways to incorporate these into our diets since they're inexpensive and often better for us than the alternatives.

If these are as good as the comments say, I may be in trouble! I like salty snack things. Does anyone grow chickpeas in their garden? Be sure to note her tip for cooking chick peas in the slow cooker (click her link within her post).

Join The Barn Hop!

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead

Kendra @ New Life on a Homestead

and Amy @ Homestead Revival...

...invite you to link up and share your homesteading adventures!

3. If you don't have a blog, leave a comment and tell us what's going on at your homestead!

Watering Bees Beautifully

2012-05-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Fridays... when most of us unwind and relax a bit. Me? I find myself drawn to Pinterest. Seems that I relax by perusing beautiful pins... either new pins or revisit some of my own pins that I've collected over the last year. Such eye candy! And a LOT of great ideas!

Like this one from Melissa of Tilly's Nest...

Honestly... is that beautiful or what? Be still my heart!

Melissa writes a chicken blog, but recently she's begun a new adventure with bees. (Next she'll probably get a goat! Homesteading is kind of addicting like that!) Her new bird bath is ready and waiting to serve as a drinking bowl for her small buzzing friends, complete with a little landing area right in the center (for bee safety of course - no drowning victims, please!).

Frugality in homesteading is always important, so of course, this should be considered when making a decisions. Kudos to Melissa for finding her bird bath on clearance at her local garden center! It makes her new bee waterer that much sweeter!

Now... compare her lovely watering pool to my own. I started with this pail of rocks...

While having rocks for landing on is good, I found that there wasn't enough landing area in this set up. So I added some smaller rocks to fill in the voids...

In this situation I found that the water level dropped below the rocks too quickly and then my little bee friends couldn't get to any water at all! The pail was just way too deep.

Finally, I used a water heater drip pan filled with rocks. This worked much better as there was lots of surface area for bees. I've since removed a few rocks and added some floating pieces of wood. It definitely does the job, but lovely? Not a chance.

Let's review... there's:

• beautiful, but not very practical
• practical, but not very lovely to look at
• beautifully practical in every way!

Given a choice, why not go for the beautiful AND practical? After all, we were created to enjoy beauty so that it would remind us of the beauty of our Lord and that we would not forget all beauty emanates from Him.

"... if the beauty we behold on earth has its root and origin in god, there must have been beauty in God from all eternity. What, then, is the beauty of God? ... God himself is the absolutely original pattern of all other beauty...

"Now how does this infinite divine beauty relate to our longing for beauty? I do believe that deeply rooted in every human heart is a longing for beauty... Is it not because we long to behold and be a part of beauty? We crave to be moved by some rare glimpse of greatness. We yearn for a vision of glory." ~ John Piper, Jesus Is Precious Because We Yearn for Beauty

"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple." Psalm 27:4

So if you were a bee, which would you choose?

I thought so. Thanks, Melissa, for the inspiration and reminder that even in watering bees, we can reflect beauty!

Saturday... local rummage sale... I'm on the hunt!

Seed Starting: Equipment

2012-05-02T12:29:00.001-07:00

Starting seeds indoors really isn't all that difficult once you know a few important bits of information, but because it would make for a really long post to include it all in one writing, I am going to break it down into smaller sections. It's easier for later reference and it's easier for me to get my brain around something new. Hopefully, it will be better for you as well.

So let's talk equipment. Like most homesteading ventures, you can go ultra frugal, super grand, or something in between. I usually find that the extremes create frustration... either because it doesn't work like it should or financially it takes all the joy out of the process. Typically, a modest investment in some good supplies will help you to succeed better than if you try to go "too cheap" and still last long enough to pay for themselves (if you shop around). The goal is to get the most bang for your buck, to only buy what you really need to be successful, and make do with what you can.

What To Buy

• Trays. The black plastic seed starting trays are worth every dime as long as you don't overpay. I find that I move my seedlings around a LOT and if you have to move them one at a time, you'll be exasperated. Or if you try to use something too flimsy or with sides not high enough, they tend to fall over and get damaged. Trays can be purchased on line, but shipping costs are a bit high due to the size. I suggest looking around locally at garden supply centers, nurseries, and even big box hardware stores. (How I use these will be discussed in a following post in this series).

You'll find different kinds of trays, but I use two types almost exclusively and I highly recommend you have a good supply of both.

The first is a solid bottom tray with no holes. This is mainly for catching water under a second tray, but I also have used these for growing fodder for my chickens (that's another post someday!).

The second is what I call a lattice bottom tray. It has just enough to hold your seed cups but allows water to pass through when you don't want your seedlings in standing water.

There is a third type of tray and I do keep some on hand for onions and if you use soil blockers, they might be handy. This kind of tray has some slits in the bottom for draining, but more of a solid bottom otherwise.

You can use the trays with "cells", but keep in mind that plants grow at different rates - some will outgrow their cells faster than others. You also have the issue of removing them without distrupting the entire tray of seedlings. And you are limited on the size so that roots can only expand so far. I really don't use these and don't recommend them.

On the other hand, I DO recommend a plastic dome (the short kind). You only need it until they sprout, but boy does it make a difference! Yes, you can use plastic wrap and I've used plenty in my day for seed sprouting, but it makes me want to say words that are not nice. Moving on...

A frugal option is to use your cookie sheets with sides (or jelly roll pans), but when water accumulates, you'll find them harder to move to drain off the excess. For the price, the reusable plastic trays are a great investment.

• Heat Mats. This purchase requires a bit more of your investment dollars, but I feel it's highly worth the price. A heat mat is a flat rubber coated pad that goes under your warm season seeds to help create an ideal temperature for germinating. You can purchase a temperature controller for it as well, but for the most part, I have found it really isn't necessary as I have had much success without one. However, if your room is a bit warmer, you may need to invest in one since the heat mats typically raise the temperature 10-20 degrees above ambient room temperature. You don't want to cook your seedlings!

Water is not an issue for heat mats either; you can run a hose with a sprinkler on them if necessary (I've seen photos of Eliot Coleman doing this) as they are waterproof. Don't go submerging it, but if you're using a watering can and some of it spills on the mat, you can relax!

Heat mats come in various sizes, but I selected one that fit the space I intended to place it on which holds about 4 seed starting trays at a time. Think a bit beyond your immediate needs. If you think it's possible you might expand your garden, don't buy the smallest mat! On the other hand, if you buy something too large, it might not fit on your table or you could have some seeds on the mat but not under your grow lights. The mat and the grow lights should match in size.

Many people recommend using a heating pad or Christmas lights underneath. I've used the heating pad and had some success, but most heating pads are not the right size or large enough. An electric blanket can give you more coverage, but don't let it get too hot! Most seeds germinate between 65-85 degrees, so you need to mimic that as much as possible. Another concern is watering. I do NOT recommend watering your seedlings on a pad or blanket. This creates more work for you, but if you ruin the electric blanket, it might cost more to replace than the heat mat! A final consideration is of a fire hazard. Normally it's not typically an issue, but if you're using it around water, then that's a different story.

Since most people already have Christmas lights, you might want to give this a try, especially if you need to spend money on another seed starting item. You can always purchase the heat mat the next season to spread out your costs. Typically water resistant, a little sprinkling shouldn't be an issue, but I would not go hog wild with water around the Christmas lights.

• Lights. Is it possible to start seeds without grow lights? Yes. Is it easy? No. Even if you can get the seeds to germinate (some seeds actually germinate better in the dark), they will often get leggy without proper lighting. And depending on where you live and the placement of your windows, this could be a big deal.

The good news is, you don't have to spend the really big bucks on this purchase. Many garden companies sell grow lights on stands for upwards of $250 (for a standard unit - not a small table top variety that only starts a handful of seeds). A standard florescent shop light (T-12) will suffice, but for my set up, I found that two lights were needed for each shelf that I have. I also selected a shop light that had sides that curve down so as to direct the light toward the plants below and not just all over the room. And this has turned out to be a good choice. If your plants are going to be in a room where you spend any amount of time, you don't want an annoying light glaring at you all day long!

As for bulbs, some recommend special grow lights or full spectrum florescent bulbs, but a standard florescent bulb should work fine as well. It's not like your seedlings are going to live out their lives under the light. You just need it until they're large enough to transplant when the weather is accommodating. I chose to use Philips Natural Sunshine bulbs. I'm sure I could have used a cheaper bulb, and I'm not sure if I gained anything by going with "natural sunshine", but my seedlings are very happy!

Keep in mind, you'll need some way to suspend or hold your lights up. A bit of chain or blocks of wood will come in handy and won't cost much at all.

If you live where the sun is strong in the spring and you have southern windows, you might be able to just turn your plants daily, but watch that they don't start getting too leggy!

• Shelving. Once again, you need to match your mat and light to your shelf or table top. It won't do any good to have a small shelving unit if your mat is hanging over the sides. In fact, it's bad for the mat! A stand could easily be made out of scrap wood, a metal garage shelving unit, or even a folding table. Just be wary of using your good furniture since water could damage anything with a finish on it.

Originally, I purchased a metal shelving unit, but after two seasons, I re-purposed it for holding storage items. I found that it was way more than I needed (over kill) and not easy to move. It took me three years to find the right location for my set up, so each time it had to be taken apart. And since this is typically a seasonal item, I didn't want to set it up in a prime location only to have to take it down again later.

I found my perfect match in a little folding table we already had from our earlier homeschooling years. My mat and lights fit it perfectly, it's easy to move (I can do it myself without a hammer!), and it's low profile. I can even cover it with a cute table cloth if I so desire (I find an oil cloth makes it easier to wipe down when necessary).

For my lights, I just prop them up on blocks of scrap wood, but underneath, where I keep my cooler crops, I suspend the light by chains from the leg mechanism. I need to work on a "proper" light stand, but this is something that can be done frugally without much effort.

• Watering. I recommend two items: a spray bottle and a watering can with a small spout. This way I can mist the soil surfaces (for really small seeds and tender sprouts) but I also have a means of fertilizing or soaking pots from the bottom (watering can method). The small spout allows me to control the flow and not knock over tender plants. It's also a bit faster than misting if you can get by with it!

So there you have my top seed sprouting supplies. Everything else is something you probably have around the house - a fork, a small spade, a bucket, etc. In another post we'll talk potting options, soils, and things like that. But for now, you can consider your budget and which items you might want to invest in.

If you're inclined to give soil blockers a try, you will need to invest in some additional equipment. I have a couple, but haven't actually used them yet. I've chickened out (for various reasons). However, Stephen McGehee of The Southern Agrarian has a couple of great posts here and here. I am referring you to him for further instructions on that topic. Even if you don't think soil blockers are a fit for you, do check out his blog! (And someday, I'm going to get brave and give soil blockers a try!)

For those of you who are veteran seed starters, what is the #1 piece of equipment you wouldn't want to be without?

Barn Hop #60

2012-04-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

As I was perusing all the wonderful posts on the 59th Homestead Barn Hop, I came across Julia's post about her new garden boxes at Throwback Road and I thought... what a GREAT garden! It's not only practical, but it's going to LOOK lovely, too! Then I re-read the title and realized she is doing this on her Colorado SUBURBAN homestead! Way to go, Julia!!

Here's what I liked about her garden that may help some of you when planning...

• She planned this well on paper before beginning, considering her needs
• She placed it well on her property, in a "nook", off to the side a bit, leaving her some family space still in tact
• The boxes are uniform and yet, laid out in a pattern so as to utilized the ENTIRE space and fill it out; it doesn't look like a box or two just stuck in the yard
• She considered her pathways as well. A combination of repurposed flagstone and pea gravel will keep her from trekking through mud or worrying about mowing in between rows.
• Most of the paths will allow her to get a wheel barrel or other type of cart down the rows.
• And of course, it's in full sun

Well planned and executed, Julia! I can't wait to see how it progresses over the summer. And I hope this encourages all you urbanites, soon to be "urban farmers"!

Join The Barn Hop!

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead

Kendra @ New Life on a Homestead

and Amy @ Homestead Revival...

...invite you to link up and share your homesteading adventures!

3. If you don't have a blog, leave a comment and tell us what's going on at your homestead!

Sunday Blessing

2012-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

"The flowers have already appeared in the land;
The time has arrived for pruning the vines,
And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land."
~ Song of Solomon 2:12

"As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes."

~ Psalm 103:15

"for you have been born again

not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

For, “All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls off,
but the Word of the LORD endures forever."

~ I Peter 1:23-25a

Dear friend, have you been born again? Today is the day of salvation! (2 Cor. 6:2)

Preparedness Challenge #34

2012-04-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

The last Saturday of every month is the monthly Preparedness Challenge and the give-away sponsored by USA Emergency Supply. I hope that you're prepping and putting something aside each month! Now is the time to prepare for those unexpected events.

Today, everything may seem fine... food is on the shelves in every grocery store across the country, electricity comes on the minute you flip the switch, and water gushes from the faucet at your request.

That's all well and good. But what is your plan in the event that the store doesn't have what you need, the electricity is down due to an event such as a tornado, or the water is contaminated due to a sewer plant leak (or something like it)? Now imagine that scenario effecting your area for miles and miles so that it's not feasible to drive over to the next town and enjoy a weekend "waiting it out" in a nice hotel.

What if.. a national disaster such as 9/11 happened in your neck of the woods. Not likely? Perhaps not, but stranger things have happened. How will you take care of your family? How will you help your neighbor? What will you "cook" for dinner that night? And the next?

Let's just consider one of life's most basic needs... WATER. In the event of an earthquake, water lines can easily be severed. That means, zero water coming into your home for an extended period of time. You've got the garden planted... great! But how are you going to water it? You have some water in the hot water heater, but that will go pretty fast if you're washing dishes, cleaning clothes, etc. Have you considered water usage priorities? Additional water sources? Water purification?

This is the rainy season on our homestead and I can't help but think how I'm missing a great opportunity by not having a water catchment system in place! (Which is one of the reasons I selected Chrissy's post of The New Me for the Featured Homestead recently). I'm reading about this when I can and considering my options, but at some point, if I don't actually DO IT, all that research won't bring water into the house.

The more research I do, the more I realize that just one source of water is not reliable enough. It's best to have several ways to obtain water in an emergency, and one of those ways is to have some stored, ready to use. But how much is enough?

Vicki Tate at USA Emergency Supply, wrote a post on Emergency Water Storage. If this topic is new for you (and even if it isn't!), I suggest you take a minute and read what she has to say and check it against what you're doing to prepare in terms of having water for your family. And to help you get started, USA Emergency Supply is offering a 5 gallon water barrel to the winner of this month's link up!

Unlike the clear plastic containers that you purchase bottled water in or that you repurpose for water storage, this plastic will not break down after a year or so. And they are DOT and UN approved for safe drinking. The large containers are nice, but the smaller 5 gallon size is excellent for those on the go:

• camping
• at the office (cause you might be there when a disaster strikes!)
• in the back of the car

To help you out even further, USA Emergency Supply is throwing in a Drum Pump which allows you to extract water without all that lifting.

How I Met The Challenge!

Here's what I did this month in each category (see category definitions near bottom of the post)...

• Food Storage: I added extra baking powder and baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and molasses. We found bananas on sale cheap and my daughter dehydrated a bunch (hope they last - hard to keep nibblers from sneaking a bite!). And I butchered a rooster for future use. He attacked us one time too many. Enough said.

• Emergency Preparedness: I purchased two heavy duty brown tarps for outdoor uses which can vary wildly! Just an FYI... if you are camping and might WANT to be found, blue is one of the most visible colors from the air. Having a blue tarp as a signal is an excellent idea. On the other hand, if you DON'T want to be found, go with green or brown. They make these reversible... wouldn't it be nice if they would put blue on one side and brown or green on the other. I kept finding silver on the opposite side. I also added some more agriculture grade 4 ml plastic for covering plants during inclement weather at a HUGE discount! A local hardware store was going out of business and I picked up a roll for about 70% off! (Thanks, Heidi, for the tip on that!).

• Sustainable Living: Once again, I find myself excelling in this category... finished the coop run, added a new portable chicken tractor for weeding (with two more to come!), put money down on a new milk goat, started all my warm weather seeds indoors, bought some raspberry plants, two blueberry shrubs, and another fig tree (couldn't resist!). Oh, and installed two hives of bees. And skills I've racked up this month... proficiency at mouse trapping in the garden!

Now it's your turn to join the Preparedness Challenge..

Join the Challenge & Enter The Give Away

To be entered in the drawing, leave a comment on something you did this week to be more prepared in terms of food storage, emergencies, or sustainable living (or all three areas!) OR link up your Preparedness Challenge blog post (you only need to comment or post, not both). Posts not related to at least one of the three areas of preparedness will not be counted toward the give-away. Please be sure to clearly state in your comment or post what you did this month to be more prepared (see my example above as one easy way to do this). Again, the three areas we are focusing on include:

• food storage for life's unexpected events whether related to long term effects from a disaster or a job loss and everything in between

• emergencies for times of power outages, natural disasters, and such

• sustainable living in order to be more independent, both physically and financially, and to live as close to the land as possible given each individual's situation

Please be respectful of our challenge and only add a post on one of these three preparedness topics ONLY in order to retain the integrity of the link up event. If your post is just a general homesteading post, please save it for the Monday Homestead Barn Hop.

NOTE: This challenge and give-away ends Friday, May 4, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Be sure to take the Preparedness Challenge picture and add it to your blog so others know you're participating and hopefully they'll join up, too! THANK YOU!!

Why Start Seeds Indoors?

2012-04-26T10:42:00.003-07:00

It's always tempting to just walk in a nursery and purchase lovely looking plant starts that are already six inches tall! Why on earth would anyone mess with seeds?

• Cost. One plant can cost you as much as $3-4 in some places! For that same price, you could purchase an entire packet of seeds.

1 tomato plant = $3
25+ tomato seeds (25+ potential plants) = $3

Hmmm.... SEEDS!

Even if you only use part of the package over a 3 year period, you'll still have saved a ton of money! And if they all fail but a handful? Again, you still have saved money. All you need is to have one successful plant and at the very least, you will have broken even!

There are some initial purchases you may want to make so that your seeds get off to a great start, but there are frugal ways to do this and you don't have to purchase them all at once (more on this later).

• Vermin. Another reason for starting seeds indoors? So you can have nice plants just like the nursery! And so vermin like mice don't eat your little seedlings and dig them up... I've caught 9 so far this spring! Birds will attempt to do the same, but you can cover the bed with bird netting and easily solve that problem. Mice are another problem altogether (see Know Your Enemy).

• Control. When you start seeds indoors, you have much more control over their environment and you can create an "ideal situation" for them to sprout. Of course, sometimes our idea of "ideal" can actually make them less strong, but knowing about these factors allows us to make adjustments. For example, seedlings outdoors are actually strengthened by occasional wind. It causes them to establish a more secure root system. We can mimic that by occasionally running a fan on them. Or placing them outside during a breeze when they are ready to be harded off (a period of transition to eventually remain outdoors permanently).

Unfortunately, not all plants can be started indoors and then transplanted. There are still some plants that must be directly seeded into the ground, such as carrots. As a root crop, their "roots" are very temperamental and they don't take kindly to being "rearranged" in the soil.

• Variety. When you go to the local nursery, you only get so many choices. But with seeds... the sky is the limit! Well, almost. It does give you the ability to select the perfect tomato for your microclimate. In my zone 7 garden, I need short season varieties for anything that is a warm weather crop. A tomato that takes 90+ days to mature won't fully ripen in time to harvest before the first frost because our summers are cooler. Even a variety that matures in 60 days will take longer to produce that ripe gem unless we have a sudden heat wave. Which leads me to...

• Timing. Purchasing plants puts you on the nursery's schedule. However, as you gain experience as a gardener, you can take advantage of all that knowledge you're gleaning and time your seedlings to your schedule and microclimate. For example, we typically get a couple of weeks of hot weather in August. To take advantage of that, I need my tomatoes to be loaded with green fruit in advance so the heat will cause them to turn and finish ripening.

Another timing example... my nursery is located 20 minutes from my house and the micro climate there is 2-3 weeks ahead of my own. I could purchase plants and hold on to them indoors until time to plant, but given the reasons above, I can time my plants to go in my garden when I'm ready on my property.

Finally, most nurseries don't offer vegetable plant starts for fall gardens, only spring. Many things can be staggered throughout the summer and grown into the fall, but unless you have available plants, seeds are the way to go!

Where To Buy Seeds

Each year I get at least 1-2 emails asking which seed company I recommend. And we're blessed that there are many great seed companies to choose from. How do I decide? A few factors I consider include (in order of priority):

• Actively seeks to campaign against GMO seeds
• Actively seeks to save heirloom variaties
• Actively promotes seed saving in general
• Selection (offers a wide variety including heirlooms)
• Catalog is easy to use and gives a good description
• Seed packets have good information printed on back
• Seed company is local (tends to have varieties good for my area)

Reliable Seed Companies

Here are a few that I know meet most of the top priority requirements, although they do not all meet some of the lesser preferences. Finding a local seed company is most difficult, but you could consider your region instead. Below, I've listed some of my favorites and what I like best about them. I've personally used all but Fedco, but friends who do use them are very pleased.

• Baker Creek Heirlooms - strong supporters of non-GMO; great heirlooms
• Seed Savers Exchange - strong supporters of saving heirloom seeds
• Seeds of Change - seeds grown in organic conditions/non-GMO; seeds are in durable zip lock top packets
• Territorial Seed Company - great varieties for winter crops
• Fedco - strongly oppose GMOs; good winter variaties (catalog is B/W, not colorful)
• Botanical Interests - packets loaded with information inside and out; no GMOs

The best time to order seeds in in January, right after the seed catalogs come out. By April, a lot of choice varieties will be sold out. If you can't get what you want this year, call these companies now and ask to be placed on their free mailing list so that you'll be one of the first to get a catalog at the beginning of the year.

Typically, I order from about 3-4 companies each year to get the selection I want. This means a few extra dollars in shipping, but if you share an order with a friend, you can curb the costs on that as well.

Next, I want to talk about actually starting the seeds indoors and a few tips I've learned over the years. In the meantime, I'm sure others would love to hear why you like to start seeds indoors and your favorite seed company and why!

Be sure to see some of my other seed posts:

Organizing Seeds and Planting Records
Make Your Own Seed Reference Cards

Guest Post: "Mother, May I?"

2012-04-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

If you've ever felt like the only word that came out of your mouth for 24 hours straight was the word "NO", then you're not alone! In fact, it's a common syndrome for many a mom (or dad). And I've been there, too. Come on over and join me at Raising Homemakers today as I tackle the "no" word and present a few options to help us expand our vocabulary!

Barn Hop #59

2012-04-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Danielle of Mossy Trees Blog had an great post on how to make pasta noodles out of Stinging Nettle! Wow! What an excellent permaculture recipe! And yes, it definitely looks edible...

I love the unique way she's used a little regarded wild plant for something tasty and satisfying. And for those of you who are not familiar with nettles, they're very nutritious! Found, free, food, fabulous... I'd say that fits well into the "Preparedness" category.

Join The Barn Hop!

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead

Kendra @ New Life on a Homestead

and Amy @ Homestead Revival...

...invite you to link up and share your homesteading adventures!

3. If you don't have a blog, leave a comment and tell us what's going on at your homestead!

Sunday Blessings

2012-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

"Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;
The number of His years is unsearchable.
“For He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain from the mist,
Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
The thundering of His pavilion?"
~ Job 36:26-29

"I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to You among the nations.

For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens

And Your truth to the clouds.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

Let Your glory be above all the earth."

~ Psalm 57:9-11

Busy As a Bee!

2012-04-20T10:55:00.002-07:00

The bees have arrived and the homestead is buzzing with activity! And not just with the new pollinators...

Without a doubt, spring is my busiest time around here. I'm beginning to remember this so that I don't plan a lot and the girls get most of their homeschooling done before April. We're just finishing up on most subjects and it's a good thing! It's all hands on deck!

• Bees: Two packages just arrived and have been sitting overnight so they calm down before installation in their new home. Yesterday I cleaned hive boxes and got them mostly ready, but will finish this morning. The company accidentally sent Italian queens, but because of my climate, I really needed Carniolans. They're overnighting the royal ladies and so I'll have to give the workers extra time to adjust to their new monarchs. Please pray this year's bees are a success. This is an expensive venture due to shipping costs and if this group of bees doesn't work, I'm going to have to switch to ferral bees and I'm really not sure I'm up to that!

• Chickens: While the mature hens are down to 5 plus 2 roosters, I picked up 2 Plymouth Rocks and 2 Salmon Farvolles this past week. Twenty four more chicks arrive at the end of the month - 10 Blue Laced Red Wyndottes, 10 White Rocks (for meat), and 4 Rhode Island Reds.

We're still trying to get the bobcat. It has become a daily thing... we've almost got it timed to when he shows up, but the girls are all locked up in their brand new chicken run (which is suppose to be for the chicks, not the hens!).

• Garden: Due to the mice (caught 3 so far), I'm having to replant peas, radishes, and lettuce. Some lettuce in another box is looking nice. I have broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, a few beets, and onions started indoors along with about 24 volunteer tomatoes that came up in the onion tray! I used some compost from my worm bin and apparently I must have composted a tomato because these things sprang up everywhere. I pulled them out when they got larger, using a fork and being oh, so careful, and replanted them in their own pots. And they're looking fabulous! I have NO IDEA what variety these will be! Unfortunately, I'm not sure it was real good for the onions. Some are doing okay, but it's spotty.

Today I need to start my warm weather crops indoors (my zone 7 plant out date is between May 15-June 1). I'm getting the season extenders down to a science, so I'm pleased with the progress there. Fencing is going in today as well for sectioning off the garden and goats, while creating a support for blackberries and such. Raspberries are also waiting to go in as well as some blueberries. We still need to make 2 more raised boxes, but the lumber company doesn't seem to have what we want and we keep waiting on them. Finally, my husband has some major plumbing issues to work on in the garden... we had a busted line this year because we didn't drain it in time and we learned a very expensive lesson!

• Goats: Dance Hall is still milking nicely for a Nigerian. She is giving me 3 cups or more each morning and 2 - 2 1/2 each evening, although I've noticed whenever we get a cold snap or snow, her production goes down until it's warm again. She definitely does not like the cooler weather!

Fiona has been bred twice and it has been unsuccessful both times. I'm going to try one more time, but before I do, I need to research what I can do to change her diet in order to increase her chances. In the meantime, we've about decided to purchase another Nigerian. (Oh, my! This is goat thing is addicting!) We had hoped to stick with Kinders, but after lots of research and talking around, all the breeders are 4-8+ hours away from us and that just isn't working out for us.

I've spent hours researching goat business... everything from minerals to feed! It's definitely a bit more complicated than chickens. And bees are more complicated than goats. But it's all extremely interesting and very satisfying. The number of nights we've set down at the table and recounted where all our food came from (and thank the LORD), and to realize that most of it was from our own homestead and that it tasted fabulous... priceless!

Life is busy, but it's GOOD!

Know Your Enemy

2012-04-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

The word "enemy" may be a bit of exaggeration, but the homesteader definitely faces a few nemesis when it' comes to gardening or raising animals. Deer, rabbits, bobcats, owls... the list can go on and on. You need to know what you're up against so you can fight back and defend your domain. Wildlife is beautiful and shouldn't be killed just for the sake of pleasure, but there comes a time when humane means just aren't enough.

I thought I had done all I could to protect my garden against the known wildlife consumers, including the sweet quail families that wander through on a daily basis. They're ground feeders, so anything directly on the ground that appeals to them is breakfast!

I covered each of my boxes with small bird netting to keep out the rabbits, birds, and quail. I had hoped it would also deter the larger vegetarians as well: deer! All seemed fine... for a while.

Apparently, I had forgotten some little critter, because I had lovely sugar snap and shell peas coming up and then suddenly, poof... they were gone! Again! This happened the year before and I had assumed it was the birds, so I had gone to battle mode this year thinking I had nipped the problem in the bud.

Obviously, not.

Last year, I was so discouraged by this I gave up planting seeds directly into the ground, but this year, I knew I had to solve the issue once and for all. Some things just don't do as well when transplanted.

The evidence was clearly before me as I found lettuce with large bites missing and peas nipped off at the soil line, along with the smallest of holes... too small for a gopher or ground squirrel. it had to be something... very, very, small.

A quick trip to the local nursery confirmed the worst... shrews. My personal thoughts? Field mice. Either way, the solution seemed to be the same. A mouse trap with bait. My lure of choice? Peanut Butter with Oats. Mmmmmm.... what ~~shrew~~ mouse could resist?

Each evening I cover the boxes with additional greenhouse grade plastic to keep things from getting too cold from our mountain/desert nights. But this time, I slipped a baited trap in each. This morning, my persistance paid off and victory was achieved (now you know why they call those "Victor" mouse traps!). Well, at least I won the battle... hopefully, in time, I'll win the war!

WARNING: If you're squeamish, don't look!

I'm sure I haven't gotten rid of the last of the mice (it wasn't a shrew this time), so this will become an evening ritual until the plants are large enough that it doesn't matter. I'd let my cats solve this, but we keep them in the garage at night so they don't become bobcat dinners.

Now if I could just have the same success with getting gophers, I'd be a happy woman!

(Comments on gopher control will be greatly appreciated!)

Barn Hop #58

2012-04-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Chrissy at The New Me blog, I now have a new way to make rain barrels ~~on the cheap~~ frugally!

If you've ever priced rain barrels, the cost is a bit prohibitive, especially if you want to have enough to really make a difference. Knowing where to get some reclaimed food grade barrels and convert them... priceless! Thanks, Chrissy & Nathan!

Join The Barn Hop!

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead

Kendra @ New Life on a Homestead

and Amy @ Homestead Revival...

...invite you to link up and share your homesteading adventures!

3. If you don't have a blog, leave a comment and tell us what's going on at your homestead!

Happy Chickens

2012-04-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

God created chickens with instincts to do certain things... scratch in the dirt, peck at various objects that attract their attention, forage for food, crow or announce an egg has been laid, roost at night, and so on. Obviously they were designed to do most of this outdoors as opposed to being strictly confined to quarters inside a coop or barn, never to see the light of day. Most of us already know this and it's one of the reasons that we keep chickens in the first place.

However, an outdoor space that keeps chickens safe from predators is also necessary and yet it can limit some of these same natural instincts. Each person's homestead situation will determine how much "free ranging" can go on based on whether it's an urban quarter-acre lot with an enclosed run (no free ranging, but access to outdoors), a suburban acre with a chicken yard (limited free ranging area that is usually fenced), or a rural spread with a moveable tractor or paddocks (sectioned off pasture) that allows chickens a much larger space to roam (greatest free ranging).

Typically, the more space the birds have to range, the happier they are. And happy chickens have less problems. Pecking at one another, fighting, obnoxious behavior, breaking eggs, excessive broodiness, and overall general health can be an issue for homesteaders, but a few simple preventative measures can go a long way to reducing these issues before they get out of hand. For those of us with something less than a total free range situation, there are things you can do that will help keep your chickens happy so they can express their "chickeness".

Keeping Chickens ~~Busy~~ Happy!

• Provide outdoor access! Okay, I already stated that. But I can't stress it enough! Chickens were designed by God to work in the dirt. PLEASE, provide them some out door time every single day, weather permitting. An enclosed run is the minimum we can offer them, and as long as you have enough space in the run and coop combined, they're actually pretty content with that. Each chicken needs at least 3-5 square feet, but you can always provide more.

• Provide plenty of nesting space. The old saying three's a crowd is way under rated... for hen's, two is a crowd! And you can be sure they will always seem to like the same nesting box! So be sure there are plenty of nests to go around.

• Throw them some scraps! That compost pail you keep on the kitchen counter? Your "girls" would love to have at it. Just throw it out in their run or yard and they'll work it over, taking what they like and leaving the rest. What they don't eat... just rake it into a pile or let it compost where it is. When exposed to weather it doesn't take long to break down, but if you have predators that like treats such as left over - leftovers, take it out when you put the chickens to bed.

• Scatter some seed. I buy my chicken feed through Azure Standard, but I try to keep some extra wheat and barley as well (also purchased through Azure - it's animal grade grain and not as clean, but perfect for chickens that may need a bit of grit). Each morning I take a scoop and throw some in their yard where I want them to scratch that day.

• Pull a few weeds. I got this idea from Marjory Wildcraft... it's a lot more fun to pull weeds to give to the chickens than to just pull them to throw them out! WAY more fun! When I pull weeds just to get them out of the vegetable garden, I feel like it's an unending battle. But when I pull them to give to the "girls", I'm actually thankful that I have a few ("few" being an understatement!). My garden is right next to their yard - they share a fence, so I just pull and toss and the chickens get their daily greens. Just be sure you know what they can and can't eat (no nightshades, etc.)

• Lay down the straw. This is a great idea... especially during the rain and snow season because although the chickens really don't mind the wet, they just don't want to walk in it! Putting down clean, seed-free straw keeps their feet dry (until the next rain/snow) and gives them something to scratch in. It also keeps the ground somewhat moist underneath (a plus in my dry climate) and encourages earth worm activity and other little critters that chickens like. They'll spend the entire day working the straw!

Photo Credit: BackyardChickens.com

• Tie something up! Perhaps chickens aren't as curious as your barn cat, but they do like shiny things or anything that catches their eye! So take advantage of that and tie up a bundle of greens to the side of the run or fence and let them entertain themselves as they take turns pecking. I've even read one person who hangs up old CD's that glisten in the sun as entertainment! (For treat ideas, visit Backyard Chickens).

• Give them a bath. Not with water, but dirt! Chickens need to have a place to make a little hole kind of like a bowl where they can lay in the dirt and fluff it inside their feathers. They L.O.V.E . it. Besides, it helps keep down mites and other creepy crawlies that could bother them. Think of it as Hen Spa Time.

• Let them roam. If you're going to be out in the garden or yard to work, why not let the "girls" join you? As long as you're around, you can keep an eye for predators, but don't forget to watch the chickens, too! They don't know the difference between a weed and your favorite rose bush. If you have some extra wire fencing material, just put it around any special item to keep the chickens from eating too much of it.

Photo Credit: Craft Log

• Move them around. Building a small, portable cage without a bottom allows you to move a couple of chickens to a specific area for a few hours so they can work it by scratching, eating bugs, and leave their droppings as fertilizer but keeps them from eating your plants at the same time (Jessi Bloom has some great examples of this in her book Free Range Chicken Gardens). Moving them around inside your garden benefits the chicken and your garden! Now that's sustainable!

• Watch their ratio. Keeping too many roosters can be an issue for your hens. It's fine the first few months when the males are young, but once they start trying to mate on a regular basis, if your ratio of roosters to hens is out of whack, your "girls" will start to look a little worse for the wear! Most people keep 1 rooster for every 10-20 hens, but there's no EXACT number that is correct. Just watch your flock and if you notice that the hens are looking like they're getting too much action (missing large amounts of feathers on their back), reduce the rooster population by one or increase the number of hens.

Of course, a little love and admiration helps, too! Just make sure that occasionally you give them something to keep busy. Healthy birds mean less work in the long run and a lot more EGGS!

What do you do to keep your chickens happy?