- anything and everything organic,
- gardening,
- cooking,
- landscaping,
- homesteading,
- blogging,
- exercising,
- home improvement projects,
- maybe even a job, or
- a million other possibilities.

For me, it’s gardening, landscaping, and blogging …

I remember a few years ago being utterly consumed with landscaping (the appearance of my ornamental garden beds, and dreams of future projects). It got to a point that it ruled my mind, thoughts … my heart.

Under strong conviction, I took a 3-day fast from landscaping. I needed concentrated time away from it, to get my heart where it needed to be.

When our motives are wrong, these hobbies and passions can be used for selfish gain, pride, and prestige. We’re no longer vessels of God’s grace and goodness; we’re, quite simply, idolaters. We’ve taken God off the throne of our heart, and placed these things in His rightful place.

On the other hand, God can use our hobbies and passions for His glory, if His glory is our greatest desire. When we commit theses areas of our lives to God, He gives us enjoyment in them, and impacts other lives through ours.

There’s nothing wrong, in and of itself, with gardening, cooking, homesteading, blogging, etc. It’s when they’re more important to us than God, that’s when we have a problem.

My flesh continually gravitates to the things of the world (again, not necessarily bad things, but a pre-occupation with them), but the Lord continually, and lovingly, draws me back to Him.

I wanted to share some things the Lord has used to help me. (If I struggle with this, maybe others do, too.)

1. Ask a series of self-assessment questions.

• What’s the first thing I think about when waking up?
• What’s the last thing I think about when falling asleep?
• What do I spend most of my free time thinking about?
• If I were to die today, what would I be most remembered for? What would others say was the most important thing in my life? Something of eternal value?

2. Repent and surrender all to God.

Repent (agree with God about the sin and turn to Him in obedience), and surrender all to God. I’ve found that I have to repeatedly surrender and hand [back] to God – in trust – my hopes, dreams, fears, etc. I also know that He always outgives us. He’s an amazing and VERY good God!!

3. Spend time daily in God’s Word and prayer.

© Ingrid Heczko | Dreamstime.com

My struggle would be overpowering without this consistent, daily time with God.

I’ve found that setting a specific time of day (either by the clock or before/after the same daily activity) has been invaluable.

I usually spend 20 minutes each day reading the Bible or memorizing verses, and another 20 minutes in prayer.

4. Consider a weekly fast from the hobby or passion.

About a year and a half ago, I self-imposed a rule of no blog-related computer time on Sundays. (On Sundays, I rarely turn the computer on.)

Before making this rule, I found myself sitting in church thinking about what I was going to write in upcoming posts, since I would be working on them later in the day. I couldn’t focus on what the preacher was sharing from God’s Word because I was preoccupied with blogging thoughts.

As a result, I decided Sundays would be off limits – no blogging, no internet (unless it has NOTHING to do with blogging), no post writing.

Now, Sundays at church are what they’re supposed to be: I hear, and concentrate on, what the preacher shares from God’s Word.

This is not what the Bible talks about as far as fasting (denying oneself food/drink to focus on God in prayer), but it’s the closest word I could think of.

5. Develop, and stick to, a schedule of moderation.

I still have room for improvement here, but I have found something helpful.

It’s very easy for me to spend almost my entire Saturday on the computer. Saturday is also when I *can* get most of my housecleaning done. Can you guess which one usually wins the battle for time?

On a couple occasions, I decided I would set our stove timer. I seem to thrive within boundaries. I set the timer for 30 minutes, and cleaned the house until the timer went off. Then, I set it for an hour, and – with a clear conscience – enjoyed computer time. When the timer went off, I went back downstairs, and set it for another 30-minute cleaning session.

6. Find ways to keep your mind on God.

Memorizing and meditating on verses has been a huge help for me. Each morning, as I walk through the maze of corporate buildings for my breakfast coffee and muffin, I usually try to recite verses on part of the trip.

Look for spiritual significance around you. I use to enjoy watching Lilly (our previous shepherd-mix) as she would wait for “daddy” to get back down to the house from a trip up to the barn, or running an errand. When she’d hear John in the driveway, she’d make her way over to her slobber-smudged window, and watch him get closer and closer to the front porch. Then, she’d hurry over to the front door, stare at the crack in the door, ears perked, tail a waggin’. It was adorable.

Sometimes I would watch her and think, “That’s what God wants from me. He wants me excited to spend time with Him; to look for Him; to wait eagerly and expectantly for answered prayers; and be more excited to spend time with Him than blog, garden, landscape, or [fill in the blank].”

While I can say I’ve grown in this area, I can also say I have so far to go.

7. Join, or create, a prayer and accountability group.

(I recommend keeping it a small group.)

I’m a firm believer in the power of prayer – the power of God.

Feel free to use the comments area to reach out to others for prayer requests, or to start a small group of like-minded individuals. I pray often for people, sometimes by name, who visit Your Gardening Friend.

I have a couple people in mind I may reach out to for mutual accountability.

Knowing someone will be checking up on you can be a helpful motivator.

8. Get plugged into a ministry.

This is a great way to serve God – assuming it’s done for the glory of God and Christ, and not for vanity or duty – to serve others, and to get our mind out of our own little world.

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If you don’t know Christ as your Lord and Savior, and would like to know what that means, visit The Importance of One.

Feel free to email me prayer requests or any specific questions about this.

I’ll leave you with some encouraging verses.

Exodus 20:3
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Matthew 22:37
Jesus said to him, ” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ …”

I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 86:5
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

James 4:8a
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Lives Thursday
Simple Living Wednesday Link-Up
Teach Me Tuesday | Homemaking Link-Up

Exactly 8 weeks ago, Your Gardening Friend had its very first compost worm giveaway, hosted by The Prairie Homestead. It was so much fun – for me, too – that I’ve decided to do another one!

I’m hoping to get back to the Compost Worms 101 series next month. A worm giveaway should tide us over ’til then, right?

The Worm Composting page has all the posts from the Compost Worms 101 series.

One (1) person, randomly chosen by the Rafflecopter, will receive a starter package of my red wiggler worms.

The giveaway is open to all U.S.A. residents (except Hawaii), 18 years or older. Be sure to read the giveaway terms.

Giveaway ends Saturday, May 25th, at 11:59pm (Eastern Time).

The winner will be announced on this post, and contacted by email, shortly after May 25th.

If you’re reading this in an email, you’ll need to click over to the website to access the Rafflecopter (to enter).

a Rafflecopter giveaway


**Comments do NOT count as entries.**

Never would I have thought I would come to appreciate, even admire, the common dandelion (i.e., “Taraxacum officinale”).

What I once called a stubborn, defiant, nuisance of a weed, I now describe as a timeless, medicinal cornucopia – a medicinal plant with no rival – with an impressive recipe repertoire of possibilities.

[Join me over at Frugal Granola for the rest of this post.]

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Living Wednesday Link Up

zirconicusso / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

With all the new faces here, I thought I’d recycle a couple old posts here and there. This post was published January 2012. There’s also a part 2 and part 3 to this healthy eating mini series.

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This is the time of year people start making new year resolutions. Even if you’re the type of person who cringes at the idea of new year resolutions, you still probably entertain some similar line of thought. It’s a new year, a new start, a blank slate. New goals are only natural.

Planning to eat healthier in the year to come is a great goal, and a common one. Sometimes, though, we can go about our goals all wrong. If our goals are not broken down into clearly identifiable, measureable, manageable goals, we have nothing specific to aim at, or means of knowing if we’ve succeeded.

On the other hand, sometimes the problem isn’t a lack of specificity, but rather unrealistic timeframes for meeting our goals. We know what needs to be done, but we think it all has to be done TODAY. With this mindset, you might find yourself

1. Tossing into the trash everything currently in your refrigerator, freezer, kitchen cupboards, and pantries because the ingredients, or process by which the food is made, are not healthy.
2. In a single afternoon, purchasing from Craigslist a pair of goats, a dairy cow, dozen hens, a few pigs, and a plowing ox.
3. Renting a cattle trailer, and picking up all the new farm animals from the 5 surrounding counties.
4. Tying the animals to your garage, until your husband is done constructing the farm fence, small barn, and hen house.
5. While the new heard of animals graze on their leashes, grabbing the ox, tying him to your waist, and plowing the soon-to-be strictly organic garden.
6. Teaching your children the nutritional value of your chemical-free front lawn, while waiting to harvest the organic crops.

Whew!! Now … don’t get me wrong. You can do that. However, living a healthier, more organic, sustainable life should not equate to an unnecessary increase in stress. If it does, what’s the point?! So now you’re eating a “perfect” diet, but your family is falling apart, and your stomach lining is being slowly eaten away by ulcers. Way to go!

© Marcio Goldzweig | Dreamstime.com

I’m on a more relaxed, slow-paced [maybe a little too slow], enjoyable journey of healthier eating choices. I plan to pick it up a notch this year, but here’s what I’ve done.

12 years ago – switched from margarine to butter. I’ve never looked back. It’s healthier, and the taste is so much better, in my opinion.

9 years ago – started incorporating more fresh and frozen vegetables into our dinners, in lieu of [metal] canned vegetables. (We often have a fresh salad with our dinner.)

I didn’t think a lot more about healthy eating until about two years ago. Even at that, I’ve not had a strong “drive” to eradicate my kitchen of unhealthy food. It’s been, and continues to be, a gradual change for me.

2 years ago – switched from regular milk to organic milk, vegetable oil to olive oil, regular eggs to cage-free eggs (for the sake of the hens), and started drinking a lot of water. (The water might have started earlier.)

Recently – reducing the amount of processed white sugar in my diet, but trying to [gradually] eliminate artificial sweeteners. I’m now using organic sugar.

As you can see from this post, I don’t have a diet of perfection, but I’m on the path of progress.

If you want to make some manageable, healthy changes in your diet, here’s what I recommend:

Pick two or three things to change about your diet, and focus on them for the next 3 – 6 months. While you incorporate these bite-sized lifestyle eating changes into your life, plan what your next two or three changes will be for the following 3 – 6 months.

What are your thoughts on this subject? How have you made healthy changes in your diet? What healthy changes do you have planned for this year?

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Your Green Resource

While I’m grateful for all the rain we’ve had lately – and we’ve had a LOT – I’m also looking forward to the ground drying up a bit so I can get our vegetable garden planted. NOT working in the mud would be my preference.

If you live in a southern state, or somewhere warm overseas, your garden is probably past the seed-sowing stage. We mild and colder areas are chomping at the bit to get our hands in the dirt. (Some would be tickled to simply see the snow melt.)

Since gardening is on all our minds, I’m super excited to share today’s giveaway, sponsored by Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Co.

This giveaway is extra special to me because it’s the first sponsored giveaway hosted by Your Gardening Friend. (You can imagine my excitement when Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Co. offered this giveaway.)

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is a household name in the ever-growing community of heirloom, non-hybrid, and non-GMO seed gardeners. So, how cool would it be to win some of their fabulous seeds?!

They’re graciously offering one (1) winner a popular (and impressive) tomato seed selection:

- Tomato Green Zebra
- Tomato Golden Jubilee
- Tomato Great White
- Tomato Riesentraube
- Tomato Pink Honey
- Tomato Yellow Mortgage Lifter
- Tomato Cherokee Purple
- Tomato Ananas Noire

I’ve said before, if I was only able to plant one edible in my entire garden it would be – without a doubt – TOMATOES!!!

The giveaway ends Saturday, May 4th, at 11:59pm (Eastern Time Zone).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway is open to all U.S.A. residents (except Hawaii). (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds will ship to many other locations, but since I’ll be handling the shipping, I need to limit it to the aforementioned.) You must be 18 years or older to enter.

The winner will be announced on this post, and contacted by email, shortly after May 4th. Click here to see other pertinent giveaway/entry terms.

Comments do not count as entries.

While you’re waiting for the winner to be announced, stop by Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds’ website, and peruse their impressive repertoire of seeds (over 1,450 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers).

For those reading this post via email, you’ll need to click over to the website to use the entry form.

Hopefully you’ve found the prime location for your bubbling boulder oasis. If so, now you can start digging! While it’s not the most rewarding part of the job, it does give you a sense of accomplishment, and the feeling that it’s really happening.

Gather all the tools you’ll need.

Before starting any project, it’s best to think through which tools you’ll need. The below list should cover just about anything you’ll need to dig the pit:

1. Durable Shoes
2. Sun Hat
3. Gloves
4. Spade Shovel
5. Square Shovel
6. Wheelbarrow
7. Loppers (for tree roots, if you have nearby trees)
8. Measuring Tape
9. Long Board
10. Level
11. Fluids (to stay hydrated)

Digging the pit takes time.

The pit I dug was about 6’ x 6’ x 18″-24” deep. (It was on a slight slope so the depth varied.) Subtracting breaks, digging time totaled 6-8 hours. It’s a great workout.

Okay … I just realized I’ve not explained WHY you even NEED a pit. When you read next month’s bubbling boulder post, or possibly the following month’s post, this will all make sense. For now, I’ll give a brief explanation.

For this boulder to be a bubbling boulder it must have water. For water to be present, and circulate up through the drilled hole(s) in the boulder, there has to be a place for the water to pool. The pit provides this.

The pit size depends on the boulder size and water flow volume.

As far as stating the size of pit you’ll need for a given boulder, I’m outside of my comfort zone and knowledge. I can only say what we did (see above measurements) for the size of boulder we have.

I’m guessing, if your boulder is small (about the size of 3 basketballs), the pit would need to be 3′ x 3′ x 10″-12″ deep. The pit depth should probably be a minimum of 10” deep for small boulders. The boulder will be placed on various blocks, which will be discussed in a future post.

The pit needs enough volume or cubic space to allow the water pump to circulate water WITHOUT the pit running dry, as the pump sends water up the boulder.

I made the pit walls completely vertical, but I don’t know that it has to be done that way.

Because of the steep ravines on three sides of our property, I was able to shovel the dirt/clay into the wheelbarrow and dump it down the ravine. I realize this is not a normal setup, so you’ll want to give some thought – ahead of time – as to where all the dirt will go. A berm is one idea to consider.

The bottom of the pit should be completely flat, with one exception.

On the back side of the pit (the side you won’t look at as often), dig one corner with an inch or two drop-down, sort of a separate pit. This is where the water pump will be placed. With this corner being lower than the rest of the pit, it will aid in the cleanout when you drain the pit before each winter.

The bottom of the pit should have a slight pitch leading to the water pump corner.

Use the level to make sure the pitch is subtle. Place a long board on the bottom of the pit, and then place the level on the board to check the slant. If you have to raise the level a lot to get the bubble in the center (which is where the bubble would be for a perfectly flat, no slant surface), then the slant is too much. Aim for about a ½ inch slope/slant for every 3 feet of length.

Always keep the construction area a safe area.

Be sure to place strong boards over the pit when you’re not working on it. You’d hate to come out the next morning and find the pit full of people who have fallen in, and are unable to climb out.

Below are links to the previous posts in this bubbling boulder how-to series:

The Bubbling Boulder Unveiling
Bubbling Boulder – The Price Tag
6 Tips When Shopping for a Bubbling Boulder
Bubbling Boulder: Choosing the Location

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
Encourage One Another Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Lives Thursday
Simple Living Wednesday Link Up
Your Green Resource

I’ve gotta tell ya, I’ve been so excited to share this recipe! But first, I’ll share a little background.

Last year, I started pan frying with coconut oil. I’ve pan-fried chicken legs (and made gravy), chicken legs and liver (and made gravy), pork chops (and made gravy) – can you tell we like gravy – tortillas (for soft-shelled tacos, but no gravy), and, just recently, onion rings.

I’ve been so pleased with the taste of everything made with coconut oil.

I had been using olive oil for these sort of meals (except the onion rings, which is a new thing for me). After hearing about coconut oil, I decided to give it a try. Coconut oil is also better suited for medium-high heat cooking.

I use good oils in my home cooking, but I’m more relaxed about it when eating out. (You almost have to be.)

I’ve purchased onion rings at a cafeteria I frequent, but during a recent visit, I asked what oils they use. Most restaurants and cafeterias use hydrogenated oil, and this place, I learned, was no exception.

I walked away. No onion rings for Holly. The only solution was to figure out how to make home-fried onion rings.

I had my challenge. I say challenge because I wanted to figure out how to make them with no internet research, the old-fashion way: trial and error.

As seen in the photo, my first attempt was anything but successful. They turned out more like sautéed onions. Not a complete waste, instead of a side of fried onion rings, we had a delicious burger topping.

John suggested pancake batter. I wanted a healthy recipe, so the boxed pancake mix in our pantry would not work. (My real food journey has been one of gradual changes.) But it did get me thinking differently about my approach. I needed something thick, like batter. Boxed pancake mix, while not real food, gave me a starting point.

They turned out great! We savored every scrumptuous, golden brown, crispy breaded onion ring that came out of that pan.

“Oh, please, make these again!” was John’s response.

The only thing left was to swap the boxed pancake mix for something healthy. That’s when it got tricky …

I tried using whole flour, and I now realize it was because I made the batter too thick and did not let most of it drain off, they tasted HORRIBLE! John hates to waste food, but these were so bad, we had to throw them in the trash.

I figured I’d go back to the pancake batter, measure my ingredients this time, and THEN swap ingredients. Still, no success. I made numerous batches, but was never able to duplicate that yummy batch.

So, I looked online, but only at two recipes. I picked one of the two recipes and worked with it. After a successful batch, I started changing the recipe. One of the many changes I made was adding unsweetened coconut flakes.

Ready to learn how to make these?

Ingredients:

1/3 – 1/2” Coconut Oil (when melted in pan)
Unsweeted Coconut Flakes
1 ¼ c. Milk (*see note)
1 c. Whole Wheat Flour (*see note)
1 Egg
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Garlic Salt

Directions:

• Slice the onion into thick slices.
• Place coconut oil into pan.
• Turn up the heat (low-medium heat) to melt and heat the oil.
• Mix dry ingredients (but NOT the coconut flakes) in a bowl.
• One by one, dip rings into flour mixture and set rings aside.
• Add milk and egg to flour mixture. *(If you use unbleached white flour, you may only need 1 cup of milk.)
• Dip rings into the batter.
• Place battered rings onto wax paper to drip.
• Once the rings have finished dripping, place onto a clean wax paper.
• Pour unsweeted coconut flakes into a deep bowl.
• One by one, take the battered rings and dip into the coconut flakes. Shake the bowl to get coconut on all surfaces. (I had to use my hands for some of it.)
• CAREFULLY, maybe with tongs, place battered onion rings (single layer) into the hot coconut oil.
• Fry the rings on each side until they’re a light golden brown color, maybe 2 minutes per side. I did not time it, so that’s just a guess. Look for the color.

I can’t wait to make these with my garden onions this summer!

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
‘Encourage One Another’ Wednesday Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Living Wednesday Link Up
Your Green Resource

original image credit
© Pakhnyushchyy | Dreamstime.com

Some want to start a garden, but are hesitant … reluctant … fearful of what they don’t know that might cause them to FAIL.

If you identify with that statement, my hope is that after reading this post, you’ll be encouraged, motivated, confident, and EXCITED about starting your first garden!!!

Experienced, green-thumb gardeners, try to recall your first garden. Is there any advice, a nugget of wisdom, you can share with these reluctant gardeners?

Reluctant gardeners, let’s get started!

[Join me over at Frugal Granola for the rest of this post.]

the view from our front porch

Deciding WHERE in your yard the bubbling boulder should be placed is an important decision.

Once the site has been constructed (an upcoming how-to post), and the boulder set in-place, it’s pretty much a done deal. It’s not like flowers where you can whimsically decide to move them elsewhere – just pluck ‘em out of the ground, and plop ‘em into the other end of the garden bed. After all, the boulder will weigh hundreds, maybe even thousands, of pounds. (I don’t know about you, but we don’t have a bobcat or forklift just sitting around the property. )

In choosing the location, there are five things you’ll want to think through:

1. Proximity to Electricity

Know where your power lines, cable/satellite lines, and any other lines are BEFORE you settle on a location. Some may be above ground, while others are buried. You don’t want to start digging without knowing their location.

On the flip side, you will need SAFE access to electricity.

In an upcoming post, I’ll explain how to run power to the boulder area to operate the water pump. Fortunately, that post will be heavily guided by my husband’s knowledge and experience. If you relied on my [lack of] knowledge and experience, you’d end up in the emergency room or … six feet in the ground.

It’s possible to simply use a GFI extension cord, but I’ll walk you through a more aesthetically pleasing installation where you’ll tap into the electrical power from your house, garage, barn, or whatever the case may be.

Also, there are a number of safety hazards with the use of an extension cord: tripping over the cord; running over it with the lawnmower; an animal chewing through it (harming or killing itself), leaving behind an unsafe cord; etc.

2. Proximity to Running Water

There’s not a lot to say about this point. As long as your water hose(s) will reach the boulder, you’re good.

the view from our kitchen

3. Sun or Shade

As far as sun versus shade, there’s no right or wrong place to put the boulder. Knowing a couple things will better equip you to make the right choice for YOU.

Algae LOVE the SUN. The more sun exposure, the more algae – and frustration – you’ll have.

Under a tree provides its own set of challenges. Directly below a tree canopy falls … I don’t know what it is … pollen? Then there are the piles of leaves you have to keep out of all the nooks and crannies of the boulder and between all the river rocks. A few leaves in the summer is no biggie, but come autumn …

4. Pathways / Clearance

John reminded me ahead of time that I’d need to keep at least x’ of a pathway behind the boulder for our quad and trailer. I either went a little too far back, or we simply did not plan enough clearance. We can get the trailer behind the boulder, but just barely. We have to place a board on part of the river rocks to keep one of the trailer tires from slipping into the pit. (You can walk on the rocks, but the weight of the trailer is a different story.)

Does the location you’re considering provide enough clearance for the mower, trailer, vehicle, etc.?

5. Multiple Viewpoints

If possible, choose a location that will provide a good view from two or more places. Being able to sit, view, and listen to the bubbling boulder from various places around the house and property will maximize your enjoyment of the beautiful, serene ambiance you’ve created.

A few places to consider are the front or back porch, patio, kitchen table, and living room.

the view from our living room

Tip: Once you have an idea of the size of boulder you’ll be getting, use a prop to test various viewpoints. Try to find something (e.g., a cardboard box, a tricycle, etc.) that’s about the same height and width of the boulder.

Place the prop in the location you’re considering. Then, sit in different places to see what the view looks like. You might learn the prop/boulder is too short to be seen in that location. Maybe if it’s moved a few feet in a different direction the view will improve.

If you’ve missed the beginning of this series, you can catch up with the below links:
The Bubbling Boulder Unveiling
Bubbling Boulder – The Price Tag
6 Tips When Shopping for a Bubbling Boulder

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
Encourage One Another Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Lives Thursday
Simple Living Wednesdays Link Up
Your Green Resource

With outdoor gardening just around the corner, a compost worm giveaway seems fitting. Like backyard chickens, worm composting is becoming a popular hobby.

If you’ve been following along in the Compost Worm 101 Series, you’ve probably learned that “raising” compost worms is VERY EASY. Worms may not be your thing – it’s definitely not for everyone – but you might be surprised. If you’re not sure about it, read 14 Reasons to Have Compost Worms.

I’ve listed the links to all the previous posts in this series.

14 Reasons to Have Compost Worms
DIY Compost Worm Bin
How to Acquire Compost Worms
Feeding Compost Worms (What, How, and When)
How to Take Care of Compost Worms
Cool Facts About Compost Worms

I have three or four more worm posts before I wrap up the current series. I’ll probably start another compost worm series later in the year.

The Giveaway:

Hop on over to The Prairie Homestead for a chance to win a bundle of my squirmy compost worms. You’ll find all the details over there.

© Kucher Serhii | Dreamstime.com

Ideally, I would have had this post ready for February (the month of Valentine’s Day). But, that’s okay. It’s definitely not too late to be thinking about rose pruning. It might actually be too early to prune. It depends on where you live.

There are at least seven types of roses:

1. Hybrid Teas
2. Floribunda
3. Grandiflora
4. Shrub
5. Old-Fashioned
6. Climbing
7. Miniature

Each type has some unique pruning needs. However, the pruning for hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras are almost identical.

[Join me over at Frugal Granola for the rest of this post.]

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
Encourage One Another Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Lives Thursday
Simple Living Wednesday Link Up
Your Green Resource

After thinking back on my boulder shopping experience (from 2010), I came up with six helpful tips. If anyone is considering doing a project like this, or already has, I’d love to hear from you.

1. Figure out if you want a natural or formal look.

If you like a natural look – something you’d see in a stream at the bottom of a mountain – look for an irregular shaped boulder. Pitted surfaces, and nooks and crannies are also great natural looking features.

Our bubbling boulder has all kinds of nooks and crannies that allow the water to pool, creating a natural bird bath. I love to watch the birds bathe in it. They also drink from it.

If you like a fancy or formal look in your yard – something out of a magazine – look for a boulder with a strong geometric shape (e.g., square or rectangular) and smooth surfaces. A very round, ball shaped boulder would also provide a nice formal look.

Do a word search for “bubbling boulders,” and click on the images. Browse through a few pages of various bubbling boulders to determine your style preference. It will also give you some specific ideas for the boulder and project.

2. Take your time to find the perfect boulder.

The most important thing – aside from the budget – is to find the perfect boulder. By perfect, I mean perfect for your taste, your style, and your yard. What’s perfect for one person may look hideous to another. The extra time at the beginning will be well worth it.

3. Get the boulder wet before you buy it!

What surprised me most – even more than the cost of this project – was how different boulders look wet versus dry.

When I was looking for our boulder, I asked the salesman if he had some water I could use. The facility had a working water hose which was perfect! I was amazed at how drastically different the color of the boulder was when it was wet.

Seeing this difference may cause you to eliminate a boulder you’re favoring, or reconsider one previously ruled out.

I recommend bringing one or two gallons of water with you in case the facility does not have an available water source. If you forget to do this, you can stop somewhere to get water.

I can’t stress this point enough. The very definition of a bubbling boulder is that it will be wet (thus, the bubbling). So make sure you like what the boulder looks like when it’s wet.

4. Don’t make a purchase on-the-spot.

Look at MANY boulders. If you think you’ve found the right one for your yard, take a few really good photos, and then LEAVE. Look over the photos for the next couple weeks. If you continue to like the boulder just as much, or, better yet, it grows on you even more – you’ve got a winner!!:) If the boulder becomes less attractive to you, keep looking. It’s better to figure this out before the purchase and hard work.

5. Ask about the store’s layaway options.

Yep, you heard me right. That’s how I purchased my 3,628 pound boulder. I made a $100 payment every month for five months, a $200 payment one month, and the balance before delivery. It allowed me to get the boulder I wanted, AND it gave me time to get the yard ready for the boulder.

6. Consider looking for a free boulder.

The obvious upside to a free boulder is that it’s FREE. The biggest downside is that the selection is more limited.

Pray about it. If God wants to bless you with it, He can cause you to come across the perfect boulder that’s just lying along the roadside. Free is always better.

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
Encourage One Another Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Lives Thursday
Simple Living Wednesday Link-Up
Your Green Resource

“And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:25 Click here to read more.

Today’s worm post is a little different than my regular Compost Worm 101 Series posts.

If you, like me, did not study worms in high school biology, then some of these facts may really surprise you.

Did you know that compost worms … ?

1. Have five (5) hearts

It’s hard to imagine such tiny creatures having more than one heart – let alone FIVE – but they do!

2. Are hermaphrodites

Every compost worm has both male and female reproductive organs. It still requires two worms to create baby worms, but any two random worms can breed.

3. Breathe through their skin

Compost worms use the mucus membrane on their skin, which must be kept moist, to transfer oxygen from the air, through their skin, and into their circulatory system. I talked about this in How to Take Care of Compost Worms.

4. Sometimes make a snap-crackle-pop sound

I remember sitting on the floor having my daily devotions in the room our worms are kept. The house was silent – one nice thing about not having kids. I was having my prayer time when I heard this peculiar sound, similar to what you’d hear with a bowl of Rice Krispies cereal in milk. It took me a little while to determine where the noise was coming from. Imagine my surprise when I located the source.

Maybe it was the noise of their wiggly bodies moving around their food in a damp environment that created such a peculiar sound.

5. Have a life expectancy of 2 to 5 years

I don’t know about you, but I’m amazed that a worm can live as long as half the lifespan of most dogs. The lifespan of two worms can equal the lifespan of a dog.

6. Have no eyes

7. Lay cocoons

A worm cocoon contains two or three baby worms. A worm can lay one to three (some say up to four) cocoons each week, depending on their food supply, how much space they have, and other important factors.

I’ve listed the links to the previous posts in this Compost Worm 101 Series:

14 Reasons to Have Compost Worms
DIY Compost Worm Bin
How to Acquire Compost Worms
Feeding Compost Worms (What, How, and When)
How to Take Care of Compost Worms
Cool Facts About Compost Worms

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
Encourage One Another Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Living Wednesday Link-Up
Your Green Resource

Most people have gotten into poison ivy at least once, and suffered the consequences. However, some have been blessed with a natural defense against poison ivy’s urushiol oil. They seem to experience no allergic reaction.

My grandpa is such a person. As a young boy, … I shudder to even say this … he ate poison ivy. I don’t know, or remember, why. Maybe it involved a group of little boys trying to outdo each other in double-dares. Who knows, but he learned he’s not allergic to poison ivy. (Do NOT eat poison ivy. Doing so is EXTREMELY dangerous.)

For those not like my grandpa, the constant itchy and burning sensation can be so intense they’ll go to extreme measures to find relief. I read how one person broke open their blisters, and then poured bleach on them. Someone I know poured gasoline on his poison ivy rash.

In this post, we’re going to stick to natural remedies.

[Join me over at Frugal Granola for the rest of this post.]

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
EOA Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Lives Thursday
Simple Living Wednesday Link-Up
The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival
Your Green Resource

I’m gonna be completely honest with you. I’ve been a little nervous about this particular post because our bubbling boulder project was a bit pricey. Will I offend people? Will people misunderstand my logic? Will people unsubscribe or unlike? I hope not.

Many blogs are centered on, or have a strong element of, FRUGALITY. Being frugal, if it’s Biblically-centered and not an all-consuming obsession, is very wise. And there are some really great blogs that provide excellent examples and ideas of how to do that.

Being frugal is one way of being a wise steward of the financial and material blessings in our lives. If we find a good deal, and are able to save money, it helps us steer clear of debt. It also provides us more opportunities to help those in need here and abroad.

On the flip side, many times God blesses people in such a way that they are able not only to give, but also enjoy some earthly pleasures. That might mean they’re able to pay for a second car, build a room onto the house, revamp an out-building for homestead critters, or … build a bubbling boulder oasis.

All these things are luxuries. All we really need are shelter (from the weather elements, not necessarily a nice house), clothing, and food. However, many of us have been provided with far more than the basic needs. We don’t NEED so many things we’ve been blessed with (e.g., carpet, nice furniture, cell phone, computer, house pets, washer and dryer, multiple pairs of shoes, etc.).

It’s vital that we give back to God everything He gives us, and be open to whatever He asks of us. It’s also awesome to know that He enjoys giving us blessings for our enjoyment.

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20
19) As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor – this is the gift of God. 20) For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

John and I have not taken a vacation in probably eight years. We so thoroughly enjoy living out here in the country, in the middle of the woods, that we sort of think of our home as our vacation. So, I enjoy doing little things (or, in this case, big things) to make our home even more enjoyable. Instead of spending money on vacations, I’ve spent money on a bubbling boulder oasis.

With that premise, I’ll share the price tag of our bubbling boulder oasis. Drum roll, please …

As you can see from the spreadsheet, this bubbling boulder project cost us a pretty penny – roughly $2,500. If you’d like to have something like this in your yard, but this price is too much, take heart. There’s one simple thing that can be done to reduce the price: scale down.

Scale Down

There are beautiful bubbling boulders much smaller (and larger) than what we have. Scaling down (smaller boulder, only one core drilling, smaller pond liner, less drainage tile, less river rock, and so forth) will reduce the price SIGNIFICANTLY. And don’t forget about how you can find free boulders. (Be sure the boulder is not easily prone to breakage or crumbling.)

As I go through this tutorial series, I’ll explain how to build a similar project (whatever size that may be), and how the items listed in the spreadsheet are used.

Any questions so far, or have I scared everyone away?

This was shared on the following blog hops or link-ups:
Artful Tuesdays Link-Up
EOA Link-Up
Homestead Barn Hop
Simple Lives Thursday
Simple Living Wednesdays Link Up
The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival
Your Green Resource