Dear Reader,
A bit of a wait since I posted on the cheese spread I made, here is the recipe
2 gallon thick sour milk (like buttermilk) whole
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. salt
1 cup cream
6 tblsp. butter ( real butter, not margarine)
Scald sour milk to 115 degrees, put in strainer, with cheese cloth, and let drain till completely dry. Put curds in bowl and rub soda in. Let se 2 hours. Melt butter and add to curds in a double boiler, stirring/mixing very well. Add cream gradually, heating till desired consistency. Let cool with a cover on top to prevent a skin from forming, it will thicken as it cools. Keep in frig. Will keep a week or so.
Use in soups or have at room temp. and spread for grilled cheese sandwiches.
Since we have our own cows/milk I have not made this from store bought milk. But from our own milk it has turned out very well and tasty. I make it pretty regular now.
In Joy
Friday, December 30, 2016
You Tubers and Patreon
Hello Dear Readers, I have a topic weighing on my mind concerning homesteading you tubers. As I have been viewing you tube for topics of projects we desire to achieve, I have noticed several channels, and they are growing, of them that are asking for donations through Patreon and other various outlets, to 'help them continue making their videos, keep the homestead going, etc.' How is this keeping in with what they all state as to their reason of homesteading, 'self sustainability'. They are not, for they are now asking for help and relying on others to further their endeavors.
I came upon a you tuber just recently who voiced her opinion of this and she addressed each topic of concern and more, that I have. I was glad to hear I was not the only one noticing this change on you tube, but it is not only homesteaders, it is many others with various channels, which is not concerning to me, as it is with the homestead ones simply for their 'reasons' for doing what they are. I agree with
Michigansnowpony, that if there is a serious happening, as lengthy illness, death, accident of great degree, I am for helping, everyone needs help once in a while, but to ask for on going donations in the way of help, NO.
Michigansnowpony also mentioned how many of the homesteaders on you tube are now competing with one another, as to draw subscribers, gimmicks being used, almost as they are like 'reality' t.v. shows. I have seen ones start out with a humblness to educate by pro's and con's of what they are doing on their homesteads, everyone being different of the how's and where's, but as they grow in numbers, they loose that humbleness and become like facebook, always, look at me, all the 'selfies' they put out in a day or week. Some began with just one video a week or month, yet this does not satisfy the subscribers, they want more, so the pressure begins for the you tuber to put out more. And on a homestead, of any size, if one is truly keeping their focus on being 'self sustainable' they really have not the time to put out many videos for the time the homestead takes and simply for the time it takes to make one. Another point is that subscribers begin to want to know more and more of the personal goings on of the you tubers, as many fall into letting them see more and more which is dangerous. But if it draws the numbers oh well. And the more subscribers, the more ads on their channel therefore the more $ the channel gets. What a racket. It really is getting disgusting. I wonder if any true old timers of homesteading, if they view any of these new ones, are shaking their heads in disgust as well.
So, I am pulling out my 20+ years of magazines and old books on farming, homesteading and my Fox Fire collection and reading once again more and more than going to you tube. In these hands on paper filled resources, I find the real gems of ideas and encouragement to keep focused and press on with our homestead.
In Joy
I came upon a you tuber just recently who voiced her opinion of this and she addressed each topic of concern and more, that I have. I was glad to hear I was not the only one noticing this change on you tube, but it is not only homesteaders, it is many others with various channels, which is not concerning to me, as it is with the homestead ones simply for their 'reasons' for doing what they are. I agree with
Michigansnowpony, that if there is a serious happening, as lengthy illness, death, accident of great degree, I am for helping, everyone needs help once in a while, but to ask for on going donations in the way of help, NO.
Michigansnowpony also mentioned how many of the homesteaders on you tube are now competing with one another, as to draw subscribers, gimmicks being used, almost as they are like 'reality' t.v. shows. I have seen ones start out with a humblness to educate by pro's and con's of what they are doing on their homesteads, everyone being different of the how's and where's, but as they grow in numbers, they loose that humbleness and become like facebook, always, look at me, all the 'selfies' they put out in a day or week. Some began with just one video a week or month, yet this does not satisfy the subscribers, they want more, so the pressure begins for the you tuber to put out more. And on a homestead, of any size, if one is truly keeping their focus on being 'self sustainable' they really have not the time to put out many videos for the time the homestead takes and simply for the time it takes to make one. Another point is that subscribers begin to want to know more and more of the personal goings on of the you tubers, as many fall into letting them see more and more which is dangerous. But if it draws the numbers oh well. And the more subscribers, the more ads on their channel therefore the more $ the channel gets. What a racket. It really is getting disgusting. I wonder if any true old timers of homesteading, if they view any of these new ones, are shaking their heads in disgust as well.
So, I am pulling out my 20+ years of magazines and old books on farming, homesteading and my Fox Fire collection and reading once again more and more than going to you tube. In these hands on paper filled resources, I find the real gems of ideas and encouragement to keep focused and press on with our homestead.
In Joy
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Tick Tocking away on the Farm
Greetings Dear Readers, a beautiful day today. We are still very dry, no real rain now for two months. The temperatures are nearing making records for warmth for this time of year. We continue to be mid 80's during the day and high 50's at night. Anytime the weather plays issues with what should be or not be 'normal' I can not help but think of the scripture, "This, (this present day) is the day the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." God has made each and every day, he knows the pattern of the weather for every day, season. With such in my mind, I try not to complain, but in my knowing of how dry it is, I pray for rain, but put forth more effort to do what I can to lessen the situation and am still watering daily. Giving much thanks for the endless supply from our springs.
We have a new farm animal, a white Chester pig. A friend gave it to me as he had more than he wanted to deal with and was not being successful in the pig gaining weight. I gladly accepted his gift as we have been talking of getting one upcoming spring. God supplies. I asked our friend if he would be willing to keep it just for a few days as we did not have our pen ready. And with the character of this man, he was more than willing. It took 4 days for the completion of the pen and on Friday, hubs and son went and picked pig up. I am so looking forward to this as I have much excess milk and eggs pig will love for his meals, along with other natural foods. I believe he will gain weight.
Also with the excess milk I have learned to make a cheese sauce that I am canning. It has turned out very well. You can spread it on bread and have grilled cheese sandwiches, put it in soups, let it set up a bit in the frig and then cut it in cubes for salads. With my previous post on genetic engineering of foods, I am thrilled with the outcome of this cheese. I will post the recipe in the next blog as I also want to share some other recipes I am putting in a notebook to use as we change our eating habits.
As fall is here, I went to the thrift the other day and bought a new dress and sweater for Ms. Scare A Way in the chicken yard. She is my lady scarecrow and I change her outfit fall and spring. I had an extra bonnet laying around and she sports it nicely along with her basket on her arm. I will try to get a photo and post it. I also spruced up the chicken yard a bit. You tuber, Lisa from Fresh Eggs Daily, has some good ideas, although I do not go so far as putting curtains on the nesting boxes as she does, but, I did cut some cedar saplings and leaned them against an old wooden ladder and the hens love getting under that. Several will gather up and they look as they are having 'tea and talk time'. I also put out some small log cuttings from a tree we recently cut down, they like hopping onto and looking around their 'kingdom'. So much enjoyment from very simple things. I enjoy sitting in my chair by the pen and watching them.
I bred one of my mama rabbits, Miss Dah-Ling, a month ago and she had babies on Sat, I am trying to space out the breeding from another mama I have so we do not have all the butcher at once. I do not know just how many she has, I usually wait about a week or two before I try to look so as not to upset Miss Dah-Ling. We do have 4 rabbits that are a year old to butcher in the upcoming weeks. As they are older, they will be on the tough side, but once butchered, I plan to boil them, then grind them for dog food. Yes, we are looking into making our own for our dogs. That will be another post.
Well, I am heading out to the back wooded lane for a walk.
Where ever you are I do pray you may sense God's presence.
In Joy
We have a new farm animal, a white Chester pig. A friend gave it to me as he had more than he wanted to deal with and was not being successful in the pig gaining weight. I gladly accepted his gift as we have been talking of getting one upcoming spring. God supplies. I asked our friend if he would be willing to keep it just for a few days as we did not have our pen ready. And with the character of this man, he was more than willing. It took 4 days for the completion of the pen and on Friday, hubs and son went and picked pig up. I am so looking forward to this as I have much excess milk and eggs pig will love for his meals, along with other natural foods. I believe he will gain weight.
Also with the excess milk I have learned to make a cheese sauce that I am canning. It has turned out very well. You can spread it on bread and have grilled cheese sandwiches, put it in soups, let it set up a bit in the frig and then cut it in cubes for salads. With my previous post on genetic engineering of foods, I am thrilled with the outcome of this cheese. I will post the recipe in the next blog as I also want to share some other recipes I am putting in a notebook to use as we change our eating habits.
As fall is here, I went to the thrift the other day and bought a new dress and sweater for Ms. Scare A Way in the chicken yard. She is my lady scarecrow and I change her outfit fall and spring. I had an extra bonnet laying around and she sports it nicely along with her basket on her arm. I will try to get a photo and post it. I also spruced up the chicken yard a bit. You tuber, Lisa from Fresh Eggs Daily, has some good ideas, although I do not go so far as putting curtains on the nesting boxes as she does, but, I did cut some cedar saplings and leaned them against an old wooden ladder and the hens love getting under that. Several will gather up and they look as they are having 'tea and talk time'. I also put out some small log cuttings from a tree we recently cut down, they like hopping onto and looking around their 'kingdom'. So much enjoyment from very simple things. I enjoy sitting in my chair by the pen and watching them.
I bred one of my mama rabbits, Miss Dah-Ling, a month ago and she had babies on Sat, I am trying to space out the breeding from another mama I have so we do not have all the butcher at once. I do not know just how many she has, I usually wait about a week or two before I try to look so as not to upset Miss Dah-Ling. We do have 4 rabbits that are a year old to butcher in the upcoming weeks. As they are older, they will be on the tough side, but once butchered, I plan to boil them, then grind them for dog food. Yes, we are looking into making our own for our dogs. That will be another post.
Well, I am heading out to the back wooded lane for a walk.
Where ever you are I do pray you may sense God's presence.
In Joy
Sunday, October 23, 2016
GMO Labeling
Dear Readers, I do hope most of the readers that find their way to my blog has heard of GMO, genetically modified organisms. It has been many years since we first read of it, at which time it was mainly affecting the seeds ones would plant for their gardens, and in a much larger scale, seeds the big farms plant. Now, with the new law passed this year concerning the labeling of what is in the food we buy at the stores, as I am reading every item I am shopping for, I am reading " produced with genetic engineering." There are numerous articles on the internet that give so much information concerning this, it is scary, sickening and unacceptable! Even before gmo, there has been the issue of the ''flavoring'' that is in most of the foods as well. Also much information on the internet concerning this. They take blood from insects and use it for flavoring, I kid you not! Also, beaver anal gland secretions, check it out yourselves. Sick, sick is the FDA, the government that ok's all this. For the good of whom? Not the citizens. I am in agreement with, some will say conspiracy people are crazy as they have been reporting of this for years, but I now believe them. The US government has an agenda and it is not for the good of the American people, nor the whole world.
So, I am working on plans for a hoop house to grow cold weather veggies this winter. Hubs and I have decided to make more changes in what we eat; re-teaching our brains and palette of what we have been taught of what is to be eaten at what time of day, breakfast, lunch or supper and anything in between and eating out, which is coming to a hault. Growing more and more of our own food, and eat with the seasons and do without if we can not make it ourselves. A challenge, some may say, impossible, but "All things are possible with God." Where there's a will, there's a way.
Stop to think of how ones, anywhere in the world, ate 2-300 yrs ago. They did not have the trillions of varieties of food we have today. I know a trillion maybe an over kill, but mmmmm, perhaps not. And yes, even in the 1700-1800's they were already adding sawdust to the flour they were making bread with, go read some of the history there, BUT, what is going on in our world today was not at the level it is today. Some countries today won't even buy some of our products because THEY KNOW it has awful stuff in it.
I encourage all who read this, do your own research, read, read and read more, especially the food labels on all items you buy at the store.
In Joy
So, I am working on plans for a hoop house to grow cold weather veggies this winter. Hubs and I have decided to make more changes in what we eat; re-teaching our brains and palette of what we have been taught of what is to be eaten at what time of day, breakfast, lunch or supper and anything in between and eating out, which is coming to a hault. Growing more and more of our own food, and eat with the seasons and do without if we can not make it ourselves. A challenge, some may say, impossible, but "All things are possible with God." Where there's a will, there's a way.
Stop to think of how ones, anywhere in the world, ate 2-300 yrs ago. They did not have the trillions of varieties of food we have today. I know a trillion maybe an over kill, but mmmmm, perhaps not. And yes, even in the 1700-1800's they were already adding sawdust to the flour they were making bread with, go read some of the history there, BUT, what is going on in our world today was not at the level it is today. Some countries today won't even buy some of our products because THEY KNOW it has awful stuff in it.
I encourage all who read this, do your own research, read, read and read more, especially the food labels on all items you buy at the store.
In Joy
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Rain and Blueberries
Good Day Dear Readers, Rain "))))) yes, yes, Praise God, he has sent rain yesterday and today, after almost 7 weeks of none. It has been a gentle, slow paced, constant rain, so yesterday I did go out and took a walk about in it. Oh, it brought back some great memories of when, in my early teens, this was a favorite for me, to walk in the rain, of course when there was no lightening nor thunder, and I did not take an umbrella, as that defeats the whole walk. ") And as the temperature is still on the warm side, I do not fear of getting cold or chilled. Such a pleasant, simple blessing.
Today I am canning blueberries, from our abundant harvest this year that I put in the freezer just for this time. I am canning them for baking, juice and jelly. I did take some when picked fresh and made cordial. It has to sit for at least a year, the longer the better, so I will have to be patient. Marilla, in Anne of Green Gables, was famous for her cordials, and remembering this, from having watched the tapes so many times, I thought I would like to try some. I shall keep you posted.
On to more blueberries. Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Not only when life is pleasant, but also when it is not. That is the greater challenge. May we prayerfully strive to keep pressing on.
In Joy
Today I am canning blueberries, from our abundant harvest this year that I put in the freezer just for this time. I am canning them for baking, juice and jelly. I did take some when picked fresh and made cordial. It has to sit for at least a year, the longer the better, so I will have to be patient. Marilla, in Anne of Green Gables, was famous for her cordials, and remembering this, from having watched the tapes so many times, I thought I would like to try some. I shall keep you posted.
On to more blueberries. Bless the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Not only when life is pleasant, but also when it is not. That is the greater challenge. May we prayerfully strive to keep pressing on.
In Joy
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Habakkuk 3:2
Hello Dear Readers, last year I came upon this last portion of scripture in the 2nd verse of Habakkuk as I was reading the whole book, and it has, almost constantly, been on my mind concerning the issues, situations, and state of, not only, America, but the world.
".... in judgement remember mercy."
Times are perilous, uncertain, only God knows. Most times I find it difficult to pray, knowing just what or how to find words to pray for all that is before this nation, so it is this scripture I find myself going too and praying again and again. Also, being reaffirmed through God's word, that He does know all, sees all and is in control, and I must not allow fear to take hold of me. My trust is in his power and yes, he will in his judgement remember mercy. I am thankful I am His.
In Joy
".... in judgement remember mercy."
Times are perilous, uncertain, only God knows. Most times I find it difficult to pray, knowing just what or how to find words to pray for all that is before this nation, so it is this scripture I find myself going too and praying again and again. Also, being reaffirmed through God's word, that He does know all, sees all and is in control, and I must not allow fear to take hold of me. My trust is in his power and yes, he will in his judgement remember mercy. I am thankful I am His.
In Joy
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Another Season
Hello Dear Readers, yes, another season upon us here in the valley. Leaves are falling, but they are not very colorful yet. We have not had rain in a month. I am so thankful for the springs we have with unlimited supply of water, as I have been watering our back orchard for many weeks now.
We are getting somewhat ahead from our being behind with the two month hospital stay back in the spring and then helping a relative for 5 weeks just recently. I think our calendar is clear for the moment. I, grandson and adult child have been working the gardens, with weeding, laying down wood chips as in the very successful Back to Eden gardening method. When we are very low on the wood chips, we use some good hay that has zero seeds in it. This also works well. We are hoping for a productive gardening season next year.
Even though it has still been warm during the day, some of the nights have been chilly enough to warrant a fire in the Pioneer Maid in the early mornings to get the chill out. I simply love my Maid, she is a wonderful delight that I miss when it comes time for her to take leave in the spring.
I dried some white willow bark and leaves for winter. I am trying to drink it instead of taking several ibuprophens a day for a painful knee.
With so much catching up, I have gone to once a day milking of my Elsie. She is doing great and still giving me 2 gals. a day. I read an article on the subject a few years ago. This is the second time I have gone to doing this when things get too hectic. Some say it is not good on a cow, that they must be milked twice a day, but I have not seen any negative results. In fact, as it has been so very hot this summer, I did notice Elsie's breathing had become very labored when time for milking am and pm. She did not seem to want to eat as she normally does either and her milk production had gone way down. As I began thinking of the heat, how it is 'work' for her to make milk and her production, I decided to go with the OADM (once a day milking). A cow can become overheated and stressed by the heat that it can kill them. I did not want to have that. As long as she is doing as well as she is, I may continue with my present schedule of her through winter.
As I have stated before, on a homestead, there are ways to make your farm work for you, your schedule, etc. Every farm/homestead is different. Think out ideas, read, try out the ideas, if they don't work, go for something else and sometimes, you have to just say, 'it won't work for us.' I am finding this out with getting hogs. I want to get a few, but seem to can't figure out a place for them. So for now, I have left it. One simply can not do it all, have it all, on the farm. Therefore, I state again, do what you can, as you can. A little here and a little there, is always better than doing nothing at all.
I am gathering rose hips, applemint for drying. Rose hips are very high in vitamin c. Applemint is a very delicious tea, cold or hot.
Praying each are continuing to strive for a better way, peace and contentment where you are.
In Joy
We are getting somewhat ahead from our being behind with the two month hospital stay back in the spring and then helping a relative for 5 weeks just recently. I think our calendar is clear for the moment. I, grandson and adult child have been working the gardens, with weeding, laying down wood chips as in the very successful Back to Eden gardening method. When we are very low on the wood chips, we use some good hay that has zero seeds in it. This also works well. We are hoping for a productive gardening season next year.
Even though it has still been warm during the day, some of the nights have been chilly enough to warrant a fire in the Pioneer Maid in the early mornings to get the chill out. I simply love my Maid, she is a wonderful delight that I miss when it comes time for her to take leave in the spring.
I dried some white willow bark and leaves for winter. I am trying to drink it instead of taking several ibuprophens a day for a painful knee.
With so much catching up, I have gone to once a day milking of my Elsie. She is doing great and still giving me 2 gals. a day. I read an article on the subject a few years ago. This is the second time I have gone to doing this when things get too hectic. Some say it is not good on a cow, that they must be milked twice a day, but I have not seen any negative results. In fact, as it has been so very hot this summer, I did notice Elsie's breathing had become very labored when time for milking am and pm. She did not seem to want to eat as she normally does either and her milk production had gone way down. As I began thinking of the heat, how it is 'work' for her to make milk and her production, I decided to go with the OADM (once a day milking). A cow can become overheated and stressed by the heat that it can kill them. I did not want to have that. As long as she is doing as well as she is, I may continue with my present schedule of her through winter.
As I have stated before, on a homestead, there are ways to make your farm work for you, your schedule, etc. Every farm/homestead is different. Think out ideas, read, try out the ideas, if they don't work, go for something else and sometimes, you have to just say, 'it won't work for us.' I am finding this out with getting hogs. I want to get a few, but seem to can't figure out a place for them. So for now, I have left it. One simply can not do it all, have it all, on the farm. Therefore, I state again, do what you can, as you can. A little here and a little there, is always better than doing nothing at all.
I am gathering rose hips, applemint for drying. Rose hips are very high in vitamin c. Applemint is a very delicious tea, cold or hot.
Praying each are continuing to strive for a better way, peace and contentment where you are.
In Joy
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Today on the homestead
Hello Readers, summer is soon to be past, I noticed leaves falling this morning while at the barn. I think perhaps they are for lack of rain and much dryness, rather than an early fall. What the FEG (fresh eating garden) garden produced is about gone as well. With the tomatoes and peppers this week I made a hot salsa and canned 5 -1/2 pints. It bothers me to see any amount just left out in the garden, so even though it is not so vast an amount, every jar counts for us. Doing small quantities is a blessing as it does not cause me to become over anxious as I tend to do, when I have 1/2 - 1 bushels of beans, tomatoes, potatoes, corn or what ever else comes off almost at the same time.
Today I went and picked up an order at a local bulk food market: 100 lbs of raw sugar, 25 lbs of cornmeal, 5 lbs. of rice and some oatmeal. With the rice and cornmeal, I heat treat for long storage in my buckets. The oven is lit to about 200 degrees and the item placed in a deep sided casserole pan, put in oven for about 15-20 min, stirring almost every 5 min. or so, till hot through and through, of which I run my 'clean / dry ' hand through for testing. Take out, placing in another container to cool completely and then put in my buckets. I have never had bug issues with these items, of which, a 5 gal bucket full last about a year. I also got a 15lb box of butternut squash. These are a long term keeper for us in our second pantry, which is a bit darker and cooler than the other pantry. I put them in stackable baskets until I can them, which I look to do next week. But we eat them stewed or baked too.
Now, the oatmeal, I have not been successful with heat treating it and putting in my buckets; bugs find their way as does mold, so the chickens and pet pig of grandson, get this and they do not mind the extra 'stuff'. I have since looked on you tube and have found several that heat treat a different way. Putting jars in the oven, called 'oven canning,' at 200 degrees, to sterilize, for about 20 min., then fill jars with oatmeal, put lids and rings on, placing back in oven at same temp for about an hour, then taking out letting cool and the jars seal. I am putting my oatmeal in quart jars, as that is about the amount we use at a time. Well, the jars have sealed nicely, so I am pleased and hoping this process is more of a success. From the 3+ lb bag I got 4 quarts.
Keeping sugar, salt and honey on hand at all times is a must for a pantry of any size, for these items never go bad. I buy honey from Ford's Honey Farm in New York. They are wonderful people and the honey is excellent. I do realize that it is suggested to buy honey locally for allergy reasons, but as we do not have this issue, I have found the Ford's honey affordable and like the taste much better. They have a web site as well.
I perhaps have listed these links before, but feel I will do so again as they are good reads and viewing for homesteading.
The Deliberate Argarian blogspot.com
Starry Hilder - youtube
Paul Gautschie - youtube lots of great information on his Back To Eden gardening.
Urban Homstead.org - The DerVaes living in CA and homesteading in the urban community they live in, wonderful information and encouragement.
Primitive Technology- you tube
Useful thoughts
I save as much string from feed sacks for future uses in my sewing of crafts, such as my cloth- hand sewn- saw dust filled dolls. I also save the inside brown layer of sack from the feed sacks, or brown/white paper bags for wrapping packages. If a feed sack is white and has a design on it I like, I save it to write letters to friends. Getting an unusual letter in the mail is fun.
From the bulk food market I ask for their empty plastic containers, which sometimes hold 5 lbs of spices, or the cardboard, very large containers that will hold a 50 lb bag of animal feed. I store heat treated rice in the small plastic containers as we do not eat much rice, but I am going to try to heat treat noodles too and store in the plastic containers.
Upcoming 'things to do' fall/winter
dip candles
render fat for lard/can lard
can produce I have in freezer- berries for jam, tomato/pepper/onion mixture for salsa, tomatoes for sauce and juice.
Heat can more oatmeal.
When the humidity and heat break a bit, I will venture outside and get on with cleaning up the gardens, both vegetable and flower. Getting the vegetable one ready to bed for winter. We use the BTE method.
More cornmeal to heat treat, so I will end my thoughts for today.
Continue on in what ways you are able, keep on learning, keep on pursuing, don't give up. If something does not work for you, keep looking for what does, it is out there. Keep focused, stay encouraged, ask God, He can and will lead you. Look or read of others that will and do encourage you, not the ones who make you feel you can't because you have not the resources they do. Sift, sift and sift again from all the abundance of resources available, to apply to what works 'for you.' This is not for if your already into a homestead, but are looking to begin.
God is good and greatly to be praised.
In Joy
Today I went and picked up an order at a local bulk food market: 100 lbs of raw sugar, 25 lbs of cornmeal, 5 lbs. of rice and some oatmeal. With the rice and cornmeal, I heat treat for long storage in my buckets. The oven is lit to about 200 degrees and the item placed in a deep sided casserole pan, put in oven for about 15-20 min, stirring almost every 5 min. or so, till hot through and through, of which I run my 'clean / dry ' hand through for testing. Take out, placing in another container to cool completely and then put in my buckets. I have never had bug issues with these items, of which, a 5 gal bucket full last about a year. I also got a 15lb box of butternut squash. These are a long term keeper for us in our second pantry, which is a bit darker and cooler than the other pantry. I put them in stackable baskets until I can them, which I look to do next week. But we eat them stewed or baked too.
Now, the oatmeal, I have not been successful with heat treating it and putting in my buckets; bugs find their way as does mold, so the chickens and pet pig of grandson, get this and they do not mind the extra 'stuff'. I have since looked on you tube and have found several that heat treat a different way. Putting jars in the oven, called 'oven canning,' at 200 degrees, to sterilize, for about 20 min., then fill jars with oatmeal, put lids and rings on, placing back in oven at same temp for about an hour, then taking out letting cool and the jars seal. I am putting my oatmeal in quart jars, as that is about the amount we use at a time. Well, the jars have sealed nicely, so I am pleased and hoping this process is more of a success. From the 3+ lb bag I got 4 quarts.
Keeping sugar, salt and honey on hand at all times is a must for a pantry of any size, for these items never go bad. I buy honey from Ford's Honey Farm in New York. They are wonderful people and the honey is excellent. I do realize that it is suggested to buy honey locally for allergy reasons, but as we do not have this issue, I have found the Ford's honey affordable and like the taste much better. They have a web site as well.
I perhaps have listed these links before, but feel I will do so again as they are good reads and viewing for homesteading.
The Deliberate Argarian blogspot.com
Starry Hilder - youtube
Paul Gautschie - youtube lots of great information on his Back To Eden gardening.
Urban Homstead.org - The DerVaes living in CA and homesteading in the urban community they live in, wonderful information and encouragement.
Primitive Technology- you tube
Useful thoughts
I save as much string from feed sacks for future uses in my sewing of crafts, such as my cloth- hand sewn- saw dust filled dolls. I also save the inside brown layer of sack from the feed sacks, or brown/white paper bags for wrapping packages. If a feed sack is white and has a design on it I like, I save it to write letters to friends. Getting an unusual letter in the mail is fun.
From the bulk food market I ask for their empty plastic containers, which sometimes hold 5 lbs of spices, or the cardboard, very large containers that will hold a 50 lb bag of animal feed. I store heat treated rice in the small plastic containers as we do not eat much rice, but I am going to try to heat treat noodles too and store in the plastic containers.
Upcoming 'things to do' fall/winter
dip candles
render fat for lard/can lard
can produce I have in freezer- berries for jam, tomato/pepper/onion mixture for salsa, tomatoes for sauce and juice.
Heat can more oatmeal.
When the humidity and heat break a bit, I will venture outside and get on with cleaning up the gardens, both vegetable and flower. Getting the vegetable one ready to bed for winter. We use the BTE method.
More cornmeal to heat treat, so I will end my thoughts for today.
Continue on in what ways you are able, keep on learning, keep on pursuing, don't give up. If something does not work for you, keep looking for what does, it is out there. Keep focused, stay encouraged, ask God, He can and will lead you. Look or read of others that will and do encourage you, not the ones who make you feel you can't because you have not the resources they do. Sift, sift and sift again from all the abundance of resources available, to apply to what works 'for you.' This is not for if your already into a homestead, but are looking to begin.
God is good and greatly to be praised.
In Joy
Thursday, August 4, 2016
What is the Meaning? SHTF
Hello Readers, I have been thinking of these 'letters' lately as I have read some other blogs and the you tubers of this past year that I viewed SHTF. Simple minded that I am I had to actually, ") google them to find out their meaning. Well, first off, I prefer to refer to the S as 'something' 'seriousness' 'sobering' 'stuff' or whatever word of a seriousness nature beginning with S. Second, most of what I have read of others referring to these letters, they are implicating the economy failing, the infrastructure of our government failing, the world in total chaos, (more than it is at present), the grid shutting down for the count. And all of these are serious, very, but I am more thinking that daily life can be pointed to these 'letters' for many people. The question people are asking after they show these letters, is, 'what will you do?' Again, for most people, and I include ourselves, it is a matter of asking this question when something in the daily life gets a real wake up, what will we do?
Being prepared is wisdom, but sometimes you cannot when you cannot foresee what lies ahead. God does, and we must trust and rely on Him. Our example is of the recent health issue with our daughter AddieMae. Up until then, her care and health have been very steady. Now, we are in a new phase, of which we never foresaw coming or even thought of her health going in such a direction. But it did, we were not totally prepared, but God has made a way. Faith tested and being tested, but God is faithful and true.
These letters SHTF do not only pertain to coming disaster, but pertain to life in all ways. Be prepared as you can on matters that you can. Wisdom is the principal thing, and scripture does tell us a prudent man sees danger coming and prepares, but the simple keep going on. Be discerning, commit all to God in all your ways of what your life is and He will sustain you.
In Joy
Being prepared is wisdom, but sometimes you cannot when you cannot foresee what lies ahead. God does, and we must trust and rely on Him. Our example is of the recent health issue with our daughter AddieMae. Up until then, her care and health have been very steady. Now, we are in a new phase, of which we never foresaw coming or even thought of her health going in such a direction. But it did, we were not totally prepared, but God has made a way. Faith tested and being tested, but God is faithful and true.
These letters SHTF do not only pertain to coming disaster, but pertain to life in all ways. Be prepared as you can on matters that you can. Wisdom is the principal thing, and scripture does tell us a prudent man sees danger coming and prepares, but the simple keep going on. Be discerning, commit all to God in all your ways of what your life is and He will sustain you.
In Joy
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Trying to Figure This Out
Hello, a short post, as I am trying to figure out how to's on my blog. I do not know how to set up the comment box at this present time, so, if anyone is wanting to comment on any of the postings, for now, email me at bountifulvalleyfarm@gmail.com and hopefully that will work and I can visit with ones who desire to do so.
In Joy
Vivian
In Joy
Vivian
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Pictures/test run
In Joy
Pressing Onward/Homesteading
A warm Hello, the days continue to be hot and humid, thankful for the ac. We are out early, about 7am and in by 11 am until about 7pm. I and grandson get to the barn as the sun is rising enough yet not over the top of the tree line, it is pleasant enough for us and the cows for milking. In the last post I mentioned our last mama cow was close to calving, and she did just, a bull calf. Her bag has been going bad for a few years and is almost non functioning now, so we are bottle feeding her calf. Though her bag is bad and we feel by next calving she won't have anything, we have opted to keep her and let her continue to have calves, and we will just bottle feed them. She is 11 and we have had her since she was 2 weeks old, so she is more of a pet as well. I always save the colostrum from Elsie each time she calves, so I have a supply to give a new born. When the times comes that this old mama cow will have issues calving, that will be a different decision. Such as they do come in homesteading.
With our milk supply I am making cottage cheese, butter, and round cheese. I also make 'cream fresh' which is a wonderful product to make smoothies, baking and make the fluffiest scrambled eggs. I strain a portion of fresh milk, right from milking, into a 1/2 gallon jar with about a fourth of buttermilk in it, leave it in the cupboard 24 hours, it will thicken, then place in frig. When you are ready to make more, use a portion of what cream fresh you have to begin another batch. It is not thicker than yogurt, but thicker than buttermilk. We have used it as sour cream on tacos. When it is as hot as it is, we do not drink as much milk, so the chickens, cats and grandson's pet pig are getting daily treats of the excess.
Addiemae continues to do well. We are getting a routine laid for her daily care. We press on each day to do what we can to catch up on the work of the farm that 2 months time spent away has accumulated. We are making progress.
The blueberries are just about over, we picked about 15 gals., the most we have ever gotten. For now I have frozen them, waiting for winter when I will make jelly, juice and can for baking. From our small fresh eating garden, which I call FEG for short, we have gotten a good amount of tomatoes, squash, banana and bell peppers of which I have made a soup and added rice or noodles and canned.
I have a camp fire area I enjoy to utilize for heating water, reheating leftovers and cooking so I do not have to use the summer kitchen and gas stove. I do not use it every day, though I would like too. It takes a bit of planning to incorporate it into our schedule. There are many things I would like to do daily in a more 'primitive' way, for a lack of a better word. I would not say simpler, for the work one does on a homestead is just that........ work. As I can I do. This is what I would encourage anyone to do. Everyone's life is different, keeping that in mind, find what does work for you, maybe on a day to day, or if it doesn't, find how it will work from time to time. Incorporate when and where you can.
Homesteading to me, in a general use or term, is providing what you can for yourself, where and how you can. Not everyone will have animals, large garden, 100's of chickens, be able to sell or make a living from their homestead; but there may be a farmer's market, some plain community of sorts around, that sell lots of produce, products you can not provide. No one can do everything. A major thought is to not compare yourselves to ones you see on you tube or even in their blogs, and I am included. I think a lot of the you tubers, when they first start out, do want to help and share their journey of how they got into homesteading, but after a little bit, and it does not take much, with all the praise, glory, and over board comments they receive, I believe they lose their true vision and it is all about, ' hey, look at me.' And if they receive any negative comments, oh heaven forbid they do, they delete them. You tube is another glorying in oneself and is Facebook, and yes, a blog can be too, so it is imperative to keep the perspective of what the goal is. I am not on FB nor you tube and have grown weary of the you tubers out there. I wonder what the true, old timer homesteader would think of the new you tuber homesteaders.? One you tuber uses the word 'homestead homie'. Just what does that mean? Another new term is 'bush crafting', which is only another way to say, 'necessity is the mother of invention."
Maybe the tone of this last portion of my post is a bit negative; I do not mean for it to be that, but just thought provoking to deep pondering.
I am going to share a few pictures of around our homestead in the next post, which I hope will be today or next. I am looking at the 'how' to do it. These pictures are of a few years ago and some from early this spring.
In Joy
With our milk supply I am making cottage cheese, butter, and round cheese. I also make 'cream fresh' which is a wonderful product to make smoothies, baking and make the fluffiest scrambled eggs. I strain a portion of fresh milk, right from milking, into a 1/2 gallon jar with about a fourth of buttermilk in it, leave it in the cupboard 24 hours, it will thicken, then place in frig. When you are ready to make more, use a portion of what cream fresh you have to begin another batch. It is not thicker than yogurt, but thicker than buttermilk. We have used it as sour cream on tacos. When it is as hot as it is, we do not drink as much milk, so the chickens, cats and grandson's pet pig are getting daily treats of the excess.
Addiemae continues to do well. We are getting a routine laid for her daily care. We press on each day to do what we can to catch up on the work of the farm that 2 months time spent away has accumulated. We are making progress.
The blueberries are just about over, we picked about 15 gals., the most we have ever gotten. For now I have frozen them, waiting for winter when I will make jelly, juice and can for baking. From our small fresh eating garden, which I call FEG for short, we have gotten a good amount of tomatoes, squash, banana and bell peppers of which I have made a soup and added rice or noodles and canned.
I have a camp fire area I enjoy to utilize for heating water, reheating leftovers and cooking so I do not have to use the summer kitchen and gas stove. I do not use it every day, though I would like too. It takes a bit of planning to incorporate it into our schedule. There are many things I would like to do daily in a more 'primitive' way, for a lack of a better word. I would not say simpler, for the work one does on a homestead is just that........ work. As I can I do. This is what I would encourage anyone to do. Everyone's life is different, keeping that in mind, find what does work for you, maybe on a day to day, or if it doesn't, find how it will work from time to time. Incorporate when and where you can.
Homesteading to me, in a general use or term, is providing what you can for yourself, where and how you can. Not everyone will have animals, large garden, 100's of chickens, be able to sell or make a living from their homestead; but there may be a farmer's market, some plain community of sorts around, that sell lots of produce, products you can not provide. No one can do everything. A major thought is to not compare yourselves to ones you see on you tube or even in their blogs, and I am included. I think a lot of the you tubers, when they first start out, do want to help and share their journey of how they got into homesteading, but after a little bit, and it does not take much, with all the praise, glory, and over board comments they receive, I believe they lose their true vision and it is all about, ' hey, look at me.' And if they receive any negative comments, oh heaven forbid they do, they delete them. You tube is another glorying in oneself and is Facebook, and yes, a blog can be too, so it is imperative to keep the perspective of what the goal is. I am not on FB nor you tube and have grown weary of the you tubers out there. I wonder what the true, old timer homesteader would think of the new you tuber homesteaders.? One you tuber uses the word 'homestead homie'. Just what does that mean? Another new term is 'bush crafting', which is only another way to say, 'necessity is the mother of invention."
Maybe the tone of this last portion of my post is a bit negative; I do not mean for it to be that, but just thought provoking to deep pondering.
I am going to share a few pictures of around our homestead in the next post, which I hope will be today or next. I am looking at the 'how' to do it. These pictures are of a few years ago and some from early this spring.
In Joy
Friday, July 8, 2016
Homesteading Continues/ Addie's fund raising page
Hello dear Readers, it is a very hot and humid day today, although rain clouds gather and tease for the coming of rain, it passes us by. God knows and I still trust him no matter the weather. I am thankful we have an endless supply of water from our several springs and creeks.
We are home from a very long stay in the hospital with our daughter AddieMae. She is doing wonderful with her trach. I will put the link on to her fund raising page we have set up for updating our simple solar system to accommodate her new equipment. We have committed all to God and who so ever feels led to contribute, we are thankful. God will make a way.
We are trying to get her bedroom organized for all the little medical items we use daily for her as well as the larger items, day by day, a little here and there, we are catching up. Also catching up on things around the farm that sort of went by the way for a time.
Two of our mama's have calved in the last month, so milking time has begun for me. I milk our jersey, Elsie. We have one last mama to calve and when I checked her this morning, she is very close, so I put her in a small pasture by herself. A two year old heifer decided to explore our back woods yesterday, going through a hole she found in the fence. They are cunning enough to get out, but cannot seem to be smart to remember how to get back in "). We did get her in again and have repaired that portion of fencing, again.
I have more I want to share, and I will soon. Time is precious for now and needful duty calls.
May the Lord be praised.
I don't know if anyone can access the you caring page for Addiemae from the link I put below, it is not working for me, until I figure out how to put it in correctly, one can just go to the you caring main page and in the search box type in AddieMae King and it should come up.
https://www.youcaring.com/addiemae-king-590139
In Joy
We are home from a very long stay in the hospital with our daughter AddieMae. She is doing wonderful with her trach. I will put the link on to her fund raising page we have set up for updating our simple solar system to accommodate her new equipment. We have committed all to God and who so ever feels led to contribute, we are thankful. God will make a way.
We are trying to get her bedroom organized for all the little medical items we use daily for her as well as the larger items, day by day, a little here and there, we are catching up. Also catching up on things around the farm that sort of went by the way for a time.
Two of our mama's have calved in the last month, so milking time has begun for me. I milk our jersey, Elsie. We have one last mama to calve and when I checked her this morning, she is very close, so I put her in a small pasture by herself. A two year old heifer decided to explore our back woods yesterday, going through a hole she found in the fence. They are cunning enough to get out, but cannot seem to be smart to remember how to get back in "). We did get her in again and have repaired that portion of fencing, again.
I have more I want to share, and I will soon. Time is precious for now and needful duty calls.
May the Lord be praised.
I don't know if anyone can access the you caring page for Addiemae from the link I put below, it is not working for me, until I figure out how to put it in correctly, one can just go to the you caring main page and in the search box type in AddieMae King and it should come up.
https://www.youcaring.com/addiemae-king-590139
In Joy
Friday, June 3, 2016
Homesteading Continues
Hello Dear Readers, an update for you on the situation at present on our homestead. One of our special needs children has been in the hospital in Nashville, since my last post in April. The outcome for our daughter is that she had a tracheostomy. Husband and I have been traveling, swapping out turns and continue to do so. We do not have a definite date as to when she will be released to come home, as there were some complications, which have been greatly corrected, and now we are in process of learning all the involvement of care she is requiring.
As I have shared we are total solar, which is presenting to be a great challenge as our daughter has several pieces of equipment that she will have to always have, that require electricity. We are in process of designing a separate solar system for her needs, but until it is all in place she will be staying at our other daughter's home, which does have electric, upon her release from the hospital. We are working on setting up a fund raising page for our daughters needs as we will make our need for help in this known. When the page is set up, I will post the link on my blog here. Please share.
Our homestead does continue, though decisions have been made. We will not continue on with our garden, if it works to make some produce for fresh eating, we are thankful, but if not, we are still thankful for all we have stocked in our pantry. No more making our own bread weekly, no canning plans, or the projects for around the farm for this year. As scriptures says, there is a season for everything and a purpose for all under the heavens. God is still our Father, knowing every minute detail of what is going on and we can only commit all to him for guidance, peace, and even joy in the midst of a trying time. Being at the hospital these weeks, we have seen others that have had a greater trial than us. Daily we have seen a new view of being in prayer, so many are suffering in a greater way. Doctors need much prayer, this is a whole topic to post on at a later date.
So, as husband and I swap places weekly, we try to keep up with mowing, laundry, bill paying, supply buying, and the 4 other special needs children we have and making sure the livestock is watered and fed. No new calves as yet, some due in late June or early July. Our first timer mama calved in early April, and though it was our intent to milk her, she is doing well just raising her calf. It has been talked of maybe the need to sell some of the cattle, but for right now things are workable with this. We do have our son and his family and our daughter and son who live just a stone's throw away from us that are a great help for us and for them we are greatly thankful too.
Many questions have risen. Many homesteaders speak and share of the great aspect of the question 'what will you do if the economy or the grid fails?' We are asking ourselves, if anyone ever thinks of that question when it pertains to ones health or the health of a family member and you are not connected to the grid? We never thought of it before, but feel it is worthy of much thought.
We are deep believers that all things DO work together for good, to them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. He is faithful.
We will keep updating.
In Joy
As I have shared we are total solar, which is presenting to be a great challenge as our daughter has several pieces of equipment that she will have to always have, that require electricity. We are in process of designing a separate solar system for her needs, but until it is all in place she will be staying at our other daughter's home, which does have electric, upon her release from the hospital. We are working on setting up a fund raising page for our daughters needs as we will make our need for help in this known. When the page is set up, I will post the link on my blog here. Please share.
Our homestead does continue, though decisions have been made. We will not continue on with our garden, if it works to make some produce for fresh eating, we are thankful, but if not, we are still thankful for all we have stocked in our pantry. No more making our own bread weekly, no canning plans, or the projects for around the farm for this year. As scriptures says, there is a season for everything and a purpose for all under the heavens. God is still our Father, knowing every minute detail of what is going on and we can only commit all to him for guidance, peace, and even joy in the midst of a trying time. Being at the hospital these weeks, we have seen others that have had a greater trial than us. Daily we have seen a new view of being in prayer, so many are suffering in a greater way. Doctors need much prayer, this is a whole topic to post on at a later date.
So, as husband and I swap places weekly, we try to keep up with mowing, laundry, bill paying, supply buying, and the 4 other special needs children we have and making sure the livestock is watered and fed. No new calves as yet, some due in late June or early July. Our first timer mama calved in early April, and though it was our intent to milk her, she is doing well just raising her calf. It has been talked of maybe the need to sell some of the cattle, but for right now things are workable with this. We do have our son and his family and our daughter and son who live just a stone's throw away from us that are a great help for us and for them we are greatly thankful too.
Many questions have risen. Many homesteaders speak and share of the great aspect of the question 'what will you do if the economy or the grid fails?' We are asking ourselves, if anyone ever thinks of that question when it pertains to ones health or the health of a family member and you are not connected to the grid? We never thought of it before, but feel it is worthy of much thought.
We are deep believers that all things DO work together for good, to them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. He is faithful.
We will keep updating.
In Joy
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Homesteading Continued---- but on delay
Dear Readers, I apologize for not sharing the continuation of my topic on homesteading. As some of us on Bountiful Valley Farm have severe disabilities that husband and I care for daily, issues of health for some have required our most earnest attention at present.
Soon I look forward to sharing again. I thank you for coming and reading and your patience.
In Joy
Soon I look forward to sharing again. I thank you for coming and reading and your patience.
In Joy
Friday, February 26, 2016
Homesteading Part 2
As I read back over my most recent post of homesteading, I began to have more thoughts come to my mind and wanted to share.
First thought was of the word self-sufficient. The words has, through the years, transformed in meaning. In looking at the Webster's 1828 dictionary it defines as "having full confidence in one's own strength, abilities or endowments." Webster's 1941 defines as "needing no help from other people, independent.'
In the 70's, when a 'move' of 'back to the land' began, the terms homesteading and self-sufficient, and living off the land, were among the most used. Today, they are still used in degree, but now off grid living seems to be the most popular term.
Back to self-sufficient; if one takes a moment to ponder this term and its definition, no one is or ever will be self- sufficient. When people ask us if we are, we reply, "no." Webster's 1828 and 1941 definition we are in complete agreement with. Learning so much of this homesteading way of life these last 26 years has shown us we do not have, nor should have full confidence in our own strength, abilities, etc. Yes, God has given us insight, wisdom, health and many other attributes to daily strive to live this life, but it all comes from Him. We do our part as we see and know how, trusting Him with all the rest.
This lifestyle of homesteading, it is on a daily basis that we make effort to become less dependent on outside sources, making or providing for ourselves. It has not happened over night and the list of ways of becoming so always gets added too. We have researched you tube videos of documentaries and just regular people who are also looking to the past for the forgotten skills that our forefathers, not just 200 years back, but as some may say as way back to 'prehistoric' skills, had and used in their everyday lives. I believe I have mentioned some before in past postings, but they bear repeating. BBC documentaries: The Victorian Farm, Tales From the Green Valley, Wartime Garden, Secrets of the Castle, Tudor Monestary. Just recently we found a young man in Australia, his you tube is Primitive Technology. Other you tubers Paul Gaustchie, Fouch-o-matic, of which the young woman in this is Esther Emery, daughter of author Carla Emery, whom I mentioned in my last post that wrote The Encyclopedia of Country Living. A good blogger is The Deliberate Agrarian, he has lots of very helpful information. There is so much information on the internet now days, it does become very overwhelming. Keep it simple, because if you view those, as I mentioned before who think you need to start out big as they have, you will become very discouraged.
I hope to discuss more in several, different upcoming postings, as off gird, keeping a balance on what the relationship of livestock on the homestead should be with the homesteader and where we are in our journey at present. I would like to also share of herbs, tincture making, and some of the products we make ourselves for home, health and creativeness.
I do pray whomever comes upon these postings will be encouraged in however and whatever place on the path you find yourself in the journey of homesteading.
In Joy
First thought was of the word self-sufficient. The words has, through the years, transformed in meaning. In looking at the Webster's 1828 dictionary it defines as "having full confidence in one's own strength, abilities or endowments." Webster's 1941 defines as "needing no help from other people, independent.'
In the 70's, when a 'move' of 'back to the land' began, the terms homesteading and self-sufficient, and living off the land, were among the most used. Today, they are still used in degree, but now off grid living seems to be the most popular term.
Back to self-sufficient; if one takes a moment to ponder this term and its definition, no one is or ever will be self- sufficient. When people ask us if we are, we reply, "no." Webster's 1828 and 1941 definition we are in complete agreement with. Learning so much of this homesteading way of life these last 26 years has shown us we do not have, nor should have full confidence in our own strength, abilities, etc. Yes, God has given us insight, wisdom, health and many other attributes to daily strive to live this life, but it all comes from Him. We do our part as we see and know how, trusting Him with all the rest.
This lifestyle of homesteading, it is on a daily basis that we make effort to become less dependent on outside sources, making or providing for ourselves. It has not happened over night and the list of ways of becoming so always gets added too. We have researched you tube videos of documentaries and just regular people who are also looking to the past for the forgotten skills that our forefathers, not just 200 years back, but as some may say as way back to 'prehistoric' skills, had and used in their everyday lives. I believe I have mentioned some before in past postings, but they bear repeating. BBC documentaries: The Victorian Farm, Tales From the Green Valley, Wartime Garden, Secrets of the Castle, Tudor Monestary. Just recently we found a young man in Australia, his you tube is Primitive Technology. Other you tubers Paul Gaustchie, Fouch-o-matic, of which the young woman in this is Esther Emery, daughter of author Carla Emery, whom I mentioned in my last post that wrote The Encyclopedia of Country Living. A good blogger is The Deliberate Agrarian, he has lots of very helpful information. There is so much information on the internet now days, it does become very overwhelming. Keep it simple, because if you view those, as I mentioned before who think you need to start out big as they have, you will become very discouraged.
I hope to discuss more in several, different upcoming postings, as off gird, keeping a balance on what the relationship of livestock on the homestead should be with the homesteader and where we are in our journey at present. I would like to also share of herbs, tincture making, and some of the products we make ourselves for home, health and creativeness.
I do pray whomever comes upon these postings will be encouraged in however and whatever place on the path you find yourself in the journey of homesteading.
In Joy
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Homesteading
Winter finally made its appearance. Weather, it seems, is not as predictable as maybe ones use to think it was. Never the less, we have been prepared. We have learned to stay prepared. Yet, now it seems as if we shall have an early spring. Daffodils and hyacinths are blooming.
This post/sharing is about homesteading and beginning where one may be. Starting with small steps and praying about each step. Praying is a great necessity.
Think of how you define homesteading. As you research the meaning you will find it has changed over the many years from what it began to be. I found an article worth reading from Mother Earth News July 13, 2007 issue, you can google and find it. An excerpt from it states, " homesteading is about self sufficiency where ever you live." This is true. Many ones live in large cities, smaller town neighborhoods, or apartments and have found ways to homestead.
Self sufficiency is putting effort to grow, make or produce what you can and not rely so great on an outside source as the grocery store for one. You may think you can not do this, but you can. You may not can do as much as ones in rural areas, but every little step is a step in the right direction. I think I will begin with our beginning of homesteading
In 1983 we were living in a rural neighborhood. I had always, way back in my mind, had ideas of living a pioneer lifestyle, but did not know how to ever begin, didn't know anyone else living or desiring to live that way, so it kept being pushed back. But I did have an uncle and aunt who at one time ran a farm, and when I would visit them, I was so awed and loved everything about it. The hay smell in the big barn, we use to climb upon and tumble down, finding eggs along the way, that the hens had secretly laid, walking in the vast corn field between the rows, almost being invisible the stalks were so tall. There is something about the 'smells' of a farm that I find wonderful. So, with these memories, they would surface from time to time, keeping a faint ember of a life I desired to live. We began to subscribe to different magazines, BackWoods Home, CountrySide were the main ones. Also had found a set of the FoxFire Book series and read them.
Being in a neighborhood and no land to garden, I shared my thoughts with a dear friend of mine and what she would suggest to begin with first, right where we were at the time. She said canning. The two most simplest to begin with, green beans and tomatoes. Green beans have to be pressure canned, and tomatoes are hot water bath. She told me of a lady that had a garden and would be glad to sell me some green beans and tomatoes. So this was the beginning of my learning to can. We also were told of an older couple that sold raw milk. This couple had several jersey cows they hand milked every day. We began getting milk from them. As we became more involved with them, they taught us many things about their cows, hand milking and churning. They were a great source of information.
In 1990, we moved to the country. We bought a very small piece of land, 1/2 acre wide and an acre deep. We were in heaven. We got chickens and had a few pigs. We did not have the space to garden, but a neighbor across the dirt road said we could on some of his land. How very neighborly "). We continued to buy our milk from the couple in town, they were right on the outskirts of the city limits. After several years, the neighbors on each side of us sold their land to us as they moved. Now we had 6 acres, plenty of room for livestock. Of which, we began with goats. We did not keep them but a few years as we preferred cows and the products we could get from them. The couple in town sold us our first jersey cow. Now, 26 years later, we continue on with the lifestyle. We have grown in knowledge, wisdom, and many aspects of homesteading and believe we will always be.
Let me say, we do not live in the state where we began our homesteading journey, we have moved to TN. We plan to continue till death to live this life as we believe deeply it is the life God intended man to live. It is a life of purpose, fulfillment, contentment, and hard work, sometimes disappointment, but very worth while.
May I encourage any reader who happens upon this post to pray, search, read, gather any information from the sources that are so abundant. I would caution to not begin with more than you are able. Do not believe that you can't. Begin somewhere. Do not look at ones that have started out BIG.
Carla Emery wrote a wonderful book, The Encyclopedia of Country Living. It is a very practical and information book, nothing complicated and addresses various aspects of homesteading.
A very important thought, if you are single, well and good, you have only your dreams and goals, but if you are married, working together on each ones desires and goals is a must; be flexible, remember you both are traveling on the same path to reach the same goal.
I wish you success and much joy in your journey of homesteading.
In Joy
This post/sharing is about homesteading and beginning where one may be. Starting with small steps and praying about each step. Praying is a great necessity.
Think of how you define homesteading. As you research the meaning you will find it has changed over the many years from what it began to be. I found an article worth reading from Mother Earth News July 13, 2007 issue, you can google and find it. An excerpt from it states, " homesteading is about self sufficiency where ever you live." This is true. Many ones live in large cities, smaller town neighborhoods, or apartments and have found ways to homestead.
Self sufficiency is putting effort to grow, make or produce what you can and not rely so great on an outside source as the grocery store for one. You may think you can not do this, but you can. You may not can do as much as ones in rural areas, but every little step is a step in the right direction. I think I will begin with our beginning of homesteading
In 1983 we were living in a rural neighborhood. I had always, way back in my mind, had ideas of living a pioneer lifestyle, but did not know how to ever begin, didn't know anyone else living or desiring to live that way, so it kept being pushed back. But I did have an uncle and aunt who at one time ran a farm, and when I would visit them, I was so awed and loved everything about it. The hay smell in the big barn, we use to climb upon and tumble down, finding eggs along the way, that the hens had secretly laid, walking in the vast corn field between the rows, almost being invisible the stalks were so tall. There is something about the 'smells' of a farm that I find wonderful. So, with these memories, they would surface from time to time, keeping a faint ember of a life I desired to live. We began to subscribe to different magazines, BackWoods Home, CountrySide were the main ones. Also had found a set of the FoxFire Book series and read them.
Being in a neighborhood and no land to garden, I shared my thoughts with a dear friend of mine and what she would suggest to begin with first, right where we were at the time. She said canning. The two most simplest to begin with, green beans and tomatoes. Green beans have to be pressure canned, and tomatoes are hot water bath. She told me of a lady that had a garden and would be glad to sell me some green beans and tomatoes. So this was the beginning of my learning to can. We also were told of an older couple that sold raw milk. This couple had several jersey cows they hand milked every day. We began getting milk from them. As we became more involved with them, they taught us many things about their cows, hand milking and churning. They were a great source of information.
In 1990, we moved to the country. We bought a very small piece of land, 1/2 acre wide and an acre deep. We were in heaven. We got chickens and had a few pigs. We did not have the space to garden, but a neighbor across the dirt road said we could on some of his land. How very neighborly "). We continued to buy our milk from the couple in town, they were right on the outskirts of the city limits. After several years, the neighbors on each side of us sold their land to us as they moved. Now we had 6 acres, plenty of room for livestock. Of which, we began with goats. We did not keep them but a few years as we preferred cows and the products we could get from them. The couple in town sold us our first jersey cow. Now, 26 years later, we continue on with the lifestyle. We have grown in knowledge, wisdom, and many aspects of homesteading and believe we will always be.
Let me say, we do not live in the state where we began our homesteading journey, we have moved to TN. We plan to continue till death to live this life as we believe deeply it is the life God intended man to live. It is a life of purpose, fulfillment, contentment, and hard work, sometimes disappointment, but very worth while.
May I encourage any reader who happens upon this post to pray, search, read, gather any information from the sources that are so abundant. I would caution to not begin with more than you are able. Do not believe that you can't. Begin somewhere. Do not look at ones that have started out BIG.
Carla Emery wrote a wonderful book, The Encyclopedia of Country Living. It is a very practical and information book, nothing complicated and addresses various aspects of homesteading.
A very important thought, if you are single, well and good, you have only your dreams and goals, but if you are married, working together on each ones desires and goals is a must; be flexible, remember you both are traveling on the same path to reach the same goal.
I wish you success and much joy in your journey of homesteading.
In Joy
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)