There I was. Standing in the barn with both hands firmly wrapped around the legs of a squealing three week old male pig. I held it up as the vet made an incision across each testicle, beginning the castration process. And the first squeal sent Charlotte charging at us. I had dreaded the moment most... Continue Reading →
I've been thinking a lot about goals lately. I always get a little anxious this time of year. Winter provides a little break for us, since the ground is frozen and our outside activities are limited to caring for the animals. But its a bittersweet kinda break because winter is my least favorite season. So... Continue Reading →
It's important to set goals. When it comes to our market garden, I try to have a few clear objectives to work toward each season. We grow on 3 acres, partially for profit as well as for our own consumption. Every year, our desire is to get better at what we do. Better systems. Better... Continue Reading →
I seem to always have my mind on spring. It doesn't matter if it's in the middle of winter, or at the end of summer. The next spring planting is never far from my thoughts. I love every minute of the researching, planning and organizing that goes into our garden pre-work each year. Plotting out... Continue Reading →
Starting a market garden sounded like a good idea... Raspberries. Tomatoes. Broccoli. We would grow all the things and the people would rejoice! This may not be exactly what was on my mind when we first set out to grow produce for our community. But I can honestly say the picture I had in... Continue Reading →
Honestly, growing peppers might be one of my favorite things about the garden. When I sit down over the winter to flip through my seed catalogs, peppers are usually the first I go through. Searching through the all the different varieties makes me feel like I did as a little kid standing at the penny... Continue Reading →
Oh Autumn...you've been missed. You really are my favorite time of year. Okay, I know autumn doesn't officially start until later this month. But there is something magical about how August dissolves into September, isn't there? It's a feeling in the air. A slow release of a long, hot summer. A sudden chill in the... Continue Reading →
You know that feeling when you plant all the things...but nothing comes up? Spring finally comes after a long winter, and you're anxious to get out to plant the garden. You're looking forward to fresh veggies, and you can almost taste them as you're putting seed in the ground. You plant. You water. You wait.... Continue Reading →
One thing is certainly true about all weeds. We hate them! I know you're with me on this. It's not necessarily the labor of pulling weeds that gets under my skin. It's the time it takes to do it. When I'm pulling weeds it means I'm taking time away from other jobs that are more... Continue Reading →
So you want to be a homesteader... I get that. The longing to live on your own land, grow your own food and learn a lifestyle of self-reliance and simplicity. It's one of the reasons we moved our family half way across the country just to find the right place to settle our roots. Whatever... Continue Reading →