Wordless Wednesday

 

Homestead Happenings

Hello there!

Welcome to Homestead Happenings,

where we share what's going on here on our

Piedmont homestead.

The weather here has been beautiful and quite conducive

to working outdoors.

Unless you count the six inches of rain

we've gotten in the past week.

Oh, it's been a wet, soggy mess,

but the garden is soaking it all in.

The rain is about the only thing

that could keep me inside,

as our temperatures have been oh, so mild.

Our handy neighbor Joe,

who has helped us with several projects,

put together this shelving for me.

I told him how I like things tidy,

even outside, and he whipped up these two beauties.

The one pictured here is near the garden and 

corrals all of my pots and bins.

He also created shelving under our deck,

so that I can keep all of my trellises, conduit,

and the like well off the ground.

Another request fulfilled was a frame for my soil blocks.

I'm working my way toward using less plastic,

and soil blocks are a great way to get plants started.

We have the best neighbors.

It's been a wonderful spring for meeting other gardeners,

while having the opportunity to share my extra starts.

Everyone who comes to collect something

has been so kind and gracious,

even offering up seeds or plants in exchange.

Gardeners are a generous lot.

Our dahlias have started to open up,

and what a treat they are to gaze upon.

The bonus is that the pollinators love 'em!

The asparagus is still giving us a few stalks a week,

but it has mostly gone to seed.

I didn't think I would tire of eating it,

but for the last little while,

I've been giving it to neighbors.

I tried an experiment with these seedlings.

The pots were put in with the chooks,

which they quickly and thoroughly devoured.

This is what they looked like after a week.

One regrew and the other did not,

but it was cool to see one rebound.

The two new Birdie beds have been filled 

and are ready to grow some food!

Big K helped me place a cattle panel arch

between the two beds.

Seminole pumpkin and Cushaw squash/melon

have been planted alongside it.

This is the view of the garden from our "spa" room.

I'm pleased with the layout so far.

There will surely be some tweaking,

but I like the more condensed, streamlined look.

The babies have been outside fulltime for a few weeks now.

They seem to be adapting well to all the sights and sounds

around them.

Once they become similar in size to the other hens,

they will be integrated into the flock.

The decision has been made that Gandalf will

live the bachelor life in this coop, out on the grass.  

He will still be able to have free ranging time,

but he will be separated from the girls.

As we have not been able to find a suitable home for him elsewhere,

this is the best we can do for him.

lamb's ear blooms

I'd love to hear about what's happening 

on your homestead!

Do tell!

Homestead Happenings

Greetings to you from Maple Hill 101!

We have a few things to share this week

about our homestead activities.

This little winter vignette has brought me so much comfort,

with the delicate white lights and the cheery bear on the card.

Several times a day I'll find myself just smiling

when I catch a glimpse of it.

Winter sowing continues, as spring inches closer.

We have had some success with chamomile, dill, kale, leek, 

lettuce, onions and dianthus germinating well.

The beans, parsley and thyme have not done well,

but will be resown in the next week or so.

lots of lettuce!

A large bin of broccoli shoots was harvested

and will no doubt be enjoyed all weekend.

The cabbage is finally started to head.

I can't wait to sample this homegrown newbie!

These chives decided to come back to life

after looking mighty bad most of the winter.

Bring on the potato salad!

The sweet potato slips have been started.

These were homegrown sweet potatoes

that were saved from our fall harvest.

Matchsticks were used in place of toothpicks

(we don't buy those) to suspend the spuds in the cans.

In a few weeks, we should have slips!

Last time I mentioned this heritage flour

from Sunrise Flour Mill in Minnesota.

A friend recommended it to me,

as she knows I have issues with gluten sensitivity.

I'm happy to report that not only was the bread de-lish,

there was absolutely no reaction to my skin

after devouring the entire loaf myself!

Yeah!

Dinner rolls or challah bread will be tried next.

The new chook run has been started.

It came in one ginormous box that weighed a ton.

Fortunately, the assembly was fairly easy,

especially since Big K was there to help.

We are awaiting the hardware cloth to be delivered,

so that we can finish it up.  The outer fence will be taken down,

and used underneath the perimeter of the new run,

to act as a predator deterrent.

We'll also have some sort of stone all along the outside

to keep trouble makers at bay.

We hope to complete the build by next weekend.

This will allow me to commence working on the new design

of the garden, which is to the left of the run.

Things need to be rearranged, but the run has to be finished first. 

We lost our beloved Ruby last week.

She was such a sweet and gentle soul.

We think the culprit was water belly,

of which I knew very little.

Unfortunately, it is a condition that has no cure.

We miss you dearly, sweet girl,

but know that we'll see you again someday.

I hope you'll share what's happening on your homestead.

Homestead Happenings

We're experiencing a true (for us) winter

here in the Piedmont of North Carolina, 

minus the snow.

We've been living here for just over 7 years,

and this is the coldest temperature we have had thus far.

Thankfully, the extreme chilliness only lasted for a few days,

and our averages are again ranging in the 40's to 60's.

So grateful for our toasty fireplace!

Most of the brassicas did well with an extra layer of protection.

The additional row cover saved most of the broccoli,

kale, and even lettuce plants.

The cauliflower was not so fortunate.

The leaves can still be shared with the chooks.

A few of the broccoli heads were harvested before the coldest weather,

even though they were not full-sized.

Oh, my, they didn't disappoint.

It was the tastiest broccoli I think I've ever eaten.

The remaining crops will offer side shoots for future picking.

Winter sowing has begun!

Time spent indoors allowed me to work on

the crops I want to grow for this spring.

The focus for this season is on crops I eat regularly.

The basics are carrots, kale, onions, potatoes,

and a handful of herbs.

Several containers were sown using the winter sowing method.

You can read about that here.

The bins remain outside placed in the asparagus bed,

and will be watered only when necessary.

Fortunately, we've had a long stretch of rain visit the garden,

so these should be quite content.

As the weather allows, more seeds will be started.

Betty actually spent some time inside.

We used our closet-sized room 

off the master bathroom to nurse her.

She has been limping for a while,

although I can find no sign of problems with her feet or legs.

She stayed warm, dry and bully-free for a week.

She's walking better and is back outside.

Several of the mailboxes in our cul-de-sac have been destroyed.

For some reason, over the course of a week,

someone found it necessary to

knock them over, run into them or

somehow make them unusable.

We ended up replacing the post with a metal one

and replaced the box on top.

These were originally purchased at the library bookshop.

I am looking for a local "free library",

(the kind where folks can give and take books)

so that they can be donated.

With the book banning going on these days,

it makes it a bit more difficult to find the right spot.

Hopefully, others will get to enjoy these.

The blueberries are waking up!

I spied buds on the branches about a week ago,

and despite the neglect over the summer,

(I didn't water them much),

and their poor placement in the garden,

they still keep working toward a harvest.

A few of the blueberry crops were stretching to reach the sun,

so the pots have been moved to the outside of the chook run.

I'm hoping they will get a better distribution of sunshine here.

The plan was to put them in the ground this year

and hope for the best.  I have thus far not had a great harvest from the plants,

but I am still tweaking the soil to get the right balance of acidity.

Maybe the proximity to the chooks and their fertilizer will help.

The cold is part of winter,

and we are so glad to be living with the seasons.

It does require me to alter my day-to-day a bit.

One thing I enjoy doing in the heat of summer

and in the cold of winter is jigsaw puzzles.

Almost done with this beauty!

I usually go for a 1-mile walk through the neighborhood

at least four days a week.

With the rain and cold, that's not possible,

so I have found a great resource for walking inside.

It's called "Walk at Home", and it can be found on YouTube.

Each day I can pick from a number of videos to complete my walk for the day.

In fact, I've been enjoying them so much,

that I have increased my walk inside to 2 miles.

If you need an alternative or just want to get started

taking better care of yourself,

this is an easy way to do something for you.

Even better, have family or friends join in!

Here's the link.

What's happening on your homestead?

Need Flags?

 

 

Our living habits are fairly simple.

We believe in the homesteading lifestyle which means

that we make do with what we have,

reuse or find a new purpose for items

and invest in quality merchandise when new elements must be replaced.

Shopping at thrift stores is always preferred,

as you never know what vintage treasures might be found.

 

That being said,

we were in the market for some new flags

for the garden and the house.

I've bought flags in the past from the usual places,

and been disheartened at how little use we got out of them.

For the most part,

they could not stand up to the elements,

fading with the sun and ripping with the gusts moving across the property.

 

Until now.

For the last year or so,

I've purchased several a dozen or so flags from 

Discount Decorative Flags

and been pleasantly pleased with the quality of their products.

Even with the windiest of conditions and ample sunshine,

the flags we've purchased still look brand new.

Their collection also includes door mats,

mailbox covers, windsocks, and more.

The bonus is that the flat rate shipping of $5 for orders under $49,

makes it that much easier to dress up your home and garden.

Orders amounting beyond that, include free shipping.

 

The selection of subject matter is diverse.

Everything from seasons, to specific holidays,

to sports teams to any number of animals, floral,

military, nautical, outdoor, and patriotic

themes are available.

There really is something for everyone here.

With the average price of house flags hovering around $10,

this company gives you your money's worth.

And if that isn't enough,

there is a clearance section with a wide variety of choices.

I find it difficult to restrain myself when perusing this area on the website.

I do change our flags out with the seasons,

so this section makes it easier to add to the collection.

I think I might just need a few more flag poles around the homestead. 

 

This website is a fabulous place to find a thoughtful gift.

I'm not much of a shopper, but this company provides great products at a good value,

and that's an important aspect for me.

 

If you find yourself wanting to dress up an area of your homestead,

pay them a visit and see if you can't find something

you can't live without.

 

(I'm not receiving anything for reviewing this company,

I just like to keep the good stuff moving.)

 

 

Home Work

 

We are a family of homebodies,
so the statewide order to stay home
doesn't change our routine much.
While I am still working,
Big K is home full-time for a while
and C couldn't be happier about that.

Not everyone feels the same way about being home.
Some folks feel the need to be out and about,
and this stretch of time will be a challenge.
There are so many things we can do to pass the time,
and I thought I would share some posts on the subject.
Feel free to browse through them
and click on anything that might hold your interest.

1.   Growing sprouts and microgreens-
With just a jar, a few seeds and some water,
you can start growing salad or sandwich fixins'.

 2.  Growing food in containers-
Pretty much anything counts here,
produce bins, 5-gallon buckets, coffee cans.
They can all be used to grow crops that feed your family.

3.  Making homemade bread-
With a few basic ingredients that are most likely
already in the cupboard,
a savory loaf of bread can fill the house 
with the most intoxicating aroma.

4.  Making laundry soap and foaming soap-
These two staples are so easy to put together,
using things that are probably already in your home.

 5.  Hanging laundry-
The simple pleasure of allowing the sun and the wind
to dry your clothes is like a gift from Mother Nature.

 

6.  Become a bird watcher-
Most folks have access to bird guides online,
so try keeping a record of all the birds that visit your area.
 

7.  Relish nature's bounty-
Springtime is so full of life and awakenings,
there's no end to the things that can be discovered
just by combing your own property or neighborhood.

 

8.  Find a new favorite family activity-
whether you like to play board games, cards
or bake together, having ample free time is such a blessing. 

Here are a few other homesteading posts
I thought you might enjoy.

Why You Should Homestead Now 
Eight Ways to Homestead-No Matter Where You Live 
Being a Homesteader