Nichole's Modern Homestead

Making Goals (and keeping them!)

2012-03-07T15:14:00.000-06:00

Ever since I was little, I have always been one to make lists and set goals. Unfortunately I have never been very good at keeping them! This morning I stumbled upon a post over at Live Renewed about making monthly goals. I really like the idea of monthly goals because although I have made goals for the year, realistically, (for me anyway) they need to be broken down into smaller increments.

So since we are fairly close the the beginning of the month, this is a perfect time for me to establish some new goals and divide up my yearly goals also.

My first goal is to post a list of monthly goals at the beginning of every month. Along with the monthly post, I will go over how I kept up with last months goals. So, here we go!

March 2012 Goals

Gardening
- Finish putting the greenhouse back together. This was completed, until we had another bad windstorm come through and tear most of the panels apart. A trip to the hardware store is in order for replacement panels now!

- Get seeds started. Unfortunately this is dependent on the former goal. My plan is to get the greenhouse put together this weekend and the seeds will follow shortly.

- Find a good plot for the vegetables once they are started.

Home
- De-cluttering the house. This is a big one for me. I can't stand clutter, yet it seems I can never get rid of it!

- Try out a monthly cleaning plan.

- Make an assortment of crockpot freezer meals.

Livestock
- Let chicks into the hen house (separated from the older ones) around 6 weeks old. I can't wait for this one!

Building Projects
- Build the chicken tractor.

-Fix the west pasture fence. We will be working on this Saturday, we've been having a couple rotten steers getting through lately.

Personal Goals
- Start going on walks again. During the summer my husband and I like to take walks with the dogs. This allows us to have time to talk about our day and not be distracted by things that need done in the house. We both have really missed this since it got cold out.

-Post at least once a week on the blog. Not because I make any money doing it, just simply because I enjoy writing and getting my thoughts out. It tends to help organize my thoughts.

Completed Goals
At the beginning of the year, I made a list of goals for 2012. Out of these, the one goal I have completed is ordering the chicks. I'm not worried about that though, since the other goals consist of butchering and gardening. Those will come later in the year. I have been looking for another steer, but I haven't found one at the right price yet.

How about you guys? Does it help you to set goals? What goals have you set for this year?

Growing Chicks...and Projects!

2012-02-26T12:03:00.000-06:00

4 week old Buff Orpington

They grow so fast! They are four weeks old this week and are starting to get a lot more feathers. They also outgrew their pen in the house and have now been moved into the barn.

I have a few projects I am hoping to get started on and share with you guys. One is a chicken tractor, once the weather calms down. It has been insanely windy these past few days! If I were to get out the chicken wire right now, it would probably fly away. I have the basic design in my head, now I just need to get the supplies.

Another project I want to work on is a more permanent brooder pen for the chicks, and the batch of meat birds I am planning on getting in a couple months. I moved the pullets into a large dog kennel which is working for the time being, but it tends to lose a lot of shavings. I will want something less messy for the next batch.

The project that DH and I have been pondering on lately is how we are going to fix the greenhouse. We had it mostly fixed a couple weeks ago. All of the panels were back in place, and ready to go...until this wretched wind kicked in! I think DH has a couple good ideas on how to keep them in place. Once we get that fixed I'll post some pics. Hopefully we get it done before I am ready to start seeds next month. (Which is approaching very fast!)

One project that I just briefly mentioned, is the meat birds. I have been wanting to butcher our own birds for a long time now. I have been tossing around the idea of Cornish Crosses. Their tendencies for so many health problems have been my main drawback. On one hand, I think if I get them, there's no way I can "chicken out" (no pun intended) and just keep them alive. It is very rare for them to live a quality life past butchering age.

On the other hand, my goal is sustainability, right? So why go into something that isn't sustainable? So in that instance, I have been considering just getting a batch of cockerels. Perhaps White Rocks or something similar. Either way, I really want to supply my family with fresh, homegrown, pasture-raised chicken. The stuff I get at the store turns my stomach.

What is your opinion on Cornish Crosses? Are they really some creepy mutant chicken, or simply a way to enjoy fresh homegrown chicken sooner?

This post is linked to:
Homestead Revival Barn Hop 51

Changing Things Up!

2012-02-13T13:11:00.000-06:00

Normally I try to do one large garden or two smaller ones. In the last couple years, I haven't been able to keep up with the weeds and towards the end of the season (or middle like last year) I tend to get overwhelmed. I keep telling myself that this year will be different since I don't have to deal with all the wedding stuff I did last year. Even so, I still have a feeling that it would end up the same way.

For that reason, I am trying something different this year! That's what gardening is all about right? Experimentation until we find something that works well for us? I've decided my main problem is having too much space in between the plants (which results in a lot of weeds). My plan is to create small beds for a few certain plants that I am growing. Most likely I will have two pepper and tomato beds, spaced far apart. Like hundreds of yards apart. I am hoping to save seeds for the first time from these and I have more than one variety for both of these plants.

I am also going to make one small area for my green beans to climb a trellis. I am trying out pole beans for the first time. I normally go with bush beans, but I felt like being adventurous!I am also going to make another small bed for my cucumbers and zucchini. Lastly, the spinach might just go into some pots on the porch! If you can't tell, I don't have everything completely planned out just yet, which is completely the opposite of what I normally do. Normally, by the end of January I have every plant laid out on graph paper. Oh well!

Here is the list of varieties I chose to plant this year. My original list was much longer! I had to keep reminding myself to only order what I could keep up with! I also have a few different varieties that I will be starting for my mother-in-law (not listed). I can't wait to see how they all do.

Pepper,Quadrato Asti Giallo

Pepper,Jalapeno Traveler Strain

Bean,KY Wonder Pole

Squash,Black Beauty Zucchini

Tomato,Brandywine

Tomato,Amish Paste

Tomato,Large Red Cherry

Cucumber,A & C Pickling OG

Spinach,America

These are the herbs that I chose. When I was a kid my mom had a wonderful herb garden. I loved going out and getting fresh Oregano when she was cooking. I have been wanting to plant my own for while, so this is the year! I can't wait to make some amazing homemade pesto!

Herb,Basil Genovese OG

Herb,Oregano Greek

Herb,Chamomile German

Herb,Rosemary

Herb,Thyme

And a couple flowers just because they're pretty :) The Hollyhock is going next to our "outhouse" garden shed!

Flower,Outhouse Hollyhock OG

Sunflower,Valentine

This post is linked to:
Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #14
Homestead Revival: Barn Hop #49
FarmGirl Friday Blog Hop!

Week in Pictures

2012-02-10T08:57:00.002-06:00

In my Business Development class I am creating a business proposal for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) venture. So far it has been a great learning experience. A portion of it is due this Sunday, so no time for a (substantial) blog post. But, I can leave some pictures...

Have a great weekend!

Sammy Went Home Today

2012-02-04T19:40:00.000-06:00

I received a message from Sam's owners today and he has gone back to be with his owners. We will miss him, but now we be searching the animal shelters for a new companion!

How to Get Rid of Skunk Odor

2012-02-03T08:44:00.000-06:00

To go along with my introduction to Sam, I thought I would also share a skunk odor tamer recipe! Several people recommended the traditional tomato juice, but after some internet research it seems that this recipe works better:

Skunk Musk Tamer
In a pitcher, mix:
1/4 cup baking soda
Several squirts of Dawn dishwashing liquid
and lastly, a couple cups of vinegar

Only add the vinegar when you are ready to put it on the dog. In fact, this mixture cannot be made ahead of time because of the baking soda and vinegar. It will explode!

With the dog in the tub, pour all over the dog and scrub in. We left it sit for a while and rinsed. We had to repeat this the next day.

Do be careful about how often you bathe the dog with this. After two application, Sam's skin really started to dry out. I would use it to get the oils out, then try a commercial skunk scent remover. The commercial stuff was actually easier on the skin.

I am not sure how long he had been sprayed, but I am certain it was not nearly as bad as it could have been! So I cannot attest to how well this works on a fresh, directly sprayed dog.

I call it a skunk spray tamer, because it does just that. While it doesn't remove the smell 100%, it does get rid of the oils. By getting rid of the oils, it prevents everything the dog (and you) touches from smelling like skunk.

There will still be a residual smell lingering and since I have my mother's super nose, we also bought "Skunk Kleen"and this helped immensely! I was able to find this at my local pet shop. After one application, it no longer hurt my nose to pet Sam!

Good luck!

This post is linked to:

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop!

Spring Chicks and A New Family Member

2012-02-03T08:07:00.001-06:00

About a week ago I placed an order for 15 Australorp pullets, 5 Buff Orpington pullets, and 3 Buff Orpington males. I have been patiently waiting for an email stating when they will ship. Okay, so maybe I was getting a little anxious! So I went onto the website this morning and they're sold out until May! It could be a while before I get my chicks. Hopefully it won't be that long since I placed the order before they were sold out.

In other news...we have an addition to the family! Sunday night, my parents found a little hound dog cowering in the middle our driveway. Reeking of skunk. They already have two indoor dogs, so guess who ended up taking him?

It started out as just a foster. The local animal shelter is so full they can't take anymore, so I knew taking him there wasn't an option. But by the end of this week, after several baths and an investment in "Skunk Away", he had cuddled next to me every single day while I work on my homework and grown on us.

So, his new name is Sam. We think he is a beagle/dachshund mix.

Did I mention he hates his picture taken? This is the only full body shot I have been able to get. The rest of the time he is an inch from the camera lens!

Yup, a little ironic that his favorite toy is a skunk!

He will be headed to the vet in the morning to get his leg checked out. He has a limp when he runs, but other than that it doesn't bother him. He will also be getting neutered, but don't tell him that...

Now honestly, I always said we wouldn't have an indoor dog. I'm more of a cat person. Not that I don't love dogs. I have my German Shepherd, Sugar, but she is more suited to be outside. I've always leaned towards bigger dogs. But this little guy has done great so far. I especially like the fact that he doesn't bark at all! Yet anyway!

This post is linked to:
Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop!

The Durability of Aluminum Greenhouses

2012-01-23T16:12:00.001-06:00

Today is a sad, sad day. For those of you that live in the mid-west, I am sure you noticed the awful storms we had last night. For those of you that don't, we had up to 60-mph winds, torrential rainfall, and tornado watches all night. For some reason that has become the winter norm for us in southern Indiana.

I was a little worried about my greenhouse when I left for work last night. A few panels had blown out from the last storm. I thought maybe a few panels might bust out, maybe even shatter. Oh well, they sell replacements at the hardware store. I didn't expect this though.

Yes, I did cry like a baby. No, I didn't pay a whole lot for it. But this throws back my seed starting schedule, and just the fact that I did put over $100 into it (after purchasing the wood to mount it on), is frustrating.

My dad thinks we may be able to salvage it and use steel framing to build it back up. I suppose we will see what happens. If this doesn't work I am going to try a homemade PVC pipe greenhouse. Either way, I am determined to get some seeds started this spring!

Using the Freezer to Save Money

2012-01-19T15:28:00.000-06:00

There is some produce that I simply don't have the time to attempt to grow. One of these is mushrooms. I love to saute mushrooms to put in an omelet, top a pizza with, put in casseroles, you name it! I got tired of buying them in tiny little cans or spending $3 for a pound of fresh mushrooms though.
As I was looking through the produce I saw several containers of marked down 1lb containers of mushrooms. Then it hit me. The freezer! So I loaded up my cart with 3 lbs of mushrooms for $1.35 a lb and set to work.

I had to make sure that I didn't procrastinate and end up with a bunch of rotten mushrooms, since they were marked down. So as soon as I got home I washed them up, sliced them, and froze them on a cookie sheet. Only put one layer on the sheet though, if you don't, you'll end up with a big chunk of mushrooms that are hard to break apart.

I was thrilled! I ended up with an entire gallon zip-lock baggie full of mushrooms, ready to use! The next evening I threw a handful in the skillet to make my own concoction of Spinach-Mushroom Chicken. It turned out great.

I have to admit, I used to have the attitude that I should only can and dry everything. If I resorted to using the freezer, then I was being too "modern" and not trying to live how our ancestors did to the fullest. But honestly, if they had access to things we have nowadays, I would imagine that they would think that I was insane for not taking advantage of every method we have to preserve foods!

I still like to make sure things are balanced though. I would hate to lose all of the foods I put away because the power went out and everything was in the freezer. Likewise, I don't want to can things that my family doesn't eat. We don't like canned green beans, so we freeze them so they still have that fresh crunch.

Since this discovery, I have been on the lookout for what else I can buy cheaply and freeze. Abbi over at Proverbs 31 Living just put out a great article about freezing sandwich meat! You have no idea how excited I was to see that. I thought I was the only one constantly feeding wasted sandwich meat to the dogs...

I have also shredded half a head of cabbage that was leftover and just put it in the freezer. With only two of us, it's hard to use up an entire head of cabbage. Now I just grab a handful of frozen cabbage when I make Spinach and Cabbage Minestrone Soup. :)

I also love to pick extra blueberries and strawberries when they are in season to freeze for smoothies later in the year.

Does anyone else have anything that freezes well that saves you money? Please share!

This post is linked to The Country Homemaker Hop, Living Well Blog Hop, and Farm Girl Friday Blog Hop!

2012 Goals

2012-01-05T13:33:00.001-06:00

Lastyear was a busy year. I almost feel that I didn't accomplish anything thathelped further my homesteading goals. But as I think about it, maybe it isbecause I didn't have any goals established in the first place! Even so, itwasn't such a loss after all. We accomplished several things last year:

I finally got my orchard planted! I have been wanting to do that for the last five years.

We began raising bottle calves for our own grass-fed beef for the first time. They will be ready to take to the butcher soon.

As I mentioned in my last post, I found a great deal on a greenhouse for starting seeds.

Goalsfor 2012

Ihope that this year will be even more productive. I think it helps to havespecific goals, instead of generalities. So, here are my goals for 2012:

Have a successful garden this year and put up salsa, tomato sauce, pickles, and green beans. When I first started canning, I went overboard canning pickles. We don't eat a lot of pickles and it always resulted in excess that went uneaten. I'm going to learn from that and only can what we will eat this year.

Order Buff Orpington chicks to replace the hens we lost last year.

Raise and butcher the cockerels. I have had chickens since I was around ten years old, yet we have never butchered any. I hope this year will be the first that we get to fill our freezer with fresh home raised chicken! The butchering part of homesteading is an area I have always felt that I lack in. I have the "book knowledge" on how to do it, I want to have the experience though!

Build a goat-proof fence for dairy goats. I don't plan on getting any this year, but I am hoping for 2013.

Find another horse safe hay ring. Having another one of these would save so much hay.

Add another bottle calf to the herd.

Plant more fruit trees in the orchard. We still have enough room for about four more trees!

I hope that having my goals written out where I can see them will help me reach them this year. I already have a timeline worked out for when I am going to complete most of my goals.

Does anyone else have any goals for 2012?

It's that time of year again!

2012-01-02T14:36:00.000-06:00

I always look forward to this time of year. The time when seed catalogs start arriving in my mailbox, and I can spend cold evenings snuggled up in a blanket drooling over the wide varieties of seeds available. I have already been looking through the catalogs, trying to decide which varieties I will try this year.

Last year I started the majority of my transplants at home for the first time. They turned out okay, even though I had to start them in the window. It made it difficult because they wanted to grow towards the sun, resulting in lopsided little starts. Not to mention the cats liked to knock them over and eat them :(

This year will be different! This past week I found a 6' x 8' greenhouse for sale on Craigslist! So, DH and I picked it up and spent most of Sunday putting it together. It needed new footer boards and a little cleaning up. It is just the right size for starting my tomatoes, peppers, and probably some herbs. Best of all, I don't have to protect them from the cats!

My new (to me) greenhouse. It was like Christmas morning when we went to pick it up!

Another thing I hope that will be different this year is the quality of my garden. Last year was a busy one. I never realized how much work a wedding is until this year! Needless to say, my beloved garden ended up as a plot of weeds. Neglected from the rush of wedding plans and honeymoon. I was able to harvest some potatoes, after digging them up from under all of the weeds. And of course the indestructible zucchini and yellow squash! But other than that, it was a loss.

I am going to learn from my mistakes though! Instead of ordering a packet of every vegetable that looks sooo delicious, I am going to stick with the ones I have experience with. I think it will be better to have a small successful garden, than a large disastrous one ;)

What about you? Am I the only one that gets carried away once those seed catalogs show up in the mailbox?

This post in linked to the Living Well Blog Hop, Homestead Revival Barn Hop , Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways and Simple Lives Thursday.

Slowing down...for a little bit anyway!

2011-12-16T12:23:00.000-06:00

Okay, okay, you caught me. I know I haven't had a post in a little over a week now. My home has been plagued with some type of stomach bug that ended up requiring both my husband and I calling in sick to work. Oh, and did I mention this week is finals week? Yeah, it's been that kind of week. *sigh* I really don't know about you guys, but is it difficult to get in the *Christmas Spirit* when all you can think about is housework, homework, work-outside-of-work work, and the never-ending farm work?

It's one thing when you are healthy, but when something like that hits you and leaves you asleep for two days without batting an eyelash, things tend to pile up!

(Yes, I know all of you moms out there are thinking, "There's no way I could sleep for two days straight with the kids! I know, one day I won't have the luxury of sleeping when I'm sick so I'm gonna enjoy it while I can ;)

So, my random thought this week has been that I really need to appreciate my health more than I do!

On a side note, DH and I are planning on making our homemade jar gifts tomorrow! So plenty of pictures and directions are coming. (Yeah I know, were cutting it pretty close! Especially considering Christmas is only 9 days away!)

Have a good Friday! :)

Are there any "homesteading" students out there? I don't know about you but I am soo ready for winter break. What about you? Any plans?

Horseback Riding Safety

2011-12-04T04:54:00.001-06:00

Did you know that most riding accidents do not occur during “dangerous” sports, but while riding for pleasure? And that the most common reason for admission to the hospital among horseback riders is due to a head injury?

A few weeks ago, my 14 year old sister went to the emergency room and ended up staying overnight because she was not wearing her helmet while riding her horse. She was fine at first, but after a little while we could tell that she was not ok. She ended up with a concussion and some short-term memory loss. She could not remember at all what had happened over the last week, and continuously asked the same questions within minutes.

After a 24 hour stay at the hospital for observation she was fine, and she is back to her normal self. But it was a reminder that we always need to wear our helmets while riding, even if it is just a quick ride down the road.

I am sharing this because many homesteaders dream of having a horse on their farm for pleasure and for work. While I know that wearing a helmet may not be the rough and tumble vision of homesteading you had in mind, it is a very important aspect of owning and riding a horse. English riders shouldn’t be the only ones willing to protect their brain! Fortunately, this trend has been changing (albeit slowly) in recent years due to the increased public knowledge of the protection offered by helmets.

Choosing a helmet

First of all, never substitute an ASTM approved and SEI certified helmet with a bicycle helmet! The coverage area that a bicycle helmet protects is very different from the areas most commonly injured in horse riding accidents. Riding helmets extend further down the back of the head to protect this very sensitive area of the head. Bicycle helmets are also not as rigorously tested and do not go through the same certification processes as riding helmets.

There are so many choices for helmets nowadays. It really boils down to how much you want to spend and if you are concerned about style. I have bought many helmets over the years and have found that you get what you pay for. I’m not saying that you have to go out and spend $200 on a helmet, just that cheapest is not always the best route. The cheaper ones I have bought tend to fall apart easier, especially after spending the year in a hot barn.

A good, cheap helmet that isn’t going to fall apart after one summer would be the Troxel Sport Schooling Helmet. It's not pretty, but it's only around $25 and has most of the comfort features of Troxel's more expensive models.

After that, basically the sky is the limit as far as how much to spend, but an average range priced helmet that I like is the Troxel Legacy Helmet. What I like most about this helmet, is that it has a fixed visor. Velcro attached visors tend to fall off after a while, so I am willing to splurge for one that isn't going to fall to the ground if I want to go for a gallop.

When to get a new helmet

As long as you take good care of your helmet, it should last you a good while. It is recommended to replace your helmet every five years, but if you are involved in an accident while wearing it you will want to replace it immediately. The foam inside the helmet will basically collapse when it protects your head in a fall. Troxel also has an accident replacement program, although I am not certain on what their fee is to replace the helmet.

So, remember Every Time, Every Ride and you should be well on your way to keeping your head safe while riding!

This post is linked to the Living Well Blog Hop at Common Sense Homesteading,& Homestead Revival Barn Hop #39

I have not been paid or reimbursed for anything in the writing this article. Simply a satisfied customer.

Websites used

http://www.riding-instructor.com/helmets.php

http://www.troxelhelmets.com/blog/troxel/know-when-its-time-to-replace-your-riding-helmet

Winter Vehicle Emergency Kit

2011-11-27T13:44:00.001-06:00

Picture this. You are driving your car, either by yourself or with your children. It's cold, dark, and there are several inches of snow on the ground. The road is slick. Suddenly you realize you're going too fast and before you know it you're stuck in the ditch.

Credit: Free images from acobox.com

You are miles away from home, town, or any other people that could help you. No cell phone reception either. Cars passing by are far and few in between, if at all. The visibility is low and not many people could see you anyway. What do you have in your car that will help you get through this? You start looking and realize that you forgot your heavy coat. You didn't really need it, you were just going for a quick ride into town, right?

You begin to realize you are going to be there for a while and need something to keep you and the kids warm, but nothing is to be found. Then, the kids begin whining because they are hungry and scared. What do you do?

Well in this situation, there's not much to do but comfort the children and hope and pray that someone stops for you. But since we're not really in this position we can prevent it before it happens. This is why it is important to make sure you have the necessities for winter driving.

So, what can we keep in the car that would help in this situation? First of all we have several main things we need to focus on. These are warmth, visibility, food and water. Let's start out with warmth, our most important factor in cold weather.

Warmth
I always keep a heavy blanket for each person in my truck because of the described scenario above. Also, I include several emergency blankets in my truck. They are small and light, so it makes it easy to keep a few on hand, just in case. In addition, I keep enough hand and body warmers for each person. If it is below freezing, these could prevent losing finger or toes due to frostbite.

In addition to these, keep a few good pairs of gloves and scarves in the car too. These will come in handy if you need to go out and change a tire, etc.

Visibility
Next on on our list is visibility. The first thing I would want would be a reflective triangle to place on the road. This will get people's attention, and possibly get you out of there sooner. It can also help if you are stuck on the road by preventing you from getting rear-ended, etc. due to low visibility.
Always keep a couple flashlights in the car. My opinion is that you can never have too many! Another great item to have on hand is a headlamp. These are invaluable while changing a tire ;)

For the kiddos, glow sticks are a great way to calm them down and give them something to play with.

Food and Water
This is an area where you will have to take into account what you and your kids like to eat. Personally, I keep a box of Clif bars in my truck. I like to eat them, and they're not messy. Try to keep something that is not too salty or sweet so you aren't even more thirsty. (Bathroom trips in the snow aren't fun ;)

If this was to turn into something longer than a several hour ordeal, then we would need something more than just granola bars however. Merchants on Amazon.com sell emergency food bars that contain several thousand calories that are meant for these types of emergencies. I have never tried them, but if space is limited these may be a good option for you.

For water, I normally keep a 24-pack of bottled water with me. I drink them at work, so they get rotated frequently. If you don't a lot of room, a couple 2-liter bottles could easily fit under the passenger seat or in the trunk.

This is intended to be in addition to an already well rounded vehicle emergency kit. I hope to post soon on what to keep in your vehicle year round.

Did I forget anything? What do you keep in your vehicle in the winter? Let me know in the comment section below! :)

This blog post is linked to Homestead Revival Preparedness Challenge #30 , Homestead Revival Barn Hop #38, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways ,Teach Me Tuesdays, It's A Keeper Thursday, and Simple Lives Thursday.

I Am Thankful For...

2011-11-23T07:28:00.001-06:00

What am I thankful for? That is something that we don't think a lot about through the rest of the year. Sometimes life can become overwhelming and we only think of the problems in our lives (well, I do anyway) instead of everything we have to be thankful for. So, here are my top five things I am thankful for.

1. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him I am nothing. He gives me strength to continue through hard times and rejoices with me in good ones.

2. My Husband. I am thankful for God putting the one man on earth that could put up with me, in my life ;) I am thankful that he listens quietly when I am confused about a decision I need to make (which has been happening a lot here lately) and he listens to me blow off steam after a night at work. (two whole hours yesterday morning....) Most of all I am thankful that he is my best friend and always by my side.

3. My Family. I am very close to my family, and I could not imagine life without any of them.

4. Our Jobs. In these hard economic times, even an imperfect job is something to be thankful for. I am thankful that I have a job that provides excellent benefits and my husband has a job that he enjoys and pays the bills.

5. The opportunity to homestead. Although I may not be as far in my homesteading journey as I would like to be, it is simply that. It's a journey. I need to take the time to enjoy it more than I do now.

Your turn! What are some things you are thankful for?

Gulliver's Corn

2011-11-17T17:11:00.001-06:00

With Thanksgiving approaching fast, I would like to share my absolute favorite holiday side dish. It is called Gulliver's Corn. Until I wrote this post, I didn't know where the name or recipe came from. I simply knew that everyone loved it and it's a holiday staple in our family. After some research though, I found that this recipe is from a restaurant called "Gulliver's" in Los Angeles. The story is that the LA Times coerced some restaurant employees to give up the recipe. I don't know if it is true or not, but I do know that this stuff is delicious!

Be warned, it is choc full of fat, but what holiday food isn't?

Gulliver's Corn

Ingredients

2 (20 ounce) packages frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup milk
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

Place corn kernels, whipping cream, milk, salt, and sugar, in a large stockpot. Bring to a slow, low boil beginning on medium heat, stirring frequently. Simmer for 5 minutes on low heat.
Melt butter in the microwave, or in a small saucepan on low heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Stir into the corn until well blended.
Top with Parmesan cheese and cook under broiler until browned. Enjoy!

New Blog Hops!

2011-11-17T15:49:00.001-06:00

This week I joined a couple new blog hops and I thought I would share them. The first one is My Simple Country Living's Homemade Gifts from the Heart blog hop. It is a collection of all of our homemade gifts for the holidays! I don't know about you, but I can ever get enough ideas for homemade gifts :)

The second one I joined is Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways. Join Frugally Sustainable every Wednesday and share your frugal ideas!
Have Fun!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2011-11-15T07:45:00.001-06:00

One simple way to save money is by not buying laundry detergent. No, I don't mean to stop doing laundry, (although that does sound enticing) but to make your own laundry detergent! There are pages upon pages of different recipes for homemade laundry detergent on the internet. I chose to use a powder detergent because it was easier to make than the liquid. I find it is easier to store than the liquid detergent also. I found this recipe at DIY Natural. They have a cost analysis on their website that breaks the cost per load down to $0.05!

This saved a lot of time and effort!

It is a very simple recipe, and it only requires three ingredients. Bar laundry soap (such as Fels Naptha), Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda, and Borax. For one batch you will need the following,

1 bar shaved laundry soap
1 cup A&H Super Washing Soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Mix together and you're done! Use one tablespoon per load, or 2 for heavily soiled loads.

Tips

- I used an electric grater (Salad Shooter) and it was a lot easier to grate than doing it by hand. If you are using a hand grater, and find that the pieces of soap are too big, let them dry,then process them further into a powder using a food processor.

- If you are willing to take the time and prefer a liquid detergent, you can also go one step further and add essential oils to add a fresh scent to your laundry.

-More recipes (including liquid recipes) can be found at tipnut.com

Building Your Homestead on a Dime

2011-11-11T04:09:00.001-06:00

Building up a homestead takes a lot of time and work. It can also take a lot of money. If you have ever looked through a farm supply catalog, you know what I mean. We have lived on our homestead for seven years now, and before we lived here we were on another piece of property for another seven years. We still don't have everything we would like to have. But we do have everything we need.

There is a way of getting around the high prices at the feed store. It involves a lot of time, and you may not get what you need right away, but the savings pay off in the end.

Craigslist.org

Craigslist is where I find the majority of farm items I need. You can find people near you that may be trying to sell the very item you have been looking for. While everything is not in mint condition, you may find a bargain. For several years I have been trying to find a good horse round bale feeder. They run around $400 new at the feed store. I found one on craigslist for $200. Then, when I got there I talked them down to $150. That is a huge savings! It isn't brand new, but it works for what I need.

Don't stop at the housewares or farm and garden sections though! Make sure you check out the antiques and barter categories. Put up a list of items you would like and items you have to trade. Another man's trash is another man's treasure!

The Local Newspaper
This is a good place to find deals too. I haven't had as much luck with this as I have with craigslist, but it's always worth a quick glance.

County Based Websites
Everyone may not be so lucky to have one in their county, but if you do, take advantage of it! My husband and I found a great kitchen table and china hutch for our house through our county website.

Estate Auctions and Auction Houses
This is a great place to find anything you are looking for, but unfortunately is the most time consuming of all the methods. Be ready to spend the whole day waiting for the item you are looking at to go up for sale. If you are patient enough though, you can find anything from housewares to farm equipment. A great website to find auctions near you is auctionzip.com.

Tips

-Always carry cash, and in different amounts. You know that round bale feeder? I ended up paying $160 because I only had $20 bills on me.

-Have a list of items you are looking for and the condition you want the item in. This is especially helpful for auctions.

-Know the value of what you are looking for. Don't end up being the guy that just bid 2X what the item is worth.

-Be comfortable talking people down on a price. Unless the ad says they won't take any less than the said price, it's probably expected. When I post an item, I always make sure to price it a little high because I know someone will try to talk me down. Others say not to, but in my opinion it never hurts to ask.

-Network. Get to know people nearby that may be able to help you find what you are looking for.

-Be safe. A lot of people say not to go to a seller's home. This is good advice, but unfortunately most of the time I can't avoid it because many items are too large to have the seller meet me in town. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you'll be back. It's even better if you can take someone with you. Most of the time though, the people I meet are great people. I even got a tour of the last person's farm. (They had some adorable Scottish Highland Cattle ;)

Do you have any favorite websites for farm purchases? I'd love to hear it!

Regrets

2011-11-10T06:07:00.004-06:00

This morning I was talking to a friend of mine. He is going through extensive radiation and chemotherapy for cancer.

Normally we spend a while catching up on how the Colts are playing, or how our families are doing. This morning we had a little deeper conversation and I would like to share it. It has touched me personally to change how I look at things and behave.

He said that like everyone, he has things in his life that he wishes he could change and regrets some things he has done. As I was listening to his words, I didn't expect to hear the next thing he said.

He told me, that the things that he really regrets are the times God asked him to do something for Him and he didn't do it. He went on to say, things we think about in this life aren't really that important. What is really important is what the Lord will say when we stand before him and are accountable for everything we did, and didn't do.

I know personally there have been times where I know that I should have spoken up and said something to another person about the unconditional love of God, but I was too afraid. Too scared of what they may say back. Too scared of what they might think about me.

So, this conversation has challenged me. It has challenged me to do as the Lord says. Whether it be to sit down and have more Bible studies, to speak up when it feels uncomfortable, or whatever He has in store for my life.

I know I will have regrets when I am nearing the end of my life, but if I listen to the words of a dying man I can reduce the heartache I will feel when that time comes.

Credit: Free photos from acobox.com

Melatonin, A Natural Sleep Aid

2011-11-06T02:43:00.002-06:00

I know this may be a bit ironic to write about this topic while it's a little after 2am, but I know a lot of people struggle with falling asleep and staying asleep. Since I started working 3rd shift over two years ago, I have had trouble sleeping on my nights off.

I waited to say anything to my doctor because I was afraid she would immediately put me on a prescription drug. Prescription drugs are useful in many situations, but I was hoping there would be a simpler answer.

Credit: Free photos from acobox.com

After over a year of simply sitting up at night surfing the computer, waiting to get sleepy, I finally asked my doctor, "What can I do to fall asleep? It's driving me crazy!" I was very happy with her answer, too. Instead of just writing me a prescription and sending me on my way, she told me to try melatonin. So, I picked up a bottle hesitantly, and tried it. And guess what? It worked!

Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced in your body, that helps you fall asleep. According to Melatonin FAQ, the pineal gland begins producing melatonin when it the body is exposed to darkness, and the production peaks around 2-4am.

Taking melatonin supplements has been found to help people that cannot sleep due to shift work or simply because their biological clock is not working as it should.

The recommended beginning dosage is about 1mg, although you may need to increase the dosage. In my personal experience, I have had to gradually increase my dosage from about 1mg to around 6mg to stay asleep through the night, over the course of about 6 months.

If you are having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, talk to your doctor about this possible prescription alternative.

(It normally works too, I just have to remember to take it before bedtime, unlike tonight... ;)

Sources:
http://www.melatoninfaq.com/
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/melatonin-and-sleep

The information provided here is for informational purposes only. Always consult your doctor before starting any new supplement.

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

2011-11-04T15:03:00.000-05:00

Since I have already exposed myself as a hardcore coffee drinker, here is another one of my weaknesses...

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

These things are AMAZING. I first had some when my parents brought a baggie home from their vacation. I was extremely hesitant. Who wants to eat a bitter, roasted coffee bean? Well was I in for a surprise! They are now probably my favorite piece of chocolate.

The only problem is, they are very pricey. Which means I have only had a handful since I discovered the wonderful combination. Until this week.

For some reason, it had never crossed my mind to make my own, until my sister made me try a spoonful of coffee grounds and chocolate chips. (crazy, I know, but I had my eyes closed) Then it was like a light bulb went off above my head! Why not make my own?!? Honestly, the grounds and chocolate chips tasted just like what we bought at the store. (ok, may not that good, but close enough) Sooo, I set to work with a bag of dark chocolate chips and a bag of hazelnut flavored coffee beans.

To make your own you need your favorite type of chocolate and whole coffee beans. This time, I used dark chocolate, but I would like to try milk chocolate the next time I make them.

Some people like to roast the coffee beans before coating them. Personally, I just used them right out of the bag. I like the crunchiness of them and the texture. If you want to roast them first, put them in a preheated oven at 350F for 8-10 minutes.

First of all, you need a double boiler or a saucepan and a glass bowl to melt the chocolate in. Once the chocolate is melted, add the coffee beans. Mix them around until they are thoroughly coated with chocolate. Other directions say to use a slotted spoon to let the excess chocolate to drip off. But... we're newlyweds and our kitchen isn't completely stocked with utensils yet. So, I used plastic knives to pick them out of the bowl. It works either way!

If they have an excessive amount of chocolate on them still, (not a bad thing, especially if you're not particularly fond of the coffee beans) try to get them into the freezer as soon as possible to prevent the chocolate from melting into a puddle around the bean.

And there you have it! Homemade Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans, at a fraction of the cost. I have a feeling these will make great homemade gifts for those that are crazy about coffee, combined with a cute coffee mug!

November Preparedness Challenge

2011-11-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

Getting Started

Being prepared for emergencies and potential power outages is an essential part of living a self-sufficient lifestyle. Depending on where you live, you may face tornadoes, snowstorms, hurricanes, wildfires or earthquakes. The sudden snowstorm earlier this week is a perfect example. Millions of people have been out of power and many still are. How you handle these situations will depend on how well you have prepared for them.

So, where do you begin? Here is a quick primer on where to start.

Credit: freephotos from acobox.com

· Step One - Start with a emergency plan. Where is your family to meet if your house catches fire? Make sure everyone in the family knows where they should go. It should be easy enough to get to, like a tree in the front yard.

· Step Two – Have “Emergency Bags” ready for every member of the family. An Emergency Bag is a backpack or bag with the necessities needed to survive for 3 days. These should contain complete changes of clothes, shoes, personal information and identification, medications, and food. By having a bag ready to go, this frees up critical time that you may not have in the event of a natural disaster. I keep one for my husband and me, ready to go by our bed in case of a tornado. Because we live in a mobile home, it is very important that we are able to get out to a safe place as fast as possible. FEMA has a good page on what to include in an emergency bag here.

· Step Three – Water, no one can live without it. Three days without it, and you’re done for. Make sure you have a minimum of one gallon of water per person, per day for at least three days stored in your home. One gallon per person should be enough for drinking and cooking.

Step Four - Many people live day to day regarding having food in their home. Have you ever seen a grocery store right before a snowstorm or hurricane? All of the necessities are wiped out, and may not arrive for weeks, depending on the seriousness of the situation. Make sure you and your family can live at least two week on the food in your home. You don't have to go out and buy the latest and greatest food supplies advertised on television.

When you are out grocery shopping, instead of buying one bag of beans, buy two. Then, when you use one of what you bought, you still have one left in the pantry. This way, you can slowly you will start to build up your food storage. Also, be sure that you have food that can be prepared without modern conveniences, such as the microwave or even electricity.

This is just a brief overview of the many aspects of being prepared for emergencies. I hope to go into more depth on different topics in future Preparedness Challenge posts, so keep reading! The FEMA website has a lot of good information that goes into further detail.

Colors of Fall

2011-10-31T13:43:00.003-05:00

I LOVE fall. It is by far my favorite season. I love the crisp leaves, crunching under your feet and the smell of the leaves as you rake them into a huge pile. But most of all, I love the beautiful color of the leaves before they fall! So,my husband and I decided to take the 3-wheeler out on the back roads yesterday as the sun was setting to get some good pictures of the fall colors. Here is what we saw :)

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

2011-10-28T19:45:00.000-05:00

Last night for dinner, I turned a tomato, french bread, olive oil, mozzarella, and basil pesto into a delicious plate full of Italian goodness! Although it is normally thought of as an appetizer, we find that after two slices we are stuffed! With just a few ingredients you can have a delicious meal, that is pretty good for you too. Here's my recipe for one of my favorite quick meals :)

Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

Fresh tomato, diced

Italian bread, sliced

Basil pesto

mozzarella cheese

olive oil or butter

First, mix a tablespoon of basil pesto in with either 4T of melted butter or olive oil. Spread over the french bread slices. Toast in toaster oven until golden brown. Top with slices of mozzarella cheese (slices work best, but all I had was shredded) and diced tomatoes. Toast again until cheese is melted and tomatoes are hot.

You can also serve it with cold tomatoes on top (that's how I like it).

Sliced French Bread

Slathered with olive oil and basil pesto

Toasted and topped with cheese

And of course, tomatoes!

Pumpkin Pie Coffee Creamer

2011-10-26T14:31:00.000-05:00

I am a coffee addict. I admit it. In an average week, I go through about two 32 oz bottles of store-bought liquid creamer. I switch the flavors around. One week I have Almond Joy and Cinnabon, the next it may be White Chocolate and Raspberry. Sometimes I'll go back to the plain 'ol hazlenut or french vanilla, but most of the time I experiment with new flavors. Now, in my defense, staying up until 7am isn't the easiest without a caffeine boost, and hey, why not make it tasty in the process, right?

Well, the other day I was blog surfing (don't know if it's an actual term, but it works) and I came across a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Coffee Creamer at Homemaking on the Homestead! (Lots of good pumpkin recipes there too!) I have been scouring the local stores for this with no luck, for the last month! So, I gathered the ingredients and made some this afternoon. I wasn't quite sure how it would turn out, so I only made one batch at first. After testing it out with my cappuccino maker (makes some AWESOME froth!) it was a hit! I went ahead and made creamer out of the whole 32 oz of half & half that I bought. I'll easily go through it all in the 7-10 day lifespan, especially after sharing my success with my co-workers!

After realizing how awesome this creamer was, I started to wonder what else am I missing out in the world of homemade creamers? Really, if I can make it at home with REAL ingredients I'd much rather do that than look at the list on the store bought bottle and have no idea what's even in it! So I googled it! I now have an entire list of homemade creamers, that sound awesome! And I will share them with you as I try them out at home :)

So, here is the first one...

Pumpkin Pie Coffee Creamer

· 1 cup half-n-half

· ½ cup cane juice crystals (can usewhite sugar instead)

· 3T canned pumpkin

· ½ t vanilla

· ½ t cinnamon

· ¼ t ginger

· 1/8 t nutmeg

· 1/8 t cloves

Combine all ingredients in a smallsauce pan. Heat until cane juice crystals or sugar is dissolved and ingredients arewell combined. Enjoy in a hot cup of coffee. Store in refrigerator for 7-10 days.

Do you have anything that you can make better at home than store-bought? Share it! I'd love to hear about it in the comment section below :)

BBQ Chili Pasta

2011-10-25T01:26:00.002-05:00

Since I work third shift and my husband works first shift, there is very little time between him getting home and me leaving for work. So, it's always great to find a quick meal that is quick, a little different and changes things up. Well he found this recipe on his allrecipes.com app on his phone and has been wanting to try it. Sunday night, before I left for work he made BBQ Chili Pasta.

Now to be honest, I was a little nervous because of the name. I mean, really BBQ and chili?? Really? Well I was in for a shock. I really enjoyed it! It was pretty quick, and if you had pre-frozen ground turkey or beef, it would be even faster. We used whole wheat rotini to make it a little healthier. My favorite part was the fresh green peppers, I think that made the dish.

Since this serves 6 we had plenty left over for meals for work too!

BBQ Chili Pasta

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) package rotini pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
8 ounces ground turkey
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
3/4 cup barbecue sauce

Directions

In a large pot with boiling salted water cook rotelle pasta until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, in a large non-stick skillet heat oil over medium-high heat, add onion and cook until onion for 2 minutes, or until softened. Add ground turkey and cook until no pink remains, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in chopped green bell pepper, corn, chili powder, dried oregano, salt, tomato sauce, and BBQ sauce. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a large serving bowl, combine the turkey mixture with the pasta. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 340 | Total Fat: 7.4g | Cholesterol: 29mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

This is taken from the allrecipes.com website, http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/bbq-chili-pasta/detail.aspx

Your turn! Do you have any quick, easy meals you always turn to when everyone's hungry? I'd love to hear it!

Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

2011-10-20T20:05:00.001-05:00

Neet Bridge

Every autumn, the leaves begin to change color and fall to the ground. I start to think about the all of the bonfires that we will gather around with our friends, along with the hot chocolate, popcorn balls and candied apples.

I also start planning our annual trip to the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. Every year, thousands of people travel to central Indiana for this county-wide event. The county is full of beautiful historical covered bridges, surrounded by natures beautiful changing leaves. If you follow the routes marked with colored arrows, you can travel the countryside to see the breathtaking views of beautiful covered bridges.

This year, it was a chilly 35 degrees outside, along with a light mist. We even saw the occasional flurry while we were out about walking through the towns!

The Mansfield Bridge

Persimmon Pudding

Along with the covered bridges, there are numerous places to stop all over the county for a good bite to eat. My absolute favorite dessert to get while we are there is persimmon pudding! We arrived in Rockville only to be told that they no longer had it there. We ended up finding a couple vendors that sold persimmon pudding while we were in Bridgeton, thankfully! The persimmon pudding I had was not the same style that I normally get, although it was still delicious. It was more of a persimmon bread pudding. If you have persimmon trees at home you can easily make your own persimmon pudding, and I find it tastes even better from your own kitchen :)

In addition to the beautiful sites and yummy food, there are PLENTY of vendors. I normally don’t buy very much, but I really enjoy walking through the little towns to get a glimpse of what the local vendors have to offer. Chainsaw crafted sculptures, homemade crafts, etc. If you are ever in Central Indiana in October, be sure to check out the Covered Bridge Festival!

The Bridgeton Bridge (2009)

Do you have a favorite local event that you enjoy attending every year? Let me know about it in the comment section below! :)

Check out the Fall Harvest Blog Hop!

Natural Dyes

2011-10-18T18:00:00.001-05:00

After my post on harvesting black walnuts, I decided to look around and see if we had any pecans. My husband and I found a few big pecan trees down the road and brought back a bag full. Now this is where the dyes come in...

Yes, I know I've read over and over to wear gloves while taking the hulls off nuts... Somehow it slipped my mind while I was hulling the pecans while reading my Managerial Finance textbook. (I'm trying to improve my multitasking skills!) So as you can imagine, my fingers and fingernails are stained a beautiful dark brown color! So, this is my disclaimer to the previous blog post, wear old gloves!

Honestly, yes it's unsightly and it will take several weeks for it to go away, but it's a lesson learned. It did get me to thinking though, about all of the great sources of natural dyes we have just laying around. Pokeweed berries (they are poisonous though, don't eat them) make a beautiful purple dye. As a kid, my sister and I would fill up quart jars of them and make dyes to draw with. We'd also draw on each other with the dyes and pretend we were Indians. I'm sure Mom appreciated that!

Pokeberries

I got to looking around on the internet and found this neat website I thought I would share. It goes over what plants to use for certain colors, how to make the dyes, and color fixatives. It's a lot more information than I can go over in one blog post, so here's the website: Natural Dyes.

Has anyone ever used natural dyes themselves? What are your experiences? Let me know in the comments below!

Black Walnut Harvest

2011-10-15T21:30:00.000-05:00

This afternoon, we were cleaning up some trees that fell down in the horse pasture awhile back. As I was walking down by the creek I stumbled upon some black walnuts! So, I grabbed a bucket and my little brother and we set to work. We ended up collecting a couple five gallon buckets worth of nuts.

To get the hulls off the shells, I poured them into the gravel driveway. Leaving them in the there for a bit allows our vehicles to get the hulls off of the nuts. There are other methods of doing this, but I this seems to be the least time consuming way.

Black Walnuts


My brother, Josiah

After the hulls are removed and picked up out of the driveway, you can determine if you have any "floaters" by putting them in a container full of water. The floaters are nuts that are normally not fully developed inside and do not have very much nutmeat. Before you throw them out check them and make sure though, sometimes they simply have a thin shell.

Now they will need to be stored where they can cure properly. Many people keep them in old feed sacks so they can get plenty of air circulation. They need to cure for about eight weeks or so. After curing they are ready to crack and eat! As you can see it will be a couple months before we will be able to actually use them. Compared to the retail price of black walnuts though, you can't beat harvesting your own!

Now on Facebook!

2011-10-14T10:48:00.000-05:00

The Modern Homestead is now on Facebook! You can "like" the blog at The Modern Homestead Facebook Page. Hope to see you there! :)

Spinach and Cabbage Minestrone Soup

2011-10-13T13:44:00.000-05:00

I love making soups. What I like doing even more than making soup, is making my OWN recipe for it! Well, yesterday I had a recipe DH wanted me to try out. I got a little distracted and made it my own ;) It ended up turning out pretty good though. DH really liked it and so did I. Since it was, "a little of this, and a little of that" the recipe isn't exact, but you can figure it out!

Spinach and Cabbage Minestrone Soup

6 cups beef broth (I didn't have any on hand so I used more seasonings and water)
1 lb ground beef
2 small onions, quartered and sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 cup spinach
1 can kidney beans
1 cup cooked macaroni noodles
1/2 cup sliced carrots
Italian seasoning to taste
Onion powder to taste
Garlic salt to taste

In a pot, brown the ground beef until cooked. Drain grease. Add onions, garlic, carrots, and cabbage. Saute until onions are translucent. Add the broth, tomatoes, kidney beans, and spinach. Add seasonings to taste. Let simmer. About 30 min before serving, add the macaroni. Remember, it's not exact so experiment and make it your own :) Enjoy!

Homemade Vanilla Extract

2011-10-11T16:49:00.000-05:00

Earlier this year I made homemade vanilla extract. I couldn't believe how easy it was, and how much cheaper it is to make than to buy it at the store! All you need are a couple ingredients and some bottles to store it in. It also makes an excellent gift!

Homemade Vanilla Extract

2 cups vodka, rum or brandy

6 vanilla beans

Cut the vanilla beans longways all the way up until about 1" before the end. You don't want to cut the entire bean because it will fall apart. In tall bottles, put 2-3 beans in and fill to the top with your choice of liqueur. Let sit for about 2 months for the vanilla to infuse into the alcohol. Since you leave the vanilla beans in the bottle, when your bottles get low just refill with more alcohol. Some people like to strain it before use, but personally I like the little specks of bean that is left in it.

Finding the Vanilla Beans

E-Bay is a great place to find food-grade vanilla beans. I got mine from this this seller on ebay and had no problems. Sometimes small specialty stores have vanilla beans for sale locally, too. It just takes some searching.

Do you have something you like to make homemade instead of buying? Let me know in the comment section! I'd love to hear your ideas!

Choices, Choices...

2011-10-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

After some research yesterday on different apple tree varieties, I believe I have narrowed it down. I narrowed it down to Enterprise, Jonafree, and Granny Smith apples because of their hardiness in my area and their strong disease resistance. The less chemicals I have to put on the trees the better for everyone!

I am also looking at some cherry trees, persimmon and*possibly* some peach trees. I LOVE peaches, and it would be great to have them straight from the farm! We didn't have great luck with them at our last place though, so I am a bit hesitant to spend the money on them.

After measuring the area we have set aside for the orchard, I found I have room for about 10 trees. At our house, apple trees would be the most used so they will make up the majority of the trees planted. They are great for homemade applesauce (the best!), home canned apple pie filling, and fresh pressed apple cider! I may decide to put the cherry trees in other places, just so I have more room for apple trees.

Leave me a comment with your favorite apple use and why! Recipes are always welcome :)

First Blog Post!

2011-10-07T08:55:00.000-05:00

First Post
This is the first post, in what I honestly hope will be a long lived blog. I really enjoy writing, especially to straighten out my thoughts. It helps for some reason. It may be because I am a visual learner and things just make more since once I see them on paper (or the computer screen). I also hope this blog will be a help to others looking for information and encouragement in their homestead endeavors. So here it is...

Apple Trees
So, after being on this farm for six years now, I believe I have finally convinced my father into planting some apple trees. You see, at our last place we had a HUGE orchard. OK, so maybe it wasn't that big, but for a total of three acres it was large. We had around 15 apple trees there and it sort of overwhelmed us there. They were also standard sized trees, so pruning took a lot of time.

This time we have to plant our own. That means research! I do know that we want to plant semi-dwarf trees this time. They are shorter than standard-size trees, therefore easier to prune and take care of. They are more suited to a small homestead.

I have found a reputable dealer online (recommended from several people), and now I am researching apple tree cultivars that are suitable for my state. An indispensable site for things such as this has been Purdue Extension publications. Here you can find information galore! So, for a project such as this I found a list of apple cultivars for Indiana.