Pepper seeds are one of the slowest seeds to germinate. A lot of first year gardeners (and even second year, if they’re quick to forget!) seem to miss this memo, and they lose confidence when those tiny little seedlings fail to break the surface. With a bit of patience, they’ll eventually poke their heads above

If you’ve been eyeing the world of food dehydration with curiosity, I hope you’ll take action and try your hand at this incredible method of food preservation! Food dehydration may seem controversial to some because it is not heat-treated when packed into jars or bags, which can scare some people away. They’re missing out on

So, I was recently asked a really good question: “What’s your favorite seed company? Why do you use that company for your homestead?” There’s a ton of places to buy seeds out there, a ton of great places, actually! I’ve bought seeds from: Baker Creek Burpee SeedsNow American Seed Co Ferry Morse Various eBay Sellers

Let me start off by saying this is ALMOST DIY. It uses two commercial organic pesticides, among other ingredients that I add. So while this is a do-it-yourself concoction, it’s not 100% homemade. However, the individual ingredients are not enough to provide effective control of and protection from squash bugs and vine borers. It’s also

Spacing tomatoes properly is vital for their success; but, did you know that how you grow, prune, train, and trellis them are going to impact their spacing requirements? For many homesteaders, the goal is to fit as many plants as are needed into as small of a space as possible, while maximizing yields and minimizing

Asparagus is a delicious perennial vegetable that every homestead should grow if given the opportunity. It will provide the family with food for decades, as long as the asparagus is not out-competed. As the plants grow older, the ferns grow bigger; but what DO you do with those massive asparagus ferns? Do you just leave

Yay! We crossed 100 posts on the blog! Here’s to 1,000 more! Yesterday, I posted #100; it was so exciting to cross that threshold. I mean, I’ve been eyeballing those numbers for a few months. In celebration, I thought it would be fun to make a compilation post of my 10 favorite posts so far

When I say “pink spotted lady beetle”, you might be thinking of the traditional ladybug. Perhaps you’ve never heard of this insect, and assume I’m referring to the well-known ladybug. While the two are related, they look very, very different; They’re not the same beetle species. Instead, the pink spotted lady beetle is confused with

Are your seeds having spotty germination? Do you notice that some seeds like broccoli are coming up without an issue, but your peppers are slowly and poorly germinating? Some seeds simply require a little more attention when it comes to germination. Here are some incredibly simply tips for accelerating your germination, while significantly increasing your

If you haven’t already purchased one, you need a planner in your life. As a homestead grows, it becomes nearly impossible to figure out what needs to be done when! From worming and hoof trimming to pest control and annual vet visits, it can be hard to keep up. Here’s our method for making your

Growing food is great and all… But, what about growing food that can withstand complete and total neglect? The type of plants that just hang out in the yard all year, yet you forget they even exist (until you eat them)? I’m talking about a truly amazing, plant-it-and-forget-it garden full of the lazy homesteader’s best

Let me reiterate: Homesteading isn’t 100% rainbows and sunshine; bad things happen, we adapt and overcome.  I planted over 60 green bean seeds with more to go, and I might have 20 plants left. Now, this isn’t terribly tragic; as a matter of fact, I wasn’t too worried at all! This is a cheap, easy

I’d just like to take a minute or two today, just to express how much of a pain in my rear that voles are. These tiny little critters (okay, they’re bigger than field mice) may look cute, with their short, stubby little tails…. But they are an absolute disaster waiting to happen. They are our

propagating plums from cuttings

During this long, cold winter, I decided I’d take on a few different projects in an attempt to fight off the mid-winter blues. We’re all dreaming of sunny, warm spring days, with flowers in bloom and tender salad greens as far as the eye can see…. That’s definitely not our reality right now, though; at

New baby? Just bought your homestead? Still grinding through college? Whether your finances are tight or you’re simply adopting a frugal lifestyle, you can garden without spending money! Standard gardens do require a good bit of preparation and investment: building beds and buying pots, amending soil, purchasing seeds, buying pest control, adding garden tools…. it