Each day I read about the deteriorating economic conditions in Greece and the unfolding hyperinflation in Venezuela, Argentina, Zimbabwe and the Ukraine. As such, I cannot bear to waste wholesome fresh food we have grown. Being a second year newbie to the homesteading scene, it is overwhelming when a bumper crop is suddenly ready in large and continuous quantities.

Last year the zucchini trickled into ripeness at the rate of about 8 to 12 per week. Then all the plants died. Before I could dig them up, they reanimated and continued to produce. From the unexpected deluge that followed, I canned bread & butter “Zombie” zucchini pickles, enough for several years. Continue reading Zucchini Emergency – Preserving A Most Prolific Garden Crop →

I confess…..every so often I manufacture an important excuse to get off the mountain. Our household joke is for me to “air out” once a month whether I need it or not lol. Recently it was time once again.

My vital task that morning was to hit the nurseries for final fruit and vegetable flats now that the early planting season was almost over. The recent cold nights had zapped the delicate cantaloupe seedlings I had planted and several red cabbage had succumbed to what I now think was a nitrogen deficiency, sigh. Armed with limited cash so as not to overspend, I set out for a leisurely drive down the mountain. Continue reading An Accidental Trip To The Apothecary →

Although our washer and dryer are still operating, the time has come to begin hanging the wash out to dry. Our property came with the posts where a clothesline had been used by the prior owners. It seemed only logical to stock up on a few well woven synthetic lines and a few hundred clothespins last year. How difficult can it be to hang wet clothes out to dry on non-rainy days?

For the zillionth time in the past two years, simplicity handed me my hat and pointed me towards the door. Indeed, the more I know the more I find I do not know. Thank you sincerely to all the bloggers and YouTubers who took the time to put together instructions and amusing stories for us modern city folk who cannot make a string, a wood clip and a shirt work together. Continue reading Clotheslined →