How to Homestead | Simple Living | Homesteading | Homesteaders | Homestead Blog | How to Homestead | Simple Living | Homesteading | Homesteaders

Homestead Barn Hop #59

April 23, 2012 By Jill

“Cultivating the Homestead Community”

Welcome to the 59th edition of the Homestead Barn Hop!

This hop is hosted by The Prairie Homestead, along with two other fantastic homesteading gals:

Amy from Homestead Revival and Kendra from New Life on a Homestead.

We encourage you to stop by every Monday and share your latest homesteading posts with us. From cooking to animals to gardening, we want to hear what’s been happening at your homestead this week!

With summer getting closer, that means only one thing– ice cream season is coming! There is nothing, and I mean nothin’, better than homemade ice cream. I think this recipe from Jill over at Paths of Wrighteousness is the perfect homestead ice cream recipe, since 3 out of the 4 ingredients could easily be produced on a homestead. (And the 4th, vanilla extract, can be made at home too!) So be sure to head over to Jill’s blog to check out this simple but decadent, ice cream recipe!

Now, on to the business of this week’s Hop!

Some Simple Guidelines:

1. Remember to provide a link back to the Homestead Barn Hop in the post that you share. Feel free to grab the banner at the top of this post, if you would like, and use it to link back to us!

2. Please link to a specific post, not your blog’s main page.

3. If you don’t have a blog, share your latest homestead updates in a comment on this post!

4. We, the hosts of the Barn Hop, reserve the right to remove any link that we deem inappropriate or offensive. We will err on the side of caution.

Click here to view all the past editions of the Barn Hop

Have fun, get to know some new homesteading friends, and be sure to join us every Monday!

(If you are reading this post via email, click through to see all of this week’s links!)

Filed Under: The Homestead Barn Hop 33 Comments

Keeping my Sanity as a Stay-at-Home-Mom

April 19, 2012 By Jill

Sometimes I get this sneaking suspicion that some people think I’m a freak of nature.

I mean, I live 35 miles from the nearest grocery store and stay at home all day with our daughter and a boatload of animals and chores.

And I like it.

People see that I’m not always clamoring for ways to get out of the house, or trying to find every possible “playgroup” just so I have something to do, or driving to the library for the toddler storytime every day, and I think they assume I’m some sort of anti-social hermit.

Generally, I only head to the “big city” about twice per month for shopping or appointments. (We attend a small country church in the neighboring town (pop. 250) 10 miles away, so that does provide some closer social interaction.)

Join me over at The Better Mom today where I’m sharing a few of my simplest tips for staying sane as a stay-at-home mom. You can apply these ideas even if you live smack dab in the middle of the city, too.

Filed Under: Country Kids 3 Comments

Homestead Barn Hop #58

April 16, 2012 By Jill

“Cultivating the Homestead Community”

Welcome to the 58th edition of the Homestead Barn Hop!

This week’s pick for featured homestead is Deep Roots at Home!

For some reason, I’ve never even considered growing celery, but this post from Deep Roots at Home makes it look so easy! She re-grows hers from the actual celery “leftovers”! You will have to click over to her post for all of the details and elegant photos (I’m not sure how you make celery elegant, but she definitely does it!) Combine this idea with all the tips from the Don’t Compost it, Cook it eBook I’m currently giving away, and those celery “stubs” are quite a hot commodity!

Now, on to the business of this week’s Hop!

This hop is hosted by The Prairie Homestead, along with two other fantastic homesteading gals:

Amy from Homestead Revival and Kendra from New Life on a Homestead.

Some Simple Guidelines:

1. Remember to provide a link back to the Homestead Barn Hop in the post that you share. Feel free to grab the banner at the top of this post, if you would like, and use it to link back to us!

2. Please link to a specific post, not your blog’s main page.

3. If you don’t have a blog, share your latest homestead updates in a comment on this post!

4. We, the hosts of the Barn Hop, reserve the right to remove any link that we deem inappropriate or offensive. We will err on the side of caution.

Click here to view all the past editions of the Barn Hop

Have fun, get to know some new homesteading friends, and be sure to join us every Monday!

(If you are reading this post via email, click through to see all of this week’s links!)

Filed Under: The Homestead Barn Hop 20 Comments

Giveaway: Don’t Compost it, Cook it eBook

April 12, 2012 By Jill

I was really excited when I received an email from April at An Apple a Day Wisdom asking me to review her brand new ebook: Don’t Compost it, Cook it: How to Make the Most out of Nothing in the Kitchen.

My first thought was, “This is right up my alley!” As homesteaders, we are always looking for ways to be resourceful and reduce waste, and let me tell you, April’s book has got you covered!

April describes her book like this:

Don’t Compost It, Cook It teaches you how to get the most out of your food dollars while investing in your family’s health. As a single mom, my budget dictates almost everything in my home. I was tired of having to sacrifice nutritious food at the cost of our long term physical health because of the cost of organics and other healthier food options.

First off, I have to say that the fact that April is a single mom is so inspiring to me. I personally didn’t start my real food journey until I was able to quit my job and become a full-time stay at home mom. Now, I know that a real food lifestyle can totally be done while one is working, but I personally have no experience in that area. But the fact that April is a writer, blogger, and real food enthusiast as a single parent proves that it is 100% possible folks!

In this 43-page ebook, you’ll find chapters with recipes and ideas for salads, dressings, soups, vegetable dishes, snacks, protein dishes, and beverages.

April will give you ideas for how to use up your leftover mashed potatoes, tomato skins, veggie scraps, fruit trimmings, bones, and more!

And, April was generous enough to give a copy of Don’t Compost it, Cook it to one lucky Prairie Homestead reader!

There are multiple ways to enter– use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter:

(This is a new way of doing giveaways here at The Prairie Homestead. However, I’m hoping it will make things easier for everyone! Remember comments left on this post will NOT count towards contest entries!)

Giveaway ends 4/18/12 at Midnight. Winner will be contacted by email within 48 hours of the end of the giveaway.

And speaking of great giveaways, you simply MUST check out this incredible giveaway happening over at Homestead Drying Racks right now! They are giving away loads of fabulous prizes to celebrate their brand new e-magazine, which I told you all about yesterday! (Visit this post to download it for free!)

CLICK HERE for the prize list and how to enter!

Filed Under: TPH News & Announcements 3 Comments

Freebie! The Homestead Community Post Emag!

April 11, 2012 By Jill

I am so excited to be able to share a wonderful freebie with my readers today!

The Homestead Community Post is a brand new online publication brought to you by the Harrison family over at Homestead Drying Racks.

You’ve heard me mention Homestead Drying Racks many times before, here on the blog. This family-owned company is operated by real homesteaders who handcraft the racks with lots of care. I am proud to have them as one of the sponsors of The Prairie Homestead.

I personally own the largest rack that they make- the Homesteader. I love it! I’ve actually ditched my clothesline for my drying rack. You can read my “break-up” letter on page 13 of the e-mag! ;)

Click on the link below to download your own free .PDF copy of The Homestead Community Post. You won’t be disappointed! The design and layout of this 40-page publication is stunning, not to mention all the helpful info and stories that are packed inside!

http://www.homesteaddryingracks.com/uploads/1/0/6/6/10660002/hcpemagspring2012.pdf

(Click on the link to open the file, then you can save the .PDF to your computer if you wish)

So, enjoy the freebie and be sure to head over to the Homestead Drying Racks website and have a look around!

Filed Under: TPH News & Announcements 19 Comments

Homestead Barn Hop #57

April 9, 2012 By Jill

“Cultivating the Homestead Community”

Welcome to the 57th edition of the Homestead Barn Hop!

I hope all of you had a blessed Easter weekend! We enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship at our church and time spent with family!

I have to share a photo with you from this weekend. As you know, we are currently bottle feeding 2 orphan goat babies whose mama died several weeks ago. On Saturday morning, I was in the barn preparing for my usual morning milking ritual. Imagine my surprise when I turned around and “caught” the two bottle babies latching onto Oakley the milk cow! She didn’t mind a bit and let them nurse away while she enjoyed her milking-time snack. I ran to the house to get my camera and caught this priceless shot:

I thoroughly enjoyed the “Hen House Maternity Ward” post from Mosquito Creek Farm this week!

I recently was surprised when one of my New Hampshire Red hens “went broody.” I honestly know nothing about dealing with broody hens (a broody hen is one that wants to sit on her collection of eggs), so I decided to just leave her alone and let her “do her thing.” However, after about a week of sitting on the eggs, she decided to switch to another nesting box and seemed confused… I wish I had read this post earlier! I really appreciate the tips shared, and plan to put them into practice next time. Thanks for sharing Mosquito Creek Farm!

Now, on to the business of this week’s Hop!

This hop is hosted by The Prairie Homestead, along with two other fantastic homesteading gals:

Amy from Homestead Revival and Kendra from New Life on a Homestead.

Some Simple Guidelines:

1. Remember to provide a link back to the Homestead Barn Hop in the post that you share. Feel free to grab the banner at the top of this post, if you would like, and use it to link back to us!

2. Please link to a specific post, not your blog’s main page.

3. If you don’t have a blog, share your latest homestead updates in a comment on this post!

4. We, the hosts of the Barn Hop, reserve the right to remove any link that we deem inappropriate or offensive. We will err on the side of caution.