The pantry shelf in my basement is noticeably more empty. Which only means one thing... It's time to fill it back up! I'm ready, y'all. Like so many of you, I'm feeling the pull to stock up and squirrel away food, even more than I usually do. There's so much I can't control about this crazy world right now, but I CAN control how I'm feeding my family. And oddly enough, that does indeed makes me feel better. I'm seeing a ...Continue Reading
How to Grow Your Best Onion Crop Ever
There are a handful of "pantry crops" I grow every year, without fail... And onions are one of the most important. Considering I use an onion in almost every meal I cook, they are non-negotiable in my homestead kitchen. While I haven't yet been able to grow enough onions to last me through the entire year, I grow as many as I can in our raised bed garden and squirrel them away in the darkest corners of the basement to become the ...Continue Reading
Cooking with Salt: Your Questions Answered
I have banned salt shakers from my dining table. It's not that I believe in bland food... On the contrary, I'm rather salt-obsessed. But I believe that properly salted food is the cook's responsibility, and so I work extra hard to ensure that all the food I serve is salted to perfection before it hits the table. Call me crazy, but if we have to salt our food a the table, I feel like I've failed in the kitchen. (And yes, when I ...Continue Reading
Making and Using Compost for Your Garden
"Well, my favorite manure is horse, followed by goat or rabbit...." I was on a call with the members of my HOMEGROWN mentorship program and those were the exact words that came out of my mouth right as a friend walked through door. I wonder what on earth he thought? ? And this is why us homestead folk are our own breed of weird... But yes, I do indeed have a favorite manure, because I believe manure is one of the very best ...Continue Reading
How to Use a Grain Mill to Make Your Own Flour from Wheat Berries
Someday I'm gonna tell my grandkids about the Great Flour Shortage of 2020. I don't think any of us expected a global pandemic to result in an extreme shortage of toilet paper, yeast, and flour... Strange times, man. Even though our grocery stores are a little better stocked than they were several months ago, supply on many of the items are still a bit sketchy... Which is making me more determined that ever to have a pantry ...Continue Reading
