Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land
I've shied away from posting a canned tomato sauce recipe forever. Not because it's hard... Not because I don't make tomato sauce... Not because I don't have tomatoes... Mostly just because I've just been too lazy to write down my ingredients any time I make a batch. So there you have it. Now that's off my chest, I feel better. Anyway. Of all the things I can (like peaches with honey and cinnamon, canned apple ...Continue Reading
I did it again. I PROMISED myself I wouldn't let my pickling cucumbers turn into monsters this year. And then I did. In my defense, I was checking the plants regularly... one day the cucumbers were the size of my pinky finger, and the next day, they suddenly resembled a baseball bat. How does that even happen? Regardless, foot-long pickling cucumbers aren't super desirable for making homemade pickles... mostly because they ...Continue Reading
Homegrown fruit and I do not have a good relationship. The apple trees I planted? Dead within 10 months. The blueberry plant? It didn't stand a chance. The raspberry patch? I get about a cup per summer if I'm lucky. The strawberries? Maybe a bowlful on a good year. It's not entirely my fault... Wyoming's growing season isn't exactly conducive to fruit orchards. I gave up for a while, until I started doing a ...Continue Reading
I've never been this excited to get back to homeschooling... I'm in year five of this homeschool gig, so it's not exactly a novelty anymore. Yet I've found myself literally counting down the days until we're back to the books next week. What a weirdo. Is it because I redid our school room and I can't wait to sit on the new rug and drink my coffee in there? Maybe. Is it because we're doing a deep dive into American history ...Continue Reading
Here it comes... The cucumbers, beets, and tomatoes are rolling in, with the potatoes, onions, corn, and squash not far behind. I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. I love it because it's the pinnacle of what we've been working towards since early spring (HARVEST!), but holy moly... it can be overwhelming sometimes. More than ever before, I feel like now is the time to have full pantries, cupboards, and ...Continue Reading
