Apr 12, 20212 minGarden of Eatin'Part of my homestead dream for the ranch, included a good sized portager ("kitchen") garden.
Aug 28, 20193 minGarden Series: Preservation - Update 3Garden season is coming to a close (cue the sad violins)… One of the things I love most about summer, is the fewer groceries I buy from the
Aug 23, 20193 minGarden Series: Oh My Gourd! - Update 2Squash, pumpkins, & gourds, oh my! This year we decided to try our hand at a pumpkin patch.
Aug 14, 20192 minTea TimeOne afternoon, watering my many lavender plants, it occurred to me that I was more than fully capable of recreating it at a fraction of the
Mar 27, 20193 minMaine Maple SaturdayWhile our operation is not currently big enough to warrant visitors, this year we did invest in a larger homemade sap evaporator for the who
Mar 18, 20192 minDIY Spray CleanerTwo-for-one deals are my favorite, especially when it means one less thing I have to buy from a store.
Mar 18, 20192 minCountry CandlesUsing the rendered lard that we had from butchering our pork hogs this year, I decided to make my own candles.
Mar 9, 20192 minLard Have MercyWith the return of pork from our homestead pigs, we were also given quite a few bags of pig fat. Now, what does one do with bag fulls of fat
Feb 20, 20193 minWe're a Couple of Saps...Winter feels a lot longer when you become a gardener and keeper of livestock. The sunshine months are when everything glitters...
Jan 29, 20194 minEating at the Ground LevelWhy do we bother? All this extra work and time spent making, baking, prepping, tending, feeding and watering. It seems like a lot - and some
Jan 15, 20193 minS.W.A.S. - We're Talkin' ButterStart With A Stick (SWAS) - that's the age-old Harper family motto on the use of butter.
Dec 14, 20184 minFrom Scratch, With LoveI am proud to say that we have accomplished much of what we set out to do on the Homestead this year. We are raising our feathered and furr
Dec 7, 20181 minPutting Our Eggs in a Basket...We are very proud to have our eggs featured in their dishes, and to be considered part of their collection of quality local farms.
Dec 6, 20182 minTis The Season(ing)...Using whatever variety of dried herbs you like, place in a mortar with pestle and add course salt and peppercorns.
Nov 23, 20183 minBless This MessIn preparation for the big day, I can be a little intense... The Homestead Husband knows to stay faaar out of this Big Momma's way, when
Nov 19, 20182 minHomemade Cranberry SauceIt's the turkey day staple - cranberry sauce. Although the jelly-like tin can variety has the spotlight usually, I tried my hand at maki
Sep 11, 20183 minDehydrated HerbsNo country french farm scene would be complete without the scent of lavender floating on the breeze. While we are definitely not in Paris,
Sep 10, 20182 minIt's a Pretty Big Dill...We have more cucumbers than we know what to do with. Went a little overboard this planting season... oops. I have been drinking cucumber w