Winter time is project time around these here parts. Our winters are long. Cold. Dark. And did I mention…long? As of right now, despite spring’s arrival on the calendar, we’re still under several feet of snow and seeing below-zero temperatures. But that’s life in my part of the world. And so deal with it we […]
Tag Archives: homesteading
Our Year in Photos 2016
So I’m already starting off the year with being behind. Anybody with me? You know, when I started this blog, I thought it would be a nice way to have somewhat of an online diary of sorts. Where if my computer crashed and I lost all of my photos and information…it would be “safely” tucked […]
In the Garden 2016: Year in Review
The 2016 garden has long been put to rest, but I wanted to make sure that I got my year in review post up before this year closes. When I started using hugelkultur a few years back, I’ve enjoyed documenting the process and results through this blog. It began with probably my most popular post […]
Dry Cured Guanciale
Winter officially arrived in northern Minnesota this weekend, and with it the inevitable desire to stay indoors. It’s the time of year when all I can think about is sleep and food. And because I have 3 small children, sleep is limited. So why not focus on the other option? Which is exactly what I […]
How to Prepare Turkey Feet for Use in Stock
Give me just two minutes and I can explain. You still here? Good. I was worried I’d scared you off with a few harmless little turkey feet. Okay, big. Big turkey feet. Big turkey feet that somewhat resemble dinosaur feet. I get it. They’re not super pretty and yes, feet are gross. We can agree […]
How to Prepare Caul Fat
It’s pig butchering season here on the farm, and with it comes so much excitement, emotion, and inevitably, exhaustion. Those of you who have raised and butchered your own animal, you know that reverent feeling that comes over you during this time. When you hold in your hands a part of that animal, you don’t […]
The Winds of Change
I’ve been a bit of a drag lately. I couldn’t figure it out at first. Energy. Gone. And just feeling…down. A little bit like that episode of Winnie the Pooh with Tigger and the rain cloud that wouldn’t leave him alone. The sun is shining, and yet there’s this pesky rain cloud hovering overhead. No […]
Acres USA Magazine Feature & Giveaway + Garden Update August 1st
Ever since I ventured into the world of hugelkultur, I’ve felt it important to show start-to-finish photos with each season. Naturally, it’s scary trying something new. Especially when there’s a lot of “talk” out there. That’s the thing about the internet…it’s so dang easy to talk. Right? When I was researching the death out of […]
Easy Homemade Granola
Raise your hand if you will pretty much die if you don’t eat breakfast in the morning. That would be me. Some of my most difficult moments are in the morning before I’ve eaten, and the kids are bugging me for breakfast. It’s pretty much understood that mom needs some fuel in the tank before […]
In the Garden: July 15th, 2016
It’s time for another garden update! Some quick background for new visitors: I garden in NE Minnesota where we have a very short Zone 3 growing season (this year’s last frost was June 8th). I use hugelkultur raised beds and apply permaculture methods throughout my garden. Nearly everything I grow are heirloom varieties and all […]