For years I’ve tried making pickles- everything from bread and butter refrigerator pickles to classic dills… and for years I’ve never found a recipe I have fallen in love with, until now. I didn’t realize how much my general lack of pickling skills was weighing on me- I mean, a homesteader should be able to […]
How to Use and Preserve Green Garlic
You might take one look at our garden and wonder if we’re preparing to be invaded by werewolves, vampires, and other evil spirits. Currently, a good 1/6 of our garden space is planted in garlic! My next post should really be on how to combat garlic-breath! Have you seen “garlic soap” before? If you’ve tried it, I’d […]
How to Freeze Lettuce
Freeze lettuce?! You might think that sounds crazy. I think it’s genius! Vibrant lettuce, grown organically, picked fresh that very day from your own garden is full of nutrients… preserve them! Of course, a couple of beautiful lettuce heads from the farmer’s market are also worthy candidates for freezing. This all started last year in May when I […]
The BEST Way to Freeze Eggs!
Farm fresh eggs: it’s either feast or famine around here! During the long days of summer I’ve got baskets full of eggs and I’m piling them on the kitchen table, the washing machine, and any other flat surface I can find. A good problem to have, I know… And then the days get shorter and […]
Homestead Monthly: January 2016 {winter chicken-keeping, kitchen update and bee poop}
The winter months are definitely slower on the homestead. We have a lot of snow and cold here in Wisconsin- which calls for spending most of our time staying inside and trying to keep warm. That also means it’s time for indoor projects and spring planning! Kitchen Cabinet Face Lift Let it be known: painting […]
How to Make Vegetable Stock Powder
A great way to preserve the summer’s bounty is by turning into shelf-stable, ready-to-use vegetable stock powder! Also perfect for using up past-their-prime vegetables in the back of the fridge. This method doesn’t require a dehydrator and is simple and easy to do! Although you can make a larger quantity faster with a dehydrator —> I […]
What Do I Do with All These Cherry Tomatoes?!
I do it every year. I have all these varieties of cherry tomatoes that I love, just love and have to plant. “Well, I only really need one of each plant, but I’d better make it two so that I can give some away to friends and family. If I want two plants, I’d better […]
The Complete Guide to Preserving and Using Preserved Blueberries
If necessity is the mother of invention, a trunk-load of blueberries is the mother of this blog post. We were fortunate enough to be invited to pick til our heart’s content at a local blueberry orchard. Located on tree-lined rolling hills in the countryside, on a perfect dewy morning- we picked over 70 pounds of […]
Wild Berry & Honey Mojitos
I planted two little mint plants last year, in a crappy spot with poor soil and partial sun, hoping that they would spread and hide an ugly rock foundation wall on our house. I watched and watched this spring, and was ultimately disappointed that there was nothing coming up where I planted them the year […]
Side Dish Series: Garlic & Onion Green Beans
(gluten-free, grain-free, vegetarian, paleo) A frozen and thawed green bean will never be as good as a green bean just plucked from the garden, still warm from the sun. So finding new ways to use and elevate our preserved garden produce throughout the year is a necessity. Especially since Karl and I love flavor. We NEED […]