Life in Southeast Alaska

Our Homesteading Adventure

I have always liked to be able to do things myself and make things myself - cook from scratch, sew a quilt, knit a sweater, build a bird feeder, sew curtains, etc.  I made my own prom dress.  I planted a small vegetable garden when I was younger and have always been interested in identifying and learning about the wild edibles we have around here.  I was born a "homesteader".  I really enjoyed this article I read on Crystal Miller's website - http://thefamilyhomestead.com/meantohomestead.htm.  She talks about homesteading where you are now.  After reading this, my thoughts shifted from homesteading being something I would do sometime in the future to homesteading being what I am doing right now.  Learning and practicing skills I will need when we are able to quit our jobs and live off the land (as I am hoping will happen someday!).  We may not be living on the "perfect" homestead, but we do have a good situation now - no land payment -we should be taking advantage of that!

We have been trying to simplify our lives and think about how people used to do things.  Our new house does not have a dishwasher - opted for more cabinet space instead.  We do not have a microwave.  I was skeptical at first - how in the heck am I going to warm up the leftovers?!?  Well, how did they do it before microwaves?  The oven, stove, double boilers...  Our family always had a microwave when I was younger, so it really seemed "necessary".  Turns out we don't need one.  We don't have a coffee maker (I don't drink coffee - or any caffeine).  Rod makes his coffee on top of the stove.  All our frying pans are cast iron - I recently tossed the only teflon one we had, so I am officially converted.  I have one cast iron pot and we have Rod's dad's dutch oven.  My other pots are stainless steel. 

I tried a bread recipe back in March - Rod liked it so much (and me too) that we stopped buying store bread.  I try to make bread on Sundays - my baking day.  I have tried to make all our meals from scratch - make our own rolls, tortillas, cream cheese, yogurt, ice cream.  I try to buy only basic ingredients.  It has been fun challenging myself to this.  I have been really into canning this summer - salsa, peaches, salmon, spaghetti sauce, chicken soup, chili - things I haven't ever tried before.  My pressure canner has a permanent home on a chair in the dining room. 

A few months ago I changed our cat litter from the standard clay stuff to pine shavings.  Simon accepted the change right away - and he isn't getting sick all the time now.  I made homemade laundry soap from Crystal's website.  She has great step by step directions and pictures - http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap2.htm  We have been using it for 3 months now and I think it is what we will use from now on.  We use Crystal's shampoo bars.  I tried a few different things before settling on them - I went 7 days without washing my hair - just hot water.  I read that our hair doesn't need to be washed, that the natural oils make a coating over it and you just need to rinse.  Hmmm...  Then I tried washing with a baking soda paste and using a vinegar rinse.  The baking soda felt wierd, but it worked.  Anyway, we use the shampoo bars - Rod loves the smell of the Rosemary - he says it wakes him up.  I have been using the vinegar rinse or some conditioner.  The conditioner makes my hair soft, but it seems to get greasy fast.  I tried out some homemade deodorant - baking soda and cornstarch.  It gave me an awful rash!  Even after adding more cornstarch - it didn't help.  So I bought a natural crystal stick deodorant and got rid of the anti-perspirant.  I made some homemade sanitary pads - those are great.  They are so comfortable - I won't be using the disposable anymore!  You can find directions on the Hillbilly Housewife website:  http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm.  I need to sew up more so I don't have to do laundry everyday!

Our entertainment for the most part is the computer, basic cable, reading and garage sales on Saturday mornings.  Rod works nights in the summer (6pm to 2am), so we don't see each other too much.  I'm so glad that Monday he starts days again - we will actually be able to eat dinner together!

I think the roast is done, so I'm going to go eat - I harvested our peas tonight since there is a frost warning tonight - so I will have some of them too.  Yummy!