Organic gardening has become all the rage, and for good reason. Organic means the practice of natural growing techniques,  non-chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, and that means healthier plants, and in the mix, a healthier You!

When planting gardens, there are many things to consider, from soil alkalinity, to rainfall. One of the best ways to solve difficulty in both of these areas is to mulch. Mulch provides a way to cushion the soil from harsh sun, drought, and keep it more aerable.  Mulches ranges from rubber and plastic, to living. All offer the benefits of weed control.  Some prefer to use an organic mulch of leaves, straw and hay. But, only one offers the chance to "treat and eat," and that is "living" mulch. So, what exactly is a living mulch?

A living mulch is using under-story, and companion planting, to form a canopy that blocks the sun from reaching those pesky little weeds that are trying to invade your garden plot. And, it is edible!

I call living mulch "magnificent mulch," because it is one of the least expensenive, and easiet ways to shelter the soil, while providing the added benefits of more food on the table.

How do you create a living mulch?

First, it is important to find what plants grow well together, because like companion planting, you need to know which benefit each other. Living mulches must contribute to the growth habit of those plants it understories.

The following is an example of a garden plan that shows a list of plants, and their living mulch counterparts.  You will notice that some of the living mulch plants are harvested quickly and might require a second sowing, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Tomato with Basil as an understory

Bush Beans with cumcumbers or squash

Cabbages with dill or sage.  Sage helps deter cabbage butterfly.

Eggplants with lettuces

Potato with onions

Brussel sprouts with spinach

Beans with oregano

Sunflowers with melons'

Sage with carrots

Jalepeno and hot peppers understoried with cilantro, or sweet basil

Kohlrabi with mint

Mustard with cauliflower

Corn with tansy or summer savory.

Borage with your strawberries will help deter predatory insects. On the downside, it can also deter honeybees.

Radishes with turnips

On a different note, but equally important is pest control.  Natural pest deterrants can be found in many flowers and herbs. For example Geraniums, help prevent infestations of Japanese beatles, (abundant down here in the South). They are good companion plantings for Peppers and tomatos.  Marigolds help deter the dreaded nematodes, and beet leaf hoppers. The dwarf varieties thrive as underplants for cukes, squash, and kale.

The list goes on and on!  The main thing to remember is that as in anything, perserverance is the key!

Today we finshed the coop!!!! The chickens are enjoying The Chirpin inn (the hotel is no longer for dogs, but for chickens!!!!) We got the back fenced in and one of the birds, Auntie Nay Nay- came out, enjoyed the smorges board of food, then decieded, 'I'm cold, weres the door??!!'  HEHEHEHE. 

They all started freaking out when we started cutting the boxes apart and moving it, 2 even flew to the top!  I will have pictures come soon!  We are all very happy that they are enjoying the water and the place to stay warm- but if you ask me- the only way to get me out there is to push me, FREEZING!!! BRRRRRR . . . . .

I hope that all are fine tonight, Linds just came in and said that they couldn't find him . . .He's jsut hiding, but maybe you might want to here what they have to say, just from the news-reporter on the case- Agent 2213- her name must stay concealed, she is on a case to find the missing homework from a dog . . . .

Forrest says: "Yeah this place is great, I really like the hiding places!"

Gump says: " Ohh yeah, lots of room and maybe I can get some revenge from every one who has pecked me . . . "

Daisy says : " I can't wait to start laying in the nice nesting boxes, and maybe I can get some sleep- I don't like being stepped on."

Hawk says: " Yeah, this place is arght, I like to push the others out the door and make them get back in! MAUHHHH, Ohh I mean, is that it???!!!"

Henrettia says: Well I'm prone to chicken scardy cat-ness and I really don't like the thought of having a bunch of girls staring at me . . .  I guess they might mean harm- or not, What have I gotten into??

"Auntie Nay Nay says: Yeah, the place is fine, but I wish those little girls would have helped me into the coop, but the big man said to leave me alone, boys, why must they listen???"

Well, my ankle hurts, so bye,

Anne

These are yummy cookies, very rich in flavor, with molasses, and lots of spices. Yummy winter cookies.

To start, you need 1 stick (1/2 cup) soft butter and 1/4 c shortening.


And 1 cup Brown Sugar


Mix those until creamy.


Beat in an egg


Stir in 1/2 cup Molasses




Now add 1 tsp salt


Two teaspoons baking soda


1 teaspoon each of cinnamom...


Nutmeg


Allspice


and Ginger


Now mix together, adding 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour. Be sure to scrape the sides occasionally. Mix well.


Now if you use plastic wrap, cover the dough with the wrap, pressing against the dough. I don't buy it, so I am placing my dough in a smaller bowl with a lid. Put it in the fridge, and chill 1 - 2 hours.


While I was making the dough, Hickory was sitting on a little table, intently looking out the window.


Of course.


...

Now after an hour or two, heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Line your baking stone/sheet with parchment paper. And put some sugar in a small bowl. 1/2 a cup or so.

Then using a spoon or small scoop, scoop out about a rounded Tablespoon of dough, and roll it into a ball.


Roll the ball in the sugar to coat.


And place on the baking stone.


Bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes. They will crack slightly and still be somewhat soft.
Let them cool a couple minutes before removing from the paper, and let them cool completely. Using a couple sheets of parchment paper makes this job very easy. I just use one baking stone, and keep it in the oven. when one batch is done, I slide the paper and cookies onto a cooling rack, and using another rack, slide the next batch right onto the stone. While one batch is baking, I can be preparing the other. It cuts down the time that the oven is on.

When they are all done, you have these.

Enjoy!




***



Printable Version:

Chewy Molasses Cookies

1/2 c butter (soft)
1/4 c shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 c molasses
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
2 1/2 c all-purpose flour

Sugar for rolling

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, shortening and brown sugar together until creamy.
Beat in egg and molasses.
Stir in salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg.
Stir in flour.
Be sure to scrape the sides of bowl to mix well.
Cover dough with plastic wrap, or place in bowl with lid.
Put it in the fridge, and chill 1 - 2 hours.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
Line your baking stone/sheet with parchment paper.
Put some sugar in a small bowl. 1/2 a cup or so.
Then using a spoon or small scoop, scoop out about a rounded Tablespoon of dough, and roll it into a ball.
Roll the ball in the sugar to coat.
And place on the baking stone.
Bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes. They will crack slightly and still be somewhat soft.
Let them cool a couple minutes before removing from the paper, and let them cool completely. Using a couple sheets of parchment paper makes this job very easy. I just use one baking stone, and keep it in the oven. when one batch is done, I slide the paper and cookies onto a cooling rack, and using another rack, slide the next batch right onto the stone. While one batch is baking, I can be preparing the other. It cuts down the time that the oven is on.

Enjoy!

Conni is an army wife and homeschooling mom of three, living in North Carolina. You can find out more about her on her blog: MamaHen

Yes another book, but this time something new!

Book's Recently Finshed:

1) Prarie River, A Jouney of Faith and Prarie River, a Grateful Harvest!  I have talked alittle about this series, but it is a Christian Series and I absoltly love to read them, the troubles that  the people encoutered and still had faith in Jesus is AMAZING!!

2)  The Sword, The Ring, and the Parchment by Ed Dunlop.  Another Chirstian series! My mom has to review this series, but I like the books, so I normally take them, but we decided after Bertie's War  we I got the books and read the first 8 chapters, then Mom stole it and I took it back, I won alls good!  Well we recieved this book and I requested that we race, I'm winning! OHH YEAH!  Ohh, well you have to wait for my mom to write!

Books that are still being completed:

1) Winter tidings, thrid in the Prarie River series!

2) Harriet the Spy

3) Little House on the Prarie

4) The End (Pooperdoodle, I'm at chapter 3 . . . )

5) The quest for seven castles, the second in the Terestira chronicals, from The sword, the ring, and the parchment.

 Well, thats it!  bye!

Anne

This week's Featured Blogger is HerbsandHoney at Gather Around For Kitchen Blessings. 

Stop by and congratulate Herbs & Honey for being this week's Featured Blogger, and while you're there be sure to check out her great posts like Kitchen Blessings #1 and #2 and read how she likes to spice things up in Kitchen Blessings #3. 

This recipe for Homemade Pasta Dough sounds very tasty, and I think that just might be "what's for dinner" at my house tonight. 

Gather Around For Kitchen Blessings is a lovely blog and is full of encouragement, stop by for a visit today, you'll be glad you did! 

Please help me choose the next Featured Blogger.  If you have a blogger you'd like to nominate as our Featured Blogger of the Week, send me an email at senioreditor@homesteadblogger.com .  Keep in mind that Featured Bloggers must be at least 18 years of age and their blog must be encouraging, uplifting, and/or inspiring. 

Who knows, you may be our next featured blogger ! 

Blessings,

Catherine

Need some inspiration for crafty things to make and do?  The Crafty Crow (my favorite craft site) has a crafts from around the world theme this month, and oh the imaginative things that have been posted thus far: teacup candles from England, bubble spinners from Japan, rose syrup from India ... so many interesting things to craft.  Check it out and let me know which crafts you plan to try!  The rose syrup is a must for me and I do love the candles. 

Blessings,

Catherine :)

Since we're thinking Spring and Spring Cleaning around here this week, I thought we could share our favorite recipes for homemade clean. 

My favorite all-purpose cleaner is simply:

1 part distilled water

1 part white vinegar

a few drops of lemon essential oil

Mix in a spray bottle to clean away dust, dirt, fingerprints and other grimy stuff from most any hard surface! 

For scrubbing bubbles, sprinkle on a little baking soda and then spray with your vinegar solution for extra scrubbing power. 

There are lots of good recipes and tips in the archives of this topic; and I do hope some of you will share your own recipes and tips for making the homestead sparkly clean using homemade cleaners!  I look forward to reading what you use to spring clean.

Blessings,

Catherine :)

It is time for spring cleaning at my home, how about yours? 

I started in the kitchen yesterday and got a few things done before the sunshine lured me outside for the afternoon!  I plan to clean the windows and woodwork, and if I have the time and energy tackle the stove, refrigerator, and other appliances today.  I recently organized all of the cabinets, so that part is already done, thank goodness!  After the kitchen is clean and sparkling, I'll move on to the other rooms in the house. 

So, how do you go about spring cleaning? 

Do you have a system that you always use, or like me just hit the areas that are most obviously in need of a good cleaning first? 

If you need some help getting started with your spring cleaning, check out Tipnut's Guide to Spring Cleaning for tips, cleaning recipes, motivation and more! 

I'd love to read about how you spring clean, and any tips you have to share would be great!

Blessings,

Catherine

Good Morning HSB Bloggers, and the Lord bless you!

Over the last several days, I have been researching for ideas that will bless the frugal gardener.  One of the best that I have found is to employ raised bed gardening. 

Raised beds offer the gardener a wealth of opportunities to save in money, work, and time. While the initial building and installation of raised beds do require a bit of effort, the outcome is SO worth it!

The above video from UK Forestry offers some wonderful ideas on set-up, construction, and maintenace of the garden plot!

Enjoy, and get those spades ready, because Spring is on the way!

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Until we meet again, may the Lord bless you GOOD.

"Homesteading is more than a lifestyle. It is a lifestyle of Hope and Heart!"

In Him,

Bev