lilith's dreams

Featured Blogger~Haflinger

Congratulations to this weeks Featured Blogger

Haflinger at the C Farm!
...Welcome folks..A little about our farm I have a great partner in crime (Ray) we have over 160 acres to play with. . We have six guinea hen we have two goats Mike and Blarney they are Allpines. We have added a bunny name cocoa and have greeter dog (dew) and a cat (puppy) nothing gets by them. Come and enjoy recipes and crafts hear about sawing lumber and gardening.. Thanks for stopping by...

I remember when I first made my way over to Homesteadblogger, she helped me get started. :)
Go by and congratulate her for being this weeks Featured Blogger! :)

Blessings,
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger
Heritage Acres Homestead

First of the Preserving

We have been harvesting strawberries for the last week and freezing them.  We at the first broccoli last week and today I picked enough to freeze several packages.  I also shelled some peas to freeze.  We are also eating them fresh.  It is such a joy to be enjoying fresh vegetables.

Summer Garden

Summertime has settled in to my part of the world, along with triple digit temperatures!  That means the garden slows down in production somewhat, and the gardener slows down, too. 

 I still have peppers, tomatoes, squash, okra, cucumbers, and melons that are setting or ripening fruit; but the cooler weather crops such as lettuce, greens, green beans, etc. have pretty much died from heat exhaustion.  

 I only venture out to the garden in the mornings before the heat sets in, and sometimes in the late evening when it starts to cool down a bit.  The biggest garden chores right now are keeping things watered and the veggies and herbs harvested.  I add a bit of mulch where needed, fertilize when necessary, and add a bit of compost or soil to the container gardens, and then  water, water, water!   The rest of the day is spent inside trying to keep cool, starting seeds for some indoor greens and some for the Fall garden, and planning what to grow this Fall.  I've been experimenting with different ways of preserving the harvest.  Still attempting to learn to ferment veggies, playing with the dehydrator, gathering recipes, etc.   I hope to plant some container grown fruits this Fall, so I'm dreaming of my own little potted orchard right now! 

I know some of you are still just getting started with your garden seasons, and some of you may be in a completely different season than I am in Texas.  Please share with us what June brings to your garden.  What's growing, what are you harvesting, what garden chores are going on where you live? 

Blessings,

Catherine

We have a winner!!! Finally ;)

Posted by Purewater (69.176.34.143)

I need a book like that for myself, but I will share it with the children if I win! Please put my name in the hat!

Thanks for the contest and also for letting us know about this great resource.

~Eric

Hooray for you Eric/Purewater! :) Please contact me via email or message with your address and I will get it right away to The Hoffman's. Also if you are interested in purchasing your own Knot4Fun book.

Check out the site.

Knot4Fun

Blessings,

Chasity L. Burrell

Senior Editor Homesteadblogger

Heritage Acres Homestead

Common Sense Ideas for Going Green

Over the last several months I have gotten lots of email asking questions regarding how to teach kids green methods of doing certain tasks and making changes within the family to promote an earth friendly lifestyle. Many have asked for my opinions on going green and global warming. Over the next few weeks I will be posting answers to a lot of those questions while offering tips and ideas that promote simple ideas for green living.

So no one is confused, I don’t have an answer to global warming. I do not take a side, because I don’t feel there is a side to be taken. The truth for me lies in a logical thought alone; the earth is a planet of clean resources. If those resources are abused, mistreated, and squelched into non-existence, the planet must change to accommodate. This means that you cannot cut down trees and other vegetation endlessly and recklessly at a quick rate and expect the air quality not to be affected. God made earth with a perfect balance to support life. Plants give off oxygen, which supports animal life. Animal life gives of carbon dioxide to support plants. Destroy this intricate balance without concern and there will be problems. God’s design for life is intricate and complex and we were given the task to care and respect His design (Gen 1:26-28 and Psalm 8:7); a simple concept in my mind. God in His omnipotence already knew what man would invent over the ages, how many humans would inhabit the earth, and how the earth would be treated. Yet, we have been given free will to follow His commands. So, my official stance is, live, but be careful and mindful as much as possible.

So today I offer a few simple ideas for incorporating earth friendly lifestyle choices. Lift this topic in prayer. Ask God for wisdom and guidance on how He would use you and your family to care for His earth. Remember, every change takes time. If your family currently doesn’t have a focus on how many water bottles they dispose of, you will not change this overnight. Take it step by step and soon your motivation and mindset will be changed, because your focus is on glorifying God and respecting His creation, not because it is the politically correct thing to do.

• Water your lawn and gardens in the early morning or in the evening, helping to reduce evaporation and allowing you to use less water to do so.
• Create a common place for a recycling center, even if it is only one bin to place all recyclable items.
• Consider taking recycling items to a recycling center on errand day. You may be surprised at how much money you can put back into your wallet. We do not have a specific schedule of how often we go, but we average $80-$100 on each trip.
• Purchase items in bulk whenever possible. Make certain you are getting the best bang for your buck; not all bulk items are a good purchase. When it is cost effective, you will also have less waste, due to less packaging.
• Avoid using any spray cans that use CFCs (cloroflorocarbons). Instead purchase items that come in stick, pump spray, or creams. Believe it or not, CFCs remain in the atmosphere for over 50 years! That cannot be good for your in home air quality, or for the atmosphere in general.
• Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable. They are a very inexpensive investment now, and will save you a fortune for all those battery operated gadgets such as flashlights, clocks, video devices, remotes, and toys. The additional benefit is that all those batteries will not be leaking lead into the earth’s surface.
• Check out stationary stores for deals on recycling printer cartridges. Many offer return policies that either give you a coupon for cash off your next cartridge or will give cash back just for bringing them in. Some cartridge manufacturers give you postage paid return envelopes to send the used cartridges back, so they can be recycled properly. Consider saving yourself money by refilling or having your cartridges refilled for a fraction of the cost of purchasing new ones. These won’t last forever, but by refilling them until they need replaced and then taking them to a store that will give you cash or coupons towards purchasing replacements, you will save a bundle and reduce trash all at the same time!

Try incorporating one or two of these over the next month and your family will be well on their way to helping improve and maintain a healthful balance of the earth’s resources.

These are my thoughts.

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Herbal Hair Rinses

Below are recipes for 2 herbal hair rinses I plan to make today.  I scribbled the directions down on index cards, and tucked them into my Idea Pile (I have a Recipe Pile, too....no files, just piles).  I have no idea now where I got these... I need to keep better notes. 

Elderberry Rinse

3 handfuls Elderberries

2 1/2 cups vinegar

Bring to boil.  Simmer 30 minutes.  Strain.  Use as final rinse.

*My Notes:  I wrote this just as my copy reads.  Now I don't know if the recipe meant fresh or dry berries.  I only have dry and I think I'll not use 3 handfuls...maybe 1 cup or so.  I plan to use apple cider vinegar, and I think it might need to be diluted with some water.   I'm just going to put mine in a jar and set it out in the sun for the afternoon.  It's sure to simmer in the triple digit temps. today!

Update:  I handful of dried elderberries was about 1/3 cup...but I only added about 2 handfuls.  They make the vinegar very red...might be a good thing, might be very colorful!  I will dilute with water after it has simmered in the sun for a while. 

Nettle Rinse

1 cup dry nettles

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup filtered water

6 drops rose essential oil

Simmer nettle, vinegar, and water in a covered pan over a double boiler, for 1 hour.  Cool.  Strain.  Add essential oil.  Use as a final rinse.

*Notes:  Again, I think I'll just put mine in a jar out in the sun for the afternoon.  I may try some different essential oils in different batches- rosemary, lavender, bergamot. 

Update: I had to add more liquid- probably more like 1 cup of water, 1 cup of vinegar. 

Anyone else have a favorite herbal hair rinse recipe to share with us?  I love making things like this!

Blessings,

Catherine

hola

Another rainy in the night day but sunny today - I mowed the lawn in the back. I kept the curtains mostly closed inside so it's much cooler in here than yesterday. I'm trying to figure out a meal for tonight without meat - I don't like to cook with meat - I'd rather do without it completely, but I don't just cook for myself.

I think I could do this one from www.home-ec.101.com or maybe I'll just make spaghetti without meat - I do have some of that textured protein soy stuff. That's what I'll do plus cook some veggies to go with it and a salad.

P.S. My husband and daughter never did even realize there was no meat in that spaghetti - I still can't believe it and I didn't say a word or laugh or look guilty. mum's the word.

Featured Blogger~USS Full Quiver

Congratulations to this weeks featured blogger
USS Full Quiver

I just recently visited this blog and what a nice experience. Beautiful pictures, recipes, and just a sweet site here on Homesteadblogger.

If you get a chance go by and give a congrats to our newest Featured Blogger...

Blessings,
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger
Heritage Acres Homestead

5-lb. weight loss challenge

I'd like to take Mimosa Lane up on this challenge to lose 5 lbs by June 29. I've wanted to lose that by the 19th anyway so maybe by the 29?! We can do it! : )
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/MimosaLane/

Raising Pigs

Pigs are most useful creatures, in my opinion. Two pigs raised per year provide a great deal of products and services for our homestead:

• A couple of hundred pounds of high quality pork chops, ribs, pulled pork, bacon, and sausage for our table.
• A year’s worth of high quality fat in the form of lard.
• A convenient consumer of our surplus and failed dairy products.
• Free labor for tilling new ground and cleaning it of roots and tubers.

And a great deal of entertainment to boot!

There are many ways to raise pigs on the homestead. We have chosen to purchase feeder pigs, or rather, just-weaned baby pigs. They can be had in our area for $30 to $60 a piece, depending on breed, age, and demand. Lately, it seems they are getting a bit harder to find as more and more people are returning to home-raised foods.

Whether to purchase gilts (young females), boars (un-neutered males), or barrows (neutered males) is another choice you will have to make. We chose to purchase gilts this year to avoid the entire issues of neutering or not. There may be problems with boar taint in un-neutered boars. The procedure to neuter them is painful for the animal but does reduce the chances of taint. If you are interested in this issue, I suggest you visit Sugar Mountain Farm’s Blog. Walter has done extensive research on the issue of boar taint.

Our pigs are raised on the ground. We believe this is the healthiest way to raise pigs. Contrary to popular legend, pigs are not “dirty” and don’t, if given a chance, wallow in their own excrement. Even in a relatively small area, our pigs select a spot as their “bathroom”. They do not root, rest, or eat in that area. Pigs raised outdoors on the ground do need access to water so they can wallow. Wallowing keeps their skin clear of infections, prevents sunburn, and cools the pigs.

We gradually expand the pigs’ area as they get larger and work up the existing ground. We keep them contained with electric wire. Electric wire is very effective as long as the fence charger is fully functional. The wires should be gradually moved up as the pigs grow. Electric wire also affords opportunity to move the pigs to areas we want tilled.

What, how, and when to feed is another question. We have chosen to purchase a custom mixed feed from our local feed mill. It is roughly 12% protein. The recipe is:

600 lbs cracked corn

50 lbs peas

100 lbs crimped oats

50 lbs alfalfa

50 lbs wheat bran

enough molasses to keep the dust down

The original recipe called for 35 lbs of a vitamin/mineral mix, 25 lbs of lime, and 25 lbs of salt. We found these additional items ended up in the bottom of the feed bowl uneaten and so eliminated them this time around. Since our pigs have access to the dirt, we figure they will get what mineral they need from there.

Our pigs also get excess skim milk, buttermilk, whey, and eggs. According to Morrison’s Feeds & Feeding, skim milk, along with corn, makes very good pig grub. And the pigs love it!

When and how to butcher is the final concern when raising pigs on the homestead. Last year, our pigs went to the butcher at 5-1/2 months of age. They were around 150 lbs live weight. This is officially called “BBQ size”. They were very tender and tasty although the cuts were small and there was very little fat for sausage and lard. This year we started earlier and plan to raise our pigs to at least 200 lbs. They will be 8 or 9 months old. We would like to have plenty of sausage and bacon for our Christmas visitors.

One day we plan to butcher our own pigs. This will give us more flexibility on cuts, skinning, etc. For now, it is convenient and cost effective to take them to our local custom butcher.

Raising any animal is a learning experience. It is always nice to visit, experiment, and talk to someone else who has done it before. So don’t be afraid to jump in there and try raising some pigs on your own homestead!

Kristin Hoffman homesteads with her family in the hills of East Tennessee and blogs about alternative energy, family farming, and home schooling with her husband at www.solarfamilyfarm.com. The Hoffmans also run Knot4Fun, a family business dedicated to teaching kids the practical skill of knot tying and adventurous outdoor play. Kristin can be found checking out the piggies to see how big they are growing!