This week the landscape has changed again as the snow has melted. The runoff has transformed the dry creek beds in the ravines into lovely babbling brooks. This evening Sarah and I heard the first chorus of spring peepers marking the arrival of spring. With spring here we have a lot to do, we have…
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Winter Bares its Teeth as we Prepare for Spring
This week winter decided to bare its teeth. We’ve had freezing rain, snow, and the coldest weather we have seen since we moved to Missouri. The cold has taken its toll on the homestead. Despite the winter bearing down though we have started to prepare for spring. Little Kittens With additional family and animals, moving…
What to do with leaves: exploring leafy opportunities
What to do with leaves? If there are any trees on, or near, your property then you have looked across your leaf-covered front lawn each fall. A great many people round them all up and ship them off to the local dump. However, leaves can be a treasure trove of opportunity. Protect flowers One of…
Planting fall garlic for the first time
Our family uses garlic in our cooking daily! It is a delicious vegetable that has some great health benefits as well. We have grown garlic before in the summer. This will be our first attempt at planting garlic in the fall for a summer harvest. Preparing the garden for planting garlic We prepare our garlic…
Let the rototiller rest and start double digging
If you have ever planted anything then you know that soil preparation matters! Most gardeners go for the rototiller, its quick, and brutally efficient. However, it may not be the best tool for the job. Rototillers do a great job loosening soil and killing weeds, however, they only go 6-8 inches deep. Plant roots go…
Rural Compost Difficulties
Composting is one of the most important tools we have for building soil and keeping fertility on our land. There are lots of ways to compost and many guides and opinions on how and what to compost. It’s easy to start and within a few months, you can be reaping the benefits of your own…