Hydrated Lime can be very useful around the homestead. Food preparation and preservation has involved lime for centuries. However, as with all things, too much of it can be a bad thing. It can be quite the health hazard when used for other purposes. What is Hydrated Lime? Hydrated Lime, aka Calcium Hydroxide, is an…
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Tried to Dig Simple Swales; Ended up Cleaning Shop
We have been working all winter toward a goal, converting the area in front of our house into a food producing monstrosity! To do that, we thinned out the trees creating a glade or meadow, we have mulched up all the branches. Finally area was ready to go! Sadly, our friends tractor, that would dig…
An Unfortunate Day for Two Deer and One Van
Statistically US drivers have a 1 in 116 chance of hitting a deer every year. That means that, roughly, each driver will likely hit 0.5 during their time behind the wheel. Now there are things that will throw that statistic off, which part of the country you are in, the amount of time you spend…
The Great Pig Escape; or How I lost A Lens Cap, also Soil Blocks
Sometimes things do not go according to plan here on the homestead. This week we experienced on of those things with our pigs. However, we also managed to make soil blocks for starting seeds in and made a significant mulch pile. Soil Blocks for Seedlings Soil Blocks are quite literally blocks of dirt used for…
Better Garden Cleansing with Pigs and Tree Felling School
While winter is still very much present here in Missouri it still feels like spring is just around the corner. But, even if spring is still several months away, garden planning starts now. In order to recover from last years gardening failure we need to get as early a start as we can. A great…
State of the Homestead Address: 2022
The state of the homestead… it is a mess! Another year has come and gone and to be honest it was an odd one for us. We did not do lots of things we normally do. However, there were some unexpected benefits as well. So, before we look to what we hope 2022 will bring,…
Return From Oblivion; A Quick Catchup After Our Hiatus
Well, it has been a minute. Alright, it has been more than 164,000 minutes since our last post. Our hiatus has been too long and was largely caused by stress and frustration. I genuinely enjoy writing down the stories of what is happening here to share with you all. However, remodeling the mother-in-law took its…
Trees are sprouting and booming as brooks babble
Posted on Author SpencerPosted in 2021 landscaping, 2021 To Do List, Animals, Chickens, Forest Management, Gardening, Orchard, Projects, Stories2 Replies
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…
Escaping the unusual temperature swing
This week has rocked the nation with an unusual temperature swing. When I wrote last week’s post the temperature was in the single digits and falling. Now it’s in the mid-40s with warmer weather fast approaching! However, people all over the south and midwest found themselves trapped in their homes (ourselves included) for most of…
Winter Bares its Teeth as we Prepare for Spring
Posted on Author SpencerPosted in Forest Management, Gardening, Mother-in-law house, Stories2 Replies
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…