Its all a learning process, we, or I, have lived all these years having a mixed life of grocery stores and a garden.
Taking all of those suggestions out of my head is the hard part, the suggestions that are implanted by t.v. commercials that we should try this or that delicious product, found at your local grocers.
This will take time to see that God gave us everything we really need to eat and its not in a box or wrapped in plastic. Its the trees filled with nuts, the vines with sweet berries and the dirt sprouting seeds and greens.
It takes time to get back to life, to real living.
The Homestead :
This year had been a tough year with the garden vegetables but not so bad for the fruits, especially the wild fruits.
Its time for many fruits to be ripe and ready for the picking, early September is also a time to pick a few herbs and roots for medicine. Since I am just learning this part, I wont pick and dry but the stuff I know, like dried corn silks. However, some dig Ginseng.
The grass has slowed down so I can rest a little more on that part.
I still have not accomplished cleaning out a space for the building, but its got to be done. And Soon.
It is Muscadine time!
From The Garden :
Its September! The spring/ summer garden is spent, all that is left is okra and that product has slowed down due to the lack of rain.
The new green beds are in place but with little to no rain I have not seen a single seed sprouting.
I am still getting a few figs, I mostly pick those and eat them right there under the fig bush that is now a tree.
The basil is okay, well one plant but the rest have seen better days, I will allow those to die naturally and collect the seeds. The sage looks bad, lack of rain, I had to water it to save it this year. The parsley plant has grown so much, however the oregano is still small, I may still put those in the ground, see what happens.
The Rhubarb, that was a gift sent all the way from Michigan, is thriving in the flower pot that I put it in. I will clean the flower bed by the deck and place it there. If its Gods will, I will be making rhubarb pie next year.
The may pops, the fruit of the passion flower, are beginning to turn, I hope I can beat the animals to some of those, they are so sweet.
The stockpile :
This year I did make a promise to myself, no store bought fruits for jam and jelly, only what grows wild. I did make the mint jelly from my spearmint plant, I did make rose jelly from my rose bushes. I did make honeysuckle jelly from the wild vines by the woods, I did pick and make blackberry jelly from the wild blackberry bushes. I did make fig preserves. The only berry I bought for jam was strawberry.
Now its muscadine time. These wild growing berries are so sweet this year. My vines had more than last year and my sisters vines were loaded so she picked for me to make jelly.
Since they are like grapes and will rot fast, I cleaned them by washing with cold water and that is it. I boiled them with enough water to cover and then I used a potato masher to smash all the juice from inside the skins.
Since I was not making the jelly right away, I strained the juice then I put the juice into quart jars and into the fridge after it cooled down.
I really haven`t home canned many vegetables this year. I am still using what I have so its all good. But once again, if its Gods will I will home can enough greens for a few years to come.
I am passing on pears this year because I have so many in the stock pile now.
More about Muscadines? Like what are they? Click here : What are muscadines?
The Learning :
Just when you think you know everything ( lol, not really) you find out new ways to live off the homestead.
I am often asking from guidance from my heavenly father and he does show me the way when I ask a question.
I can bet that people are tired of hearing about the new store, Sunshine`s homestead creations, but its one answer that was sent and its hard to explain but one day this was just in my head and something told me "do this."
While its still a small online store, I will be adding more and more as I get it made. Oh yes everything is hand made, down to handwritten labels. Soon I hope to open a physical store and can offer homemade jellies and jam, herbs and more.
So check out the online store many have left reviews about the products they have bought, I am always open to suggestions so lay it on me.
How is life on your homestead?
For more information about the new online store click here : Sunshine`s homestead creations
By Andria Perry
Photos By Andria Perry - some by wikipedia
