Getting Off The Grid- Its Been One Week

January in Alabama can be a wild ride, one day the temperature will be 66° and the next day it will be 35°, one day sunshine the next a flash flood so you really have to work around or with the weather. The second week of January was cloudy but not to bad on the temps, the third week a little more sun and warmer temps, till Sunday and a cold front pushed in, however, I went with the changes to make the positive changes here, on the homestead. 

Last week I did manage to get back to the clearing of land by hand with electric saw and loppers, a few days around normal "go make a living work" and a day of rain.

Progress :

The area I am working on has had blackberry bushes to grow, produce and die. This was always an area I could not get into to pick the berries because of the overgrown bushes, much less clean up the dead. Its difficult cutting the dead into smaller pieces to rake up but I am managing.

By me starting at the edge and working my way into this area, cutting whatever is in my path, has been the best way to get this area cleaned up and once again usable.

Sunday although it was cold at 35° with a little wind I still got out and put in a couple hours of work. I cut down two pine trees, cleaned the branches off of them and pulled them aside, I will cut those and use for posts. I piled the branches just outside the garden area, when the needles die and fall off I can use the small branches. They will be cut up, for kindling. The dogs had a good time being with me in the fields, a change from the backyard. 

Planting :

Yes, you read that right! I usually plant by the moon and have success so this past weekend was the full moon, the lunar eclipse, blood moon. A good time to sow seed.

I sowed seed for the first round of tomatoes, I received the seed for the "beefsteak" type of tomato in the mail and I planted about 100 plants,  about 16 with their own pot and the rest a mass planting in a huge pot to be transplanted when big enough. The 16 will go into the ground as soon as last frost, maybe in the flower beds, depends on how far I am around the homestead when that time comes.

I am still waiting for the big boy tomato seeds to arrive.

In The Garden:

I am still getting curly mustard, kale and turnip greens with turnips, from the garden. God blessed me this year with more than enough and I have shared, still will of anyone wants more. I intend to home can another case if possible before the tilling for the spring garden.

This Weeks Plans :

I have two projects that needs to be done, one is to begin to build the first of six buildings. The other is to finish clearing and clean the one area for a building. 

Buy seed for sweet bell pepper, we eat those a lot so I need to get plants going inside. 

What did you accomplish on your homestead this passed week?

Stop by and check out "Sunshine`s Homestead Creations" online store, I have specials monthly. 

By Andria Perry

Photos By Andria Perry