Getting Off The Grid - And Life Begins

A lot went on with work and that took a good 5 days of my life to deal with, from hot water tanks going out as a landlady to emergency surgery for the caregiver job.

So, where does a homestead come in? 

On the weekend!

The Homestead :

With a week of dry, sunny days while I was away working the grass grew up and the pollen began to fly in the air. Ah, Spring!

I took out the riding mower for the first time this year and mowed one acre. The back field has not grown much. With the push mower I got the back yard mowed and around the house. 

I loaded the limbs that I had piled up after cutting onto the truck and drove those down to the road for pick up, I ended up with three loads.

I also mowed the garden area, all I have left are greens and turnips that are more than likely tough and fibrous and many were blooming and going to seed, I can bet before I have the garden plowed I will have new greens to pick, I sure hope so, a spring crop would be nice.

For The Garden: 

Yes, I am back to "for" the garden instead of "from" the garden. its the in between time I have, that I wished I didnt but do.

A couple weeks ago I sowed more tomato seed and a few bell pepper seed.

I potted up the tomato plants, that I sowed back in February, to bigger pots. I will have nice size plants to put out soon.

 I  sowed onion seed, in pots because they seem to get lost out in the garden, I have yet to make the bed just for onions. I also sowed seed for carrots in these huge pots, mostly so I can move them if need be.

I am also going to try out a couple new methods of planting.

The Learning :

I am learning new ways to plant, ways that will be easier for me, for one person to manage. I have found several ways, although most are costly, I might be able to start small.

How is life on your homestead? 

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

I am still making progress on this homestead, getting a store built. For now I am just selling online, so check out my online store for homemade lotions, soaps and more. All made as natural as possible. Just click this link : Sunshine`s Homestead Creations. 

Getting Off The Grid - Almost Two Weeks

Rain, rain and rain. I am sure you all have had the same problems, everything is soaked and soggy. We have had a couple days here and there with sun to dry up that new lake in the field. I am ready for Spring and warmth to stay.

Today is supposed to be one of the last days of rain before a full week of sunny days and cool nights. But I will take them!March sure did come in like a lion so I am hoping for it to leave like a lamb.

No matter the weather, this homestead is coming to life.

The Homestead :

The old dog house had had it, they played wrestling in there on wet days and managed to kick one side apart, when I nailed it back it was not long that is came off again breaking the edge, I wrapped it in a tarp till I went to buy new 2 x 4`s and plywood.

I finally got it built with help from Tony, he couldnt work but he held the plywood till I got it nailed into the 2 x 4.  This time I only put in 1/2 bale of straw and it was more than plenty and I elevated this one so it would not be sitting on the cold ground, the other was about 2 inches off the ground but over time and the soil washing it was on the ground and rotting.

The grass and weeds are growing, with a little sun and warmth they are already to be mowed. Maybe this weekend I can get to that.

I still have to cut down 12 small pines. I still have not gotten to use my new wood chipper.

From The Garden :

I have to say that when I asked God to bless the patch of greens, he did! while most of the turnip green tops died there are still plenty of turnips, how woody they are I do not know. The curly mustard is putting back out as well as the kale. I will try to get those picked and home canned. 

The sage is putting out nicely and I have mint everywhere!

The new rhubarb I planted last year had came up, got killed back and is showing up once more.

 Dandelion greens everywhere. 

Chamomile has began to come up as well, it will be a while before it blooms but I seen the greens popping up everywhere. 

Wild green onions, or is it the walking onions or shallots? Once a row was planted in the garden and was plowed the next spring, so I am thinking that patch may be those. I wont eat them because I have not learn to tell crows poison from wild onions. I did keep a few walking onions in my flower bed.

Inside I still have baby tomatoes and several about 6 inches tall. Those big boys did not come up so I will sow those again and if they do not come up this next time the seeds were old and I bought them online. 

Learning :

I never stop learning and I never stop trying new ways to garden and grow food.

I want to container garden, I want a garden with no weeds or grass! But where do I get the good rich soil? Bags? Oh man! that would take $1,000 to fill them. 

While I look into this one way, I tried it and all I am doing is making a raised bed for rats to nest, needless to say I quickly stopped that. I do not, nor do I desire to raise rats in the garden!

Back to the drawing board. 

Stockpiling? 

I have not began to pick and stock anything.

How is life on your homestead? 

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

I am still making progress on this homestead, getting a store built. For now I am just selling online, so check out my online store for homemade lotions, soaps and more. All made as natural as possible. Sunshine`s Homestead Creations.  

Getting Off The Grid - The Wintertime Blues Because Of Rain

Sometimes life does not go as planned, or we do not get what we want. Last week it rained all week long. So I got busy inside and with the tax prep.

That is where I have been, doing the real life thing, working and then going over what I made and how much I spent of the income. Tax Prep.

I am not sure many people know how much money they earn and how much they spend on daily needs of power, heat and water.

Each year I think "why?"  I do love this house but at the moment I pay way to much to heat and cool it. I need a free way to heat and cool. I am gonna try to make this my break out year.

 

So... Feb. 17th to the 23rd. went just like this :

Monday - Cleaned house

Tuesday - Rain all day

Wednesday - Rained all day

Thursday - Doctors

Friday - Looking at the old home place, flooded here on the homestead

Saturday- Worked at a rental

Sunday - Worked at a rental

With the nights spent on the computer or with a pen and paper in hand. 

This week, the last of Feb. (Feb. 24th. to March 3rd.) and the beginning of March will be about the same with doctor appointments and my make a living jobs as well as rainfall nearly everyday. 

I still have 12 standing small pines to cut down.

I still have the fence to put up for the dogs.

I still have the building to move here.

I still have so much to do on this homestead. 

But I will get it done, sooner or later.

The good new is that finally the big boy tomato seed I sowed a couple weeks ago are coming up, thin so far but they are showing up. 

Beginning on March 4th. we have a terrible cold front coming in where the temperatures will fall back into the 40`s for highs and 20`s for lows! Its terrible because many of the trees already have leaves.

Although it will be cold, I do have a couple days off that I could cut down those trees, we`ll have to see how well I handle this blast of cold air.

How is life on your homestead? 

By Andria Perry

Photos by Andria Perry

I am still making progress on this homestead, getting a store built. For now I am just selling online, so check out my online store for homemade lotions, soaps and more. All made as natural as possible. Sunshine`s Homestead Creations.