It turns out that kids get older. In fact, they get so much older so fast that my oldest is about to enter high school. There’s something about high school that’s a little intimidating. As both a homeschooling parent and a mom I feel the hot breath of separation breathing down my neck. “She’ll be…
11 Chicken Coop Features I’ll Never Live Without
My poultry’s housing has evolved over the years. First we went from a tiny, unworkable coop for two birds to a spacious, well-designed, and attractive coop that can comfortably house 8 to 12 hens. Experience drove multiple experiments to increase the efficiency and cleanliness of the coop. Backyard free-ranging was tried (it really was!) but…
Rhubarb and Spring Herb Salsa
“I need rhubarb recipes!” cried a reader and Patron. “Have you tried my awesome rhubarb coffee cake?” I suggested. “I’ve made it like 900 times. And the rhubarb syrup! I still have more rhubarb.” Ah, yes. It’s that time of year. I love rhubarb, but there is a limit to how much coffee cake a…
May Gardening Chores For The Pacific Northwest
Update for May, 2018: Spring is here. The global vibe I’m getting for late April and early May weather is “unpredictable” – wild temperature swings, unseasonable cold snaps, unseasonable heat, general weirdness. The atypical seems to be getting pretty typical. Fortunately, our mild maritime Northwest climate continues to be a bit more restrained. The big…
10 Self-Propogating Herbs and Flowers That Take Over My Garden Every Spring
This time of year is always rewarding; almost overnight things seem to morph from “expanse of wood chips” to “a zillion shades of green.” The days are getting long, temperatures are slowly warming, and perennials and quick-germinating herbs and flowers are responding by popping up everywhere. With a few notable exceptions (looking at you, bindweed), most…
How To Combine Rabbits and Chickens for Homestead Animal Synergy
Regular guest poster David walks us through the magic that happens when you combine rabbits and chickens, and how he implemented this synergistic pairing on his own urban homestead. One of the easiest to understand tenets of permaculture is the goal to use “stacking functions” wherever possible. Simply put, functions are “stacked” when you can…
17 Homestead Rules and How I Score For Each
I am forever indebted to Storey’s Basic Country Skills. It is, itself, a perfectly comprehensive and useful book but of no remarkable distinction compared to the numerous all-in-one homesteading, country skills and home how-to encyclopedias also available for sale. Personally, I am more inclined to reach for The Encyclopedia of Country Living, which is similar…
I Burned My Face with Hot Cooking Oil. Here’s What Happened.
On Thursday, March 22nd, I came back from our homeschool campus with the kids and started to make dinner. I had a lovely hunk of grass fed chuck roast in the fridge, a half-bottle of old red wine, and a jar of tomato sauce from 2016. I had braised beef on my mind. As everyone…
5 Things Friday 4/6/18
Five Things Friday: where I assemble assorted favorites, oddities, announcements, discoveries, random thoughts, life tidbits and whatever else wasn’t quite long enough for a real post. This week: transplant your cool-weather crops, watch some Shakespeare, and try not to fool yourself. Have a great weekend, friends! Do One Little Thing This Week Transplant your starts!…
Favorite Resources To Make High School History Fun and Effective
I love history, and I think it’s terribly important. “The only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know,” as Truman said. I incorporate as much history as I can into my 1st grade son’s curriculum, although at his age the “3R” basics and physical play take priority. History is more formalized for…
April Gardening Chores For The Pacific Northwest
2018 Update: I think compared to other regions of the country, we in Cascadia have gotten off quite easy so far this spring. There’s a reason they are called Nor’easters and not Nor’westers, I suppose. Time to bring back this old favorite: Which isn’t to say there haven’t been some odd moments. Twice in the…
The Post-Poultry Homestead: A Tale of Urban Chickens
This guest post comes from my friend Sarah. She’s wonderful, you’ll love her. XO, Erica Once upon a time, I wanted backyard chickens. Fresh eggs, active composters, pseudo-pets. What’s not to love? I was an early 30-something DINK with a corporate job, a 1⁄4 acre plot just outside Seattle city limits and dreams of independent…