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urban homesteading in the pacific northwest

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Erica

544May 23, 2018Life and Family by Erica

What I Tell My High Schooler About College

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…

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78May 21, 2018Homestead Animals by Erica

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…

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569May 7, 2018Cooking by Erica

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…

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213May 2, 2018Gardening by Erica

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…

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309April 30, 2018Gardening by Erica

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…

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212April 23, 2018Gardening by Erica

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…

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736April 9, 2018Productive Home by Erica

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…

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76April 6, 2018Recent Posts by Erica

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!…

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52April 4, 2018Life and Family by Erica

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…

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81April 2, 2018Gardening by Erica

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…

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93March 14, 2018Gardening by Erica

How To Grow Kale or Collards In The Pacific Northwest

Kale is probably the easiest crop you can grow in the Pacific Northwest. Our cool, mild climate is perfect for kale, which can easily become a year-round source of hipster-approved greens. However, like most cold hardy brassicas, kale tastes best when the weather turns chilly, so if you aren’t a major kale lover, grow this…

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41March 7, 2018Cooking by Erica

Caramelized Turnips and Apples with Thyme

Jump to the Recipe The turnip, along with her cousin the rutabaga, is an underappreciated root vegetable in the cabbage family. Winter turnips (the most common cultivar is Purple Top White Globe) can have a sharp, almost radishy flavor, but this mellows out and sweetens when you cook them. In this recipe, turnips and apples…

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Hi! I'm Erica, the founder of NWEdible and the author of The Hands-On Home. I garden, keep chickens and ducks, homeschool my two kids and generally run around making messes on my one-third of an acre in suburban Seattle. Thanks for reading!

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