My Gardens 2015

So I thought I would take a minute, while it's super hot and share what I have in my gardens this year...Yes gardenS...lol...They are strung out over an acre.

I did have seeds started, but when I was getting ready to plant them, I had a CAT knock over the tray :( I had no clue what was what, tried planting them, but nothing ever came up. Most of what I have was plant starts this year.

(Please excuse the "weeds", I have a broken foot and it's proving to be very difficult to get on the ground...at least for a couple more weeks anyway, then I get this dang orthopedic boot OFF!!!)

Anyway, here is what I have!!

DIY Magnetic Decor OR Bow Holder

If you are looking for a cheap and cute idea to spruce up your naked walls, I have a solution!

OR

If you are like most moms with little girls, you have bows or hair clips everywhere!

You can make them permanent or removable and interchangeable!
Here's How.......

My Babies

I wanted to make a quick, short post and share a picture of my first flock. They are so spoiled!! The roster is Big Boy...I couldn't get a good pic of my new babies that I got this year, they won't hold still too long, but I will try!

My kids, yes kids because they are part of the family, are 100% free range backyard chickens! They have a place to go at night to roost and get out of the weather and a place to lay eggs. They are trained to come when called and only lay in their nest boxes.

They frequently come on to the deck for a snack! With the diet they have, they lay one egg a day without missing a beat! I have 24 hens, ducks and roosters all together on 5 acres and can't wait to get more!!!

Red Clover Jelly Recipe

I LOVE red clover!! When I was little, my Great Aunt would pick them and we would sit in the field watching clouds eating the sweet nectar out of the flowers. We have a lot of it growing here, but I only get to make one or two batches a year. I don't want to take away too much for the bees!

PLEASE NOTE: I have read in several places that ingesting red clover could be harmful if you are on blood thinners or already have thin blood. Please consult with your doctor before consuming any kind of clover or any other wild plant. 

Here is the recipe........

Honeysuckle Jelly Recipe

I have TONS of honeysuckle growing on the fence in the front yard. It smells amazing! After a bit of searching, I found a recipe that I could customize to fit what I needed.

The original recipe was for dandelion jelly, so I though...why not honeysuckle! I use to suck out the "honey" out when I was a kid, so I new they were safe to eat.

So here is the recipe.....

DIY

Who doesn't like making something from their own two hands that looks AMAZING! There is a whole world of DIY's out there waiting to be tried. If I can figure out how to do it my self I will. Over the years, I have done MANY DIY projects around the home and farm that would have cost at least three times as much if I would have hired someone. Why spend the money if you can do it yourself?

What would YOU like to see me write about?

Chickens

There is a whole lot more to chickens than picking it up at the store to cook for dinner!

Chickens are VERY useful on the farm, and I will share what I have learned along with some tips about them here!

What would YOU like to see me write about?

Recipes

From baking, cooking, canning and wild recipes, you will find it all here!

We don't eat out a whole lot, so I am always trying new things to cook. Some work, some don't! I'll share the ones that WORK here!

What would YOU like to see me write about?

Canning

Now this could be a scary topic for some people. I have been canning for over 25 years with my grandmother. If we could eat it, it was canned in a jar.

I will be sharing tips, tricks, recipes and experiences about canning on this page!

What would YOU like to see me write about?

Gardening

Some people think it's one of the easiest things to do... There is always a tip or trick out there that we haven't heard of or want to try.

I will be writing about gardens here, and will include my own experiences with it!

What would YOU like to see me write about?

Foraging

Learning how and what to gather to eat has been taught in my family for generations. Since I live in the Missouri Ozarks, I will mostly be covering Wild Edibles from my region.

A few words of CAUTION about foraging. Some edible plants have poisonous parts, look a likes that are poisons, and some people may be sensitive to the chemicals in the plats....if you have a doubt about consuming something found in the wild, call your local Conservation Department and/or consult a physician to prevent any other health issues.

What would YOU like to see me write about?

Sustainability

Sustainability is VERY important in my opinion.

If you're not sure what it means, here is the definition: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

There are three different tiers to sustainability, but I will be mostly writing about our environment.

What would YOU like to see me write about?

Skills

There are many skills you will need while on a farm or homestead. Some skills you may have learned while you were little, growing up or have just learned. Pops (my late grandfather) always told me, "You learn something new everyday, if you didn't, they you weren't paying attention!"

What would YOU like to see me write about?