Tag: Homesteading

December Garden Tasks
Gardening · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

December Garden Tasks

Sarah

It’s December. We are nearly 1 week in. The weather speaks winter, not fall, though the Winter Solstice won’t be here for more than 2 weeks. It’s dark in general, the days are short, the nights long.

(And there is still minutes to lose before it starts getting longer light)

We have seen the first snow of winter already, and the first power outages.

And I am here to tell you something:

You don’t have to do anything this month if you don’t want to. It’s OK. You can choose to hibernate!

(I don’t know the artist, but it really evokes how I feel about the start of winter)

It’s not the worst thing. In fact, it may well be what you need. Use this cold month to hide from the world, nap a lot, cook good food and read.

But if you feel the need to be productive? Here are things to do this month:

  • Harvest foliage for decorations, if you like to do that. Make wreaths and bows.
  • Decorate the yard with items for birds.
  • Go outside on a clear day, and assess losses from wind and cold. Pick up branches and other items broken in storms and make a pile – for burning, or for chipping. If you like to do it, use them for a fire-pit, for the coming Winter Solstice. If you lost trees, start bucking them for firewood. If you do it now, it won’t be overwhelming in the spring.
  • Check your faucet covers are on tight for winter.
  • Start a gardening journal for the year.
  • Get your infrastructure done when it’s still cooler out, but not frozen – pick a sunny day to work. Weed existing areas. Build raised beds, open up and till the land if you want in ground. Our ground rarely freezes on the island (outside of the once or twice a year Frasier River Valley freezes that come down from Canada.) It’s just a lot easier to work under a lower sun, in the 40’s than rushing in April in the heat. And…if you weed now, then the weeds never get a chance to grow big – and get bigger roots. Yes, there will be weeks in the low 30’s, but if we get a warm week, come out of hibernation.
  • How much to grow. I sat down and wrote this article for myself. Because it’s just that much easier if you have a guide to go off of. Start planning for next spring.
  • If you have chickens, take the time to clean up when it’s not raining. If you have wood chips from fallen trees/branches, spread them thickly in their runs, so the mud/poop isn’t as bad. It makes a huge difference.
  • Start a compost pile if you haven’t, and eventually you will have free compost soil to use.
  • Start ordering seeds. Get what you want while everything is in stock.
  • Order potato seed online.
  • Start plotting out what you want to grow, and where in your garden. Be on paper, or online. This will help you to not over buy seeds.
  • But most of all, just take time for yourself!

~Sarah

We Bought A Freeze-Dryer For Our Homestead
Freeze Drying · Homesteading · Prepping · Preserving

We Bought A Freeze-Dryer For Our Homestead

Sarah

When at home Harvest Right freeze-dryer units started showing up a few years back I really questioned if it was worth buying one. I’d think to myself “for the initial cost we could buy a lot of already freeze-dried food“. I said that over and over.

I wasn’t wrong though for thinking that. A freeze-dryer is an actual investment. It’s not like buying a dehydrator for your counter, where you might spend $65 to $500 dollars. Instead, to get a freeze-dryer unit, it is thousands of dollars. That might sound like a humble brag, and it’s not meant to be one. We saved up, using money the business made, to invest into it. But even with that, it was hard for me to sign off on getting it. Dropping nearly $4,000 is a lot of money (we bought an extra set trays, tray covers for the freezer and silicone liners for the trays. Then you add in extra oil, oxygen absorbers, mylar bags….and you really start wondering if it was the right choice!)

A couple months ago, after a very long wait (we ordered right when they were backed up with orders), our machine showed up. We purchased the Large unit, knowing we would easily fill all the trays to run a batch.

Now here’s something to ponder. The units are not small. They come very well packed. We live rural, on a country road. This particular FedEx driver would not back up our long driveway (many 18 wheelers have to drop off farm equipment). It was good we had a tractor with fork lift tines, as Kirk had to get it off the back of the truck and take it up the road. If you live in town, they dump the pallet the unit is on in your driveway. You will need a couple helpers to get it into your garage or house. Especially if it is raining. So keep that in mind when they call you for delivery.

Finally we got it set up. If you buy the Small or Medium unit, it’s a simple plug into the wall and go. The Large unit requires 110 volt (NEMA 5-20) outlet and a dedicated 20 amp circuit is required. For us, this came down to Kirk having time to install that on the panel. If you are not handy with that, you will need to get an electrician out to do it. So the smaller sizes will be far friendlier for those who don’t want to mess around.

We had to run an update before starting (the update has the fabled candy setting).

They suggest you do a first run of bread or something cheap. Ironically I had found chopped fresh broccoli that week, and it was cheaper to use that than bread. This first run you toss. Then the gates are wide open.

A suggestion though: Don’t jump into the deep end. Learn the basics first. We did a lot of fresh vegetables, trying to get the homestead harvest processed.

For these we didn’t pre-freeze. We let the machine do the work. It takes a lot less time if it goes in pre-frozen. We hadn’t gotten the tray covers yet – I HIGHLY recommend them. Then you can stack the filled trays in the freezer and be ready to go. This changed our efficiency.

Freeze-dried broccoli.

The computer screen walks you through.

Close-up of the products freezing.

It’s done. Or at least you hope it is. Sometimes it has to go back in for a bit longer, but most times the machine senses it right.

We do our research online for each new item, and look at what others are saying about dry times, does it need more time from the start. Usually we hedge it’ll be 24 hours or more for a batch to go through. Candy as noted down below goes quickly, and is only a couple of hours.

How do we store our freeze-dried food after it is finished?

We split it up.

Some of it will fill 1 quart mason jar, wide mouth preferably. We add an oxygen absorber to each jar. Then we vacuum seal the jars to ensure it stays fresh (see below for the sealer we use).

The rest we pack into mylar bags with an oxygen absorber, then we seal the bags using an Avid Armor Ultra Series Model USV32 Chamber Vacuum Sealer.

Carrots, these were sliced thin.

Sliced green bell peppers.

Now where it gets really easy is finding frozen vegetables on sales. We can get 5 pound bags for around $5 at the restaurant supply store. Frozen vegetables are blanched, so pre-cooked. Spread on thickly, and pop in frozen. It takes minutes to do.

And the product is exactly the same as the ones you buy commercially freeze-dried. We did petite sweet peas, which are so good to just munch on.

Sweet corn, blanched and frozen.

Long green beans, blanched and frozen.

Tri-colored carrots cut on the bias, these were blanched and frozen.

For fresh we freeze-dried many cherry tomatoes. Opinion is split on this. There are some who argue about the seeds (because yes, seeds can hamper the drying process). We put them on for extra time at the start to combat this. They came out perfect and have not changed since.

Tucked away for storage.

Chopped green bell peppers. I found chopped was a better than sliced for packing up.

Mixed vegetables, blanched and frozen.

Egg noodles, for truly “instant” pasta. They just need water to soak in – you can throw them right into soup and are ready in a few minutes.

Precooked chicken strips.

Garlic cloves.

And yes, the fabled chewy candy. They are fun to do, to just watch the candies split in front of your eyes. Candy goes quickly as it isn’t frozen like other foods.

Gummy bears…while cool to do, I’d not again. You have to get them VERY dry or they collapse overnight and become sticky again. If dry though, they are freaky to eat as they are crunchy.

Sliced olives. We bought a number 10 can and just drained/froze and then freeze-dried.

Vanilla yogurt frozen into silicone molds, then freeze-dried.

Strawberry yogurt, frozen in silicone molds, then freeze-dried.

And the trashiest snack that is far too good? Thinly sliced pumpkin pie. It’s like biscotti after. Crunchy and sweet.

So is the freeze-dryer worth it?

Yes, it is. It is fun for sure, and I can dry quite a bit for each load. Is it necessary? No. But it is far better than dehydrating for many things.

~Sarah

October On The Homestead
Gardening · Homesteading

October On The Homestead

Sarah

If October had a feeling it was this:

A neat display at the library on the north end of our island. The kind of display that says quietly “hey, it’s almost time where we get to read whenever we want!”.

The youngest chickens grew quickly in October (there are 4, 3 dark, 1 light in color). They were born to their mama in the 4th week of August making them about 2 months old now. Not long after this I moved them to the main run with the other chickens, and they spent October learning to run with the big birds.

Seeding kept me busy enough in the hot days in early October. We had “joked” in August that we’d have a good Indian Summer to make up for the Spring that never showed up. Turned out our joking was right on. No rain and even though the days shortened quickly, it heated up quickly every day from 10 am to 4 pm. Until the start of the 4th week and it just turned off, sharply. We didn’t get August forest fire smoke this year, we got it in October. The days were often hard to work in, when the winds blew down the mountains across the water. This last week has been rainy, and I will take it.

And yes, the greenhouse grew well.

Those forest fires bring intense sunsets. The 4th week brings darkness early though. The sun won’t set after 6 pm for many months. Since Congress won’t approve Washington State’s request to get off Daylight Savings Time, first week of November brings us sunsets before 5 pm. Joy.

Chores were started for the coming cold season. I “lock” the water hydrants on the property to avoid them getting bumped. The water gets turned off internally as well. They may be frost line ones, but I don’t take chances with deep freezes.

We tore out some of the beds. This bed, once we remove the irrigation in it, will be tilled and reshaped, then tarped for winter. It needs help after many years of productive work.

We took in a flock of 10 hens in mid October from people moving. They moved into the quarantine coop.

A moth that landed on our youngest as he was doing farm chores. It was probably cold. When it opened up its wings, it was filled with bright pink and red. Alistaire tucked it away in a sheltered area to warm up. Eventually it flew away.

Fall settles in. Snow is predicted next week. For now, it’s farm chores between rain storms, and to dream of next spring.

~Sarah

Pantry Staples: Powdered Egg Replacer
DIY · Homesteading · Prepping · Recipes

Pantry Staples: Powdered Egg Replacer

Sarah

For a number of years we baked without eggs, as our youngest was allergic to chicken eggs. It’s not an uncommon allergy in children, but fortunately is one of the few food allergies that can go away as a child ages. He was fortunate, and it did go away. But for about 6 or so years, I always had a box of Ener-G in our pantry. It’s not cheap though, and can be hard to locate outside of shopping online. Making it from scratch is an easy DIY project, and it lasts a long time in the pantry. Be it you have an allergy to eggs, are trying to avoid eggs, or that you run out and still want to make a batch of cupcakes, it’s a great pantry staple.

Now then, it does have limitations of course. It is designed for baking, as an ingredient (it has leavening in it, to help push up the baked item, and binds it well). You won’t be able to use it in recipes that need egg whites whipped. But what it does is produce lighter in texture quick breads, cupcakes, cakes and such in where other egg substitutions make the same item heavier – and wetter. Such as using yogurt, applesauce, flax seed/chia seed “egg” slurry and such. The 2 starches used can be swapped for allergies and preferences.

Powdered Egg Replacer

Ingredients:

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a large bowl, whisk lightly to mix. Transfer to a 2 quart size mason jar or large storage container using a funnel. Seal tightly and shake to blend.

Shake before using for best results.

Store in a cool/dry area.

To Prepare:

1 whole large chicken egg: 1½ teaspoon dry mix + 2 Tablespoon water. Whisk with a fork till mixed.

1 large chicken egg white or yolk: 1½ teaspoon dry mix + 1 Tablespoon water. Whisk with a fork till mixed.

Mix with water, and add the egg replacement to your recipe right before baking. Do not wait, as the leavening action occurs once you add the water.

~Sarah

In Ground Versus Hanging Strawberry Plants: A Season of Studying
Gardening · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

In Ground Versus Hanging Strawberry Plants: A Season of Studying

Sarah

You might ask…why write about growing strawberries on the last day of September? As fall settles in you have time to ponder, to dream, to plan for the coming early spring. You will find the time goes by faster than you think. So start thinking now!

And did the prices of strawberries make you blanch this year?

Local prices were crazy, even trucked in ones from California and Mexico were often $5 to 10 a pound here in the northwest! (That same half flat was under $20 just last year!)

Over the years, in both urban and rural settings, I have worked hard on growing strawberry plants. Both traditional and alpine types. Growing in ground, in raised beds, in gutter setups, in pots and in hanging baskets. If there is a method, I have probably tried it.

The end result is fresh berries for the children to eat, and maybe if I get outside early, we have dried ones for the winter to enjoy. No fungicides used. Ever. No insecticides. No questionable fertilizers. No herbicides. And not stored/sold in one use plastic clamshells, where the berries are weeks old often.

(These evil strawberry pots are often left on the side of the road for free. They sucker you in. And they are not great. At all. Why? The strawberries just don’t get enough rooting, and they dry out too fast in the summer. If you do use these, keep them up off the ground, as slugs also love them. Yet, I will still stop and pick up a free one…..)

This hot mess of a pallet strawberry planter actually works well – if you keep it off the direct ground (think stone pavers under it).

In this post, I will be discussing growing traditional plants, of the everbearing types (where you get a crop in early summer, then in late summer/fall) such as Quinalt, Seascape, Ozark Beauty, Albion, and Everest – and yes, there are more than that. They are easy to source at garden centers and nurseries, or from friends who have runners. While they don’t produce massive crops like the June Bearing types do, they have some of the best berries around and eating them in early October is a treat. I highly recommend having a number of the plants. The flowers are pretty, and bees love them. Pruning back runners can be done with fingers.

Over the years I found some distinct issues/problems with growing in ground and in raised beds:

  • The bane of strawberry plants is the slug, the invasive types, that love to eat the berries, leave slime everywhere, and their eggs that look like translucent pearls behind.
  • It is also easy for the plants to become a mess, with runners going everywhere, and weeds hard to remove. With soil right below, the new runners root constantly, and quickly.
  • Picking isn’t fun. You must wiggle through the mess, then try to not step on any berries. Feet get damp in early fall. Berries are often hidden under leaves.
  • The berries can rot from not drying out, as the leaves hold the moisture, and the berries tend to lay on the ground, touching soil.
  • The soil takes longer to warm up, dry out in spring.
  • Birds find field berries an easy target.

Where as, with hanging pots, and gutter setups:

  • Pots warm up and stay warmer for far longer.
  • Good ventilation from wind keeps the plants less likely to get mold.
  • The pots dry out and the leaves don’t stay all wet.
  • Runners are easy to trim back.
  • Berries are easy to see, and to pick.
  • The berries often hang over the sides, so they don’t rot like on the ground.
  • You can bring the plants into a greenhouse in late fall and winter, and extend the crops.
  • Slugs are rarely an issue if hung high enough up – and if they are trying you are likely to see them, and can destroy them.
  • Birds can be dissuaded with netting over each container.

It had occurred to me this year how much success I had at our last place, when I used an old swing frame to grow berries from, and that we had pot hangers on every fence post, with a pot hanging.

(An early version of it. I still wish we had brought it with us, but by then the grapes on the sides had grown up)

(The second year, as it got lush. It was so nice to sit in there.)

I had struggled these past 4 years, wanting large beds of berries, yet getting very few berries back from my time investment. I did everything by the book, with in ground berries.

So I reversed, gave up the dream (mostly) of ground berries and went back to hanging pots. And they thrived. In a way I hadn’t seen in years, production of berries went up and off the charts.

It seems they enjoy nearly no slugs, drying in the wind, and the pollinators seem to enjoy flying high.

Awhile back my neighbor gave me a nearly free dog kennel, that I turned into a potting cage (to keep deer out of). It’s 6 feet tall or so, and works great.

Who it made happiest were our children, they now run out there and pick – it’s right at face level for them. They can see all the berries, and the ones growing on runners, hanging down? Those are their favorite berries, where they brag to each other what they found.

Inside are 3 pop up greenhouses we use in season, tables and yes, a potting area, but also strawberry plants lining the walls, hanging high. My plan this coming spring is to top it with bird netting to ensure even less issues happen, but with winter coming, I will hold off for now.

The point is this: Hanging pots work great for us. I wish I had realized this earlier on, but I was very stubborn about it. And that I don’t have to bend over to pick, weed and prune them anymore? That in itself is a bonus.

You’ve got 5 months to think it out. Start planning and you might have a great berry harvest come next summer.

~Sarah