The Garden on Mothers Day

This week we had a horrible wind storm.  I wasn't home at the time, my wife and son both were and were sure we had roof damage.  With the winds roof damage is to be expected and the damage we saw at neighbors was pretty bad, windows on cars were broken and one person had a cab over camper blown from one side of his property to the other.  Today I got on the roof to check the damage, only to find none, no cracked shingles, no missing shingles, nothing.  We were very blessed in this storm.

While I was up on the roof I took some pictures:

Happy Mother's Day

Relaxing in the shade on Mother's Day

The tomato's and beans are really growing.

The chickens free range and the goat pen is soon to be enlarged!!

We recently cleared brush down by the fence line.  You can see the brush piles.

We spend a lot of time out here in the evenings, it's on the east side of the house.

The Homestead

My family and I live on an acre of property in the middle of the desert.  We have 2 goats, 2 dogs, 16 chickens, a traditional garden about the size of the garden my grandma had in Colorado, and a container garden.  This year we're going to can or dry as much as we possibly can. 

We have started seeds in the house, 3 different types of tomatos, 2 different types of sweet peppers, 2 different kinds of hot peppers, we are planting corn, both pole beans and bush beans, winter squash, yellow crook neck squash, zucchini, cucumbers for salad and pickling, and luffa.  We also have some blackberry plants, and we are planting raspberries,we currently have 3 apple trees and plan on a couple of more, and will continue developing our small property to feed our family.  Lastly we also have 3 grape plants and are adding more. 

Now why am I explaining all this you ask?  My goal if we stay on this property is to expand the gardens, the number of fruit trees and bushes and animals to the point that we get most of our food from our own hands and have little to no reliance on stores.  Again, why you ask?  In answer I will say I'm like a boy scout and I believe in always being prepared.  This means having some food stored in case I can't afford to buy food, and knowing how to feed myself and my family without stores and through hunting and foraging.

You see I believe our economy is currently in a long slow slide and eventually we are going to see hyper-inflation.  The barter economy is there, but not for food and staples.  I could be completely wrong about this and I am fully aware and agree that God is in control of history.  I also know that He instructed Joseph to put back for seven years of famine. 

My suggestion, to you:  Pray about what you should do and if you feel led to put back some food then do so.

Just my rambling of the day.

Chomping at the Bit

It's now mid March and today the sun is out, the leaf's are coming out and and I can't plant.  This weekend the weather forecast is cold and rainy.  Maybe Tuesday afternoon we'll be able to plant.  We're going to try a three sisters type planting in one corner of the garden with corn, pole beans and squash planted close.  A quarter of the garden will be tomato's another quarter will be bell peppers, we are also going to have a lot of bush beans. 

We had winter stuff in the garden broccoli, onions, spinach, lettuce, that's all coming out and we are going to plant.  Most of the herbs over wintered pretty well and are growing now that the weather is warming.  The grapes are leafing out and so are the elderberry bushes.

Anyway I'm ready to get to planting and canning and producing.  I'm tired of the winter activities...

Pockets and Eggs

Today my wife and I were outside taking inventory of fencing material and garden items and discussing what to plant where.  While we were out there we checked and got one egg from the single chicken that is currently laying.  My son came out and since we had more to look at my wife gave the egg to my son, who promptly put it in his front pocket.  About two hours later he found the egg, broken.  I laughed... it was hilarious to see the reaction on his face when he pulled this slimy mess out of his pocket... CLASSIC!!

Grilled Zucchini

I never spell zucchini right so if I have it wrong in the article just pretend it's spelled right.   Two evenings ago after work my wife and I were in the garden and we looked at the zucchini's on the vine, they weren't quite ready, overnight someone must have replaced the vegetables, because yesterday my wife harvested seven fully grown zucchini's.  On my way home from work I had to stop at my parents to print business cards for our business and then and skeedaddled on home knowing those zucchini and my wife were waiting on me.  You see I love fried zucchini, seasoned just right then fried to a nice golden brown, however there's a better way to cook it.  If you slice the zucchini then brush on some EVOO and season it (I use montreal or canadian steak seasoning) then throw it on your grill it is a great treat.  During the summer we eat this all the time, and when I grill it I have to harvest and grill extra because I love eating it right off the grill.  Grill this up as a side for a nice steak or london broil cooked on the grill and you've got a meal fit for a king.  Be sure to leave the zucchini on the grill long enough for the sugars to caramelize and enjoy!!

Elixir of Life or Dangerous Contraband?

In the article linked below an Amish farmer's farm was raided by the FDA.  This is a case of government over reaching it's bounds if I've ever seen one.  The item he was selling?  Raw milk.  In a free country if a person chooses to sell, buy and drink raw milk then so be it.  Just like if a person chooses to purchase milk manufactured by large corporations and laced with large amounts of antibiotics and other man made drugs then so be it. 

Who's right and who's wrong?  You be the judge...

Amish Farm Raided for Selling Raw Milk