Adventures of an urban homesteader growing greens, preserving the harvest and tending a backyard barnyard

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August 1, 2012 by: Renee Wilkinson

pergola-2012

Pergola in 2012 covered with hardy kiwi vines

Pergola & Patio Update

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Peak summer into quiet winter 🍂The beds have ga

Peak summer into quiet winter 🍂The beds have garlic, onions, leeks + fava beans. There's thick leaf mulch protecting the soil, then greenhouse plastic hooped over the top to keep things a little warmer.

The winter solstice is just a wk away. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for hibernation ☕️ 😴 ❄️
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#modernhomestead #pdxgarden #urbanhomestead #urbanfoodforest #foodscape #urbanfarming #foodforest #wintergarden #wintersolstice

Tree ✔️ Santa ✔️ Neighborhood merriment ✔️

I love that my kids have such fun. It's also a LOT to juggle + a bit stressful to put regular wknd chores on the back burner. Are you doing ok with it all?

Glad we could support our local shops at Decemberville, our neighborhood's annual holiday fun day. Great crafts + treats from the shops, which gave us a great excuse to connect with neighbors. We esp love the toy shop @oodleskids and our beloved community center @sellwoodcommunityhouse
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#parenthood #familytime #hohoho @sellwoodmorelandba @sellwoodmoreland

Tucking the raised beds in for winter ❄️ I thr

Tucking the raised beds in for winter ❄️ I threw some fava seeds in for a cover crop, to replenish nitrogen in the soil. I dug them in gently, then covered with fluffy leaves.

The leaves protect the soil from compaction over winter with our heavy rains. They will lighten the soil, improving texture, when I dig them in around early spring.

It's late to sow cover crops, but I'm hoping the greenhouse plastic over the beds can warm it up just enough for the seeds to sprout + hold on thru winter. They will take off in Feb, get chopped down, then be ready for spring planting. The cycle continues ☀️🌙✨️
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#modernhomestead #pdxgarden #urbanhomestead #urbanfoodforest #foodscape #urbanfarming #soilhealth #wintergarden #loamlife #winterchores

Harvesting winter carrots in the low light of wint

Harvesting winter carrots in the low light of winter ✨️ We've had several frosty nights now, which sweetens carrots. These were inter planted with summer crops, like tomatoes.

I've got one full bed left, which I'll harvest as needed through winter. Happy days putting everything to sleep ❄️
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#modernhomestead #pdxgarden #urbanhomestead #urbanfoodforest #foodscape #urbanfarming #winterharvest #carrots #growingcarrots #winterfood #seasonaleating #wintergarden

Thanksgiving photo dump 🦃 I couldn't be happier

Thanksgiving photo dump 🦃 I couldn't be happier to spend all day baking pies, roasting turkey, dashing into the garden to pull more carrots + leeks... Glorious!

My kids decided it should be Star Wars themed, so jedis + mandalorians were around. The food was perfect. The house was packed. Excellent assorted drinks, including a ginger mule mixer from @silverjulep 🥂

Old pics of my parents as a young, happy couple. My dad was here for the 1st time in 20+ yrs! So many memories made + shared. Last pic is my peaceful morning after, breakfast-of-champions on fine china ☕️ 🥧
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#lifewelllived #familytime #thanksgiving

I split the 27-pound turkey from Farmer Paul. I pr

I split the 27-pound turkey from Farmer Paul. I prefer a spatchcocked bird - it cooks so evenly + fast! But this big boy won't fit on just one pan. It looks more like a hog than a turkey 🐷

The dry brine is on + doing it's thing overnight. Time to crank out some pies this evening (including David Tanis' Cranberry Curd Tart from @nytcooking ) I want to hear what you're cooking up for tomorrow!
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#turkeyday #spatchcockturkey #spatchcock #knowyourmeat #eatlocal #laughingstockfarm

Turkey Day on the farm among this ever-changing co

Turkey Day on the farm among this ever-changing community of local food growers, makers, and advocates. The community comes together to process 80-100 turkeys every year for customers.

I was stationed at the "evisceration station", as always. The group of us there talked about food forests, baking, menopause... it was fabulous 😄 River joined me for the last two birds of the day, doing most of it himself.

We get one more night in Eugene going to all my favorite places before we drive home with our 27-pound turkey. Already looking forward to next year 🦃
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#turkeyday #eatlocal #sustainablemeat #pasturedpoultry #laughingstockfarm #centuryfarm #knowyourmeat

Another year trading farm labor for a heritage bre

Another year trading farm labor for a heritage breed turkey. River + Juniper came with me again. I worked the "evisceration station" with old faces and new ones. In a couple days we'll head home with a 27-pound turkey in the cooler 🍽
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#turkeyday #eatlocal #sustainablemeat #pasturedpoultry #laughingstockfarm #centuryfarm #knowyourmeat

A couple wks ago we pulled the last tomatoes toget

A couple wks ago we pulled the last tomatoes together. Fox was excited to plant garlic, which I do every fall. But I explained how we have to clear the beds + prep the soil first.

I thought he wouldn't be interested in that prep work, but he was! So we spent an afternoon sorting green tomatoes from the ones with a hint of red. We pulled the plants, chopped them up, and added to the compost pile. He got to use the shears independently and was honestly a great help.

There's immense responsibility in raising humans. But over the years, I feel less overwhelmed by it. If I'm practicing self sufficieny - growing food, tending chickens, cooking + baking - they pick it up too.

I bet you have some similar stories of passing along these lessons. I would love to hear about it, if you care to share!
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#modernhomestead #pdxgarden #urbanhomestead #urbanfoodforest #foodscape #urbanfarming #letthembelittle #letthemhelp #natureeducation #selfsufficiency #littlegardener

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