Adventures of an urban homesteader growing greens, preserving the harvest and tending a backyard barnyard
This fabulous apple almond tart recipe walked into my life recently a la All Recipes and has become a new favorite. I love it’s rustic appearance and understated sweetness. In a sea of decadent holiday desserts, this one won my heart with it’s restraint. You could use any combination of good cooking apples, although I used half Granny Smith and half Honey Crisp. The color
Persimmon trees are valued as much for their brilliant fall color as they are for their delicious, flavorful fruit. They are said to be the most popular fruit in the world because they are the most popular fruit in China. In fact, persimmons are very popular in most countries outside the US. We planted a gorgeous persimmon tree about five years ago, just outside the
I took a stroll through my local plant nursery recently and was impressed with their collection of plants for winter interest. It can be a dreary time of year, but the following plant jewels will make your garden still seem alive and kicking. A design key to keep in mind is the balance of color with green. In this gorgeous display above, they used some
It’s time to divide and conquer. Flowering bulbs and perennial shrubs are going to sleep for winter – the perfect time to split them apart and replant. With a couple sunny fall days this past weekend, I managed to divide and replant the entire front yard. Our front yard has always been the forgotten garden corner. My attention, and pocketbook, have always prioritized the private
Oh boy – it’s time for one of my favorite holidays: Thanksgiving. A time for family, friends and absolutely amazing food. I prefer simple table settings and love the excuse to break out the fine china. A couple years ago we started our holiday meal out with a celery bisque. I know what you’re thinking – a whole course focused on celery sounds about as
Adding a baby to the homestead has presented new challenges in our quest to live simply. When it comes to baby care, I ask myself the same questions I ask about other homestead care: how can we create the least amount of waste, save some money and minimize our environmental impact? Here are some of our strategies for natural, simple baby care. Disclaimer: I’ll mention
How did it get to be November? The trees are looking half empty of their leaves and telling us it’s time to spend more time inside than out. Thankfully, my winter garden vegetables are ready to start harvesting. Arugula! I love this meaty salad green, especially in the colder months when we could use something thicker and more substantial in our salads. This veggie has
I know… I know… I’ve been quiet this week. I am planning catch up from being back in Oklahoma with Junebug for a week. My mother-in-law is making a brave move west – leaving the state she has spent 67 years living in, to be closer to us. It won’t be difficult to think of what we are most thankful for in a few weeks.
A few weeks ago, I spotted this adorable baby chick costume on Etsy and it sealed the deal: Juniper has to be a baby chick for Halloween. It’s just too cute and too farmy to pass up. I decided to make a shabbier, yet cheaper, version on my own. I think it turned out pretty cute and wanted to pass along the step-by-step method. To
Butternut squash has to be one of the most versatile vegetables on the planet. It’s great as a main dish, side or even dessert. But one of my favorite ways to enjoy this delicious vegetable is in a hardy soup. Juniper is now old enough to eat winter squash, so I recently made a batch of soup for us and a smaller portion for her.
