…true story! Chickens are like that first scratch when you have a mosquito bite – it starts as something small and then you just can’t stop (chickens, horses, goats – oh my!). As you may know, I started out with four retired layer hens in our backyard in 2015. By that time I was fully… Continue reading They Say Chickens Are a Gateway Animal…
My last post discussed some of the larger changes we made in our cabin to make the homestead more eco-friendly; many of those actions were larger one-time or infrequent changes that have a long lasting impact. This post outlines smaller changes that you can make to reduce your impact on the environment day-to-day. Everyday Energy… Continue reading Making the Emerald a Little Greener – Part 2
Before, during, and after our move to the homestead Matt and I added to a list of upgrades and changes we wanted to make to the new property. Some were obvious, like putting in the new garden or changing out items that weren’t functioning well, others though, were to further our desire to live a… Continue reading Making the Emerald a Little Greener – Part 1
I (along with a lot of other people) adore goats these days – something about their weird pupils, floppy ears, and bleating voices always make me smile and I can watch bouncy baby goat videos all day long. I have toyed with the idea of goats on the homestead since before we actually moved to… Continue reading Raw Milk Wishes & Caprine Dreams
You may have heard this before, but there are two ways to look at a project – “Do you want it perfect? Or do you want it finished?” I really struggle with this because I really like things to look “perfect” (and, um, also be finished). I am so happy when I look through the… Continue reading Project Paralysis: Nothing is *Perfect* on a Homestead
Remember that gorgeous garden we expanded and improved upon for three and a half years at our first home? Yeah, we hope the new owner loves it. When we sold our first house we left all but four of the raised beds, our rain barrels and large storage tanks, and the chicken coop/run. So long… Continue reading The Emerald Moon Garden – Starting from Scratch…Again
As Autumn approaches – my favorite season – I am reminiscing on the lovely weather we can expect and how it is similar to my other favorite season, Springtime! Everyone LOVES Springtime, am I right? Texas’ short burst of *cold* weather has passed and it is time to start planning the Spring garden, hang out… Continue reading Serpents Everywhere! (A Mildly Hyperbolic Tale)
The week before Thanksgiving 2015 we were pre-approved for a loan. Matt had found a log cabin (a LOG CABIN, folks!!!) on 5 acres that was about the same distance from work as our current home. We had our realtor friend show it to us and made an offer the next day. The following week… Continue reading Regrowing My Roots – Part 3
Our Spring 2012 garden was a learning process. (I say that as if every season’s garden isn’t…*insert eye roll*) We tried planting directly into the soil, but realized it would have to be heavily amended with extra garden soil due to the layer of limestone lurking under the surface. (Spoiler alert: Edward’s Plateau is made… Continue reading Regrowing My Roots – Part 2
My love affair with gardening has waxed and waned throughout my life. Before I started Kindergarten my parents and I moved to my paternal great-grandmother’s 40 acres in rural Southern Indiana. The summer we spent there (before winter hit and my mom realized her Texan blood wasn’t made for Indiana winters and we all retreated… Continue reading Regrowing My Roots – Part 1
