All Blog Posts in The Stew (1,335)

So my friends Gene and Maggie are vendors at our local farmer’s market. They’re dairy farmers by trade, but they also grow snap peas, zucchini and tomatoes on their land that they like to take to market. It doesn’t earn them a whole lot, but they enjoy doing it and at their age, who am I to complain? This week, Gene and Maggie had to go out of state to their son’s wedding. Being the friend that I am, I volunteered to man the stall in their stead. They weren’t in danger of losing the house or…

Often you’ll notice that my posts of late begin with “I remember when”. Such as when I say that I remember when I had “good” jeans without permanent mud stains on the knees. I remember when weather bothered me, I’d complain about rain or too much heat. But tonight, those things are far behind me, they don’t bother me any longer. Tonight, I’m going to start my post saying “Remember when I used to stop working at 5?”

Now at 5, I stop my corporate job and start my real one. The kids are…

Many people are searching for ways to live in a more Eco-friendly manner, and in many cases, living more Eco-friendly coincides with having a sustainable kitchen. Four aspects homeowners can implement in order to receive the greatest benefits monetarily and environmentally are as follows.

Use natural cleaners

One way to create a more Eco-friendly lifestyle and a sustainable kitchen is making cleaners using natural ingredients. From cleaning the floor to the…

            Denial is a powerful thing….for weeks, we have been looking at the peeps as they grew into peepsters and pondering Betty Lou. She was bigger than the other Barred Rock; her comb was a brighter red and more pronounced; her peep chest butts were more forceful than the others. But, I just thought “She was born a few days earlier.” Or “She has a stronger personality than the Buff Orpingtons. Barred Rocks are a more aggressive chicken, after all.” I never thought—is she a…

Hi,

We all soon will find most logics. One of them, grow your own food. 

To have a green house is less expensive than you think. Not to mention that you know what you eat :)

We’re finally nearing the time that the girls get to move to their new home outside.  I don’t know about you other new chicken mama’s, but this makes me happy.  I’ve realized that homesteading as a whole has taught me quite a few lessons already.

Specifically, the chicks have taught me that I can’t stand dust in my house. I can’t stop staring at it. I know it’s there.

When I got the chicks, they were so small and innocent. I figured the woman I got them from was slightly…

One of my favorite part of keeping hens is watching them through out the day as they do their chicken thing.  They are so fun to watch as they scratch around, chase bugs and wander through the yard.

I love seeing their social dynamics, who hangs with who, which chicken is always left behind,…

You work at a school that has no grades? You work at school that does not give homework?

You work at a school that does not give tests? You work at a school that does not give report cards?

From these questions you may think that we are not a school at all. Welcome to Progressive Education- its not just a place where children do whatever they want, it is not unstructured but it does allow for freedom. A concept more schools should embrace. There are no grades because I believe…

I recently read this blog post from www.greendeals.org and it tugged at my save our planet and recycle heartstrings ~ so I thought I'd share it with our Homegrown Family. 

Starbucks Coffee is Giving Away Used Coffee Grounds for your Garden

May. 07 Green Gardening, …

I am $52 short of my goal, so I am continuing the Below the Line challenge. This week is Australia's week, but I'm keeping to the US $ limit.

My tummy's a little made at me right now. What I need are some good ideas on what to do with the dandelions! I've just been using them as salad. Does anyone have another use for them that…

On Thursday afternoon, I lost electric in my house.  At first, I waited for it to come back on quickly but then remembered that I have PECO, so I knew nothing would happen quickly.  As frustrated as I was, I tried to let it go knowing there was nothing I could do to change it.

By Saturday, it was still not restored (like I said, PECO!). I had three kids here staring at me and lots that had to get done, so we all set to work. Our travel season is quickly approaching, which means that…

Although we have had days in the 80○'s, the stop and go of the weather has drastically changed several of our Spring habits. Usually I go looking for Morel Mushrooms as a early April treat, sautéed Morels are one of the rewards for putting up with sudden rains, unexpected turkey hunters, muddy driveways, and the ever-present ticks. This year, by the end of April, I had found exactly 4 Mushrooms, 2 ok sized, 2 kind of small. Fried them up with some fresh eggs, and decided ok that's it for the…

The mission of ENFB is to alleviate hunger in USDA Food Desert Districts across America by soliciting, collecting, hydroponically growing, and packaging food for distribution through a network of agencies and programs, as well as provide opportunities for partial self-sufficiency and financial sustainability provided by a unique collaboration of a Food Bank, a Farmers Market and a Hydroponic Facility all under one roof, supporting each other, managed by a new farm family, decreasing the…

Recently I set to work on a book that compares my life to that of my great grandmother. Not a direct comparison, but one that has me tackling things that she did and seeing how they translate 100 years later. It seems simple enough on paper, except that my great grandmother was a pioneer, a homesteader and accidental author. I am many things: a single mom, a full time employee, an outspoken personality.  I am neither a pioneer nor a homesteader in the classic sense of the word.

I am,…

Below the Line is a 5 day challenge and fundraiser. That link will take you to my profile page. But trying to do it has lead me to notice something:

My backyard is kinda awesome, now that I'm using what just kinda grows there all on its own. I've got 3 different kinds of edible flowers, some wild garlic, wild basil, and some volunteer onions. I know they're volunteers, because the weather's been too wonky to…

Hi everyone! I write a regular regional health and food blog, and I wanted to share my post for this week about joining a CSA. Please check it out and feel free to leave comments. The weather is finally warming up in our area, so I think I can use the word 'spring' safely from here on out...

Hometown Health post for the week: "Think Fresh and…

How to make Potato Matchsticks  from scratch.

The Indian Parsi community calls "Potato Matchsticks" -  "Potato Sali".  Sali is a Gujarati word meaning "straw" or "sticks".

Enjoyed best when fresh with salt and pepper.

Step 1: Peel and wash Potatoes:…

Originally posted at Back to the Basics!

GMO Free Worldwide on fb

If you have been following my blog for a while you should know that I am adamantly against…