Homestead Happenings – 24.1
Homestead Happenings is the weekly-ish update of what is going on at Northfarthing.
Most people would say that winter in Michgan is the time you expect farmers, gardeners, and homesteaders to be mostly inside, laying low on the outdoor chores. And while I certainly am doing less outside, it’s not because there is nothing to do. (I’m just kind of a baby sometimes about the cold.)
Jan 1, I made my neighbors all slow down to a crawl as they drove past our house. I was out with a flame thrower, burning off weeds to prep the flower bed for 27 peony plants. I can’t begin to tell you how excited we are about the upcoming cut flower beds.
My husband, went out and measured the enclosed garden space, specifically the space we keep meaning to finish cleaning up and add beds to. We can add 7 (!!!) 8’x’ beds which is so much growing space! So while I haven’t quite figured out how to get out there and prep ground around school time, it’s on the list before seed starting gets crazy.
Speaking of, I need to order seeds. That hasn’t never historically been my job. So I don’t want to steal Matt’s joy. But I want seeds!! I have plans! I have hopes! Give me all the plants!
So we’ve got to build 7 boxes. Last year I learned how to correctly use a drill to do this job. And this year I will wield a drill again to tackle these boxes.
In addition to the planting and prepping, I’m learning as much as I can about flower farming, bouquet building, pricing, and how to maximize our grow space. I’ll be trying some new things this year in the garden – spacing and focusing on preserving our harvest.
Since I’m wildly of the opinion that you can homestead in no matter what living situation you find yourself in, there are a lot of things that fall into the homesteading category.
I’ve been baking a ton of sourdough. I don’t think I can pick a favorite thing. But I’ve tried chocolate chip, shortbread, and cut out sugar cookies, cinnamon rolls, and pie crust. Everything has been something we want to remake. The shortbread is on near-constant repeat here.
Looks like we’ll finally be getting some snow soon. Here’s hoping.