Issue #027, June 18, 2010

Summertime and the Living is Easy? Not Really

With all due respect to Mr. Gershwin, summertime is the busiest time of the year, what with gardening and harvesting and canning food. I just finished picking and freezing the wild blackberries on our place, and now our peaches are about ripe. We had an abundant crop this year, so I'll freeze some and enjoy the rest.

Then the roses will be in bloom again, and I’ll likely make some more batches of rose petal jam. And then the tomatoes will start ripening, which means canning tomatoes and hopefully making some homemade ketchup for the kids.

Then, of course, there are the chickens to tend to. The chicks we bought a few months ago are now full-grown hens and recently started laying. Plus, the bees have been as busy as, well…bees. We’ll be harvesting honey in a few weeks.

So, if you're like me, you're also likely swamped with all the things you need to do around your place. Still, take a little prep time now, and you'll enjoy an even more bounteous harvest this fall. Certain crops, such as broccoli and peas, actually grow and produce better as a fall crop.

Now is the time to build a few raised beds. These easier raised beds use the lasagna gardening method and provide you with happy, healthy plants and very few weeds. Plus, by building some beds now, covering them with black plastic and allowing them to cook for a couple of months, you should have healthy rich soil by the end of August, perfect for planting your peas, broccoli and other fall crops.

So enjoy these warm, busy, and hopefully productive summer days.

What's New?

The importance of personal finance can't be overstated when it comes to reaching your goals of becoming debt free and self reliant.

Canning Fruits and Vegetables

Canning fruits and vegetables is not just a skill; it's a time-honored tradition. Linda shares the canning skills she learned from her grandmother.

Healthy Blender Recipes

Healthy blender recipes like the following smoothie recipes I have listed below are a great way to get nutrition and energy. Plus, they're delicious.

Canning Peppers and Happy Childhood Memories

Canning peppers and cabbages, tomatoes and apples in a hot country kitchen provides more than just great preserves.

Little House Without the Prairie

Read Heather's story of being an urban homesteader in northern Illinois.

Back to Basics Living with Mare the Wannabe Farm Girl

Back to basics living sometimes means having experiences you might once have never dreamed possible, such as your first calving experience.

How to Mulch

Urban homesteader Daniel gives some helpful tips as the temperatures rise and prospects of weeds loom in the horizon. Read more.

Fond Memories of Elderberry Jam

One woman’s fond memories of canning elderberry jam.

Zero to 500 Visitors in Less Than Two Years

I went from zero to 500 visitors per day on my website in less than two years. Here's how.

And as always, happy homesteading!

You Can Build a Chicken Tractor

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