Garden time!

We finally got the garden in! Yay! Well, actually three gardens. I swear that I better get something out of all this work, or I am just going to move to town and live in an apartment! Not really, but sheesh, all that work is hard to do when the year goes to heck in a handbag and you barely have anything to harvest!
Pud'nin always makes sure that everything is ready when I need it and I sure am thankful! There is NO way I could even have a small garden without him and his trusty tractor! Thank you Pud'nin!

 Now, I will say, a communication snafu created a bit of a mess! I had Pud'nin move an old bale of hay by the garden to use as mulch last year. HE thought I meant I wanted it spread ON the garden and tilled in...So, off he went and it tangled all in the tiller. We had to spend a while getting it all pulled out and things running smoothly again! Well, live and learn! So, always tell your Pud'nin EXACTLY what you want..hehe!

This is the smallest of the three gardens. I have some lettuce, tomatoes, squash, kale, peppers, peanuts, onions, and two kinds of beans planted here. Basically the same things as in the bigger ones but in smaller amounts.

 This is the big garden that Pud'nin made me last year because the one we had used for so many years was just so cloddy and filled with clay! It is MUCH better! I did plant the potatoes, cucumbers, and popcorn here, along with the usual. I am super excited to see how the popcorn does. I have never grown it before!

 Here is the cloddy beast of a garden! This year it is totally planted in corn. Well, except for two rows of Cream Peas.  So, basically 4250 feet of Ambrosia sweet corn! It is just nothing but clods, it is awful and I get so aggravated whenever I have to plant here..

We have also been working on cleaning a few frames for another bee hive. It is a hand crampy job! But in the end it is nice to see that you can actually take something that looks like this...

 And make it look like THIS! Much better. Now only what seems like a billion left to clean!

Well, that is a small look into what has been going on at the Backwards Homestead these days! Coming soon, Strawberry Jam and then Blackberry cobbler! Yummy! Leave a comment so I know you stopped by! Till next time!

101 Things in 1001 Days

101 things in 1001 DAYS!!





Well, here we go! Yesterday I started the 101 things in 1001 days. What is that you ask? Well, let me explain with a nifty little copy paste from my bestie Rickki Wallace and  her Blog "The Wallace Homestead!" Which by the way is an awesome blog! You should give it a peek!
http://wallacehomestead.blogspot.com/

So, here is the explanation!

FIRST!!

You make a list of 101 things you would like to do.
You aim to get everything ticked off in 1001 days.

It’s that simple.

The rules? Each task must be specific, with clearly defined or measurable results. Tasks must also be realistic — something I believe I can accomplish within 1001 days — and stretching; I can’t add things I already do or which don’t require any effort.

Why 1001 days? “The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time…because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks.”

1001 Days =
143 Weeks =
33 Months =
2 3/4 Years

It seems like a reasonable amount of time to get a lot of stuff done!  I  will ready to start on Thursday January 1, 2015 and hopefully everything will be ticked of by September 28, 2017.

Sounds awesome right?

Here is my list, and it will be posted on the 101 things tab here on the blog so that you can keep up with my progress if you like!
So here we go! I am SO ready for 2015 and to get started on my 101 things!!

ID	101 Things
1	Make homemade bread at least twice a month for at least 6 months                    (0/6)
2	Clean up Office
3	Become financially independent
4	Start keeping production/spending records for the farm
5	Finish siding
6	Start a financially viable business
7	Have the animals where they are a resource instead of a draw.
8	Raise and process meat chickens
9	Can at least 800 jars of anything
10	Prepare and use cold storage area for root vegetables/ect
11	Finish the outside of the house
12	Read one book a month
13	Go a full month eating totally "store free" at least 3 separate times                       (0/3)
14	Post 3x weekly on my blog for at least 6 months                                                         (0/6)
15	Take a painting class
16	Learn to knit…Well.
17	Prepare and submit at least one grant proposal having to do with the farm
18	Write and mail at least 10 actual letters                                                                      (0/10)
19	Create and maintain a household notebook
20	Set up a booth at the farmers market at least 6 times                                                (0/6)
21	Build a greenhouse
22	Use greenhouse to completely start garden at least one summer
23	Spend an entire weekend away with Roger
24	Get Bees
25	Build and hang at least 5 birdhouses                                                                              (0/5)
26	Hang at least 3 bat houses                                                                                               (0/3)
27	Build at least 3 raised beds for garden produce                                                           (0/3)
28	Make a quilt
29	Learn to drive a tractor
30	Set up home office
31	Plant asparagus
32	Grow enough feed to take care of the animals at least part of the winter
33	Paint the outbuildings
34	Send handmade presents to at least 5 people                                                              0/5)
35	Make homemade Christmas Presents for at least 10 people                                  (0/10)
36	Learn to shoot a gun safely
37	Make jelly from grapes grown on the farm
38	Make dandelion jelly
39	Start an exercise program and stick with it at least 1 month
40	Do 20 things from Pinterest
41	Grow and harvest at least 2 Turkeys                                                                               (0/2)
42	Have a bonfire/cookout and invite all the kids/grandkids
43	Go fishing at least three times
44	Redo flower beds
45	Hang pictures
46	Put Moms pictures on a CD
47	Make wine
48	Donate Blood
49	Get a tattoo
50	Volunteer somewhere at least twice                                                                            (0/2)
51	Write down at least 3 recipes a month to share                                                         (0/3)
52	No sugar for a week
53	Build a scarecrow
54	Make a farm Notebook and USE it!
55	Make a drawing of fruit tree names and placement
56	Start a worm farm
57	Rebuild the pond
58	Make 3 kinds of soap                                                                                                        (0/3)
59	Organize recipes
60	Spend 15 minutes a day in quiet meditation/reflection/thanks
61	Grow a decent watermelon!
62	Take down trailer
63	Finish the feed room
64	Finish the milk room
65	Have Flossie and Ellie AI'd
66	Limit computer time to 1 hour a day for one month                                                (0/30)
67	Wash all the windows on the house
68	Repaint my room
69	Take wallpaper out of my room
70	Build side porch
71	Finish and paint hallway
72	Do Alzheimers walk at least once
73	Plant Blueberries
74	Enlarge pig pen
75	Organize file cabinet and important papers
76	Can 33 new things that I have never canned                                                                    (0/33)
77	Clean and organize the brown storage building
78	Clean out silver storage building
79	Put up pool
80	Grow peanuts
81	Season all the cast iron I have sitting around
82	Make yogurt
83	Clean around Rogers shop
84	fix counter over washer and dryer
85	Make and follow a cleaning schedule
86	Fix sewing area
87	Make first aid kits for the house and barn
88	Declutter at least 1 room a month                                                                               (0/15)
89	Plant garlic
90	Make and stick to a budget
91	Get life insurance
92	Make a folder of Moms medications and important information
93	Have a movie night at least once a month                                                                  (0/33)
94	Build rabbit hutches
95	Go through my clothes and toss or donate what I do not/cannot wear at least once
96	Finish sheetrock in the bathroom
97	Start a kitchen garden
98	Sell leftover homeschool books
99	Make crockpot meals at least once a month                                                              (0/33)
100	Make sourdough starter and maintain it at least 6 months                                       (0/6)
101	Make new 101 list!

These are not in ANY order, kinda like my life, lol They are just listed as they came to me and I may even have a couple of ones that are on here twice. I will change them out if I do find them, or just let me know if you find a double!
Anywho, feel free to join me, or just give me a comment or two letting me know what you think of my list. Or hey, just a few words of encouragement!
Happy New year to everyone, may 2015 bring you the best of everything!

Summer Squash, My Favorite!

Another thing I like to put up for winter is squash. We love squash in the summer, and we love it in the winter! it is just that yummy. I canned some last week and I took a few pictures and I thought I would share for anyone who wants to see the process.
BUT, this is NOT recommended by the USDA, or anyone else I suppose. you can find information on what they do consider safe here at their site: USDA Home Canning Information .
I was brought up canning yellow squash and I just do it every summer. So, this is for informational purposes, just as a little slice of my summer. I hope you like the pictures!

Pick small squash

I slice in  1/4 to 1/2 inch slices

Cover with water and boil until just soft and pliable

Pack into jars fairly tightly, fill with water to 1/2" headspace

Add one tsp salt to each jar. Wipe jar edges, apply warmed lids and twist rings to fingertip tight.

I filled the canner and processed 30 minutes at 10 lbs pressure.

Of course, then you let the canner return to 0, open and take the jars out to cool. Basic PC 101!
So, there you go, that is how "I" become a rebel canner each and every summer. This is totally the cliff notes of summer squash canning. Like I said, it is NOT supposed to be canned, it is NOT deemed safe to can any summer squash! Although they do say you can can winter squash in cubes! Also, always remember to follow safety rules and instructions that come with your specific canner.
So I hope you enjoy the pictures and hopefully it was interesting. I personally think squash is beautiful. Squash was the first vegetable I preserved in a pressure canner so it does hold a soft spot for me. The process hold alot of memories as well.

Mary Mary Quite Contrary!

How does your garden grow?
Anyone remember that nursery rhyme from when you were a kid? My mom used to read nursery rhymes to me all the time and I actually remember them from way back then! The reason I used that particular nursery rhyme is that is is Spring! Yep, and that means it is time to get out in the SUN, and plant your garden!
This year we have decided that we are going to try and make this farm pay for itself a little bit, and since we will have the Backwards Homestead totally paid off this summer, there is no time like the present to start some self sustaining projects like bigger gardens!
For several years now we have been fighting the same garden spot and the hard clay dirt that it contains. It is a nightmare. I am totally serious when I say that you could actually throw a pot with the dirt. When we till, it turns into hard clods that just rattle around your hoe making you so mad that you could actually pitch those clods at anyone who even doubted the depth of the clayness!

WATER!!! WATER!!

To make things even more needful as far as MORE garden area, Katrina and Joy had went to town to buy me some seed potatoes and onion sets. When they get to the store, the guy is overcome with seed potatoes! He offers them a 50 lb bag, with a BOGO deal!  Trina, being her mothers daughter, comes home with 100 pounds of seed potatoes! To be fair, she did call first, but I am sure knowing the answer. I mean FREE TATER! Who would say no to that? Not I! I now needed a tater patch. A big tater patch...
We had already decided that we wanted to expand our horizons, and till up a few more garden plots.... But! I was pretty nervous because taking totally awesome grass, and tilling it up gives me hives! After all, what if the dirt was the same?! What if it was still clay-e?! What if it washed, and made a huge mess of the yard?!? What if!?!? I could pass out just thinking about all the things that COULD happen.

The INHUMANITY!!

 So, one day while I was inside, Pud'nin just went outside, leaped on his trusty tractor, and tilled me a spot. I was a bit nervous when I saw it, and I admit I was a bit itchy. It looked great, but....what if?!
But, we forged ahead.
But, this digging thing is addictive, and like most farm things, is one enough? Is two enough?! What about THREE! Since I had gotten my hives under control, and the world had not ended because we had tilled up the grass, we decided to till yet ANOTHER garden spot! This one is even bigger than the original garden area!! Woot!

The original area, AKA the clay mine!

This is the third spot, ignore the grass, been too wet to till!

The second area where I figured out the world will go on even  if I destroy the grass.

It has been SO awesome having all that dirt, all the possibilities. We planted onions, radishes, tomatoes and cucumbers! We planted potatoes, green beans, horticulture beans and watermelons. We planted until there was not a single inch of unseeded dirt. It.Was.Awesome.
Well, unless you count that I threw out my back and I am still not able to walk totally right, it was awesome! Someone had to take one for the team, so what is a little back pain...or alot of back pain. Debilitating back pain actually. Looking back, if you decide to triple your garden space, you might wanna stretch a bit first, it can be a bit of a buzz kill when you are laying flat on your back crying like a girl for days!

But, it was worth it because now I have so much stuff growing that when it all comes in I will be under mountains of produce! Acres of squash, billions of tomatoes!! I can't wait to start eating and canning all sorts of yumminess. We ate so much of my stash last winter that I will be one busy woman this summer. This is the part of being a throwback in time. Feeding my family from the land and from the work that I do myself as a labor of love! There is nothing better than popping open a jar of home canned goodies. Or being able to give someone a gift of summer deliciousness in the middle of December.

Yummy!

Did anyone else decide to go big or go home? Expand a garden? Take on a new project that will make things way better for yourself and your family? If so, I sure hope you are as excited as we are with our venture into mega gardening!