Homestead, finally!

I really feel like something is changing within me. I really feel like I can begin to call my home and property a homestead. After we planted our apple trees, I began to really feel a passion for self sufficiency and growing as much food as we can for our family from our own land. We used to joke and say we would call our homestead "Green Acre" because, well, it is supposedly one acre - feels a lot bigger when I am mowing it - and I may just go ahead and get a sign made up.
I feel so blessed to have this home.
I had a group of kiddos over here this morning for a mom's Bible study and to see them all in the sandbox, on the swings, in the grass...outside....made me feel so good!
Here's to a bountiful harvest!

The apple trees are in!

You know when Mother's Day comes around you have no idea what your family may or may not do for you to commemorate the day? Well, that didn't happen this year because I specifically asked for APPLE TREES. (haha). Well sometimes, you have to guarantee a good gift, eh?

We went to our favorite store and they were out of my favorite apple: Macintosh, so we had to go down the street to another seller. We purchased two Machintosh and brought them home. Much to our chagrin, and we knew this before, we forgot to purchase a pollinator! (With many types of apple trees you need to get a companion tree of a different species in order for them to pollinate and bear fruit). Anyway - the next day, I asked my hubbers to go to the local nursery near his work and choose another tree, which he did.

Planting was fun. You don't plant apple trees many times in your lifetime. We chose the spot where they would go and we dug. You have to dig DEEP and WIDE to make it successful. The boys helped (see pictures). We were also able to use our own homemade conpost which was very satisfying. It was also satisfying to make one more step towards self-sufficiency.

Here's hoping for apples in 2012!

Changing pace

I have been wanting to write this post for about a month now, and I have been thinking about it quite a bit! My grand announcement is that I am officially changing the name of the blog to The Spirit of Home.

There's a pretty tangible reason for that. After spending a few months at home, not working, I have accepted a freelance position at Patch.com, an online news group affiliated with AOL and The Huffington Post.

Now, here is what is not changing...my aim: to accomplish homesteading and home oriented goals, to dedicate my efforts to Christ, to be a great parent and try and grow and make as much food as I possibly can, eliminating artificial, pre packaged and 'junk' food from our diets. I am gardening avidly, documenting nature through photography and attempting to learn the lost skills of homemaking.

But, this position is providing me the opportunity to have an extremely flexible schedule, work from home and spend all the time with the kids I want to, while also providing our family with much needed income and me with much needed responsibilities "outside" the home.

So, I hope that makes sense.

May God bless you and direct you on your own paths!

Garden is a growin'

Well, the dirt under my nails is getting harder to remove. But that's ok with me. It's gardening season. There's no doubt I started a little early this year, but can you blame me after the awful winter we had? I needed to see green and growing as quickly as possibly. What have you planted so far? It's May 1, can you believe it?

So far, the following items have found a home in my rectangle plot of earth: leeks, lettuce (3 kinds), butternut squash, zuchinni, yellow squash, hot peppers, bell peppers, potatoes, cauliflower, brocolli, corn, mint, and cucumbers. A couple of things I put in died - due to a late frost - they were companion flower - marigolds.

I still plan to plant sunflowers, lavender, and some other flora.

The plum tree, interestingly enough, bloomed in two different colors this spring revealing the fact that there was a different variety spiked in there. We get so many plums, that I never noticed, I guess.

So, main issues on a newly planted garden? Keeping it watered, watching out for cold nights and starting the weeding routine so that nothing gets out of hand. Did I mention I have a crazy amount of Jerusalem Artichokes and the huge bush of rhubarb? The garden needs nurturing now, a close eye, maybe even a little conversation or two. "Come on little buddies! Grow!"

In this uncertain time around the world, I want you to know, you can count on something. The sun will rise, the plants will grow, you will get food from the ground, and... the weeds are already planning their next attack. ;)