Pondering....

        We have become a society of me first! We have taught our kids that we owe them, that everyone is entitled to the same things, even if they do not work for it! I do not understand how the idea that we all have the right to work toward success has become the right to success, whether or not you work for it! How can our children learn to achieve if they never fail? Children have been taught they will be taken care of ,even as adults,even if they sit at home and do not even TRY to work or look after their selves! If something happens in our country, if we lose the success and wealth we have, how will they survive? A lot of people these days have no clue on how to make it in today's world,let's not even think about making it in a trying time! Everything is based on convenience, and quick fixes. If we lost our sources of power, if the government failed, how would your family make it? Could they cook with out power? Do they have things to cook? Could they have sources of heat? Do they know how to protect themselves? It is time to wake up! Learn to depend on ourselves not everyone else. To be responsible for our own actions, not blame everyone and everything else but ourselves! Do not get me wrong, I do believe in helping others, I do think we should help feed and clothe those who are less fortunate than we are, but I also believe you should TRY to help yourself too.It worries me that there are a large group of people with blinders on!We need to equip our children with the ability to succeed in all types of situations! To teach them not to take things for granted, to give a helping hand when needed and to accept help when they need it! To not blame everyone else for their issues! Let them realize that everyone has successes and everyone has failures, it is how we learn, and how we gain experience that we need, to lean ourselves and to help those who are going through similar things. Always be willing to learn, to help others, and to teach others to help themselves!

LEARNING A NEW WAY OF LIFE

Hello Folks,

I'm the new farm hand at Simply Our Farm.  We've had a productive couple of weekends here.  I've been learning many new things, like how to dry apples and then how to make delicious home made apple cider from the peelings and cores.  I helped freeze onions and fresh pumpkin puree, and I helped can beans and make and put up applesauce.  I've also worked outside helping :) with things like gathering the chicken eggs, corralling the ducks at night, as well as hauling and stacking firewood, building new nest boxes and roosts in the chicken coop, repairing the roof in the goat pen, and putting up a fence for the pigs. 

I've found the work challenging at times and very tiring but also very rewarding and it's fun as well!  I've discovered that although I go to bed pretty beat, I sleep soundly and I wake up rested and refreshed.  I'm already looking forward to what this next weekend has in store. As the weather gets colder I wonder what changes winter will bring. What are some of the challenges and rewards you've experienced during the winter months?  Any advice for a rookie??  I'd love to hear from some of you.  Any words of wisdom for me?





  

Saving money, and making our own

   I think everyone is trying to cut back,save a little money,and cut cost wherever they can. Over the past year, I have learned a lot about this. When we started canning our own food, raising animals for meat,eggs, honey,dairy and other needs,I looked into learning other ways to save.We now  make our own laundry detergent,dishwasher detergent,cough syrup,sinus medicine,apple cider vinegar,mint and  vanilla extracts.  We also make our own pancake and baking mixes, instant cocoa,apple cider as well as a few other things. Not only does it save us money, it taste better, and is better for us, less chemicals and preservatives , and we know what is in our food. We are soon going to be making our own flavored creamers, and shampoo and whatever else we come across that looks promising!  If you are looking for a way to cut cost you should give some of these a try. We even make our own creamed soup base! In the next few days I will be adding a section with a few of these recipes, if there is one you are interested in, please leave me a comment below, and I will add those first! They are quick, simple, and most ingredients you have sitting around the house! I also would love to hear your honest thoughts on how they work for you, once you give them a try! Happy saving!  

A New Journey Begins...

A New Journey Begins...

Hi folks, 

I'm the new farm hand at Simply Our Farm.  I'll be sharing my thoughts and experiences with you from time to time as I learn my way around. Yesterday was my very first day.  I had a terrific time!!  We spent the the afternoon working on the enclosure for the new additions due this week. Look for the pics coming soon! :)  Clearing out weeds, briers, and undergrowth, putting up fencing and spending time together outside was somehow very satisfying.  The time just flew by and although the work was physically hard it was rewarding in a way that I haven't experienced in a long time.  Being out in the sunshine on a gorgeous fall day, having good conversations, working with our hands, and seeing our progression...  I loved it!  Yesterday I learned firsthand just how healing (mentally & physically) hard work and sunshine can be...  We are missing so much by spending most of our time inside attached to our computers, ipods, phones etc. 

I enjoyed meeting the animals and watching their antics, especially the goats.  Seeing their interactions and how they pushed to be the first to be petted made me smile inside.  They are so sweet and they really enjoyed their treats.  I loved the way the ducks waddled around the yard always staying close together and looking out for each other.  Gathering fresh eggs from the chickens was something I hadn't done since I was a child visiting my grandparents farm.  It brought back so many fond memories...  Wow!  What a special afternoon!

After driving home and eating a bowl of homemade vegetable soup with a slice of homemade apple pie for dessert as my dinner, I had a wonderful, relaxing shower and turned in early.  Slept soundly for 9 full hours and awoke refreshed and feeling wonderful!  Can't wait for next time!  

I look forward to sharing my experiences with you as I learn my way around a farm.  No two days will be alike and that's part of the fun!  Wonder what I'll get to do next?  Should be good for a few laughs if nothing else...  Stayed tuned; more to come soon!  Have a great week!  

The Farm Life

   It is immensely satisfying to have a farm! Even a small one like ours. There is something about getting up, and doing the morning chores that helps to ease my soul! I know that sounds a little crazy, however when I head outside in the crisp morning air, to refill the duck pools,water troughs, and feed buckets for the animals, it makes my day a little better! I love watching them, their antics and their interactions fascinate me. I love gathering the eggs, seeing how many we have, checking to see if my Goldie is still broody and sitting on a WOODEN egg!! It is great to go let out the ducks and see how many eggs we get from them, to see if another one  of the ladies has started to lay! I guess it may be the routine of it all, or the fact that with each animal and their gifts we get more self-sufficient. It is awesome to go to the canning cabinet, or outside to the chicken coop to gather supplies for supper, rather than going to the grocery store.  The greetings of the goats when you go outside, their faces happy to see you, and pushing and shoving to see who can get that first pat of affection, can not help but make you smile! 
    The things you can learn from your animals are endless. The other night, we went out to pen up the ducks. We free roam them during the day, but pen them at night to protect them from predators. Usually, they are near the pen, if not already in it, but this time they were not. We looked around and all of them were up by the turkey coop. When we tried to herd them down to theirs they would not go, they kept returning to the turkey pen! Upon, closer examination, we discovered one duck had somehow gotten IN the turkey coop, and could not get out. The other ducks would not leave her! They stayed as close to her as they could, only after we got her out did they head to their pen! I loved that,no duck left behind!! They would not abandon her. From how our hen mothers her chick, protecting her from the others, but also making her be a little independent, is very informative. I learn from my animals everyday! 
     Yes, it IS a lot of work! There is always a fence to mend, a shelter to build, a coop to clean out, or an area to winterize, but you feel a great deal of satisfaction when you are done. To know you are contributing directly to your food sources, to know they are treated humanly, and are happy, mean a great deal! The work makes you feel like you accomplished something, that you can directly see the results from. I never thought I would be doing this, but I am so thankful and blessed this is where I am!I think the way things are today, people try to get by with less and less work, what is easier and how can they do less, but for me the extra work is worth it. It is fulfilling, and makes you appreciate your food and life! I love my little farm!

 

Less is More

 It's funny to me how time changes things, when I was younger I dreamed of having a great job, lots of money, a big house, nice cars, and all the trimmings.. That was how success was measured, that was how I would be happy. The more stuff you have, the more money you make, the happier you would be. Well, now.. all I can say is NOPE! Now, I dream of a smaller home, less stuff, making less money, less bills and making do. The more I downsize, the more I depend more on me and less on fast food, big stores, large electric companies, the more content I get! My dream would be to have a small house run on solar panels, with a wood stove, OK the one thing I would have to keep is the indoor plumbing...lol.  I think, if I had to, I could  do without the lights, the television, the microwave (we actually did this almost a year ago, and truly have not missed it) but I need my hot shower, and all the other conveniences of running water..going outside in sleet and snow for a  bathroom run would NOT be fun!

Modern technology is not a bad thing, I do not mean I want to go back to pioneer days completely, but I do think a lot of the older ways of doing things are better and sometimes,healthier! Since, we have started raising our own food, I know we feel better and have more energy! Yes, it takes a lot more time and work, but it also brings about this level of satisfaction that I cannot explain. There is nothing like frying some farm raised bacon from the freezer, scrambling a couple eggs from the chicken coop, and toasting a couple slices of fresh home baked bread, spread  with some of your own goat butter!Then pour yourself a glass of cold fresh goat milk.. and it is a meal you cannot compare. 
Now, I do not miss satellite television, I enjoy sitting on the porch with a hot cup of coffee, watching the interactions of the farm animals, the simple routines of feeding and milking and gathering calm me, I do not sit and dream of that big house or new car, I dream of a small tractor, or the time and energy to put up a new fence for that new animal addition. I do not need more things, I need less, and the more I downsize the more satisfied I get. You can't take it with you, right? So what is the point? More things, mean more bills, and more work for more pay to buy the more things.. Less bills, mean less stress, and less stress means happier..and isn't that what we all want and need?  Like I stated earlier,technology is not a bad thing, and neither is owning nice things, I just think we all need to take a closer look at what is important to us!

A new favorite...Goat Milk !

Well it has not been that long that we have had fresh goat milk...and it is even better than I had 
imagined!
I have known the great benefits of goats milk for a while but honestly had not put them to the test, or tried goats milk before getting my own goats. The goat milk is rich and delicious on its own, the health benefits of raw goat milk is amazing, but there is so much more that the goats milk can be used for.
Last night we have made goat cheese for the first time. It was a pretty basic recipe, but that  has made me want to try to make more cheese. Maybe we will try mozzarella next.  We mixed the cheese with herbs and it turned out so good! It was rich and creamy and delicious. We also made butter that was awesome and so easy! This has made me so glad we got the goats, it made me love them even more (if that is even possible!)They are such sweet, friendly creatures!
Next we are going to try our hand at making soap with our own goats milk and own our bees wax from Ric's Bees!!
It is so exciting to  know that the cheese you use,you made  and produced , from milking the goat, and actually making the cheese to testing the final product!! It makes everything you do more exciting and worthwhile.There is nothing quite like creating something from start to finish! It is rewarding, and taste so much better!If you have not tried raw goat milk, I recommend that you do!I think you will be pleasantly surprised! I was!

I am an addict!

Help! I think I am addicted to farming! The more we get into this, the more excited I get. In the beginning, it was a small raised bed garden, then we discovered the joy of canning...so you KNOW the garden had to get bigger! Then, what started with a few small chickens for eggs has blossomed into so much more!

The couple of bantams we had led to regular sized chickens. I mean bigger eggs for baking and such made sense, right? That went so well we decided to get some meat chickens, to have our own fresh, farm raised chickens...yep 25 of them! FYI, it takes a while to process 25 chickens the first time! Thank goodness for a friend who coached us through it all! Then we decided, hey we should get a hive of bees! They would make the garden do so much better, and the honey?...Bonus!! Next, we looked into goats, they were so cute, and if we got a small breed of dairy goat, we could have fresh milk, cheese, butter and soap.Aa couple wouldn't be too much trouble. Well, say hello to our 8 goats! Yep, you heard me right, 8!! My girls are awesome, they are so sweet, the milk is awesome and I am so glad we got them. 

So they led to, get ready for this, turkeys! Yes, turkeys. We are now the proud owners of 3 full grown turkeys and 1 turkey poult, that is about 6 weeks old! Not to mention, one is sitting on a few eggs, ok 14 eggs, but who's counting! I love the gobble noise they make, and I enjoy watching them! Not to mention I hear the eggs are good for baking! I can't wait to try them!

So, that should be it right, well um..no! This weekend we are getting another new addition that I am so excited about, and hopefully another type when spring rolls around! I will fill you in later on another blog. The point is, its addicting! A lot of work? Yes! But it is worth it! The hard work, to see the fruits of your labor, the knowledge and entertainment you get from all the animals! Knowing what your eating, it's great! Some people think I have gone off the deep end, but the more we do, the more I want to do. I enjoy building the pens, putting up fences, canning my own tomatoes and gathering my own eggs! It is such a great feeling to pull a chicken from the freezer for supper and know the work that went into it, and it tastes amazing! It is addicting, satisfying, and I love it! Where will this all lead, I have no clue...but keep an eye out, you never know what's next!

The Simple Life??

Why do you homestead? Many people say when asked, that they want to go back to when things were simpler. That is why most say they want to be more self sufficient and homestead, to live the simple life. Well we have been gradually moving to a self sufficient lifestyle and building our own homestead. We have chickens, goats, bees, turkeys, a garden, a greenhouse. We have cut down drastically the processed things we buy, we don't go out to eat as much and have really made a good homestead that is ever growing and we absolutely love.... but the simple life?? I don't think so.
Life is much better back to basics, but never simple. Simple would be getting hungry and going to McDonald's, instant gratification.  Or even simpler, popping a TV dinner in the microwave. But now we don't even have a microwave. Simple would be hanging out inside watching TV surfing the web on a rainy lazy afternoon. At a homestead there is no such thing as a lazy afternoon. We have to take care of the animals, all of them, and in any weather, rain or shine. There is always a fence to put up or repair or something to fix or make. Simple would be buying your veggies at the grocery store. At a homestead you have to plant the seeds, water, weed them everyday(skip this even for a few days and you suddenly have a forest), and then when they are ripe pick them. Then you can cook them. Or preserve them so you can have those fresh veggies in the winter months instead of doing the simple thing and going to the grocery store when they are out of season. 

Let me explain however that this is not complaining about this lifestyle. Like I have said before, There is nothing more satisfying than having a deliciously prepared meal that you grew, raised, processed, harvested and cooked completely on your plot of land with your own hands. I, however do not want people to underestimate exactly how much work this can be. But all the hard work makes the benefits that you reap all the more rewarding. 

You know exactly what is going in your food so you don't have to worry about the next recall in the supermarket. You know how the animals were treated, their environment they lived in, the food they ate. You know what seeds you used and what, if anything, went on the vegetables and that no pesticides or herbicides were used. There is also nothing more delicious than eating food you grew and raised. Eating this type of food also gives you more energy and makes you feel better. You get to experience the outdoors more and the bond you make with the animals is so rewarding. 
So the next time someone asks if you would like to live the simple life, think about it before you answer.

Learning to Relax

         I live a busy life, between work,family,and the farm, it seems as though something is always going on. I have a "to-do list" at all times, and it never seems to end, it just keeps growing! If I get 10 things done, I remember 10 more things I need to add. My friends and family joke that I cannot sit still, and that I am not happy unless I am doing something, and sometimes I think there is a lot of truth in that!If I spend too much time, relaxing, watching TV or reading, and forgo the list, I feel as if I have wasted the day. I get frustrated with myself, even when I am sitting down and resting a bit I have that list going through my head, thinking of things I should be doing. Don't get me wrong, there are activities and chores on that list I do enjoy, tending to the animals,canning etc, but it's not the same thing, Why can't I just relax and not feel guilty about wasting my time?Does anyone else feel like that? I know that my list will never get done, there will always be something more to add,something that comes up, I guess I just need to figure out how to take a day off...from chores as well as work!A task easier said than done, I do not think it is in my DNA! So, I guess I need to try to figure it out! The nearest I get to unwinding, I think is when I go camping, there is just something about being out in nature,sitting by a campfire,in the cool night air,that just seems to soothe my soul! Unfortunately I do not get to go like I use to,too many responsibilities, but maybe I need to plan a trip soon to recharge my batteries!Life in this world is so fast paced,we all get caught up in it,but take a moment to  relax with something you enjoy.. I think if we all did this a little more, we would all be better off, Sometimes I lose sight of this, but it is something I plan to work on! Happy relaxing!!

Advice to my Children

                 I love my family, I am so thankful that all 5 of my children are close, that we can talk about anything together, and that we can always depend on each other. One of my most favorite things, is to have them all here at the same time, to pour a cup of coffee, and sit back and watch them talk! They are all so different, from one politically extreme to the other, from laid back and chill,to hyper and full of energy, from quick tempered to low key..but the thing is no matter how passionate they feel on something,or how loud the discussions and debates get, they respect each other and do not make it personal! As, I was laying in bed this morning,my thoughts went to them,and I thanked God he blessed me with each one of them. I was thinking of how, if I could give them advice to help make their life easier..what I would say. 
             First thing, keep your faith, God has always been present in my life, but I can see so many places where he has seen me through, so many of my prayers answered,sometimes not in the way I wished, but looking back it was always for the best. Pray daily and read the bible and give God a chance to lead you where he wants you.If you give Him a chance he will always be there, and trust me when I say He has answered many prayers about and for each one of you. 
           Next, do not be afraid to be different! Today, people are so worried about appearances, and what others think,  they hide their real thoughts and ideas for fear people will not understand. Being unique is  wonderful , It brings out new ideas, and ways of doing  things. When you stop trying to please everyone else, you can find out who you truly are. It will make your life so much more content!
You will learn so much about yourself and others, and your true friends will always stick with you, even if they think your odd..lol
            You are entitled to your opinion, and others are entitled to theirs! You do not ALWAYS have to be right, and sometimes its better to agree to disagree! As, important as being yourself is, it's also important to remember that, that does not mean everyone else has to be like you and think like you too! Always put yourself in the other persons shoes, before you judge or get angry. They are a different person, raised different,different environment growing up than you, so they are not always going to think like you! I hate confrontation, but lots of times I do not argue because I always try to see the others viewpoint and where they are coming from before I speak! I promise you it helps a lot!
            Honesty is very important, I have learned this the hard way! Sometimes, I  will not be honest to spare someones feelings, or to avoid conflict. One thing I have learned over the years, IT DOES NOT HELP!! It makes things worse, That does not mean you have to be a jerk, just be honest, and if it is difficult , it will still be better for everyone in the long run.
                 My grandmother was an amazing woman, I have never met anyone like her . Her favorite thing to say was "If you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all" and she lived by that! If your  criticism of someone is not asked for, or will not help them, keep your mouth shut!  It is so much better and more fulfilling to build others up, not tear them down! It is amazing how one positive word can change another persons day! Try it, it will make you both feel good.
                 I guess the last thing is do not judge others, do not let your misconceptions cloud what you see. Working with the homeless I have learned so much! The outside is not important, it is the inside that really counts, and you may not know what the other person is going through. Love is very forgiving, and it is also important not to lose sight of it. Love is more important then being right, its forgiving when others do you wrong, its stepping up to help when you are needed, not just thinking of what you will get in return, or how it benefits you!
               Wow, I could write a book..hehehe, so much more I could say. If only I had known this stuff when I was young, but I guess it is part of growing up and learning about yourself and life. What advice would you give? What would you tell your children? What one thing do you think would help make their life easier? I would love to hear from you!

Pigs or Turkeys?

 We have been working hard to grow our little homestead. What started with an idea, a small box garden and 3 bantam chickens  has grown quite a bit! We now have 2 dozen chickens for eggs, numerous bantams, 2 Nigerian Dwarf goats, and a hive of bees! We  have raised and processed 27 meat chickens as well, and our garden is quite a bit larger. We also have fruit trees, bushes and vines. We make our own bread, laundry detergent and dish washing detergent. We can a lot, from jams, syrups, to vegetables, soups and meat! As far as we have come , there is so much more we want to do! Now, we are trying to decide which type of animal to add to our little homestead..pigs or turkeys? 
 To start with we had about decided on pigs. We figured we could feed them with scraps, and make a pen out back and in some time have delicious fresh pork, food that we know was raised well and ate healthy! We could take them to be processed, so it would not be too much to handle. However, they do get very big , and eat a lot, and for some reason I am a little apprehensive about it!
Then, we visited a nearby farm , and I sort of fell for the turkeys! Not the turkeys that have been genetically altered to be so huge they cannot even reproduce on their own,like the ones they sale in the store, but the ones that are the way they are suppose to be. Not huge, but one of the original breeds! They are smaller , and do not seem to be much more difficult than chickens, a little different but not too hard. Then there is the bonus of having a fresh farm raised turkey for the holidays, or any other time. No worries on the chemicals that would be ingested from the store bought ones!We could process those on our own , and it would be less investment to begin with too. So which way do we go? Pigs or turkeys? Drop us a message and tell us what you think..

 

Cinnamon and Ginger

Since, we started this journey, I have wanted goats. Not just any goats but milk goats! I researched and read on all types of goats,before I decided I wanted Nigerian Dwarf Goats. They seemed perfect, small in size , perfect for our needs, friendly, great rich milk, perfect for cheese and the output for such a small goat is pretty impressive. So I worked on saving enough money, and preparing a place for them. However,things get put on the back burner, we got chickens, they were cheaper and easy to manage and gave us fresh eggs, then we got meat birds, and it was always something, from a new roof, to repairs to something.. but I kept reading and hoping and praying,, then one day a close friend called me to meet someone who had a pregnant goat..not just any goat but...you guessed it, a pregnant Nigerian Dwarf Goat! I figured I could really learn a lot from meeting her.. and get more knowledge for the future.. but it went better than planned.. I immediately clicked with Hillary, and before I knew it I was the proud owner of 2 Nigerian Dwarf kids!Now that I finally have them here at home, it is even better than I ever imagined! They are the sweetest, cutest little babies! Hillary is an amazing fountain of information, and I quiz her often..lol... but I have learned so much. It will be awhile  before I can breed them, before I can began my dreams of goat milk, cheese , soaps and such, but I can wait.. a step at a time. In the meantime they are very entertaining, great companions, who cry when they see me coming, and make me smile.. if you want to learn more about my new babies here is a link to why their milk is so awesome..

                                                                                                                                             

http://www.betterhensandgardens.com/2011/07/31/whats-so-great-about-dwarf-nigerian-goat-milk-anyway/

Things Change!

    It is amazing to me how a person's perspective can change! I remember, and not too long ago at that, going to the store and by the time I was ready to check out, having a cart full of convenience, processed foods! I would go to a big box store and load up on snacks, frozen pizza, sugary drinks, etc! I would be happy with my choices, and glad I would have something quick to pop in the oven or  microwave to fix in a hurry! Now, wow its like I am in a different world! We have not used a microwave, in months! We took it out, so we would be less tempted to grab those quick processed foods when we were hungry. Now, I truly do not even miss it! The visits to a grocery store or few and far between, and when I do go its for things like toilet paper, paper towels, chocolate or coffee!! Now, we make our own bread, snacks,etc. We grow our own fruits and veggies, and what we do not grow we get from local farmers. We raise our own chicken for meat and eggs, we buy our pork and beef from local farmers too.We grow our own herbs, they taste so much better, and we dry them to use throughout the winter!We have our own bees and are using honey instead of sugar more and more!We use the wax to make our own candles. In the next week we will be bringing home goats, and when they are a little older they will help provide us with milk,cheese, and soaps! We make our own dish washing detergent and laundry soap, although we do order some ingredients, I still like the simple cleaning products, that work great and are cheaper and has less chemicals in them! I feel such a since of accomplishment when we finish canning a batch of green beans, or tomatoes! I love that I know exactly what went into them , and that I can go outside and pick a tomato and take a bite, and not worry about what chemicals were sprayed on it!We all feel better, I have more energy, and have lost a few pounds without even trying! When we eat out, we do our best to eat at locally owned places that use local fresh products. I bypass things that I once would load up on , and truthfully I do not even miss them! I am so glad we started on this journey, I think we all appreciate our food more, and I look forward to continuing down this path!I am proud of how far we come , I look forward to how far we go!

 

The Simpler Life

I read this quote today, "Going back to a simpler life is not a step backward" by Yvon Chouinard. I loved it! Why do most people think simple is poorer, backwards, or ignorance? I live in a double wide, it needs a lot of work , we recently had a roof put on it, and I have a lot more I need to do , but it is paid for, I do not have a house payment over my head, it suits my needs! The money I save from that can be put to better use , like getting my Nigerian Dwarf Goats, fencing, fruit trees, canning supplies,etc! Simpler to me means less stress, healthier food, and less dependency on government, grocery stores, and other modern convenience items!  I enjoy the satisfaction of growing my own fruits and vegetables, making my own bread and wine, gathering eggs, eating our own farm raised  chickens, and sweetening things with our own honey. Soon, I hope to add our own goat milk and cheeses and bath soaps, and we are going to try our hand at making our own dish-washing and laundry soap! To me, that's not backwards, its smart! Depending on our own resources is an intelligent choice!It gives you such a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction! If you had asked me about all this several years ago, I would have thought you were crazy, and I would have probably laughed. But I am not the same person I was then, I have gone through my life always depending on someone else to handle things, from my mother and father, to my husband. When things did not go as planned, I could always blame them, or at least know it was not my fault! However, that is just wrong, on so many levels..lol. Now, I make my own path, I am responsible for me, my decisions and my choices. Well, for me that means, being a lot more self reliant and simple! Have a great day!

List!

I always seem to have a list going, a list for what I need at the store, a list for what I have to accomplish in the upcoming week, a list of  appointments or places I need to be. I am always consulting them , marking stuff off , adding to them , and when I do not get everything done, I get frustrated! At the present time I have a list of important June dates coming up, a friends birthday party, Father's day, Dad's birthday, feeding the homeless, and my daughter and grandchildren coming down. I have a list of things I need to accomplish before each of these dates, and errands that  need to be run . I also am working 6 days a week for 3 of the 4 weeks this month. It seems every time I get to mark something off , I think of 3 more things to add!I get frustrated when at the end of the day, I did not get all of it done. My kids say, I try to do too much, that I should take a day to relax, and rest, but when  I try, I feel like I am wasting time. If the list are not completely empty , then I do not need to relax, but the bad thing is , lets face it, the list will NEVER be empty! So does that mean I never get to relax? That would be crazy, so why can't I just chill sometimes? I do not think of myself as anywhere near a perfectionist, but really feel like I have to get this done! Is anyone else like this? So what is the solution? Is it really important to have everything just perfect? I am not sure, but I do know we all need to relax and regroup, and sooner or later if we do not do it on our own, circumstances will see that we do! So , my new goal is to try to relax, try to not get all upset when that list is not completely finished, to try not to drive the kids crazy, with my list and things I need to do! Will it work? I am not sure, but here is to trying!

So, What's your Passion?

 We all have a passion , something you love to talk about, learn about and do! I think our passion is a gift from God. A way to use our knowledge,talents and ideas to help others. I have a sister whose passion is exercise and being fit. She lost a lot of weight, learned about exercise and your health and became a personal trainer! Now she teaches others in a variety of classes. I have a good friend whose passion is helping the homeless. She has helped hundreds of people, feeding them, giving out blankets, helping them get jobs and and a place to live and furnishing their homes. She does so many things and she is always thinking of new ways to help. Her passion has led to establishing and leading  a nonprofit to make a difference! My daughter's passion is cooking and baking, she is always trying new recipes, and baking goodies for others. She loves making others feel good and smile by making a treat or new dish, and the love she puts in to it shows in the taste!For me my passion is homesteading, getting back to the basics, growing and raising our own food and doing what we can to cut dependency on anything but ourselves. I love knowing exactly what goes in to what we use  and eat. I love sharing our bounty with others , and sometimes talking a little too much on the "evils" of commercialized food!I think its awesome we all are passionate about different things, we can learn from each other, and help each other out. So if you are drawn to something,if you have a strong interest in learning something, or an urge to try something new and a little out of your comfort zone..give it a shot, it may be the best thing you ever did! So, I ask you,   what's YOUR passion?

Canning Summer's Bounty

I love this time of year, I know I have said it before , but I really really do! I love growing our own food and preserving it , so we have that fresh taste in the middle of winter.I think canning your own food was a dying art, but it seems it is slowly making a come back! I see more and more folks doing it, and more and more canning items for sell in the stores! There is no comparison  between what we put up, to what we buy at the store!

I always make home made vegetable soup in the fall and winter, hands down it is a favorite of my entire family. It has a little kick to it and it really is good , I learned it from my mother, and made a few changes to make it my own, but on a cold winters day it hits the spot! This year my goal, is to make it with all my own stuff, to use what I have grown or canned myself to make the soup and can it for winter! I want to use our own herbs, and tomatoes and all the veggies, I cannot imagine how much better it will be!It is so convenient too, just pop open a can on a cold snowy day, and it taste like you cooked all day!This is one of those go to meals like I talked about in a previous blog.."Convenience or not?" No need to run out to the store or out to eat, its right there on the shelf! It is so much better for you too, all natural ingredients! 

                                              This past weekend we put up  strawberries, we made strawberry jam,strawberry syrup and strawberry pie filling! To be honest , I am a little tired of seeing strawberries! But , to break out a jar  of my pie filling in November or December , and make a fresh pie.. it will taste like spring!Do you do your own canning? Have you ever wanted to give it a try? Believe me when I tell you I promise it is worth it , and not hard like you might think! You may be surprised at how much better it taste!

Supper from our backyard!

Supper tonight was awesome! We ate chicken, broccoli and rice casserole, green beans and bread. For dessert we ate apple turnovers. It felt great to  see the fruits of all our hard work. The chicken was the chicken that we raised, killed and processed ourselves. We used the first batch of broccoli from our garden and the green beans and apple pie filling we canned the year before. 
This was the first meal that we have had where over half of the meal was grown, raised and processed ourselves. It felt great to see all of our hard work pay off in a delicious meal. This motivates me to soon have a meal where 100% is grown or processed ourselves. After the meal tonight, I can really see that it is an attainable goal. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious.
I loved knowing exactly where the food came from (our backyard!!) and what the chicken was feed and that nothing was sprayed on the vegetables and that they are non-GMO foods. Food cannot get any fresher that that! The best way to know what exactly you are putting in your body is to do it yourself.  At the grocery store there are so many hidden ingredients in foods that are bad for you or foods that are genetically modified that most people have no idea what goes into their bodies. It would be great to know that when the next news article comes out about some food that is contaminated with e coli, or salmonella that I wont have to worry about getting sick. 
We also canned homemade strawberry syrup with strawberries we bought from a local farmer. When we cannot grow enough food to can, it feels good knowing that we can support local farmers and the fruit was picked that day at the field beside the vegetable stand we buy it from! Our goal is to produce everything ourselves, yet until that happens, we love to support local farmers. We do not want to go to the grocery store for anything other than basics like toilet paper.Tonight was a big step in our goal , it proved to us it is possible! 

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Convenience or not?

 I am sure most of you eat burgers...so a question..which is better, say a McDonald's cheeseburger or one you hand patty out and grill yourself? Taking a guess here, that most of you will say the one's you do at home. To me, the taste is so much better , not to mention the nutrition. I think that goes for almost everything , and it amuses me a bit that a lot people give me a strange look when I tell them I am striving for self sufficiency. People comment, "wow, isn't that a lot of trouble?" or " why would you do that, you can get everything you need from the grocery store!" Shopping at the store is so expensive now, and a lot of the stuff, even the fruits and veggies come from other countries. I want to know where my food comes from , what is in it, and how old it is. It is so rewarding to take one of your own raised  chickens, and  bake it in the oven, go out to garden and pick your own peas, or dig up your potatoes and cook then along with a fresh baked slice of your own  bread! The taste does not even compare.. its so much better, and yes it is more work , but so worth it. Even on days I am in a hurry , I go to my home canned goods, to make a quick meal, I still have a long way to go , but with what I save growing and raising  my own, I can afford to buy the locally raised grass fed beef and such. I love going to the store and totally passing by  most of the departments , to just pick up , a few key things..It is like a game to see what I can make and get on my own, or locally  buy. .. I cannot wait until my goats are here and in milk! Fresh cheese, butter, milk and such is another thing I can do myself! So what do you do on your own , do you think it is worth the extra work? You can now leave a comment and not be signed in , so please drop a quick note and let me know your thoughts!

Hey, What's that?"

Last week end we all went to the "Got to be NC" festival in Raleigh. We had a great time , looking around, sampling local food and seeing the farm animals. We met a farmer who raised dairy goats and had a very informative chat!Overall,it was well worth the trip, however one thing disturbed me a great deal. As we were looking at a cow with her baby, a small boy was there also with his parents. This young boy was probably about 5 years old. He looked at the cow , then his dad and said " Hey, what is that?? " I could not believe my ears , this child looked baffled and had no clue what a cow was! I found that so hard to believe and very sad. To many children, and some adults, do not even think about where the food they eat comes from! They go to the store and pick up veggies,milk and eggs.. and don't consider anything but the convenience of it all.I am not preaching here, I just feel we need to get back to some basics, like being able to identify a cow! We need to think of the people who raise and grow our food , and the labor and love that goes into it. I am very thankful  that , while I will never have a full scale farm , I do have my little hobby farm , with chickens and goats and bees ! That my grandchildren will see where their food comes from , how it all works and hopefully  develop an appreciation for the people who work hard to grow it  and the animals too! Just some thoughts.. 

An Experiment

I have a question...look in your kitchen,your refrigerator, pantry,etc. How much of your food is fresh, unprocessed..how much of it do you know exactly where it came from? what is in it? Does it concern you? Does food have to be processed and laden with preservatives to be "convenient"? I have been thinking of that a lot lately. To eat fresh local food takes planning,To put a meal on the table without having to be in the kitchen all evening after work, takes some doing if you are doing it from scratch..Is it a trade off? Do you have to choose one or the other? I know we have been doing a lot better incorporating  fresh foods in our diet , but I also know we eat out way to much! When its been a long day..like today.. if I have not planned ahead of time , it is so much easier to go grab something..and lets face it.. that's no better . than the pop in the microwave meal..or the canned soup that's loaded with salt..So I wonder .. can we actually go a significant period of time not going out to eat , not eating the quick stuff.. and still not be in the kitchen all evening and exhausted..We have done so much better.. but I want to try this.. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Just some thoughts....

Reaching Our Dreams

 It started out as a pipe dream! Wishful thinking, living off the land ,of running a farm, and being far less dependent on others for necessities, Day by day,and with hard work and a lot of planning we are getting there. This will be a blog of whats going on. We chose the name "Simply Our Farm,  because of our small hobby farm! We will be raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats (milk) and bees (honey).. Along with these we have chickens for meat and eggs, fruit trees,and  we grow our own veggies and herbs!We bake our own bread and other goodies , and have cut down a lot on processed ,chemical laden convenience foods., We have majorly cut down on fast foods, except for an occasional biscuit we have not eaten fast food since the middle of December! We also did away with our microwave in January and really do not miss it, We want to return to a simpler way of life,Let's see how it goes!
Today we have embarked on a new experiment! We are trying our hand at homemade strawberry wine and mead! We are really excited  and cannot wait to see how it turns out. This week will also be a busy one , we will be making strawberry jam on Monday, We have spinach, lettuce and broccoli to pick ,we need to have a bread baking day and we have to get started on our goat fence for our new babies! Thankfully I only work 4 days this week and then am off 5 days, but I have a feeling I will still be working..lol This blog will just be a way to put down our thoughts and feelings, our successes and our failures, Although I am not a writer per say come along and see how it goes! We would love to have your thoughts and comments on our journey, Until next time...

Our red Nigerian Dwarf ..can't wait until we bring her home!

Our bees

Our first batch of honey from the bees!

Our greenhouse

Our Chickens, actually just a few of them!