My favorite thing to purchase at thrift stores are vintage fabrics. I instantly visualize them as the most luxurious drapes, cushions or perhaps a tablecloth. Unfortunately, most of these beautiful fabric have yet to fulfill their destiny. Why? Well the thought of sitting in front of the sewing machine once filled me with anxiety. Oddly…
How to Make Elderberry Syrup
During a morning walk I saw these clusters of small berries in different patches on the side of the road. The leaves looked like Water Hemlock but those don’t produce berries. I also remembered reading that elderberry plants resemble hemlock. After taking pictures of the plant to double check, I confirmed they were elderberries. I…
Corn Casserole: A Potluck Favorite
Growing up my family was very involved in our church. It very much felt like an extension of our family. It was a wonderful part of my childhood and I have many cherished memories. We moved when I was fifteen, more than thirty years ago, and I can still picture the people that left an…
Planting A Fall Garden
By the end of August most of us start to lose our enthusiasm with gardening. The sun is scorching and there hasn’t been much rain at all in the last couple months. That doesn’t seem to stop the weeds and garden pests from thriving. I have canned all the green beans and tomatoes I want…
Peach Perfect
When my family immigrated to America, we moved to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. My parents had worked long hours and sacrificed to buy a small farm. As grateful as we were, it was at times lonely to be so far from family and friends. It was especially hard for my mother to leave my grandmother. They…
From Pasture to Plate
I am so excited about today. It’s taken a long time to get here but this morning we sent our first steer, that was born on our little farm for processing. I had butterflies in my stomach praying that everything would go smoothly. Our experience so far with loading cows into trailers had been very…
Starting a Homestead And Strengthening Your Marriage
Four years into starting a homestead and I can honestly say that my husband and I have never been closer. There were some very challenging times in the beginning of our journey, but this life was a dream for both of us. Frankly there were times that I cried my eyes out. Nothing seemed to…
Improving Pastures On a Homestead
Most of us go into raising animals with the intent of raising them on pasture. We are often told how easy it is. Just put some chickens out there and they will take care of it. After a while you start to realize that as great as it is to have chickens out on the…
Bringing a Bull On To Your Small Farm
Are you thinking about bringing a bull onto your small farm? There are a lot of different things to consider. Based on our experience, these are just a few things you should include in your decision making process. Is your fencing secure enough? If the bull doesn’t test the fence, a cow in heat will….
Ancestral Connections
Seasons in our lives come and go. It is the way of things. We are left with our memories of the past and dreams for the future. As we age, those dreams are for our children. The women in my family have been plagued with melancholy for generations. This sadness only visits in stillness but…