Monday means weekend updates!

Well, thanks to Mother Nature, who has blessed us with decent weather this weekend (its in the 60s now) we got quite a bit accomplished around here!  Had a friend bring us some deer meat Friday, so we got that cut down and vaccuum sealed and in the freezer.  The biggest accomplishment being the chicken coop (it's now shingled. planning a raised bed on top)

Then, we rehung the 2 long clotheslines, turned the compost, turned a patch of dirt where I am planting beans, added compost to that patch and turned it again. I started some turnip and beet seeds using a method I found on Wintersown, I can't wait to chart their progress! Hmm...let's see...oh, while digging in the dirt with the kids, I found quite a few purple sweet potatoes that were hiding from me when I harvested.  Most were molded but  few pieces were good enough to save to root and plant.  Pics to come soon!

What's going on on your homestead?

Change of plans & My first GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

So yo know that big post I did the other day about all the seeds I was about to order, well the budget got re-appropriated for a more important bill.  But no fear, I found this wonderful site called Listia (thank you Adventures of a Thrifty Mama for sharing the link!) where I have won jerusalem artichoke seeds and mustard green seeds and have bids out on a few others including blackberries and strawberries.  The best part?  They are all free and all the ones I have bid on are free shipping also!!

And now for the giveaway!  It's a really cute tomato planter with a bag of organic growing medium (ain't it funny how they make dirt sound fancy?) and a package of tiny tim cherry tomato seeds!!  I'm asking you do 2 things to enter:

-share the link to the blog on social media and leave a comment here with a link to it
-leave a comment here on what you plan to grow this spring

I will then leave it up to a random number generator to decide who wins!!  Good luck to all that enter, you have till January 31st to get those comments in!!!

Pic to come as soon as my connection stops being so fickle and lets me upload!

My favorite cold remedies

Well, here in Memphis, its sinus/cold season from October-March/April and cold medicine is yucky and expensive.  So here are my favorite recipes for colds & sinus:


Homemade syrup:
1 cup honey
1/2 onion chopped
1 inch ginger grated
dash of cayenne pepper

cook the onions & ginger in the honey till they are translucent, the longer the better.  I dash in the cayenne right before removing from the heat. Strain out the solids.  Take a tablespoon as soon as its cool enough to take. store in a honey bottle or mason jar.  It tastes pretty bad but if you are sick enough to want to take meds, you aren't gonna care how it tastes.  Chances are you are so congested you won't be able to taste or smell it anyway.



Tea:  ( per 1 cup)
1 teaspoon dried catnip
1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 bag green tea (or your favorite hot tea)

brew in a teapot or cheat like me and make it in the coffeepot.


I hope you feel better soon; please share your remedies with us!!

Prepping for Spring - Part 2 Seed Inventory & Selection

With the unseasonably warm weather we are having, I have been having thoughts of spring and planting.  I decided to pull out all the seeds I have and was surprised to find I have a good bit!  Not all the heirloom I want, but I gotta start somewhere, right?  So here is the list of what i currently have on hand (that I have collected and packets from friends):

• 100s of bell pepper
• lots of jalapeno and other varieties hot peppers
• canteloupe & honeydew melon
• eggplant
• heirloom broccoli (waltham 29)
• heirloom soybeans (thanks to Tim from Oleo Acres)
• okra
• 2 varieties of beets
• carrots
• squash
• 2 varieties of lettuce
• royal burgundy bush beans
• roma bush beans
• turnips
• pumpkin
• shelly beans
• peaches n cream corn

I think I am off to a pretty good start!  But I really want to expand this year and thankfully have the help/muscle of a couple family friends.  Here's the list of what I want to buy from Baker Creek heirloom Seed Co:

• sugar snap peas
• costata romanesca squash
• tomatillos
• yellow & red cherry tomatoes
• calendula
• catnip
• chamomile
• feverfew
• scullcap
• swiss chard
• kale
• 2 types of eggplant
• asparagus
• bok choy
• fennel
• wild rocket arugula
• bee balm
• cilantro
• sage 
• horehound
• amaranth
• italian pepperoncini peppers
• parisian pickling cucumbers
• berries & grapes

Sounds like a lot, I know, especially for my yard, but I will be utilizing the beds in the front also and the east side of the house.  most of the herbs will also be in pots on a shelf.  I already have the egg crates ready to start seed and am thinking of starting some lettuce now. The bug has bit and man it bit hard!!!  I'm ready for spring!!!!  All the seeds I am ordering are going to cost about $50 and that doesn't count the berries, grapes and fruit trees I want..

You know what excites me most about this list?  The amaranth.  Don't know what that is? Amaranth is an 8,000 year old crop called the “super food” by the ancient Aztecs.  Once an abundant part of the empire’s crop base, Amaranth was fed to runners and warriors because of its reputation for providing large bursts of energy and improving athletic performance. The crop was regarded so highly that each year bushels of Amaranth were presented to their leader, Montezuma. Because the crop figured so prominently in Aztec culture and religious ceremonies, the conquering armies of Cortez burned the fields to the ground. As European crops replaced indigenous ones, Amaranth slowly fell out of use. Twenty years ago, the “ancient crop with a future” enjoyed a renaissance when the National Academy of Sciences recommended Amaranth as one of twenty foods to be re-introduced into the American diet.

 Amaranth contains large amounts of dietary fiber, iron, and calcium as well as other vitamins and minerals. Amaranth also has naturally high amounts of lysine, methionine and cysteine combined with a fine balance of amino acids making it an excellent source of high quality, balanced protein (about 14% by volume), which is more complete than the protein found in most grains. In addition to Amaranth’s outstanding nutritional value, it is also very low in sodium and contains no saturated fat. Another outstanding feature is that our Amaranth is organically grown and is naturally Non-GMO.

Beating the winter blues

Winter always depressing me, the plants and trees go into hibernation and the landscapes are dreary..perfect reflection of my mood, dreary.  This winter I have been doing everything I can to keep myself busy.  This year, I planted a fall/winter garden. It's not much but it does get me out into the sunshine for a few minutes a day; currently its broccoli, cauliflower, kale, rosemary and we have added an (indoor) kaffir lime tree (a generous gift from my friend Debe at Awesome Bistro Compliments.)  On sunny days I also open my curtains to let the natural light in, it works miracles for me.

The kids are really good at keeping me distracted by building couch cushion forts, blanket tents and digging in our indoor pots of dirt or treating the tub like a swimming pool.

Scent is also something I use to lift my mood by lighting incense or candles, usually an uplifting scent of citrus, sandalwood or ocean breeze.  Good scents for me are also cinnamon, rose, or anything chocolate scented.  But there are times when distraction and aromatherapy just aren't enough and I have to add in some supplements.  Natural News posted a great list, so I am gong to quote and copy it here:

Vitamin D

A depression which recurs annually during the winter, as well as feelings of depression which deepen during this period, are related to lack of vitamin D, which is delivered in its most powerful form through sunshine. Vitamin D increases brain levels of serotonin, which has been called the "happiness hormone." Vitamin D also plays an important role in the body's production of dopamine, a mood-lifting transmitter. One excellent source of vitamin D is fermented cod liver oil; just one teaspoon a day delivers a potent dose of this vitamin. Dietary sources include salmon, sardines and mackerel as well as organ meats and eggs (choose organic sources for maximum health benefit, of course). You may also want to try a vitamin D supplement to ensure that you get your daily dose.

St. John's Wort

This plant has been used as a nerve tonic for centuries. Its name derives from the fact that its bright yellow flowers bloom around June 24, the day when the feast of St. John was celebrated in the medieval era, shortly after the summer solstice. Traditional herbalists have long held that a tincture made from this plant delivers some of the bright solar energy of that time of year. Recent medical research has confirmed its efficacy in treating anxiety as well as moderate depression.

Side-effects and precautions: St. John's wort should not be taken in combination with pharmaceutical anti-depressants. Some studies suggest it may interfere with oral contraceptives. St. John's Wort may increase the effect of sleeping medications and anesthetics. It may cause sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Also, for people suffering from bipolar disorder, taking this herbal remedy may increase mood swings.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/034563_depression_winter_natural_remedies.html#ixzz1iVnNsajw

 Ginko Biloba is a natural ingredient that improves circulation in the brain, which often in turn improves memory and also alleviates some symptoms of depression. It is not as effective as St. John's Wort, but it can be taken in conjunction with other natural ingredients as an overall mood-booster.

Siberian Ginseng aids the balance of essential neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Taking Siberian Ginseng regularly can lead to improved feelings of general well-being.

Passion flower is another natural ingredient that can help treat depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Passion flower is a natural salve that helps to calm and soothe. When it is combined with St. John's Wort, it can be very successful in treating depression naturally.  (source: http://www.nativeremedies.com/articles/alternative-treatment-for-depression.shtml) 

DISCLAIMER:  I am not a doctor, these remedies may work for me but may not be right for everyone, please consult your doctor or naturopath before starting any new remedies to avoid interactions with prescription medication or potential health hazards.


In addition to these supplements, a balanced diet and activities such as exercise, yoga or tai-chi also help to keep the mind occupied and off of the cold temps and sleeping landscape outside.

Do you suffer from SAD or seasonal depression?  If so, how do you treat it? 

Homemade Anitbacterial Cleaner

I am really enjoying delving into making more of my own cleaning products.  The first question I always get is "how do you know it's really clean?  You need chemicals for that."  My answer, essential oils.  There are at least 14 essential oils that have antibacterial properties and many are also antifungal and antimicrobial. Before I get to the cleaner recipe, I'm going to take some space to list the oils for you so when making your cleaner you can choose the ones that suit your needs.  You are welcome lol

In a lab test, 14 oils were evaluated against Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. For most essential oils examined, H. influenzae was most susceptible, followed by S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes, and then S. aureus. Penicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. pneumoniae were comparable in susceptibility. Escherichia coli, which was used as a control, showed least susceptibility.  (source: http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/47/5/565.full)

In plain english I'm pretty sure that means that the first one listed was most affected while E coli wasn't affected as much.






Anti-bacterial:

• Cinnamon 
• Lemongrass
• Perilla
• Wild Thyme
• Red Thyme
• Geraniol Thyme
• Peppermint
• Tea Tree
• Spike Lavender
• True Lavender
• Rosemary
• Eucalyptus
• Citron

Anti-fungal:

• Lavender
• Tea hierarchy
• Myrrh

Anti-microbial:

• Lemongrass
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Vetiver

And don't you know I closed the site before I copied the link for the source..dag nabit...I will google it again and add it in later.  Now on to the recipe!

Homemade AntiBac Cleaner

You will need:

 a clean spray bottle

essential oils of choice (I use at least 2, usually lavender and eucalyptus or lemongrass)

1 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide 3%
10-20 drops essential oils

water to fill your bottle

Hope this new year finds you all well and cold/flu free!  Although if you do happen to be sick, this cleaner is great to make sure it doesn't stick around on cabinets/counters/faucets/toilets!!  If you make this, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!!!!

New Year, New Adventures!

Happy New Year y'all!  I hope you all are doing well.  Now for those that know me, know I don't do resolutions so much, but I do set goals of what I would like to accomplish.  This year, I am pretty proud of my list:

• yell less, listen more, practice more compassionate parenting tactics
• get house clean and organized - get rid of the clutter
• be more forthcoming about my feelings/talk more/initiate more instead of shutting down
• treat 10yo like a young adult not a kid
• trim our expenses in anyway possible
• start an emergency savings fund

I have done quite a bit of reflection on how I parent and I can see i am doing it all wrong.  I need to be patient and listen and remember my children are just that, children.  They do not know everything, they are not perfect and concepts that are common sense to me are second nature to them.  That is not a reason to raise my voice to them or punish them.

Cleaning up and clearing out!  This year is all about simplifying  y'all.  We are steadily clearing junk out, sorting through clothes we don't need and bagging up  toys.  And this year, I will not fill the empty space back up

In an effort to trim expenses, today a dear friend and I made 2 gallons of homemade laundry detergent and 1 gallon of homemade bleach alternative.  I just used them in a load of laundry and let me tell y'all, they work and smell great!!!!

Detergent Recipe - initial cost about $8, subsequent batches about $2

Bleach Alternative Recipe - initial cost about $2

Fabric Softener:
6 cups water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups hair conditioner
mix in a bottle and shake well!

Also, we are refining how we grocery shop and utilizing the dollar store and international markets as well as the meat market.  We have a stock of so much on hand my last grocery trip for the week was $26.

I think me and 2012 are off to a great start!!

Do you make resolutions? If so, what ones did you make this year?