Tag Archive
Reclaiming our Garden
My husband and I are slowly reclaiming our garden from the out of control growth of weeds and grass. I honestly have no idea where all of this grass came from since we have gardened twice a year in this same plot for years. My only guess is that these seeds have been lying dormant waiting for any signs of... »
Save My Garden
In all my years of gardening, I have never seen anything like my fall garden. Because of the drought, I decided to plant in a row without raising the soil and making furrows. I placed stakes on each end of the straight line so that we could tell where the vegetables would grow. I watered every night for about two... »
Food Storage Homesteading-Style
As food prices have continued to increase, many people are beginning to store a food supply. It is not only economical, but great to have when a natural or man-made disaster occurs. I know that as Hurricane Ike approached the Gulf Coast, you could not find a can of tuna or a bottle of water on any grocery store shelf... »
Go to the Ant
I have been so busy lately that I took longer off from writing than I expected. Let me catch you up. Jake showed his heifer, Sugar, at the Houston Livestock Show during Spring Break. It was quite an experience for him and for us as well. It is only the world's largest livestock exhibition. We are so proud of Jake. He... »
How Much to Plant?
Have you been to the grocery store lately? Food prices are on the rise, and who knows how high they will climb? When I read history, especially about times of war and occupation, one thing always jumps out at me. The people in rural areas get along much better than people in urban areas. Why? It is simple. In a rural... »
First Frost
On Wednesday the first flock of geese flew over my house honking and flying in their typical "V" pattern. My father was with me. We discussed briefly how beautiful the sight was, and then he said, "In two days we will have cold weather." Having just watched the weather forecast for the week, I replied that on Friday night the low... »
Mushroom Mulch
I cannot believe that it is mid-August already! My spring/summer garden is done. I have a few peppers still growing, but other than that it is done and mowed under. Now ironically in the dog days of summer, I am preparing for my fall garden. We live about 45 miles from Monterey Mushroom Farm in Madisonville, Texas. If you are from... »
Responsibilities on a Farm
Growing up on a working farm is a much different experience than growing up in a suburb or city. As a child, I lived on a farm and for a period of time in the suburbs of Houston. Depending on where I lived, I had different responsibilities. Some of my fondest memories were from my... »
Finally Back to Writing
I did not intend to be gone for so long. I had to take off two weeks for the Grimes County Fair and all the events before and after that required so much of my attention. Then the house, yard, and garden had been neglected for at least a week. It took forever to get on top of my housework,... »
Spring has Sprung
The signs of spring are everywhere. Rebirth and newness are evident all over creation from the first wildflowers to the newborn calves in the pastures. The landscape has turned green seemingly overnight. I so love springtime! The skies are clear and blue. The warmth of the sun is rousing ... »
Genetically Modified Food
Genetically-modified food. It is the new catch phrase, but what does it mean? And, what does it mean to homesteading families like mine? Simply, genetically modified foods have undergone a change in its DNA. There are two main kinds of changes: cisgenesis and transgenesis. Cisgenesis occurs when genes are transferred artificially with plants or animals that could procreate naturally. An example of... »
Semper Gumby
This winter has been extreme for almost all parts of the United States. Whether you have had heavy snowfall, blizzards, freezing nights, and/or massive rainfall, gardeners must take into consideration the weather for a successful harvest. Valentine's Day is usually a day when people prune rose bushes and plant potatoes in Southeast Texas. ... »
Fall Is Almost Here!
A poem about autumn called "The Mist and All" begins, "I like the fall, The mist and all." That is exactly how the weather has been lately. After an extremely dry and hot summer, I am so excited that fall is almost here. Rain started falling last week. It was not hard and was not accompanied by thunder and lightning,... »
It’s a Jungle Out There!
Life does not wait for you and neither does your garden. So, I dedicated a large portion of my day to tend to my garden. It was starting to look neglected after our hospital visit. The corn had to be harvested, other vegetables needed to be picked, etc. Jake joined me in the... »
