Road to Gardenberry

Arctic blast be damned! I guess lettuce really is cold hardy. The kids put these guys in the greenstalk tower with me after we amended the existing soil, and it’s been a couple weeks and we have some sprouts!

Life’s been so hectic that starting veggies from seed just isn’t happening this year (don’t worry, I will always start tomatoes 😉) But you know what? It’s OKAY. This year, I’m doing something totally different and focusing on FLOURISHING with flowers. They are low maintenance. They are not heavy feeders. I really don’t have to do much to amend the existing soil in my raised garden beds. And they just bring me so 👏🏼 much 👏🏼 joy. Epic Gardening’s Epic Seed Collection makes it easy to grow gorgeous blooms that bring color, pollinators, and joy to a space. With eco-friendly packaging and resources for beginners, their seeds are perfect for anyone wanting to grow something beautiful (edible or not). I’m looking forward to starting seeds in early February. Keep in touch and follow me along this road to Gardenberry. #epicgardeningambassador #GrowWithEpic

I’m making Yaya’s spaghetti sauce using tomatoes, garlic, basil, and onions from my backyard. It feels so good to grab food right outside my back door. I hope these are moments my kids will remember. . . . . . . . . . . #EpicGardeningAmbassador #homesteading #epicgardening #permaculture #gardening #organic #organicgardening #growyourown #sustainability #garden #foodforest #growyourownfood #homegrown #sustainable #sustainableliving #organicgarden #nature #homestead #urbanfarming #homesteading #compost #growfoodnotlawns #growfood #farmlife #agriculture #greenthumb #eatwhatyougrow #plants #urbangardening

Good grief, this weekend. Praying every single one of us keeps our heads on straight. When in doubt, go outside. . . . . . . . . #EpicGardeningAmbassador #epicgardening #permaculture #gardening #organic #organicgardening #growyourown #sustainability #garden #foodforest #growyourownfood #homegrown #sustainable #sustainableliving #organicgarden #nature #homestead #homesteading #backyardchickens #growfoodnotlawns #growfood #gardeningwithkids #agriculture #homesteading #eatwhatyougrow #familygarden

Morticia was my favorite hen. She let me hold her regularly, and that was really special because her flock mates are wild chickens that I chased and caught on Papa’s farm. They’re skittish as hell. Since Morticia’s passing three weeks ago, I’ve tried very hard to bond with Maryann, Sandy, and Bush. I’m happy to report that Sandy is now letting me scoop her up with minimal chasing. . . . . . . . #backyardchickens #chickensofinstagram #chickens #petchickens #homestead #homesteading #homesteadingmama

It is HOT here on the Homestead, but we are still soldiering on. The garden is are flush with tomatoes and marigolds. The cover crops are coming in. I sowed Buckwheat this season, after the kids and I ripped out all of the onions and the garlic. The Buckwheat will flower, attract pollinators, and improve the soil. I’ll cull it in late Fall when it’s time to put new alliums in the beds. In the meantime, I will just keeping giving the garden my 10 minutes before work and my 10 minutes before bedtime, and we’ll just keep plugging away until these dog days are over. . . . . . . . . #EpicGardeningAmbassador #epicgardening #permaculture #gardening #organic #organicgardening #growyourown #sustainability #garden #foodforest #growyourownfood #homegrown #sustainable #sustainableliving #organicgarden #nature #homestead #homesteading #homesteadingmama #growfoodnotlawns #growfood #gardeningwithkids #agriculture #greenthumb #eatwhatyougrow #familygarden

Home with sick kiddos and I tend to get a little stir crazy, so I decided to makeover my greenhouse window. I have been flush with dozens of orchids since last November, but they have now fallen off of two of the three plants. That’s always been my signal to do some rearranging. The space is very important to me. The drudgery of washing up should always come with some peace and some beauty. I am able to put my eyes on artifacts of my life, including vintage family figurines and my sink sacramentals. Beyond the beauty that is right in front of me, I am able to look into the backyard and see my children while they are playing. In our search for our forever home, I refuse to purchase a place that has a sink overlooking a television in a living room or staring at a blank wall.

Approximately 100 days from planting these onion and garlic bulbs, the kids and I harvested them. This is my first time growing in one of the shorter Birdies raised beds from @epicgardening , and it is the perfect height for my kiddos to reach right in. I even included a couple of surprise carrots, just to see if they would work out. Turns out carrots, onions, and garlic are excellent friends. I love companion planting! 🙌🏼 I currently have them stored on some cattle panel that my husband strung up on the canopy so that they can cure. Next step: onion braiding. It is my goal to gather as many pioneer woman skills as possible. 💪 . . . . . . #EpicGardeningAmbassador #epicgardening #permaculture #gardening #organic #organicgardening #growyourown #sustainability #garden #foodforest #growyourownfood #homegrown #sustainable #sustainableliving #organicgarden #nature #homestead #homesteading #growingonions #growfoodnotlawns #growfood #gardeningwithkids #agriculture #greenthumb #eatwhatyougrow #familygarden

When you keep livestock, losing an animal is inevitable. Doesn’t mean it isn’t awful when it happens. Morticia was my OG Black Star hen. Our first chickens were a trio, consisting of her, Bella, and Jella. Jella was picked off by a raccoon and Bella turned out to be a rooster. He had to be rehomed because I’m within city limits and the Government treads. 🐍 🚫 Last night, I came home from an overnight trip to my in-laws, and I found her curled up in the nesting box. I am not sure what happened. If I had booze in the house, I would toast one to her. She was my favorite. I could tote her around the yard and let her run free. She was good with dogs, cats, and kids. She was so pretty and sweet. She laid her first egg on New Year’s Day and she pumped them out regularly until the day she passed. We will miss you, ‘Tish.

The Orange Dog Caterpillar turns into the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly. There is one whose wings are as big as my hands and he is so brave. He flies around my head while I’m watering flowers. However, the caterpillars on the citrus trees. You gotta do what you gotta. Sister Berry has taken an interest in filming, and Brother Berry always loves to feed the chickens, so we snipped off the caterpillars and fed them to the hens as a little protein snack.