HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to 15 BEST FLOWERS TO ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS (W/ PHOTOS Flowers not on this list. This article could have easily grown to a list of over 30 flowers to attract hummingbirds! In a pinch, hummingbirds will visit just about any flower that provides a little nectar, including verbena, butterfly bush, lavender, larkspur, foxglove, hollyhock, petunias, impatiens, red hot poker, cleomes, and more.Yet I left those off the list of the best flowers for HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to 15 BEST FLOWERS TO ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS (W/ PHOTOS Flowers not on this list. This article could have easily grown to a list of over 30 flowers to attract hummingbirds! In a pinch, hummingbirds will visit just about any flower that provides a little nectar, including verbena, butterfly bush, lavender, larkspur, foxglove, hollyhock, petunias, impatiens, red hot poker, cleomes, and more.Yet I left those off the list of the best flowers for 20 BEST SOURDOUGH ADD-INS AND TOPPING IDEAS ~ HOMESTEAD 20 Sourdough Additions and Topping Ideas 1) Fresh Herbs (or dry) With our herb garden just outside the front door, fresh herbs are a go-to sourdough addition. Sage, thyme, oregano, and rosemary are my favorites. Sometimes we add just one, sometimes a couple, other times

all four!

HOW TO BUILD A TRELLIS: INEXPENSIVE & EASY DESIGNS To assemble the trellis, simply lay the remesh panel on the ground. Line up the stakes at the desired width. If possible, I suggest to keep the stakes on the outermost edges of the remesh sheet for maximum stability. Or, move them in a square or two and line PRESERVING BASIL: HOW TO DRY BASIL IN A DEHYDRATOR OR OVEN 3) Remove excess water. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. A little leftover moisture won’t hurt. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. MULCHING 101: WHEN, WHY & HOW TO MULCH YOUR GARDEN Us organic gardeners love to talk about mulch, and for a good reason! The mindful use of mulch has a direct beneficial impact on soil health, and in turn, the vitality of your plants.It can also save you water, time, money, and effort.Plus, mulching is an excellent way to use materials you have lying around your yard that may otherwise end

up in the landfill.

HOW TO REACTIVATE A DRY (DEHYDRATED) LIVING SOURDOUGH Welcome to your step-by-step guide on how to reactivate a dry sourdough starter. The whole process takes just under a week, but is very easy to do!By the end, a small bit of dry sourdough starter powder will transform into a voluminous, bubbly, active sourdough starter – ready to bake with. SEXING CANNABIS: HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUNG When to Sex Cannabis Plants. Our goal here today is to learn how to tell the difference between male and female cannabis plants early on, so you can get the males away from the females as soon as possible!It will help protect your lady plants – but also spare you the wasted time, resources, and energy of tending to male plants that you don’t

intend to keep.

HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE GOPHER BASKET FOR TREES ~ … Dig a hole two to three times wider than the tree pot and root ball, and deep enough to fit the gopher basket. Add your homemade gopher basket to the planting hole. Check the height. Remember, the goal is for the basket to extend a few inches above grade. Adjust the planting

hole if needed.

HARVESTING FRESH LAVENDER: HOW TO HARVEST, PRUNE & DRY The most simple way to dry fresh lavender is to let it hang dry. Collect handful-size bouquets, secure the stems together with twine or a rubber band, and hang them upside down to passively dry. If you harvested a lot of lavender at once, it is best to create and hang several small bunches rather than one large one. TANGY BEET PICKLED EGGS RECIPE (WITH FRESH BEETS Brine & Season. In a pot on the stovetop, combine all the other called-for ingredients: both types of vinegar, water, grated beet, salt, sugar, garlic, and black pepper. Add other optional ingredients. We usually add a fresh hot chili pepper from the garden, cut in half and tucked into the jar with the eggs. HOW TO PROPERLY EMULSIFY NEEM OIL & MAKE A SAFE GARDEN 1 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil. 1 teaspoon liquid soap OR 1 teaspoon pre-wetted silica powder, explained below. Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon aloe vera powder (recommended for cannabis plants) and/or a few drops of essential oils. Scale all ingredients up or down evenly as needed. HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to 15 BEST FLOWERS TO ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS (W/ PHOTOS Flowers not on this list. This article could have easily grown to a list of over 30 flowers to attract hummingbirds! In a pinch, hummingbirds will visit just about any flower that provides a little nectar, including verbena, butterfly bush, lavender, larkspur, foxglove, hollyhock, petunias, impatiens, red hot poker, cleomes, and more.Yet I left those off the list of the best flowers for HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to 15 BEST FLOWERS TO ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS (W/ PHOTOS Flowers not on this list. This article could have easily grown to a list of over 30 flowers to attract hummingbirds! In a pinch, hummingbirds will visit just about any flower that provides a little nectar, including verbena, butterfly bush, lavender, larkspur, foxglove, hollyhock, petunias, impatiens, red hot poker, cleomes, and more.Yet I left those off the list of the best flowers for 20 BEST SOURDOUGH ADD-INS AND TOPPING IDEAS ~ HOMESTEAD 20 Sourdough Additions and Topping Ideas 1) Fresh Herbs (or dry) With our herb garden just outside the front door, fresh herbs are a go-to sourdough addition. Sage, thyme, oregano, and rosemary are my favorites. Sometimes we add just one, sometimes a couple, other times

all four!

HOW TO BUILD A TRELLIS: INEXPENSIVE & EASY DESIGNS To assemble the trellis, simply lay the remesh panel on the ground. Line up the stakes at the desired width. If possible, I suggest to keep the stakes on the outermost edges of the remesh sheet for maximum stability. Or, move them in a square or two and line PRESERVING BASIL: HOW TO DRY BASIL IN A DEHYDRATOR OR OVEN 3) Remove excess water. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. A little leftover moisture won’t hurt. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. MULCHING 101: WHEN, WHY & HOW TO MULCH YOUR GARDEN Us organic gardeners love to talk about mulch, and for a good reason! The mindful use of mulch has a direct beneficial impact on soil health, and in turn, the vitality of your plants.It can also save you water, time, money, and effort.Plus, mulching is an excellent way to use materials you have lying around your yard that may otherwise end

up in the landfill.

HOW TO REACTIVATE A DRY (DEHYDRATED) LIVING SOURDOUGH Welcome to your step-by-step guide on how to reactivate a dry sourdough starter. The whole process takes just under a week, but is very easy to do!By the end, a small bit of dry sourdough starter powder will transform into a voluminous, bubbly, active sourdough starter – ready to bake with. SEXING CANNABIS: HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUNG When to Sex Cannabis Plants. Our goal here today is to learn how to tell the difference between male and female cannabis plants early on, so you can get the males away from the females as soon as possible!It will help protect your lady plants – but also spare you the wasted time, resources, and energy of tending to male plants that you don’t

intend to keep.

HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE GOPHER BASKET FOR TREES ~ … Dig a hole two to three times wider than the tree pot and root ball, and deep enough to fit the gopher basket. Add your homemade gopher basket to the planting hole. Check the height. Remember, the goal is for the basket to extend a few inches above grade. Adjust the planting

hole if needed.

HARVESTING FRESH LAVENDER: HOW TO HARVEST, PRUNE & DRY The most simple way to dry fresh lavender is to let it hang dry. Collect handful-size bouquets, secure the stems together with twine or a rubber band, and hang them upside down to passively dry. If you harvested a lot of lavender at once, it is best to create and hang several small bunches rather than one large one. TANGY BEET PICKLED EGGS RECIPE (WITH FRESH BEETS Brine & Season. In a pot on the stovetop, combine all the other called-for ingredients: both types of vinegar, water, grated beet, salt, sugar, garlic, and black pepper. Add other optional ingredients. We usually add a fresh hot chili pepper from the garden, cut in half and tucked into the jar with the eggs. HOW TO PROPERLY EMULSIFY NEEM OIL & MAKE A SAFE GARDEN 1 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil. 1 teaspoon liquid soap OR 1 teaspoon pre-wetted silica powder, explained below. Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon aloe vera powder (recommended for cannabis plants) and/or a few drops of essential oils. Scale all ingredients up or down evenly as needed. HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING How to Grow Peppers and Chilis: Seed to Harvest. Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too! PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

PRESERVING BASIL: HOW TO DRY BASIL IN A DEHYDRATOR OR OVEN 3) Remove excess water. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. A little leftover moisture won’t hurt. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. GREEN GARLIC: WHAT IS IT? PLUS 7 WAYS TO USE OR PRESERVE A tip for freezing food: After it has cooled, place the pieces of roasted garlic on a cookie sheet (or two), not touching one another. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer. Allow the garlic chunks to completely freeze, which should take about an hour. Now the HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR Other Tips for Storing Eggs. It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture

loss.

HOW TO PROPERLY EMULSIFY NEEM OIL & MAKE A SAFE GARDEN 1 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil. 1 teaspoon liquid soap OR 1 teaspoon pre-wetted silica powder, explained below. Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon aloe vera powder (recommended for cannabis plants) and/or a few drops of essential oils. Scale all ingredients up or down evenly as needed. 10 WAYS TO KEEP CHICKENS COOL DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER OR 7) Set up a Kiddie Pool (or Mud Puddle) Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to HOW TO MAKE CALENDULA OIL, PLUS 8 WAYS TO USE IT When the time is up, strain the flowers from the oil. I line a canning funnel with cheesecloth, place it over a clean similar-size glass jar, and then pour the oil and flowers in to drain. Squeeze the cheesecloth sack of flowers to extract every last bit of oil! Store 8 ORGANIC WAYS TO GET RID OF CABBAGE WORMS & CABBAGE MOTHS 2) Row Covers. One of the best ways to keep cabbage worms from eating your plants is to prevent cabbage moths from accessing the plants at all! Mission “stop the butt-bumping”, if you will. Individual plants, raised beds, or sections thereof can be protected with row covers, traditionally supported on hoop structures. HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING How to Grow Peppers and Chilis: Seed to Harvest. Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too! PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

PRESERVING BASIL: HOW TO DRY BASIL IN A DEHYDRATOR OR OVEN 3) Remove excess water. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. A little leftover moisture won’t hurt. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. GREEN GARLIC: WHAT IS IT? PLUS 7 WAYS TO USE OR PRESERVE A tip for freezing food: After it has cooled, place the pieces of roasted garlic on a cookie sheet (or two), not touching one another. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer. Allow the garlic chunks to completely freeze, which should take about an hour. Now the HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR Other Tips for Storing Eggs. It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture

loss.

HOW TO PROPERLY EMULSIFY NEEM OIL & MAKE A SAFE GARDEN 1 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil. 1 teaspoon liquid soap OR 1 teaspoon pre-wetted silica powder, explained below. Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon aloe vera powder (recommended for cannabis plants) and/or a few drops of essential oils. Scale all ingredients up or down evenly as needed. 10 WAYS TO KEEP CHICKENS COOL DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER OR 7) Set up a Kiddie Pool (or Mud Puddle) Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to HOW TO MAKE CALENDULA OIL, PLUS 8 WAYS TO USE IT When the time is up, strain the flowers from the oil. I line a canning funnel with cheesecloth, place it over a clean similar-size glass jar, and then pour the oil and flowers in to drain. Squeeze the cheesecloth sack of flowers to extract every last bit of oil! Store 8 ORGANIC WAYS TO GET RID OF CABBAGE WORMS & CABBAGE MOTHS 2) Row Covers. One of the best ways to keep cabbage worms from eating your plants is to prevent cabbage moths from accessing the plants at all! Mission “stop the butt-bumping”, if you will. Individual plants, raised beds, or sections thereof can be protected with row covers, traditionally supported on hoop structures. A BRAND NEW CHAPTER: WE’RE MOVING! ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more. WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. MULCHING 101: WHEN, WHY & HOW TO MULCH YOUR GARDEN Us organic gardeners love to talk about mulch, and for a good reason! The mindful use of mulch has a direct beneficial impact on soil health, and in turn, the vitality of your plants.It can also save you water, time, money, and effort.Plus, mulching is an excellent way to use materials you have lying around your yard that may otherwise end

up in the landfill.

HOW TO DECARBOXYLATE CANNABIS TO USE IN OILS, EDIBLES Transfer the decarboxylated cannabis into a glass air-tight container with a tight-fitting lid, such as a mason jar. Finally, store the jar of decarbed cannabis in a cool dark place, like you would with other cannabis. Plan to use your decarbed cannabis to make oil, salve or edibles within 3-6 months. HOW TO KILL GRUBS & GARDEN SOIL PESTS ORGANICALLY W 2) Apply Milky Spore. One natural and organic substance you can apply to garden soil or lawns to kill grubs is called Milky Spore. When introduced under the right conditions, the curl grubs ingest the Milky Spores who parasitize and effectively kill them over a few weeks

timespan.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE LAVENDER OIL & 9 WAYS TO USE IT Fill a clean glass container about ¾ full of dried lavender buds. Pour your choice of oil over the dried lavender flowers, until the container is full and/or until the flowers are completely submerged. Place a lid on the container, and store it in a sunny, warm location to enhance infusion. HARVESTING FRESH LAVENDER: HOW TO HARVEST, PRUNE & DRY The most simple way to dry fresh lavender is to let it hang dry. Collect handful-size bouquets, secure the stems together with twine or a rubber band, and hang them upside down to passively dry. If you harvested a lot of lavender at once, it is best to create and hang several small bunches rather than one large one. SEXING CANNABIS: HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUNG When to Sex Cannabis Plants. Our goal here today is to learn how to tell the difference between male and female cannabis plants early on, so you can get the males away from the females as soon as possible!It will help protect your lady plants – but also spare you the wasted time, resources, and energy of tending to male plants that you don’t

intend to keep.

HOW TO MAKE A DIY TOMATO CAGE: STURDY, EASY & CHEAP HOW TO MAKE A STURDY TOMATO CAGE Supplies Needed. One sheet of remesh per tomato cage (maybe two). If you aren’t familiar with remesh, it HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING How to Grow Peppers and Chilis: Seed to Harvest. Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too! PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. PRESERVING BASIL: HOW TO DRY BASIL IN A DEHYDRATOR OR OVEN 3) Remove excess water. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. A little leftover moisture won’t hurt. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. GREEN GARLIC: WHAT IS IT? PLUS 7 WAYS TO USE OR PRESERVE A tip for freezing food: After it has cooled, place the pieces of roasted garlic on a cookie sheet (or two), not touching one another. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer. Allow the garlic chunks to completely freeze, which should take about an hour. Now the HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR Other Tips for Storing Eggs. It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture

loss.

ORGANIC APHID CONTROL: 9 WAYS TO GET RID OF APHIDS 9) Hoops & Row Covers. One final organic aphid control method is to physically block their access to plants. Individual plants, raised beds, or sections thereof can be shrouded with row covers. Also called “floating row covers”, their purpose is to block out or otherwise protect plants from undesirable elements. HOW TO PROPERLY EMULSIFY NEEM OIL & MAKE A SAFE GARDEN 1 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil. 1 teaspoon liquid soap OR 1 teaspoon pre-wetted silica powder, explained below. Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon aloe vera powder (recommended for cannabis plants) and/or a few drops of essential oils. Scale all ingredients up or down evenly as needed. 10 WAYS TO KEEP CHICKENS COOL DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER OR 7) Set up a Kiddie Pool (or Mud Puddle) Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING How to Grow Peppers and Chilis: Seed to Harvest. Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too! PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. PRESERVING BASIL: HOW TO DRY BASIL IN A DEHYDRATOR OR OVEN 3) Remove excess water. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. A little leftover moisture won’t hurt. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. GREEN GARLIC: WHAT IS IT? PLUS 7 WAYS TO USE OR PRESERVE A tip for freezing food: After it has cooled, place the pieces of roasted garlic on a cookie sheet (or two), not touching one another. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer. Allow the garlic chunks to completely freeze, which should take about an hour. Now the HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR Other Tips for Storing Eggs. It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture

loss.

ORGANIC APHID CONTROL: 9 WAYS TO GET RID OF APHIDS 9) Hoops & Row Covers. One final organic aphid control method is to physically block their access to plants. Individual plants, raised beds, or sections thereof can be shrouded with row covers. Also called “floating row covers”, their purpose is to block out or otherwise protect plants from undesirable elements. HOW TO PROPERLY EMULSIFY NEEM OIL & MAKE A SAFE GARDEN 1 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil. 1 teaspoon liquid soap OR 1 teaspoon pre-wetted silica powder, explained below. Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon aloe vera powder (recommended for cannabis plants) and/or a few drops of essential oils. Scale all ingredients up or down evenly as needed. 10 WAYS TO KEEP CHICKENS COOL DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER OR 7) Set up a Kiddie Pool (or Mud Puddle) Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to A BRAND NEW CHAPTER: WE’RE MOVING! ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more. WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. MULCHING 101: WHEN, WHY & HOW TO MULCH YOUR GARDEN Us organic gardeners love to talk about mulch, and for a good reason! The mindful use of mulch has a direct beneficial impact on soil health, and in turn, the vitality of your plants.It can also save you water, time, money, and effort.Plus, mulching is an excellent way to use materials you have lying around your yard that may otherwise end

up in the landfill.

SEED-SAVING 101: HOW TO SAVE SEEDS FROM ANNUAL FLOWERS The Best Time to Save Seeds from Annual Flowers. The key to successfully saving seeds from annual flowers is to let the blooms completely mature and dry while they are still on the plant.As old flower heads wither and die, they’re paving the way for new life by developing seeds inside. HOW TO KILL GRUBS & GARDEN SOIL PESTS ORGANICALLY W 2) Apply Milky Spore. One natural and organic substance you can apply to garden soil or lawns to kill grubs is called Milky Spore. When introduced under the right conditions, the curl grubs ingest the Milky Spores who parasitize and effectively kill them over a few weeks

timespan.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to WHAT IS DIATOMACEOUS EARTH? HOW TO USE DE FOR GARDEN PEST Diatomaceous Earth, known as “DE” for short, is a very fine, chalk-like white powder. It is made up of the fossilized remains of single-celled aquatic microorganisms called diatoms. In a nutshell, it is ancient phytoplankton. Diatomaceous earth is found naturally in sedimentary rock and mined to use in industrial products, swimming

pool

HOW TO FILL A RAISED GARDEN BED: BUILD THE PERFECT ORGANIC We never rely on bulk soil alone, since it doesn’t always seem to be the highest quality or our preferred texture.At least that is the case in our experience. Therefore, the bulk soil is added more as a space-filler at the bottom of very deep beds, like our 2-foot deep ones, up to about a quarter full.. Bagged Soil. For the remainder of the volume, we go for high-quality organic bagged soil 10 WAYS TO KEEP CHICKENS COOL DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER OR 7) Set up a Kiddie Pool (or Mud Puddle) Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to SEXING CANNABIS: HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUNG When to Sex Cannabis Plants. Our goal here today is to learn how to tell the difference between male and female cannabis plants early on, so you can get the males away from the females as soon as possible!It will help protect your lady plants – but also spare you the wasted time, resources, and energy of tending to male plants that you don’t

intend to keep.

HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING How to Grow Peppers and Chilis: Seed to Harvest. Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too! PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. PRESERVING BASIL: HOW TO DRY BASIL IN A DEHYDRATOR OR OVEN 3) Remove excess water. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. A little leftover moisture won’t hurt. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. GREEN GARLIC: WHAT IS IT? PLUS 7 WAYS TO USE OR PRESERVE A tip for freezing food: After it has cooled, place the pieces of roasted garlic on a cookie sheet (or two), not touching one another. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer. Allow the garlic chunks to completely freeze, which should take about an hour. Now the HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR Other Tips for Storing Eggs. It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture

loss.

ORGANIC APHID CONTROL: 9 WAYS TO GET RID OF APHIDS 9) Hoops & Row Covers. One final organic aphid control method is to physically block their access to plants. Individual plants, raised beds, or sections thereof can be shrouded with row covers. Also called “floating row covers”, their purpose is to block out or otherwise protect plants from undesirable elements. HOW TO PROPERLY EMULSIFY NEEM OIL & MAKE A SAFE GARDEN 1 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil. 1 teaspoon liquid soap OR 1 teaspoon pre-wetted silica powder, explained below. Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon aloe vera powder (recommended for cannabis plants) and/or a few drops of essential oils. Scale all ingredients up or down evenly as needed. 10 WAYS TO KEEP CHICKENS COOL DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER OR 7) Set up a Kiddie Pool (or Mud Puddle) Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING How to Grow Peppers and Chilis: Seed to Harvest. Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too! PROS & CONS OF 8 TYPES OF GARDEN MULCH ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL Pros & Cons of 8 Types of Garden Mulch. I think all gardeners can agree on one thing: mulch is essential! Good mulching practice saves water, naturally controls weeds, enhances soil fertility and plant health, and spiffs up the appearance of a space. Yet everyone has varying opinions on what type of garden mulch they prefer to use. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. PRESERVING BASIL: HOW TO DRY BASIL IN A DEHYDRATOR OR OVEN 3) Remove excess water. It is best to remove as much water from the leaves as possible before adding them to the dehydrator or oven, but you don’t need to go crazy here. A little leftover moisture won’t hurt. Either shake out the washed basil leaves in a strainer or lightly pat them dry with a clean lint-free towel. GREEN GARLIC: WHAT IS IT? PLUS 7 WAYS TO USE OR PRESERVE A tip for freezing food: After it has cooled, place the pieces of roasted garlic on a cookie sheet (or two), not touching one another. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer. Allow the garlic chunks to completely freeze, which should take about an hour. Now the HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR Other Tips for Storing Eggs. It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture

loss.

ORGANIC APHID CONTROL: 9 WAYS TO GET RID OF APHIDS 9) Hoops & Row Covers. One final organic aphid control method is to physically block their access to plants. Individual plants, raised beds, or sections thereof can be shrouded with row covers. Also called “floating row covers”, their purpose is to block out or otherwise protect plants from undesirable elements. HOW TO PROPERLY EMULSIFY NEEM OIL & MAKE A SAFE GARDEN 1 tablespoons of concentrated, cold-pressed neem oil. 1 teaspoon liquid soap OR 1 teaspoon pre-wetted silica powder, explained below. Optional: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon aloe vera powder (recommended for cannabis plants) and/or a few drops of essential oils. Scale all ingredients up or down evenly as needed. 10 WAYS TO KEEP CHICKENS COOL DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER OR 7) Set up a Kiddie Pool (or Mud Puddle) Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to A BRAND NEW CHAPTER: WE’RE MOVING! ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more. WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. MULCHING 101: WHEN, WHY & HOW TO MULCH YOUR GARDEN Us organic gardeners love to talk about mulch, and for a good reason! The mindful use of mulch has a direct beneficial impact on soil health, and in turn, the vitality of your plants.It can also save you water, time, money, and effort.Plus, mulching is an excellent way to use materials you have lying around your yard that may otherwise end

up in the landfill.

SEED-SAVING 101: HOW TO SAVE SEEDS FROM ANNUAL FLOWERS The Best Time to Save Seeds from Annual Flowers. The key to successfully saving seeds from annual flowers is to let the blooms completely mature and dry while they are still on the plant.As old flower heads wither and die, they’re paving the way for new life by developing seeds inside. HOW TO KILL GRUBS & GARDEN SOIL PESTS ORGANICALLY W 2) Apply Milky Spore. One natural and organic substance you can apply to garden soil or lawns to kill grubs is called Milky Spore. When introduced under the right conditions, the curl grubs ingest the Milky Spores who parasitize and effectively kill them over a few weeks

timespan.

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to WHAT IS DIATOMACEOUS EARTH? HOW TO USE DE FOR GARDEN PEST Diatomaceous Earth, known as “DE” for short, is a very fine, chalk-like white powder. It is made up of the fossilized remains of single-celled aquatic microorganisms called diatoms. In a nutshell, it is ancient phytoplankton. Diatomaceous earth is found naturally in sedimentary rock and mined to use in industrial products, swimming

pool

HOW TO FILL A RAISED GARDEN BED: BUILD THE PERFECT ORGANIC We never rely on bulk soil alone, since it doesn’t always seem to be the highest quality or our preferred texture.At least that is the case in our experience. Therefore, the bulk soil is added more as a space-filler at the bottom of very deep beds, like our 2-foot deep ones, up to about a quarter full.. Bagged Soil. For the remainder of the volume, we go for high-quality organic bagged soil 10 WAYS TO KEEP CHICKENS COOL DURING HOT SUMMER WEATHER OR 7) Set up a Kiddie Pool (or Mud Puddle) Chickens can lower their body temperature by keeping their feet cool. Some of them love to stand in cool water on a hot day! I know many people who set up little kiddie or wading pools for their chickens to SEXING CANNABIS: HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUNG When to Sex Cannabis Plants. Our goal here today is to learn how to tell the difference between male and female cannabis plants early on, so you can get the males away from the females as soon as possible!It will help protect your lady plants – but also spare you the wasted time, resources, and energy of tending to male plants that you don’t

intend to keep.

HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING How to Grow Peppers and Chilis: Seed to Harvest. Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too! WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

HOW TO FERMENT CHICKEN FEED FOR BETTER HEN HEALTH & EGGS Set the container in a location with moderate temperatures for three to four days to ferment (such as out on the counter, in the garage, etc). Check and stir it each day. Add additional water if the feed has absorbed it all. After 3 to 4 days (our chickens prefer day 3) give them the fermented feed. HOW TO FILL A RAISED GARDEN BED: BUILD THE PERFECT ORGANIC We never rely on bulk soil alone, since it doesn’t always seem to be the highest quality or our preferred texture.At least that is the case in our experience. Therefore, the bulk soil is added more as a space-filler at the bottom of very deep beds, like our 2-foot deep ones, up to about a quarter full.. Bagged Soil. For the remainder of the volume, we go for high-quality organic bagged soil HOW TO REACTIVATE A DRY (DEHYDRATED) LIVING SOURDOUGH Welcome to your step-by-step guide on how to reactivate a dry sourdough starter. The whole process takes just under a week, but is very easy to do!By the end, a small bit of dry sourdough starter powder will transform into a voluminous, bubbly, active sourdough starter – ready to bake with. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR Other Tips for Storing Eggs. It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture

loss.

SIMPLE FERMENTED "PICKLED" BEETS RECIPE WITH GARLIC & DILL Allow to cool to room temperature/lukewarm as needed. Pour the brine into the ferment vessel or jar until the beets are fully submerged. Carefully tap and wiggle the jar side to side to release any trapped air pockets. Next put a Kraut Source lid, or other fermentation weight and air lock lid on top of the jar. HOW TO KILL GRUBS & GARDEN SOIL PESTS ORGANICALLY W 2) Apply Milky Spore. One natural and organic substance you can apply to garden soil or lawns to kill grubs is called Milky Spore. When introduced under the right conditions, the curl grubs ingest the Milky Spores who parasitize and effectively kill them over a few weeks

timespan.

HOMESTEAD AND CHILL ~ ORGANIC GARDENING How to Grow Peppers and Chilis: Seed to Harvest. Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too! WHY SOURDOUGH IS HEALTHIER THAN OTHER BREAD (& HAS LESS Well it is true! Scientists, nutritionists, and health experts all agree that naturally-fermented sourdough bread is healthier than ‘regular’ bread – for a multitude of reasons! Sourdough is more nutritious, easier to digest, and has a lower glycemic index. HOMEMADE ORGANIC GARDEN SOAP SPRAY RECIPE: KILL APHIDS Mixing Instructions: Simply combine 1 tablespoon of liquid soap per quart of water. Mix only what you will use that day. For a larger batch, use 5 to 6 tablespoons of soap per gallon of water. Shake together in your sprayer to thoroughly mix. Use warm water to promote

mixing.

HOW TO FERMENT CHICKEN FEED FOR BETTER HEN HEALTH & EGGS Set the container in a location with moderate temperatures for three to four days to ferment (such as out on the counter, in the garage, etc). Check and stir it each day. Add additional water if the feed has absorbed it all. After 3 to 4 days (our chickens prefer day 3) give them the fermented feed. HOW TO FILL A RAISED GARDEN BED: BUILD THE PERFECT ORGANIC We never rely on bulk soil alone, since it doesn’t always seem to be the highest quality or our preferred texture.At least that is the case in our experience. Therefore, the bulk soil is added more as a space-filler at the bottom of very deep beds, like our 2-foot deep ones, up to about a quarter full.. Bagged Soil. For the remainder of the volume, we go for high-quality organic bagged soil HOW TO REACTIVATE A DRY (DEHYDRATED) LIVING SOURDOUGH Welcome to your step-by-step guide on how to reactivate a dry sourdough starter. The whole process takes just under a week, but is very easy to do!By the end, a small bit of dry sourdough starter powder will transform into a voluminous, bubbly, active sourdough starter – ready to bake with. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR Other Tips for Storing Eggs. It is best to store eggs with their round end up and pointy end facing down. There is an air sac within the rounded end. When the air sac is on top, it acts like a little balloon of insulation and helps to reduce evaporation and additional moisture

loss.

SIMPLE FERMENTED "PICKLED" BEETS RECIPE WITH GARLIC & DILL Allow to cool to room temperature/lukewarm as needed. Pour the brine into the ferment vessel or jar until the beets are fully submerged. Carefully tap and wiggle the jar side to side to release any trapped air pockets. Next put a Kraut Source lid, or other fermentation weight and air lock lid on top of the jar. HOW TO KILL GRUBS & GARDEN SOIL PESTS ORGANICALLY W 2) Apply Milky Spore. One natural and organic substance you can apply to garden soil or lawns to kill grubs is called Milky Spore. When introduced under the right conditions, the curl grubs ingest the Milky Spores who parasitize and effectively kill them over a few weeks

timespan.

A BRAND NEW CHAPTER: WE’RE MOVING! ~ HOMESTEAD AND CHILL The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more. HOW TO DECARBOXYLATE CANNABIS TO USE IN OILS, EDIBLES Transfer the decarboxylated cannabis into a glass air-tight container with a tight-fitting lid, such as a mason jar. Finally, store the jar of decarbed cannabis in a cool dark place, like you would with other cannabis. Plan to use your decarbed cannabis to make oil, salve or edibles within 3-6 months. HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CANNABIS SALVE (CBD OR THC To grow and make your own medicine that is the stuff that dreams are made of, am I right?! We like to use our organic homegrown cannabis in a variety of ways, but making topical cannabis salve is on the top of the list. Cannabis salve can help to reduce inflammation, soothe skin irritation, joint pain, and more!It also happens to be quite simple to make your own cannabis salve, and easy to HOW TO REACTIVATE A DRY (DEHYDRATED) LIVING SOURDOUGH Welcome to your step-by-step guide on how to reactivate a dry sourdough starter. The whole process takes just under a week, but is very easy to do!By the end, a small bit of dry sourdough starter powder will transform into a voluminous, bubbly, active sourdough starter – ready to bake with. WHAT IS DIATOMACEOUS EARTH? HOW TO USE DE FOR GARDEN PEST Diatomaceous Earth, known as “DE” for short, is a very fine, chalk-like white powder. It is made up of the fossilized remains of single-celled aquatic microorganisms called diatoms. In a nutshell, it is ancient phytoplankton. Diatomaceous earth is found naturally in sedimentary rock and mined to use in industrial products, swimming

pool

SEED-SAVING 101: HOW TO SAVE SEEDS FROM ANNUAL FLOWERS The Best Time to Save Seeds from Annual Flowers. The key to successfully saving seeds from annual flowers is to let the blooms completely mature and dry while they are still on the plant.As old flower heads wither and die, they’re paving the way for new life by developing seeds inside. SOURDOUGH SUPPLIES LIST: 13 USEFUL BAKING ITEMS 3) Water. This may be another no-brainer here but I wanted to point out that it is usually suggested to avoid chlorinated water. This is pretty important when it comes to any fermentation process, including making sourdough. Chlorine can inhibit the growth of HOW TO KILL GRUBS & GARDEN SOIL PESTS ORGANICALLY W 2) Apply Milky Spore. One natural and organic substance you can apply to garden soil or lawns to kill grubs is called Milky Spore. When introduced under the right conditions, the curl grubs ingest the Milky Spores who parasitize and effectively kill them over a few weeks

timespan.

HOW TO HARVEST WORM CASTINGS FROM A SIMPLE WORM COMPOST A week or two before you want to harvest the worm castings, stir and spread the contents of your bin out in the bottom. Next, feed the worms exclusively on one side of the worm bin during that time. Bury the food (and if needed, any new browns/bedding) in one far corner, with plans to harvest worm castings from the opposite side. HOW TO GROW TURMERIC IN CONTAINERS, IN ANY ZONE The sprouts will grow from the nubs, so this sets them up in the right orientation from the start. Water to moisten the soil around them. Planting the turmeric rhizomes, with the base of the seed about 4 inches deep and the top fingers around 2 inches deep. Join Waitlist We will inform you when the product arrives in stock. Please leave your valid email address below.

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GROWING ORGANIC TOMATOES: HOW TO PLANT, FEED, PRUNE & GROW TOMATO

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A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO USING A HOBBY GREENHOUSE GIFT GUIDE: HOME, HEALTH, GARDEN & DIY GIFT IDEAS VERMICOMPOSTING 101: HOW TO CREATE & MAINTAIN A SIMPLE WORM BIN AIR PLANT CARE 101: HOW TO NOT KILL YOUR TILLANDSIA CAST IRON WHOLE WHEAT & HERB SOURDOUGH PIZZA CRUST RECIPE HARVESTING FRESH LAVENDER: HOW TO HARVEST, PRUNE & DRY LAVENDER

FLOWERS

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE LEMON VINEGAR CLEANING SPRAY: NATURAL, NON-TOXIC

& EFFECTIVE!

PRESERVING TOMATOES: HOW TO MAKE HERB SUN-DRIED TOMATOES IN 5 EASY

STEPS

HOW TO STORE & WASH FRESH EGGS: BEST PRACTICES FOR BACKYARD CHICKEN

EGGS

GROWING ORGANIC TOMATOES: HOW TO PLANT, FEED, PRUNE & GROW TOMATO

PLANTS

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO USING A HOBBY GREENHOUSE GIFT GUIDE: HOME, HEALTH, GARDEN & DIY GIFT IDEAS VERMICOMPOSTING 101: HOW TO CREATE & MAINTAIN A SIMPLE WORM BIN AIR PLANT CARE 101: HOW TO NOT KILL YOUR TILLANDSIA CAST IRON WHOLE WHEAT & HERB SOURDOUGH PIZZA CRUST RECIPE HARVESTING FRESH LAVENDER: HOW TO HARVEST, PRUNE & DRY LAVENDER

FLOWERS

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Garden ,  Our

Homestead

A BRAND NEW CHAPTER: WE’RE MOVING! June 3, 2021 / 17 Comments The cat’s out of the bag friends: we’re moving! Let me tell you the story of finding our forever dream home, why we're leaving our current beachtown homestead, answer FAQ about the transition, garden, animals, plans, priorities, and more.

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DeannaCat

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All Things Garden

6 WAYS TO PROTECT GARDEN PLANTS IN A HEAT WAVE May 27, 2021 / 1 Comment Read along to learn six ways to protect plants during a heat wave, including steps to take when unusually hot weather is in the weather forecast, along with ways to make plants more tolerant to heat stress and drought in general.

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DeannaCat

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Sourdough

20 BEST SOURDOUGH ADD-INS AND TOPPING IDEAS May 20, 2021 / 4 Comments Let's get creative in the kitchen! Come get inspired with 20 ideas for sourdough add-ins - including goodies to mix into your dough or add as toppings to focaccia. Tips on how to incorporate herbs, nuts, cheese,

garlic and more!

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DeannaCat

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All Things Garden

,  Beginner

Basics

WHAT IS BOLTING? HOW TO PREVENT PLANTS FROM BOLTING May 14, 2021 / 3 Comments Have you ever wondered why some plants bolt, flower, or go to seed too early? Come learn what makes plants bolt, if it's a bad thing or not, and six different ways to prevent plants from bolting!

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DeannaCat

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All Things Garden

,  Beginner

Basics

,  Pests

HOW TO PREVENT OR TREAT POWDERY MILDEW ORGANICALLY April 29, 2021 / 6 Comments Powdery mildew is one of the most common plant diseases around. It can frustrating, but is nothing to fear! Come learn how to control mildew in your garden with these tips to prevent and get rid of powdery mildew - organically!

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DeannaCat

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"How to Grow"

,  All

Things Garden

HOW TO GROW PEPPERS AND CHILIS: SEED TO HARVEST April 22, 2021 / 9 Comments Learn how to grow plentiful peppers (or chilis) with these tips on starting from seed, pruning, planting, pests, harvest time, seed-saving, and more. Don't miss our favorite tasty ways to use and preserve peppers too!

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DeannaCat

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Recipes

TANGY COLESLAW RECIPE WITH SUNFLOWER SEEDS (OPTIONAL) April 14, 2021 / 6 Comments If you’re searching for an easy coleslaw recipe with abundant flavor and the perfect punch of tang, you’ve come to the right spot. With optional sunflower seeds (or beans), you can even work a little protein into your coleslaw too! I…

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DeannaCat

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All Things Garden

,  Cannabis

HOMEMADE FERTILIZER WITH ALOE VERA: SOIL DRENCH OR FOLIAR SPRAY April 8, 2021 / 6 Comments Did you know that aloe vera can be just as useful for plants as it is for human health? Come learn how to make natural, homemade fertilizer using aloe vera (fresh or powder) to increase plant growth and disease resistance, reduce…

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DeannaCat

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STAY IN CONNECTED & LEARN Keep in touch with our weekly newsletter and receive a FREE digital, printable garden planning toolkit! CREATOR & PLANT LADY Hey! My name is Deanna, also known as DeannaCat. I’m all about simple living, real food, and everything plants. My hope is to inspire the love for a similar lifestyle or hobbies in others ~ by sharing real-life tips and tools to make “modern homesteading” activities easy, understandable, and enjoyable ~ so you can learn and dive in with me! Read more…

CATEGORIES

Categories Select Category “How to Grow”  (27) All Things Garden  (91) Beginner Basics  (53) Cannabis  (19) Chickens  (15) Compost  (10) Fermented Foods  (11) Flowers  (15) Food & Ferment  (8) Garden  (1) Indoor Gardening  (13) Kombucha  (5) Monarchs  (4) Music  (7) Natural Health  (32) Our Homestead  (1) Pests  (16) Preserve Your Harvest  (40) Recipes  (60) Sourdough  (20) Wildlife  (11) OUR FAVORITE DEHYDRATOR Happy Caturday! Did you hear the news? We are The pineapple guava (feijoa) are all in bloom Feeling toasty? Pop over to the newest articl Y'all crack me up! Sharing this throwback bec Well well well, someone sure is excited that this Have you heard of green garlic? In a nutshell After kissing one dream goodbye, we arrived a Hi Calling all the good vibes! Y

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BPA-FREE SOAKER HOSES

GOT WORMS?

Worms are a “living soil amendment”, says Cornell University, and a key component to the vitality of our garden! Worms bins are easy to maintain, divert waste from the landfill, and create “black gold”

for your garden!

Click here to get you some worms!

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