We have been busy on the homestead lately. It is go- time. We have picked all of our strawberries. We’ve been planting seeds, pulling weeds, and trying to keep chickens alive through killer heat waves and unseasonable cold weather.
I’ve learned that you have to become an optimist when farming. If you aren’t, you’ll be utterly miserable. We have been battling the weather non-stop this year in some way or another. It’s a big challenge to rise up to each day. I’m not going to give up. I’ll be honest, I HATE the heat. HATE IT… but I’m still going out in it to tend to the garden and animals.
We still have some space in the garden that I’m filling in this weekend. I will not miss an opportunity to grow food. Going to the grocery store makes me feel so sick when I see how rapidly the prices are rising. I’m going to grow and preserve all that I can.
We have moved some of our new babies outside. Our gosling is almost fully feathered and has been hanging out with the flock outside. She is definitely a good guardian already– as she honks as soon as there’s movement nearby. Our three guineas have been in the old duck run while they grow some more. They are also loud and so weirdly wonderful. We have six (I think) chicks in a brooder. Three are big enough to come out with the guineas and the other three are still too small to be OUT, out. Scott is working on building a makeshift brooder that can also go in our old duck run so that they are outdoors, but not where they can squeeze through and get killed by older hens.
I processed a couple of jars of strawberry jam this afternoon. We eat most of our freshly picked strawberries, but the season is so full and short at the same time that we ended up with quite the surplus. I’m anxious to see how much more we get next year!! We planted several berry plants (blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry) this year that I can’t wait to harvest from in the years to come.
We planted some ornamental pumpkin seeds this year, which should be super fun to see grow! I’m getting worried because I have only seen two bumblebees this year on our property. TWO. We use organic practices, but being surrounded by farm fields that get sprayed by airplane is not ideal for us. I’ve been pollinating our squash by hand because I haven’t seen any pollinators in my garden.
The kitchen was busy during our cold snaps as I spent the days baking loaves of bread and bagels to put up in the freezer. Now, I can pull them out on the hot days without heating the entire house. I am trying to do everything in my power to keep our electric bill as low as possible since the cost has gone up significantly.
What are you doing to cut back on your costs?
I feel like this question is consuming my mind, and I need to release it all to the Lord. He is not surprised by any of this crazy weather or inflation. He has always provided for us and we’ve never gone hungry even when it was very possible.
I hope that you are staying cool (or warm if you are in Idaho!), my friends! Happy almost Summer!
