The biggest hurdle for most people who want to be self sufficient, is how do I feed my family? Start with a little bit at a time. If you try to take on to much at one time, you burn yourself out.  Read more on starting on the Blog.

Where to Start Blog

Plant with purpose: Pest Control

Anything I plant or attempt to grow must have a purpose, other than looking pretty. As a busy mom of two, and a side of extra farm/cattle hand, I don’t have the time or space to care for things that are just pretty. A good part of homesteading is being purposeful with your resources. Your time, your space, and in some places your water, are all valuable. Make sure you are using them the best you can.

Plant with Purpose

Plant with Purpose: Herbs

Another way I chose which plants to start growing regularly was what do we consume the most of (excluding garden plants). HERBS!! I love to season food with home grown herbs and spices. So naturally I decided to grow them.

Herbs

Plant with purpose: Home Remedies

A recent interest I have found is using plants for home remedies. I discovered is many of the “weeds” were beneficial!

Home Remedies

Plants, Extracts, Salves and Essential Oils

Saving plants to use during the winter is vital. If you are going to use them for cooking or teas, you can simply dry them down. But if you are wanting to use them for more medicinal preventative use, you need a different method of storage.

Plants, Extracts, Salves and Essential Oils

Soil Health

Healthy soil makes a healthy plant. If the soil is deficient in nutrients, especially nitrogen or phosphorus, plants will fail to grow. If the soil lacks good bacteria, the plants will be more susceptible to disease as well.

Soil Health

Starting from Seed

A few years ago, I decided to try to start my own plants.  I started with just a small greenhouse starter, that could only start 8 plants at a time. It was a huge success! The next summer I found a small greenhouse on sale at Tractor Supply. I was thinking about getting a greenhouse anyway, so…I bought it!

Starting from Seed

Hardening Off: The Part I Messed Up

This is the part I messed up my first year, and by messed up I mean didn't do. Guess what plants that are started inside do NOT take well to just being planted from inside to garden.  You must harden them off slowly.

Hardening Off

Planting the Garden - Map It Out

If you like to have as many plants as possible it is important to plan out where you will plant everything in your garden. I have found that if I space the bigger plants, like the tomatoes, out amongst the other plants the bugs are not as bad. If I don’t map the garden out before, I found that I run out of space or forget something.  

Map It Out

Planting the Garden: Cool and Warm Season Plants

When starting to plant your garden pay attention to the weather and soil temperature. The planting zones are good guidelines to follow, but always pay attention to the long-term forecast.

Cool and Warm Season Plants