A blog about creating a homestead with gardening and home crafts.
At the start of Spring, I began seeing a lot of wasps in my garden. I understand that all things have the right to live and understand that wasps are an integral part of the garden as they are pollinators and feast on plant pests such as aphids. I have a few early-blooming flowers in... Continue Reading →
I detail here how I save money when I fill my raised beds, but I also grow things like fruit trees and potatoes in large 50l containers and if you have a few of those, buying in bags of compost or potting mixes can get really expensive. Here are some different ways to fill your containers economically and still keep your plants healthy and get maximum yield.
I detailed here how I created both my indoor and outdoor tortoise enclosures and her general care. A few years on, Lenny's enclosures were due some updates and maintenance to keep them as efficient and comfortable as possible and keep them looking their best. Weather-proofing and Maintenance Wood left outside requires weather-proofing, cleaning etc to... Continue Reading →
The potager, kitchen garden, or even the veggie patch is finally ready to receive some of the first set of vegetables that were started at various times in the greenhouse, since February. Preparing the beds In my previous videos Step 1 and Step 2, I detail how I prepare the patch from last year and... Continue Reading →
Mint is a useful household staple. Is has strong, robust roots which can get a little invasive so is best grown in its own pot rather than in the ground or in beds with other plants. In this video, I divide and repot my mint plants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8_v2jdmtt0
Time to read 6 minutes The basic No Dig Gardening Method is a method of gardening I can definitely get behind. Pioneered by British gardener Charles Dowding for 40 years, it is a regenerative gardening method that is efficient, accessible and low maintenance once you get the basic principles right. What is No Dig? The... Continue Reading →
When I lived in Spain, my husband and I attended a Spanish cooking class. The chef told us something that really piqued my interest in saffron. He said that saffron is the most valuable- and expensive spice in the world. I went home and investigated and found it to be true. What is saffron and... Continue Reading →
Time to read 10 mins I review some commonly found peat-free multi-purpose composts and give you the scoop on some other peat/free alternatives below. What is Peat? Peat is an unsustainable growing medium that has provided the base of commercially supplied garden composts (soil) in the UK for decades. It is mostly made up of... Continue Reading →
In our current house, I only started the compost heap about a year ago but it's coming along. Nothing usable just yet, but it's breaking down nicely with a combination of green and brown organic matter from the house and garden. Worms tend to find their way to the compost if it is open-bottomed heap... Continue Reading →
As we recognize our responsibility to consume more responsibly, I reflect on what role one of my favourite crafts, knitting, has in the sustainability conversation. Knitting as Slow Fashion By its nature, knitting is a slow process. For those who indulge, it is a long, enjoyable way to make clothes, accessories and gifts for ourselves... Continue Reading →
All Homesteading 