Work, work, everywhere, and not a breath to jot it down!
Spring has been even more busy than chilly. Just this week, a hailstorm tried to destroy my parents’ garden down in the valley and our nephew who’s working for us this summer spotted a few stray snowflakes when he was out moving dirt around! The long weeks of cold and wet have been a blessing and a curse, allowing us more time for planting out, but also extra wiggle room to take on way more projects than any homesteaders ever should. When will we ever learn?
But we still had time to smell the blossoms.
EVERYTHING WE DID OUR THIRD SPRING ON THE HOMESTEAD:
Stick around a few minutes and take a peek at what we Montanan mountain maniacs have been up to these past few months! Click the post to get to see the slideshows in full size! As always, we hope you are able steal a tip or two (we’ve got a handful) as well as avoid the mistakes we learned the hard way (we’ve got a pile).
Re-Landscaped with foraged flagstones!
We’ve finally discovered a perk to living on a homestead that is half rock. A jaunt in the side-by-side, chisel in hand, and a few hours later we have a whole load of chips off the ole’ blocks. This is our family’s new favorite homestead activity and infinitely more fun than pulling weeds. And we think the result rocks! (Sorry . . . I myself am a chip off MY ole’ block, aka my dad). As you can see above, Yeti was a huge help with these projects.
Planted four (hopeful) wildflower meadows!
We took four fields of . . . umm . . . dandelions and thistles, and attempted to reclaim them as native meadows. As of right now, we have for our efforts four fields of dirt with tiny green sprouts and a whole lot of hope. I’ll update you later in the season. In the meantime, please send prayers toward Montana!
What seeds we spread and hope to see blossoming soon: lupine, poppies, salvia, arnica, echinacea, calendula, yarrow, milkweed, hyssop, bee balm, and columbine.
Planted out! 99% from seed this year! (after carrying trays in and out for weeks . . . and weeks)
I was determined last year not to buy any plants from the garden center, and I almost made it. I caved in late spring and bought a lemon balm and a sage. The buyer’s remorse was heavy. So, I determined to really, really not buy anything from the garden center this year. And I didn’t! Well, until I went to pick up two potted peonies for my mom’s birthday. There were four of them, potted up altogether and I just couldn’t walk away from the prettiest pots on earth, our wedding flowers fourteen years gone by. So, I met my goal at least 99% of the way and I’m happy to report that I experienced no buyer’s remorse in my 1% peony splurge.
What we’ve planted out so far this season: brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), onions, chives, cilantro, spinach, lettuce, kale, chard, peas, carrots, beets, herbs (mint, lavender, yarrow, bee balm, sage, rosemary, thyme), tomatoes, tomatillos, strawberries, gooseberries, a few more fruit trees (plum and apple), and flowers (calendula, marigold, lupine, bee balm, salvia, poppies, peonies, pansies, snapdragons).
Froze our eggs (well, the chickens’ anyway)!
At one point this spring, I had EIGHTEEN DOZEN EGGS sitting on our kitchen counter. Thankfully, since then, I’ve found plenty of friends who now take our excess eggs and give me fun little things in trade. But for a few weeks’ time, I was laid up. In desperation, I turned to Google and learned that you can *supposedly* freeze scrambled egg mixture to bust out during the winter months when the hens are laying low and use for omelets and baking. I can not vouch for the effectiveness of this just yet. But the kids and I gave it a go and froze ten dozen eggs for December and January, some in cartons for scrambles and Yeti, and some in individual portions to pop out and thaw for baking. I’ll let you know how they all dish up.
Feasted on the first edibles of the season!
What we’ve been munching and putting away this spring: spinach, lettuce, chives, and herbs (sage, mint, chamomile).
Finished the exterior of “the barn”
Ah, yes. It has doors! Will you join me in a collective “hallelujah”? Next step: interior. Gulp.
Started a homestead trading network!
Once a week, a group of several gals each load up a crate or two of homegrown goodness and meet up to swap abundance!
What I’ve swapped: eggs, heirloom seedlings/plant starts, sourdough starter, Red Wriggler worm starter cups.
What I’ve gotten in return this spring: asparagus, lettuce, cilantro, strawberry crowns, raspberry canes, veggie starts, flower starts, seeds, lip balms, raw milk cheese, strawberry jam, and a respiratory tincture! YEAH!
This has truly been the best thing I’ve done all spring. Read more about this “social sustainability” in my previous post: Got gardening friends? 🍓 Here’s 10 plants NOT to buy or start from seed🌿
Weeded like the dickens. And fed them to the chickens.
My hubby asked what I wanted for Mother’s Day this year. My answer: “I want you to dig dandelions for me.” And dig them he did; five buckets’ worth. Compacted. Since then, the four of us have dug an additional THREE WHEELBARROWS’ FULL. It’s been the biggest weed haul since we’ve been here, but we think, perhaps naively, that we’re finally getting the upper hand. Of course, we’ve caved and purchased bolts of weed barrier and started wood chipping like beavers gone bonkers to help us preserve our backs and sanity. Who knows, maybe we’ll be weed free by 2033.
Watched spring slowly fade into summer . . .
“In early summer there are plenty of things for a child to eat and drink and suck and chew. Dandelion stems are full of milk, clover heads are loaded with nectar, the Frigidaire is full of ice-cold drinks. Everywhere you look is life; even the little ball of spit on a weed stalk, if you poke it apart, has a green worm inside it.” -Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
And just like that, spring is a wrap! Easy, huh?
Check out all our seasonal highlights posts here:
🌱Everything we did our FIRST SPRING on the Homestead🌸
🌻Everything we did our FIRST SUMMER on the Homestead🦗
❄️Everything we did our FIRST WINTER on the Homestead🛠️
🐞Everything We Did Our SECOND SPRING on the Homestead🐓
🐿️Everything We Did Our SECOND SUMMER on the Homestead🐈
🧄Everything We Did Our SECOND FALL on the Homestead🐓
🍄Everything we did our SECOND WINTER on the Homestead🌱
Thanks so much for taking a peek at our homestead today! If you enjoyed this post, please share with another homesteader or hopeful! 🙂
Love, Candace Arden
Inspired and tired! Those two words pop up when reading this beautiful spring post. Projects like you undertook this season are simply the best activities for the whole family, even for Yeti, the supervisor. Cheers and hurrahs from the garden across the valley!
Thank you! Inspired and tired. That’s us to a tea!
We loved reading this as anxious as it made me feel. That was a lot of work, but when you live in the mountains of Montana, what else could you do to keep busy? 😄
Yet, all the things have inspired me for summer, I feel like I should be doing something 🤔🤔🤔.
My teens say “Mom, don’t get any ideas!” But it’s too late. Maybe the front garden can be reworked… The back yard stone floor replaced for the grill… Taking out my handy One Note app to make instant plans that hubby can read on his phone right away😄😄.
Uh oh, I may not be too popular in your house very soon LOL
Very inspiring! Have you ever tried freeze drying? Eggs work well in the freeze dryer!
(Sorry if this posted twice. WordPress said it didn’t load it the first time).
The flagstone turned out great! And Yeti is such an adorable name for your dog; loved how he ‘helped’ lol.
Thank you! We are really happy with it. And yes, Yeti is a love and a half who complicates our lives in many wonderful ways lol
You accomplished so much! It’s so inspiring and beautiful all you have done. I’m greatful to be your friend. You’re a joy and a treasure!
Thank you, my kind and generous friend!