Daily Word

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There comes a point in your life when

you realize who really matters... who never did... and who always will.



Homestead Revival: Six Reasons To Culture Dairy Products

Homestead Revival: Six Reasons To Culture Dairy Products: Win an eCourse from GNOWFGLINS

Homestead Revival: Give Away: Water Barrel and Pump

Visit my friend at Homestead Revival for a chance to win a 5 gallon water barrel.
 Homestead Revival: Give Away: Water Barrel and Pump: "5 Gallon Water Drum The give-away this week is sponsored by my favorite preparedness vendor, USA Emergency Supply.

Getting old sucks!

My cholesterol is sky high and I might be diabetic.
I start major diet changes and testing my blood sugars today.

Getting old sucks!

New Additions to our Backyard Garden

We are adding some things to our back yard garden this year. We got a ways to go to complete the projects but you gotta start somewhere!

1. In the upper left hand corner is the start of a bed that will eventually go clear across the back fence. This bed will be full of native Ohio plants and herbs.

2.See the cardboard by the fence? That is we are growing cucumbers this year. Plans are to throw down some dirt and compost. Put in a trellis and train the cucumber to grow up the trellis. We are trying White Cucumbers this year. They are supposed to have a crisp texture that is good for eating and pickling.
If this experiment goes well, we might add similar beds to grow squash, pumpkins and melons

3. The cardboard in the front of the picture marks where the new 4x8 raised bed is going.

4. Lastly, My Husband wants to grow grapes. He has fond memories of eating grapes under his Grandpas arbor and wants to try his hand at growing grapes himself. Neither one of know that much about growing grapes but we are on a crash course to learn.
In between this window will be a raised bed with an arbor for the white Niagara Grapes to grow on. We may not get to this project this year but it is on the to do list.

What's for Dinner- Easy Pesto Chicken

Easy Pesto Chicken

*I made up this recipe! It is great to rotate food storage items and could also be made with all fresh ingredients. This is a fast recipe. It would go great with a salad with fixin's straight from the garden.

1 package of Pasta- many different kinds would work in the recipe. Just pick your favorite.
Pesto - prepared or freshly made
Sliced Olives
Diced Tomatoes- canned or fresh
Chicken- canned or fresh

*Ratios are up to you. Hubs like more olives than tomatoes and alot of chicken.

Prepare Pasta per package directions.

Add Olives, Tomatoes and Chicken. Let  it heat thru for a couple minutes

Add Pesto. (Again ratio's are up to you here).

Let it heat thru for a couple minutes.

Serve and enjoy

April Giveaway - Homesteading: A Back to Basics Guide

   April Giveaway     

One copy of:
Homesteading: A Back to Basics Guide to Growing Your Own Food, Canning, Keeping Chickens, Generating Your Own Energy, Crafting, Herbal Medicine, and More (Back to Basics Guides)


Who doesn’t want to shrink their carbon footprint, save money, and eat homegrown food whenever possible? Even readers who are very much on the grid will embrace this large, fully-illustrated guide on the basics of living the good, clean life. It’s written with country lovers in mind—even those who currently live in the city.


Whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or even the wilderness, there is plenty you can do to improve your life from a green perspective. Got sunlight? Start container gardening. With a few plants, fresh tomatoes, which then become canned tomato sauce, are a real option. Reduce electricity use by eating dinner by candlelight (using homemade candles, of course). Learn to use rainwater to augment water supplies. Make your own soap and hand lotion. Consider keeping chickens for the eggs. From what to eat to supporting sustainable restaurants to avoiding dry cleaning, this book offers information on anything a homesteader needs—and more. 1000 color illustrations.

A great book for beginner homesteaders!


To Enter:
Leave me a commnet and tell me how you homestead or how you plan to start.
For bonus entry: Follow me with Google Friend Connect. Leave a comment so I know you are following.
For another entry: Tweet, Facebook or Blog about the Giveaway. Please leave link per comment so I can verify.

*Make sure I am able to reach you via e-mail, either by your Profile or leaving your e-mail address in the comment.


The Rules:
*Entries will be accepted from April 3  thru April 29 2011
*Winner will be announced on April 30

What I am Reading- Family Preparedness Handbook

** I have been reading this book for a couple weeks now. In my opinion this is a must have for every homesteading, back to basics living library. I think it would be great for beginners and even more advanced homesteaders would find something of interest too. There are all kinds of recipes, instructions and checklists.

I can see why it has sold some many copies. get yours today!! Click the pic!

Family Preparedness Handbook By James Talmage Stevens

If you were temporarily out of work, how long could you sustain yourself and your family in a near-normal manner?

To what natural, man-caused, or personal disasters are you vulnerable?

If the transportation system were disrupted, how long could you and your family live on the food in your home?

Do you know what to store, how much you need, or where to get it?

In today's world you can't afford to be unprepared.

If you want the security of being able to live from your own personal resources for up to a year regardless of external conditions, Making the Best of Basics will show you how.

With over 365,000 copies sold, Making the Best of Basics has long been a standard on in-home food storage and family preparedness. The 10th edition of Basics has been expanded, revised, and updated. More than 100 additional pages of charts, tables, and recipes have been added. The Resource Directory is more than 60 pages, and comprises over 2,500 private industry preparedness providers, as well as government resources. The Family Preparedness Handbook is the most comprehensive single volume ever compiled on in-home storage.

The Family Preparedness Handbook gives you:

• A plan for acquiring and maintaining your in-home food storage

• Charts defining what foods and nonfoods to buy for your in-home storage

• A Family Factor to determine quantities of foods and other items for your family

• Resource Directories listing of 2500+ suppliers of food storage and preparedness items

Peace of mind follows preparation. Let the Family Preparedness Handbook do for you what it has already done for more than a generation––make preparation both possible and manageable––and give your family a measure of security in an uncertain world.



Table Of Contents
Chapter 1: What is Family Preparedness?

Chapter 2: Basic In-Home Storage

Chapter 3: In-Home Storage Problems and Solutions

Chapter 4: Water--the Absolute Basic

Chapter 5: Wheat--the Basic Grain

Chapter 6: Basic Whole-Wheat Bulgur Cookery

Chapter 7: Basic Whole-Wheat Flour Cookery

Chapter 8: Basic "WheatMeat" Cookery

Chapter 9: Basic Sourdough Cookery

Chapter 10: Basic White Flour Cookery

Chapter 11: Basic Triticale Cookery

Chapter 12: Basic Dairy Products from Powdered Milk

Chapter 13: Basic Honey Use

Chapter 14: Basic Self-Health with Supplementation

Chapter 15: Basic Sprouting and Kitchen Gardening

Chapter 16: Basic In-Home Drying of Fruits and Vegetables

Chapter 17: Energy and Fuels Storage

Appendices
Appendix I––Websites of Selected Preparedness Suppliers
Appendix II––FEMA National Emergency Management System
Quick-Guide II-1––Summary of National Disasters Publications
Supplement––Compendium of Preparedness Resources
Selected listing of more than 2,500 vendors and suppliers of preparedness products and services in the US and Canada

Grandma and the Computer

Matt teaching his 84 year old Grandma how to use the Computer



Daily Word

Photo Credit

When I see rain softly falling on my window and hear thunder in the distance, I feel a connection with something greater than myself. The air is being cleansed and the ground saturated with a renewing shower. The birds and other animals quench their thirst and plants are nourished. I am content knowing that each drop of water has a purpose.

I take a breath and become aware of the activity of Spirit in each element of nature. As I sense its beauty and symmetry, a feeling of inner peace fills me.

I go within to reconnect with Divine Presence;

I experience a feeling of spiritual balance, a calm peace in my soul.