Plum Preserves

Over the past five years I have been working on planting fruit trees around our property. I am now up to 35 trees and feel I must stop or one day I may have to open a fruit stand. Some of the trees are very large now and are producing a lot of fruit. My Santa Rosa plum has just become ready and has a good amount of fruit on it. I had a recipe given to me from a friend and thought I should try it.

Plum Preserves
 (makes 5 half pint jars)

What you need:
5 cups of plums halved and pitted
1 cup of water
4 cups of sugar
large deep pan
canning jars and canning items

Step 1: Collect and wash plums. I needed two strainers to make 5 cups

Step 2: Cut plums in half and remove pit.

Step 3: Add plums, sugar, water and mix together. Cook on medium heat until you reach a boil.

Once you have reached a boil turn it up a bit and constantly stir. I boiled the mixture for about 20 minutes. You can tell it is ready when you spoon some of the mixture on a spoon and it has a thick jell texture.

Step 4: Remove mixture from heat and put into canning jars. Clean the jar rims and attach the lids. During the process the lids and jars need to be prepared by simmering in hot water. Place jars in a large pot with canning rack with boiling water for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes turn off the heat and let them rest. Then remove them and leave them on your counter. Soon you should hear a pop from the lid.

Step 5: Later in the day check to make sure the lids have sealed. If they haven't simply put it in the refrigerator and use it up.

Happy Canning!

                           

                            Chelsea

How to Grow a Successful Garden

This spring I moved my garden to our backyard. Last year my garden was out by the road and I didn't feel the location was ideal. It was also difficult to water that far from the house. I love the new location for my garden. It is easy to access and water. I also feel that being located near the chickens is a win, win situation.

Over the years I have developed five easy steps for growing a successful garden.

1. Location, location, location: I have moved my garden three times now and feel I finally have the correct spot. Sun exposure is very important. Once you decide what you plan on growing pick a spot that will be the best for your crop.
2. Raised beds: My first garden was planted directly in the soil. For two years I would till up the ground each spring. I found that the weeds, insects, critters and my back fought me those two years. Raised beds are wonderful.
3. Soil: This year my class of 3rd graders did a science experiment on soil conditions. We grew bean seeds in five different soil types. They were amazed by the results. What we found was the loam soil in our area mixed with cow manure gave the best results. Each year I replenish my beds with a few bags of soil and mostly cow manure. I am lucky that we raise Red Angus cows and have ample amounts of manure. 
4. Water: Plain and simple plants need water. I set up a drip system that comes on each morning. Having an automatic system saves times and water.
5. Size: Grow what you can eat. Originally we had four raised beds. The reason we cut back to three beds was due to the fact that a family of two can only eat so much squash and zucchini a day. when you grow too much you can become overwhelmed.

The Garden in May

The Garden in June

I love gardening and am excited to see what it will produce this summer!

Happy Gardening!

                        Chelsea

My Kids!

A few months ago I acquired two goats. Stella and Dot are Pygmy Goats and they are best friends. I joke with my friends that I have two kids now. I enjoy spending time with them each day. I bring them out in the yard and they love to run around and play. When we built our chicken coop we used the bottom of the shed as their house. They love to go inside and run around. They love the sound of their hooves on the wooded floor. 

When I was younger I had a Pygmy Goat named Star. I showed her for 4-H and had a blast raising her. Overall goats are fairly simple animals to raise. They need food, water, shelter and a companion. I would not recommend having only one goat. Stella and Dot are always together. Occasionally one will stray away from the other and the moment they realize they are apart they let me know with a loud cry and I quickly have to reacquaint them. 

Stella

Dot

                            Chelsea

My New Hen House

Last summer I purchased four chickens from the local feed store. We built an adorable chicken pen for them and I eagerly waited for eggs. One morning when they were about four months old I was shocked to hear a strange sound from the coop. "Was that a crow," I asked myself. Needless to say the "sexed" chicks I purchased were not pullets. I now had two roosters and two hens. We quickly found a home for the two roosters and I was saddened to be left with only two hens.

This year I decided I would not give up my dreams of having fresh eggs. My two Barred Rock hens from last summer were doing well and laying eggs each day. I went to a different feed store with the idea of purchasing five more chicks.

 I think I might have gotten carried away. I left the feed store with five Marans, one Black Cochin, two Americauna,  and 3 Silkies. Once I got home and settled them into their brooder my husband had" the look." The look quickly passed and he said, " I guess I have to build you a new chicken pen."

After countless hours looking at other blog posts and Pinterest I had an idea. I wanted to use a storage shed. We looked at some stores in town that sold sheds but was not willing to pay that much. I was starting to give up on the idea when my husband came home with a "beautiful" shed.

"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"

Recently our friends had purchased a house and the previous owners had left this shed. My husband assured me he could fix it up and it would be just like new. That day we ripped off all the siding and ran to the hardware store. We purchased new siding and a few 2x4's. We had a lot of materials already at the house (paint, nails, wire, a door). 

New siding and a coat of primer

Once the shed was painted we needed to move it. My husband cleared a spot for it and moved it into place. This was very nerve wracking to watch.

Pushing the shed into its new home

Once it was in the correct spot we quickly started the fencing. On the left hand side was the chickens home.They have a spot inside the shed to lay eggs and roost. The right hand side is for Stella and Dot(my next post will introduce them). The red door was the original front door on our house when we bought it. 

My new hen house

I LOVE IT!

                 - Chelsea

My First Post!

Over the past few months I have been taking pictures of the projects I have been completing and learning tips (sometimes the hard way) about raising animals and gardening. I thought for a split second,"maybe I should write a book". That thought quickly passed and then the idea of a blog came to me.

So here I am on the second week of my summer vacation enjoying a cup of coffee and looking at all the pictures I have from my "homestead". My hope for this blog is to have a fun place to store and reflect on the success and failure of projects over the summer. I have a large bucket list and plan to document my journey.

               Chelsea