Alright folks, let's talk about a few things that happened here on the homestead lately. We’ve been busy, that's for sure, and it feels good to get our hands dirty.
First up, the tomatoes. We got a bunch of starts from our friends at White Rock Homestead, which we're incredibly thankful for. Watching little seedlings turn into fruiting plants is one of the most rewarding things about homesteading, isn't it? We’ve got them in the ground now and trellised up, and I'm already dreaming of caprese salads. It's tempting to let those tomatoes bush out, but if you're going vertical you need to pinch those suckers off regularly. It helps with airflow and makes sure you get fruit that ripens properly, not a bunch of spoiled tomatoes hiding in the middle. It's a constant check, pretty much every other day, but that’s how you get a good harvest. In the old days, before mass agriculture, that care and attention to detail was just part of life. You didn't just throw seeds in the ground and hope for the best. You observed, you adapted and you tended to your crops.
Speaking of tending to things, we also got some sourdough going, and boy, that brought back some memories. Tera's starter from White Rock is fantastic, and it was really a lesson in patience and ratios. I messed up by using too big of a bowl at first, but she walked me through it and we got a beautiful loaf out of the Dutch oven. There's something about the process of sourdough, the nurturing of the starter that connects you to generations past. Before the advent of commercial yeast, this is how our ancestors made their daily bread, relying on natural fermentation and a deep understanding of how flour and water interact. It’s a skill that feels good to revive, kind of like a secret handshake with history. If you're looking to start your own, make sure you're precise and follow a good recipe (and a good scale). King Arthur Baking Company (https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/sourdough-starter-recipe) has a great one that I use as well.
The biggest undertaking of the past few days has been getting Link’s room closer to finished. I’m tackling the ceiling which, as anyone who has done a DIY project can tell you, has been a lot more involved than anticipated. The wood is up, and we’re going for a natural look with just a sealant, which I'm really excited about. We did burn one of the boards just to see, but it's a little too dark for this project. You know, one of the things I’ve come to realize doing these DIY projects is how people actually built these things before power tools existed. Can you imagine cutting all these boards with a hand saw, or hoisting them up without modern lifts? It really makes you appreciate those who built by hand, and how those skills were handed down through generations.
We also had a couple of unexpected guests in the build, salamanders and a toad! It was a great reminder to observe and respect nature as you work. We didn't want to disturb them, so after they relocated themselves, we patched up the gaps, ensuring our building was secure but still respectful to nature. We used expanding foam and caulk which are modern solutions, but in the past, they may have used natural materials like mud, clay, and even animal hair. You can still use these methods today; they're more sustainable and often just as effective.
Finally, we got to wiring the lights. The can lights are really neat, we can change the color temperature and customize the mood in the room. I’m looking forward to the day when this is finished and the room can be used! We also got the fan installed. So with the lights in and the fan up, it's time to get to the mini split, the flooring, and the trim. It seems like it's a constant project, but we are getting there, and it's such a rewarding process.
Keep on homesteading, folks!
First up, the tomatoes. We got a bunch of starts from our friends at White Rock Homestead, which we're incredibly thankful for. Watching little seedlings turn into fruiting plants is one of the most rewarding things about homesteading, isn't it? We’ve got them in the ground now and trellised up, and I'm already dreaming of caprese salads. It's tempting to let those tomatoes bush out, but if you're going vertical you need to pinch those suckers off regularly. It helps with airflow and makes sure you get fruit that ripens properly, not a bunch of spoiled tomatoes hiding in the middle. It's a constant check, pretty much every other day, but that’s how you get a good harvest. In the old days, before mass agriculture, that care and attention to detail was just part of life. You didn't just throw seeds in the ground and hope for the best. You observed, you adapted and you tended to your crops.
Speaking of tending to things, we also got some sourdough going, and boy, that brought back some memories. Tera's starter from White Rock is fantastic, and it was really a lesson in patience and ratios. I messed up by using too big of a bowl at first, but she walked me through it and we got a beautiful loaf out of the Dutch oven. There's something about the process of sourdough, the nurturing of the starter that connects you to generations past. Before the advent of commercial yeast, this is how our ancestors made their daily bread, relying on natural fermentation and a deep understanding of how flour and water interact. It’s a skill that feels good to revive, kind of like a secret handshake with history. If you're looking to start your own, make sure you're precise and follow a good recipe (and a good scale). King Arthur Baking Company (https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/sourdough-starter-recipe) has a great one that I use as well.
The biggest undertaking of the past few days has been getting Link’s room closer to finished. I’m tackling the ceiling which, as anyone who has done a DIY project can tell you, has been a lot more involved than anticipated. The wood is up, and we’re going for a natural look with just a sealant, which I'm really excited about. We did burn one of the boards just to see, but it's a little too dark for this project. You know, one of the things I’ve come to realize doing these DIY projects is how people actually built these things before power tools existed. Can you imagine cutting all these boards with a hand saw, or hoisting them up without modern lifts? It really makes you appreciate those who built by hand, and how those skills were handed down through generations.
We also had a couple of unexpected guests in the build, salamanders and a toad! It was a great reminder to observe and respect nature as you work. We didn't want to disturb them, so after they relocated themselves, we patched up the gaps, ensuring our building was secure but still respectful to nature. We used expanding foam and caulk which are modern solutions, but in the past, they may have used natural materials like mud, clay, and even animal hair. You can still use these methods today; they're more sustainable and often just as effective.
Finally, we got to wiring the lights. The can lights are really neat, we can change the color temperature and customize the mood in the room. I’m looking forward to the day when this is finished and the room can be used! We also got the fan installed. So with the lights in and the fan up, it's time to get to the mini split, the flooring, and the trim. It seems like it's a constant project, but we are getting there, and it's such a rewarding process.
Keep on homesteading, folks!
