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Seeking Joyful Simplicity

Your best life after 40 - living with purpose and vibrant health. Empowering you with a holistic approach: nourishing foods, herbal remedies, and self-care to reduce overwhelm, manage your weight, and enjoy vibrant health in your 40's, 50's, and beyond.

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Gardening

Best Foods to Grow to Save Money When You Don’t Have a lot of Time

7:49 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 1 Comment

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.
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Many of us want to grow our own food because we enjoy eating homegrown and we want to reduce our food budget. But we also don’t have a lot of time or energy for keeping up with a large garden, plus the harvesting, canning, and preserving. This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don’t have a lot of time.

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase by clicking on these links, I receive a small compensation, at no additional cost to you. I participate in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

 

Baskets bursting with fresh garden abundance. Nourishing meals made with home-grown foods. Pantries stocked with canned home goodness. Watching the sun set from the front porch, sipping a glass of iced mint tea, picked fresh from the herb bed.

 

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

The reality is, of course, all of this takes time, sweat, and a whole lot of work. Blisters, bug bites, and sunburns can just as easily be a part of this reality. Bean beetles, slugs, rabbit, deer, and other pests often enjoy more of the garden abundance than we do. Despite our never-ending efforts, the weeds overrun the garden. And there are often as many disappointments as rewards to gardening.

Gardening in Less Time and The Best Foods to Grow to Save Money

How do we accomplish the goals of growing more of our food, saving money, and eating healthy on a budget?

There are a lot of reasons for wanting to grow more of our food. For me, it is about enjoying healthy food grown without chemicals, being more self-sufficient, saving money, and the wonderful sense of satisfaction that comes with enjoying home-grown meals and a well-stocked pantry.

But how do we balance our desire for home-grown food with the limitations on our time and energy? This is the challenge, isn’t it? I struggle to find the time and energy for growing more of our food and saving money, while trying to avoid homestead burn out. (I share my strategies for avoiding homestead burnout here.)

Gardening to Save Money on Food

Through trial and error, research and reading, this is my list of recommended foods to consider if gardening to save money is your goal, even when you don’t have a lot of time. Of course, everyone’s priorities are different, and you may have some foods you simply can’t do without, and others you don’t want to bother with. Choose those that work best for you.

This is a list of low-maintenance, easy to grow foods that will save you money at the grocery store.

  • Lettuce
  • Chard
  • Garlic
  • Winter Squash
  • Culinary Herbs

I might also add tomatoes to the list, since they can be quite expensive in the winter months. If you choose a determinate variety of tomato, they will ripen all at once, making for a shorter harvest time, and you can process them in one large batch.

I freeze bags of sliced tomatoes to use in soups, stews, and other recipes. Freezing is quick and easy. Of course, canning tomatoes – whole, sliced, or as sauces is a way to preserve and store long-term.

Lettuce

Lettuce is easy to grow, takes up little space, and matures quickly. Lettuce grows well from direct-seeding, allowing you to avoid the time of starting seeds and transplanting. Lettuce can easily be grown in containers, and keeping them in shade during the hottest part of the summer will help you enjoy your lettuce all season long.

My favorite variety for hardiness and long-lasting production is the Prizeleaf Lettuce variety. Gorgeous bright green leaves with ruffled edges in deep bronze, it has a crisp texture with a sweet taste. Slow to bolt, offering a longer harvest time.

Swiss Chard

Chard is my favorite for saving time and money. Heirloom organic Swiss chard seeds are inexpensive and the chard provides me with fresh greens from spring right into the fall.

Varieties of chard, including rainbow and Swiss, are incredibly easy to grow, and chard is both cold and heat resistance. The seeds can be directly sowed, and with good mulching, require little care. Of all the greens, chard seems to be the least susceptible to pests.

 

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

 

Chard can be used in a variety of ways, both raw and cooked, and can be frozen in freezer bags without blanching, saving you both time and money.

Uses for chard include – add to salads for color and taste, fresh or frozen added to smoothies,  chopped leaves fresh (or frozen) can be tossed into soups and stews, stir-fried, steamed, and much more.

Garlic

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

Garlic is an incredibly low-maintenance crop to grow, and a small space can yield enough garlic to last you throughout the year. Garlic is typically planted in the fall and grown over the winter, which makes good use of garden space.

Once planted and mulched, garlic requires little care. The most time-consuming part is the harvest and curing stages. But it is well worth the effort to enjoy the flavor and health benefits of garlic year-round.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to garlic, and they differ greatly in flavor and bulb size. I prefer the Music Variety of Hardneck Garlic. The bulbs are large and the flavor crisp, but not over-bearing.

Winter Squash

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

 

Winter squash are a favorite among gardeners because they’re easy to grow, don’t require weeding once established, and most importantly, they store well through the winter to provide a valued vegetable for eating all winter and spring.

The runners need a lot of room to spread, but you can also use vertical garden space with trellis and fencing.

My favorite winter squash is the butternut squash because it is so easy to grow, highly resistant to pests, stores extremely well in your cupboard or pantry, and is so very versatile in the ways you can enjoy it.

Tomato butternut soup is a great way to combine end of summer tomatoes with your winter squash.

Culinary Herbs

This is a simple list of the best foods to grow to save money when you don't have a lot of time. Easy to grow, long lasting, and easy storage.

 

Culinary herbs add flavor and nutrition, and a small amount goes a long way. But fresh culinary herbs can be quite expensive to purchase. Growing your own in containers or garden beds is a wonderful way to enjoy the flavor of fresh herbs without spending a lot.

Many culinary herbs offer medicinal benefits. You can learn more about the best herbs to grow in Starting a Medicinal Herb Garden – 5 Herbs to Grow in Containers and Gardens.

Summary

There are many more foods I could add to this list, but this is simply a way to get you started thinking about the best foods to grow to save money when you don’t have a lot of time.

In addition to growing food you love and saving money, it’s important to consider what grows best where you live and take into consideration your soil, space, sun exposure, and the pests you may encounter in your garden.

And of course everyone has favorites – sometimes the extra effort is worth the pleasure of growing food you love.

Wishing you all the best in your gardens
~ Michelle

Further Resources:

Grow a Good Life – 9 Food Crops to Grow for Storage

Eartheasy blog – 6 Most Cost-effective Vegetables to Grow

Morel Mushrooms and 5 Mouthwatering Recipes

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Filed Under: Gardening, Simple Food

Starting Your Medicinal Herb Garden – 5 Herbs to Grow in Containers and Gardens

7:29 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 5 Comments

Creating a medicinal herb garden doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming. Start with these 5 herbs - all easy to grow in containers and gardens and offer a variety of health benefits
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Starting a Medicinal Herb Garden – Keep it Simple

Maybe you are thinking of growing some medicinal herbs, but you aren’t sure which herbs, or how to grow them. It can be a little overwhelming, especially with all the different choices to make. But there is nothing like the experience of harvesting and making remedies with the plants you grow yourself. Starting a medicinal herb garden is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty and health of medicinal herbs.

When I first started bringing herbal remedies into my life, I was definitely overwhelmed, but the advice of my earliest teacher and mentor helped guide me. She said when we are starting with herbal remedies, it is best to focus on a handful of plants and to know and use those plants well.

I have kept her advice in mind, and I choose to focus on the medicinal plants growing wild around me, or the ones I can easily grow.

Creating a medicinal herb garden doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Start with these 5 herbs – they are all easy to grow, offer you a variety of benefits, and have a long history of documented use for health and healing.

First, let me tell you a little about each of the plants and how they are traditionally used for health and healing. Then I will share some tips on how to grow them, including in containers. Followed by additional resources for finding seeds, plants, and where to find more information so you can slowly begin adding to your herbal apothecary.

This is a long post, so grab yourself a cup of tea, a pen, and some paper. You can also receive a pdf summary file here:

 Starting Your Medicinal Herb Garden – 5 Herbs to Grow

 

Creating a medicinal herb garden doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming. Start with just a few herbs - these 5 herbs are all easy to grow, offer you a variety of benefits, and have a long history of healing benefits

Disclaimer – Please Note: the information provided here is not intended to replace professional medical advice and care. It is simply my perspective for you to consider as you make good choices for you and your family’s health.
The use of herbs is a time- honored approach to  strengthening the body and promoting health. Herbs,
however, can  trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. Seek the support and care of a physician and/or complementary care practitioner you trust, and above all, listen to and trust in yourself. Be well!

 

Starting a Medicinal Herb Garden – 5 Best Herbs

  1. Yarrow
  2. Comfrey
  3. Thyme
  4. Sage
  5. Echinacea

You might notice that two of the five herbs on this list are culinary herbs. Many culinary herbs offer some of the best health benefits, have long histories of use as both medicine and food, and are safe to use for almost everyone. In Simple Foods for Cold and Flu, I share some of the research on how powerfully effective common culinary herbs are for colds and flu, and how easy it is to use these flavorful herbs to support our health.

The other three herbs – yarrow, comfrey, and echinacea all offer a great variety of benefits, and are used both externally and internally. They are particularly great additions in a DIY herbal first aid kit.

Okay, so let’s meet the plants!

Yarrow – Achillea millefolium

 

 

Yarrow is such a versatile plant, I truly believe every home should include yarrow as part of their herbal apothecary and first aid kit.

Traditional Uses for Yarrow:

  • Fresh, dried, or powdered, yarrow is excellent for cuts and scrapes to stop bleeding, prevent infection, and relieve pain – read more about using yarrow in herbal first aid
  • Fresh or dried leaves and flowers can be used in tea for fevers
  • Yarrow is a bitter plant and can be included in a homemade bitter tincture
  • Can be used to make an oil-based skin salve (often combined with other herbs)
  • Astringent quality of yarrow makes it useful in homemade skin toner recipes

How to Grow Yarrow:

Yarrow is a flowering perennial that prefers full sun and well-drained soil. But yarrow is quite a hardy plant, and like most weeds, can thrive under a variety of conditions. If you don’t want yarrow spreading, plant in pots.

Yarrow grows low to the ground with feather-like leaves, and produces stalks with compound umbel flowers. Yarrow doesn’t require much care as it is tolerant of poor soils and drought. If growing in a pot, make sure to allow for good drainage and avoid over-watering.

There are a variety of yarrow cultivars in a multitude of colors including orange, red, pink, and yellow. Medicinally, it is the white-flowered Achillea millefolium species that offers the strongest benefits.

In addition, yarrow attracts beneficial insects, and I have a wild patch that has been allowed to grow in a corner of our garden.

Comfrey – Symphytum officinale

 

 

Comfrey is a great addition to your home apothecary. Traditionally used topically to help with cuts and scrapes, as well as treating injuries to bones, ligaments, and tendons, comfrey makes an excellent addition to your herbal first aid kit.  You can see an example of comfrey’s rapid healing in the post Healing With Comfrey.

Leaves can be used fresh or dried to make a poultice or compress. Dried comfrey leaves can be used to make a comfrey oil, and in a healing salve.

Comfrey is frequently referred to as “knit bone” because of its ability to speed the recovery of bone breaks and as reported in Grieve’s A Modern Herbal,

The reputation of Comfrey as a vulnerary has been considered due partly to the fact of its reducing the swollen parts in the immediate neighborhood of fractures, causing union to take place with greater facility.

*Contraindications:

Comfrey leaf and especially the roots conatin pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which have been suspected of causing liver injury when consumed in large quantities – comfrey should only be used externally and not for extended periods of time.

How to Grow Comfrey:

Comfrey is a beautiful perennial with large, broad leaves and delicate bell-shaped flowers. The two types of comfrey most frequently grown and sold are the common comfrey, (Symphytum officinale) and Russian comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum). Russian comfrey is also called the Bocking 14 cultivar, and because it is a hybrid, has sterile seeds and can only be grown from root cuttings.

Comfrey grows best in USDA hardiness zones 3-9, but can be grown outside those zones. Comfrey typically grows two feet in height and can be just as wide, so plan for adequate space. Comfrey can be grown in full sun or partial shade, and because it has deep roots, can tolerate a wide variety of soil types including clay, sand, wet, and dry conditions.

Common comfrey spreads quickly and can be difficult to remove from your garden, which is why I recommend obtaining the Russian, or Bocking 14 variety, as it has sterile seeds. Comfrey can be successfully grown in pots, but will need a seasonal addition of a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

Comfrey leaves grow quickly and can be harvested multiple times over a single season. Cut the plant back to two inches in height, and allow to regrow. Leave the comfrey uncut through the fall to allow the plant to re-build reserves for the winter season.

In addition to comfrey’s medicinal qualities, it is often included in permaculture designs for its ability to contribute to soil fertility, provide nutrient-rich mulch, and attract beneficial insects.  Amy at Tenth Acre Farm has a great resource for using comfrey in your garden.

Thyme – Thymus Vulgaris

 

 

Thyme is an herb with culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus) are both popular culinary varieties and offer many health benefits. Traditional uses and current research is looking at the following benefits of thyme:

  • Antimicrobial properties – great for fighting cold and flu viruses and bacteria
  • Relief for fevers
  • Sore throats
  • Expectorant qualities for relieving coughs
  • Bronchitis

Thyme has a long history of treating coughs. Dioscorides, an ancient Greek physician and pharmacologist, wrote of the healing benefits of thyme in his Materia Medica, a text that was widely read for nearly 1,500 years. Clinical studies are indicating the benefits of thyme (dried or extract) in treating bronchitis.

I use thyme medicinally as a simple tea or in my honey-vinegar oxymel.

How to Grow Thyme

Thyme is a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 5-9. Thyme does best in full sun and well-drained soil. It can be hard to grow from seeds because they have such uneven germination. If you do grow from seeds, start them indoors 6-10 weeks before the last spring frost date.

Thyme is a low-growing plant, and makes a nice border to gardens, walkways, or as a ground cover. Potted thyme can be enjoyed for its aroma. Attractive to pollinators and an evergreen plant, I believe thyme is underappreciated for its beauty and function in gardens, borders, and pots.

Once established, thyme requires little care except for seasonal pruning.

 

Sage – Salvia officinalis

 

The best herbs for menopause - how to stay sane when your hormones are making you crazy. Herbs for menopause have a long history of use in supporting women’s health and they can offer us relief, bring balance, and support deep healing. Check out these 12 herbs for women over 40

 

Sage is another culinary herb with a long history of use as both food and medicine. Current research shows an impressive range of possible medical applications.

Sage tea has traditionally been use in the treatment of colds and flu, and research suggests sage has significant antibacterial properties. (See resources for more information.)

Sage is often recommended to relieve cough and sore throats, and because sage has astringent properties, it’s excellent for treating drippy sinus. Sage can be used as a tea, or as a gargle to sooth a sore throat.

Historic uses and current research on Sage (Salvia officinalis) suggests the following benefits:

  • antibacterial properties
  • anti-inflammatory
  • improvements in cholesterol and lipid profiles
  • improvements in memory
  • relief for menopausal hot flashes

Sage remedies can be used in a variety of ways, including:

  • Sage gargle for sore throat
  • Sage tea
  • Sage-Infused honey
  • Herbal hair rinse
  • Sage as part of anti-bacterial herbal mouthwash

Sage is an important plant in our home apothecary, and is one of the first plants I use at the beginning of a cold. See my article – Simple Foods for Cold and Flu on how to use sage effectively for quick recovery from a cold or flu.

*Contraindications:

Avoid medicinal amounts if you are breast-feeding (slows lactation).

How to Grow Sage:

Sage is another easy-to-grow plant for home gardeners, and does well in pots. If you live in zones 4-8, your sage will grow well as a hardy perennial. In other areas, you can take cuttings to continue indoors.

Sage prefers dry conditions, full sun, and well-drained soil. It often grows wider than its height, so for perennial sage, plan for at least 24 inches in width.

Sage needs to be pruned to promote new growth, but even with regular pruning, can become woody over time. After 2-3 years, I typically remove the old plant and start again.

Harvest sage only after the plant has become established. Sage dries quickly and stores well in an air-tight container.

 

Echinacea – Echinacea augustifolia

 

Creating a medicinal herb garden doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming. Start with these 5 herbs - all easy to grow in containers and gardens and offer a variety of health benefits

 

Echinacea is the “rock star” of herbal medicine, enjoying a reputation for helping to prevent and shorten the common cold.

Evidence supports echinacea’s ability to stimulate the immune system, and research suggests echinacea has substances that:

  • Boost the immune system and shorten the common cold
  • Relieve pain
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Provide Antiviral effects
  • Provide Antibacterial effects

In addition, there is research supporting the use of echinacea for:

  • Urinary tract infections
  • Cold sores from the Herpes Simplex Virus
  • Slow healing wounds
  • Inhibition of colon tumors
  • Snake bites
  • Spider and insect bites
  • Eczema and inflammatory skin conditions

I include a tincture of echinacea in our first aid kit.

*Contraindications: Like most remedies, natural or man-made, echinacea is not right for everyone.

Echinacea can interact with some medications, and should not be taken if you are on an immunosuppresant or if you are preparing for surgery.

For people with autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s, celiac disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, using echinacea may be harmful to their health. If you have or suspect you have an autoimmune condition, echinacea is probably not for you.

How to Grow Echinacea:

Echinacea, commonly known as the purple coneflower, is a perennial herb, native to the midwestern region of North America, and does well in zones 3-8. Echinacea is easy to grow from seeds, cuttings, and because it is so hardy, requires little to maintain it.

There are a number of echinacea varieties, but generally the Echinacea augustifolia and Echinacea purpurea are considered the medicinal types, so check which you are purchasing.

Echinacea thrives in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Its deep roots help maintain it during dry periods, although periodic watering will help it to thrive.

The bright flowers will bloom all season, attracting butterflys and pollinators. The seed heads attract birds, particularly finches in the autumn. Echinacea is self-seeding, so as the original perennials begin to die after several years, they will be replaced by the new plants.

Summary

These are the five herbs I recommend everyone grow at home. Each one offers unique health benefits, they are all easy to grow, they add beauty to our lives, and they provide additional benefits to our gardens.

Start slowly, choose one or two that appeal to you and begin working with the plants.

Growing our medicine brings us closer to nature and the traditional path to health and healing. I hope you find joy and health in learning how to grow medicinal herbs.

~Michelle

Where to purchase seeds and plants

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange is a seed cooperative that offers high-quality seeds and plants.

I was fortunate and purchased my comfrey root plants from a local herb grower, but Comfrey root cuttings can be purchased online – There are a number of Etsy sellers, but I cannot vouch for them. Amazon is another source for Russian comfrey root cuttings.

A Few References:

  • Grieve’s: A Modern Herbal – Comfrey
  • Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Properties of Sage
  • Antibacterial Effect of Sage
  • University of Maryland Medical Center Overview of Echinacea
  • Information on herbs – drug interactions and contraindications

9 Herbs for Menopause – How To Stay Sane When Your Hormones Are Making You Crazy

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Filed Under: Gardening, Healing Herbs Tagged With: best medicinal herbs, how to grow medicinal herbs, starting a medicinal herb garden

A Simple DIY Worm Bin – Composting With Worms

7:57 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 7 Comments

Composting with worms is a great way to turn kitchen scraps into garden soil. An easy DIY worm bin to get started with vermicomposting.
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Composting with worms is a great way to turn kitchen scraps into garden soil. An easy DIY worm bin to get started with vermicomposting.

 

Vermicomposting – Composting with Worms

When I first began gardening years ago, I thought choosing the right seeds, planting at the correct depth, and providing adequate water were the most important aspects for a healthy harvest. Of course I now understand soil management is the primary key for healthy plants and an abundant harvest.

Thinking back, composting with worms was something I wanted to do way back in 2012 when we lived in our townhouse in the suburbs. In fact, I thought it would be a great homeschool project for my 12-year old, although he did not share my enthusiasm.

I looked at the options for purchasing small vermicomposters to keep in the home, but that idea didn’t particularly appeal to me either. The retailers all claimed they were odor free and leak-proof, but I wasn’t convinced. And besides, where would I keep it in our tiny kitchen?

I never got around to using worms for composting, until my first year on our homestead. During my weekly classes at a local farm, one of our projects was to make a worm bin. It was simple enough to make, but I worried that I would kill the poor worms by:

  • adding too much moisture and drowning them
  • not keeping it moist enough and having them dry out
  • forgetting to add new materials for them to consume
  • allowing them to freeze in the colder weather

Well, it turns out, compositing with worms is not that difficult. After just a few short months, the shredded newspaper and kitchen scraps had been turned into a bin full of beautifully composted soil. The magic part is, I did almost nothing.

The worms did what worms do – they ate and they pooped, transforming my everyday kitchen scraps into rich soil for the garden. Making a DIY worm bin and composting with worms is one of the easiest things you can do to add nutrients to your soil, why not start now?

 

Composting with worms is a great way to turn kitchen scraps into garden soil. An easy DIY worm bin to get started with vermicomposting.

 

How to Make a Worm Bin

  • Take a storage tote, and use a small drill bit to create air holes on the lid and on the bottom of the tote. Keep those holes tiny, because those worms will find a way out if they can!
  • Use paper – newspapers, computer paper, anything that is not glossy and tear it into strips and soak in water for a few minutes. You need enough paper to fill about 1/3 to 1/2  of the bin.
  • Add a few handfuls of soil and mix in with the wet paper.
  • Add worms (mine were from the local bait shop)
  • Remember to feed scraps to your worms every week or so – keep an eye on your worms to see how quickly they are digesting the wastes you provide – it will depend on the number of worms you have.
  • Add moisture if the materials become dry and crumbly.

 

Tiny openings on the lid

Composting with worms is a great way to turn kitchen scraps into garden soil. An easy DIY worm bin to get started with vermicomposting.

 

Tiny openings on the bottom

Composting with worms is a great way to turn kitchen scraps into garden soil. An easy DIY worm bin to get started with vermicomposting.

 

Layers of composting materials – paper, leaves, kitchen scraps. I set my bin on an unused storage bin lid to catch leaking moisture, but never had any that I could see.

Composting with worms is a great way to turn kitchen scraps into garden soil. An easy DIY worm bin to get started with vermicomposting.

 

Beautiful soil for your flower and garden beds!

Composting with worms is a great way to turn kitchen scraps into garden soil. An easy DIY worm bin to get started with vermicomposting.

DIY Worm Bin – My Experience

I created my worm bin our first summer on our homestead and promptly forgot about it (bad homesteader, I know.) But the worms survived. Thrived actually, as I discovered a second generation of little wigglers after just two months.

The worms and I are on a schedule now – about twice a month I feed my worms a few handfuls of kitchen scraps – onion and potato skins, used tea leaves, coffee grounds, mushy fruits, etc.

I keep my worm bin under a covered porch on the east side of the house. They seem happy and healthy. The moisture level maintains itself without me adding water directly.

Once the bin is full of well-composted material, it’s ready for use. I add the entire contents of my worm bin, worms and all, to my garden, and then start over with a new batch of wigglers. It’s a great partnership actually – the worms get a safe place to live and free food, and in return, I get nutrients for my garden!

Composting with Worms

Vermicomposting is one tool for replacing lost nutrients and building a healthy soil. While this worm bin won’t produce enough for all our gardening needs, it is simply one more part of our expanding soil management plan which includes larger composting, animal inputs, mulching, cover crops, green manure, and crop rotation.

And it’s a great way to recycle those kitchen scraps.

Have you tried vermicomposting? 
Why or why not?
~ Michelle

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Filed Under: Gardening, Simple DIY Tagged With: composting with worms, DIY worm bin, how to make a worm bin, vermicomposting

Weekend Book Review: Homegrown and Handmade A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living

8:31 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 2 Comments

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For the hobby farm or small homesteader, a great book on gardening, orchard, backyard poultry, dairy, and fiber animals. A guide to more self-reliant living.

 

Homegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living, by Deborah Niemann  – a book review.

Deborah Neimann’s book Homegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living is great for information and inspiration. If you are dreaming of starting a homestead, or already started, Deborah offers guidance and shares the mistakes she made along her journey from city to homestead.

I love reading, especially about homesteading and living a more sustainable lifestyle. Homegrown and Handmade is not a new book, it was written in 2011, but it is just as relevant now as it was then. The author writes about the sense of excitement, optimism, and satisfaction of creating a more sustainable lifestyle, and her honesty and willingness to share her mistakes along the way will make you feel all the more encouraged.

 

First, a little information about Deborah Niemann. In her own words:

In 2002,  I decided to start living the adventure that Henry David Thoreau wrote about in Walden, and my husband and I moved our family to 32 acres in the middle of Illinois where we built our own house and learned to grow our own food.  Today we produce one hundred percent of our own meat, eggs, dairy products and even maple syrup, as well as the majority of our fruits and vegetables. For more information on our homestead, you can visit our website at Antiquity Oaks.”

This is a woman who in 1987 started her first pregnancy thinking a cheeseburger and french fries was a perfectly healthy meal.

She starts the book with a foreword which speaks about the modern homesteading movement. This in particular speaks to me:

This new wave of homesteading is not just about learning to be content with less. The modern homestead’s most valuable product isn’t a food, beverage or building. The most valuable thing being created on the homestead these days is a new sense of satisfaction, excitement and optimism inherent in creating more sustainable lifestyles.”

A new sense of satisfaction, excitement and optimism. That is exactly how I feel as I continue to learn new self-sufficiency skills.

Back to the book. The introduction gives a general overview of the problems facing our current unsustainable sources of food.

Deborah then goes on to present subjects in parts, and then to break it down. Part one is the sustainable garden. The first chapter covers planning, the second chapter growing, and the third chapter cooking and preserving from the garden.

Each section of the book continues in the same way with chapters on planning, growing/raising, and using what you produce.

Part One: The Sustainable Garden

Part Two: The Backyard Orchard

Part Three: The Backyard Poultry Flock

Part Four: The Home Dairy

Part Five: The Home Fiber Flock

If starting or expanding your homestead is part of your plans, this book will give you a good start in planning. You will still need other resources for more in-depth information, but the strength of Deborah’s Homegrown and Handmade is not so much in the actual information she provides, it’s in the “Can-do” attitude she presents it with.

Interspersed throughout the book, Deborah shares her mistakes with text boxes titled “I wish I had known…” I appreciate this for two reasons – one, I get to learn from someone else’s mistakes, and two, I am reminded that mistakes are OK and a part of the process.

I think the thing I learned most from this book was that it can be done, and no matter how much you try to prepare yourself with books, classes and mentors, you will make mistakes and learn from them.

In Deborah’s afterword, she says this:
…there will be times when you make mistakes and or find yourself wondering what to do in a particular situation. Don’t give up…only you can become the expert on your soil, your garden, your property and your animals. If we can do it, so can you.”

Thank you Deborah.

Enjoy and happy reading!

Michelle

 

 

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Filed Under: Gardening, Simple Living Tagged With: homesteading, homesteading book review, self-reliant living, sustainable lifestyle

How to Use Cover Crops in the Garden

7:55 am by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 2 Comments

Cover crops are a low-cost, low-maintenance way to improve the soil in your garden and give you bigger and healthier harvests. Cover crops can be included in your annual garden plan, and can be planted in the fall. Learn how to use cover crops.
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Cover crops are a low-cost, low-maintenance way to improve the soil in your garden and give you bigger and healthier harvests. Cover crops can be included in your annual garden plan, and many cover crops can be planted in the fall. I wish I had discovered cover crops sooner, and I want to share my experience and favorite resources on how to use cover crops in the garden.

 

 Why Use Cover Crops

Cover crops are a low-cost, low-maintenance way to improve the soil in your garden and give you bigger and healthier harvests. Cover crops can be included in your annual garden plan, and many cover crops can be planted in the fall. I wish I had discovered cover crops sooner, and I want to share my experience and favorite resources on how to use cover crops in the garden.

Five Reasons for Using Cover Crops in Your Garden

Cover crops serve many purposes in the garden, and here are the reasons I decided to include them in my garden plan.

  1. Suppress weeds
  2. Add nutrients to the soil
  3. Improve the soil structure
  4. Prevent erosion from rain and wind
  5. Can be used as mulch to maintain moisture

Multi-Purpose – How to Use Cover Crops in the Garden

One of the principles I try to keep in mind as we plan and grow our homestead is the multi-purpose principle. This means trying to utilize things that serve more than one purpose. A simple example of this might be growing comfrey – comfrey provides medicine, mulch, feed for our rabbits, and attracts pollinators.

Using cover crops in the garden, I started with winter rye. My first cover crop of winter rye is also multi-purpose. Winter rye grows even in cold weather, and during the fall and winter after planting, I was able to continuously harvest the green leaves to supplement our rabbit’s winter feed.  The rye’s extensive roots improve the soil texture. After cutting the rye, the stalks are left in place to create a mulch to suppress weeds during spring. And finally, the decomposing roots and stalks add precious nutrients back into the soil.

 

Cover crops are a low-cost, low-maintenance way to improve the soil in your garden and give you bigger and healthier harvests. Cover crops can be included in your annual garden plan, and can be planted in the fall. Learn how to use cover crops.
Winter Rye Cover Crop in the Late Fall

 

 

Cover crops are a low-cost, low-maintenance way to improve the soil in your garden and give you bigger and healthier harvests. Cover crops can be included in your annual garden plan, and can be planted in the fall. Learn how to use cover crops.
Late Spring – Winter Rye

 

Cover crops are a low-cost, low-maintenance way to improve the soil in your garden and give you bigger and healthier harvests. Cover crops can be included in your annual garden plan, and can be planted in the fall. Learn how to use cover crops.
Cutting the Rye

 

Easy to Grow

Most cover crops are easy to grow and require little care to maintain. Last fall I spread a mix of winter rye with hairy vetch, and they sprouted and grew all winter long with no attention from me. Some cover crops require mowing or cutting to kill them (like the winter rye), but other crops can be planted and winter-killed, depending on your local hardiness zone.

Getting Started with Cover Crops In the Garden

Probably the two biggest challenges in using cover crops in the garden are space and planning. Cover crops require time to grow, kill, and decompose. To make the most of starting with cover crops, you will want to:

  • Decide on the timing for your cover crop. Do you want a winter cover crop that won’t interfere with your spring and summer gardening? Do you want to plant a spring cover crop and use the bed later for fall vegetable growing?
  • Once you decide on your timing, plan your garden accordingly. You will be giving up precious garden space to allow for your cover crop. If you practice crop rotation, consider adding cover crops to your rotation.
  • Choose which cover crops to use. This website has great information on the types of cover crops and the best seasons to use them.

 

Further Resources for Improving Your Soil

 

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education has a list of cover crop varieties and best seasons to use them.

 

A Simple DIY Worm Bin – Composting With Worms

 

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Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: how to use cover crops in the garden, why use cover crops

Four Methods for Transforming Lawn Into Garden

1:15 pm by Seeking Joyful Simplicity 10 Comments

Starting a garden, or creating new garden space, especially on lawn, can be a challenge. The decision to till, or use a no-till gardening method such as lasagna gardening, depends on personal circumstances. For my first garden on our new homestead, I experimented with sheet composting using a layer of cardboard covered with straw. In this article, I address some of the advantages and disadvantages to both tilling and no-tilling methods of starting your garden.
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Our first year on the land, we were overwhelmed with projects. But at the top of our list was starting the annual vegetable garden beds. The question was - how do we transform overgrown grass and weeds into usable soil for tender new vegetable seeds and plants? We experimented with four methods for transforming lawn into garden, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each method.

 

Our first year on the land, we were overwhelmed with projects. But at the top of our list was starting the annual vegetable garden beds. The question was – how do we transform overgrown grass and weeds into usable soil for tender new vegetable seeds and plants? We experimented with four methods for transforming lawn into garden, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each method.

 

Four methods for transforming lawn into productive garden beds.

  1. Hand tilling or double digging
  2. Mechanical Tilling
  3. Layering/Sheet Mulching/Lasagna Gardening
  4. Raised Beds

Each of these four methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and your choice of method will depend on your circumstances and resources.

 

Tilling Lawn
Tilling a new bed

 

 

Tilling and Layering
Cardboard is the first layer for the no-till beds.

 

  1. Hand tilling or double digging.
    This method requires strength, perseverance, and a good pair of gloves! We are fortunate not to have an abundance of large stones on our property, but even so, breaking through thick grass and tough roots to create a loose soil appropriate for gardening was difficult and time-consuming. This method works well for small areas and is inexpensive. However, any kind of digging or tilling can destroy the worms and beneficial microorganisms so important to healthy soils, and although it kills most of the surface grass and weeds, some weed seeds will continue to sprout.
  2. Mechanical tilling. This method is great when you are working on a large area, as we did last year when starting most of our 1,000 square foot vegetable garden. We rented a mechanical rear-tine tiller which made the work of breaking through the surface layer of sod quick and easy. Similarly to hand digging, mechanical tilling can destroy beneficial soil organisms. You will also need to rent, borrow, or purchase a tiller. *A rear-tine tiller is used for breaking through tough sod. Front-tine tillers and cultivators are useful for working existing garden beds. (Learned from personal experience.)
  3. Layering/sheet mulching/lasagna gardening requires time (and patience). If you are in a hurry to plant, this method may not be suitable for you. The decomposition process for the layers takes time, and planting too soon may inhibit plant growth. It is a relatively inexpensive and easy method – having a resource for materials like cardboard, newspaper, compost and leaves definitely helps. And it smothers the grass and weeds below, allowing you to start your garden weed-free.
  4. Raised Garden Beds. The advantages of raised beds include:
  • Deep, loose soils for strong root development and greater nutrient absorption by the plants
  • Less weeds
  • Good drainage
  • Prevent erosion of garden soil during heavy rains
  • Higher beds can be easier to manage for those with difficulty bending or squatting
Raised Beds 1
Small raised beds in our suburban garden

 

Combining Methods

As I wrote last year in Starting a No-Till Garden, I originally planned to start our first garden using layers of cardboard (we had plenty of boxes from our recent move), adding aged compost we purchased, and straw. But we were short on time (and patience), and ended up starting most of our garden by tilling and hand-digging, and saving some areas for the longer no-tilling method.

The results were fantastic, and our first lawn-to-garden was highly productive and resilient!

 

July garden
July 2015 garden

 

At the same time we were creating our tilled beds, we started future beds with a foundation of cardboard, covered with compost, leaves, and straw. These new beds would be ready for planting the second spring. You can read more about the advantages of no-till gardening on my post Starting a No-Till Garden.

No till bed leaf layer
No till bed leaf layer

 

Adding Cover Crops

Another method for creating loose, nutrient-rich soils is the addition of cover crops. Last fall I planted half my garden – both the previously tilled beds and the lasagna layer beds, with a winter cover crop. Winter rye (not to be confused with rye grass), creates deep roots that help to break up the soil and when cut and killed in the spring, adds nutrients as it decomposes. The winter rye is equally excellent at preventing soil erosion from wind and rain, both of which we receive plenty of here in the valley. Using cover crops was a huge success in my garden, and well worth the planning. Even if you have limited space, you can take advantage of cover crops. Six Reasons for Using Cover Crops in the Garden. 

 Cutting the Rye
Cutting the Rye

 

Whatever method you use to transform your lawn into a productive garden bed, be sure to enjoy the process. It’s exciting to see the transformation, and in the long run, the rewards will be well worth the effort!

Four Easy Methods for Turning Lawn into garden

 

~ Michelle

Further Resources:

A Green Hand – How to Break Up Clay Soil

Earth Easy Blog – Earth Easy No Till Gardening

Rodale’s Organic Life No Till Gardening

Resources for building your own raised beds:

Frugal Mama and the Sprout – How to Build a Raised Garden Bed 

Deep Green Permaculture’s – Raised Garden Beds 

 

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Filed Under: Gardening, Simple Living Tagged With: lasagna gardening, raised garden bed, tilling versus no-tilling, turning lawn into garden

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The information provided here is not intended to replace professional medical advice and care. It is simply my perspective for you to consider as you make good choices for you and your family’s health. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and maintaining health. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not meant to diagnose any disease, nor is it intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Seek the support and care of a physician and/or complementary care practitioner you trust, and above all, listen to and trust in yourself. Be well! Seeking Joyful Simplicity is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases through their links supports us at no additional cost to you. For more information - visit our privacy and disclosure page

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