Tag: homesteading

Homestead Build Update 4/3/2023

Homestead Farmhouse Update from Shane:

” We’re making progress! These past few months have been working on the tedious stuff. But we’re getting closer to getting out of the low speed buoyies, and in to open water, where we’ll be able to get some speed! I’ve been working on getting the plumbing installed, as well as a few other side projects along the way. I built a small “house” for the post office so we can use it for shipping out product for Michelle’s business I put it on top of a post used for a new hose bib outside of the garage, so now I can also wash the cars more conveniently. Two fold project. I’ve also been running all of the new plumbing inside the house, and managed to get the water heater plumbing and rear of the house hose bib installed, which will also supply water to the new lower garden. Along the way, I started building the new dog pen, and Michelle and I got the new lower garden fence posts in. Today, I finally got the new water main completed, so we’re super close to being finished with the plumbing! Stay tuned if you dare! BIG progress is happening!”

Farm Where You Live 4/15/2023

I was so excited to see my mentor Rochelle from Legacy Home and Garden. She was so encouraging and supportive.

I also saw some friends from Hungry and Homesteading, Living The Hight Life, Front Yard Foods, Urban Homestead-Her, and Rangling The Rutherfords. The table next to me was a young entrepreneur from the Rutherford Family, Bold Faith Bakery. She spoke on starting a business and sold out of goodies by the afternoon. I was very impressed with how well-spoken, polite, and mature she was.

My 10 Herbs You Should Grow workshop received positive feedback, and it was so wonderful to meet so many people planning or just starting their homesteads.. I am looking forward to the September event and am honored to be offering another workshop.

Hope to see you there.

10 Herbs You Need To Plant Workshop 4/15/2023

My first speaking engagement is tomorrow!! If you are attending Farm Where You Live Homesteading Festival in Asheville, NC, come check out my workshop 10 Herbs You Need To Grow.
Each one will have a culinary, medicinal, garden, and livestock use. Handouts are ready and hot off the press. See you at 9 am Workshop Tent B.

Homestead Build Update 4/4/2023

Update from Shane:

“Homestead Farmhouse Update: I took a day off to hang for a few hours with my buddy, Trevor Wright, who came to see me allllll the way from New Mexico, but I was back at it today. The new patio roof is nearly complete, and I’m pretty happy with it. Tomorrow I’ll actually finish the roof, but today, I was able to finish all of the flashing and drip edge. Decided to change the diagonal braces out for beefier and more aesthetically pleasing(in my opinion) braces. Painted all of the metal hardware black and got the first coat of stain on the posts, beam and fascia. Moving forward and making progress!”

Monday Mindset 4/3/2023

Shane and I have been talking a lot lately about our decision to move across the country. Did we make the right choice? Did we do the right thing?

We miss friends, we miss family, we miss the home we worked on for 10 years and finally had the way we wanted.

As everything begins to bloom again, we are reminded of the beauty that inspired us to move here.

Shane’s hard work on the farmhouse renovation is making tremendous progress and we can both envision holidays, celebrations and many beautiful memories to come in a home that has truly been built with love.

I am clearing garden beds, starting seeds and getting some plant starts into the soil. Another garden season is beginning. I am also busy working on the skincare line. Perfecting formulas, creating new products, deepening my knowledge of the ingredients I use and want to incorporate. Also, making spreadsheets, learning about marketing and all the essential but not always fun parts of running a successful business.

Change pushes us out of our comfort zones, even positive change. A seed has to set roots and then push it’s way through the dirt and break through so the sun can shine down on the new little plant.

As we build and grow in this new season of our life, I do believe we are setting strong roots. For our marriage, for our family and for us as individuals.

Having a clear vision and a shared dream of building this homestead has provided a deeper connection to each other and the roots of our marriage are stronger than ever.

Change is a gift to help us grow. All we need to do is look to nature, to know it is true.

Homestead Build 2/1/2023

Homestead Main House update: Well, now that the roof is done, I can now focus my attention on the doors and windows. Two of four windows that need to be relocated are done, and the new exterior kitchen door is installed. Small progress, but progress nonetheless! Just 10 more windows to go in preparation for the new exterior siding!

Homestead Build Update 1/28/2023

Homestead Build Update from Shane:

Homestead update: We’ve got our brand new roof! I spent part of the day Thursday cutting through the roof to place the new Waste Line vents, bathroom ventilation fan and range hood vents. Yesterday the old roofing was removed, and the new roof installed! Big progress! Next up? Start framing in the new windows and start getting the exterior stripped of the old aluminum siding. Exterior wrapped. Windows and new siding installed! Easy Peasy?

Keep following for more updates.

Homestead Build Update 1/14/2023

Homestead Build Update from Shane:

Homestead Update: Sometimes you have to slow down to speed up. I spent the day yesterday cleaning up, reorganizing and removing both the old, extremely heavy wood burning stove from the living room and all of the old HVAC ducting from underneath the house. Both were pretty big chores. Today, I was able to reframe the dividing wall for the laundry room, 1/2 bath and new walk in shower. This wall is a non load bearing wall that I framed directly on to the floor joists. NOT the traditional way to do this, but I needed to leave the subflooring out in order to run water lines and configure all the new drains. There just isn’t enough clearance to comfortably crawl under this entire area, and this wall is needed for the plumbing vents. So, non traditional it was. When you’re making a very old house do something it wasn’t originally designed and built to do, you HAVE to think outside of the box sometimes. It is what it is, and that’s exactly what makes this fun for me! This stubborn little house WILL conform one way or another…

Homestead Build Update 1/12/2023

Homestead Update: Wayyyy more progress on the main house in the last week. Mud sills and rimm joists are all done in the kitchen, and the new beam and floor joists are installed! Brand new roof and brand new HVAC system are scheduled for the next few weeks! We’ll be continuing on over the next few weeks framing the new walls that we need and replacing/ relocating all of the windows and exterior doors! So stoked!!!

Homestead Update 1/4/2023

Shane has been super busy around the homestead.

His hard work hard work is really pushing progress forward.

“Homestead Update: Shwew! What a busy/ productive few weeks it’s been! Got the garage storage loft built and did some more moving in/ organizing. Installed lights and got most of the garage wired and new sub panel installed. Got the upper garden fencing project completed finally. Took down two small closets in the main house. Built a new bedroom wall and standard size closet. Took out two brick chimneys (One was buried in a wall) rebuilt two major sill plates that were 100% rotted, returning structural integrity to the kitchen. Finished removing all of the old water pipes and drains. Built a Chicnic Table for the chickens and celebrated harvesting our first ever chicken eggs! We’ve harvested about a dozen this past week! Pretty exciting, forward movement!”

Homemade Laundry Soap

Do you make laundry soap?

What is your favorite recipe?

Today I used:

1/2 bar grated Fels-Naptha soap

Full bar grated Zote Soap

3 cups Borax

3 cups Super Washing Soda

2 1/2 cups Baking Soda.

Small scoop for light loads, slightly soiled.

Big scoop for big jobs.

Store in container of your choice.

Sunday In The Kitchen

Spending Sunday in the kitchen. Canning beans, making dog food, infusing oil with herbs for salve. While it looks messy, my heart is at peace. I am finding joy in slowing down and providing for my family in a way that is healthier, sustainable. I am learning skills to pass down to my kids and grandkids. God is truly blessing me in this stage of life and I am grateful.  What is bringing you joy and gratitude in your life now.