The word "homestead" literally means to be steadfast at home. My joy would be to encourage other Christian women to rejoice in the home-centered life, instead of buying into the cultural norm of the mother who is constantly on the go. I publish the New Harvest newsletter for those who love homeschooling, growing and preserving food, crafting, homekeeping, backyard livestock, Titus 2 fellowship and all other aspects of the homestead life. Email me to get a free introductory issue! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:22:00 -0500 Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:22:00 -0500 At my blog over on Homestead Blogger.  I do all of my posting over there now as most of my entries have to do with homestead living:  Growing a kitchen garden, keeping backyard livestock, canning & preserving, crafting, homekeeping and lots of Titus 2 encouragement!   Please also visit my website   New Harvest Homestead   for a free sample issue of my newsletter!   Blessings to all!    Lisa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/117646/ Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:22:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/117646/ Now, I didn't mean to intimidate anybody with the numbers I put up in my last post about how much you would really need to plant to feed your family.  Actually, I want to inspire you!  When I think about those numbers, I am challenged to try again this year to become self-sufficient in at least one thing from the garden.  I know it's not realisitic to think that every single crop I plant is going to grow perfectly or go as far as I thought it would. For example, I got a bumper crop of pumpkins last fall.  I thought for sure I would have enough pumpkin to last until the following fall harvest and, actually, I did.  BUT, I decided to be very clever and overwinter them in my nice warm greenhouse (because pumpkins like to stay dry and warm, they keep better).  The local raccoon population thought it was awfully clever of me as well and they enjoyed chewing holes in every one of the pumpkins I had not yet used!  It didn't even occur to me that any varmints would get in there and eat my pumpkins! So, there you go.  You never know what will happen.  So, set the goal for yourself this year of just picking one thing that you would like to try and grow enough of to get through to the next year.  Think about a fruit or veggie that your family likes to eat a LOT.  It could be spinach or strawberries or carrots.  Whatever it is, put a lot of effort into learning about and growing that one particular crop.  Believe me, you will have such a feeling of accomplishment just knowing that that is at least one thing you will not have to purchase at the market throughout the coming year. Give it a try! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/115541/ Mon, 10 Apr 2006 10:56:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/115541/ ...to feed your family, assuming a family size of six.      For a family of six, you’d need to harvest:   40 lbs. of Spinach – That’s one 90 ft. row, three 30 ft. rows or six 15 ft. rows.  You’d need to freeze almost 80 of those little square packages.   40 lbs. of carrots – One 75 ft. row or three 25 ft. rows.  You’d need to succession plant (plant your seed every few weeks) in the spring and late summer.   48 lbs. of sweet potato – That’s one 80 ft. row, two 40 ft. rows or four 20 ft. rows.  You’d need to can 48 pint jars or 24 quart jars.   40 lbs. of winter squash (including pumpkin) – Thankfully, since winter squash is usually large, this will only require a 10 foot row.  Winter squash also keeps well (hence the name “winter squash”) so you might not need to do quite as much canning or freezing.  No one our forebears relied on this vegetable to get them through the winter months.   120 lbs. of tomato (whole) – One 100 ft. row (which is way too long for most gardens).  Break it down to five 20 ft. rows.  You’d need to can 60 quarts.   48 lbs. of peas – This would require you to plant 300 feet of rows!  That’s fifteen 20 foot rows.  Wow.  I’ve never managed that particular feat.  You’d need to freeze 24 two pound bags.   120 lbs. of green beans – That’s a 200 foot row, or ten 20 foot rows.  Who eats that many green beans?  You’d need to can 120 quart jars or freeze 60 two pound bags.   72 lbs. of sweet corn – Another 200 foot row, or ten 20 foot rows.  You’d need to can 36 quarts or freeze 18 two pound bags.   From the March/April 2006 issue of the New Harvest Homestead newsletter.  Email me at NewHarv@aol.com  to request your free introductory copy. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/107717/ Tue, 28 Mar 2006 10:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/107717/ I have been re-reading "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. For those who haven't read it, it is the story of how her entire family was sent to concentration camps during World War II.  Only Corrie survived.  They were devout Christians who harbored Jewish refugees as they tried to make their way out of Germany and escape the Nazi death camps.  When the Nazis found out what the Ten Boom family was doing, they were all arrested and sent to Ravensbruck. I was deeply moved by the following passage: "...Betsie and I made our way to the rear of the dormitory room where we held our worship "service"...and here an ever larger group of women gathered.  They were services like no others, these times in Barracks 28.  A single meeting might include a recital of the Magnificat in Latin by a group of Roman Catholics, a whispered hymn by some Lutherans, and a sotto-voce chant by Eastern Orthodox women.  At last either Betsie or I would open the Bible.  Because only the Hollanders could understand the Dutch text, we would translate aloud in German.  And then we would hear the life-giving words passed back along the aisles in French, Polish, Russian, Czech, back into Dutch.  They were little previews of heaven, these evenings beneath the light bulb.  I would think of Haarlem, each substantial church set behind its wrought-iron fence and its barrier of doctrine.  And I would know that in darkness, God's truth shines most clear." As a believer of 26 years now, I have seen those "barriers of doctrine" divide Christians all too often.  I'm not talking about the essential doctrines of true Christianity, but the particulars, the preferences, the traditions, the "convictions" that many times are allowed to become paramount over and above the one common faith in Jesus Christ we all share.  Have you experienced the sting of being rejected, judged or measured by other believers solely on the basis of some non-essential pet doctrine?  Me too.  And I confess, with shame, I have rejected, judged and measured others as well. But, as I read the above portion of the book, I was struck with a revelation that put things in an eternal perspective for me.  I thought about people in the past that had been judgmental toward me, or toward whom I had been judgmental.  I imagined us together in a prison cell, persecuted because, despite our differences, we both named the Name of Jesus Christ.  I know under those circumstances, every inconsequential "particular" would melt away and the Jesus we both loved and for Whom we both suffered would become all that mattered. If you have been hurt, judged or unjustly measured by a fellow believer, I urge you to try this little exercise.  It was the most fervent prayer of our Master that we be "one" even as He and the Father are One.  Oh, let us strive to honor that prayer and see beyond the temporal!  God, grant to each of us an eternal perspective today.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/96730/ Wed, 8 Mar 2006 16:36:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/96730/ I just got home yesterday after a week long visit with family in Southern California.  It is very hard to be away from the homestead, as there is so much waiting to be done when I get back (which is probably why I don't travel much!).  But, that's another blog!   What I really want to talk about is lemons.  It seems like everyone in So. Cal has a lemon tree!  And this is the time of year when folks are absolutely swimming in the mouth-puckering fruit.  Here in the Pac Northwest, lemons don't do so well.  My little lemon tree is a very sad sight, indeed.  So, imagine my joy when at least three different members of my family offered to send me home with a bag of lemons!  No small thing when you consider the little buggers go for 25 cents a pop at the market.   What to do with so many lemons, you may ask?  I like to have a marathon squeezing session.  I have an electric citrus juicer, which is one of those gadgets not often used, but when it is needed it is a gem!  The kids love to get in on the act of reaming the fruit.  Once all of the fruit is juiced, I pour the juice into ice cube trays and freeze.  When frozen, I pop them into a Ziploc freezer bag.  These are just the perfect size for throwing into a batch of jam or other recipe calling for lemon juice.  Or, thaw a bunch for lemonade.         http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/90684/ Sun, 26 Feb 2006 12:43:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/90684/ I caught myself rushing yesterday.  Rushing through my daily routine - feverishly hurrying to make meals and get schoolwork done; feed the animals, do the laundry.  At some point, I had a moment of clarity and thought, "What on earth is my hurry?" I pondered on that a bit.  What I realized is that there is a part of me that is always wanting to get done with what I am doing so I can "have a moment".  And, honestly, I don't really know what I want to do with that "moment".  It's almost as if I want to arrive at some final destination in life where all is quiet and peaceful with no worries and no loose ends that need tying up.  Comfortable. Yeah, right. I have been through some trials and tribulations this past year and have watched some dear friends go through their own troubles.  What has become increasingly clear to me is that maybe, just maybe, we aren't supposed to get too comfortable in this world.  We are in enemy territory right now and it should not come as a shock when the fiery darts and arrows fly our way.  Peter tells us plainly not to be surprised at this, as if it were a strange and unusual thing.  This is actually going to be the way of life for us until the day we go to be with the Lord.  Where did we get this idea that, at some point, everything is supposed to just fall into place? To quote the immortal words of Roseann Roseannadanna:  It's always something. So, stop looking for that "moment" - it's an illusion.  No, worse, it's a deception.  We are supposed to live every moment, no matter what we are doing or what may be happening, in the light of the glory of Christ.  Quit waiting for some elusive, dreamlike existence, it's not going to happen.  Submit yourself to Him every moment of every day - because your life is happening right now. I pray you will live this day in the freedom of His truth. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/84678/ Wed, 15 Feb 2006 11:46:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/84678/ I have wanted to learn to weave for so long, but the prospect of having to buy an expensive loom and learn the intricate movements always hindered me.  Not to mention I have no room for a big loom! Well, I just discovered something  I am so excited about.  A company called Buxton Brook Looms manufactures a little handheld loom called the Weavette.  You will not believe the projects you can accomplish on this little lap loom - scarves, pillows even blankets and afghans.  Click around their beautiful website for more information.  The looms are not very expensive - $21.00 for the most popular and basic 4x4 loom. Another website that contains helpful information is the Weavies One site.  They sell a book which contains lots of patterns and instructions for making projects using the Weavette loom.  The price is a very affordable $12.50. This is exactly the kind of product that thrills my heart as a homestead woman.  It's an uncomplicated way of creating beautiful things with my two hands without having to spend a lot of money.  It allows us to practice one of the ancient arts without having to spend years learning how to do it. I can't wait to order mine! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/81475/ Thu, 9 Feb 2006 14:45:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/81475/ O.K.  Now that  you have all your broth canned and lots of tender chicken, here's an absolutely scrumptious soup to use it in:   Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds of the cooked chicken 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced 1 red bell pepper, diced 2 TBS. olive oil 1 TBS. butter 3/4 tsp. ground cumin 4 cups of the chicken broth 2 cups water 2 cups heavy cream 2 cups sweet corn 1 cup cooked white rice 1 can diced green chiles 4 TBS. corn starch mixed in 1/2 cup water A few shakes of Tabasco dash of paprika 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves salt & pepper to taste   Melt the butter and olive oil together in a heavy stock pot.  Add the onion, garlic and bell pepper and saute for a minute, til onion is translucent.  Add the chicken, cumin and a little pepper and stir.  Add the broth and water and bring to a boil, simmer on low heat for a few minutes.  Stir in the cream, corn, rice and chiles.  Cook, stirring frequently, for about five minutes.  Stir the corn starch into the water and add to the hot soup.  Stir until soup thickens.  When soup is thick, shake in a few dashes of Tabasco, salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cilantro. This is so delicious, satisfying and filling.  Just perfect for a cold winter night. Enjoy! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/77223/ Thu, 2 Feb 2006 00:17:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/77223/ Making your own is easy and you will know that your  broth is healthy and natural. Place a 3-4 lb. chicken (gizzards removed) in a very large pot and fill with water to cover.   Add one onion, peeled and halved, 3 carrots, chunked, 2 celery stalks, chunked and 1 TBS. of peppercorns. Bring to a full boil and then simmer for 90 minutes covered.  When done, remove chicken from broth to a platter and cool.  Remove all of the meat from the bones and save it for chicken salad, soups, etc. Strain the vegetables out of the broth and freeze.  You can use them later in soups, stews, etc. When the broth is cool, strain it through several thicknesses of cheesecloth into a large bowl or pot.  Cover the pot and put it  in the fridge overnight.  In the morning, skim off all of the excess fat which will have solidified at the top. Now, get some pint or quart jars, wash them, and keep them hot in a 250 degree oven or boiling water.  Get your canning lids ready also. Place the recommended amount of water in your pressure canner and start the fire under it.  Bring your chicken broth back to a boil and ladle it into the hot jars, leaving one inch headspace. Process at 11 pounds pressure - 20 minutes for pints, 25 minutes for quarts. That's it!  Now you have your own, homemade chicken broth ready for delicious soups, stews and other recipes.  I'll post a couple of good soup recipes in the next couple of days. Blessings! Lisa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/74788/ Sat, 28 Jan 2006 14:22:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/74788/ Come on over to my homestead blog and check out my contest!   Blessings!   Lisa http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/70073/ Wed, 18 Jan 2006 17:20:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/NewHarvest/70073/