Here in Connecticut, we are on the cusp of the full spring bloom – much needed after such a dreary winter. As spring approaches its peak and a winter of planning comes to fruition, I feel like real progress is…
My Impulsive Journey into Maple Sugaring
For most of my life, my dream homestead included a maple forest so that I could produce my own maple syrup – it’s the quintessential New England dream, driven by fond childhood memories of frequent trips to Vermont. I didn’t…
Week 40 at Farm 96: Potato Towers & Starting Seeds
As frustrating as it is to have so little time for homesteading during the week, it does shed light on how lucky I am for most of the rest of the year. A typical homesteader with a full time job…
Week 39 at Farm 96: New Cold Frame
I am not behind on writing, but I am behind on posting – oops. Week 39 was March 16 through March 22nd. Here’s what I got done: Food Production I installed the new cold frame that I had constructed over…
Weeks 37 & 38 at Farm 96: Boiling Maple Sap!
As I enter the busiest season for my job and other responsibilities, I find myself having to cram as much as possible into one or two days each week. I enjoy all of the roles that I take on outside…
Week 36 at Farm 96: Blizzards & Books
This has been by far the most snow-packed winter that I can remember. There might have been years that technically rivaled this one – 2011 and 2013 come to mind – but the impacts of the snow really amplify when…
Week 35 at Farm 96: Blizzard Prep
It’s rare that I get a whole day to spend on homesteading tasks, so I was looking forward to tackling a few things on Saturday. With the last-minute shift in the weather forecast came a shift in the to-do list…
Week 34 at Farm 96: Tapping Maple Trees
As a reminder, I organize my week’s accomplishments according to my ultimate goals for this homestead property. Here’s what I got done this week: Food Production The garden dreams are at their peak while the actual productivity is nonexistent. The seedlings that…
Weeks 32 & 33 at Farm 96: Ordering Chicks & New Kitchen Table
To write these updates (mostly for my own records, although I do hope that some aspiring homesteader out there is reading and enjoying these), I keep a list of tasks that I get done on each day – and of…
Week 31 at Farm 96: Buying a Chicken Coop & Staying Warm
I vividly remember the October 2011 snowstorm that cancelled Halloween and closed school for two full weeks. Our house was without power for nine days. The appliances were electric and the gas fireplace had an electric starting mechanism. We were…
Week 30 at Farm 96: Spring Orchard Expansion & Planning a Cold Frame
As a reminder, I organize my week’s accomplishments according to my ultimate goals for this homestead property. Here’s what I got done this week: Food Production I placed a very exciting order for spring permaculture additions from Stark Bro’s Nursery. I was…
Weeks 27 & 28 at Farm 96: Sweet Potato Experiment and Overdue Organization
I had a blissful 12 days off from work for winter break. I really needed to relax – I’m a teacher, and the Thanksgiving to Christmas push was particularly brutal this year. But I didn’t spent much time lounging; every…