One thing I’ve learned since my husband’s recent 8-day hospital stay is that we are not set up for either one of us to do everything alone. I don’t have his physical strength. He doesn’t either. That means a lot of our “contrivances” will need to be modified so that I can do the job by myself if I have to and he can do it with less physical strain. It also means a lot … Continue reading
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It’s Tennessee Valley Fair time in East Tennessee, and our 4-H-er, Aidan, has done pretty well. We decided to share some of the fun with you in this new photo gallery. Is there a fair coming up in your area? Take some time to go and show your appreciation for your local future farmers in 4H and FFA. They work hard and deserve your pat on their back! These pictures were taken at the “Down … Continue reading
This is for my friends over on Pinterest and comes from the kind of knowledgeable folks at www.Homesteadingsurvivalism.com who get the credit for doing all this work. All of these 66 food plants can be grown in containers. I encourage you to visit their website or Facebook page and check out all the wonderful info they share. Tree fruits 1. Apples 2. Kumquats 3. Avocados 4. Blackberries 5. Blueberries 6. Pomegranate 7. Cherries 8. Figs … Continue reading
My hubby is home from the hospital (thankfully). It’s definitely been eye-opening around here while he was gone. I’ve managed to make some tough decisions and set some priorities: Purge while doing some very deep indoor cleaning. Cancel plans for a large fall garden and plan on some large container gardening that I can move indoors in super cold weather. Definitely find easier, better, less super-man muscle group requiring ways to do things around here. … Continue reading
God’s mercy when He has to grab me by the shirttail and say, “Whoa up!” is amazing to me, each and every time. Like this time. This particular “whoa” involved a trip to the hospital with my husband. What could have been a heart attack or a return of some very serious bleeding ulcers turned out to be none of the above. It’s still a definite “whoa,” but it was a “whoa” I needed to … Continue reading
A Facebook friend, Amie Gall, posted this story and picture on her wall and I really loved it. I thought you might, too: One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his small son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their … Continue reading
We’re so excited! We are now officially listed with “Pick Tennessee Products,” an agricultural marketing program of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. We hope you’ll stop by their website (click on the image) and find out more about all the wonderful things Tennessee farmers have to offer!
If you’re don’t have room or the need for a lot of garden, need a way to split your beds up or blend them in a bit, or just can’t get down to garden level easily, try one or more of our rustic garden boxes. Built from reclaimed decking boards, these 2 foot x 2 foot boxes are lined with landscape fabric to prevent soil loss and come complete with our nutrient rich garden soil … Continue reading
We’re practicing “eating between the rows” at Spirit Dog Farm. We now offer Lamb’s Quarter, a tasty mineral-rich substitute for spinach, and Wood Sorrell (lemony-limey addition to salads, soups, or as a seasoning on meats). These are available on the farm or through our listings at Knoxville Locally Grown, the online farmer’s market for the Knox County area. We will add more wild edibles as we locate and confirm their identity and uses, so stay … Continue reading
Making pear butter each year is one of our family’s favorite chores and treats. We harvest the Keifer pears at my grandmother’s and all work together to clean, peel and core them. (We all take our turns on taste testing, too!) We love it so much, we thought we’d share our special recipe with you.