I forgot to say, last night I pulled my seeds out to go through them. I have a ton. I counted 22 varieties of tomatoes! Every type of squash and pepper you can imagine. Geezer Garage, you mentioned using black plastic to suppress weeds, but my gardens are too big.
Life on the Homestead
- Thread starter CathyHorn
- Start date
Alligatorob
SF VIP
What do you do with all of your tomatoes? We always have more than we can use. We put up some sauce, but can only eat so much of it.
I won't plant all 22 varieties this year, probably 10-12. I've sold at the local farmers market, I had a CSA one year. I can a lot, and give away a ton. I start way more seedlings than I could ever use so I give lots away. There's nothing I would rather do than work in my garden.
Ugg, I'm so annoyed. I recently replaced my farm boots, because one had started to leak. I tried to fix it with a boot repair kit but it didn't last. I looked and looked, and settled on a pair from TSC. They were pretty cheap, I think around $20? So I've been wearing them around here, in the snow, they were fine. Until today when I went out in the slushy mess and one boot is leaking. I think for now I'll use a bread bag over my sock, and try the repair kit later on. Darn it.
Sliverfox
Well-known Member
@CathyHorn,, is there a sporting / hunter goods store nearby?
I got lucky several years ago at a gun store,, founds boys boots that fit me .
Kamile is the brand name, probably discontinued now.
They have the felt liner I was looking.
My Tractor Supply boots are wore for weed wacker.
I got lucky several years ago at a gun store,, founds boys boots that fit me .
Kamile is the brand name, probably discontinued now.
They have the felt liner I was looking.
My Tractor Supply boots are wore for weed wacker.
My feet are too big for boys boots, I've already tried that, but thanks for the suggestion.
katlupe
SF VIP
- Location
- Norwich, NY
Country Max up here in Norwich usually has a good supply of boots. I haven't been in there for at least 5 years now but they have some on their website.
Country Max
Sliverfox
Well-known Member
@CathyHorn,, then look at men's boots! 
Good morning all! Happy Spring, finally. We had beautiful weather yesterday, and it's supposed to be sunny and 50° again today. I have very bad insomnia, and I can't explain it but I've sleep for the past 2 nights. I feel great this morning.
Yesterday I went to the city where my siblings all live, about a 40 minute drive. My sister has been having some pretty serious health issues, she was recently hospitalized for a week. She's home now, adjusting to being on oxygen 24/7, and no longer working. I had been concerned that she wasn't doing anything but sleeping all day. She's been depressed, dealing with losing her best friend, her cigarettes. I don't say that in fun, or take it lightly. I think quitting a life long addiction is one of the hardest things a person can do. I've had my own demons to battle, so I know she's suffering. Anyway, I visited her, and told her I was going to Lowe's and to Aldi. (I knew she wanted to go to Lowe's to look at flower seeds!). I suggested she come along. She's uncomfortable driving with the portable oxygen. She said yes! It's funny because she never would ride along anywhere with me because she couldn't smoke in my car, and I couldn't ride along with her because she smoked in her car. She bought her seeds, and smiled a lot. Praise God
So I'm up early with no real plans for the day. Both dogs are still in bed, snoring. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Yesterday I went to the city where my siblings all live, about a 40 minute drive. My sister has been having some pretty serious health issues, she was recently hospitalized for a week. She's home now, adjusting to being on oxygen 24/7, and no longer working. I had been concerned that she wasn't doing anything but sleeping all day. She's been depressed, dealing with losing her best friend, her cigarettes. I don't say that in fun, or take it lightly. I think quitting a life long addiction is one of the hardest things a person can do. I've had my own demons to battle, so I know she's suffering. Anyway, I visited her, and told her I was going to Lowe's and to Aldi. (I knew she wanted to go to Lowe's to look at flower seeds!). I suggested she come along. She's uncomfortable driving with the portable oxygen. She said yes! It's funny because she never would ride along anywhere with me because she couldn't smoke in my car, and I couldn't ride along with her because she smoked in her car. She bought her seeds, and smiled a lot. Praise God
So I'm up early with no real plans for the day. Both dogs are still in bed, snoring. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
katlupe
SF VIP
- Location
- Norwich, NY
Happy Spring, Hilltop Daisy! Puts me in a good mood to see the sunlight this morning. Maybe you are sleeping better because you are finally able to live what your heart desires.....on your homestead and don't have to make that drive back and forth to work.
You are correct, it is very hard to stop smoking as I had to do it for health reasons. I am just glad I did it at the first sign of trouble, no oxygen or other treatments. She will need your support going forward. It is a habit that is so ingrained it does cause other problems when you quit. She will need to find something positive to do, work in the garden, read, crochet, take walks, just other things to focus on.Good morning all! Happy Spring, finally. We had beautiful weather yesterday, and it's supposed to be sunny and 50° again today. I have very bad insomnia, and I can't explain it but I've sleep for the past 2 nights. I feel great this morning.
Yesterday I went to the city where my siblings all live, about a 40 minute drive. My sister has been having some pretty serious health issues, she was recently hospitalized for a week. She's home now, adjusting to being on oxygen 24/7, and no longer working. I had been concerned that she wasn't doing anything but sleeping all day. She's been depressed, dealing with losing her best friend, her cigarettes. I don't say that in fun, or take it lightly. I think quitting a life long addiction is one of the hardest things a person can do. I've had my own demons to battle, so I know she's suffering. Anyway, I visited her, and told her I was going to Lowe's and to Aldi. (I knew she wanted to go to Lowe's to look at flower seeds!). I suggested she come along. She's uncomfortable driving with the portable oxygen. She said yes! It's funny because she never would ride along anywhere with me because she couldn't smoke in my car, and I couldn't ride along with her because she smoked in her car. She bought her seeds, and smiled a lot. Praise God
So I'm up early with no real plans for the day. Both dogs are still in bed, snoring. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
I bought myself a present. It's an electric pressure canner. Not a cooker, but a canner. I've been canning for about 40 years, mostly water-bath. Typical pressure canning is a pretty big endeavor, and since I'm on my own now, I wanted to down size. This canner does 5 pints or 4 quarts. My old pressure canner weighs a ton, and this isn't much bigger than an Instapot. Today I canned 10 pints of chicken vegetable soup. I have 2# of dried white beans soaking to can tomorrow. After that, Italian sausage with peppers in tomato sauce. I have very, very little freezer space, so no room for anything but a couple ice cube trays, let alone soup's, etc.
I started lettuce seeds today. After looking through my seed stash, I realized I will be growing mostly vegetables that are direct sown, and not started inside. Now, I will start tomatoes, peppers, cukes, squash, a few other things. But direct sow several varieties of beans, peas, beets, radish, corn, onions and potatoes. I fall planted a big raised bed of garlic last fall. I think this will be an amazing garden, because I'm retired now, and my health is excellent. I can't do anything outside yet, it's soo muddy, and we're expecting more rain tomorrow. I can't wait to pick my fresh produce and can it up for winter.
I started lettuce seeds today. After looking through my seed stash, I realized I will be growing mostly vegetables that are direct sown, and not started inside. Now, I will start tomatoes, peppers, cukes, squash, a few other things. But direct sow several varieties of beans, peas, beets, radish, corn, onions and potatoes. I fall planted a big raised bed of garlic last fall. I think this will be an amazing garden, because I'm retired now, and my health is excellent. I can't do anything outside yet, it's soo muddy, and we're expecting more rain tomorrow. I can't wait to pick my fresh produce and can it up for winter.
Rain, rain, go away. What a muddy mess. I don't even want to go outside, not for any reason. Weatherman says mixed rain and snow for the overnight.
My canning has been successful. 9/10 soup sealed, 4/4 beans sealed. It will be such a thrill to can my homegrown produce this summer. It's funny how my "homesteading mindset" has kicked into full gear this last few weeks. I've been living back here for almost a full year. I spent the first few months moving from my home in the city, preparing it to sell. I had so much "stuff" to go through, and sell or re-home, and a lot of it is still packed away in boxes out in a shed. Anyway, I want to get back into baking bread, along with the gardening, and canning.
My canning has been successful. 9/10 soup sealed, 4/4 beans sealed. It will be such a thrill to can my homegrown produce this summer. It's funny how my "homesteading mindset" has kicked into full gear this last few weeks. I've been living back here for almost a full year. I spent the first few months moving from my home in the city, preparing it to sell. I had so much "stuff" to go through, and sell or re-home, and a lot of it is still packed away in boxes out in a shed. Anyway, I want to get back into baking bread, along with the gardening, and canning.
Hi guys. Another sleepless night. I just made a fresh pot of coffee and went over my bills for the hundredth time this month. I made the decision to bite the bullet and pay off one of my credit cards. I was in Lowe's yesterday and felt myself seriously considering spend the "extra money" that I had this month on things like forsythia bushes and concrete bird baths, etc. So as of 5:30am that card now has a balance of $0.
The focus of the garden has to be food, for now. I have 2 spots that were gardens in the past, both about 40'x40', pretty good sized. One is completely fenced, but it need some repairs. Some of the posts have heaved so I need to fix that and rehang the gate. There is rhubarb growing in there. I raked the old debris away and found new growth peeking out. I planted a 4'x8' bed of garlic last fall and that is also showing some green. If I look really good I also see chives. There is horseradish in there but no sign of it yet.
Now is the time to start seeds of tender plants like tomatoes and peppers, and some annual flowers. I need to get on that.
It's starting to get light out and I've managed to get about an hour of sleep. I'm very tired so I'll try again now. Have a good day.
The focus of the garden has to be food, for now. I have 2 spots that were gardens in the past, both about 40'x40', pretty good sized. One is completely fenced, but it need some repairs. Some of the posts have heaved so I need to fix that and rehang the gate. There is rhubarb growing in there. I raked the old debris away and found new growth peeking out. I planted a 4'x8' bed of garlic last fall and that is also showing some green. If I look really good I also see chives. There is horseradish in there but no sign of it yet.
Now is the time to start seeds of tender plants like tomatoes and peppers, and some annual flowers. I need to get on that.
It's starting to get light out and I've managed to get about an hour of sleep. I'm very tired so I'll try again now. Have a good day.
katlupe
SF VIP
- Location
- Norwich, NY
Congratulations on paying off your credit card! Such a good feeling, I know.
Pappy
Living the Dream
- Location
- Florida (transplanted New Yorker.)
I somehow missed your intro and great site Cathy. I will follow it from here on. Your comments sound a lot like you live in upstate NY. Wonder if it was anywhere near where I was raised? Country boy from Norwich, NY and spent lots of time in Bainbridge, Whitesboro, Utica, New Hatford, etc. All of central NY I guess with many hours spent in the Adirondack mountains fishing with my day. Enough about me. Look forward to your posts and be well….Pappy.
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
This is the first I'm seeing your post Cathy so belated Welcome! I have a couple of questions.
~When you moved to the city, was someone else staying at (or renting) your homestead?
~If not, did you commute to tend to the property?
~How much land do you have?
It's great that you are feeling 100% again, especially having to tend to your land. I agree that so as not to get overwhelmed, tackle projects a little at a time. I bet you'll get a lot of exercise working your land and that can't be a bad thing. I bet your property is beautiful during spring and summer months.
~When you moved to the city, was someone else staying at (or renting) your homestead?
~If not, did you commute to tend to the property?
~How much land do you have?
It's great that you are feeling 100% again, especially having to tend to your land. I agree that so as not to get overwhelmed, tackle projects a little at a time. I bet you'll get a lot of exercise working your land and that can't be a bad thing. I bet your property is beautiful during spring and summer months.
I have just over 5 acres. I lived here alone for close to 20 years. Well, besides all the animals. I planned it so that I had nothing left but dogs and a cat when I bought the house in the city. I was just waiting for the right time. I was starting to have some serious health problems and I knew I would need help. I did not rent it out, I simply closed the door behind me and hit the pause button. I had the power turned off, and I only came out a few times a year. I proceeded to have 5 major surgeries in the next 5 years.
Pappy, I live about a half hour from Norwich.
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
Thank you for answering. Considering all you've been through, I reiterate...it's great that you're feeling 100% now!
Today is a miserable rainy day. It's 50° but raw from the rain. Last night it poured for hours, with thunder and lightning. I just broke down and ordered a quality pair of barn boots. My feet both got wet walking to get my mail, because my boots are leaking. The brand is Hisea and they actually have a lifetime guarantee.
I went through my seed stash, again. Oh my goodness, I have so many seeds. What's done is done, I can't "unbuy" them, but I keep getting ready to place another "small order" only to find that I do, in fact, already have that exact pack of seeds. Today I sorted everything into separate clear plastic zip lock baggies. All the squash in one bag, beets in one bag, beans in one, etc. I know it seems crazy but I have at least 20 different varieties of squash, and I want every one of them! I have ten kinds of sunflowers and I placed an order for 2 more today.
So just a little history, for fun. I have always planted an enormous garden, ever since I bought this land, more than 20 years ago. I worked full-time at a hospital 30 miles away. When I took that job I had already committed to doing a CSA, short for Community Supported Agriculture. I offered 12 weeks of produce (eggs, and honey for an additional fee) including delivery, for a set price, I think it was $350 for a membership. I had 9 member families that year. I didn't make a penny profit because I had to buy everything I needed that first year, the tiller, baskets, a seeder, and of course, seeds. I also sold at a small local farmers market, and to coworkers. I remember when I was chatting with a nurse I worked with, and I shared that I was thinking about bringing bags of lettuce in to see if our coworkers might buy them. She said "Who would buy??", she thought it was a stupid idea. So guess what? In the year 2001, I sold $75 of lettuce the first day I tried it.
I live about 4 hours from NY City, so there are city people who purchase small pieces of land out here and call them camps, or their summer place. They might put a camper on the property, a picnic table and a fire pit, and come out a few times during the summer. One day I was working out in the front garden and a car pulled into the driveway. A man approached me, introducing himself, and pointed to his car full of kids, and his wife. They were from somewhere in Europe and his wife didn't speak any English, the kids were their grandsons. They had a camp about 1/4 mile away. He wanted his grandsons to see the animals, and his wife wanted to buy fresh vegetables from the garden. She walked with me, and pointed at what she wanted, and I picked it for her. Can we say "fresh"? The boys fed carrots to the horses, and petted them. One time they stopped just as I was about to bottle feed a group of goat kids, so the boys fed them with me. I'm tearing up as I write this because it is such an emotional memory for me. So you know that I moved to the city for 5 years, and the place sat empty, and I came back last April. Do you know that man stopped here when he saw my car over the summer, with a little boy, the son of a little boy who fed the baby goats. Now there are no horses or goats, only chickens. And this year, a garden.
I feel like I could still do a lot out here, but not for money. I'd love to have a pony and a milk goat, but it's so much work, and I'm not young and strong anymore. I want to get back into canning for myself.
Ok, thanks for reading. As you can see, I love talking about gardening, etc.
I went through my seed stash, again. Oh my goodness, I have so many seeds. What's done is done, I can't "unbuy" them, but I keep getting ready to place another "small order" only to find that I do, in fact, already have that exact pack of seeds. Today I sorted everything into separate clear plastic zip lock baggies. All the squash in one bag, beets in one bag, beans in one, etc. I know it seems crazy but I have at least 20 different varieties of squash, and I want every one of them! I have ten kinds of sunflowers and I placed an order for 2 more today.
So just a little history, for fun. I have always planted an enormous garden, ever since I bought this land, more than 20 years ago. I worked full-time at a hospital 30 miles away. When I took that job I had already committed to doing a CSA, short for Community Supported Agriculture. I offered 12 weeks of produce (eggs, and honey for an additional fee) including delivery, for a set price, I think it was $350 for a membership. I had 9 member families that year. I didn't make a penny profit because I had to buy everything I needed that first year, the tiller, baskets, a seeder, and of course, seeds. I also sold at a small local farmers market, and to coworkers. I remember when I was chatting with a nurse I worked with, and I shared that I was thinking about bringing bags of lettuce in to see if our coworkers might buy them. She said "Who would buy??", she thought it was a stupid idea. So guess what? In the year 2001, I sold $75 of lettuce the first day I tried it.
I live about 4 hours from NY City, so there are city people who purchase small pieces of land out here and call them camps, or their summer place. They might put a camper on the property, a picnic table and a fire pit, and come out a few times during the summer. One day I was working out in the front garden and a car pulled into the driveway. A man approached me, introducing himself, and pointed to his car full of kids, and his wife. They were from somewhere in Europe and his wife didn't speak any English, the kids were their grandsons. They had a camp about 1/4 mile away. He wanted his grandsons to see the animals, and his wife wanted to buy fresh vegetables from the garden. She walked with me, and pointed at what she wanted, and I picked it for her. Can we say "fresh"? The boys fed carrots to the horses, and petted them. One time they stopped just as I was about to bottle feed a group of goat kids, so the boys fed them with me. I'm tearing up as I write this because it is such an emotional memory for me. So you know that I moved to the city for 5 years, and the place sat empty, and I came back last April. Do you know that man stopped here when he saw my car over the summer, with a little boy, the son of a little boy who fed the baby goats. Now there are no horses or goats, only chickens. And this year, a garden.
I feel like I could still do a lot out here, but not for money. I'd love to have a pony and a milk goat, but it's so much work, and I'm not young and strong anymore. I want to get back into canning for myself.
Ok, thanks for reading. As you can see, I love talking about gardening, etc.
katlupe
SF VIP
- Location
- Norwich, NY
Cathy, I remember well the first time our little group of NY homesteaders came to "Hilltop Daisy" for our get together. It was to your homestead. Magical. You had the big workhorses back then. I loved your vintage trailer! It was a lot of work, I know. But to all of us, it was breathtaking, a real homestead with all the critters and a beautiful garden. I miss that life but know now the things I should have done and what I should not have done. You will have a wonderful year now that you have gotten through the winter! Love you, my homesteading sister!
Disgustedman
Senior Member
May I suggest that "Flex Seal"? You can buy it in spray, tape and paintable colors.