Its Not Neglect

I swear I'm not neglecting the blog... its just that my home computer died... :( I need a new monitor and possibly a new hard drive. Fortunately the old Monitor is under warranty, so that shouldn't be a problem.... Just a pain!

In other more exciting news I have added 2 more raised beds and DOUBLED the size of my garden!! I'm going to put in some more winter crops - Broccoli, Collards, Arugula, Kohlrabi, carrots, radishes, and maybe some more lettuce.

I've been working hard to eat only home grown or farmers market produce. I'm also thinking about how I want to live and eat in the future. I'm leaning towards an all natural diet consisting of lots of veggies, some local fruits, and then eventually transitioning to all home grown or local meats.

The meat transition will be the slowest. I want to start with chickens for eggs, then maybe for meat. I'd also eventually like to raise rabbit for meat. I'm currently working on designing my aquaponics system so I can raise tilapia and hydroponic veggies. I already get my beef from a local farmer and butcher.

Its all just a slow process to set up the self sustainable life I want to lead!

~LuLu

NEW Hotness!

As you all know my Old Machine DIED! :(  but for Christmas The Hubbs and the Rents got me THIS!

So if my old machine is OLD and BUSTED.... Then this must be NEW HOTNESS!

I can definitely feel the QUALITY! 

I've just gotta make the time to tackle the sewing projects I've been amassing!

~LuLu

Avacado Tree

 If  you remember My List of Things I want To Learn and Do planting an Avocado tree is on that list.... 

Well I did it!!

Well the Hubby and I did it a couple of weeks ago. This is a tree my mom started about 3 years ago on her kitchen counter. She then put it in a pot for me at her house. Well 3 years later it really needed more room. So I kidnapped it and planted it! It seems to be doing great. I now I just need to fertilize it a bit and keep it from freezing over the winter and maybe in the next year it will start to give me fruit!

~LuLu

Herb Garden

 So this is my Front herb garden before...

Its more of a weed and forgotten stuff garden in this picture. 

And this is it now! 

To the left are Onions, in the middle (where it looks like dirt) Garlic is starting to sprout, then to the left I have Dill, Stevia, Tarragon, Cilantro, and Oregano. 

The long coiled like black thing is not the worlds longest garden snake it is in fact a soaker hose. Which may be the only way I remember to water my herbs! Now I just need to set up the wonderful timer my hubby got me and I'll be good to go!

I'm working daily to keep weeds to a minimum and that seems to have gone a long way! I want to rip out those HUGE hedges to the right in the top picture, but that is a job that will just have to wait! 

~LuLu

Tomato

So I FINALLY have a ripe tomato! I planted these in August I think and they are JUST turning red! The bushes are covered in little green tomatoes, but they have taken ages to ripen. I finally, finally, FINALLY get to enjoy the fruit of my labor! (instead of having to steal them from my moms garden!)

Just thought I'd share that quick update with you!

~LuLu

My Home Sweet Homestead

 So this is my gardening area BEFORE!....

And this is it .... During......

And this is it NOW!! :) 

(PS I need to weed-eat around the boxes lol!)

I currently am growing Tomatoes out the wazoo, Broccoli, Collard greens, Cauliflower, Spinach, and assorted Leaf Lettuces. I have also got my herb garden up and going so I'll post about that soon. 

I'm accomplishing a lot of things, but it all feels like its going slowly. But I keep on a trudging through!

~LuLu