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 

A Moment of Silence...

... for my poor poor sewing machine! I think I've had it since I was 12 (possibly longer). We've been through a lot together. The ups, the downs, the quilts, the clothes, the royal messes, and the awesome successes. Last week she finally gave up the ghost... and I haven't been quite the same since!

Although I guess its guess its a good time of year for a BIG purchase... Now to pick my NEW machine! MUAHAHAHA!! I have a feeling my new machjine will be WAY better than my 12 year old walmart special machine!!

However, the torture of having a stack of reddy to go projects waiting on a new machine is enough to drive any crafter MAD!

~LuLu

Homesteading

I have to tell you I've VERY interested in creating a modern homestead, but I have found the books on the subject to be a bit lacking. I understand the authors problem is that they only have so many pages to give you an over view of the whole subject, but there isn't enough information in any one book to teach you to truly become proficient at any of the skills they mention. Don't get me wrong there are some GREAT books that give you an overview and details on each aspect of homesteading, but you can't teach some one to spin their own yarn in one to two pages. Everything I need to know about raising chickens can't be written in 4 pages with pretty colorful pictures.

I guess I'm just complaining that the all in one resources aren't all in one, and that I'm going to have to get out side the quick and easy route to learn more about homesteading as I put what I've learned into practice. Its just annoying that there are so many all in one books and that even though I've read probably 50 all in one books I'll still have to find books one EACH and EVERY individual subject to put it in to practice.

However, on the bright side as I learn more I'll be able to share more with you guys and MAYBE even put video out there walking you through the processes I'm going through.

So I guess I'm still in the beginning of my journey to spend less, grow more, and rely less on others for the needs of me and my family. Don't get me wrong we're not giving up deoderant, electricity, and running water..... just yet ;)

~LuLu

Fall Garden Update

My garden is growing - and Growing - and GROWING!!


Cucumbers - man oh man are my cukes looking good! They've been taking over and I've got probably 50 little fruits all over the vines. They are climbing on EVERYTHING and it's a fight to keep them off the tomatoes.

Tomatoes- The tomatoes keep growing and getting taller, but no fruit or flowers yet.

Cantaloupe- These aren't going nearly as crazy as the cukes which is ok because I can't eat them on my current diet, but I still want them to grow! I've got flowers blooming, but no fruit yet.

Bell Peppers- Boy do these look sad - and small - they are about 3 inch tall and one has already died leaving me 2 tiny plants, but we'll see. I'm not even sure this is the right season for them - Shrug its all just one on going experiment!

Sweet Peas- They are growing and growing, but they look meh at best. The lower leaves are a bit yellow and I've only seen one bloom, but they are about 1 ft tall now and so I'll give them time.

Broccoli- When the cold (lol in Florida the 70's is cold lol) weather hit my broccoli doubled in size making it about 1 inch - sad and pathetic, plus 4 plants were eaten by bugs. So I bought some starts from the nursery, and those are doing ok - We will see!

Corn- I ripped out all the corn! For several reasons - were not eating it on our diet, it kept getting caterpillar damage, it took up a lot of room, and mom gave me collard starts!

Collard Greens- they are alive after transplanting... which is GREAT!! Its only been a few days but they look good!

Green Beans- UGGH! - What a LOT of work - I keep getting caterpillars- ones that eat and roll the leaf so I've been smushing them and trying to crush all the eggs I find, but its a never ending battle. Plus the bush beans are more like lean over and shade the collard beans which bugs me. I may have to add a string separating the 2 crops until the collards get bigger. I've eaten 1 green bean, but it was tiny. I've seen lots of flowers so more should be coming soon. I can't wait!!

Things I want to learn and do

So here is a list of random things I want to learn about and do over the next ---- well eventually.

To Learn -
Basket weaving
Cheese making
Soap Making
Homemade Green Cleaners - (I already do Laundry soap)
Speak Spanish
Play Guitar

To Do-
Raise Chickens
Establish an Aquaponics system
Fence in my back yard
Plant a herb garden
Practice my Book Binding
Expand my vegetable garden
Plant fruit trees (Avacado - Citrus - Mulberry)
Plant Berry Bushes (Strawberry - raspberry - blueberry)
Try Rabbit
Build a Green House roof
Get a shed
Reduce waste
Brew Elder Flower Champagne 
Small vertical hydroponics
Maybe a clothes line
Blog more consistantly
Teach others what I know!
Make and/or modify more of my own clothing

Wishful Thinking- 
Perfectly Clean House
Pest Free ORGANIC garden

Ok so I know its a lot, but its what I want to do. I'm working to create a more sustainable backyard that focuses on producing more of my own food - especially fruits and vegetables. Plus fresh eggs and possible meat chickens and/or rabbits EVENTUALLY. Through Aquaponics I'll be able to grow more veg in my semi greenhouse and as a byproduct every 2 years or so I'll get to harvest fresh fish!

I'm also totally engrossed with what I call Dying Arts. The loss of the craftsman is a sad sad situation. Which is why I am apparently single handedly working to learn as much as possible. Plus I totally love learning and enjoy it and look forward to it. Its just so exciting to learn and try and experiment, so that is what I'm working on now.

I know its a little hippytastic, but it makes me happy - and isn't that all that matters?

~LuLu

Major Blog Edit and Content Shift

I've gone back through and deleted about 50 blog posts of nothing important. I've left all tutorials and posts of substance, but this blog is going to be focusing more on me and the process to become more self sufficient. I want to use it partly as a journal of my experience and also as an inspiration for others to join in if its something they are interested in.

It should be said that I'm a city girl and have no real training in ANY of this. So I'll be learning as I go, making TONS of mistakes, but most importantly having FUN! I believe that a HUGE part of something being sustainable is that you have to enjoy doing it.

I'll still be doing crafty things, I'll still be journaling, and I'll hopefully be posting a lot more because its something that I'm passionate about!

Here goes nothing!

~LuLu

Bored!

Uggh! I've been working on my masters - and I really do want the shiny piece of paper at the end, but I'm so over the school work!!

The assignments feel pointless and overwhelming, but I am trudging on through. I gotta get my butt in motion!!

Maybe I'll just take one class in the future - especially if I am full time soon (I hope, I hope, I hope!!)

My garden is growing well, but with all the hours at work and the school assignments I don't get as much time out side as I want!

~LuLu

Garden Fall 2011

So Thursday the 25th I planted the seeds for my garden in starter cups on the porch. I'm trying to do this fairly naturally, mostly organic, and with as little work and money as possible. I'm hoping to plant tomatoes, corn, peppers, cucumber, peas, cantaloupes, green beans, and broccoli.


Well today I went out to water my seeds and HOLY CUCUMBERS BATMAN they went from nothing to one of them is over 2 inches tall!! Awesome! - now if I can keep this up for several months I'll be sitting pretty!!

I'm hoping to finish moving and preparing my beds this week so they will have some time to soak up some summer rains and get all settled before I plant.

I'm also strongly considering planting potatoes this fall in a separate bed!

More to come!

~LuLu