The State of the Homestead

As my long time readers know, every once in awhile I post a general whose who of characters in something I call The State of the Homestead. And include how we are doing financially. This time we will do things a bit differently as an unofficial meme is running amok through the homesteading blogs. And since I seem to have amassed more readers, an introduction to the participants is in order.

And welcome to my world!




There are 5 of us humans here on the Neophyte Homestead, me; Phelan, Husband, and three boys, Small (8), Medium (10) and Large (14).

Cattle; Long Legged Kerrie's and American Milking Short Horns
9 cows and 4 bulls 

Murrial 
Mama 
Urth's Umbra 
Winston
Winnie 
Xanadu
Xuxi

Yart
Yaya
Yoda
Yippie Skippy
Yogi
Zaphod

9 black belly Barbados sheep
Bobdole ( yes one word)
Ugly and lamb
Mini Ugly and lamb
Suzi and lamb
Burnt Marshmallow
Whitey 


26 hens and 1 rooster
7 turkeys

3 dogs
Buckets
Sprocket
Axel

5 cats
Olive
May maybe manard
wrath
Alex
Envy

5 adult rabbits 


Bees, no I am not going to count them

Poop ducks. They are wild, but a constant presence.

Plants, well let's just list trees. I use many weeds in our diet, flowers and then the 2400 sq ft garden.

1 peach tree
2 apple trees
3 crabapples
1 pear tree
2 hackberry trees
2 apricots trees
1 nectarine tree
3 plum trees
3 mulberry trees
2 cherry trees
2 paw paw trees
None are taller than Husband except one mulberry.

We have blue berry bushes, raspberry, blackberry, grapes, strawberries, hops, 

It seems like I am missing something on this list. Hhmmmm. . . Oh and yes, 1 pecan and 2 walnut trees.

The State of the Homestead right now is a bit stagnant. Hay prices have come down, and we are talking with a manufacture about a steel building. We are actually talking about a house. Currently we are in a 30 year old mobile home that is falling apart. The steel company we are talking to has a layaway plan that takes a year. This will be the only way we could purchase something to begin building. We are not broke, but still below poverty level. Thank goodness we raise our own food. It's been a bit rough buying groceries after the drought last year. At least I didn't have to purchase any meat products. But things are looking up with this year's weather. Insects are worrisome though. 

Boys are doing well. Medium was the only child in his school to score a perfect on his State Assessments. He has been wearing his medal for a couple days now. Large scored high enough to not have to take finals. Small won't take the State Assessment until next year. But he is doing wonderfully on his goals, has actually surpassed expectations. He will be in summer school though, just to keep it going. Medium is taking art and Large has to bring his GPA up so that he can go to school in Japan next year. 

Husband is tired. Can't go into a lot about it right now though. Soon though, very soon. 

Murrial and Yart have been separated from the rest of the herd. Due to their demeanor, they have been chosen to be the front yard cattle. Yart is so Eyore like, that she is easily handled. And a good calf for the boys to interact with. As I watch a couple walk their goat down the road, then another couple later walking their miniature pony, I have come to the conclusion that Yart and I should be taking strolls around the neighborhood. 

Blueberry butter and Grape Jam

I will not rehash the blueberry butter scene, I posted the recipe here, back in July of last year.

Hectic morning! Boys start school today! I thought it was tomorrow!

Grape Jam

6 c. prepared fruit (about 4 lbs. ripe grapes)
1 box powdered fruit pectin
7 1/2 c. (3 1/4 lbs.) sugar

Prepare grapes, by mashing through a food processor. Place into a large pan, stir in pectin and bring to a boil. Stir in sugar all at once, bring to a hard boil over high heat for 1 full minute. Remove from heat, and strain through a cheese cloth. Remove any foam. Place into your hot sterile jars.

More food to talk about tomorrow.

Blueberry Butter

Ah, canning season. When all the burners on your stove are on high, your air conditioner whines, and every fan in the house is going, yet they are still not enough to keep you from sweating as you slowly stir you soon to be jarred foods.

Butters are simple, and the flames are kept on low, well at least one of them is. Butters also don't use all the sugar that jams and jellies do. A general rule is, once you have crushed and smoothed out your pulp, measure it, and add 1/2 cup sugar to every 1 cup pulp. Make sure use use a heavy pot and a wooden spoon. Heat mixture on low and cook for a very long time. Did I mention Butters take a long time? Stirring frequently so that it doesn't stick and burn to the bottom of the pan. You are ready to can once it has reached a nice thick spreading constancy.
Poor into hot sterile jars, place in a simmering hot water bath, bring to a boil {this can sometimes take forever} cover and process for 10 minutes. Remove from hot water bath and DO NOT mess with the lids. Allow them to cool completely before touching them. Sometimes the lids are still popped out when you pull them out of the canner. That's ok. Don't force them down, it will work out on its own as long as you processed them correctly.

Now my oldest child managed to take over the batteries to my camera, as soon as I find them I can take photos of the finished product, which looks like a jar of very dark bluish purple goo. So yummy.

I plan on making some more fruit butters today, and maybe get some other canning done, though I doubt that will happen.

What are you canning?

Oh, and Rosemary. Let me clean up my side bar a little and I will get those tags posted. I will leave them up for a few days. Edited to add, that it has been added, but to the bottom of my page. It is rather long.

But, she's a giant blueberry!

So many bloggers making so many great things! Go check out this week's edition of Make it from Scratch.

I have had a terrible time with blueberries. My lost is due to drought and rabbits. We are hopeful that this year we can get past those things and produce some berries.

Here are some care tips for those of you that are thinking about blueberry bushes.

Blueberry shrub are natural insect resistant. They like humus and soft woodsy soil. Use only natural, organic fertilizer when cultivating.

They are not self pollinating, so be sure to plant more than one bush.

Soil should be 5. to 5.6 which is very acidic. A liberal amount of peat material is needed, if you need to add acid, use peat or compost made without lime. The peat should be dug into the earth and mix well with the soil.

Blueberries need an abundance of water, yet not standing. Make sure the area you plant in drains well.

After the plants 4th year, pruning should be done to keep the shrub manageable. You will find it necessary to clip the very slender stems, they may not produce at all, and the thick stems that have produce for several years, they may only produce at the tips. Keep you bush from over crowding to produce the best berries. Keep the stems not more then 1 foot is to much, less then 4 inches will be too close.

Weeding is very important. Keep the weeds at bay by smothering them in a thick layer of mulch with natural acid, like peat and oak leaves.

When you get your plants, it is important to keep the roots moist and out of the wind. Dig your hole big enough to where you will not have to bend the roots. Set the plant slightly deeper then the nursery had them. Once you fill your hole, like a saucer like depression to help catch water. add compost.

Young plants that are 8-15inches in height should be planted in early spring or fall.five by seven feet apart.

Now for those rabbits, sprinkle a little fox urine around your tender trees and shrubs and they tend to leave them alone.