homesteading/doing it ourselves

[TruthSeeker]

One of my favorite topics. :)

I love to forage on our land for things like red clover, wild plantain, dandelion leaves/roots, lambsquarters, chickweed, catnip, autumn olives, etc., etc. Some I eat, some I dehydrate for teas/oil infusions/etc., some I barter with when the opportunity presents itself.

I make flower essences from things like dogwood blooms, lilacs, tiger lilies, peonies, etc.

I've made a few tinctures here and there, and I make my own vanilla extract.

I make some of my own body oils/fragrances/cleaning supplies/etc. because all the store bought artificial fragrance stuff makes me ill.

We plant some of our own things in a no-till garden area that we layered cardboard and wood chips on, then topped with a good quality compost, two raised veggie beds, two raised herb beds, and various containers. This year we have to take a major break, though, due to multiple health reasons.

We like to can stuff, dehydrate it, freeze it, and share it. I like to share my home made/home grown/home crafted goodies with folks as a tip rather than cash, at times, as well as paying them forward as gifts and/or donations.

We're part of a local organic farm's Community Supported Agriculture that'll keep us well supplied as long as the weather and such cooperate, and there's several farmers' markets in the 'hood and close by.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but that's all my brain can recall in the moment. It's a self-empowering feeling to know how to do some of these things in today's world of instant this and that and fast/conveniece-oriented everything.

It's a therapeutic connection that I can't find enough adequate words for, but am grateful every day I'm able to still feel it. Feeling like my growth was severely stunted in many ways by the poor decisions of others early in my life makes the chance to plant seed, witness and lovingly nurture growth, albeit at a snail's pace or slower, and give them time and room to adequately grow and be able to enjoy the offerings of the end result is f'n priceless in my world. Grateful for the reminder.

You are probably one of few who can see the corn grow in a day, if you plant corn, that is....and I have relatives who claim that they can hear it grow.?

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

I haven't tapped into that level of awareness, yet, @TruthSeeker . lol We only planted it once since we moved here a few years ago, so far, and a bear took out part of the fence to get to it once it ripened. My husband was actually grateful because he had planned to wait longer to pick it. lol