What the heck is a comfrey poultice? Comfrey is a shrub that grows in Europe, Asia, and North America. It has long, thin leaves, clusters of purple/blue flowers, and can grow up to five feet tall. We initially planted some Comfrey on the side of the house to feed to the rabbits. I've heard it … Continue reading Comfrey Poultice. Say What?
Author: Lori Crane
A Little Mater Processing Up In Here
If you've never canned anything in your life, tomatoes are the place to start! You don't need a lot of know-how. You don't need a lot of ingredients. You don't need to figure out how to use a pressure canner. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED: Glass preserving jars with lids (quarts or pints)A water-bath canner and … Continue reading A Little Mater Processing Up In Here
Crazy Busy 2020
I admit it. I've been very negligent of the blog since 2020 began. If you know us, you know we bought our farm July 2019, and you know we had a million plans and ideas. I swear, I had great intentions of keeping everyone informed on how we were doing, what we were raising, showing … Continue reading Crazy Busy 2020
Strawberries are back!
I can't even tell you how much I love strawberries! May is my favorite time of year around these parts, not only because it's Spring and everything is coming to life, or because I finally get the garden started, or because the weather is warmer, but mostly because strawberries are in season. I posted a … Continue reading Strawberries are back!
Pantry Ninja: Guess the Product
Can you guess this product from these ingredients? Ingredients: Ground Whole Wheat Wheat Flour Meat and Bone Meal Poultry By-Product meal Beef Fat preserved with BHA/BHT (butylated hydroxyanisole/butylated hydroxytoluene) Salt Chicken Meal Turkey By-Product Meal Bacon Fat Dicalcium Phosphate Brewers Dried Yeast Malted Barley Flour Vitamins (E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, … Continue reading Pantry Ninja: Guess the Product
What Will They Say About Us?
Of course, one of the main reasons one moves to a farm is due to some good memory or good experience with such a lifestyle. One of my fondest memories as a child was visiting my great grandmother's home. It wasn't grand, as most small farms aren't, but as a child, I thought the place … Continue reading What Will They Say About Us?
Earl 1 – Hawk 0
I was sitting in the farm office yesterday and heard the loudest, insistent squawking coming from the backyard. It sounded like when one of the hens lays an egg and cackles to let everyone know, but it kept going and going and going. I realized it must be coming from my new rooster, Earl, so … Continue reading Earl 1 – Hawk 0
Setting up the Garden (Free is good)
Setting up a garden takes such a long time, but we're off and running! The whole summer, we watched the shadows from the trees and noted the rainy low spots, and we finally made the decision to place our vegetable garden in front of the barn. Since Tennessee soil is so tough to work, we … Continue reading Setting up the Garden (Free is good)
Curing a Ham
When we had our hog processed, I asked the butcher to cut the hams in half. That is probably the wisest thing I've ever done in my entire life. Do you know how big a whole ham is? Geez. The answer is "HUGE." So, with 1/2 a ham, I can cure and cook with normal … Continue reading Curing a Ham
Homesteading: How to Know When You’ve Made it
First, what is a homesteader? The term means different things to different people. Most folks agree with the basic premise that it means living off the land, but the amount of "land" and the amount of "living" varies. Some think it means going completely off grid, while others think it means having just a garden … Continue reading Homesteading: How to Know When You’ve Made it
Trace Creek Acres 