Just lately it’s occurred to me that while information-sharing is certainly at the heart of homestead blogging and publishing, we might perhaps be overlooking some of the smaller daily doings of the backyard farm and homestead.
A Look in the Homesteading Mirror
This came to me while in the garden this late summer and early fall, looking around at the produce and projects in their various stages of completion. I think it came as more of an awareness in large part due to new membership in a number of online forums (mainly Facebook groups).
I think this was particularly true because this year with COVID and growing concerns over food security, with people with more time and inclination for reviving “Victory Gardens” and so many newcomers reaching out for help with first-time growing and gardening; many of us more seasoned homesteaders had a bit of a mirror shined upon ourselves and our daily lives.
Questions and answers that might have seemed obvious and unworthy of discussion are proving on these forums, more and more, to be very much a topic of interest to these “newbies” but also just in conversation amongst ourselves. This in turn led me to think that maybe there is a place for the more, dare I call it mundane, but more appropriately call it commonplace, chores, tasks, functions, and productions of the self-sufficient leaning homestead and small farm.
Let’s See Homesteading for What It Really Is
Maybe, just maybe, every single post doesn’t have to be so involved. Maybe not all posts have to teach or instruct. Maybe quick posts that give more of a glimpse into the everyday can do just as much to help people sort out their options and see what plans and projects might work for them on their farm. Maybe they’ll just be a bit of fun, but maybe they’ll help others actually see more of what life on a modern “homestead” looks like.
I’ll call these posts “Homestead Happenings.”
It’s pretty likely these will be, in large part, collections of pictures with not as many words (something I’m sure plenty of people might even appreciate!). Sort of Instagram for the website, archived and available.
Show and Tell #HomesteadHappenings
I invite you to scroll through, take from these posts what you will, and even send me links to your own version of Homestead Happenings, so we might all see what each other are doing and what great ideas (or even just good old-fashioned basic ones) are out there. Certainly, if you see a picture or subject that intrigues you, that you’d like to hear more about, leave me a comment or send me an email. Maybe some of your interests will grow into more in-depth posts on topics that prove to be of interest.
In this spirit, I leave you now with some of the most recent pictures from around the homestead and kitchen.
Late summer and fall are great times to be on a homestead in New England!
Elderberry harvest in late August and September–Our favorite! 
Not all plants have to serve a practical (food) purpose. 
Dried broccoli. Better than you’d expect! 
Dehydrated broccoli before the jar. 
Hen of the woods! A foraged favorite gift from the gods! 
Prepping mushrooms for drying. 
Drying begins. 
I did a LOT more dehydrating this year and am starting to fall in love with this preservation method! 
Carrots in the dehydrator. 
First year for “York” elderberry harvest, and WOW! 
Late-season produce, still producing. 
Homegrown carrots are the best! 
Hubby gets a pole barn, soon to be shop (I’ll know where to find him this winter.) 
And on chilly, rainy days, we hygge by the hearth.
Would like to know about how you use your dehydrated foods. I’ve had a dehydrator for decades but have never have found tasty ways to use rehydrated veggies.
Hi Sheryl!
I admit I have also not done as much as I think I should with my dehydrator over the years. I’ve jumped a lot more into it this year.
Some of the ways I have used the products is to use dried ingredients like elderberries and herbs for tea mixtures. I also rehydrate elderberries (and this would work for other berries, too), and use them in baking or to make jam and jelly with. You’d be surprised how well this works.
The dried veggies and mushrooms I throw into a lot of soups and stews, and even crappy cheap ramen noodles for a fast go-to with a little amped-up nutrition. They plump up fast in boiling /simmering/hot water.
Tomato powder I use in place of tomato paste.
I’ve made “green powders” in the past and dried greens like spinach that I’ve sprinkled over roasted potatoes and veggies, and even in omelets.
One of our other favorites is a simple purée of peaches, apples, or strawberries, etc. spread out and dried for fruit leather.
I think we get hung up on what to do with these things after we’ve dried them. This is an areas where I am continuing to educate myself. I feel like that part of it is a mystery, but once we understand their taste and texture when rehydrated, it starts to become pretty obvious where to use the ingredients.
Thanks for the question and please feel free to ask away if I can be of more help!
Wanting to do more with freeze drying.
I am very much loving the drying. I use a dehydrator or air drying (for herbs) so it’s not technically freeze drying, but it’s so far been great. I have heard from homesteaders who own freeze driers and LOVE them, but unfortunately there is no moderate pricing for those. The units start at $3,000 for freeze driers so at that price, I really have to think twice about it. My $150 dehydrator will just have to keep earning its keep for now!
Thanks for stopping in to join the conversation!