Strawberries.... finally....

Well, after 3 years,  I finally have strawberries in their bed.   

I started the bed 3 years ago.   I planted 6 plants and 20 roots.   I had 5 live.....lol

The next year the 5 didn't produce well,  and I only got 1 runner....  I was very pregnant and the weeding got passed up..??  Ooops??!!!

So year 3.... both kids get to play in the yard while momma gets the soil ready.   I got to transfer 25 plants!!!  I left room in the center of my bed to move runners into.   I also left room on all sides of the bed to extend it in every direction as needed. 

The kids love fresh strawberries!!  Who doesn't??  I  make an endless supply of strawberry freezer jam! I also make at least one batch of jam or jelly,  and put back any left to freeze.   

We may not get a big harvest this year,  but year after year, we'll have what we need.

There will be maintenance required throughout the year.   Of course the weeds still need pulled, the bed will need mulched this fall and fertilized in the spring.   

But anything worth having takes some effort,  right!!

Head off a Hoe!! 🤣

So these past couple of days have been warm and sunny.  We've been able to get everyone outside!  There have been clothes hung on the line,  and I even had a chance to get in the herb garden.  Best of all, we've completed reading and writing while enjoying the sunshine!!  

I really need to get some seeds in the ground in my herb garden!!  So today, I removed my stepping stones,  which are larger fossilized river rocks,  as well as the smaller decorations from the garden.   There are three sections to this garden.   The edible herbs,  medicinal plants and annual and perennial flowers.   I only had about 4 sq ft left off the first section when the head of the hoe flew off!!   I tried to limp it along,  but it was useless.....lol.   I grabbed the head of the hoe and finished busting up the sod.  

Tomorrow,  time for some planting!! 

Growing Wild Roots

Where we grow up has a significant impact on us throughout our lives.   I grew up in an area where both of my grandparents houses were within a mile.   Numerous aunts, uncles and cousins lived near by and neighbors treated you like family. 

There was this one house,  where my 6th grade history teacher lived with her mom.  They always had a warm and inviting house with a bottomless candy dish and fully stocked ice cream freezer.   These two worked tirelessly in their yard.   Planting flowers,  trees,  fruits,  and shrubs.   They always had such beautiful blooms all spring and summer.   They meticulously selected the plants to ensure a pop of color at any given time.  

When they passed away,  the house ended up in the hands of new owners who had no appreciation for the beauty they had inherited.   It took a few short years of neglect, on the house and yard, before most of the beauty was camouflaged by filth and decay.  The family moved and the house remained vacant for years, slipping into dilapidation. 

When this property became available, I knew this was a project I wanted to take on.  The house was on the land I wanted to raise my family.  When we first toured the house I wasn't sure a redemption was possible.  With encouragement, as well as financial and physical support from my family, we purchased the house and land.  It was going to take months to get the house livable.  We had to strip the entire house down to the studs and start from the frame up.  New everything. 

We finished the house, well..... mostly......and moved in.  Shortly after, we found out we were expecting our first child.  Since then our roots have grown deep here.  We've worked the land,  created new beds,  planted new fruits,  and grew our family.

This house and land have always held a special place for me.  Now, its where we are planted.   Where we will grow.   One day and one project at a time.   We will grow on,  play on, respect and protect this land.  Continue to work it and grow our homestead.   Growing more wild roots!! 

To do list keeps growing!!

Spring, on the homestead, is a little different this year.  We have an extra set of hands!!!!  We joyfully welcomed a son last summer! My blog activity was limited last year as was my time spent outdoors in the heat/sun.  With an already busy sports schedule, newborn skin, newborn sleep schedule, and one tired momma....the time spent in the garden was very minimal.  

So this spring the work load is slightly bigger as I clean up and clear back old growth and yard debris.  All of my beds need attended to and I have plans of extending the herb and flower gardens.  My daughter and I have already started on expanding the herb and flower gardens.  We have begun removing sod and are in the process of beginning a new compost pile on the property.  So look forward to an update on how to build a compost pile!  

We also need to work on the strawberry bed and start spring plantings in the garden.  Everything around here is starting to bud and our blueberry bushes look like they might produce a little more this year.  Earlier this year I worked in the raspberry patches cleaning out some of the debris from last year.  They look like they should produce well this year also.  The daffodils, crocus and hyacinths are all blooming.  The tulips and iris are growing.  The Herbs are coming up nice too.  The chives are ready to be cut back already.  The lemon balm, mint, and borage are all coming back strong too.  The thyme, lavender and sage all look like they took a hit this winter. 

I've got a large supply of wood for bonfires this year! We've worked on removing a pine tree from the yard that had fallen during an ice storm this winter.   Bad thing when it fell was, it took out one of our apple trees when it landed.   So that's two apple trees we've lost in the last few years.   We had to prune one back a good bit and may only have one tree produce fruit this year.  

One item on my list to complete soon is organizing the cellar.   I needed to arrange my mason jars and lids, frozen food containers,  canned foods,  and go through everything on the shelves.   Before I start preserving foods this year I want to clean, organize and inventory.   I didn't do this last year so it really needs done! 

We are looking to make another big change

this year.  We have always had plans to add livestock and are about finally to the point in which we can.   We are looking to add goats and chickens.  So if you have a favorite breed or recommendation,  please comment below!  We will begin clearing land and building shelters soon.   

Now....  if it would just dry up some so we can dig in that'd be great!!  

Happy spring!!