Holidays at the homestead

Well, it is that time of year again! Thanksgiving has come and gone and the shopping frenzy has started. We have been on our homestead for 2 1/2 years and although things have not progressed as fast as I would like, we are slowly making progress.

We have made do with a small tree the last couple of years and this year I decided I wanted a better tree for Yule. Micheal's ran a sale on a 4 ft pre-lit tree for $20 which is a good size for our limited space. Of course getting a new tree meant getting new ornaments. I decided I wanted to do a country theme so I ended up making most of the ornaments for the tree.

I bought these pine cones last year because they were scented but now they have a new purpose. Of course if you have access to some pine trees you can pick some up for free. For these I used a paint brush to paint the tips with Mod Podge which is a type of glue. Then I sprinkled glitter on them and hot glued a loop of red cord so they could be hung on the tree.

 As we all know, cinnamon is used in many Yule treats and in decorating. At the craft store I found cinnamon sticks that were sold in bundles. I bought some of these and put them in groups of three. I took some red raffia and wrapped it around the bundles and tied a simple bow on top and then used the ends to make the loop. I thought they turned out pretty well!

Bells are an integral part of Yule decorations and this time of year you can find them in many colors. I bought a container of the brown rustic looking bells and simply used some gold cord to tie them together. I found the red bows with all of the mini Christmas tree decorations and they were the perfect size to use with the bells.

I found the idea for the last set of decorations on Pinterest. I found the wooden spools in the wood craft section of the craft store. I found some country looking Christmas ribbon that fit the spools and cut off just enough to wrap around them. The hot glue gun came in handy for this part too. I hot glued these together and added the red cord. All of these decorations were pretty simple to make and thought the tree turned out really well.

Here is the finished product. I even made the tree topper bow thanks to a tutorial I found online. I hope you guys enjoy the pictures and have a Happy Yule!

Scrapbook of Shadows

Like many Pagans, I have always liked the idea of having a Book of Shadows but I have never been able to settle on a way of collecting information that I liked. Even though I am a major techno rat, collecting and storing info on the computer just didn't seem right. I tried using a three ring binder and that just didn't seem right either. I liked the idea of hand writing everything but I could never find a book that I liked to place this info in.

I had started scrapbooking several years ago and I had thought about using this method to create a Book of Shadows but I wasn't sure how I would like it and I had not seen examples of other BOS's using this method. Recently I saw a blog post by Mrs. B on Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom where she had created a Book of Seasons in a scrapbook. When I saw the pictures, I absolutely loved it! I thought, I have all this scrapbook stuff so why not use it?

Despite the elaborate pictures you see in magazine and online, scrapbooking can actually be very simple. I learned how to scrapbook from Creative Memories and I still hold with their philosophy of keeping things simple so you can focus on the subject and not on all the stuff around it. I have started to adapt some of the other scrapbooking techniques that are out there but I don't want the pages to become too cluttered.

I created a cover page for each holiday. Behind each page I am adding information about that holiday, poems, recipes, chants, etc. Whatever seems appropriate. Obviously this page is for Halloween.

The page on the left is about Ancestral Altars. I left the space at the bottom open so I can add a picture later of our altar. As you can see, the pages are pretty simple but I think they still look nice.There are some details on the Jack-o-Lantern page that you can't see well. These are just some swirls and spirals that I hand drew in.

I have to admit, these are two of my favorite pages so far. These are a couple of recipes that I wanted to include. As I come across more information or I think of new things I want to add, I hope to add more pages. This book is 8 1/2 by 11. I decided to go with a standard book size because it is easier to hold but one of the drawbacks is you don't have as much room per page. Most scrapbooks are 12x12 so you can place more information on each page. I had thought about adding additional sections to this one but I may get a 12x12 book for additional info and keep this one just for info about the sabbats.

I want to create a book with the natural remedies I have collected as well as info about various herbs. I might also put into this book the various recipes I have found for replacing the chemicals that we use in our homes. This will likely be a separate scrapbook from whatever I put together with more magical and spiritual information.

You can find all sorts of scrapbook papers and stickers and craft stores or if you have limited access to these stores you can order stuff from online. I'm hoping to put together a crop day for Pagans who like to scrapbook. I think it would be a lot of fun and a great way to network. I hope some of you like this idea and will give it a try for your own Book of Shadows.

No poo

I first heard about going pooless about a year or so ago but it hasn't been until recently that I began to think seriously about giving up using shampoo. I know, it sounds a little crazy and I had to give this some serious thought before taking the plunge.

One reason I decided to stop using shampoo is simply because of cost. We have been making our own fabric softner for some time and I recently made three gallons of detergent. This just seemed like the logical next step. There is also the added benefit of not using all of those chemicals every day. You can find good organic shampoos but as always, you will end up paying more. If you have the money and don't mind paying extra, it is worth it for many of us to go this route.

Today is day three and the first week is supposed to be the worst. The first day was pretty rough. I felt like my hair was fairly oily after I had rinsed it in the shower but I think part of the problem was I didn't massage the scalp enough to help work the oils loose. I actually needed to color my hair this weekend so that may have interrupted the process. I colored yesterday and I did not use the baking soda mixture today. I plan on using it tomorrow so that will be the first test with the baking soda to see how well it does on my hair.

This is the website where I found the recipe I am using. http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=365 I am actually using recipe #2. You need two bottles and in one you mix 1 part baking soda to 3 parts water. In the second you mix 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. You can add whatever essential oil you would like.

Many people report that their hair became thicker and more luxuriant after they stopped using shampoo. I am hoping I have the same results but we will just have to wait and see!

Antique finds

The older I get, the more I like old things. I have always liked old houses and the charm that often comes with them. Many people like older homes for the same reason. The little nooks and crannies that have served countless functions and the warmth of wood floors and old banisters. Since I have become a homesteader and prepper, I have found a new respect for things that are a little less modern and can still be useful.

Recently we went to an antique store that I wanted to check out. The cool thing about antique stores is you never know what you will find. Although we found several things to put on the wish list, we settled on two objects that were once used daily and we plan on putting to use again.

The first is an ice pick. We often buy bags of ice to keep in the freezer or if we are filling ice trays we will dump them in a bowl for ease of use. Of course when you do this the ice can and will melt together. A knife will serve the same purpose to chip the ice apart but my husband wanted an ice pick and they are just cool.

My personal pick was a mixer. It's simple and still works. I had wanted to buy a new one before we moved here but never got around to it. And yes, they do still make them. This one is in really good condition and except for a little wear on the handle looks brand new. I wanted a manual mixer mainly as a preparation item. Of course as we try to change how we live and hopefully get to a point where we aren't using as much electricity, it could come in quite handy.

 

We tried it out and it worked really well. Of course the kids thought it was cool because it was a novelty. They both gave it a try and liked it though. Often we think we have to go out and buy new stuff even when it's based on old designs. Sometimes we just have to remember that the old stuff is out there waiting on us to find it. 

Chicks!

Last spring we ordered our first chicks. We got a total of 20 chicks which was a mix of Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks. Now, we are down to eight hens and four roosters from the original twenty. We decided that we wanted to try our hand at breeding them so we could replenish our flock. We bought a Little Giant Still Air incubator but unfortunately it does not come with an egg turner so we had to do that by hand. You can buy an egg turner to go with it so we may have to get that later.

Our first chick hatched a week ago and it has been fairly steady ever since. So far we have 19 chicks total but we have lost four so far. We aren't sure why as they did not exhibit any signs of illness but so far the other chicks seem to be doing fine.

We bred the Rocks first so this is a picture of the very first one starting to make its debut. It takes several hours to a day or so for them to hatch.

If you have never had the opportunity to see a chick hatch, I have to tell you it is one of the coolest things ever! Of course I think seeing any life come into the world is an amazing thing.

So here it is when it first comes out of the egg. Of course they are all wet and have to remain in the incubator for a few hours so they can dry and fluff out before you move them over to the incubator. It takes a little while for them to get their legs under them and they tend to flop around a good bit while they are trying to figure things out. It doesn't take them long though before they are running around all over the place.

And here is the little ball of fluff all dried out. The older chicks are starting to get their feathers now and are getting quite playful. They are attempting to fly and like to try and roost on top of the feeder and water dispenser. Overall I think our first attempt at incubating has been pretty successful...now we just have to wait on the geese!

Sepp Holtzer

I don't believe I have ever mentioned Sepp Holzer before so I thought I would share a couple of videos with you guys. Sepp is an amazing man. He is a genius at Permaculture and understanding how to create systems that mimic nature. He lives in Austria on the side of mountain and he is able to grow things there that normally would never think of calling a mountain home. I have been listening to a lot of Permaculture podcasts lately and I am convinced that Permaculture is the best chance that we have of creating real sustainable systems that will not only support us but also support the world around us. I'm also convinced that Permaculture is a natural extension of our spiritual lives into the mundane world. So for those of you who are interested in Permaculture, I hope you enjoy these videos! Btw...if the closed caption option is not available at the bottom, you may want to go to You Tube to watch it so you can click for the captions. He doesn't speak English so you will probably find the captions helpful. The title of the videos are Sepp Holzer Permaculture Part 1 and 2.

Washing clothes old school

So recently we ordered this nifty little device called the Breathing Mobile Washer. I happened to come across it online and it looked like it would work pretty well. We liked the idea of having a way to wash our clothes manually in case of an emergency but we are also thinking about washing our clothes this way the majority of the time.

If you want to go green, this is about as green as it gets. When the washer is assembled it looks a little like a plunger. You fill a container with 4-5 inches of water, add your detergent, and start to wash. Wash your clothes using a plunging motion for about 3 minutes per item. That's it!

This is a video I found on You Tube that demonstrates how the washer works. It's very simple and of course the kids think it's fun. The only problem we have is that we don't have a wringer right now to wring the water out of the clothes. If we intend to use this on a regular basis then that is something we will have to invest in soon.

We did test it and it worked really well. We were actually shocked at how much dirt it got out of our sheets. We tried it out on our queen size bed sheets, one fitted, one flat, and four pillow cases. By the time we were done the water had gone from clear to gray. We were amazed at how well it worked.

 I would highly recommend this if you would like to have something to use in case of emergency or to keep at a retreat. This would also be great for extended camping trips. I know I am personally tired of having to use a laundromat and it will probably be a while before we can use our washer and dryer so this may be a good option for a while.

Soil Cube

Ok, so I have a new toy, the Soil Cube. I actually ordered this a few months ago from www.soilcube.com but of course I haven't been able to use it until now. The Soil Cube let's you make your own seed starter cubes so you don't have to buy seed starter kits every year. Now you do have to buy the soil and compost to make the soil mixture but if you plan on starting more than a few plants I think this is worth the investment. If I remember correctly it cost around $35.

This may look like a pile a mud...and I suppose it is, but this is a specially mixed pile of mud. The soil should be mixed to an oatmeal consistency so it will stick and compact down into the cubes. I actually added a little too much water so I had to add some more compost and peat moss to thicken it up.

The process is simple. Scoop up the soil mixture in the cubes and press it against the side of the container. I pressed down the top bar to help squeeze out excess moisture. Scrap away the excess soil before moving over to the container that will hold your cubes. I used a plastic storage container to mix the soil in.

Press firmly down on the top bar to compress the soil and then gently lift the Soil Cube.

You may have to press down on the bar as you lift up to get the cubes to release. After the first few attempts the cubes began to slide out a little easier.

These were the first cubes that I made. I got the tray at a local nursery that let us have it with a purchase that we made but I'm sure you could find plenty at any nursery that wants to get rid of them.

This is the finished tray. I made twenty cubes with this batch. I made some more today but since I didn't have to add anything to the mix this time, I only got about eleven. I plan on making several more because there are several plants that I haven't even started yet. Plus I have to order more seeds!

We had some Popsicle sticks lying around so I used these to make tags for the cubes. I love how this system works and it is very easy to use. We are contemplating trying our hand at a micronursery business. It probably won't happen this year but maybe next year. For anyone who is looking for options for self employment because you want to be more self sufficient, this might be a good option. It's not much of an investment, it's something you can use for yourself, and you can do it on a small scale to see how you like it and hopefully build from there. So if you're interested check out their website and see what you think!

Signs of spring

Even though we really have not had much of a winter, we are finally beginning to see some signs of spring. Little blades of grass are starting to peek through, some fruit trees are beginning to bud out, and one of the geese has started to sit on her eggs.

She has taken to sitting on them more regularly but she does not sit on them all day. We have put the roosters up so they can't bother her and we can leave the pen open. If the roosters are out they like to go into her nest and uncover the eggs. Not to mention that they will try to jump on the female geese as well as the hens!

She doesn't like it when we get too close and tries to hide her head so we can't see her. I have read that not all female geese will sit on the eggs. Usually one or two will lay the eggs and one will sit on them. So far we have only noticed two of the females laying eggs and the one that is sitting appears to be laying more often.

I have finally found a book about domestic geese that I want to get. It is very difficult to find a lot of information about raising geese online so we are trying to let her do what comes naturally until we can learn more. The geese are fun to watch and they do have a certain elegance and grace to them especially when they are on the water.

We did get a little snow recently and it was the first that the birds have seen. The geese did not seem to be bothered by it at all and went about their usual routine of getting breakfast and then heading back to the pond. The chickens however took a little longer to venture out. Geese are pretty hardy birds and don't seem to be bothered by very much. And of course the eggs are great!

One coop down...

We finally completed another project in the last month or so. The small chicken coop is officially done and useable. It doesn't look very pretty but the chickens seem happy with it. Hopefully I can  make it look a little nicer whenever we can get some siding to go on it.

My husband built this using all reclaimed materials. We bought the window but it was from a Habitat for Humanity store. The chickens seem to be happy with the fact that they can sit on their roost and look outside. The door that leads inside is on the end that you can see in the picture. If you look carefully you can see the handle on the door. And yes, he built that too. Not a bad job if I do say so myself!

This is the inside of the coop. The black milk crates sitting on the left are what we use for the chickens nesting boxes. Right now they are sitting on the floor but eventually we will put in a shelf or two to set them on. The stair looking thing is the roost. This is only temporary because we plan on insulating the coop. When that is finished then we will put in a roost that will rest on boards attached to the walls.

The posts are in for the fence but we still have to get the fencing material. So for now the girls are enjoying roaming the yard because the boys have been put in jail. In other words we have separated them and the girls seem very happy about the whole thing. And just for a laugh, here is a picture of one of the girls hitching a ride on my husband's shoulder.

TPH Episode 40

Welcome back Homesteaders! Today we are going to talk about how to start your own seeds and give you a little history about tomatoes. And for those of you who like paranormal romances, stay tuned at the end of the show for a book review!

Seed Starting


http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2005-12-01/Seed-Starting-Basics.aspx

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/seed-starting-zm0z12fmzsto.aspx

Tomatoes


Fresh Salsa

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: Makes 2 to 3 Cups

Ingredients:

• 4 medium tomatoes, cored, seeds removed, chopped
• 2 medium cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 to 3 tablespoons finely chopped sweet onion or yellow onion
• 1 to 2 tablespoons minced jalapeno or serrano pepper
• 2 heaping tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

In a bowl, combine all ingredients and stir to blend.

Cover and refrigerate until serving time.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/salsarecipes/r/Classic-Salsa.htm

Homemade Ketchup

This homemade ketchup takes time, but the final result is well worth the effort. I start this the day before, then I refrigerate the tomato pulp and liquid mixture to boil down and process the next day.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 teaspoons celery seeds
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 1 (3- to 4-inch) cinnamon stick, broken into small pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
• 12 pounds tomatoes, cored and coarsely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 small hot red pepper, finely chopped, or 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons pickling salt

Preparation:

Put the celery seeds, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, and mustard seeds in a cheesecloth bag. Tie up and set aside.

In a small stainless steel or enamel-lined saucepan, combine the vinegar and spice bag. Bring to a full boil. Remove from heat and let stand for 25 minutes. Remove the spice bag and discard. Set the vinegar aside.

In a large stainless steel or enamel-lined kettle (at least 8 to 12 quart size), combine the chopped tomatoes, garlic, onion, and red pepper or cayenne. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue at a gently boil, stirring frequently, for 25 minutes. Add the spiced vinegar to the tomato mixture and continue cooking, stirring frequently, for 30 minutes longer.

Drain the tomatoes into a large stainless steel saucepan, then put them through a food mill to extract as much juice and pulp into the saucepan as possible. Discard the solids. Add sugar and salt to the extracted pulp and juices. At this point, you can refrigerate this mixture overnight and finish the next day. Bring the tomato pulp mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and boil for about 2 hours, or until reduced by about 2/3 and thickened to a ketchup consistency.
Meanwhile, prepare the work area, canner, jars, and lids. See Preparing Jars for Canning and Boiling Water Processing.

Fill jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Use a small plastic or stainless steel spatula to remove air bubbles, wipe rims with a damp cloth, and fit with lids and seals.

Transfer to a rack in the canner and lower into the hot water. Add more water, as needed, so you have 1 inch over the jars. Cover, bring to a boil, and continue boiling gently for 15 minutes.

Makes 3 pints.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/tomatoes/r/r90715bb.htm

Book Review

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble: The Jolie Wilkins Series, Book 1 by H.P. Mallory

· ISBN-10: 1453812954

· ISBN-13: 978-1453812952

Amazon: Kindle 0.99 Used $3.08

B&N: $21 used Nook 0.99

Toil and Trouble, a Paranormal Romance (Jolie Wilkins Series, Book # 2) by H.P. Mallory

· ISBN-10: 1456428810

· ISBN-13: 978-1456428815

Amazon: Kindle $3.99

B&N: Nook $3.99

Witchful Thinking Release date 2/28/12

$7.99 paperback and Nook and Kindle

· ISBN-10: 0345531450

· ISBN-13: 978-0345531452

http://hpmallory.com/

Growth Zones

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/26/10234634-new-climate-controversy-us-map-shows-warmer-planting-conditions

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

TPH Episode 39

Welcome back Homesteaders! Today we will be talking about hedgerows as living fences, squash, and an old west historic figure. Enjoy!

Hedgerows

http://www.britainexpress.com/History/english-hedges.htm

http://www.motherearthnews.com/modern-homesteading/living-fences-z10m0sto.aspx

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/2007-06-01/Surefire-Summer-Squash.aspx

Squash

Super Easy Sauted Summer Squash

This simple summer squash sauté is a great way to enjoy fresh summer squash. Feel free to use either yellow summer squash or zucchini in this easy recipe. This is a wonderful and easy side dish to serve with a grilled steak or chicken meal, along with rice, baked potato, or another side vegetable.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 small summer squash or 2 to 3 medium
• nonstick cooking spray
• 1/4 cup vegetable broth or chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
• 3 or 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• about a dozen medium basil leaves, cut chiffonade*
• salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation:

*To cut chiffonade, stack the leaves, roll up tightly, and slice thinly.

Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat . Saute the sliced summer squash, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes. Add the vegetable broth to the skillet and continue cooking and stirring for a few minutes longer, until almost tender. Add the garlic and green onions and continue cooking and stirring until tender but still a bit firm. Stir in the basil and add salt and pepper to taste.
Serves 4.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/summerrecipes/r/Super-Easy-Sauteed-Summer-Squash.htm

Zucchini and Summer Squash Casserole

This simple casserole is a great way to take advantage of prolific zucchini and summer squash.

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 3 small zucchini, about 1 1/2 pounds
• 3 small summer squash, about 1 1/2 pounds
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut in small pieces
• 4 tablespoons fine dry bread crumbs
• 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°.

Wash the squash, trim ends, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Put squash pieces in a greased 2- to 2 1/2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine the chicken broth with the garlic and pour over the squash. Dot with butter then sprinkle with the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Cover and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes longer, until browned and tender.
Serves 6.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/zucchinirecipes/r/r100611a.htm

Blueberry Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pint fresh blueberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 4 mini-loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar. Fold in the zucchini. Beat in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gently fold in the blueberries. Transfer to the prepared mini-loaf pans.
3. Bake 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blueberry-Zucchini-Bread/

TPH Episode 38

Welcome back Homesteaders! Sorry for the absence but I'm finally back! Today we discuss Tiny Houses and Runner Ducks in the Ancestral Animals segment. I also have a book review as well as the usual Gardening by the Moon segment. Enjoy!

Tiny House Links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXDu2U-CmkI   16 year old builds tiny house

http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/

http://rowdykittens.com/our-tiny-house/

http://www.puresalvageliving.com/

http://tinyhouseblog.com/

Runner Ducks

Book Review


Navigating the Coming Chaos by Carolyn Baker

· ISBN-10: 1450270875

· ISBN-13: 978-1450270878

TPH Episode 37

Happy Yule everyone! In this episode you will get to enjoy some holiday music and hopefully learn some interesting facts about traditions and songs from times gone by.

The Way To Early Christmas Song by Paul and Storm

The Christmas Song by Calvin Owens

Christmas in the Country by Codie Prevost

The Wassail Song by Jim Goodrich

Carol of the Bells by Inner Splendor Celtic Christmas Music

Christmas in England Wassail Recipe
Ready in: Over 5 hrs ? Difficulty:   2 (1=easiest :: hardest=5)
Serves/Makes:   18

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup sugar 2 quarts apple juice 1 pint cranberry juice 1 teaspoon aromatic bitters 1 cup rum 2 cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon whole allspice 1 small orange, studded with cloves

PREPARATION:

Dissolve sugar in juices in crockpot. Add remaining ingredients. Cook on high for 1 hour. Simmer on low for 4 to 8 hours.

NUTRITION:

136 calories, 0 grams fat, 27 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams protein per serving. This recipe is low in sodium. This recipe is low in fat.

Show full nutritional data (including Weight Watcher's Points ®, cholesterol, sodium, vitamins, and diabetic exchanges)

This recipe from CDKitchen for Christmas in England Wassail serves/makes 18

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/212/Christmas-in-England-Wassail117252.shtml

Holly and the Ivy by Chuck Stevens

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly by Doug Boldt

The 12 Days of Christmas by thehipcola

I Think Monroe Shot Rudolph by Carl Hatmaker

White Christmas by Shauna Burns

TPH Episode 36

Welcome back everyone! Today I have a guest with me, my son Jack! He will be sharing his point view about homesteading and some of his advice for would be homesteaders. We will also take a look at what is recommended for Gardening by the Moon and today's Folktale. Enjoy!

TPH Episode 35

Welcome back Homesteaders to Episode 35! Today I will tell you about some of the basics you need to know if you are considering keeping your flock of chickens. We will also look at the heritage breed Leghorn chicken and as usual there is the Gardening by the Moon segment and a story for Thanksgiving.

www.albc-usa.org

www.backyardchickens.com

Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow ISBN 978-1-60342-470-7

Ancestral Animals

American Brown Leghorn Club Bud Blankenship 5205 Pundt Road Lewisburg, OH  45338  USA Office phone: 937-962-4226 Office email: budablc@hotmail.com Personal email: pearce@whidbey.net http://www.the-coop.org/leghorn/ablc1.html

TPH Episode 34

Happy Halloween Homesteaders! Today we will look at various burial rituals and enjoy a classic halloween story.

Haunted Highways: Spooky Stories, Strange Happenings, Supernatural Sightings by Tom Ogden

TPH Episode 33

Welcome back Homesteaders! This is a shorter than usual episode but hopefully you will enjoy the weather lore in today's show until I get back!

TPH Episode 32

Welcome back to Episode 32! In this episode we will go over the differences in water bath canning and pressure canning and some of the equipment you need for both. You will also be treated to a blog entry written by a Collapse Net member describing their efforts at homesteading and preparing for collapse.

http://www.freshpreserving.com/home.aspx

Ball Blue Book: Guide to Preserving

Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving: 400 Delicious and Creative Recipes for Today

TPH Episode 31

Green Phallus
http://pncminnesota.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/green-phallus-tours-tc-pagan-pride/

Soil Cube
http://www.soilcube.com/

Alternative Building
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/index.htm
Adobe House

Cob House

Cob House Interior

Earthbag House

Strawbale House

Hereford Hogs

www.collapsenet.com