Bringing back the past, for a sustainable future. This blog was previously known as New Ground, Old Dirt.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Ebay and Online Stores
I've been buying items on Ebay for a few years. This week was the first time I sold something. It was quite the learning experience and now I'm glad a did it. I got a rush when I saw that my item sold. (And I almost put it in my thrift store donation pile). I'm glad that I made a little extra income and now I'm trying to figure out what else I can sell! Do you have any tips for selling on Ebay? My next goal is to sell homemade items on Etsy.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Edible Landscaping
Eric and I don't like all useless lawns that surround entire houses. Why waste time every day or week watering, mowing, and fertilizing a lawn? I could go on and on about how pointless a manicured lawn is, but for the sake of time I won't.
Instead of a lawn at our house, our plan is to replace the sod with native and/or edible plants. We have seen wonderful pictures of people who have already done so. I think we got a good start on it last year by building ten raised beds and adding a chicken pasture.
On our property we have a steep hill that runs the length of our yard. We are very eager to plant edible bushes on this hill so that we don't have to mow the grass. Our plan is to add blueberries, currants, ground cherries, native roses, and other decorative edibles over the course of a couple years.
We just recieved our first Northland Blueberry bushes and Black Currant bushes from St. Lawrence Nursery in Upstate New York. We bought our three apples trees from that company last year. Blueberries aren't usually grown around our neck of the woods, but we have a few pine trees near the steep hill that will make the soil more acidic. And the currants Eric planted with hopes that we will actually like the berries (we haven't tasted black currants yet).
The month of May is giving us lots of projects. In the background of the photo is the fence that Eric is building.
-M
Instead of a lawn at our house, our plan is to replace the sod with native and/or edible plants. We have seen wonderful pictures of people who have already done so. I think we got a good start on it last year by building ten raised beds and adding a chicken pasture.
On our property we have a steep hill that runs the length of our yard. We are very eager to plant edible bushes on this hill so that we don't have to mow the grass. Our plan is to add blueberries, currants, ground cherries, native roses, and other decorative edibles over the course of a couple years.
We just recieved our first Northland Blueberry bushes and Black Currant bushes from St. Lawrence Nursery in Upstate New York. We bought our three apples trees from that company last year. Blueberries aren't usually grown around our neck of the woods, but we have a few pine trees near the steep hill that will make the soil more acidic. And the currants Eric planted with hopes that we will actually like the berries (we haven't tasted black currants yet).
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| Practicing patience before we see any fruit! |
-M
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Extra Homestead Income
Making money from working at home would be a great addition to any homestead. Eric and I have some dreams of things we can sell in the future, but we also have some homemade items now.
But I wonder if we could start to sell items now. We are not experts in the items we make, so is it fair to sell those items that aren’t perfect yet? What do you think? We have thought about selling our deer tallow candles, upcycled plastic pouches, and maybe knitted or sewn items.
In this day and age there are many options to getting homemade stuff sold: craft fairs, artist stores, and online stores like Etsy. Where should we start?
-M
But I wonder if we could start to sell items now. We are not experts in the items we make, so is it fair to sell those items that aren’t perfect yet? What do you think? We have thought about selling our deer tallow candles, upcycled plastic pouches, and maybe knitted or sewn items.
In this day and age there are many options to getting homemade stuff sold: craft fairs, artist stores, and online stores like Etsy. Where should we start?
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| Coin purse made with plastic cat food bag and scrap fabric. |
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Haircut for the Angora Rabbits
Our new Angora rabbits, Socks and Mittens, have a new look. There are a few different ways to harvest the wool from angora rabbits. One way is "plucking" the shedding hair. Have you ever pulled tuffs of hair off your dog? It is the same way for the rabbits and plucking doesn't hurt the rabbits.
This was my first time harvesting the wool, and I learned how from YouTube videos. Plucking the hair leaves the hair longer and therefore higher quality for spinning. I started plucking Socks, but he has a bit of an attitude. I spent days trying to harvest his wool, but got frustrated each time. I ended up skipping Socks and began plucking Mittens. Mittens was soooo much different. His hair came out easier and I could see where I plucked because his brown undercoat shown through.
Another way to harvest angora wool is cutting off the hair. I decided to shear Socks to save a headache. Shearing is a little more nerve-racking because one could possibly cut the skin. I think Socks is half the size now that his hair is gone. He doesn't look so tough now.
This was my first time harvesting the wool, and I learned how from YouTube videos. Plucking the hair leaves the hair longer and therefore higher quality for spinning. I started plucking Socks, but he has a bit of an attitude. I spent days trying to harvest his wool, but got frustrated each time. I ended up skipping Socks and began plucking Mittens. Mittens was soooo much different. His hair came out easier and I could see where I plucked because his brown undercoat shown through.
Another way to harvest angora wool is cutting off the hair. I decided to shear Socks to save a headache. Shearing is a little more nerve-racking because one could possibly cut the skin. I think Socks is half the size now that his hair is gone. He doesn't look so tough now.
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| Mitten's brown undercoat is reveiled while plucking. |
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| Socks |
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sprouting Greens
It has been a long cold spring. Last year Eric and I had seeds outside by the end of March. This year we are hoping to get the peas planted by next week...maybe. But even during the cold, gloomy days we still have a green beauty in the basement.
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| Kale, brocolli, swiss chard |
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| Roma Tomato |
This is our second year starting seeds inside. Some things we greatly improved on and some things we are still learning from. We can't wait to plant these sprouts outside!
-M
Saturday, April 2, 2011
More Wild Edibles
Last fall Eric and I harvest hickory nuts from a nearby park. Hickory nuts taste amazing but the nuts are not sold in stores. I was very excited when I spotted the nuts in a fallen tree, which provided perfect drying conditions and a safe spot away from squirrels.
In our area, Shagbark Hickory trees have the edible nuts. Don't eat the Bitternut Hickory nuts. I didn't realize at first that there was a hickory nut that wasn't tasty. From experience your mouth will go dry if you eat a bitternut. Thankfully it is easy to tell the two types of nuts apart.
I spent the past week cracking open the nuts. It takes a lot of patience, but it is worth it. I can't wait to put them into a recipe!
-M
In our area, Shagbark Hickory trees have the edible nuts. Don't eat the Bitternut Hickory nuts. I didn't realize at first that there was a hickory nut that wasn't tasty. From experience your mouth will go dry if you eat a bitternut. Thankfully it is easy to tell the two types of nuts apart.
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| Shagbark Hickory Nut (photo credit) |
-M
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