CityFarmin

The 2011 Harvest and Canning Season Begins

2011-07-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

The harvest and canning season is in full force on the CityFarm. Take a look at what we have been working on.

Make sure to check the box on the right to see our harvest and canning numbers.

Egg Count for June

2011-07-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

Below is the egg count for June....

142

It was larger than this but while on vacation our Chicken Babysitters were given them as our thanks for checking on them.

During the month we also lost one of our White Leghorns. We are unaware of what happened to her but the rest of the flock is looking healthy and happy.

We have been on vacation and are trying to get caught up with all that is going on in our City Farm.....including canning the harvest. More info and photos will be coming in the next few days so stay posted!!!!

Help Support the CityFarm

2011-06-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Do you like what you see?

Help support the growing CityFarm by purchasing items from Amazon thru our link on the right.

Thanks in advance for all of your support!!!

A Picture Post from the CityFarm

2011-06-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

Here are a few new pictures to show you what is growing currently on the CityFarm.

Raspberries are in bloom

Peaches are growing strong.

Peas starting to grow tall. They got their first blooms 2 days ago.

Potatoes have already been hilled and have gotten bigger again.

Apples are looking gorgeous.

New chicks are getting big and now are in with the rest of the flock.

How is your garden growing?

Wasted Spaces and Edible Landscaping

2011-06-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

So our goal is to work towards creating an all edible landscaping in our yard. This will be a long process but we are making little steps. Here you can see a picture of our new herb garden.

Our new herb garden includes the following:

Horseradish
Pineapple Sage
Fennel
Lavender
Stevia Bush
Chives
Celeriac
White Sage
Rosemary
Green Sage
Sweet Marjoram
St. Johnswart
Chamomile
Catnip
Comfrey
Lemon Balm

Although the bushes/plants look small right now they will grow and become a lush edible herb garden. Stayed tuned to see update photos.

What are you doing to make use of wasted spaces and grow more of the things your family loves and needs?

The Harvest Begins

2011-06-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

It is amazing that it is already the middle of June and our Harvesting has begun. Although it is not a lot yet.....the season of canning and preserving has begun.

Take a look at what we are harvesting right now.

May Egg Count

2011-06-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

You can definitely tell that summer is on its way as the egg count is on it's way up.

Our total egg count for May

221

An Asparagus Adventure at Day Farms

2011-06-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

There are so many amazing things located in your backyard if you are just looking. Here is a farm I discovered while driving by this week. It is called Day Farms and they offer some amazing produce.......and some that you get to pick yourself. Here are a few pictures of my Asparagus Adventure.

Take advantage of these opportunities and produce that is located all around you. By relying on local farmers we will not only enjoy amazing food but we will help our local economy.

I will be posting pictures and a recipe about how I enjoyed this yummy asparagus :)

If you are located in the Ogden/Layton area check out Day Farms at 2500 W. Gentile St. and call 801-546-4316 to find out what they have to offer right now.

Front Yard Edible Landscaping

2011-05-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

What does your front yard do for you? Below is an amazing example on how useful and beautiful that yard could really be.

This is what we are working on for the CityFarm. Although it will take years to look anything like the video we will keep you updated on the progress. Our new additions for this year:

Horseradish
Jerusalem Artichoke
Apple Mint
Stevia Sugar Bush
St. Johnswort
Pineapple Sage
French Sorrell
Basil
Green Sage

Plus I am sure more to come!!!

Most of these are perennials which I believe is the key to real self reliance. What would you do if the nursery and the seeds were all gone one day?

Another reason to grow a garden this year!

2011-05-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

Have you been debating about growing a garden this year? Take a look at the following video and it might help to make up your mind.

Alternative Fuel

2011-05-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

Part of being prepared is alternative fuel. How are you going to cook, heat your home or do anything else you need to do if the power is out or not an option. This will be a several part blog series featuring options for alternative power sources. First on the list is solar. We will be reviewing solar cookers, solar panels (for the home and portable) and other things that will be a blessing on any sunny day. Stay tuned for pictures and videos coming soon.......Plus product reviews! Let me know of any other items you would like us to review in this alternative power series.

Getting Less and Paying More

2011-05-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

Do you feel like every time you go to the grocery store you are paying more for less? Well it is not just you who feels that way. Take a look at the following CBS video below. Take the time to read the fine print and clip the coupons the next time you go to the grocery store.....it can really make a difference!

Food Storage Recipe #3

2011-05-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Poppyseed Chicken

2-3 cans chicken breast or Thrive Freeze Dried Chicken, rehydrated

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 cups Thrive Sour Cream, made from powder and chilled

1/2 cup Thrive Butter, made from powder and chilled

2 Tablespoons poppy seeds

2 sleeves Ritz crackers

Grease casserole dish. Add chicken. Mix soup, sour cream, and poppy seeds together and pour over chicken. Slice butter into pats and lay on top. Crush crackers and sprinkle over butter and soup.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes

Natural Tilling and Bug Control --Plus Chicken Laws

2011-05-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Do you use a machine to till your garden?

Or pesticides to kill unwanted pets?

These are just a few advantages to having chickens. They naturally till our garden and will eat any unwanted pests....ours especially love ants.....but some local governments want to control who can have these resourceful creatures.

Here are the laws for some areas in UT:

Brigham City, UT. Definition of domesticated animal includes 'fowls' Section 4:01.16 defines that the pets can be kept in humane enclosure not larger than 50 cubic feet. It also states that 'household pets' will be no more than 6 birds.
Ogden, UT. It is unlawful for any person to keep any chickens, ducks, pigeons or other fowl in the City limits unless the same are at all times kept confined in proper pens or enclosures. All such pens or enclosures shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and shall not be placed or maintained within 75 feet of any dwelling.
Orem City, UT. Limit of poultry/fowl: 20 on a lot under one acre, and must be kept 40 ft. from dwelling on same lot or 85 ft. from neighboring dwelling. Currently you must have at least one acre of property to have any chickens at all, legally.
Salt Lake City, UT. You can keep up to 25 chickens (no reference to roosters) with a permit, and the coop must be placed 50 feet from nearby houses.

You can find out more about different cities/states at the following website:

http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/chickenlaws.html

As a City Council Member I know the importance of the opinion of the residents I serve. If you don't like your city's current regulations contact your City and ask to speak at the next City Council Meeting. Then go and start collecting support from others in your city that want the same right to become self sufficient. Have them come to the meeting as well or collect signatures. The more support you have the better the chance to get it changed. Also contact the media. City Chickens have been hot topics in our local news......put some pressure on your council by having the media present. Plus you must remember to be persistent. With most government issues it will most likely not change quickly but don't give up!! Let me know how it is going in your area!

Below is a video of what you can run into when trying to find out about or change city regulations :)

More new additions

2011-05-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of one of our 9 new additions to the CityFarm......Baby Bunnies!!!

We will keep you updated on the growth and changes of our 9 new friends :)

One of the inspirations for our CityFarm

2011-05-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

This video documents the life and changes for one California family. Hopefully we will soon be able to produce for our family the way this one does........

How are you changing your life to live more off the land?

April Egg Count

2011-05-09T10:48:00.000-07:00

April Egg Count

159

How are your chickens doing???

Food Storage Recipe #2

2011-05-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

Some food storage items really get a bad rap. You can just say their name and people will shiver. Spam is one of those items. It seems to have a love or hate relationship with most people. Even if you think you might not like Spam I encourage you to give it another try. It is a great food storage item that will give you the added calories you will need in the event of an emergency. Here is how our family enjoys them the most!

Scrambled Eggs Galore

1 doz eggs scrambled

1 can Spam - Diced

1/2 cup Thrive Freeze Dried Onions

1/4 cup Thrive Bell Peppers

Garlic Salt - to taste

Mrs. Dash - to taste

Pepper - to taste

1 cup Thrive Freeze Dried Cheddar Cheese - Rehydrated

Combine the Spam, Onions, and Peppers in a pan with oil. Heat throughly. Then add the eggs and seasonings to taste. Scramble all together and add the cheese right before serving. Serve and enjoy.

I would love to know of any other recipes you enjoy that use food storage. When a disaster hits is not the time you want to figure out how to cook with your food storage!

Sour Cream Powder

2011-05-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Get this and other great deals at

www.saralusk.shelfreliance.com

Life emerges again!

2011-04-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

Can you correctly identify the pictures??

Although the weather can not decide if it is really Spring the plants have decided that it is time to wake up for the new year.

Thought you might enjoy some pictures from our garden.

More will be coming soon and our seedlings start to sprout. So far we have already planted Peas, Potatoes, and Radishes. What have you done to prepare your garden for the new year?

The Eggs are BACK!

2011-04-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

Summer is on the way and our egg production shows the difference!

Here is our Egg count for March:

165

Where do you get your food storage?

2011-04-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for high quality food storage?

Take a look at my website to find some of the best food storage I have ever used. I will be using it in all of my recipes that will be coming in the next 3 months while I challenge myself to create an amazing food storage cookbook that I can use everyday. I will be sharing these recipes so check back often. Below you can find my Food Storage Recipe #1.

No matter if you want to spend $5 or $5000 on your food storage let me help you get what you need. Many amazing programs....including a way to get yours for free. Contact me with questions!

www.saralusk.shelfreliance.com

Food Storage Recipe #1

2011-04-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

Chicken Tortellini Soup

1 cup Thrive Freeze Dried Chicken - Rehydrated

1/4 cup Thrive Celery

2 Tablespoons Thrive Onions

2 1/2 cups Water

8 cups Thrive Chicken Broth

1/2 teaspoon Celery Seed

1/2 teaspoon Basil

1/2 teaspoon Garlic Salt

1 teaspoon Salt

15 oz. Dried Tortellini

Bring the water and chicken broth to a boil. Add spiced. Add chicken. Add celery and onions. Return to a boil and then add tortellini.

Boil 10-12 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Serve and enjoy!

I would eat this every night and never know that is it completely made from food storage. Let me know what you and your family thinks!

A 3 Month Challenge

2011-04-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what it would really take to live off your food storage?

Well my family is going to put it to the test. We are going to live April-June without going to the grocery store. I will be recording our meals. What we haven't stored enough of and what we really didn't need to store. I hope that this helps take the mystery out of food storage.

So here are the details:

April-June -- No Grocery Shopping
The Family -- 2 adults
   4 kids - 13, 10, 8, and 4 months
The Pets -- 11 Chickens
   3 Cats
   2 Bunnies
Exceptions --

We will enjoy produce from our garden and from the farmers market because that will still be available even in an emergency situation
We will also barter for items needed from things we can produce (eggs, etc.)
We will also continue to have a budget for dining out for date nights.....those are really important! :)

So here we go on this amazing adventure......I would love any comments or questions.

February Egg Count

2011-03-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

Total Egg Count for February

New additions to our "CityFarm"

2011-03-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

We have given a new home to two friends of the CityFarm......Romeo and Juliet.

These two Rex Rabbits had no home so we gladly adopted them. Now they are enjoying their time here and getting to know their new friends :)

More pictures and details will be coming soon.

Home Grown Egg vs Store Bought Egg

2011-02-22T22:34:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered about the difference between a store bought egg and a home grown egg? Well now you can see the difference.

You can notice that the home grown egg has a orange yolk due to the variety of things a "free range" chicken eats. This is only one of the many differences you will find between the two eggs. I encourage all of you to do this experiment as well.....you will be shocked to see the results in person.

Special Deal for Valentines Day

2011-02-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

Because it is the day of love I wanted to share with you a special way to share your love with family and save money while doing it! Get some family pictures!!!!

I found an amazing photographer who is offering an amazing special for this month only!!! When you call him to book your photo session you will receive 50% off your sitting fee and ALL prints!

I just had him photograph my family and the results were beyond any expectation! I now have beautiful photos to remember my special day and how my children looked for a lifetime. I have already booked another session because I was so happy!!!!

Call Troy Garlick today at 801-209-3907 or info@garlickphoto.com. You can also check out his website at www.garlickphoto.com. Remember you only have until the end of February to book your session and take advantage of this special deal. Also....don't forget to use coupon code: 02lusk2011

14 Food Facts about 2011 that will scare you!

2011-02-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

#1 According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. corn reserves will dropto a 15 year lowby the end of 2011.

#2 The United Nations says that the global price of food hit another new all-time high in the month of January.

#3 The price of corn has doubled in the past six months.

#4 The price of wheat has roughly doubled since the middle of 2010.

#5 According to Forbes, the price of soybeans is up about 50% since last June.

#6 The United Nations is projecting that the global price of food will increase by another 30 percent by the end of 2011.

#7 Due to all of the unprecedented flooding, the winter wheat crop in Australiahas been absolutely devastated.

#8 This winter Brazil was hit by some of the worst flooding that nation has ever seen. This has substantially hampered food production in that country.

#9 Russia, one of the largest wheat producers on the entire globe, is still feeling the effects of last summer’s scorching temperatures. In fact, Russia is actually importing wheat this winter to sustain its cattle herds.

#10 China is busy preparing for a “severe, long-lasting drought” that is projected to have a huge impact on several provinces. In fact, Chinese state media says that the eastern province of Shandong is dealing with the worst drought it has seen in 200 years. The provinces being affected by this severe drought grow approximately two-thirds of the wheat in China.

#11 It appears that Chinese imports of corn will be about 9 times larger than the U.S. Department of Agriculture originally projected them to be for 2011.

#12 Approximately 1 billion people around the world go to bed hungry each night.

#13 Somewhere in the world someone starves to death every 3.6 seconds, and 75 percent of those are children under the age of five.

#14 As food has become increasingly scarce around the world, many companies have started using whatever kinds of “fillers” that they can think of in their “food” products. For example, Raw Story is reporting that some companies in China have actually been mass producing “fake rice” that is made partly of plastic. According to one Chinese Restaurant Association official, eating three bowls of this fake rice is the equivalent of consuming an entire plastic bag.

Let us pray that this is not the beginning of a major global food crisis, because hunger and starvation are horrible things.

Starving to death is a fate that nobody should ever have to go through.

So, let us hope for the best, but let us also prepare as if we will be facing the worst.

(reference from www.prisonplanet.com)

China Bracing for Severe Drought

2011-02-10T09:26:00.000-08:00

Saving Money

2011-02-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

Part of being self sufficient is saving money when and where you can....so I will be featuring deals of the month.

These are special savings that you can receive from companies just for being a follower of CityFarmin!!

I will post as many deals as I can every month

so make sure to check back soon!

January Egg Count

2011-02-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

The tally begins again for 2011

Our total egg count for January is:

145

Food for Thought

2011-02-08T14:58:00.001-08:00

Approximately 10 billion animals (chickens, cattle, hogs, ducks, turkeys, lambs and sheep) are raised and killed in the US annually. Nearly all of them are raised on factory farms under inhumane conditions. These industrial farms are also dangerous for their workers, pollute surrounding communities, are unsafe to our food system.

Where does our food come from???

2011-02-08T14:56:00.000-08:00

As sad as this statement is most children could not tell you. Their answer.....the supermarket. If you have not yet seen the movie FOOD INC. I would encourage you to sit down as a family and watch it. (available on DVD or Netflix) Our country is loosing it's foundation and roots when it comes to agriculture

(plus other things)

We need to take a stand.

Egg Total 2010

2011-01-25T14:42:00.000-08:00

So the total is in.......drum roll please!!!

Our total egg count for 2010

2376

I have broken it down into monthly amounts as well. You will notice that in the end of 2010 our chickens molted so the egg count was much lower. Hopefully this information helps you decide if you would like some backyard chickens this year!!!

January - 284

February - 261

March - 268

April - 290

May - 254

June - 225

July - 174

August - 208

September - 157

October - 130

November - 50

December - 75

Chickens are once again healthy and egg production is on it's way up again.

Happy 2011

2011-01-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

Wow....time has flown by. I spend most of the last few months of 2010 preparing for a new addition to our household so I didn't post anything. SORRY!

So now I am going to try to catch you up on what happened in the last few months.

We harvested lots and also canned like crazy...despite being 8 months pregnant :)

Here are a few pictures of what we canned. I will also be posting our final 2010 egg count later today for those who are interested.

Please always feel free to post any questions you may have and let me know if there are any specific topics you want me to cover in 2011.

Catching Up....

2010-04-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

So it has been a few weeks since I talked about the grocery budget.....

So I have to play catch up

Week #1 -

OOP - $66.02

Total Savings - $95.31

Week #2 -

OOP - $83.56

Total Savings - $114.53

So you can see....taking the time to plan, use coupons and shop around really pays off!

Over Budget :(

2010-03-16T21:29:00.001-07:00

So this week I was slightly over budget but the deals were amazing!

Total Retail - $231.63

OOP - $111.17

Total Savings - $120.46

Over 50% Savings......WAHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Having you been doing any money saving things in 2010?

Egg Totals

2010-03-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

Eggs are still plentiful here on the CityFarm. We have found some wonderful people to barter/trade with which has been so exciting!

Here is the total for February egg production:

261

I will be adding some fun recipes soon!

Saving More Money!!! Cont.

2010-03-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

So the grocery budget continues...

Today was really exciting....here is what we saved.

Total Retail - $161.33

OOP - $66.02

Total Savings - $95.31

Growing like crazy!

2010-02-27T07:02:00.000-08:00

There is something amazing in watching plants grow. You really find an appreciation for what you eat. To watch it go from a little seed, to a small plant, to beautiful flowers, to amazing veggies. We have already started so many of our plants so I thought I would show you how it is going. We are currently growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, herbs, strawberries and more. Let me know how your planting is going.

The Grocery Budget Continues

2010-02-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

Here we go again.....the grocery budget continues.

The following are this weeks results:

Total Retail: $142.44
Total OOP: $79.03

Total Savings: $63.41

2010 Totals:

Total Retail: $357.30
Total OOP: $181.81

Total 2010 Savings: $175.49

Saving Money

2010-02-10T18:47:00.000-08:00

Saving money.....it has always been one of my New Year's Resolutions. Like so many things I have written it down, year after year, and in December look back and kick myself for not doing it.

NOT THIS YEAR!!!!

I have started by making a budget for my family. One of the main things that I wanted to accomplish was a grocery budget.

So here it is.....

$100/week (for a family of 5) and only going to the store 1x per week.

This is going to be really hard for me but I think I can do it! I have started a system of coupons and sales that I know will help me stay within this budget......hopefully :)

I will update you every week of my progress. So here we go.

Total Retail: $214.86
OOP (Out of Pocket): $102.78

Total Savings: $112.08

Let me know what you think and I will share some of my Grocery Saving methods soon!

Is it time already????

2010-02-04T21:11:00.001-08:00

It seems like only yesterday we were putting the final touches on the yard before it was covered in snow but next week it will be starting all over again.

Next week we will begin the careful planning and planting for our 2010 garden.

We have many goals including the following:

Growing 4000 lbs + food
Canning/preserving 200+ jars
No Grocery Shopping for 3 months (July -September)
Line Dry Clothing
Use Solar Oven for most meals/cooking
Expand/Improve Garden
Teach others about the joy of gardening and baking/cooking from scratch
and so much more....

What are some of your garden goals for 2010?
What will you be planting??

Eggs

2010-02-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

Although it is winter and we are enjoying snow.....one thing is still being produced on the CityFarm.

Eggs.

Beautiful, delicious eggs. Our tally for January egg production was 284.

I was thinking about sharing some fun things to do with eggs. Let me know if you would enjoy this!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T11:23:00.001-08:00

UPDATE:

A while ago I talked about a posting blitz and I wanted to apologize that it has not happened yet. In early December our youngest son severely broke his arm. Two surgeries later he is doing much better but it did put me behind in updating about the CityFarm. I have a passion for preparedness and living off the land.....I am excited to continuing to share this passion with you. Thank you for being loyal readers!

I know that it has been quite a while since my last post and I apologize. So much has been happening here at the CityFarm that I have felt overwhelmed but grateful. A posting blitz and updated pictures are on there way in the next few days. I will update all harvest tallies as well.

Thank you for your support and patience while I took some time to catch up on things around the farm. We are very grateful this Thanksgiving for all of our family and friends. You are our world and will always be in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

A Picture Post from the CityFarm

2009-08-28T07:07:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of things still growing at the CityFarm.....

Peaches galore.....can't wait for a few more weeks and we will be enjoying many dishes featuring peaches

Apples have also done well this year and should be ready for some applesauce and apple butter in a few weeks

Grapes are finally starting to look big and beautiful!

We have a few pumpkins hiding in the patch :)

Yummy watermelons......hopefully it will taste as good as it looks!

These are just a few of the things still producing here on the CityFarm. I will talk more soon about our second plantings that are going on. We feel like it is so important to maximize the planting time we have. Happy Planting :)

Preserving the colors of summer

2009-08-05T09:49:00.001-07:00

With such a bountiful harvest in July I am rapidly working on preserving the colors of summer. I love, in the middle of winter, pulling out a jar and being reminded of the wonderful things summer has to offer. The colors, flavor and smells.

So far the CityFarm has preserved Beets, Zucchini, Dill Pickles, Apricot Preserves and Apricot fruit leather........and so much more still coming! What are you preserving to remember this beautiful season?

July Tally

2009-08-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

The official harvesting has begun.....Take a look at our tally for the month. We have truly been blessed to have such a bountiful July. Hopefully August will be even better!

Apricots - 23 lbs 6.0 oz

Beets - 3 lbs 5.90 oz

Carrots - 1.7 oz (pulled one as a test)

Cucumbers - 5 lbs 14.70 oz

Green Beans - 8 lbs 6.50 oz

Zucchini - 118 lbs 8.20 oz

Pattypan Squash - 1 lb 14.50 oz

Peas - 5 lbs 5.50 oz

Peppers - 1.00 oz

Raspberries - 1.30 oz

Red Potatoes - 41 lbs 5.00 oz

Strawberries - 5.60 oz

Tomatoes - 6 lbs 14.00 oz

Turnips - 4 lbs 12.50 oz

Yellow Crookneck Squash - 19 lbs 11.90 oz

Yellow Onions - 6.60 oz

Yellow Straightneck Squash - 41 lbs 2.54 oz

Yukon Gold Potatoes - 15 lbs 7.00 oz

Total Harvest: 297 lbs 2.44 oz

August should provide us with a lot more tomatoes, squash and fruits. Happy Harvesting!!!

It won't be long until they are all gone....

2009-07-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stopped to wonder why we have an endangered list for some animals but not for other animals or crops. Did you ever think we would need such a thing? Take a look at the following article about endangered crops and animals....it is an eye opener. I don't think I will look at most turkeys the same way :)

Click here to read more....

I would love to know what you think!

How useful is your yard?

2009-07-14T22:57:00.001-07:00

One of the main things that I love about veggie gardening is how something so wonderful comes from something so unexpected.

Baby grapes from our garden. A prolific plant that in spring transforms from dead looking vines into a jungle of leaves and baby grapes. It is amazing to watch it change daily.

Banana Peppers. How such a small plant produces such large, beautiful peppers is a beautiful thing!

The roses we grow not only get dried for different fragrances, etc. but our chickens also enjoy to munch on them.

Edible and useful plants come in such a variety of forms. One of the challenges of transforminga "normal" grass filled yard into a CityFarm is that neighbors assume that it will be ugly or unsightly but, on the contrary, it can be one of the most beautiful yards around.

No yard is perfect and we are all constantly improving but it is amazing what just one productive plant can do. Take a look at your yard and see where you might be able to feature some of these beautiful and useful plants!

Breathless Moments

2009-07-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

There are just those perfect moments that take your breath away. Recently, while working in the garden after a brief rain shower, I looked up to spot this amazing rainbow that seemed only feet away. We stood and watched it for awhile.....to enjoy the majesty of nature all around us. How many moments a day are we blessed with beautiful images such as this that we don't take the time to actually see?

The following quote inspires me to take a moment and let my breath be taken away....I hope it inspires you as well.

"It's not what you look at that matters,

it's what you see."

Henry David Thoreau

Another Picture Post From The Farm

2009-07-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

The summer squash is here and we get to enjoy those beautiful flowers

Flowers on the Royal Burgundy Beans.....Purple beans are so much fun!

Onions, Onions and more Onions

Peas galore....we will be picking these today too!

Carrots, Turnips and Beets....Remember how they looked a few weeks ago....take a look on a previous post and see how they have grown.

My how things are growing fast. Looks like I will be canning beets this afternoon so I will post pictures of that adventure soon. Happy harvesting!

June Tally

2009-07-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

Okay....after a wet and dreary June here are our harvest totals for the month.

Strawberries - 11.4 oz - Not too bad for their first year

Radishes - 6 lbs 9.6 oz

Turnips - 2 lbs 2.3 oz

Zucchini - 14.1 oz

June Total - 10 lbs 5.4 oz

We have already harvest more than this amount for the month of July and it is only the 7th.....happy harvesting!!

Small changes

2009-07-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

It is amazing what small changes can produce.

In our backyard we removed a small piece of grass....2' wide.....along the length of the fence. That small amount of grass will never be missed but oh what results that space has produced.

In that area we now have 15 tomato plants, 5 squash plants and 5 cucumber plants. The squash and cucumber will trellis up the fence and we have already started harvesting red, ripe tomatoes.

Take a look at your yard and use a piece of ground, no matter how small, for something productive.

Chicken Coop -- Making the most of what you have

2009-07-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

The purpose of backyard chickens is to produce a supply of healthy homegrown eggs and fertilizer while saving money. To do this we transformed a run down shed on our property to their new home. By using things we already had we made them a home for less than $40. Take a look at our before and after pictures. Comments and questions are always welcome!

Before

After

The window allows plenty of light and circulation. You can also see a few nesting boxes and plenty of branches for roosting.

After

Our backyard chickens have been an amazing experience and I recommend it to anyone wanting to get back to life as it was.

A fun challenge!

2009-07-02T12:46:00.001-07:00

A new challenge that I am participating in is a Home Audit. So many times in life we forget to look around and evaluate what we are doing.

Is there a more efficient way to do this? Could we save money on that?

So many items in our daily routine become a habit when there may be a better way....a simpler way....a more economical way. This challenge involves several steps that help "Audit" our homes and lifestyles. The first part starts with one week of no spending. NOTHING!! Not one dime. Could you do it???

You can find out more at: www.down---to---earth.blogspot.com

Join me in changing our homes and lives for the better!! Let me know if you are taking the challenge!

Stock up now....It is only a matter of time!

2009-07-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

We struggle paying $3.00/ gallon of gas now but imagine when bread will cost $8.00/loaf. According to some recent information published in the Los Angeles Times that day is coming all to soon. They project that 80% of the worlds wheat storage/crops will be destroyed. I suggest we all spend a few extra dollars now to store some extra wheat and flour now to avoid the panic later. You can read the full article by following the link below.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-wheat-rust14-2009jun14,0,1661589.story

"If ye are prepred ye shall not fear" Doctrine and Covenants 38:30

Picture Post From The CityFarm

2009-06-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

Peaches and Potatoes
Carrots, Beets and Turnips....Oh My!

Another new addition to the farm....Tiger!

Chickens - June 2009

Chickens - March 2009 -- How they do grow fast!

More pictures coming soon!!!

Family....

2009-06-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how when life gets you so busy in the day to day items that we forget how important family is. We had the opportunity to go to a family reunion over the weekend and spend time with family we haven't seen in almost 7 years. We laughed, played games, slept in tents and most of all remembered the love we have for each other. In those moments....watching the interaction of those we love....that I remember what life is really about. It is not how much money we have, or how many sports we play, or how our home looks....but it is those connections we have that will continue with us. It is truly the only thing that we can take with us from this life. I am so grateful for my family and have made a commitment to myself to build those relationships of love. I hope that you will do the same. Take 5 minutes and write a letter to someone in your family. Chances are it will mean more to that person than you will ever imagine.

Another day in the neighborhood

2009-06-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Although we have been experiencing way more than normal rain for June the majority of our crops are doing well and producing yummy veggies. Here is a picture of a few of our champion radishes. They were used in a variety of dishes for our family and our chickens enjoyed the tops. Recipes will be added soon so everyone can enjoy.....so please send me any good recipes you have and I will share with the group.

Our kids are slowly but surely learning the love of dirty fingernails. Spending hours pulling weeds, planting new seeds and the amazement of watching them grow. Our middle son, who is 8, loves the harvest. Everyday he asks what he can "pull" and he will giggle like a schoolgirl as he feeds the chickens and they nibble at his fingers. That has been one of the biggest blessings we have received from winding back the clock, per say, and teaching the kids how food really works and where it really comes from. Watching it go from seed.....to plant.....to plate. Happy growing!!

Let's Get Growing!!

2009-06-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

There are so many things happening on our little "farm". First let me tell you about our land. We live outside of Ogden, UT on a larger lot for the city. Our home is on .43 of an acre. When we moved to our new home in August of 2008.....we realized very quickly that it had been neglected for about 7 years. So for quite awhile we have been working on one project after another. The large garden was a beauty about 10 years ago but has been home to little more than weeds for about 7 years. We decided to change all that! We are working on a goal to only eat what we can produce in our garden or barter for during the summer 2009. I have a goal of producing around 1,000 lbs of eggs, fruits, herbs and vegetables.

Right now we have the following planted.

Yukon Gold Potatoes
Red Norland Potatoes
Red Pontiac Potatoes
2 Peach Trees
2 Apple Trees
1 Pear Tree
1 Apricot Tree
1 Blueberry Bush
Raspberries (5 varieties)
Huckleberries
Boysenberries
Grapes
Zucchini Black Beauty
Gold Rush
Zucchini Elite
Pink Banana Jumbo Squash
Pink Banana Squash
Waltham Butternut Squash
Sweet Meat Squash
Green Hubbard Squash
Blue Hubbard Squash
Table King Acorn Squash
Delicita Squash
Sunburst Hybrid Squash
Straightneck Squash
Crookneck Squash
Spaghetti Squash
Sweet Dumpling Squash
Sugar Baby Watermelon
Buttercup Squash
Orange Smoothie Hybrid
4 varieties of Bell Peppers
Swiss Chard
Spinach
Brussel Sprouts
Strawberries (5 varieties)
Cilantro
Lavender
Parsley
Dill
Rosemary
Thyme
Basil (2 varieties)
15 Tomato Plants
Burpless Cucumbers
Straight Eight Cucumbers
Radishes (6 varieties)
Beets (2 varieties)
Red and Yellow Onions
Shallots
Leeks
Turnips
Rutabagas
Lemon Cucumbers
Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe
Giant Pumpkins
Asparagus
Sugar Snap Peas
Bush Beans (4 varieties)
and the list goes on.....I know that I am forgetting something.....

I am tracking what we harvest for each variety so I will keep you posted :) Above you can see our apple blossoms that we enjoyed for several weeks but have since long gone. Now we are looking forward to a great apple harvest this year.

Life 101

2009-06-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

My life has been an interesting learning experience in many ways. All of those things that I have learned have lead me to create this blog and journal my experiences because I believe that we can all touch another life and hopefully help another in their journey we call life.

My desire is to simplify. My life, my home, my cooking.....my everything! In the last few years I have seen the many changes and terrible things that are taking place in our world and I hope that by becoming more self-sufficient I can prepare my children to tackle things that I was unprepared for. When I had my first child at 16 and moved out of the house I didn't even know how to scramble eggs. I was a cooking mess but, through a patient husband, I experimented until I was creative in the kitchen. Now I am having all of those uneasy feelings again as I learn how to cook from scratch and from my garden only.

Join me on this journey as I work on growing a garden, growing some chickens, homeschooling my children, sewing our own clothing, cooking from scratch and trying to live the life of the modern pioneer.

I would love you hear from you about your journey as well!!!