Olden Oasis Homestead

Backyard berry picking Several years ago, I planted numerous mulberry trees, because I absolutely love the berries. The trees are one of the easiest and fastest to grow, but they can be a bit of a nuisance to some homeowners. Once the berries begin to fall, they leave a purple stain on whatever they land on. If you have ever picked mulberries, then you know if you don't wear gloves while doing so, you'll end up with stained purple fingers and as you pop the berries into your mouth your lips also become stained by the berries' delectable juices. While working outside over the weekend, I was amazed to see that my mulberries were already turning and many were already ripe for picking. So today I'm venturing outdoors to pick multitudes of mulberries. I will end up making mulberry cobbler, mulberry jello pies, freezing, canning, and dehydrating the rest of the berries before the growing season is over. My trees will bear fruit up until July. Well, that's how they normall...

Growing organic Methley plums in Arkansas Living in the south, Japanese plum trees are one of the best options when considering planting plum trees. Although European plum trees will do well in both northern and southern states. Self-pollinating plum trees  My favorite type of self-pollinating plum tree is Methley. However, Au-Roadside, Beauty, Damson, Green Gage, Mount Royal, Persian Green, Plum Burgundy, Santa Rosa, and Stanley are also some other worthy choices of self-pollinating plum trees. I prefer growing self-pollinating trees when possible. Self-pollinating means that planting two different varieties of trees isn't required to bear fruit. Varieties of plum trees that require planting two different types of plum trees are referred to as being self-unfruitful. These types have to be planted with another type of plum tree to bear fruit. The Ozark plum tree is one example of a self-unfruitful tree.  However, there's still a tiny catch. Even though you don't need two se...

Vintage Horton head vase produced by Horton's Ceramics of Eastland, Texas Luckily for me, my father loved vintage antiques; about as much as I do. After he passed away, I inherited his beautiful and unique treasures, and this gorgeous head vase was one of those items. I longed to learn the history of these vintage pieces. So I dug as deep as I could to find out more information about them. The vintage glazed ceramic that I am showcasing today is of a beautiful blonde-haired beauty. The ceramic is known as a head vase. She measures 7-¼ inch tall x 7 inches in width. Handmade doilies were once placed inside the head vase to form a lacy hat, then filled with silk flower arrangements. I prefer not to stuff her delicate head with anything nowadays due to the fact that she's vintage and antique ceramics can break easily. I was told that the head vase was inspired by admiration of blonde Hollywood cover girls, otherwise known as glamor girls. These head vases were produced sometime du...

Growing Chick Grass Seed Mix Although I call this chick grass mix, it can also be fed to wild birds, goats, and sheep. The chick grass is simply a mixture of tetraploid ryegrass, flax, alfalfa, and red and white clover seeds. The chick grass mix can be grown in planters, chicken runs, or wherever else that you might want to grow it in your yard. The seeds will generally sprout within 7 to 14 days. When it's fed to chickens, it will help increase the level of omega-3 in their eggs. So, that's a win-win for both you and your hens. The mix that I prepare will make one 12-pound bag of chick grass mix. I plant this mix in planters and grow it indoors. You can plant as much or as little of the seed mix as you need. The chick grass can be planted inside your chicken run, chicken coop, outdoor plot area, greenhouse, and greenroom. The chick grass seed mix will germinate fairly quickly. Keeping the seed mix on hand makes it simple to continue growing a supply of healthy food for your ch...

Using Apple Cider Vinegar as a Natural Rooting Hormone Propagating plant clippings is one thing most gardeners like doing because it saves us money and also keeps our plants true. What do I mean by keeping the plants true? When you propagate a plant, it means that the plant that you've taken the clipping from will stay true to the original plant. With stem cuttings, each new plant will duplicate its parent plant. So if you have a favorite plant, it's nice to take several clippings from it and propagate it.  My favorite part about propagating plants is that you can also do this with vegetable plants. Tomatoes and peppers are just a few of the plants in your vegetable garden that can be propagated from cuttings. Starting a vegetable plant from an existing stem is also much faster than growing it from seed.  Apple cider rooting hormone Three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed into a gallon of water is all it takes to make enough rooting hormone to use for several plant stem c...

Planting onion bulb sets Onions are quite possibly one of the easiest vegetables to grow inside containers or outside in the garden. They do not require much of anything after the bulbs have been planted in good soil. As their green tops grow, I use them as needed when cooking by cutting the tops off with kitchen shears. I grow the majority of my onions in containers in my greenhouse. Prior to planting, add compost to your soil. Loosen up the soil by adding sand to it (if needed). If you're planting your onion sets in containers, add loose gravel to the bottom of them. Then fill the containers with your fertilized soil. Having good drainage is so important. It will keep the onion bulbs from rotting and getting diseased. Next, plant the onion bulbs in the fertilized soil. Make sure that the pointed end is placed in an upward position and the root end is placed downward.  The onion bulbs need to be placed about an inch and a half deep. Then water the bulbs and cover the tops of them ...

  Embracing the Soil: A Comprehensive Guide to No-Till Gardening Imagine cultivating a lush, vibrant garden without the constant upheaval of traditional tilling. No-till gardening isn’t just a trend; it’s a sustainable, soil-friendly approach that promotes healthier plants, richer soil, and a more resilient garden ecosystem. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener looking to improve your methods or a curious beginner eager to reduce your environmental footprint, understanding the principles and benefits of no-till gardening can transform the way you nurture your garden space. Table of Contents What is No-Till Gardening? Benefits of No-Till Gardening Getting Started with No-Till Gardening Best Practices for Success Overcoming Common Challenges Final Thoughts What is No-Till Gardening? No-till gardening is an agricultural practice that minimizes soil disturbance by avoiding traditional tilling methods. Instead of turning the soil with a shovel or tractor, gardeners build up their soil org...

  Happy Easter from Olden Oasis Homestead: Wishing You a Joyful Holiday! As spring blossoms and the season of renewal is upon us, everyone at Olden Oasis Homestead wants to extend our warmest wishes for a blessed Easter weekend. Whether you're gathering with loved ones or enjoying a peaceful moment of reflection, we hope your holiday is filled with happiness, hope, and renewal. Celebrating Easter with Olden Oasis Homestead At Olden Oasis Homestead, Easter is a special time to celebrate new beginnings and the simple joys of life. We believe in embracing the spirit of community, gratitude, and renewal—values that resonate deeply during this time of year. Our Easter Wishes To You Peace and Joy: May your days be filled with laughter and your hearts with peace. Family and Friendship: Cherish those close to you and create beautiful memories together. Hope and Renewal: Embrace the new beginnings that Easter brings and carry that hope into the days ahead. A Little Easter Reflection Whet...

Homemade pickled jalapeño peppers Pickled jalapeño peppers are the perfect in-between-meal snack. They can also be served at meal times on sandwiches, in soup, and added to various other recipes. Today, I will be putting up my pickled jalapeño peppers for refrigeration, but you can use the water bath canning method if you want to store your peppers for a longer period of time. I prefer leaving my peppers whole for snacking, but you can slice yours if you'd prefer. When slicing hot peppers, always wear a clean pair of disposable gloves for protection, and never rub your eyes while you're slicing the jalapeño peppers. If an accident such as this should occur, quickly rinse your eyes out under cold running water. Ingredients: 10 to 12 jalapeño peppers (left whole, cut in halves, or sliced) 1-1/4 cup of distilled 5% white vinegar 1-1/4 cup of water 2 tablespoons of minced garlic 2 tablespoons of dried onion flakes 2 tablespoons of red pepper flakes 2 tablespoons of Splenda or regul...