Olden Oasis Homestead

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...

Mom's sauerkraut When life hands you multiple heads of cabbage, what do you do? I like making egg rolls and stir-fried recipes, but today I wanted to share my mom's recipe for how she creates her delicious homemade sauerkraut. There are so many different ways that you can ferment and can sauerkraut, but I find that mom's way is one of the simplest. If you like sauerkraut but don't like the process of having to ferment it for several weeks, I invite you to try mom's recipe. She ferments the kraut for three days in her crockpot and then cans it like a pro. Ingredients you'll need to make mom's homemade sauerkraut: Fresh cabbage, shredded 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons of salt per pound of cabbage Plus, add 1 teaspoon of salt to a cup of water to prepare the brine. Instructions: Mom uses her crockpot to ferment the cabbage, and to do this method, you'll need to use 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons of salt per pound of cabbage. She sliced the cabbage, then placed it in her crockp...

Bread and butter pickles Vivid, bright green, crisp, and super tangy, these bread and butter pickles are both thinly sliced and speared. I prefer preparing my bread and butter pickles so that I have spears to serve alongside a fish platter and slices to serve on hamburgers and other types of sandwiches. I add just a dash of seasoning salt, freshly ground black pepper, and garlic powder to give my pickles an extra little kick of flavor. Those three ingredients are totally optional. Ingredients: 3 pounds (equals 12 cups for sliced) of cucumbers, sliced, and or speared 4 cups of fresh white onions, diced, or left in rings (I generally dice mine) ¼ cup of pickling salt 8-10 cups of ice cubes and water 1 cup of white granulated Splenda, or organic cane sugar 1-½ tablespoons of mustard seed 1 teaspoon of celery seed 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper (optional) ½ teaspoon of seasoning salt (optional) 1 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional) 3 cups of white ...

Canning pickled peppers Pickled peppers are a classic condiment for any type of sandwich, and they taste so delicious when used in various ways. The canned pepper recipe that I'm sharing today is one that has been passed down in my family from generation to generation.  You will need a water-bath canner, and some other canning supplies . I used quart jars when I made my peppers and I had to triple the recipe because I had so many peppers. Normally, pint jars would be used. Ingredients: 6 pounds of peppers 4-6 cloves of garlic 1 large onion diced 1-½ teaspoons of pickling spice (for each jar) 8 cups of white vinegar 4 cups of water (for the jars; plus extra water for the water bath canner) Instructions: Before water-bath canning, clean the jars and lids with warm soapy water. To prepare the water bath canner; place the canner on the stove. Place a wire canning rack into the canner. Add the jars to the water-bath canner. Then add enough water to cover the jars with water. Bring the ...