Organic coffee grounds fertilizer

Organic coffee grounds fertilizer

If you brew coffee and are also a gardener. Were you aware that you can make use of the brewed coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer? That's right! Used coffee grounds, as well as diluted leftover cold black coffee, is great for most plants.

Already brewed coffee grounds are packed full of potassium, magnesium, nitrogen, caffeine, calcium and phosphorus and I have found that they're a great plant food for root vegetable plants such as different varieties of potatoes, radishes, carrots, and turnips, as well as for other garden plants such as herbs, peppers, cucumbers, and broccoli also benefit from the already brewed coffee grounds. Just sprinkle the grounds around the topsoil and allow nature to do the rest of the work. Do this once a week, but sparingly. Always make sure that the coffee grounds aren't left in large clumps.

Coffee grounds change the pH level in the soil, so that's something that you'll have to be careful with. You can neutralize the coffee grounds by mixing them with eggshells to lower the acidic level. 

Once this has been done, then the coffee grounds and eggshell fertilizer can be used on tomato plants. I don't advise sprinkling coffee grounds directly on the tomato plant's soil without neutralizing the coffee grounds first, because coffee grounds can sometimes be too acidic. Sprinkle about one cup of this mixture around the base of your tomato plants and onto the topsoil about once a week. 

Coffee grounds can also be mixed in with compost piles to neutralize the grounds.

Adding coffee grounds to the soil doesn't only benefit your plants from nutritional standpoints, but it also helps aid in soil drainage and earthworms thrive on it too.

And don't forget that leftover cold coffee can also be used as plant food as well. Just dilute the pot of coffee down first with water before giving your plants a drink.

Winter Gardening on the Homestead

Winter Gardening on the Homestead

Introduction to Winter Gardening

Winter gardening isn't just about sipping cocoa by the fire—it's about keeping your garden thriving when temperatures drop. Think of it as adding a touch of green to the white winter wonderland.

Benefits and Challenges of Winter Gardening

Winter gardening has its perks, like fresh produce during the frosty months, but it also comes with challenges, such as battling the elements and convincing your carrots it's not time to hibernate.

Health Benefits of Winter Gardening

Not only does winter gardening keep your green thumb active, but it also provides a dose of fresh air and Vitamin D to combat the winter blues. Plus, who needs a gym membership when you're hauling bags of mulch through the snow?

Environmental Benefits of Winter Gardening

By growing your own veggies in the winter, you're reducing your carbon footprint from those trucked-in tomatoes. Plus, you're giving a thumbs-up to Mother Nature by keeping your garden busy even in the chilly season.

Planning Your Winter Garden

Before you start planting those ice-resistant peas, take stock of your space and resources. Maybe that snow-covered shed can double as a greenhouse, or those old Christmas lights can moonlight as plant heaters.

Creating a Winter Garden Calendar

Who needs a cute kitten calendar when you can have a winter garden calendar? Plan out your planting, watering, and harvesting schedule to keep your garden on track and your winter salads fresh.

Choosing Cold-Hardy Crops

No, you can't grow mangoes in the snow, but you can have a feast of cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and Brussels sprouts. These veggies are tougher than your grandpa's old tractor.

Tips for Selecting Cold-Hardy Varieties

When it comes to choosing your winter crops, look for varieties that can handle a frosty night without throwing in the towel. Think of it as picking the vegetables that can brave the winter cold without needing a fuzzy blanket.

Winter Garden Maintenance

Winter is not just for cozying up by the fire—it's also prime time for tending to your garden. In this section, we'll cover essential tasks like preparing your soil and ensuring your plants stay hydrated and protected from frost. 

Soil Preparation and Amendments

Just like us, plants need a good foundation to thrive. Before the ground freezes, enrich your soil with compost or manure to ensure your plants have the nutrients they need to withstand the cold. Think of it as giving your garden a cozy blanket to snuggle up in during winter! 

Irrigation and Frost Protection Strategies

Winter can be a bit of a drama queen with its frosty antics, so it's vital to have a game plan. Make sure your plants are adequately watered before each freeze to help insulate their roots. For extra protection, consider using frost cloths or creating mini greenhouses to shield your precious greens from Jack Frost's icy touch.

Extending the Growing Season with Cold Frames and Row Covers

If you want to be the cool kid on the gardening block, look no further than cold frames and row covers. These nifty tools can help you cheat winter and keep your plants happy and productive even when the weather outside is frightful.

I purchased my low tunnels from Amazon, but you can create them using PVC pipes, tree limbs, and various other makeshift materials. The best plastic for winter grow tunnels is typically 6 mil thick greenhouse plastic, which provides good insulation and light transmission. Woven greenhouse plastic is also a durable option, especially in areas with harsh weather conditions.

Benefits of Cold Frames and Row Covers

Cold frames and row covers act like a warm hug for your plants, creating a microclimate that shields them from harsh weather conditions. They can extend your growing season, protect delicate crops, and even give you a head start on spring planting. Talk about a win-win!

Building and Using Cold Frames

Building a cold frame is easier than mastering the perfect snowball—and way more rewarding! Simply repurpose old windows or grab some polycarbonate sheets to create a DIY shelter for your plants. Place it over your garden bed, and voilà—you've got yourself a cozy plant paradise that'll make winter jealous. 

Harvesting and Preserving Winter Produce

Don't let winter's chill put a damper on your harvesting game. With the right timing and preservation techniques, you can enjoy freshly picked veggies all season long—even when the world outside seems frozen solid. 

Optimal Harvesting Times for Winter Crops

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to harvesting winter crops. Pick your veggies when they're at their peak flavor and maturity to ensure you're getting the most out of your garden. Plus, harvesting regularly can encourage plants to keep producing, giving you a steady supply of fresh goodies. 

Methods for Preserving Winter Produce

Don't let your hard work go to waste—preserve that winter bounty like a pro! Whether you're freezing, canning, or pickling, there are plenty of ways to store your harvest for the long haul. Get creative with herbs, make zesty sauces, or whip up some hearty soups to enjoy the taste of summer even in the dead of winter. 

Conclusion: Embracing Year-Round Gardening on the Homestead

Winter gardening isn't just a hobby—it's a way of life. By taking care of your garden in the colder months, you're not only ensuring a bountiful harvest but also cultivating a deeper connection to the land. So grab your gloves, put on your warmest hat, and get ready to embrace year-round gardening on your homestead like a pro!

Homemade chicken and sweet pea dog/cat chow

Homemade chicken and sweet pea dog/cat chow

Today, I am making homemade pet food that can be fed to both felines and pooches. I used grits in this batch of pet food, although I normally use oatmeal. Oatmeal is more suitable because grits are more of a filler. So the healthier option is to use oatmeal. Both aids as a glue to bind the pet food together and both can be fed to cats and dogs. However, grits should only be used in moderation. Pets love them, but since they are a filler, there's really no great nutritional value in them. However, for this recipe, I only used a small amount of grits, and a can of white chicken meat with the broth for the protein. 

Ingredients:

• 1-5-ounce can of white chicken and the broth

• 2 cups of green sweet peas (drained)

• ½ cups of grits or oatmeal

• 2-3 tablespoons of flour

• 1 cup of water

Instructions:

In a medium-sized bowl, add the grits or oatmeal and water, transfer the bowl to the microwave, and cook the grits (or oatmeal) just until the liquid has thickened the grits (or oatmeal). At this point, you really only want to plump the grains up until they expand, but all the water needs to be absorbed.

Next, add the sweet peas and chicken to the grits (or oatmeal) and stir well. Then add the chicken with the broth and stir.

Now, incorporate the flour into the mixture. Stir until all ingredients are combined well.

Lightly coat a cooking tray with grease. Spoon the oatmeal mixture into the tray, spreading it out as thin as possible. 

Transfer the pan to a 450 degree F oven. Bake the pet food for thirty minutes, then stir it. At this point, I used a fork and squashed the sweet peas so that they will become crunchy once the pet food fully cooks.

Place the tray back into the oven and bake another twenty minutes or until the chow has browned and is crunchy in texture.

Once the chow is done, cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes:

You can also dehydrate the pet food on clear tray inserts in a dehydrator. I am baking the pet chow tonight since my dehydrator is tied up. I am in the process of making a third batch of sweet potato chewy dog treats.

Add more chicken to the chow for a higher protein diet.

Peanut butter dog biscuits

If pet food prices have you skipping away from the dog treat aisle, then read on. Today, I will walk you through how I prepare simple puppy (dog) peanut butter biscuits. The recipe doesn't require very many ingredients and the treats take about twenty minutes to bake. Your pooches will be so excited that you're making delicious peanut butter treats for them that they'll even try to help you prepare them. Well, maybe not, but I betcha they'll try to give you a bunch of doggy smooches!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour

• 1 egg

• ½ cups of creamy peanut butter

• ¼ cup of warm water

Instructions:

In a bowl, add the all-purpose flour, creamy peanut butter, eggs, and water. Using a mixer or fork, combine until the ingredients are incorporated together.

Lightly dust your countertop with flour and transfer the peanut butter dough to it; roll the dough out. The dough should be kind of stiff and not sticky.

Use cookie cutters to cut out cute shapes, or use one specifically for cutting out dog treats. If you don't have either, don't worry, because you can cut the dough into squared-shapes, rectangular-shapes with a knife, or use a small-mouth jelly jar to cut out circle-shapes.

Next, place your pooch treats on a cookie tray and bake them in a 350 degree F oven for twenty minutes, or until they turn crunchy and golden brown. (I flip mine after ten minutes to make sure both sides are browned well.)

Once the treats are done, allow them to cool completely; then store them in an airtight container.

Chickens' Favorite Snacks: Edible Weeds!

Chickens' Favorite Snacks: Edible Weeds!

Did you know that chickens love to munch on weeds? Not all weeds are safe for them to eat, but there are some that are not only safe but also beneficial for their health. Let's take a look at some edible weeds that chickens can safely eat and the benefits they provide.

Benefits of Edible Weeds for Chickens

Nutritional Value

Edible weeds are packed with vitamins and minerals that can help keep your chickens healthy. They provide a variety of nutrients that are essential for their growth and overall well-being.

Foraging Fun

Allowing your chickens to forage for edible weeds can provide them with mental stimulation and entertainment. It gives them a chance to explore their surroundings and engage in natural behaviors. Plus, it's free entertainment for you to sit back and watch!

Safe Edible Weeds for Chickens

Dandelion

Dandelions are a favorite snack for chickens. They are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium and iron. Chickens love to peck at the bright yellow flowers and crunchy leaves. All parts of the dandelion plant are edible, even the roots.

Clover

Clover is another safe and nutritious weed for chickens to eat. It is high in protein and fiber, making it a great addition to their diet. Chickens enjoy nibbling on the small, round leaves of clover plants.

Chickweed

Chickweed is a common weed that chickens love to eat. It is high in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and calcium. Chickens will happily munch on the tender leaves and stems of chickweed plants.

There are also other safe edible weeds for chickens like pigweed, nettle, purslane, plantains, and even grass.

Conclusion

Next time you see some weeds growing in your yard, consider letting your chickens have a snack. Not only will they enjoy the foraging experience, but they will also benefit from the nutritional value of these edible weeds. Happy snacking, little chicks!

Just a friendly reminder: make sure to only harvest these weeds from areas that are free from chemicals for the health and well-being of your chickens.

DIY pet bed

Do you have a fur baby that sometimes has to sleep in a kennel, during times when you're away from home? This is a simple, no-sew DIY kennel bed project that anyone can accomplish. 

I timed myself when making my pooch this DIY kennel bed. It actually took me about forty-two minutes from start to finish.

My almost eight-year-old boxer has to be placed in her dog's kennel during thunderstorms, or else she simply goes loco. We purchased two different kennel mats for her, but for some unknown reason, she doesn't like either of them. Instead of her using them to lay on, she wads them up, and literally kicks them to the corner of her kennel.

Since Princess (my dog) isn't getting any younger, she really doesn't need to be lying on the hard floor of the kennel. So, I came up with this DIY kennel bed idea for her.

The length and width of my dog's kennel is 54 inches x 37 inches. So, I cut out two pieces of soft material that size, then I cut strips along the edges of both pieces of material one-inch to two inches wide and about four-inches long. (I didn't do any precise measurements on the ties. I just eyeballed what I thought looked about right.)

After that, I made sure that the printed sides of each piece of material were facing outwards (wrong sides together). Then I began tying the strips and knotting them together. 

When you make your way to the end corners, you'll need to cut a square piece out of each corner. If not, the ties won't want to line up right when they're tied. 

I finished tying all the string pieces until I had all the sides tied together, except for one of the end (width) sides. I left one end untied, so that I could place a large pillow inside the mat cover. Then once I did that, I finished tying the strips of material together on that last part. The outside edges looks like fringe once the pet bed has been completed.

This DIY made an adorable dog bed that hardly cost anything, except for the forty-two minutes that it took me to make it. (I used materials that I already had.)

Note:

You could use an old fleece blanket, sheet, cloth table cover, etc. for the material, and use an old pillow or an old cushion to place inside the center for stuffing. Cut the material to the size of your fur-babies kennel, then follow the directions. By the time you have each side tied together, it will fit down inside your pet's kennel perfectly.

You could totally do this DIY without adding any type of stuffing inside of it. I think it would be really comfy if you used a thicker fleece type of material. 

Of course, the pet bed can also be stitched together by hand, or with a sewing machine, but then it wouldn't be as cute, in my opinion.

Wild edibles to forage

Wild edibles to forage

If you're interested in foraging for free healthy food then today's article might be right up your alley. Every year during spring, summer, and fall, I enjoy going foraging for wild edibles. I believe that there's a better way of living through foraging. For one, it's an enjoyable experience just being outside and for another it's a way to learn about different plants that grow in the wild, and the third reason that I enjoy it so much are the natural health benefits of eating what I find.

First I'd like to stress to you: when foraging, if you aren't familiar with a wild plant leave it alone. There's several that are indeed very poisonous. If you are new to foraging, take someone who's knowledgeable about wild edibles along with you at least for the first couple of times that you go out to forage. 

Never take more from nature than you actually need. Remember that animals in the wild also need these wild edibles to survive.

Wild edibles to forage:

1. Wild plants (burdock (all parts of the plant is edible), clover, dandelions (all parts of the plant is edible), day lilies (flowers and roots are edible), honeysuckle, rose petals, redbud blossoms, wild onions, wild garlic, etc.)

2. Berries and other wild fruit (elderberries (cooked), mulberries, persimmons, passion fruit, etc.)

3. Roots (cattail roots, chickweed, chicory, curly dock, burdock, dandelion roots, day lilies, Jerusalem artichoke, wild carrots; also known as Queen Anne's Lace, etc.)

4. Seeds and nuts (pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, acorns, etc.)

5. Shellfish (clams and mussels)

I like foraging in my own backyard because I am familiar with all my surroundings. I never use any type of chemicals on my land so I know the wild edibles that I pick or dig up are going to be safe to eat once they're washed well. 

You'll be very surprised by just how many different things that are edible in your own yard. In fact, there's numerous cattail plants, day lilies, honeysuckle, wild onions, wild garlic, dandelions, clover, roses, mulberries, pecans, acorns, and pine nuts, etc.