Farm Fresh Peach Pie

Unfortunately, we do not have thriving peach trees yet. We have a few started in our "orchard", but we will not see any production for a while. So to supplement we buy from our local farmers market to fill our needs that we have not met yet. I will buy from a local farmer before I would buy from the local grocer. Unfortunately since I work every weekend out of the year I cannot get to a farmers market, but Josh was able to go with the kids. Something they all enjoy going to. We also needed to replenish our cabbage because we had deer wipe out our entire crop in one night. This is the first time in 4 years that this has happened. Suppose next year we may have to deer proof better. Josh makes wonderful sour kraut using an old fashioned 10 Gallon crock and a wooden stick. My daughter who is not fond of sour kraut helped out in the process!

Once it is ready we place a mason jar filled with water on top and cover tightly to keep those nasty lil pests from getting in while the fermentation begins.

I'm sure we will get a very good supply this year as we made double what we did last year, and we got over a dozen jars made.

With the bushel of peaches I made two peach pies. Such a treat as it is not often I get to make fruit pies. Too bad we didn't have homemade fresh goat milk ice cream! Maybe next year! The peaches were wonderfully ripe and ready. They smelled wonderful, and made a great pie.

                                               Peeled and cut

             
                                             The pits I'm hoping to plant

                                             The filling smells wonderful

                                            The finished product

I love when I prepare something that everyone enjoys. It makes the time and work I put into it that much better for me. Knowing that I can provide my family with farm fresh homemade goods is what this life is all about.

Duckie Discovery!

It was a normal morning feed. First the pigs, off to the goats, then the ducks. While I was pouring their water I notice a little oval shape within the mud with the color white peeking out. Hmm...is that an egg? It sure is. My three year old feeds with me in the morning. He was very excited to see the egg laying there. I wasn't expecting to find an egg as I figured it wouldn't be till next spring that we got an egg. I look forward to my feeding this morning to see if there are any new discoveries. It is always an adventure on the homestead!
                           

                                                   Blue Swedish Duck Egg

                                               

Getting to the old-fashioned life

Living in a modern world when all you want is an old-fashioned world is hard. To be able to live in a way that satisfies the soul we almost have to sell our soul to do it. We should be able to drop all the modern ways today and live as we please. I think when my children are older/out of the house that is just what I want to do. I want to drop all modern amenities and live very pioneer style! We are in the working process of making that happen. Unfortunately, obtaining this lifestyle is costly. Though, I think it's only as costly as one makes it. I believe we could survive just me and my husband by gardening, hunting and raising some chickens and bunnies, and having a dairy source. I don't believe we need much more than that especially when it's just the two of us. I want to rid ourselves of modern transportation. I would love a horse and buggy to get around. I want to rid ourselves of modern appliances, electricity, etc. The draw back is the need to have some kind of income to be able to keep a float. I am working on being able to work from home in order to maintain our homesteading desires and keep an income. The drawback of this is having the need for internet, which we will still need electricity. Of course we could invest in solar, which is something I want to do if we can find a way to make it worth it. Essentially the only outside bill we would have is internet and possibly electric. As long as we only use the electricity for our internet needs then this would not be a huge deal for me. It will be more about the will power to stay away from using the electricity for other things. It is time to really sit down and discuss these goals and desires. I believe it is possible to have what we want right now, but we are too over our head financially. We don't have the means to feed our animals we have. The goats, chickens and bunnies would be doable, but the pigs are another story. They are more costly to feed, unless we have the fields of corn, which we do not. My personal overall goal is to create true self sufficiency that is realistic. In the next 15-20 years I think we will be able to get to a place of self sufficiency if we have the right plan and mindset. During this time while we are working outside the home I want to be as debt free as possible by the time the kids are grown. But, despite whatever outside debt we have when the time comes to shut everything off then so be it. I cannot worry about any debt and let it hold us back from what we want out of life. I get so tired of living pay to pay. Not being able to pay this or that. This is supposed to be a life of  "simplicity". Yes, this is a hard work lifestyle, but its more simplistic. I want to LIVE for a LIVING. I vow to not have stress over a green piece of paper that holds us hostage daily. We will have this life and all this work we are doing now will be completely worth it in the end for us.

Goals on the Homestead

     My husband and I are inching our way closer and closer to the lifestyle we want and need. It is a one step at a time process, but our dreams are in sight. We now have most of our consumption needs. We have our meats, dairy within the next year, and vegetables. Although, the vegetable process has been a struggle due to uncooperative weather patterns the past couple years, as well as financial set backs. As I look out our window I witness the accomplishments that I can only give most credit to my husband. He works so hard here to have what we have. While working a 40 hour work week, it is amazing what we have done thus far. I could only imagine what would be accomplished if we did not have the 40 hours taking up our time here. Some of my goals that I wish to have happen within the next year is to have a better surviving garden. We also will need to plant at least double what we did this year. Hopefully next year we will not have the financial hardships as we did this year. I would like to accomplish planting field corn for the animals consumption and be able to grow our own hay. One more thing I would like to accomplish is growing wheat and be able to process my own flour. I would like to at least double our fruit orchard in the hopes of wine making in the years to come. This is just the few things that would greatly improve our wonderful lil homestead. With everything that we have accomplished in a few short years, I have no doubt that we will accomplish this and more in the next couple years!

                                           Our Beautiful Guy Protecting His Hens and Home