Getting Work DONE in the Homestead Kitchen & Garden

[@CherylHamburger]

You ARE the highlight of KZbin!!!!! Thank you!

[@beekind1940]

When our daughter was young, when we would blanche the peaches to get the skin off, she called the result 'peach slime balls'. LOL😅

[@debbiedrake7515]

You are one of my favorites, Kelsey. Our son died in June unexpectedly. He was 30. Its been very difficult but my garden gives me joy on the hard days. Thanks for giving me joy through your garden as well ❤ God bless you.

[@annamiller3479]

❤️‍🩹

[@tomatoespoppieseverything]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[@debbiedrake7515]

Thank you ❤

[@tegangilchrist4550]

I’m so very sorry for your loss 💔

[@kittyrichards9915]

May you find peace and comfort as you grieve this tremendous loss.

[@mnichols]

Mexican bean beetle larva. I used to get those really bad.. one year I picked them all off my pole beans and smashed them on the ground, and I've had a lot less since, for some reason 😅 luckily every year is kind of different.

[@kimberlyearly8918]

I found two on my pole beans this morning and had no idea what they were. I smashed them. Japanese beetles have been relentless on my beans all summer!

[@kittyrichards9915]

Your flowers in the copper pitcher are so pretty.

[@julieliner1498]

Thank you for identifying that fuzzy yellow thing. I've had them on my cucumbers this year even and had no clue...ugh. Like you, this hot humidity has sapped my energy and interest and I have pulling the overgriwn stuff too. Then Debby took have of my tomatotes down yesterday even though I tied them to 8ft steel shepards hooks. But I have started seeds indoors for a small fall garden in my vego beds...collards, turnips, swiss chard..but also pansies and mums. Then pansies and chard will over winter here in NC and provide an early burst of spring color 🎉

[@cindynance7289]

Another wonderful video! I had no idea that what was growing in one of my flower beds was Jewel Weed!😂 I knew I was pulling it from every other bed, because it’s as invasive as my mint… Well, it’s safe for now, the hummers are loving it! God takes care of all creatures… Happy Friday, and thank you for sharing! Hugs from Ohio!

[@mykalazig]

I am marked safe from the dreaded Vanilla Police!😂 Praying your fall garden works out this year!💜

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Haha! They can be ruthless 😂. Thank you!! ☺️ ❤️❤️❤️

[@janetfuhrmaneck3149]

It’s the larvae of the Mexican bean beetle.

[@jafrompa1555]

I haven’t tried it but I was told that peeling the scalded peaches from the pointed end, not the stem end, makes them easier to peel. It comes off leaving the peach with a smooth surface.

[@battlearmanda]

I finally had to plant my broccoli and cauliflower seeds. It's still too warm, but I won't have a harvest since they're 80-90 days and that's about what i have. I think it's going to get cooler in the next couple weeks though so i'm crossing my fingers for both of us!

[@najwaseiya]

Nice and very interesting❤❤❤❤

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thanks for watching! ❤️❤️❤️

[@annamccosker7878]

Happy Friday friend! Always So happy to see your videos🙂

[@TheSnuffy1994]

Oh I love the intro, beautifully done!

[@donnacobb701]

Yeah it’s Kelsey day today !

[@kimberlyearly8918]

I just found two of those little yellow beetles on my beans this morning! Glad to know what they are! I smushed them. My pole beans have been inundated with Japanese beetles this year and they are driving me crazy!

[@conniewach7872]

I make my vanilla with spiced rum also.

[@lisagrafton2529]

I don't have ice. I use ice packs to make water cold for fruit or hard boiled eggs. Then I refreeze them for future use!

[@zevab3178]

I love Captain Morgan as a cocktail. Slice of lime and coke. 🍹

[@letssummondinner]

Bean beetles! Arg they have chewed my green beans to pieces! Fun fact, they change color (the larva) depending on the color of the bean they are eating lol. I had green, yellow and purple ones last year.

[@kathyweber2571]

We are having a big bug pressure problem also .Never as bad as this year.

[@cherylpresleigh6403]

Today I’m pickling beets for the first time thanks to you. I had a small red onion harvest yesterday as well so I’ll be pickling those too! I’ve never even attempted to plant a fall crop until this year. Like you so much of the garden has been stressed because of the weather. My tomatoes are only now starting to have fruit that is growing in size. It’s still hot but not like much of the early summer. Our spring was unusually cold and very wet and before July hit it was August hot. It’s still hot but more July like 🤪 the plants are confused lol. I decided to plant carrots using seed tape since me and carrots don’t have a good relationship 😢. I’m giving it one more try using this method and if it isn’t successful I’ll do what I’ve done before and I will just buy my carrots from Azure. I also planted shelling peas again. I direct sowed so I’m hoping they do okay. The seed was a couple years old so I figured what can it hurt. I had a small harvest from spring so thought I’d give it ago. Next year I am not doing what I’ve been doing because it just isn’t working. I’ve read and heard some say that cabbage etc will have less pest pressure in a fall garden as well. My space although a good size is all in raised beds and therefore limited. I need to figure a new plan so that my time and effort have something to show for it. My husband and I talked again yesterday, about what we can do to lighten the load of both work and frustration. Next year will likely be scaled back to what has routinely done well for us and I’ll source other crops locally or from Azure as needed. Thank you friend for being a wonderful encouragement along the way! Blessings 🤗🩷

[@rosa.athome]

How do you stay sane with all the pest pressure? This year was horrible (NE PA), first the heat wave stunted all my vining plants-only had male flowers. Then the Japanese beetles appeared. Then I finally had some female flowers only to be taken out by vine borers. A week later a deer found its way in and wiped out EVERYTHING. Had a good cry and started planning for next year 😢

[@kathywills3244]

You can also can Harvard beets if you like those. Something else to do with beets is a beet relish.

[@loriliedel9111]

Love petunias color

[@lindahernandez8693]

That spiced rum was a deal!

[@canadiannavywife434]

I am so sorry... I am liker number 389... because I was in my garden, fertilizing and watering and loving the plants and flowers...I may only have 10 square feet of potted plants, but they are given;her between cups of blackberries, sugar peas, Bok Choi, lettuces, herbs and beautiful flowers... I am taking today to enjoy the hard work and effort I do to be able to give my family amazing food to eat and herbs and medicines.... So I have shared and now commenting. Hugs from Esquimalt...and yes you are a dear friend.

[@conniewach7872]

High of 65 degrees today in WI.

[@StonerSmurfin]

When you're harvesting potatoes could you just leave any of the tiny potatoes there to start growing your next round or is it better to let them grow eyes before planting?

[@pamwalker6284]

I’m curious too….😂

[@iartistdotme]

A true gardener. Walking around in a weed filled with non-edible bugs and yet planning on what will go where next. You have what it takes, girl! and you learned a new bug stage of life. Icing! I saw someone thinly slice beets and freeze dry for snacks her family would eatsince they didn't like beets. Your okra looked fine and I've seen people slice and freeze dry them for snacks that non-okra eaters loved, also. Flowers will help the butterflies and you'll have short moments of beauty while at work. Your vase of blooms on the table was gorgeous!

[@peggymajerus7531]

Hi Some one told me if you shake the vanilla frequently it moves the vanilla process along a little faster

[@nancyhaywood6486]

will you cover oil of oregano in your next video, how to make it and the benefits of it. thank you. also would you tell me what you feed your berris with. and when

[@gloriadavidson8599]

The only crop for me that's grown well is WEEDS 😐😐😐😐 Love from the UK x

[@kole599]

😂😂😂😂 good for you

[@Scrappenguin]

I would love to plant the apple mint that you harvest from your garden. Do you remember where you go the seeds from?

[@lorita3488]

I wanted to share my Mom's 14 day sweet pickles: FROM FARM JOURNAL'S FREEZING AND CANNING COOKBOOK THE RECIPE MOM USED TO MAKE 14-DAY SWEET PICKLES Adaption of heirloom recipe long treasured in country kitchens 14-DAY SWEET PICKLES 3 1/2 QUARTS (2") PICKLING CUCUMBERS 3/4 cup canning/pickling salt Water 6 2/3 cups 5% strength cider vinegar 4 cups sugar 2 tsp. celery seed 5 sticks cinnamon 2 cups sugar Wash cucumbers, slice 1/16" slice off blossom ends. Cut in lengthwise halves or leave whole. Place in 2-gallon sealed crock. Combine salt and 2 qtrs.. water in 3 qt. saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil. Pour over cucumbers. To keep cucumbers submerged in brine, cover with a scalded heavy plate that fits inside crock! Put a weight on top of plate; a glass jar filled with hot water, capped and scalded, makes a good weight. Brine should cover plate by 2 inches for easy skimming; if necessary make additional brine (3 Tbsp.. salt to 1 qt. water) and pour over cucumbers. Cover crock with clean Terry towel; tie with twine. Let stand 7 days at room temperature: EACH DAY, uncover crock and remove yeast film or mold with scalded stainless steel spoon. If mold forms on plate or weight, wash and scald them. Recover with clean towel. On 8th day, drain; remove cucumbers. Wash and scald crock, plate and weight. Rinse cucumbers; return to crock. Pour 2 qtrs.. fresh boiling water over cucumbers. Add plate & weight. Re-cover with clean terry towel. On 9th day repeat. On 10th day repeat. On 11th day , drain; and remove cucumbers. Wash and scald crock, plate and weight and jar.. If cucumber are whole prick each in several places to prevent shriveling when syrup is added. Return cucumbers to crock. Combine vinegar, 4 cups sugar, celery seed and cinnamon in 3 qt. saucepan. Bring to rolling boil; pour over cucumbers. Weight with plate and jar. Re=cover clean terry towel. On 12th day, drain syrup into 3 qt. saucepan, adding 2/3 cup sugar; bring to a boil and pour over cucumbers. Replace plate, weight and jar. recover with clean towel. On 13th day , repeat, adding 2/3 cup sugar. On 14th day, drain syrup into 3qt. saucepan, add remaining 2/3 cup sugar. Pack cucumbers into sterilized hot jars. Bring syrup to boil, remove cinnamon sticks. Pour over cucumbers , filling to within 1/4" of jar top. Wipe rim clean; adjust lids. Process in water bath 5 minutes. Start to count processing time when water in canner returns to a boiling. Remove jars and complete seals unless closures are self=sealing type. Makes 6 pints!

[@karenpetrasovits7174]

Planning a Lancaster trip on Tuesday. I like to go to some of the stores out there for canning supplies. Most of my tomatoes are still green so I want to get a basket or two so I can preserve a few jars. Do you know if there are any Amish grocery outlets there worth checking out? Thanks

[@pattaylor8955]

You are amazing. Are green beans ok to plant for fall? I live in zone 7a. I know I can investigate but I thought you might know. Thank you for sharing everything. I made vanilla out of vodka last year gonna try spiced rum this year

[@Lintriage]

Kelsey what size freeze dryer do you have? How often do you use it? Any freeze dryer tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm torn between the medium and the large size. I do a lot of canning so wonder how much freeze drying I would actually do. It's just my husband and I at home but we help our kids and their families with our garden harvest.

[@loriliedel9111]

Are the petunias a companion for something special or just for pretty. I will remember to try this next year in my SE MI garden

[@kathryncurry8728]

Hi Kelsey, just curious if your friend Heather is ok, noticed she hasn’t posted in several months! 🙏🏻

[@COUNTS1096]

For vanilla extract- is the alcohol flavor noticeable when you use it? I recently made some using vodka and I opened it after 6 months to use it and the vodka smell is somewhat strong so I was concerned with using it and tasting the flavor of vodka in the dessert.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

To me in vodka, yes it’s more noticeable of a smell but I haven’t noticed a difference in taste. The rum and bourbon in my opinion really take on the vanilla flavor and scent well!

[@عبدالخالق-غ7م]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@flipflopgardener6629]

I do enjoy your channel. It is so strange to me (you're not the only channel) when creators refer to the viewers as , "friend". Why is this a thing when you speak to tens, hundreds, or thousands of people depending on channel size?

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Because that’s how I view you all! I’m taking my friend along for the day and sharing life, welcoming you to my home. I’ve formed so many friendships through this channel, albeit virtual ones but friends nonetheless. I aim to build community, encourage and help in anyway I can, I’d like everyone to know right away they are welcomed, how better to do that than “friend”?

[@flipflopgardener6629]

​@seedandsparrowhomestead I'm sure you only have kind, hearted motivation. You do offer great information within your channel. You seem like a very warm, friendly person. I was just curious why you wouldn't refer to your audience as friends. I guess it's a "me" brain thing.

[@DH-qz2so]

@@flipflopgardener6629 Well, it does make us feel special, like a close friend...having a personal chat with our bestie, it gives the video a cozy feel, like it is just her and myself in conversation...a more intimate approach, than knowing I am one in a gazillion people, whom she will never know or meet!