Pantry Challenge Update + Garden and Preservation Goals |

Hey Friend,
Join me as I give you a Pantry update on the #threeriverschallenge and share what I've used from the pantry, take inventory of what I should preserve more or less of, and share all of my Growing and Preservation goals for 2023. My Homestead Goals are BIG. I'd like to grow and preserve a good portion of our meat and produce needs for our family of 4 to last until the following season!
Canning Supplies:
New Ball Canning Book: amzn.to/3fqLKkP
Complete Ball Canning Book: amzn.to/3FDEUD2
Water Bath Canner Set: amzn.to/3HQ3b9A
Canner: amzn.to/3HuPMTd
Canning tools: amzn.to/3HPLaID
Pressure Canner I use: amzn.to/3JBu8zl
Budget friendly Presto Pressure Canner: amzn.to/3JAHnjw
Gamma Lids for dry goods storage: amzn.to/3jnwVl0
Wallaby multi pack mylar bags: amzn.to/3Xfe49H
Wallaby 5 gallon mylar bags: amzn.to/40o98lu
Favorite Gardening/Homesteading/Preservation books:
Charles Dowding "How to Create a New Garden": amzn.to/3XckXcr
Charles Dowding "Organic Gardening, the No Dig Way": amzn.to/3k1PMSo
Monty Don " The Complete Gardener" amzn.to/3QEoKg7
Gaia's Garden: Guide to Permaculture: amzn.to/3WTLZo4
The Self Sufficient Backyard: amzn.to/3CLSvGi
RoseMary Gladstar : Medicinal Herbs, a Beginners Guide amzn.to/3CK2jAw
Root Cellaring: amzn.to/3Yep8Vc
Freeze Fresh: amzn.to/3HS2RHl
Raising Rabbits: amzn.to/3jtE03o
Chicken Keeping Guide: amzn.to/3Jyx4wn
Seed to Seed: amzn.to/3kYsld7
My favorite places to purchase seeds:
migardener.com
rareseeds.com
botanicalinterests.com
Bootstrap Farmer seed starting trays I use:
amzn.to/3WEwu32
amzn.to/3Dht53z
Soil Blocker: amzn.to/3DgzXhG
Budget friendly seed starting trays: amzn.to/3HwKHL4
Seed Starting Soil Mixes *** DON'T buy these on Amazon, they are MUCH cheaper at a Big Box Store, local hardware store or Greenhouse Nursery.
I will link them just so you know what to look for.
Jiffy Organics: amzn.to/3R64CUi
Espoma: amzn.to/3Haq5a6
Pro-Mix: amzn.to/3R6Lrd6
Components to make your own seed starting mix:
Compost: amzn.to/3ZXYD8p
Coco Coir: amzn.to/3XWH2LZ
Perlite: amzn.to/3wBS3Xn
Vermiculite: amzn.to/3wwdXeF
Kelp Meal: amzn.to/3wwdXeF
Azomite: amzn.to/3WCcVZq
Fertilizer:
Neptunes Harvest: amzn.to/3XU0SrX
Grow Shelf: amzn.to/3DgKtFy , amzn.to/3XXzIQp
Shop Lights: amzn.to/3iZddvL , amzn.to/3WEOpa1, amzn.to/3XURBiK
Heating Mat: amzn.to/3R5HuFu
Plant Tags: amzn.to/3kJW3CI
Spray Bottle: amzn.to/3XSSgkA
Bottle Cap waterer: amzn.to/3JgwC5P
Links are affiliate links, it’s no extra cost to you and by using them you are supporting my family and this channel! Thank you ☺️
#threeriverschallenge #homesteading #homemaking #gardening #2023goals #preservation #canning

[@kodiabshier6450]

I stumbled upon your channel and you’re so inspiring especially being able to grow, can, and cook/bake all the things with 2 kids running around! I’m 21 with a 7 month old and I’m looking to get into gardening and canning so seeing that you can do it gives me hope!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Hey new friend! Thank you! You can do it! It’s a learning process and it gets easier with time. You have to give yourself grace and practice a lot of patience 😂 but it’s worth it and my kids are a big part of the whole process! They love it. When my kids were babies I had them in an ergo carrier on my back, in a play pen or made sure to have a fenced in area(just a cheap garden fence) to contain them. Nap time is when I roll up my sleeves and get a lot done. I’m rooting for you! 🤍☺️

[@ZueGrac1e]

Hey, I am 22 and I want to start gardening as well is there a way I can reach out to you on the side?

[@cherylpresleigh6403]

Once you get started you’ll find ways to include your children. As they grow you’ll find gardening is a wonderful way to incorporate teaching them where their food comes from. They’ll love being involved in it right along side of you.

[@marciafernandes3460]

My goal is have a garden in my backyard full of variety of food with the God's grace 🙏🙏

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Yes! It’s the best feeling going right outside and picking food to prepare for meals that you grew! Blessings on your garden 🤍

[@marciafernandes3460]

Thank you ❤️

[@lemoncrinckles]

Your garden ambitions take my breath away! Once the plants hit their growing stride, you're going to be busy from dawn to dusk! But it's obvious that you love it. One perk of having all those garden beds...if you don't like something you've grown or preserved, you can just turn it into compost. Nothing ever goes to waste. Thank you for the update, it was very enjoyable to watch. 😊

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thank you! LOL. I’m pretty much tired 24/7 during the months of July-September 😂 I do love it and love the benefits so it’s all worth it! Thank you for watching and commenting! 🤍

[@simoneclarke5104]

I am so happy to have found your channel, I am now binge watching 🥰! Best wishes from Canada 🇨🇦

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I appreciate this so much! Thank you thank you! 🤍🤍🤍

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

If you have a basement, Make a room insulated from the rest of the house with uninsulated outer walls. You'll, probably, still need a humidifier in there. With my cold room, the basement temperature gets to 25C often. During the winter, cold room temperature never goes above 10C. It takes, at least, 7 days of 30+C weather to get cold room temperature up to 20C. It's on the south side of the house. If I could have put it on the north side, summer temperature would probably be cooler.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I’d love to be able to do this however we don’t have a full basement, and what space there is has been used already with no where else to go with it or downsize. We dont plan on staying here much longer so I’m hoping to figure out a temporary and cheap fix until we move. Thank you!

[@marciafernandes3460]

Just a suggestion use the canned carrots to do carrot muffins is delicious 😋

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Ohhh! Never would have thought of that! Thank you ☺️ 🤍

[@michellerubadue9620]

Hello! Jessica at three rivers homestead has a recipe for carrot soufflé. It reminds me of sweet potato soufflé. I think Y’all will love it

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh thank you! I’ll check it out ☺️

[@debbiedouglass1478]

Oh my goodness. You are so ambitious! I’d love to hear about your flowers when you have time!

[@britneybarlow9388]

I found your channel randomly and know I'll love the content, so new subscriber! We grew Aunt Ruby's Green last year and they were some of our most prolific tomatoes. Hope you enjoy them too.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Aw thank you so much!!! I'm glad you're here :) Oh awesome! I'm excited to try them out!

[@charlettenitzsche1895]

I am so glad that I found your channel. I live in southern Illinois and am also in zone 6B.

[@jennaopal]

Yes I'd love to see the flowers you are planting. I want to intermix things with flowers to help with bugs too, so would love to your plans. I liked your garden drawings.

[@rainabailey4369]

We do not have a root cellar either but we use our collection of insulated coolers (think hard sided igloo and Rubbermaid) and stack them in our unheated garage. The garage is insulated so it rarely freezes in there even when outside temps get below zero here. The coolers make sure to help with needed humidity, keeping critters out etc. I have successfully stored apples wrapped in newspaper, celery wrapped in foil, carrots just layered and cabbages wrapped in grocery bags.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh that’s a good idea! I think that may work for us, thank you! 🤍

[@claireskinner9077]

I’m in the Southern Hemisphere, so we’re heading into winter, but we’re currently building a house on 2.5 acres, so I’m starting to plan out our food production areas to start implementing in the spring. My goal for this year is to get my fruit trees and edible perennials started, and some of the infrastructure for my annual garden beds. We’re hoping to grow our own meat in the form of lamb, so we need to get the infrastructure for that set up too, but that will probably be a goal for next year, along with a grow tunnel and green house.

[@athia37]

I thank you for your videos,they are so informative and fun to watch,and you are so down to earth,and a regular person,no putting on airs..

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

You are so kind! Thank you for the encouragement 🤍

[@stephencameron1709]

Amazing what you fit in a quarter acre! Impressive! Val C

[@taylorprowell2167]

We built a canning "cold" cellar in the basement against 2 outside walls and insulated it and it's staying very cool even with our wood stove on the same floor

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh interesting! I’m not sure we have the space for it but it’s definitely something to consider! Thank you!!☺️🤍

[@thisboymomlife]

Some of my goals...starting making parmesan cheese, master a variety of cheeses, setup a greenhouse so I can sell vegetable seedlings, sell cut flowers, expand my flower beds by 100%, design and sell homesteading printables, make sales on my current etsy shop,

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Friend, those are awesome goals! I’m rooting for you 🤍 I’d like to sell cut flowers too 😁

[@thisboymomlife]

@Seed and Sparrow Homestead thanks. Do you live near/on a busy road? Then I'm sure you'll do great!! We live on a gravel side road....but we are hoping with having a farm roadside stand, that I'll be able to sell flowers there.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

@@thisboymomlife we are right on main street! Only disadvantage is we have a heavy Amish presence, and they sell things dirt cheap! Not sure I can compete, but i'll try.

[@thisboymomlife]

@@seedandsparrowhomestead I'm sure there's a way to set yourself apart from the amish sellers. Maybe bouquet size...

[@JanalynVoigt]

This year I dehydrated carrots as an experiment They taste great. I find they reconstitute a little more densely than fresh carrots, but that's perfect for soups and stews. Thanks for sharing your seed varieties and the amounts you plan to plant. I'm still getting a feel for this for my family. I'd love for you to make a video on your flower selections. A little inspiration to help me figure out what to do with my own yard would be welcome about now.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh interesting! I've never thought to dehydrate them; good to know! Absolutely, I love to see what others do in their garden for inspiration. Its a learning process! You'll get it down. Thank you!!!

[@athia37]

I'm so jealous you live in a cold zone to grow all kinds of things we can't here in central florida.I miss rhubarb, cherries,feverfew herb,apple trees,peaches,red raspberries, and strawberries. (Strawberries grow well here I'd you spray with antifungal every 2 weeks and insecticide) I don't use insecticides besides natural ones like bt,or diamatious earth,etc...loved your seed review and planting guide for your garden this year,very awesome.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Well I’ll take the sunshine and you can have the cold and snow 😂 I guess there is always a trade off, but I am thankful to live in a moderate climate where I’m able to grow many things. I’d definitely miss those things too! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!! 🤍

[@valeriededmon4482]

I enjoy your videos! It's great to hear that you are in South Central Pa. My family and I are in Central Pa, near PSU.

[@donnahbrnger5161]

I appreciate your honesty. So many channel recommendations border on hoarding. I’ve been doing the pantry challenge too and it’s enlightening to realize what I eat most.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I strive to be authentically me! The challenge definitely was eye opening to what we actually eat! Thank you so much for watching :)

[@bearzhere]

I lived 9 miles from Gettysburg and have been in Minnesota for almost 6 years for the second time. I am house hunting in PA again to be near to my family, and houses have really gone up! I miss being able to grow food for more than 100 days a year. I am trying to use up a large quantity of my home canned food too before we move. It really amazes me how little we use each year! Great video! Thanks!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Hey! Oh yes, the market here is terrible. We’ve been casually looking for a home with land and it’s just sickening how inflated the market it! Blessings on your search! The longer growing season here is nice 😁 That’s a great goal! I couldn’t imagine having to transport all of this food during a move😂 Thank you for watching and commenting ❤️

[@kathyfletcher4694]

You're so right about the prices going up in this area. We live near Shippensburg, PA and up until recently houses were going for above asking price by the buyers getting into bidding wars. Gettysburg is too accessable to Frederick and Baltimore MD and DC via Rt 15 so the prices over there were even worse. Even the city people don't want to live in the city anymore lol.

[@ballymullinfarm]

Here where I live in New Zealand we are lucky to be able to grow year round. So my big goal is succession planting so we can eat fresh homegrown veggie year round. We are also increasing our strawberry patch from 300 to 600 plants so will hopefully get enough to preserve. We are a family of 7 so we only had enough for fresh eating.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh how nice! Year round gardening sounds lovely ☺️ greats goals! Blessings to you all

[@debbieorazi2518]

Jason at Sow the Land has some great chicken trackers he built. I believe he even sells the instructions for building them.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thanks, I'll check it out!

[@thisboymomlife]

Root crop storage.... Carrots do very well if you leave them in the ground over winter, as long as you put a square bale of straw on top of them, they won't freeze and you can dig up fresh carrots whenever you like! We do this in a zone 5b..and we still have carrots in the ground currently. We also did carrots in damp shavings in our root cellar, but it's cold in there. Around 45F.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Hey friend! Perfect! That sounds great to keep them in the ground! Thank you so much ☺️

[@thisboymomlife]

@Seed and Sparrow Homestead you're welcome. There's nothing better than fresh carrots with some veggie Dip in the middle of Jan, knowing they came from your own garden.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

@@thisboymomlife Truth! I'm excited :)

[@leighannf.4730]

You are so right about growing what you eat. I watch so many tomato-loving (and preserving!) gardeners and only *half* of our family even likes fresh tomatoes. LOL We also don't eat a lot of tomato sauce dishes, but I really love tomato sandwiches, tomato salads, etc. so I'm mainly growing indeterminate varieties for my husband and me! It's weird, but I almost felt guilty when planning out my garden this year for not including like 10 varieties of tomatoes. LOL

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I said the same thing! I feel guilty only growing half of what I normally grow LOL 😂 it seems like tomatoes are the “in” thing to grow but I never was apart of the “in” crowds 🤣 I am a big tomato sandwich lover too! Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️

[@sd0198]

I liked the seed section at the end. I wouldn't mind a video with you telling the difference in each variety and why you choose to grow them. :)

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

OK! I'll see if I can make that happen! Thank you for the feedback :)

[@theheartoftexas]

Am new to your channel and am really enjoying it! Love your style, love your content. Will subscribe.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Yay! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! ☺️🤍

[@christineayre796]

You are so transparent and so practical!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! A 1/2 acre!! So many people don't do enough with what they have. You are so inspiring!!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thank you so much ☺️ we try to use what we have the best we can 🤍

[@1marya.]

I love your content, it's SO helpful! I water bath can a bunch but I don't have a pressure canner. I'd love to learn but I'm terrified the thing will explode and destroy my house. I would love it if you did a video on how to use a pressure canner!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I’m so glad, thank you! I know pressure canning can be intimidating, but with the correct use and safety precautions in place there should be no cause for concern! I’m going to do some meal in a jar canned goods and will be sure to go over pressure canning safely! Thanks for watching!

[@paulabrown5685]

Wonderful video….you observations of your pantry, your projections of “needs”, your garden plans, your seeds/number of plants is so good. You expressing ready prepped meal for busy lives is great. Good job!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thank you so much Paula! I’m glad it was helpful, I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment! ☺️🤍

[@karenpage9383]

I have the Mockmill Lino 100 and I love it. Been milling my own flour for a year now. You will have to adjust your recipes or use new ones. I live 30 miles from Bread Beckers (see them here on YT) and have purchased the recipe books from Sue Becker which have recipes for not just hard and soft wheat berries, but some of the more ancient grains. Just be aware that the stone mills cannot grind nuts and seeds as the oils in them will ruin the stones, gum it up and probably burn up the motor. I have it to grind wheat berries, oak groats, and maybe one day corn. In terms of goals, way more freeze drying, less canning (we just don't love canned veggies much), and more gardening. If it were up to the hubby we would convert the inground swimming pool to some kind of fish breeding program. LOL If anybody could do it, it would be him! We are have more property than you, but still under an acre and much of it wooded. That was its appeal when we moved here 17 years ago, but we started gardening before Covid started in 2020 (started seeds and then the world fell apart) and now we wish we had more available space. I have one small greenhouse and we just bought a 2nd bigger one to hopefully grow hydroponically in that one. The world is a scarier place these days... even more so today after this suspicious weather balloons from China business. I fear for the futures of our children. I stay sane controlling what I can control and trying to ignore the rest. That said, we got meat rabbits over a year ago. They were 3-6 months old when we got them and they had not been handled. I worked with them to make moving the does to the buck easier when he was ready (he was the youngest). Yeah, should have made hubby do it. I found out they each have adorable and individual little personalities, and well... now they are house bunnies and I spend more time with them than a grown woman should. Ha! I have 1 that loves to be carried around and would love me to get one of those baby wraps and wear her all day! You have been warned. Now, we've butchered chickens and quail, but even hubby didn't think he could kill rabbits. I highly recommend you meet someone local who raises and butchers them, and attend a butchering. They scream. Hubby saw that and had no issues turning our guest bedroom into a bunny playground! He tells people that Cornish Cross are such jerks you don't mind when its their time (same could be said for pigs from what I understand). But the bunnies just keep getting sweeter with time. In theory you won't get as friendly with the kits raised for meat, but you'll get to know your breeder set pretty good, and that was enough for me.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

okay, thank you for taking the time to write out all this info!!! I really appreciate it! You guys sound awesome, and I love that your hubby would turn your pool into a fish hatchery! LOL. Hydroponics is GOALS! I'd love to learn more about that. You have so many great things going, blessings on all of them! So with the rabbits we have a few friends that raise them and we attended a butchering class. My intentions at first are to get 2 females to keep as pets and use their manure for garden fertilizer. 2 so they aren't alone. We can't handle the responsibility of culling and butchering another animal right now but intend to breed at least once( I think I read they need to be bred by a certain age?)(We know people with a buck we can use) and selling those kits at a local auction. I'd like to at least get them established here on our property if the need arises that we need meat! I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not, what are your thoughts? My daughter would LOVE a pet rabbit, but it will be outside(we do NOT have room inside) and I don't want it to be alone. Will 2 females do ok with each other?Thank you!!

[@karenpage9383]

@@seedandsparrowhomestead So sorry it has taken me so long to reply to this! If you raise 2 females together, they will *probably* be fine together. The key is to not let them fight over territory. Mine came from the same breeder, but not raised in the same hutch so they act like they are mortal enemies 🙄 That means I cannot have any 2 bunnies out at the same time. Ever. Made that mistake once and it caused a bunny tornado... a fight like you see in cartoons with a dust storm and an occasional fist flying! It was not fun and I got bit separating them. Thankfully no one had serious injuries and all was well, but it complicates my life trying to give them the love and attention they deserve. In terms of breeding by a certain age, you will have better results when they breed in the first 3-4 years. Its kinda how chickens are more productive egg layers in their first 3 years. Yes, they will lay all their lives, but not as much as when they are young. Rabbits produce more easily in those first few years and can be started at 6 months of age. Have your daughter handle and feed the rabbits from a young age so they bond. The manure is prolific, so that's a benefit for sure! And for sure, rabbits are a good insurance policy!!! You'll have to update me on if you got the rabbits or not!

[@robincarrico2007]

I have a whisper mill from nutri mill. I love it! fresh milled grains is the ultimate.

[@Salutaris13074]

Nooooooooo don't eat da bunny!! Lol. I admire your tenacity. Look forward to your vids, would love to see more than one a week but I appreciate you are also a very busy Mum.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

LOL! I’m not too keen on it either but I like to know that if need be we could use them for meat and my kids wouldn’t go hungry 🤷‍♀️I’m mainly interested in the rabbit manure in the garden! 😂 I have been trying to think of ways to put out more than one video a week, perhaps in the future however my little guy requires a ton of attention right now and I don’t have any help. So maybe eventually I’ll get out two a week! Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@robinwiafe4438]

I just found this channel ! I’m still shook on your bread video I keep sharing it because I love it so Much! 😂

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh yay! I’m so glad you’re here. Enjoy and thank you!! 🤍☺️

[@lysmalls658]

Try ordering your Cabbage and Brussel Sprout seeds from Johnny Selected Seeds they have a lot of Disease resistant for different growing zones

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Good to know! I’ll go check them out ☺️thank you!

[@alliepaunovich7143]

We shop once every 2ish months currently. I have some goals for this year so we can limit that down to 4 times a year. 1. Meat chickens 2. Larger garden with a water system 3. Creating a pasture for our meat chickens and eventually a dairy cow. 4. Starting a preservation room that we control the climate in.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Wow! That’s incredible. Great work and I love those goals! We hope to acquire acreage one day, it’s my dream to have a dairy cow 🤍

[@alliepaunovich7143]

We have 10 acres. Just no pasture yet so we have some work to do.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

@@alliepaunovich7143 Thats awesome, best wishes!

[@soniahenney9827]

I’m on south central PA as well so looking forward to watching your adventures in growing and canning.😀

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Yay! It’s so fun meeting people from the same area! Welcome and thanks for watching!! ☺️🤍

[@loventaemin]

Probably not a great idea for most people, but we found a super cheap wine fridge at a garage sale. My potatoes keep in the wine fridge for 6 to 9 months at 54 degrees. I find that carrots keep well in the regular fridge for me at 35 degrees

[@nikkilucille1165]

We are taking over our family farm in June. My goal is to somehow get all of my seeds started here and transport them to the dirt 3 hrs away. I love how positive and upbeat you are. This seasons going to be great!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh how fun! That’s so exciting! You can do it, I’m rooting for you! Thank you so much, this season IS going to great ☺️🤍

[@thewatermanswife6284]

I just recently found your channel and I swear we have the same brain! All the stuff you can and like/don’t like are similar, the way you organize it all etc. Love it! And now I find out in this video, you aren’t too far from us, we are on the eastern shore of MD.! We need to be friends lol!! If you ever want to stock up on Chesapeake Bay seafood, my husband can hook you up…oysters, fish, crabs, all the things! 🥳🥳

[@thewatermanswife6284]

Oh and I have a Mockmill 100 and mill all our grain. I sell cinnamon rolls to family and friends and it’s helped to payback the investment of the mill.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Omg let’s be friends! That’s so fun, I’m glad you’re here. What does your husband do? I may have to take you up on that offer 😂

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

@@thewatermanswife6284 Oh thats a fantastic idea!

[@MarthaMajority]

We have 3 ground beds that last year grew crazy leafy. I used banana water to fertilize but I didn’t stop using the banana water soon enough. I realize that I should have stopped using it on the tomatoes as they grew very strong but took their sweet time ripening. Anyway tomatoes and Chile are my focus but also plant egg plants, okra, green beans and whatever herbs that will grow. This year my daughter asked that we plant a minimal, focused garden. Oh no, I thought last year’s was small and focused!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Great goals! I like focused, I’m trying to be intentional this year with what I grow! Blessings on your space.

[@morgangeymann6932]

I started milling my own flour this year, I personally make sourdough bread but it has been a struggle to make with fresh whole grain. I’m definitely not giving up. It’ll definitely change the way you handle dough, but the benefits absolutely outweighs the learning curve. We invested in Komo mio and it’s been pretty good to us so far. Good luck!! I’ve enjoyed your content, very relatable to my season of life.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I was worried there may be a learning curve 😂 I’m up for it but also not really looking forward to it! I’ll have to check that one out, thank you! Appreciate you being here ❤️

[@angieelle9334]

I started making my own yogurt about a year ago. Now I want to start making all of my own bread products. Loved your bread products in a day video! I’d also like to start fermenting some vegetables.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh homemade yogurt is the best! I need to get back into that! Yes, to fermenting veggies, I could use the benefits there too! Great goals and thank you!!! 🤍☺️

[@embracingvintagehomemaking]

I need to know more about that Long Island Cheese Pumpkin!😂

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

I grow my potatoes in, what I call, a modified Ruth Stout method. I poke them in the soil like planting flower bulbs and then mulch them with grass clippings as they grow. You'll need to mulch them, at least, 3 times. But harvesting is very easy. That's a lot of tomato varieties for a family that doesn't have tomato based meals often! I was wondering if Cucamelons would be good for picking whole!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh that’s a good idea! I’d still have to use straw, we don’t have enough grass to do that. But I had thought about poking them in a bit and mulching. Thanks! LOL. It may seem like a lot but it’s about half of what I grew last year. I do grow for family as well and I plan to make lots of bbq sauce! Thanks for watching!

[@thewitchykitchen]

It’s funny, that the way you feel about canned carrots, we feel about canned sweet potatoes. Those just get way too sweet. We did an inventory last week too, and it was an eye opener. I have 40 half pints of squash relish, and while we eat those, I do not need to can that this year. I also found out, that I am down to my last jar of BBQ sauce, so that I definitely need to make more of next year. It’s tomato free btw. We don’t eat a lot of tomato products either. I also have way too much conserve left, and jams, so with the exception of strawberries, I am not making jam this year. I am going to make more juice and syrup, since we use those to flavor kombucha. I love that the challenge encourages you to do this inventory and it has helped me figure out what to grow in the garden this year. It’s so interesting to see what you are going to do with meat chickens, since I am doing that this year, for the first time. I am a little nervous, but good quality chickens cost so much to buy. As for rabbits, while you can throw the rabbit poop directly in your garden, they didn’t dissolve like other manures do. I find that I like it better if I soak them in water first, so it’s kind of like a compost tea. Here are some of my goals this year. We don’t eat potatoes because of allergies, so my goal is to grow 240 pounds of sweet potatoes. We grow the types that are less sweet, and use them like regular potatoes. We grow year round, which is good, since I only have 1/2 acre. Another goal is to grow all of the onions and garlic we need and ginger since we use about 6 pounds a year. As for tomatoes, I am only growing paste tomatoes this year, since only one out of the 5 of us eat raw tomatoes. Right now, my goal is to preserve all of the collard and cabbages that’s growing in my cold season garden.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Hi! I’m so sorry for the delay, I was swamped with comments coming in and I’m just now finding some time on this rainy day! Thank you for taking the time to share and for the tips! I appreciate it so much. You’re goals are wonderful! Blessings on you and your journey ❤️

[@debbieorazi2518]

Do you have any vertical growing planters, like a Greenstalk? Strawberries, lettuce, kale and spinach grow especially well in these containers. Many gardeners only use their land for growing food when there is a huge untapped resource in vertical gardening. You can easily double your growing space by going up. With the amount of potatoes and sweet potatoes you plan to grow you may need to get creative finding room to plant everything else. Good luck! Looking forward to the gardening and easy meals videos you are planning.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I sure do! I have a greenstalk and put in 6 arches this year plus a whole bunch of panel trellises. I'm not sure if you got around to my most recent garden video but we expanded quite a bit! I'm super excited to see it come to life, but with all this new space and new beds it almost feels like I'm a first time gardener again lol. Always learning

[@anitacolotto9282]

My goal is to stop spending $14 to 16 dollars a day on lunch M-F at work! Last week I packed 2 pieces of fruit and a homemade scone, and a large bottle of water. A lot of sugar, but it’s a start. I’m going to boil eggs for egg salad, canned chicken for chicken salad and purchasing really good wheat bread. Every little step helps save money.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

That’s a fantastic goal Anita! It’s amazing how those costs add up. A while back when I was still working a job outside the home I committed to no longer purchasing a coffee on my way and instead invested in a coffee maker to make my own . The amount we saved is mind boggling. Little steps really do help! Great work 🤍

[@jenniferr2057]

We used half zucchini in cowboy candy with super spicy peppers. It was very, very good.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Interesting! I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you! 🤍☺️

[@jenniferr2057]

@@seedandsparrowhomestead you know how is zucchini takes on the flavor of anything and there's always do much cowboy candy brine anyway? I even have jars of just zucchini but I haven't opened them yet....

[@susanmurten6178]

My intention this year is to let go of things (situations/extended family issues) I can't control or fix. My goal is to extend my garden, grow enough garlic and onions for the year along with all my other things. Ps White Tomisal's aren't great.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh that’s a good one, I need to work on that as well 😬 stress/anxiety and conflict can get the better of me! Blessings on your goals! Ok, good to know, perhaps I’ll only plant one Tomesol just to try!

[@sarahsnodgrass7726]

I LOVE my mockmill! It’s super easy to use, doesn’t take up too much space on my counter (which means it’s easily accessible so I use it more), the flour isn’t hot when it comes out and it doesn’t spray flour all over the counter!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Awesome! Thank you for the info :)

[@gailwarfield9491]

You could try canning carrots in a broth as canning in water does cause the carrots to be kind of blah

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Maybe I’ll try one quart with a batch of something else to see if we like it. Thanks!

[@bardiebrady4521]

I have a mockmill and love it

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thank you!!! 🤍

[@miriahmono5297]

My goals this year is to finally can pizza sauce because we eat pizza every Friday and try pressure canning for my first time! I'm glad I found your channel, I love watching your videos!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Yay! Thank you! I love those goals, rooting for you ☺️

[@Cordelia0704p]

Ha! I'm the only one that likes Brussels Sprouts in my house too

[@connieparker8896]

Can plum jelly, your family will love it , I use to make all kinds but now I only can what my family eats,, NO WAIST

[@cherylpresleigh6403]

My garden goals are: 1. To start everything by seed including most of the flowers I usually purchase for planting in barrels and hanging baskets. 2. Planting a few varieties of crops in ground instead of raised beds. Corn, tomatoes, vining plants. 3. A great deal of focus is going to be on preservation. Growing the meal in a jar options and meat. 4. Getting chickens! Thank you for sharing, you’re a blessing!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I love these goals! I want to make sure to grow all the flowers I would typically purchase for hanging basket and planters too! It saves so much money and it’s fun to pick exactly what you want and know that you grew it! Thank YOU! You’re a blessing to me ☺️🤍

[@cherylpresleigh6403]

@@seedandsparrowhomestead I forgot to tell you that I opted for a NutriMill. They are an investment but considerably less than other options I found. The one thing I found over and over was the recommendation to go with a stone style grinder and not the metal style.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

@@cherylpresleigh6403 Thank you! I was leaning towards a stone grinder! I just have to get the gumption to go for it. I'm kind of loathing having to figure out how to bake all over again when using home milled lol.

[@cherylpresleigh6403]

I’m sure you’ve got enough experience under your belt to figure it out quickly. I’m signed up to take a class (on your time, not a set day and time) Carolyn at Homesteading Family addressing this exact subject. If it turns out to be problematic for you it might be worth checking it out. My mill is a reward for a finished pantry makeover/new space. It’s taking way longer than expected but I’m determined to stay the course until it’s done. I’ll take the class when I’m ready to start baking bread with home ground flour. 💛

[@kathleenritter4532]

Like I said before, your pantry is amazing. My goal is to be more intentional with my gardening and canning. Just like you said, grow & cook what we eat. I also go to farmers markets to supplement what I grow or for things I don't grow. I live in Ohio and finding raw milk has been a challenge. I did find a place in PA that I'm hoping to make a source to start cheese as well. Here's to a better 2023

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thank you! 🤍 those are great goals! Blessings on your journey, friend ❤️

[@averysytsma3783]

A way you can use up canned carrots if you aren't enjoying them is fo puree and you can mix with other root veg mash! Parsnips, turnips, potatoes, sw. Potatoes etc etc :) or add into soups/stews as the puree!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Great ideas! Thank you ☺️ I’m determined to find a way we enjoy them !

[@BootsandBountyHomestead]

Kelsey!!! Look at you growing 😉 Same, it's just what we do! It's a lifestyle.... I keep telling my husband we need to order online and stay out of the store. I look in the buggie and I'm like....we don't NEED all of this! Lol I've learned a lot of what I want to differently too. Very slightly damp Sand in totes!! Stays cool in just about any temp! Thanks for sharing!! ❤️Kacy

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Kacy!! Hey friend ☺️ right?! It’s a lifestyle. Ordering online is where it’s at for me! I’m going to try Azure soon for some bulk items. Ohhhh yes, I heard about sand or shavings in Totes! I’m going to try that, thank you!!!

[@BootsandBountyHomestead]

@@seedandsparrowhomestead I haven't gotten enough of a list together yet to order from azure to make it worth our while, lol. I'm looking into it though! ❤️

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

@@BootsandBountyHomestead Same, in our area things are cheap so it doesn't always make sense to order from them. I'm having a hard time finding some things right now so it may be time to bite the bullet.

[@norahalmquist1345]

You can use the can carrots for carrot cake or muffins .also with the pickles big mac bowls are amazing there are also big mac sloppy joes

[@VagabondAnne]

About Okra: in the NHCHFP book, there is an approved recipe for Okra or Zucchini with tomato. I use the Okra one all the time with beans and sausage for a stew. My Dad is diabetic, so the Okra and beans combined are especially helpful here. It's great over rice with red beans for a New Orleans style stew.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh interesting! I will check that one out, maybe I’ll try a small batch. Thank you!

[@conniewach7872]

Your garden plan looks great!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thank you! I’m excited 😁

[@shannonnewman9202]

If it’s a flavor your family would like, you could puree the carrots into a pumpkin/root vegetable soup, with curry.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh good idea! I’m going to do that, thank you!! ☺️

[@heathernotzdaniels6350]

Mary, from Mary's Nest has a Mockmill and she loves it. She also has a code to get a discount on it. If you haven't checked her out yet. She super informative and has lots of videos on nutrient rich foods and stocking your pantry. I adore her :)

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Wonderful! Thank you so much, I’m gonna go check out her channel ☺️

[@kimberlycrawford1298]

Hi l have found that putting Lipton onion soup mix in the jar when canning carrots helps 😊

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Good to know! Thank you! 🤍

[@IdaMaySmith]

I’ve been binge watching your videos! I didn’t realize you are in PA! Yay! May I ask roughly where you are without giving too much info out. I’m asking because I would love to find classes on canning and preserving. I live in a small town outside of state college. I’m so curious if you know of anyone that holds classes on those subjects. Thanks😊

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Yay! Hi neighbor. State College is about 3.5 hours from us so I’m not too familiar with anyone offering classes there. You could reach out to your local extension office and see if they have any sources!

[@athia37]

When hot peppers are grown without alot of water,they go sky high in the spicy heat department..same with radishes and celery with dry conditions gets so strong and bitter it's almost inedible.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Ohhh that’s a good point! I forgot about that. It was SUPER dry last year, we went weeks without rain and I was not the best waterer 😂

[@dudeusmaximus6793]

What you're thinking and doing is much like what I and many others I've seen on the Utubes are thinking and doing. My main goal is to create a framework to take stuff coming off the land and 'use everything but the squeal' to make all that can be made out of them. For example we get alot of apples, from which we get juice, butter, syrup, and with the scraps, vinegar. Vinegar I can use in everything from making condiments to dissolving eggshells for minerals for the garden. So on and so forth, and do that on a year 'round basis. I bought the basic Family Grain Mill 20 years ago and I use it to make bread. It has held up well and only wheat needs ground twice. Also have a Grainmaker 99 with all the toys that will grind and dehulls grains that we grow. It's a beast and set me back alot but I wanted a long term, high capacity solution if we really have to depend on it.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh that’s a fantastic goal! Nothing goes to waste! That’s a goal of mine too! Thank you for the info!! ☺️

[@gailharner1759]

Hey Kelsey! Loved the video. So informative. We are thinking of starting a bigger raised bed garden this year. Not sure what we'll include yet. Usually we would do a few tomato and pepper plants, mostly just for eating. 😊

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Hey Gail! Thank you so much! Blessings on your garden this year, have fun!! 🤍

[@emilytaylor3653]

My goal is to can ready to eat meals this year.

[@jamielutze]

becky in acre homestead gets kits for cheese you might want to contact her and mama's house has a grinder she uses and really likes

[@connieparker8896]

The canning you do at home can last 20 years!!!

[@tooshieg2059]

Nice vid. Tks for sharing. I'm wondering if during your planning stage you assume that you will harvest all that you plant or if you added a few extras for crop failures. I always loose about 20% for one reason or another so just automatically add the extra.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thanks! I always account for loss, plus I seem to consistently start way more than I need to it always works out 😂

[@hedgerow.homestead]

Can you share the recipe for the strawberry chamomile jam, please?

[@workinprogress3609]

Rose Red did a video on her new mill.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh good to know! Thank you, I’ll check that out! ☺️

[@connieparker8896]

Try dry canning potatoes, you’ll like them, they taste like roasted potatoes,,

[@jamielutze]

like your u tube channel i also watch a few others some of the people i watch freeze dry some of the things you are talking about maybe they will taste better freeze dried

[@sandicrile3454]

Do you have a video on making and canning the strawberry lemonade?

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Not yet, I’ll get more of those canning recipes out this spring/summer as the produce come in ☺️

[@RC-mn1ri]

I have a WonderMill. I think I bought it used on ebay a few years ago. It works but it's such a mess, particularly the canister that it mills into. I wish I had a fancy mill that cleanly drops the flour down into the bowl as it mills it. They look lower profile and easier to mill the grains fresh on the spot, whereas with the WonderMill it's kind of an ordeal so I mill a fairly large batch at a time (maybe like 4 lbs of finial product). It has 3 settings: pastry, bread, and course. Naturally, I started with "bread" to mill wheat for bread. It was too course and I now mill everything on the pastry setting unless I'm doing cornmeal. Have you tried rabbit? I had not until raising them for meat. Tasted exactly like turkey to me. I stopped raising them because they produced too much meat for my needs and I didn't like having the buck alone so much of the time and the doe would be alone too if she was not raising babies. The manure was great but I couldn't justify treating animals that way with them so lonely. I had them in a chicken tractor on the ground with wire on the bottom so they would not dig out and the manure would still fall through and I could scoop it up and collect it. A lot more work than having them elevated and collecting the manure, but I personally think keeping an animal like that is inhumane. Everything deserves to have their feet upon the earth. Also, rabbits seem like they get bored easily. I have tons more tips on this and things I wish I knew before jumping in heard first. Looking forward to seeing your garden grow.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thank you for taking the time to write all this!! Good to know about the wonder mill, thank you. I have tasted rabbit before! We know quite a few people who raise them. My thoughts are in starting out to get two females to keep together and have more as “pets” that also give us fertilizer and use as breeding stock, later on purchasing a buck whenever we feel we are ready to take on the responsibility of breeding/butchering.

[@Cordelia0704p]

Back to the blueberries - you have them in acidic soil right? They dont do well otherwise.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

I amended it the best I knew how to change the ph! Is there an additive you’d recommend?

[@tabathalear422]

Fried pickles are good

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Oh! Thats a thought! Never crossed my mind but we do enjoy those from the fair! Thank you!

[@kdavis7525]

Would an Amish-made rabbit hutch be cost-prohibitive for your family?

[@shelley4042]

I've been milling my own flour for about 20 years and have a Country Living grain mill. I see they are quite pricey these days! We have it connected to a small motor to run it, but if the power goes out I can still grind by hand which is why I chose it. It has worked really well for me all these years. You have inspired me to grow even more on my property since we have about the same amount of space as you do.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Thank you for pointing that out, it would be nice to have a working mill if there is no power. I’ll add that to my list. Yay for growing more food!!! Blessings on your garden this year!!! 🤍☺️

[@shelley4042]

@@seedandsparrowhomestead Thank you! Blessings on your garden also this year! I forgot to mention that we do have a generator now that could power the motor also, so if you have one of those it would work for any electric mill.

[@debbieneff9950]

Be careful not to put tomatoes to close to potatoes. I did that one year and my tomatoes got blite. (Not sure if spelling is right) but my leaves died and fell off my tomatoes.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Yes! Blight is no fun. I’m hoping since I have placed them on opposite ends of the garden they will be ok. Trying to figure out how to place things when you want to grow a TON of potatoes can be tricky 😂 Thank you!

[@michelel965]

Try a carrot soufflé.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Yes! I need to try that for sure. Thank you ☺️ 🤍

[@hannahwade4617]

Where do you get your bulk flour?

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Around here it’s most affordable at the Amish surplus stores but if I didn’t have that option I’d probably shop Costco or Azure Standard 😊

[@jamielutze]

i'd like for my candy and baked goods business to grow

[@sallybedwell1354]

Goals: a years worth of garlic, onions, green beans and enough tomatoes to make a years worth of salsa, tomato sauce, ketchup

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Great goals! blessing on them

[@09echols]

Hot dry weather makes peppers hotter. This past summer definitely fit the bill. As for cold storage I've heard of people burying broken chest freezers up to the lid.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

That is something I completely forgot about! It definitely was dry and I’m was not the best waterer 😂 thank you for pointing that out! ☺️

[@erikalouwrens3992]

Holy moly, those are some really disturbing looking carrots - the black hairy ones!

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

LOL right?! They can be weird but still yummy and so good for you!!

[@homesteadfromseed1996]

Make pickle soup :)

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

Explain please 😂

[@conniewach7872]

You could make cheeseburger soup and add chopped pickles. It's very good!

[@samanthahoos9827]

Check out James Prigioni on KZbin for growing fruit on a small lot at home. I grow early potatoes in beds that I plant squashes in after the potato plants are pulled for succession plan gardening. I grow garlic in tomato beds over winter and harvest in June when tomato plants go in ground. This year I’m going to grow more herbs for my own seasonings, teas, tinctures, soaps, etc. I joined a local family farm’s CSA so I don’t have pressure to grow some vegetables I really don’t have good luck growing nor space (corn). I freeze the abundance during the summer for winter meals. Frozen tomatoes in the instant pot with pasta or rice - yum! I’m 6 NJ growing on less than 2 acres in ground, raised beds and containers.

[@seedandsparrowhomestead]

James Prigioni is great! I do watch him from time to time, lots of wonderful knowledge there. Ohhhh more herbs for teas, tincture and soaps, thats lovely! I've had tinctures and soaps on my list for some time and I never seem to get around to them! Thank you for watching and commenting! I appreciate it