Just Power Through

The homestead work never ends, even when you aren’t feeling great. Today the potatoes are going into the ground to hopefully be a large harvest to feed us this year.
Today’s music, in order (available through Epidemic Sound bit.ly/2Mt3tXm ):
Intro: Let Me Love You by Loving Caliber
Dancing On the Tables by Elijah N
Love Love by Heyson
Monotone by nothanks
Morning Hike by Lindsay Abraham
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[@nastashanelle1202]

So my daughter was layer branches, snow and wood chips in the garden today and I asked her what she was making and she says 'im making a pile to boil the branches down so it'll help the garden in the summer" I said oh you're making compost? She says "yeah, like Ben" I about died. We watch your videos together while we're making dinner together and I couldn't have been prouder when she said that, so thank you Ben and Meg for inspiring my kids.

[@CulinaryLifeFarm]

The tried and true method for planting cut potatoes for me is to cut them in no smaller than quarters, each with at least one eye, and then dust them with ash and immediately plant them. The ash prevents rot and seems to help them root faster.

[@patriciaherman6499]

I was going to suggest the same method.

[@larryparish8708]

Me too!

[@r.m.podlewski1887]

Never heard of using ashes but I will definitely try it. Thank you for the info.

[@heidibartle2241]

I cut them no smaller than halves with each half having three eyes

[@vivianzuniga8814]

Garlic, Onion, Ginger, Honey, Lemon. Cure for the crud!

[@marissashelley2362]

Mr Gramps farmed for 80 years. He always told me that when you cut for the eyes to brush a little bit of honey over the open cut to sterilize & seal the potato & then set them aside to dry. He grew enough potatoes to feed a family of 16. Try it with just 1 potato & see what happens. If it doesn't work for you, you're no worse off than you are right now.

[@angiehughes2276]

I just love your helper, lil miss Buggy

[@kathiefrommissouriusa1462]

The 3 of us passed around a bad cold in the last month. At least it wasn’t Covid. I’m immune compromised so I’m sure I’d land back in the hospital if I caught Covid again. I hardly go anywhere & when I do, I’m still wearing a mask. The strain that’s going around up here in the St. Louis area is highly contagious. Since I hardly go anywhere, I do really enjoy watching my regular KZbin channels. This is definitely one of my very favorites! Silly Ben and his goofy jokes are so great, and I love watching Meg cook. We’re both disabled but my hubby still works. We could never physically do Homesteading but I sure wish we had when we were younger.

[@faithrada]

I hear you. We are elderly and have not eaten out for like 3 years. This last week we made super early reservations at a lovely old tavern. We were treated like royalty.. the only ones in the dining room... What a special experience. Life is good. 🙏 🍷 🧀 Stay safe everyone.

[@dollyperry3020]

Okay the way my daddy did it (and he grew up in Idaho) was to cut the seed potato in pieces, each piece having two eyes. So...don't cut the eyes out...just cut the potato into chunks with two eyes each.

[@debragonser745]

Fresh turned soil just makes me happy 😊😊

[@pamelaroden5513]

There is nothing better than sweating out sickness if possible. Also, the natural vitamin D you are getting will help fight the rest of the bad stuff off.

[@susanr791]

Toddler wisdom “I’m just watering the garden.”

[@Peachy08]

Those kids are living the best life ever. They will look back on these days with a smile😊

[@margiemistretta8885]

Once seed potatoes are cut in 4ths, let heal for couple days you should be ok

[@grannybearsgarden]

An old gardener advised me when I was a young gardener to always make sure each potato piece had at least two eyes on it. That way the pieces are large enough to nourish the eyes until they can grow roots. It’s always worked for me.

[@mgtmoffat8411]

A two year old asks if you are going to rototil and then moves out of the way! She is so knowledgeable! Great to see the potato planters en masse! Hope you all get better soon. 💕💕🌻🌻

[@kathrynblodgett1969]

My 83yrold mother, who remembers planting potatoes with her grandmother when she was Buggies age in Oklahoma, says you waited to long. Waiting until the cut heals and dried over wastes the vitamins and energy of the seed potatoes. By the way, she (we) love the way you are raising your children. Working with the children in the garden and making it a fun and loving environment, makes you her Hero.

[@juliewholohan2850]

I am with you Ben…. I don’t have success with potatoes when I cut them up…. I am on team whole potato seed planting.👍

[@evalinawarne1337]

I am praying for you BEN to feel better in JESUS'S NAME AMEN 🛐🤟 JESUS ✝️🛐🌻✝️ thank you JESUS 🀄🀄

[@kennethkauzlaric8948]

I said this before, but I love how Brett has become a gardener. He loves getting his hands in the soil. I hope you two, give him his own plot again. He did so well with his own garden.

[@marking-time-gardens]

Another great day on the Hollar Family Homestead! Blessings on your family Kiddos!!!🥰🌻🐛💕

[@cathydickerson1420]

I don’t know how those kids run and walk on those rocks barefooted and the little toddler too. They are so precious.

[@helenmchugh4632]

Your little girl is one busy little bee🌷

[@mmurphy2317]

BUGBEE?!!

[@gailbrault9251]

Everyone sits in the same spot every meal, and when my mom was still alive and had dinner at her home, all the siblings sat in their normal spot, and everyone filled in the other spots . It made me smile

[@jerrybrady9103]

Wasn't expecting a video today cause I know ya'll been sick, but came in from working in the yard myself and there is my favorite youtubers. Yaaa-hooo! ❤😂😊

[@rt3box6tx74]

My old 1985 Troybuilt tiller has an attachment to make the furrows. It's called a sweep... though they're commonly known as lister bottoms too. It clamps on the depth control.

[@jenthrasher5056]

Ben when you cut them wait 24 hours the sit in potting soil by the kitchen sink. I just sprouted 8 plants from 1 potatoes. I've never gotten them to grow for me. This time I cut the eye with as little fresh as I could, so it was, pealing and eye. Yesterday I moved them to grow bags, and moved them outside on porch away from night winds. Today they look great.

[@janetwilson6865]

When the 3 year old homesteader knows what rototilling is! 😂😂😂 love it Buggy. Keep your eye on Daddy.

[@Mary-go8xc]

I love watching the kids all help with the garden planting. Those boys are growing into good men and that girl is too precious. You two are who parents should be to raise healthy independent loving children. A joy to watch.

[@faithrada]

I think there's nothing better than tilling up soil to make ready for planting. The feel of soil getting warmed up by the spring sun is magical. Thanks for sharing the process.

[@patprettyman2273]

Ben please stick with what works for you, and as long as the experiments you do is a learning experience.

[@allonesame6467]

My experience is that I need 2 eyes minimum for the potato to sprout. Then I have to wait for the cuts to heal or scab over before planting, otherwise they can rot when planted "wet". That's too much management for me, plus the potato yield potatoes' that are smaller from cut potatoes. I plant the whole potato and get much bigger potatoes and bigger yield. Love your videos and all that you share.💛

[@charmainemrtnz]

The potatoes need larger pieces/whole potato for food energy. Idaho native where Russets are state crop.

[@helenvander-heyden2383]

I had chicken pasta casserole for dinner Friday night too! Feel better soon Hollars!

[@SuesSecretGarden3]

Meg with her magic. Potato yaa!!

[@takeitslowhomestead5218]

We’ve always divided our potatoes into 3 or 4 eyes per chunk. We then put them straight into the ground. Since our soil is dry, we don’t have to let them scab over. We plant them 2 1/2 - 3 feet apart so we have enough surrounding soil to hill them at least twice during the Summer. We irrigate with overhead sprinklers (just like rain). Here, in our high desert of southern Utah, we plant them in the middle of April and harvest when the tops die down, usually September. I hope you get a wonderful potato harvest! 🥔🥔🥔

[@gloriahagg6293]

Just think Ben with no taste you couldn't taste the peas. Lol. Get well soon.

[@gaylewatkins4685]

Loved the video. Hope everyone is feeling better soon. Take care and God bless. 🤗💕

[@Junkinsally]

You have to "cure" the cut potatoes plus, you have to plant them at least 6" deep. If you're in a humid area, cure with a fan on them so mold won't set in. Kennebec potatoes are a seed potato cultivar that is a russet type good for the home garden and is the closest to what you buy in the grocery store.

[@danuta.]

Teach your boys how to make Bumblewood, like a family business. 😊

[@aCasualObserver.]

..."ring the bell for your brothers"... classic. Yall are awesome. Thanks for sharing. The potatoes are gonna rock!

[@wendyburston3132]

First year for trying potatoes. Cut them tiny and left one eye on each, two in each 5 gallon bucket. We'll see. If not the next ones go in whole 👍. Love the comment section too. Can learn a lot that way.

[@michellenelson7899]

Blessings for feeling better soon love watching you plant potatoes much love ❤

[@colleenkrall630]

When I cut the potatoes to plant I was told to have at least 2 eyes per piece. One will make the roots and the other the tops. I left them sit to let the cut heal before planting too.

[@Optimistic_Bonnie]

Ooooooooooo!!! I cannot wait to finally have the opportunity to buy some bumblewood products!! I have the web page pinned on my cellphone app page to watch for new inventory!! I'm soo excited to see y'alls garden in full swing!!! I am glad Meg and Buggie feel better!! I absolutely adore y'alls family!! I hope to see more videos of all the garden yields, including how Meg preserves the veggies and fruits!!

[@tonimitchell9930]

We use to run a fan on low to keep the air circulating for our citrus when we knew it was going to be so cold. It Keeps the frost from settling. The citrus groves had big wind turbines that they ran for the orchards.

[@nancycowan6109]

If peppermint lip balm came in those salve containers, my life might just be complete. 🙂 Lovely video. I loved planting potatoes with my dad when I was little. And the digging was so much fun! ❤️

[@marilynplace575]

I love her peppermint balm!

[@judithkopchak2291]

LOVE sweet baby voice of Buggy running through everything doing her part to " help". 💗

[@malina1239]

I always plant my potato whole. Grew up as 6th generation on a farm. I stick with what I know works!

[@marcialittle7893]

I order taters from wood prairie farms in Maine.

[@lillianperry6451]

Can remember planning potatoes I really enjoyed the digging them up more. Lol

[@tinatippin5705]

Feel better soon, Ben. Restful weekend for you all. Well, as restful as Spring chores allow. Catch you next week.

[@amandaforeman2626]

Feel better Ben ! Got your email Meg! I completely understand you not having time ! Have a great day !

[@aprilriordan8202]

I’m so happy you planted the potato slips , we did an experiment last year doing the same , we put them in a pot and we got a lovely harvest from them

[@TheScintillady]

What a good role model for work ethic for your children!

[@jillfernandez2482]

Hi Brother Ben. SPEEDY RECOVERY 🥰 🥔

[@adelacoburn1396]

Hello Y'all, Ben, I have the same problem too, I only have growth with the whole rooted potato . Enjoyed the video, thank you and God bless 🤍

[@charlenefoster6779]

I think everyone I know has had the same thing. The weather bouncing back and forth is part of the problem

[@kenithh63]

Ben Make sure that you water the potato sprouts with compost tea daily for about three days or until you get your first rainfall

[@honiebird3789]

Feel better y'all! We're still getting snow here, so it's nice to see someone enjoying spring! ♥ Love your family. Feel better soon.

[@jrsf222]

Difficult when the family passes the health issues around but you are diligent in your duties on call! Your family is top drawer‼️

[@gracefilipe1234]

You dont cut every eye out. You cut the potatoe with 2 or 3 eyes in a section. You are cutting the potstoe in 2 to 5 sections depending on the size. The reason you keep the potatoe and not just slips is because the potatoe feeds the sprout.

[@carriem7832]

Lots of potatoes will be great to freeze dry, freeze and can…..I cook five pounds of potatoes in my instant pot on Sat and use them all week for just two of us…my husband loves mashed potatoes and gravy. Potato soup is a great dinner with homemade bread….my family of eight ate lots of potatoes veggies and small amount of meat when times were hard. My grandpa made potato vodka and bartered with it during the depression… With all the rain and flooding there will be a lot of gardens planted late….one video I saw they put cardboard down the put boxes on top and planted potatoes in those…last year I grew mine in laundry baskets I bought for $3 each and I lined them with brown paper that comes in rolls..no digging, just flip it over and brush the dirt away….good luck.

[@gods_soldier971]

We must move south. We have another month of snow left of our winter. Garden has to wait lol. God Bless

[@codyleeser392]

Meg , you could have a workshop on making your potions and lotions. Just once a year.

[@patriciaherman6499]

Ah Ben hope your feeling better after this weekend. Blessings to all. 😊🇺🇲

[@marlenekutcher938]

I could so use these metal restaurants items in my greenhouse. Great storage for flats and pots on the shelves. Just put a top on the crushed one for transplanting , excellent find. Get well soon! The garlic bed is awesome. God bless…🇨🇦🫂

[@karenladwig3856]

2nd! You will be seeing potatoes in your sleep. The potatoes will taste so good in the fall. If you had a dehydrator like a lot of people are getting then you would be all set!🤠😎❤❤🥔🥔

[@MarySantos-fz2fv]

Love seeing the kids out helping.

[@janetwithers7427]

I love to see potatoes planted. Hope you feel better soon Ben. Sounds like t he Covid virus. You have all the symptoms of the current strain. Please get tested. My 93 year old aunt had it now. Started with sore throat and runny nose. She went to ER and got a shot and feeling better every day. It is very contagious. Take care. 💕

[@dycusfamily]

We are fixing to get ready to plant sweet potatoes that have sprouted in a box. Hopefully they will come and produce. We have never grown potatoes before. Hope y'all start feeling better soon...

[@Oururbanhomestead1966]

Little Miss Buggy is talking so much, she is adorable. Awesome effort Ben, the garden is looking amazing. We are working on plans to expand our vegie garden and our typical urban Aussie backyard will be a huge vegie garden with some fruit trees as well

[@janstiver3350]

Feel better!

[@loritanner4478]

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to put in my garden this year. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February. Had a double mastectomy on the 14th of March. And the recovery process is slow and has been painful. I didn't know that I would be cut from one side under the arm before my back to the other side under my other arm to the start of my back. With just an inch not cut in the middle of my breast bone. So I don't know if I will physically be able to. And I'm missing not being out cleaning up my gardens and starting my seeds etc. But at least they told me I'm cancer free now. So I do have next year. Maybe I can plant a few things before summer. So I'm living vicariously through you all planting your gardens this year. Hope you are all over your colds now and feeling great.

[@michellebarringer]

Great video today.

[@sandyoklahomatransient8557]

Good to see y'all are making the turn around with theses colds. The God send for me with the cold has been the warm salt gargle, and distilled water sinus salt flush. I did however, have to break down and use Guaifensein for my barking cough, and to help stop stuff in the chest. Received your email about Bumblewood status, and the blog information combining with your Hollar blog. I say, do what works for y'all. Y'all have a lot going on, and garden season is just rolling in. Take things one day at a time..... Life is good😊

[@emeraldwaterlifehomestead2180]

Thank you Meg for all you do for your beautiful family and your BumbleWood products. Love them. ❤️ you are truly an amazing person. 😎

[@carolkimbell5174]

We love y’all!

[@brachashighhopeshomestead226]

We all wish you vibrant health & happiness in your Homestead of fulfillment, where your most wonderful dreams come true!! PLEASE don't eat potatoes that have turned green so one doesn't feel pain in joints. Better to plant them in your garden & have no green on skin. They taste less acidy also. Gd willing you will make better investment in the ground than in a bank!!

[@yerneedsry]

THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR CHANNEL, IT PULLS ME FROM THE DRAMA CRAP WHICH IS GETTING MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY , TY. YOUR SUCH A GOOD MAN BEN , I would be proud to call you my husband/ father.. . Thank you.. Your lucky with MEG to boy...coming from a grandma..

[@bonafideslacker2626]

also Ben is fine as he🏒🏒, so that helps. 😉

[@cathykillion6544]

Enjoyed the video

[@bettypearson5570]

Grandpa who was a homestead type farmer for right around 50 years, raising pretty much everything for his family and selling some to pay the bills.. Potatoes was something we ate pretty much everyday, us kids fried up potatoes and eggs for breakfast and would have potatoes for our starch most nights. Our family was 8 plus grandma and grandpa. We never ever ran out of potatoes during the year and while there were some small most were medium to large baked sizes. He always cut his in half and would remove some of the eyes leaving no more than 2-3 per half so their would be enough seed to nourish the plant. He grew them big and plentiful. As an adult when I decided to start my garden I heard that you could cut them into smaller pieces as long as they had at least one eye and decided to do it that way instead of grandpa's. My harvest, when I got one, (voles and a thieving neighbor) was always smaller potatoes and not nearly as productive. Stopped growing, mostly because of the neighbor who would dig them up while I was at work. This year with new garden space I'm going to follow grandpa's example and see how it goes.

[@pattiwhite9575]

All I ever buy now is yukon gold. But, there are those occasions I want a big ol baked Russets. Red potatoes is used mostly during winter for soups and stews. But thats my world. Glad you had the kids helping.

[@lisanowakow3688]

Just water them and they will be fine. I also don’t like store bought peas, but I found out after a shepherd’s pie that our own are tasty. I hope you feel better soon!

[@deannewilliams3321]

I hope yall get some good R&R this weekend. Time for a new round of toothbrushes to help yall get well. I have potatoes and an upside down head of cabbage that I threw out when my fridge went out and they are growing lol. I’m sure yours will grow just fine. Expecting rain for like 4 days, so I got a bunch of flower seeds planted and one pot of dill going. I love to let the rain water the seeds in. Then it’ll be time to direct seed summer veggies 🤗 Meg, watching you cook, I was like mmm, just needs a little cheese on top, and you whip out the cheese 🥰

[@cyndir7418]

Try cutting the whole potato into pieces with a couple of eye on each piece, let the pieces dry then plant. From California, not far from Bakersfield. My family is originally from Bakersfield via Oklahoma during the "Dust Bowl Years". Love your vids guys. Good luck.

[@radmilamiljanic5977]

I'm five days into the cold. Had broth for breakfast, lunch and dinner the other day, felt so good. There's a team whole potato and team sliced potato , just watched a man put tiny slices into the ground, even without drying and he's been doing it for 20 years. Do what works for you!!!

[@JanuaryLisa]

Ben, if you put sulfer powder on the cut edges of the potatoes, you might not lose them...or at least not so many. That's what our farmer neighbor taught us. 🥔

[@missourigirl4101]

Ben- growing up we cut out potatoes with 3 eyes to each piece and planted. Keep hilling over greens as they grow. We had hundreds every year. This is how I’ve grown them as an adult to. Good luck!

[@bonessam9618]

Missouri Girl, when do you know when to stop hilling them? I have never grown potatoes before and want to try this year. I'm in Minnesota so our zones will be different but that may not matter?

[@MsBee777]

When I was age 9 through 19, we lived on and worked our farm, that we purchased from my grandparents. I seem to remember my mother cutting eyes off of potatoes (chunks of potatoes with eyes on them) and directly planting them. I know for sure that any small potatoes that had sprouted, she'd plant directly without cutting them. I don't recall her complaining about potatoes rotting in the ground.

[@BethEmily763]

I love you guys❤

[@deecooper1567]

So happy to see some people get to plant 🌱 😊. We’re still 30s day & 20s night with a little snow, rain & wind 🌬. Warms my ❤ to see the kids running barefoot… good & healthy for them 😃 Meg, you look refreshed today & was that some blush you’re wearing? Glad you’re feeling better & everyone else. Well, I guess Ben is the caboose of that train wreck🦠 lol. Take care 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@belieftransformation]

Thanks for sharing your progress; lots accomplished when everyone helps! Little Buggy keeps those boys running😍 Blessings of good health & successful growing🤗💜🇨🇦

[@glendarousseau5736]

Canada here my husband planted a row of sprouts from our potatoes one year and every sprout produced potatoes. (It was just the sprout no leaves).

[@sminer8257]

Suggestion. There's a new "old" grow technique of using copper wire wrapped around a stick. Wood and copper end are stuck in dirt. You wrap the copper wire in a clockwise direction, pleasing to your eye. Stick in your citrus pot. It will revive the dead plant. There's a YT channel, Cultivate Elevate that explains this system. Yuh ou ground the plants and they use free energy in the air.. might want to try

[@susanmassey9635]

Your dinner looks great.I can’t believe all the things you make for your family. Canning& freezing. Your awesome.❤❤

[@sarad2083]

I'm starting my slips myself.. putting half the base of potatoe in a glass of water. You let the eyes grow up to 3 inches in length, pluck the eye, stick the start in a glass of water. And continue the process. One potatoe should yield several dozen starts. First year but so far the potatoes starts are growing very well. Wish I could post a pic!

[@kenithh63]

Treat them just like sweet potato slips. I know that your soil is clay but the addition of the compost tea will keep the transplant shock to a minimum

[@jillfernandez2482]

Please take all the time you need we are here watching you and the BOYZ 2 men and Buggy 🦋🌺🦋

[@lydiamitchell6814]

You need at least 3 eyes per cut of potato to plant… not just 1 eye. And of course a few days to let it skin over. Always works for me. Taught by my parents and grandparents. 😀

[@susanbell2771]

Rest and get well

[@detwingz12]

Feel better Hollar homestead

[@paulwilliams200]

I have always planted seed potatoes at the BOTTOM of a furrow. As shoots emerge, I slowly mound them up from the higher soil. Eventually the shoots emerge from the higher mounds of soil, covering up the new potatoes so that they are not exposed to sunlight - avoiding them turning green.