The Weekly Digs #38
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We have been feeling the need for a big change with family’s path for some time now. As I’ve mentioned before, we are hunting for another homestead with more land. We have been praying for guidance because we are all over the place with our ideas for what we need.
However, over the last few months we’ve become more and more certain of one thing- We definitely need to move to the country and we need to simplify our lives! This year has been the breaking point for Cameron and I.
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I’m not the kind of person that enjoys being a “soccer Mom” (if that’s you, more power to ya!) and taking my kids everywhere all day long. And yet that is what my life has become! Two of my boys played soccer this year. We’ve been doing three days a week of soccer (8 hours total!), in addition one day of church activities, twice a week archery practice, once a week running club, and swimming lessons. The kicker is that every activity happens after the kids get home from a 7 hour day at school. Even though they are all good things, putting too many of them together at once has drained us all.
We’ve had too many nights of grouchy kids (and I’ll admit it, a grouchy Becky too!) and we are tired. Ok, it’s mostly me who is tired. And I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m complaining. I’ve definitely been struggling with it, but It’s been a good learning lesson and reaffirmed our decision to move to the country and slow the pace of life down a bit.
We are big fans of Joel Salatin and I’ve read a few of his books. A month ago, I bought another book by Joel, “Family Friendly Farming” on a whim. Well, I don’t think it was by chance that we ended up reading that book right as we found ourselves completely overwhelmed with life right now.
Never in a million years did I think I would ever homeschool my kids but after reading that book, I am seriously considering it. The kids go to a great school district now but I see the potential benefits of the hands on learning and condensing school to just a few hours a day. Plus, if I homeschool the kids it opens up many more areas we could potentially find a home and land- and for much cheaper. I probably wouldn’t do homeschool unless we moved out of our current school district, which at this point is very likely. But yeah, I’m still in the research phase of deciding whether or not to homeschool the kids. Time will tell!
And by the way, I don’t suggest reading Family Friendly Farming unless you’re ready to uproot your family, start homeschooling, and start a farm. Joel will totally convince you the family farm is the best thing ever. Cameron has been reading the book out loud to me while I’ve done some late night canning. Cam is on board just as much as I am. We may or may not do the farm for income but we do have so many goals and dreams for being more self sufficient.
The kids have already made lists of what farm animals they will have and how many. Even Noelle who can’t write yet sat down and drew a bunny on her farm list! The kids are so excited they are more than willing to help finish up some of the house projects we need to accomplish before we move. The goal is to have our home ready by mid summer. It will take every free hour we have to get this house sellable but our farm goal is worth it.
So we still have a few months to continue to wait and watch for the right property. I’m trying really hard to trust that the right place will come at the right time.
In the garden:
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Harvesting arugula, kale, lettuce, chinese pink radishes, mizuna, sorrel, mint, sage, lemon balm, and green beans.
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The hairy vetch cover crop is sprouting now and starting to cover garden beds.
In the kitchen:
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Canned 12 quarts applesauce.
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3 pints and one half pint Salsa verde. I used green tomatoes from the harvest. This recipe is in the Ball Book of Home Preserving.
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Made a gallon worth of apple chips