self sufficiency

Homemade Cultured Sour Cream (that actually works!)

Posted on October 10, 2023October 10, 2023 by Dorie

Yes, I know. I can buy sour cream at the grocery store. But where’s the fun in that?

Scented Geranium & Apple Jelly (No Added Pectin)

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Dorie

I’m a huge fan of being able to combine form and function in my garden (and life overall). If something can be both attractive and useful, that’s a huge win to me!

Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

Posted on January 24, 2023January 24, 2023 by Dorie

If you had told me when I was a kid that I would be growing eggplant in my garden by my own free will, I likely would have walked away from you in utter disgust. Clearly, you wouldn’t have known me well.

Jam & Jelly Making Basics

Posted on May 13, 2022May 14, 2022 by Dorie

As I have added more recipes for making jams and jellies, I began to realize I was repeating myself. A lot. I already do that as a teacher all day long. It’s not fun.

Vegetable Scrap Broth

Posted on April 16, 2022April 29, 2022 by Dorie

I have to admit, I’m both saddened and embarassed at the amount of vegetable scraps that I have let go to waste in my lifetime. They deserved so much more respect than I gave them. Yes, scraps.

Homestead Sweet Homestead (Well… Sort of)

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Dorie

I have avoided doing any posts dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and all the other turmoil happening these days (or as we like to say in California speak “all this s&%t going on”). This story will be no different… kind of.

Petimezi (Greek Grape Molasses)

Posted on November 16, 2020August 17, 2022 by Dorie

I have finally accepted the fact that I will never be able to grow sugar maple trees to make my own maple syrup because of the climate here. But I live in grape growing country. So there.

Rendered Fat (Tallow, Lard, and Schmaltz)

Posted on January 23, 2020May 24, 2022 by Dorie

No, I don’t live on some isolated homestead. Yes, I could easily go to the store and buy some lard. No, I don’t want to because making your own is easy enough to do, and why not save money and reduce waste in the process?