Mini- Homestead

I remembered how to sew a seam and that was about ...

2011-05-13T20:42:46.641-04:00

I remembered how to sew a seam and that was about it! I'm using books and websites for the rest. I use two together - "How to Use, Adapt and Design Sewing Patterns" by L. Hollahan and "The Perfect Fit." "Fit" has you make a paper guide so you can see where you're off the 'standard' measurements and how to fix your clothes; the other one helps you design clothes and has a chapter on basic sewing techniques - it's worth the cost just for that.

My mother was just saying yesterday, "With ev...

2011-05-04T20:40:09.591-04:00

My mother was just saying yesterday, "With everything you've been doing and learning, why aren't you learning to sew?" I have nightmares from Home Ec days - I was absolutely awful and I don't remember learning a thing.

So I envy you. I want to learn how to sew.

❤ ✿ ❤

2011-04-28T17:10:17.477-04:00

❤ ✿ ❤

I've developed a process that is work schedule...

2011-04-05T09:19:03.981-04:00

I've developed a process that is work schedule friendly- I just put the beans in to soak before I go to work in the morning, and boil them when I get home. It usually takes about an hour and I can do other stuff while they boil, and then make dinner when they're about done. Easy! A lot of people who refuse to use dried beans say they don't have time, but who doesn't have time for that?

I am slowly converting the neighbours in my apartm...

2011-04-05T00:47:20.349-04:00

I am slowly converting the neighbours in my apartment building to dry beans. I make sure to have extra stock in my freezer, and each time anyone mentions that they are making a recipe with beans, I suggest that they try mine instead of their usual can. So far, three have converted (especially since I continue to supply cooked and bagged beans to them - they buy the beans, I cook them).

Excellent inspiration, thank you!

2011-04-02T17:58:53.654-04:00

Excellent inspiration, thank you!

That dehydrated veggie soup sounds like a fantasti...

2011-04-02T14:48:01.338-04:00

That dehydrated veggie soup sounds like a fantastic idea! I'm not quite ready to invest in the technology required to dry my own goods, but this is definite incentive to save more loose change.

There's still snow on the ground here, but I&#...

2011-04-02T01:43:10.473-04:00

There's still snow on the ground here, but I'm planning to do the balcony rearrangement tomorrow nonetheless. You just inspired me to start a sweet potato plant! Now on to decide what else I want.

This is fascinating! I have a constant battle when...

2011-04-02T01:41:56.178-04:00

This is fascinating! I have a constant battle when it comes to feeding myself, and will definitely be back for more advice.

Awesome- thank you for the link. I still have to f...

2011-03-28T08:21:40.768-04:00

Awesome- thank you for the link. I still have to figure out a good way to freeze left overs- but I've got a lot of good information to go on now. Thank you!

The only freezer we have is the one above the refr...

2011-03-24T08:56:57.478-04:00

The only freezer we have is the one above the refrigerator, and it burns most things after 3 months. If yours is burning things in under 2 weeks, I'd get a maintenance check or at least check the seal on the door and the internal temperature.

This link on wrapping to prevent freezer burn might help - the one thing that hasn't been damaged (in 3 years) is butcher-wrapped elk meat! The link shows you how to do it.

link:
http://www.meatbasics101.com/freezing_meat_01.htm
(copy & paste into the url bar, I can't get it to link)

Thank you very much for this post! Our weekly meal...

2011-03-23T20:49:49.008-04:00

Thank you very much for this post! Our weekly meal planning schedule just hasn't been working for us, and I think I might give this a try. One more question- what kind of freezer do you have? Our freezer is the left vertical half of our fridge unit- and it freezer burns things in under 2 weeks- I have such trouble freezing left overs as a result. :( They are usually horrible tasting by the time we get back to them.
Thanks once again!

There will be a post up very shortly. I tried to a...

2011-03-22T22:04:19.386-04:00

There will be a post up very shortly. I tried to answer your questions in it; if I didn't, please let me know!

Do you have a post where you explain more on the m...

2011-03-20T18:05:08.245-04:00

Do you have a post where you explain more on the monthly meal planning? I've been having issues with my each day of the week one- hard to stick with it, and we never eat the amount I think we are on any one given night either... I cook and think we'll eat it all in that night + one leftover meal, then it hangs around for days! I like the sound of this and I'd love more info. :)

I did go look at the silver platter. It's too ...

2011-02-16T12:26:55.336-05:00

I did go look at the silver platter. It's too heavy to hang on the wall where we need it. So instead I'll have to find something else; really not sure what yet. Nothing framed, since there is a painting above it. I'm wondering if those 12" mirror squares would look ok or not, now.

I used to keep a mirror behind my oil lamps to ref...

2011-02-09T08:26:17.564-05:00

I used to keep a mirror behind my oil lamps to reflect the light but I think the silver platter is an excellent idea, too! It reminds me that I really need to rehang that mirror and the little shelf so that I can have that ambience and effective lighting back!

Hi Karin! Nice to have you visit =) I didn't r...

2011-01-27T20:13:29.429-05:00

Hi Karin! Nice to have you visit =) I didn't realize you started in an apartment, too.

The short version of what we've learned is on the About page. I enjoy canning; making my own "instafood" is nice, and I like having a full pantry. It's soothing, somehow.

Hi, I am from Ravelry. I did not realize that you ...

2011-01-23T18:30:34.683-05:00

Hi, I am from Ravelry. I did not realize that you homesteaded in an apartment. When I first started on my road to homesteading I started in a small apartment in Portland Maine. There is so much you can do in the city. I had a community garden plot, and a small deck for containers, I knit, joined a csa at the farmer's market, learned to can,joined a barter network. I look forward to reading more about what you are doing.

Karin

Not very cold down here. It rarely goes below 30&#...

2010-12-31T09:24:47.365-05:00

Not very cold down here. It rarely goes below 30'f/-1'c.

This is part of my game, where I see how low I can get our average daily electric usage. And ~everything~ in this apartment is electric.

That is neat about the shutters in the stone house.

How cold do you get, Lorri? I've always found ...

2010-12-31T07:03:59.340-05:00

How cold do you get, Lorri? I've always found that plastic wrapping windows is a great heat-saver. The only negative is that it needs to be reapplied every winter.

I can remember a high school friend who lived in a 1700s stone house - they had heavy wooden shutters that bolted to the windows in the winter. It made the house dark, but it was definitely insulating.

I got that by writing the code for tables. It'...

2010-12-29T22:36:08.482-05:00

I got that by writing the code for tables. It's a one-row three-column table in html code. Can you write the code, or do you need to grab it from somewhere?

Lorri, first - thanks for following my blog. Secon...

2010-12-28T12:03:32.449-05:00

Lorri, first - thanks for following my blog. Second - HOW do you get that wonderful three-column layout for your pantry inventory at the bottom? I'd like to do the same.

BPA free!!! I was real big on this issue when I ha...

2010-11-03T09:56:05.877-04:00

BPA free!!! I was real big on this issue when I had my second baby. Made sure all her bottles and sippy cups were free! After that I slacked off. Thanks for this post because I think you just jumpstarted my thinking for keeping my whole family BPA free!! Have a great homesteading!

Then use the seeds in your favourite bread recipe,...

2009-12-04T06:14:57.089-05:00

Then use the seeds in your favourite bread recipe, stir into oatmeal, grind and mix some into any recipe with the flour. They're very nutritious.

Wow, good big batch! Looks delicious.

2009-11-22T17:27:23.362-05:00

Wow, good big batch! Looks delicious.