Meet the Farm Cats of A Hippie Farmer
Beyond the garden beds and chicken coops, a homestead’s heart can often be found in its animals—and for us, that includes our cats. Whether they are hardworking mousers or professional sunbathers, cats bring a special kind of life and character to the farm. They are our companions during quiet moments and a constant source of amusement and affection. Here, we wanted to introduce you to some of the cats that have called our farm home. […]
A Tour of Our May Garden in the Pacific Northwest
There’s a popular saying that “April showers bring May flowers,” and here in the Pacific Northwest, that couldn’t be more true. After a long, damp spring, the garden suddenly explodes with color in May, making all the patience and hard work worth it. This year, the main event on our homestead is the triumphant first bloom of our bearded irises. I ordered them last year, and they arrived so late in the fall that I […]
Cranberry Pecan Brie in Puff Pastry
The Ultimate Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie Every holiday season needs that one perfect appetizer. The one that’s impressive yet secretly simple, decadent, and a total crowd-pleaser. For us, this Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie is it. This recipe came about right after I made a batch of homemade Cranberry Jam. My husband loves Brie, and wrapping it in flaky puff pastry with that tart jam and crunchy pecans felt like the perfect festive treat. It immediately […]
Easy Homemade Cranberry Jam (The Perfect Holiday Spread)
Every year, as the holidays approach, I find myself reaching for the classic flavors of the season. This Easy Homemade Cranberry Jam started as a simple component for a baked brie recipe, but it was so delicious we knew it deserved its own spotlight. Unlike overly sweet, canned jellies, this jam is packed with a bright, tart flavor, sweetened with maple syrup, and warmed with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. It has a wonderful […]
Why is My Aloe Plant Growing a Flower? (A Rare Blooming Event)
We have had this aloe vera plant for years, moving it from house to house, and it has always been a reliable, steady friend. But it never flowered. Until this year. All of a sudden, we noticed a tall, strange stalk emerging from the center of the plant. It’s a rare and exciting event: our aloe is blooming for the first time ever! If you’ve stumbled upon this post because you’re seeing the same thing, […]
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Every summer, our Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) explodes into a beautiful display of purple flowers, and just as its name promises, it becomes a magnet for butterflies. It’s an incredible sight to see them fluttering around, and it’s easy to understand why this plant is so popular. The pollinators certainly love it. However, as we’ve learned more about gardening responsibly here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve come to understand the complicated nature of this beautiful […]
Why Do My Plant Leaves Have Water Droplets? Guttation vs. Dew
Have you ever walked through your garden on a cool morning and seen perfect, tiny beads of water hanging from the edges of a leaf, even when it hasn’t rained? For years, I assumed this was just dew or maybe the plant “sweating.” It turns out, it’s a fascinating process called guttation, and it’s a sign of a very healthy, happy plant. While it looks like dew, it’s completely different. Dew forms from condensation on […]
Finding Beauty in the Quiet Season: A PNW Fall
As a gardener, it’s easy to feel a little sad as fall arrives in the Pacific Northwest. The flurry of summer harvesting is over, the tomato vines are bare, and the garden begins to look tired. But I’ve learned to see this season not as an ending, but as a necessary and beautiful transition. This is the time to put the garden to bed for a well-deserved rest. It’s also a time for us to […]
How to Make Fermented Salsa (A Probiotic-Rich Recipe)
If you’ve ever had a mountain of ripe tomatoes from the garden, you know that fresh salsa is a must. But have you ever tried fermenting it? Fermented salsa is a game-changer in our house. It develops a complex, tangy flavor that’s incredibly delicious, and the fermentation process makes it a naturally probiotic-rich food. Best of all, you can completely customize it based on what’s abundant in your garden and how much heat you like. […]
What “Bubbling” Means in Fermentation (A Simple Pickle Recipe)
As the Pacific Northwest gardening season winds down, our focus shifts from the garden beds to the kitchen counter. The harvest is in, and now the quiet, magical work of preservation begins. One of our favorite methods is lacto-fermentation, and there’s no better visual for this living process than a jar of pickles, happily bubbling away. Many people who are new to fermenting get nervous when they see this activity. Is it safe? Is it […]