Garden Fuss

We're gearing up for this year's Chicken Keeping In the City Classes and we hope you'll join us online for a personable presentation that meets the backyard fowl permit requirements for the City of Minneapolis. Pre-register for our Saturday classes starting January 22nd through May 28th. The cost is just $25 per household so the kiddos can join too! Visit our booking page for more information. *Please note that the fee for this class is non-refundable. We can accommodate up to 10 participants per session and there are 2 sessions per available Saturday. If you know you'll miss your class date ahead of time, please send us a message a minimum of 12 hours before class begins to inquire about rescheduling. We'll do our best to make alternate arrangements to accommodate you. 

PEEP · PEEP · PEEP · MY PEEPS!!! Have you been wondering how so many people are being approved for backyard chickens? Come to one of my classes and find out! In just under two hours, you’ll have all the information you never you’re you needed to keep chickens in the city of Minneapolis. I’m talking weatherization , Coop requirements , caring for sick birds , what breeds might work best for your situation , what you are and aren't allowed to do within the city limits , *how to become and stay best buddies with your neighbors , and so much more. Click here to snag a Saturday that works best for you , or use the calendar I embedded for you below. Oh, and please don’t forget to tell your friends! P.S. I am an approved fowl educator for the City of Minneapolis, MN . *I can't really promise you'll be best buds with your neighbors, but nothing fails but a try, right? Good Luck, I can't wait to see you in class! 😏

We've enjoyed a very warm and almost over-warm autumn so far which has afforded us an opportunity to be very lax in completing end of the year tasks such as putting the garden to bed and yard clean up. Another necessary *task* or chore has been to winterize our chicken coop.  There's been nothing like seeing the neighbors shake their heads at us while we're out hollering at each other to hold down the plastic tarp and grab the proper sized bits and screws to make you think twice about whether or not we've lost our ever loving minds with this venture.  Of course we pick the windiest days and the oddest hours.... They ask us " What are you doing now, we thought your were done building the coop ". Our answer is " Yes, we're done building the coop, but we need to make sure their house is buttoned up and prepared for the winter just like ours ." This assuredly garners much side eye and breathy OK's from the neighbors perspectives and ours too. ...

Here is my crappy apple pic. Why? Well it's the last apple on our tiny tree that made it this long protected by a plastic baggy and an exasperated but vigilant urban grower. Its sole partner for the last month and a half got bitten and dropped carelessly to the ground yesterday. (Yep, the only two fruit out of twenty) Today this beauty of a Honey Crisp was on the ground. Only it wasn't as abused but still marred and obviously molested . Note that the dastardly squirrels have never shown any regard or respect for us or our produce. Tiny punctures and miniscule bite marks have been their hallmark this entire growing season. We have little to no eggplant, horribly chewed tomatoes, and mysteriously missing hot peppers. Honestly, the shock and rage I felt after no less than 9 of 10 mammoth sunflower plants were scaled and beheaded has yet to abate. I've indulged in foodie fantasies involving a family gathering southern style with platters full of freshly roasted squirrels over...

As  cliché  as it may sound, I have been very busy.... I know I know, if someone is committed to something as inspiring as a blog on living a wholesome homesteading life and providing practical and tried and true DIY tips they should be better at time management. Well,  apparently  I am not that person of late. Why? Well, life really does take over sometimes, and then there were these four new little lives that have taken up residence in, and then directly outside of our home. In other words, Hurray for us, We Have Chickens!!!!!!! Soon to be laying hens to be specific.  Well, this journey into raising our own layers has been a true labor of love, a testament to friendship, and the realization of a very long six-year dream. It all started this spring, April to be exact; after the new Urban Ag laws for Minneapolis were amended and put into affect. A crew of three which included me, my daughter, and her close friend (he’s a carpenter) vigilantly researched...

Fresh baked sourdough can't be beat. I mean it can be kneaded, punched, and folded but never beaten in the flavor department. Several months ago I binge watched Julia Child's Master Chef series and low and behold there was a chef there demonstrating beautiful handmade traditional artisan breads. Specifically sourdough, from the creation of sourdough starter, to baking a beautiful loaf. Those closest to me know that I've had many a bubbly, yeasty, brewing jar of fermented yum yums around my home. However, after actually making the starter for my own sourdough creations; I could not find the time nor will power to "get my bake on". [life took over] Thank God ferments are living beings that need a break from time to time and don't mind being tucked away in the back of a very cold fridge. Which, is exactly what happened to a very large jar of starter I'd previously made months ago. I'm talking at least four months....  To be quite honest I'd forgo...