The COVID-19 virus has made it difficult for grocery stores to keep shelves stocked. I visited the grocery for the first time in a month and was surprised to see so many shelves empty. Toilet paper, of course, was no where to be found. But, other things like flour, eggs, butter, and many fresh vegetables… Continue reading Potager Gardening in a Crisis
Author: Simplestead
I'm an “Epicurean homesteader” and writer focused on simple, sustainable living. I am the author of the book Grow Your Own Spices. I garden on about 1.5 acres and grow a large variety of annual and perennial edible, medicinal, and ecosystem support plants. I also keep ducks, dairy goats, chickens, a pet turkey, worms, and (occasionally) pigs. I teach classes in my community related to edible landscaping and organic gardening. When not growing food, cooking, or composting, I'm likely rocking on the garden swing with my partner Matt Miles, surrounded by our two dogs and four cats.
Choosing the Right Plants for Your Garden
Choosing the plants that will grow well in your climate, weather, soil type, and garden is quite complicated. That's why a big part of becoming a good gardener is learning how to read your landscape, understand your conditions, and carefully select plants that are most likely to thrive where you live. If you want to… Continue reading Choosing the Right Plants for Your Garden
Urban, Suburban, and Rural Homesteading
Did you know that you can homestead anywhere? Homesteading is a basic set of life skills that can be practiced wherever you live right now. So don't let a lack of land limit your dreams. Make up for a shortage of acreage with creativity and access to awesome resources! Here's an article I wrote for… Continue reading Urban, Suburban, and Rural Homesteading
Brooding Ducklings
If you want to learn how raise your own ducklings more like a mama duck would, then take a look at this post on Morning Chores for more details. https://morningchores.com/raising-ducklings-in-a-brooder/ Also, if you plan to hatch your own duck eggs, then you may want to take a look at this post. https://morningchores.com/incubating-duck-eggs/ And, use this… Continue reading Brooding Ducklings
What to Grow in Your Potager (including a list of 30 categories of plants to consider)
It can be difficult to think beyond the grocery store, or the farmers market, when deciding what kind of food to grow on your homestead. Every recipe we know, every cookbook we have, tend to rely only on the readily available ingredients most of us can access. Yet, the most thrilling part about having your… Continue reading What to Grow in Your Potager (including a list of 30 categories of plants to consider)
Incubating Duck Eggs
Learn how broody ducks incubate their eggs and use that knowledge to hatch your own eggs at home.
Vegetable Garden Planting Calendar
If you are new to gardening and looking for a quick and easy tool to help you decide what to plant when, check out this new planting calendar. The programming team at Morning Chores developed it. Then, I helped refine some planting dates and adapt it to work for many different climates. This is a… Continue reading Vegetable Garden Planting Calendar
How to Plan An All-Purpose Herb Garden
If you are looking for inspiration on starting an all-purpose herb garden for cooking, teas, medicine, livestock, and more -- take a look at my post over at the amazing Morning Chores homesteading reference website. https://morningchores.com/herb-garden-planning/ While you are there, check out a few more herb-related posts to give you plenty of inspiration to create… Continue reading How to Plan An All-Purpose Herb Garden
How to Choose the Right Duck Breeds
If you are looking for inspiration to help you choose the right duck breeds for your homestead, take a look at my post on Morning Chores. https://morningchores.com/best-duck-breeds/ While you are there, take a few minutes to browse all the other informative homestead posts and inspiration on that amazing reference site. There are all sorts of… Continue reading How to Choose the Right Duck Breeds
The Little Yellow Duck House and Mirabelle Plums
Looking for duck housing and run inspiration? Check out my converted chicken coop with a run inspired by a chunnel (chicken tunnel).
Meyer Lemon Love
If you are looking for a plant to make you happy mid-winter, let me tell you about these glorious golden globes pictured above. These luscious lovelies make the whole month of January feel like it's lit with radiant summer sunshine. On cloudy days, or when I just need a winter pick me up, I head… Continue reading Meyer Lemon Love
Cilantro and Coriander
Coriander and Cilantro are the same plant at different stages. Learn how to grow and use both.
Start Raising Chickens Simply
Start your first chicken flock with less stress and more fun!
The Power of a Well-Planned Potager
Do you want your garden to produce food even with 4 weeks of neglect in extreme heat and dry weather? Then plant a well-planned potager garden.
Annatto, Achiote, or the Lipstick Tree
Learn more about the annatto, achiote, or lipstick tree. Its seeds are used to color food naturally and spice up many food dishes from its native growing areas. It is also a lovely ornamental that can even be grown in pots.
