Holland and the 2nd Plantings

  Some of our veggies are going to Holland today! Some of us are visiting my in-laws tonight in Holland. We are taking 2 coolers of veg! We are taking kale, lettuce, squash and beets. We are in between plantings right now, so we have a little less to chose from.
  Our beans have been planted for a 2nd harvest, and Wednesday our peas will be going in for a 2nd planting.We also have planted a 2nd bed of  kale. Can't beat fresh veg!
 
 

A Big Day for one of our Ladies

  An exciting day for us yesterday! We heard ALL kinds of squawking in the "little chicken" coop.(thats what we call are our youngest birds). We got our first egg from one of our ladies! You would have thought she laid a football, for all the noise she made! Congrats lil' lady! Good job! A little less noise next time, please!

7- 21-15

Today we have:
beans
peas
lettuce
greens
kale
pet treats
plants
banana muffins
and more!

7-20-15

At the stand today we have:
peas
beans
lettuce
kale
canned tomatoes
pet treats
summer squash

 Tomatoes, peppers and corn will be here soon!!!!!

Pig Sh*t

 This weekend we had a few huge storms. It left our pasture in a lot of water! We needed to move our pig shelter out of the water. It was over a foot deep in their home. So we moved it. It weighs 800 lb. It was hard, but we did it! We were COVERED in SH*t! But we did it! Showers for everyone!

Saving Money on Groceries

We have been a one income family for most of our married life. We had 4 kids before our 7th Anniversary! And they are pigs! We are a HUGE foodie family, and it is really hard to stretch a one income budget to feed all these mouths! Especially now that we have 2 teens, and 2 pre-teens! And 3 out of the 4 are boys! These are my tips...
1. Pay attention to the price per ounce at the store
2. Make your own stock
3. I cook most everything from scratch
4. Base all meals on the sales that week
5. Have a garden
6. Buy local meat (we raise our own)
7. Bake your own bread and buns
8. Freeze leftovers for lunches
9. I make most of our cleaning products
10. Rice, dried beans, and pasta can stretch a meal
11. Buy almost nothing processed
12. Can and freeze all your veg that you get from your garden.
13. Make your own jam
14.No soda

This is what I do. Its a lot of work. But I know what is going into my families bodies.

Canning Beans and Frezzing Peas

Anna and I worked all day Monday, and we canned 21 quarts of green beans and froze a little over 20 quarts of sugar snap peas! We were so tired by the time we were done! This is the only pic Anna let me take! She just kept saying "Oh Momma!".

My Grocery Buddy, Chewy!

Enough pics Mom!

                                                   Thanks for the help Chewy! Love you!

Freezing Sugar Snap Peas

We are getting lots of Sugar Snap Peas! They are so good! I freeze all my peas, and this is how I do it:

Freezing Sugar Snap Peas

Wash peas, blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes, drain and cool. Pack into freezer bags, or vacuum seal. My Husband spoiled me last Christmas, He got me a vacuum sealer!!! I am such a food nerd! It was the best gift ever!!!!!!

BBQ Sauce

This is my BBQ sauce recipe. It is easy, and really good.  Its got a little heat, and a hint of sweet.

BBQ Sauce

1- 6 oz can tomato paste
3 C. water
1 T. onion salt
1t. garlic powder
2 T. soy sauce
1/4 c. hot sauce
1 C. molasses

Simmer on a low heat for 2 hours. Keeps for 4 day days in the fridge. You can also freeze it.

7-5-15

Today at the stand we have:

Sugar Snap Peas
Green Beans
Kale
Turnip Greens
Lettuce
Spinach

Enjoy the pretty day we are having!

Hops

                 This is our 2 hop plants, that Jeremy uses in making beer. They are only 2 years old!I

My Girl

Check out Anna's blog!http://farmersonlydaughter.blogspot.com/
So proud of you lady! You are a so amazing! She is kind, sweet, tough, smart, a great photographer, a country girl, and just amazing! Love you Anna Rose!

Farm and the Fourth

Today at our farm stand we have:

Lettuce
Kale
Turnip Greens
Sugar Snap Peas
Green Beans
Dog Treats
Spinach
Flowers

Happy 4th everyone!!!!!

Boat

 

This is our UGLY boat. We bought it for $100.  We put a little into it, to get it running, but it runs and floats (yay!). Jeremy and Sam took it out for the first time last night. We are still debating on the name of the boat.  The boys think "Green Lantern", I like "3 Hour Tour", and "Kermit". The reason for all the crazy names is that EVERYTHING is green inside!!! EVERYTHING!! We hope to spruce it up this winter, when we have more time. But we are just letting the ugly boat go this summer!

We had a boat before this one. A BAD experience! When we lived in Grand Haven, on Easter Sunday, we brought it to the Grand River for the first time. We stalled out in the middle of the river, couldn't get it started, and had to paddle upstream to get home. It took forever and was so hard! Some of us cursed, cried, were so tired after 2 hours of paddling and almost peed their pants! You are probably thinking that it might have been one of the kids... Nope it was me (Jess). ( sorry Jeremy) So I am  thrilled that this one runs good, and we put it in the lake, NOT A RIVER!!!!!! Cuz trust me, 6 people in a boat paddling upstream for 2 hours is NOT fun!!!!!!

The 4th!

Happy 4th of July! Thank you to all who have served our great Country, and allow us to celebrate our Independence Day! Happy Birthday America!