Pinebrook Homestead

Wednesday update...
Our weather here, central Ohio, has been less than favorable. Trays of flowers and veg litter my deck anxiously awaiting their new home. We experienced a week of wet and nothing above 60 to three days in the high 80's, only to plummet back down to the 60's and rain. Warm weather crops (tomatoes, cukes, and zucchini) all busting at the seams waiting to spread their roots.

Every year for my birthday (April) and Mother's Day, my adult sons' and their wives treat me to gift cards from local greenhouses. I store them away for the miraculous day where I can walk through the greenhouses with eager eyes and plan another growing year, but this year has been different. Don't get me wrong, I spent my gifts on beautiful flowers with a red and yellow theme this year, but the urge to fill my deck with flowers wasn't so important. There is a little voice inside my head, call it a woman's intuition if you will, whispering grow more food! I must say, when your intuition speaks louder than your urge for beauty and peace...you listen.

My overwhelming feeling that growing more food is louder than ever this year. Saving money and doing it myself is my new best friend. If only the weather will cooperate...
I pray all of you who are planting a garden have favorable weather conditions and are able to listen to the small voice inside that whispers....Grow More Food.

Can't wait to see you Monday where I'm doing an extreme grocery store haul with more meatless dinners since all I can harvest from the garden right now is lettuce and garlic scapes.

Happy Gardening!
Marie

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 37

Pinebrook Homestead

Thursday night thoughts....

"There can be no other occupation like gardening in which, if you were to creep up behind someone at their work, you would find them smiling." – Mirabel Osler

All the cold weather crops are in, late by my book, but weather permitting.
I got home late from my grandkids. My son works for a roofing supply company and they're back logged with deliveries since the spring storms went through. I came in dropping my things in my wake, said hello to my loved ones and fur babies, and ran out the garden before dark. At this time of the year, I take two garden walks. One in the morning and one in the evening if I've not been home all day. I peek to see if the potatoes have broken the soil. They have. Praise God. I swear the peas grew inches today. All of the brassicas made it through their first night and day. The lettuces are growing. My heart is full and grateful.
My most favorite place in the world is in the garden. I plant. Tend to. Water, and yes I talk to my plants. I encourage them. Break out in laughter when the seedlings emerge and stand in awe of the beauty of the irises.

In the midst of so much uncertainty, the garden welcomes me with her beauty. She depends on me as much as my body and soul depends on her. She has sopped up my sweat and tears. She is a true friend.
Love and prayers to you and your gardens!
~Marie

1 month ago | [YT] | 27

Pinebrook Homestead

Today's video is out. Gas or Food! What is most important? We need food to survive,...yes, but what if our needs weigh heavier than what you automatically think.

At first glance, we would say food is most important. Yes, but what if you need money to buy the food. So you need gas to run the vehicles to get to work. I'll ask again what is more important? We have been put into a vicious cycle of need versus need. Everything we depend on is transported by a diesel truck, multiple times if we use the loaf of bread as an example. The farmer that harvested the wheat needs diesel. From the farm to the mill is another diesel truck. From the miller to the bakery, yet another diesel truck. But don't forget the milk and eggs to the bakery is another refrigerator diesel truck. Then from the distribution center to your grocery store...another diesel surcharge. How quickly we will be outpriced a loaf of bread?
So I ask again, what is more important?

Here is my plea.... grow food. My second plea...define what you absolutely need to have and stop buying the rest. If enough people stop buying what the manufacturers claim to be hot commodities, they will have to lower the prices. Remember, your dollar is a vote! Every dollar you spend on a product encourages the price hikes. If we no longer buy these items, the price will eventually come down.

My dear friends, vote with your dollar!
Have a blessed week,
Marie

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 20

Pinebrook Homestead

Happy Friday to you all. We are having some unseasonably cooler and damp weather this weekend. Everything in the garden can handle the cooler temps, but I do have my eyes on the frost and row covers ready. My biggest concern is the potatoes planted in the raised beds in the lower garden. They are not up yet, and I pray they don't rot in the ground. As for the spinach and brassicas, they are outside but I might hold off on planting them. We shall see and watch the forecast.

I pray for everyone's gardens this year. I had a comment on my video from a lady in Texas that lost her tomatoes and peppers due to a hail storm. She is unsure if she has enough time to plant and harvest before they get into the heat of the summer. This is not the year for crop failures with the rising gas and food prices.
If you are a believer, pray over your garden and those who plant beside you. If we can have bumper crops it allows us to bless others and maybe lessen the hardships that many are facing.

We are back in the kitchen on Monday talking about stretching every morsel we have. I have a couple economical recipes to share.

As always, I wish you a happy and blessed weekend!
Marie

1 month ago | [YT] | 25

Pinebrook Homestead

I hope you all are having a glorious Sunday. This week's video will be live on Wednesday, instead of Monday. We have had a busy and productive week as well as moving our son home from college for the summer. I can't wait to see you all on Wednesday! Have a blessed week!

1 month ago | [YT] | 15

Pinebrook Homestead

Happy Thursday morning!

Quote of the week: "If you've never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, grow a garden!" ~Robert Breault

Does anyone have any big projects or plans for the upcoming weekend?
I have to get the rest of my potatoes planted and bring out some plants to harden off. Can't wait to hear what you're doing!
Have a blessed week
Marie

2 months ago | [YT] | 22

Pinebrook Homestead

Welcome to the Community at Pinebrook Homestead! This is a free resource for you to share your knowledge, challenges and questions.
A place to connect and chat with like-minded people. I'm excited to add this resource for you, and to be able to connect on a more community level. So my question for you...
"Where are you in your prepared - homestead- preserving- gardening journey?"
Looking forward to the support you can find here!
Have a blessed week!

2 months ago | [YT] | 26