I learned how to make herb infused oil a number of years ago and it is a skill I don't know how I lived without! Years ago I thought making herb infused oil would be too difficult, but then I tried it and was amazed at how easy it is. Every herb or flower I grow or come across in the mountains, I read more about to see if it has any medicinal properties that could be … [Read more...]
DIY Post Driver for Metal Fence Posts
This homemade metal fence post driver makes putting in metal fence posts quick, easy and cheap! The first spring on our homestead when we were fencing off our new 7,000 square foot garden, we had a slew of metal fence posts (also called t-posts) that needed to be pounded in. We didn't want to fork out the $30+ to buy one and didn't want to spend the money to rent one. We … [Read more...]
Pine Cone Bird Feeder
It is the middle of winter here in Montana and it is cold, cold, cold! We've had some days where it is so cold we don't see any birds flying about the homestead other than the big raptors like red tail hawks who perch atop the power poles hunting the farm fields around us. We used to have a bird feeder hanging in the tree outside our front window so we could bird watch all … [Read more...]
Homemade Butter 4 Ways
If our family didn't love and use butter, I might have given up after my first three failed attempts at making homemade butter. It had been about a month since my last failed butter making attempt so I decided to give it one more try. I remember from making butter as a kid that it should be easy but every time I tried it, I failed. Then last week we had success. Sweet, … [Read more...]
Chamomile Flowers and How to Use Them
Today I'm thrilled to welcome a fellow Montana blogger and guest poster, Kathie at Homespun Seasonal Living. Kathie also teaches a Fiercely D.I.Y. e-course which you can read more about at the bottom of this post. Chamomile, either wild or domesticated, has some amazing healing and skin softening properties making it excellent not only for its calming effect when … [Read more...]
DIY Self Watering Milk Jug
One of the biggest challenges I face with early season gardening in our greenhouse is remembering to water the plants. There's still snow on the ground so my brain hasn't fully shifted into garden season mode so I often find myself forgetful about watering. There's nothing more frustrating than getting your hands into the dirt early in the season, only to have your efforts … [Read more...]