Chive blossom vinegar update. This is for anyone who has never seen this gorgeous stuff. This is the color of homemade goodness. The color comes from lavender colored garlic chive flowers, and the color isn't even the best part. It smells better than it looks, and it tastes better than that. Yes I went and stood in my yard so y'all could see this in all of it's colorful glory, you're welcome. You can't buy this vinegar in any store that I know of, you have to make it yourself. Typically that means growing your own chives and harvesting the blossoms, unless you have an inattentive neighbor with a green thumb. I don't recommend liberating things from other people's gardens, gardeners get a little grumpy about that and many of us are armed. I'm just saying I wouldn't risk it, you make your own choices. Happy Saturday my friends, it's a gorgeous warm sunny day in Pennsylvania and I'm enjoying every minute of it. I hope you are too wherever you may be. Stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #homemade #infusedvinegar #chiveblossomvinegar #beautiful #beautyiswhereyoufindit #homecrafts #homemaking #homemakingisanart #keeperoftheoldways #keepingtheoldwaysalive #frugal #frugallife #frugalcooking #gormetonabudget #playwithyourfood #ruralpa #countrylife #countryliving #simplelife #simplepleasures #slowliving #slowfood #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPwDAC2necT/?utm_medium=tumblr

🍄🧚🏼‍♀️The Fae have been very good to me and my cats so I gave them a fresh new dwelling for the new year. I hope they like it!🧚🏼‍♂️🍄 #faerie #fae #spirit #light #energy #fairytail #otherfolk #folkart #folklore #magic #love #nature #naturelovers #happy #peace #goodvibes #blessed #witchesofinstagram #witchythings #art #keepingtheoldwaysalive #fairyhome #thevelvetlotus https://www.instagram.com/p/BsHi-OvAsRe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dhbwfd1a4yov

Here it is, the long awaited tomato powder. I finally finished dehydrating the tomato skins and I spent about an hour this morning grinding them into powder. I started out putting them into a quart jar but that was obviously silly of me. I ended up nearly filling a half gallon jar. Even with cooking nearly every meal at home from scratch it will take me a while to get through this amount. The good news is I won't be buying tomato paste this year and I know exactly what is in my powder. It'll look pretty on my shelf too. I also pulled all the bags of veggie scraps out of the freezer to make veggie stock. I had no idea I had this much, no way is this one batch. This is more like three and that's using my biggest pressure cooker. Looks like I'll be canning that tomorrow, and the next day, and probably the day after that. After I've made stock with them these scraps will go to the chickens. They will love them. Nothing goes to waste here. If the birds don't eat it then it's compost and it will nourish my garden next year which will in turn nourish us. Have a wonderful Wednesday my friends, because you know I am. #poverty_hill #homestead #tomatopowder #wastenotwantnot #nothinggoestowaste #frugalliving #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #slowliving #homemaking #homemade #cookingfromscratch #keepingtheoldwaysalive #canning #stockingtheshelves #stockingupforwinter #projectpantry #chickencomposting #homemade #homemaking #slowfood #realfood #lowwasteliving #reducereuserecycle #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEFZSGgn4Up/?igshid=ou3n6x5o19pv

It was time once again to make soap. I'm running low and since I don't want to run out I had to make up a batch yesterday. It's a very basic lye soap but I did add a very faint rosemary scent in this batch. If you don't add a fragrance sometimes your soap can smell faintly of the fat or oil that you use to make it, which doesn't really bother me but might bother others. So I'm experimenting, I want to see how little I can get away with as far as scent oils go. I will be unmolding and slicing this today and then I'll make another batch so that I won't be running out anytime soon. I might even make enough to share. I have found that learning these skills is much more enjoyable when I can share them with others. Have a beautiful Wednesday my friends. Stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #soap #soaping #homemade #handmade #handcrafted #keepingtheoldwaysalive #expandingmyskillset #practicalknowledge #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #simplepleasures #slowliving #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CU97SEMgDI0/?utm_medium=tumblr

I've had a jar of mango "vinegar" on my dough board for quite a while now waiting for it to smell like something other than overripe fruit. Today was that day, but it doesn't smell like vinegar. It smells like wine. I'm not sure if I've messed it up somehow but I'm going to trust the process and just go with it. I stained out the solids and added some sugar because if it wants to be alcoholic who am I to stand in the way? Then I popped the fermentation lid back on and put the jar in a bowl. Ferments are very much alive and they will escape all over your counter if you're not careful. I don't need to learn that lesson again. Now I'll give it some time and see what happens. These things always leave me feeling a little like a mad scientist. Will I get vinegar or wine? Will I poison myself? Would I notice if I did? Am I wasting my time? Who knows? Not me. Doesn't matter though because I'm enjoying it and that's good enough for me. If it works then I'll add it to my small but growing collection of homemade specialty vinegars. Have a beautiful Sunday and a Happy Father's Day my friends. Stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #cooking #cookingfromscratch #cookingathome #fermentation #homemade #handcrafted #learningnewskills #keepingtheoldwaysalive #useitupdontthrowitout #usewhatyouhave #frugallife #frugalcooking #wastenotwantnot #wastenothing #playwithyourfood #ruralpa #followthedopamine #countryliving #simplelife #simplepleasures #slowliving #slowfood #realfood #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQU8U0kn6Fp/?utm_medium=tumblr

It's always a busy day on the homestead. Today we finally cut open one of these little watermelons we grew and tried it. I wasn't expecting much. It wasn't very red but it was sweet and flavorful and that's the important part. I'm definitely saving seeds to try again next year. This year was weird anyway, everything was late. I don't know if that has anything to do with the size of the watermelon but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Speaking of late. John was doing some garden cleanup and found yet another pumpkin! There's no way I'm canning pumpkin again anytime soon but this guy will be delicious roasted. I also made and canned chicken stock because I seem to go through more if that than anything else. I ended up with fourteen quarts which should last me a few weeks. Maybe. I also baked a couple loaves of white bread just because we really like it. I find my busy days are always my happiest. I hope you all had a good day too. Happy Sunday my friends. Stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #watermelon #surprisepumpkin #bread #baking #bakingfromscratch #homemade #homemaking #homemakingisanart #keepingbusy #keepingtheoldwaysalive #slowfood #readfood #canning #stockingtheshelves #wastenotwantnot #frugalliving #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #slowliving #mykindafun #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHUZclkg4wm/?igshid=b5858xm98w69

Back in the day, before everything was made of paper and meant to be disposable it was common for kitchens to have a towel roller. This consisted of a holder that looked very much like modern paper towel holders but it would hold a continuous roll of cloth toweling. It would have been located near a water source and you would move the roll down a bit to a clean dry spot then dry your hands on it after washing them. Typically there were several rolls of toweling so they could be swapped out and laundered as needed. I've wanted one ever since I discovered they existed. Unfortunately they are not easily found and I'm still looking but I'm resourceful when it matters to me so when I spotted this old wooden paper towel holder on marketplace an idea was born. Said paper towel holder was procured along with some printed flour sack towels. I hand sewed my towels together in a continuous loop while John hung the holder. He was done far sooner than I was. I had three towels to sew and it mattered to me how they would look, but I persevered and then I hung it up. I love it. No it isn't an authentic antique but it serves the same purpose plus this project only cost me $6.50 and a little bit of time. That includes the towels. I wish I could show you a picture of the entire thing but where it hangs I can't get far enough back to get it all in the shot. All in all I'm pretty happy with it, it fits the feel of my home and I still don't have paper towels hanging in my kitchen. Disclaimer: I hung the towel neatly for these pictures but this is intended to be a functional part of my kitchen so it's unlikely it will ever be this tidy again. In fact it will most likely often be damp and wrinkled. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #DIY #homemaking #frugalfind #frugalliving #lowwasteliving #makeityourself #ruralpa #rustickitchen #homekeeping #reducereuserecycle #seweasy #countryliving #simplelife #slowliving #dailylife #keepingtheoldwaysalive #keeperoftheoldways #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFIQVcugBy-/?igshid=135fntrxjtyw

Sometimes you don't realize how many of a thing you have until you stack them all together. I had no idea that I had this many cookbooks until I went looking for all of them to relocate them to the kitchen. This isn't even all of them, I found more after I took the picture. The problem is even after going through them I don't want to get rid of any. Some are useful, some bring back fond memories, and none of them are easily replaceable. I am *not* a minimalist. It's a lovely aesthetic and if it makes you happy then by all means you do you. For me though I'll just have to keep my carefully arranged clutter. Right now though I really NEED to read a couple of these cookbooks again. Happy Tuesday my friends. Stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #cookbooks #cookbookhoarder #ineedthem #imightneedmore #cooking #cookingfromscratch #homecooking #slowfood #realfood #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #slowliving #homemaking #keepingtheoldwaysalive #keeperoftheoldways #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE4uN0NgZ-s/?igshid=1lbl88rupktyb

This is tonight's milk. This is an impressive amount from a Nigerian dwarf goat who's had babies with her all day. I know it doesn't look like much but when you're literally teaching yourself to milk by hand every drop is precious. Because it is hard won. The first time I milked by hand I was seriously questioning the wisdom of getting goats. Milking is a skill. I'm getting better though, faster and it feels less like a job to be done and more like enjoyable time with my goats. The daily chores tend to settle into a comfortable routine. They help give structure and meaning to my days in this time of near universal upheaval and I find myself greatful rather than resentful of them. When current events start stressing me out I can disengage from the doom scrolling and go find some peace in the goat shed. That is a precious gift. Happy Wednesday my friends. Stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #homedairy #dailyroutine #lucythegoat #stayathomegoatmom #lovemygoats #milkmaid #nigeriandwarfgoats #rawgoatmilk #dailychores #countryliving #simplelife #slowliving #frugalliving #keeperoftheoldways #keepingtheoldwaysalive #realfood #slowfood #ruralpa #howweroll #greatful #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEp7KPcgGj6/?igshid=14pkn6dxhblom

I've always loved the way onions and garlic look when braided and hung but I always assumed doing it would be difficult so I guess I didn't try. Shame on me because today I tried it and while there is a bit of a learning curve it was way easier than I had made it seem in my head. Now I'm kicking myself for not doing this sooner and I'm looking forward to braiding the garlic and maybe the shallots as well. I really enjoyed it once I got going. Be warned, it does make a bit of a mess. Nothing unmanageable though, my mess is already cleaned up. I did tie the top of the braids off tightly with twine to prevent unraveling and to have something to hang them with. They aren't going to live there where they are permanently either, only until I have some hooks installed for them. But until then I'm going to be admiring them where they are. There were a few that weren't long enough to braid so I cleaned them up and trimmed them and they're waiting to be used in my potato and onion basket. I think I'm going to be doing my onions like this from now on. It's surprising how something so simple can give such a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Have a beautiful Sunday my friends, stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #foodpreservation #foodsecurity #stockingupforwinter #keepingtheoldwaysalive #puttinguptheharvest #onions #onionbraid #onionbraiding #simplelife #slowliving #countrylife #sosatisfying #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEhfBWSAnad/?igshid=s7hhkm2r6avt

In installment number two of why women live longer than men we have John doing something I think is completely crazy. He thinks that's funny and he's laughing at me. The hook my drying rack was hanging happily on for months pulled right out of the ceiling and the whole shebang went down the basement stairs. Shockingly very little fell out and he was able to quickly put it back up after installing a better (less likely to come crashing to the ground) hanging apparatus. Order has been restored and he didn't fall down the stairs and break his neck, this time. Crazy people have astoundly good luck. I guess fortune really does favor the bold. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #yeshescrazy #buthegetsshitdone #dryingrack #airdrying #naturalmethods #itsiseitheragoodtimeoragoodstory #itsfine #werefine #suicidalgarlic #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #slowliving #foodpreservation #keeperoftheoldways #keepingtheoldwaysalive #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEhXolkgLYw/?igshid=mxcgwnephdu5

I'm finally done with tomato sauce, no seriously I'm done. If I start making noises about canning more just distract me with something shiny till I'm over it ok. They are pretty though, and they'll make some lovely meals this winter. Not now though, right now I'm just about sick of smelling tomatoes cooking. I have to admit the job got a whole lot easier after I borrowed dad's 22 quart beast of a roaster and let it do the work overnight. Work smarter not harder, I might get that someday. As I walked through the garden tonight on my way to take care of the animals I was a bit stunned at the explosion of growth. The nasturtiums and holy basil have gotten so much bigger and there's a rogue sunflower growing in the path. The noodle beans are surpassing my expectations this year, I've included a picture so you can see just how long these beans get. I'm also getting more cucamelons and have been quick pickling them due to a serious lack of other ideas. I'm tired, don't judge me. They look like adorable little tiny watermelons but they taste like cucumbers. They aren't something I would grow if I had to survive solely off of my garden produce but they're a nice novelty and I'm not sorry I grew them. John put up the shade cloth for Mom and Dad's porch, I think it looks nice but it'll be even better after it's sealed. The ducks have been busy digging holes in the yard that look suspiciously like nests. I think I might have five girls on my hands because there isn't a curly upturned tail in the bunch. Lucy and the doelings are doing well, they seem to always be starving. They certainly are doing a number on the weeds. I love getting milk everyday. I took some over to Mom tonight and I will be making cheese soon because I got my chevre kit today. Happy Monday my friends, I hope you're all busy and happy. Stay safe and well out there. #poverty_hill #homestead #canningseason #tomatosauce #stockingtheshelves #projectpantry #projectpantry2020 #slowfood #realfood #summer2020 #gardening #gardenersofinstagram #homemade #homemaking #homeiswheretheheartis #goatsmilk #keepingtheoldwaysalive #charlietheduck #stayathomeduckmom #ruralpa #simpleliving #slowliving #country (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAwlwIgXxr/?igshid=jxqrqrb02219

Today is cheese making day. Some of you seem to think that this is difficult or labor intensive but it's really not. Anyone could do this with a few simple tools. I use an instant pot, KitchenAid mixer, meat thermometer and silicone mold for convenience sake but they aren't necessities. There is no one perfect way to get the job done, it depends on what you have and what you enjoy using. I need to make cheese about once a week in order to keep on top of the amount of milk that I get. The rest is for daily use and the occasional batch of yogurt but by far the vast majority of my goat's milk goes into cheese production. What doesn't get used right away I carefully wrap and store in my downstairs freezer so that when I don't have goats in milk I will still have goat cheese. Because I love goat cheese And I love my own goat cheese even more. As with anything that you do often this process has become more streamlined, efficient and easier over time. It takes me about an hour from measuring the milk to putting the mold in the refrigerator to chill and firm up. Once I get the milk warming in the instant pot. I lay out all my other tools and then as they are used I clean them so that I don't have a big mess to clean up afterwards. Truthfully it's a very simple process and quite enjoyable. I absolutely thrive on routine, on doing the same things day in and day out with small tweaks for improvements sake. This has helped me to develop a consistently delicious end product that I can be proud to share as is or in my homemade baked goods. Remember this isn't the only way to make cheese, it's just the way I make cheese. You can do this too. Have a beautiful Thursday my friends. Stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #goats #dwarfnigeriangoats #homedairy #cheese #cheesemaking #realfood #slowfood #ruralpa #countryliving #frugalcooking #wastenothing #wastenotwantnot #countryliving #simplelife #simplepleasures #simplenoteasy #slowliving #keepingtheoldwaysalive #buildingmyskillset #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaXUN_mOT-5/?utm_medium=tumblr

About a week and a half ago we discovered that the pumpkins were growing up the three sisters garden fence and had pulled it down in places. This allowed the deer access to my green beans and they wiped them out. I was unhappy to put it mildly but we shrugged our shoulders and shored up the fence and moved on. What else can you do? I had written them off in my mind because they ate the plant right down to nearly nothing. Imagine my surprise when John sent me pictures of green beans, lots of them. The same day I broke down and bought some because my mother loves dilly beans and she must be appeased. I guess I'll be making more dilly beans than I planned. With any luck I'll get enough to can green beans too. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. Happy Sunday my friends, stay safe and well. #poverty_hill #homestead #surprisegreenbeans #gardening #organicgardening #absolutelyorganic #gardenersofinstagram #uncivilizedpumpkins #roudysquash #greenbeans #dillybeans #shewhomustbeobeyed #lovemymomma #greenbeanresurection #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #slowliving #eatinglocal #slowfood #realfood #growsomething #growyourown #keepingtheoldwaysalive #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDrwPq8gpXC/?igshid=1u48hpgvwgoff

It's day two of processing tomatoes. I think I've dirtied and washed every large bowl in my kitchen three times. I've used every colander I own, my hands hate me, and the house smells of tomato sauce and is unreasonably humid. Oh and I hurt my back yeeting half bushel boxes of tomatoes. This winter when it's snowy and cold this will all be worth it. That time is not now though, now is when it sucks. I'm only getting started too, I want to do several more bushels. So what do you do when one day of canning turns into two and you have to refrigerate a half bushel of cut, cored and salted tomatoes and huge bowls and buckets just won't fit? You get creative and put them in the crisper drawer of course. Yes it totally worked, you're just jealous you didn't think of it first. Someday I will have a canning kitchen where I have enough counter space, it's a dream. Someday I will have a big enough colander, that dream will likely come true sooner though. I think there might be a restaurant supply store in my future. I continue to get an absolutely stupid amount of cucumbers from the garden daily, I might have to start leaving them on door steps if this keeps up. I might be getting more cucumbers by weight than eggs at this point. I've already made pickles, and salads. I'm getting desperate now, maybe the neighbors would like some pickles. What do you think? I hope you all had a wonderful Saturday, stay safe and well my friends. #poverty_hill #homestead #canning #canningjars #puttinguptheharvest #stockingtheshelves #playwithyourfood #homemaking #homecanning #homemade #slowfood #readfood #cookingfromscratch #projectpantry #tomatosauce #ruralpa #countryliving #slowliving #simplelife #cucumbersarethenewzuchini #keepingtheoldwaysalive #myhappyplace #myhappylife (at Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDp358mgW-7/?igshid=11rq74uvs4kes

Look! Joe Biden got me a cream separator. I've wanted one of these for a week longer than forever and there it sits all shiny and red and heavy duty feeling on my counter. Is it weird that I get super excited about a machine that will bring me one step closer to making homemade goat butter? Cuz I totally want to jump around and make high pitched obnoxious squeely noises like a teenager because I'm stupidly happy about this thing. I would too but I'd probably break a hip or something. That would put a damper on things to be sure. I'll just have to stand here and bask in its glory before I tear it down and wash all the little pieces inside. I don't even mind the work, it's absolutely gorgeous outside, the chickens are out there singing the egg song and the roosters are playing king of the hill on the wood chip pile. It's been a pretty good day so far. Happy Friday my friends, stay safe, stay well. #poverty_hill #homestead #homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #newtoy #creamseparator #goatmilk #goatmom #rawgoatmilk #nigeriandwarfgoats #goatbutter #spring2021 #ruralpa #countryliving #simplelife #simplepleasures #slowliving #slowfood #realfood #frugallife #makeityourself #playwithyourfood #keepingtheoldwaysalive #myhappyplace #myhappylife https://www.instagram.com/p/CMnCGD4nfOB/?igshid=ewt4shu2rg75