Monthly Archives: August 2016

Presto, It’s Pesto! Use Fresh Herbs to Make Savory Sauces

pesto

Ah, pesto! We can thank the Italians for this simple, savory sauce. The traditional version, classic “Pesto Genovese” (recipe below), is so easy to make and has only five ingredients: basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese.

There’s no better time to make pesto than when your garden is overproducing herbs at the end of summer. Of course, pesto is delightful anytime! But buying herbs in large quantities at the supermarket off-season can get expensive. So take advantage of those garden herbs now, when they’re practically free! Pesto is a great way to preserve your herbs, too, so you can enjoy them long after your garden has stopped producing. The homemade kind keeps about two weeks in the refrigerator and can be frozen for up to four months. Continue reading

3 Things to Consider When Planning Your Fall Garden

A fall garden has a lot of advantages. Perhaps best of all is that the cooler weather lets you plant your favorite early spring crops again, so you can enjoy them twice in the same year! You don’t need to contend with as many bugs, either. It’s more comfortable to be outdoors, for both you and your plants. Veggies won’t bolt quickly the way do in the intense heat of summer. Some folks even say the frost brings out more flavor in certain crops.  And then, depending on where you live, the harvest season can extend until quite late in the year.

If you’ve never planted a fall garden before, here are three things to consider before you start. Continue reading

7 Must-Have Kitchen Tools Every Homesteader Needs

homestead kitchen

If you’re a farmer or a homesteader, you probably spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Especially during the harvest season, when there is a lot of extra work to be done. Crops come in fast toward the end of summer, and folks often have difficulty keeping up with all the cooking, canning, and dehydrating. Having the right kitchen tools makes the work much easier and saves time. Getting more food processed faster results in less waste, too.

Regardless of the time of year, it’s important to have an efficient kitchen. We want to help you get the most work done in the least time, so we’re sharing our list of the top 7 must-have kitchen tools every homesteader needs. Check it out and see how your kitchen stacks up!

By the way, many of these Items come with FREE SHIPPING! Check the product descriptions on our website for details. Continue reading

How to Make an Affordable Walk-in Cooler that Saves Money

CoolBot Walk-in Cooler Taters

Have you been wanting a walk-in cooler? If you thought you couldn’t afford one, you might be surprised. You can make your own energy-efficient cooler for a very reasonable price! A device called the CoolBot lets you convert an insulated room into a refrigerated storage space for produce, floral inventory, dairy, meats and more. Continue reading