Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to create a self-reliant homestead. Now we produce our own food and our own power, and can tackle whatever craziness this wild world throws at us. If you’re ready take back control from Big Pharma and Big Food and feel confident facing Everyday Emergencies, join us.
Common Sense Home Good News Letter 11/17/24
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"Mushrooms dappled the edge of the tree line, rising in circles like miniature villages of fairy houses. The fairly ring mushrooms were aptly named, as it was easy to imagine the wee folk dancing around the earth-toned whorls that emerged after the rains. The mild fall and gentle rains coaxed so many mushrooms to spawn that we harvested enough for several meals without making a significant impact in the display." Our mild November weather continues here in northeast Wisconsin, but I'm not complaining. It's much easier to deal with some mud than freezing your tail off shoveling a mountain of snow. We have rain mixed with snow in the forecast for the next several days. The duck patrol is loving it, spending their days running between the ponds, orchards, gardens, and field. The chickens are having a blast, too, working over the brassica patch in the garden. Captain Featherpants, our rooster, has gotten HUGE. Thankfully he's a good fellow, watching over all the ladies and calling them over when he finds good snacks. August has been dealing with a new Federal pain in the backside called the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires small businesses to register with the Feds (above and beyond all your other paperwork). If you have a small business you need to register with FinCEN by January 1, 2025 or face fines of up to $10,000. I'm mentioning this here so our readers who are also small business owners a heads up, but you need to do your own research and registration. This is the site for the program - https://fincen.gov/boi It looks like the gentlemen of the house nearly have supper ready, so I'm going to wrap up for now. All our best to you and yours,' Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan) P.S. This week's rule of Ikigai is (From the book, "Ikigai: the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life") is a good reminder as we head towards Thanksgiving:
Give thanks. To your ancestors, to nature, which provides you with the air you breathe and the food you eat, to your friends and family, to everything that brightens your days and makes you feel lucky to be alive. Spend a moment every day giving thanks, and you'll watch your stockpile of happiness grow. This week's featured articles...This can be a stressful time as we juggle various obligations to wrap up the year. I've updated the Home Remedies for Headaches article to help those aching noggins. It's a great time of year to stock up on fresh cranberries. They keep well in the fridge, or you can freeze or can them for longer storage. We have recipes for:
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Laurie Neverman @ Common Sense Home
Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to create a self-reliant homestead. Now we produce our own food and our own power, and can tackle whatever craziness this wild world throws at us. If you’re ready take back control from Big Pharma and Big Food and feel confident facing Everyday Emergencies, join us.
Scarlett swaths of color caught my eyes in the morning light, erupting on the south hill - the sugar maples! Planted years ago, we'd used the autumn olive bushes as nursery plants to protect them from the scouring winds. Now there was no missing how they had outgrown their protectors, spreading their canopies on the hillside. It'll be at least another decade before they're ready for tapping (likely longer), but someday homemade maple syrup will be a part of the bounty of our land. The fall...
"Look at that! How did that get there?" My husband was pointing to a Grandpa Ott's morning glory flower, which had planted itself at the base of an autumberry bush, that had planted itself in the raised beds that made up the retaining walls near our front door. Nary a sprinkle of rain had fallen in some days, and the bed was filled with gravel and a thin topping of soil, but that volunteer flower was tenaciously clinging to that volunteer plant like it was climbing up the finest trellis in a...
"Fall started with an armload of giant zucchini, stacked up in my arms like cordwood. I thought back to the beginning of the growing season, and wondering if three plants would be enough. As it turns out, even after one of the plants died of mysterious circumstances, the remaining two plants lived up to their reputations as providers of garden abundance." I had to laugh the other day. I went out to grab a zucchini to cook for breakfast (we often make up a pan of sautéed zucchini and a pan of...