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 3/30/25
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"...and still more rain came pouring down. But in spite of the gloomy skies, the yard was filled with the dawnsong, barely audible over the storm. They tackled the chores together, so they were quickly done. Inside, a warm fire beckoned from the wood stove, and the delicious aroma of bacon wafted out from the kitchen. They might not be billionaires, but they were rich in the things that mattered." Good news and bad news... Bad news - The ground is still half-frozen (because we were dealing with snow and temps below freezing at the beginning of the week), so the rain isn't soaking in very well, and both ponds are filled to overflowing. The south yard is a muddy mess, and one of the new culverts put in last fall is washing out. Good news - The precipitation of the last couple of days isn't snow, or we'd be buried. The ducks are exceptionally happy, as they have puddles everywhere. The culvert isn't damaged, can be reset, and isn't in a high traffic spot. The water is flowing mostly away from the house, thanks to redoing the drainage in the yard back in 2019. The sump pump is working to keep the water out of the basement. The song birds have returned and were, indeed, singing in the rain this morning. And the Augusts made fire and bacon while Duncan and I tackled the outside chores. The forecast is warning about snow and ice accumulation overnight, so we're making sure the batteries are topped off in case we lose power. Not much sun to be gathered today, but we are grid connected, and have a generator. We've had a lot more issues with random power outages in recent years, so we have backups for the backups. This week (in spite of our crazy weather), I've been thinking about warmer days ahead - and the boom of mosquitoes that are likely if these rainy conditions continue. The last time we had a start to the season like this was 2019. 2017, 2018, and the start of 2019 were so wet that the farmers had a heck of a time getting in the fields. Gardening was rough, too. (We added more raised garden beds along with the drainage.) Our focus for preparedness is the things that are most likely to be problems for us, as usually if you take care of the most likely things, those same preps will help with less likely things. That's the key to resilience and abundance. All our best to you and yours, Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan) This week's featured articles...The best offense starts with a good defense, and mosquito control is no exception. Use these strategies to reduce mosquito populations in your yard without toxic chemicals. Once you've reduce and eliminated breeding areas and spots mosquitoes like to hang out, you can add some of these mosquito repelling plants to the mix. Then, you can avoid (when possible) these six things that attract mosquitoes and make you more likely to get bit. Finally, we have recommendations and recipes for natural mosquito repellents. And, if all else fails - home remedies for mosquito bites. Because mosquitoes are jerks and don't respect boundaries, and sometimes you're out away from home doing things and forget repellent. This week we have a special presentation coming up, so watch your inbox for more details. Popular on the site this week - |
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.
"The depth of color after the spring rain was astounding. As the morning light trickled over the horizon, the verdant foliage lay like like a rich, green cloak on the land, dappled here and there with a flush of blossoms from blooming trees and shrubs." We've had a slow start to spring this year, with one warm week or a few warm days surrounded by largely chilly weather. It hasn't been safe to put out frost tender plants yet, but I'm hoping that will change this week - and not swing too...
"As we walked around the pond that sunny morning, we spotted them - near perfect circles, etched into the algae, exposing the brightly lit sandy bottom. Each circle was defended by its gallant protector fish, preparing for spawning season." This place seems a little bit magical at times. You never know what surprise you'll find when out and about. Whether it's spawning circles or a volunteer apple tree (we found one of those on the same day we spotted the dancing fish), there's always...
"A whippoorwill trilled in the twilight. We stopped evening chores to listen. This was the first time we'd heard the call in 20 years. Though they used to be common in the area, the mega farms that now dominated the landscape had left them without a sanctuary - until they found our home." It gives me such joy to hear "new to us" bird calls in the yard. From the early morning light to sometimes well after dark, our feathered guests serenade us with a multitude of songs. So much habitat has...