Dandelions

I got an email last night from an herbalist from my hometown about Dandelions and it was too good to pass up. I, myself, have been thinking of taking up the challenge of getting used to the bitter but wonderfully good for you Dandelion.

Have a read for yourself because honestly I do not know why we wouldn't want to try this amazing plant.

http://www.moonwiseherbs.com/dandelion-a-spring-tradition/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dandelion-a-spring-tradition

My Goat Obsession

Let me start out saying that I used to hate goats. Abhorred them. I thought they were mean spirited and just out to cause little children pain. This was of course after seeing my younger sister get head butted in the stomach just for wanting to pet his once cute face. My whole family was scarred after that.

Then a few months back I started reading books about self-sustainability and homesteading because I wanted to be able to support myself if ever the need rose. Especially since I was also learning about the increasing dangers from the food products in the stores. Well in one of the books this woman went on and on about how wonderful her goats were and how she wondered how she lived without them. She had mini goats for her backyard in the suburbs. It was my first re-introduction to goats. The book peaked my interest beyond what I thought possible.

I kept reading. Finding tidbits of information in all sorts of sources. Mostly a small chapter here and there in the overall picture of starting a hobby farm. But about a week ago I finally got the courage up to go to the library and check out their shelves for books on goats and homesteading. I have read more about them and realize they are the perfect animal for me when I do get enough land to have a few. And that is the problem, you need a few. The goat of my childhood was all by him lonesome and I realize now that he was just grumpy and lonely and didn't know how to socialize. He was one of the only animals left on the farm and it was a cruel joke by the farmer to keep him all by his lonesome in a small pen. I realize now, that is why the goat was so mean. It was not his fault at all but his owner. The person who was suppose to take care of him and socialize with him and play with him constantly (since we was all alone.)

Anyways, I digress. Goats are lovable creatures with so many uses as I am finding out. They can give fiber for making yarn and fabric out of (cashmere and mohair anyone!), the females can give tons of milk to make healthy whole milk, butter, cheeses, skin creams, the list goes on and on. They can also be a great source of meat since it is so lean and still grass fed. But it isn't just what they can give us. They can eat just about anything growing out on the prairie or grass fields. Thistle, grass, weeds of all sorts, plants, woody plants, just about anything. Talk about cleaning up the place.

I am learning more and more everyday about barnyard animals and honestly I just see goats as a great addition to my family when the time comes.

Homesteading Dream

This week has been full of things pushing me towards fulfilling my homesteading dream.

First off, on Monday, I finally learned how to knit socks. This may not seem like a huge deal to many of you but to me it is HUGE! I have been knitting on and off since about the age of seven and the thought of knitting a sock terrified me. I was always afraid that it was going to be impossibly hard and I would get super frustrated and give up with out accomplishing anything. Well thankfully the life saver of modern times, aka YouTube, saved the day. I finally learned how to turn the heel and make the gusset (the triangle thing by the heel for those who don't know). And now I have completed my first pair of socks! Amazing I know. They need some improvements but I figured for my first pair they are pretty darn good. I am wearing them as I type.

The second thing that really has me on the homesteading bandwagon is making my own onion powder. Yup, I did it. Another thing I thought near impossible that I accomplished this week. It was super easy as well! I even got to use my mortar and pestle! Oven baked the onions until they were super crunchy (low heat over a few hours) and then pounded away at them with my stone. It was great fun and really made me think of doing this for the rest of my life. Now the only thing that could have made it better if I grew the onions but there is always room for improvement.

I continue to read up on homesteading . Put a ton of books on hold at the local library. Would love to own them all but we have to save all our pennies, nickels and dimes if we want to afford a homestead in Western Washington.

This was a great week for me and realizing my dreams. I can't wait until next week when I get to try something new.

Until next time!