SouleMama

8.30.17

I'm not the only Mama feeling nostalgic this week, I know. Next week, my two oldest boys will be back to school. Calvin as a junior, and Ezra joining him at school for the first time as a freshman. Two high schoolers, gulp. 

The three youngest will continue to be homeschooled this year, though like their siblings before them and like every year since we began, we take it year by year and child by child and I never really do know when a new direction might become the right path for one or all of them. For now, for this year, this is the road we're on. Two high schoolers (at two different schools, because why keep things simple?), and three not-so-little ones at home. 

Yesterday, we hit the beach with some friends. Many of our friends who attend school have returned now or are busy getting ready, so it was a crowd of only homeschooling friends on the shockingly empty beach. I got a little emotional watching this gaggle of children - playing with their homemade boat, popping jewelweed by the side of the lake, making up games and daring each other to jump off the float. All while their Mamas sat on the beach, some of us knitting, talking about all manner of things that Moms talk about - heavy and light, fun and serious. I thought about all the very many moments I've had just like this, with a somewhat changing cast of characters as the kids grow and things change - in the sixteen years of being a Mama now. All those summer days we've spent gathering with friends like this at the shore or by the lake, and just how important and meaningful those days have been in our lives. I know it to be true for my children, who I see developing friendships, figuring out interpersonal relationships, exploring nature with others. But also true for me, more than I can say - as we sit and talk about our hopes and fears for these little ones, and ourselves. Oh that connection, it's priceless, it really is. 

I'm not sure where I'm going with that today, except that I want to send out a little hello and "I see you, I hear you" hug to all of you Mamas during this sometimes emotional back-to-school season, whether that be sending your youngest off to college or homeschooling your little one for the first. Be as gentle and kind to yourselves as you are to those children of yours! 

8.28.17

The garden is...oh my goodness, giving us so much right now! Onions were just pulled to cure, the garlic that we pulled weeks ago is done curing and now trimmed and put in baskets for storage (thank you, Harper!). Loads of dilly beans are tucking into shelves here and there (thank you, Calvin!), and did I tell you about the peaches? The peaches! Fast and furious that season was, and I barely picked up my camera in all that stretch for my hands were covered in juice. Never have I seen a peach year like this one in Maine, and how grateful we were for our mighty two trees, planted just three years ago. Last year I think we had four peaches. This year? I stopped counting after 300 pounds. From two trees! There is Maple Vanilla Peach Jam, Peach Salsa (our favorite recipe is from Naturally Sweet Food in Jars), and oh so many frozen peaches simply because we ran out of time in the days. What a gift. 

Our cabbage did a funny thing a week or so ago, which is that just about when they were ready to harvest, the roots filled up with a quick and heavy rainfall, thereby pushing pressure into the heads of the cabbages and causing them to burst (at least, that's what I have sussed out happened based on some reading I did about it). About half of our cabbages did that, making them not great for storage, but perfectly fine for using now. Which means...there's been a whole lot of kraut making happening with all of those heads ready to be used. Thankfully, I have a few kiddos who love eating it, and a few who love making it too. 

The tomatoes are just starting to come in now, and I'm tucking bits of roasted tomato sauce into the freezer here and there, knowing that probably a week from now I'll once again be elbow deep in that in the kitchen. 

This last week of August heading into September always feels like such a flurry to get preserved all that we hope to. And it's just so hard to imagine that only a few short weeks from now we'll have our first frost. I'm keeping that in mind these days, and enjoying the work and play of the garden.

And you? How does your garden grow? 

w e e k e n d i n g

I hope you're enjoying your weekend days (and nights!) as much as we are right now...squeezing in every last drop of sunshine, water and friends! 

8.24.17

I did a little bit of closet cleaning in my studio this week and pulled out the work in progress lunar quilt I started long ago but never finished. Fitting for this eclipse week, I thought! The idea of stitching the 27 more needed to make the quilt I was thinking about originally, was absolutely not enticing me. And the more I thought about it, I realized it would be far too busy of a quilt for my bedroom anyway. I was absolutely ready to have it off the work in progress shelf though. The obvious answer was pillows! Some simple stitching later, digging into that stash of indigo dyed fabric, and a good audiobook (What She Ate is currently in my ears), and voila! A shelf cleared in my closet, and a fresh look on the daybed (details on the quilt here). 

The closet rearrange felt so good, truth be told. Clearing out a few things I know I'll never use, and bringing to the surface some forgotten about things I'd still like to make. After these pillows, Adelaide's baby clothes quilt was next on the shelf, and I think that might just see some air time in the coming months. Maybe even right in time for her twelfth birthday (I know, right? It can't be). 

There's still so much more summer to be had, and preserving to be done, but I'm beginning to feel the twinge of autumn chores calling, and I like it. 

 

Introducing Issue 23::TRADE

Issue 23::TRADE is now shipping! I'll spare you from hearing that it's my favorite issue though you know it is, always the latest issue feels nearest and dearest to my heart....right next to the next issue, which is fresh on my mind and in front of my desk. But TRADE! TRADE is full of a whole lot of goodness and some that is not only close to home, but definitely close to heart as well. In this issue, I had the great pleasure of accompanying Stacy Brenner on a trip to Avena Botanicals where she interviewed and I photographed Deb Soule and her gardens. It was an inspiring day, one I've thought a lot about since our visit (so much so that it became the subject of my editor's letter). We're also carrying her beautiful book How to Move Like a Gardener, and the magical Rose Petal Elixir in the shop. I've long used Deb's goods in our family apothecary, reaching for this or that familiar product of hers, and of course I've admired her writing and work for some time (no relation, by the way, though I wouldn't mind claiming one!). A true treat to spend some time with her and share it with you all in the pages of the magazine.

And then just a hop skip and a jump down the coast a bit and we have Beatrice Perron Dahlen (author of Maine Knits, also in the shop now!) who created the Taproot Cowl which is such a great pattern, especially when worked up in the recommended Wing & A Prayer Farm yarn which you can buy as a kit on our website. Do you know Tammy? I think I've mentioned her here before a few times, but if you are on Instagram you really must follow her farm sharing (@wingandaprayerfarm). She's such a gem, and her daily snapshots and stories from her farm are a delight to read and watch.

But back to the pages of TRADE - turmeric for health, cooking with seaweed, cultivating mushrooms, fiber in Tajikistan, sourdough recipes, farming with oxen, scything, an embroidery pattern, a crochet sweater, canning jar labels, oh and so much more! I have no idea how we fit so much inside 112 pages. (Oh right, maybe because we're still free of ads, thanks to our subscriber support!)

I'll spare you any more chatter about TRADE and just let you either enjoy your issue (it should be arriving any day if it hasn't already!), or encourage you to check it out on our website and consider joining us as a subscriber. And thank you, always, for your support of this endeavor - whether it be through listening, subscribing, or sharing the news of it! 

8.21.17 {a book list}

 

On the way up to camp, we stopped at one of my favorite little Maine bookstores - Left Bank Books in Belfast. There, everyone picked up a new book (or two) for our week in the woods. Once I got everyone else settled into their choices, then of course I belabored over mine (see above for children tired of waiting for Mom, and eager to get to camp already). I decided to stop fussing about the ONE book, and instead got them all. I mean, a week at camp with limited knitting for me? Books it would be! I wanted to tell you about them too, in case one strikes your fancy for your next read...

The Lost Kitchen: Recipes and a Good Life Found in Freedom, Maine by Erin French. Of course, I know of The Lost Kitchen restaurant (though, no I've never been lucky enough to score a seat at the table there), but I didn't really know much of Erin's story. Part memoir, part cookbook, I was glad for a little backstory into the woman behind the famous space. And the recipes? The best kind of Maine cooking, if you ask me. Casually written, calling for few (and generally accessible) ingredients, and not too fussy. But letting the good ingredients do their thing. And the lovely photos in the pages - well, they exactly mirrored what I was seeing all around me in the woods of DownEast. I'm so glad I brought a cookbook into the woods with me to read! 

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change The Way You Think About College by Loren Pope. Thanks to one of you for recommending this one in the comments a few weeks ago, I'm so very glad I picked it up. We are deep in this conversation here at home, with a high school junior in the house. Lots and lots of talk about if, why, where and how. So much to consider and so much to still explore, but reading about these schools really did add a lot to those discussions in the woods, even if it was just me quoting from the book to anyone who was nearby - "Did you know that today's college graduate will have as many as seven career paths over the course of their working years?" Amazing!

There Is No Good Card For This: What To Say And Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell. Actually, this is the book I probably most annoyingly quoted aloud from to anyone around me. I picked this one up on the advice of Amy, whose book recommendations I always follow (she's a clever one, that Amy). This book, with humor and gentleness both, give such great life advice for those moments that are hard. Those moments when you want to do or say something but are stumped by how to be most helpful. I agree with Amy about this book being such a great guide for high school aged kids especially, though really for anyone! 

What We Lose: A Novel by Zinzi Clemmons. And then there's this one, the book world I dove so fully into for a 24 hour period and then was sad it was all over. And do you know how I chose this book? I'm not ashamed to tell you that it was entirely because of the pretty cover. The kids were clearly ready to leave the bookstore and I realized I had nothing but non-fiction in my arms. I frantically searched the new releases for something I knew about or something I hadn't already read on audio, and found nothing. So I went for the pretty cover. Sometimes, you know, that's not such a bad thing because I really lucked out with this one (good cathartic cry included). I really enjoyed the short (and unconventional) vignettes she used to tell her story of loss, embracing adulthood, and identity. I don't often read a novel twice, but I would like to read this one again. 

. . . . .

Oh! I'd love to be back in that hammock with a book in my lap right now! Or on the dock while the kids are boating around me! I don't think that's going to happen today, but I am sure that one book or another will pass through my hands today and for that I'll be grateful. Always, always so grateful for the many rich, diverse, and helpful books that infuse our days. 

And you? What are you reading this summer? Do share in the comments - that's always such a treat when we can talk books! 

 

Urban Baby Bonnets {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from Urban Baby Bonnets!

We sell the cutest little sun hats on the planet! They're all made by hand in the USA... and we have a huge selection of patterns & solids in styles for boys and girls. Make sure your little one is protected this summer-- without resorting to the use of chemical sunscreens. Our hats are rated UPF 50+! 

Follow us on IG for sweet insta-deals & first grab at limited edition prints. We're @urban.baby.bonnets

Better yet, tag us #urbanbabybonnets or #noslatheringnecessary to be re-posted and for entry into our monthly photo contest.

We're also on FB: urbanbabybonnets and on Twitter: urbanbabybonnet

Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Colette: We have TWO announcements!!

First, we are thrilled to share that our hats have been laboratory tested and they rate at a UPF 50+! This is the maximum level of sun protection you can have with clothing items. Of course, our hat design is what provides the protection, we NEVER add chemical blockers to our fabrics.

Second, we're head-over-heels for our newest line-- the Pixie Gnome Hats! Available in a brimmed summer version and a brimless, fleece-lined winter version, these hats are just about the cutest thing EVER. So sweet & super fun. Our 4 size system means that Pixies fit for a long time... fewer purchases and extended wear time for you! 

This weekend, Urban Baby Bonnets is generously offering the following gift to ONE lucky SouleMama reader:

a $38 gift certificate that can be used towards anything in our shop! WOOHOO! Tell your friends!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9 am EST on Monday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

What beautiful bonnets.
Posted by: Loretta

8.17.17

Poppy and Lupine were born yesterday morning to Mama Bluebell. A girl and a boy, they bring to a total, oh, a whole lot of kids around here! (But really just four of the goat variety.)

This morning, Annabel wanted to skip right past breakfast so she could tiptoe out there and "catch them while they're in their deepest sleep so I can see what they look like when they dream." I didn't tell her that eight in the morning was a little late for deep-sleeping farm animals, nor that there is absolutely no such thing as tiptoeing past a pasture full of twelve mouthy sheep (the matriarch, Emily is a mouthy one, and can rouse the rest of the crew into a chorus when she wants to). 

They are awfully cute, these two. Teeny tiny baby goats are just about the most ridiculously cute thing there is on a farm, I have to believe. I have no doubt that we'll be having our lunch out there in the barn stall with them, just to "see what they do when we eat lunch next to them." The possibilities for entertainment are endless, really.

Gathering, DownEast

Just as soon as the bags were out of the car, the coolers were unpacked, and everyone had chosen their bed (and then negotiated to trade about five times over so that they all landed where they started to begin with)....I went for a walk with some clippers (because I travel with clippers in the car now, naturally). A lovely walk that included lots of noticing and a bit of gathering, followed by a peaceful few moments arranging and then placing around the camp. 

One of the kids saw me doing this and asked "Why, Mom?" with genuine curiosity. I paused for a minute, a little surprised that I've never been asked that before or thought about the answer. But it was quick and simple, "Because it makes me happy. Because even if no one else notices, I think it might help them feel good too. Because I want to notice."

It was admittedly a weak answer for something that I feel so deeply. But over the course of the week, I watched as the circle around each of those "bouquets' grew to include rocks that Annabel had brought up from the bottom of the lake, a little bit of loose moss from Adelaide's walk in the woods, and the bluejay feathers that Ezra found on the ground (after watching a majestic eagle swoop down to capture that beautiful bird). Ah, I was reminded. I don't need to tell them why I bother to bring these things inside, they already know. Even if they don't know they do. 

On our last morning at camp, when the car was loaded back up, the refrigerator was empty once again, and those beds had been stripped and made ready for the next kids to argue over....we went outside to the land of "fairy houses" that kids have added to over the years. We added all the treasures we had gathered and brought inside for the week. I didn't say much, and either did they. But I know that in that moment, we all felt it deeply - the beauty, the gratitude, and the joy.

Postcards from DownEast

We all know I'm a sentimental fool, but I don't know as though I've ever cried at both the arrival to and the departure from camp. It's been a few years since we've been able to make it to this special place belonging to my family. Homesteading and farm life make for tricky all-seven-of-us-trips, that's for sure. And then you add the schedules of a busy and large family, and well, it gets nearly impossible to all get away at the same time and in the same place. But we did it this year, partly due to January scheduling and my stubborn insistence, and mostly due to the arrival of Andy, who so wonderfully held down the fort for us at home. What a blessing! To have all of my people alone in the woods, away from any distractions from friends, activities, or cell phone bars (hallelujah!). 

I forget that I'm really good at vacation. Like really, really good at just sitting still when the opportunity arises (and this time, with hardly any knitting, there really was a whole lot of just sitting). I let that vacation feeling linger just as long as I could, which is great, because this Monday morning brought a broken laptop and a dropped truck engine (bye bye, truck!) among other things, all before ten this morning. But .....la la la, I can barely hear all that news, because of blueberries! fishing! boating! s'mores with my babes! guitars around the campfire! mossy green paths in the woods! And so many other things. Especially that golden light coming off the lake at sunset, shining onto the faces of my exhausted kids from all the hard work and play of camp, soon to head to bed by flashlight in the cabin, with pine pitch on their feet and bits of s'mores still on their faces. Yes, that. I'm holding that close. It's everything.

Friends, I wish you a lovely start to your week, perhaps with some bottled memories of your own special places lighting up your hearts! 

 

Silk Oak {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from Silk Oak!

While new designs continue to emerge each season, it is the tried and true, beloved, vintage designs that keep customers coming back to get the same prints for their new babies that they remember loving when they were small. Truly my favorite part of Silk Oak!

The philosophy behind Silk Oak is a simple one- Have fun creating the best designs we can while growing a business that nurtures our families, strengthens our community and works everyday to show respect and care for the earth.

Silk Oak- Celebrating life since 1977!

Follow Silk Oak on Facebook (silk.oak.tees) and Instagram (#silkoak).

SouleMama: Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Jan: 2017 marks the 40th Birthday of Silk Oak! Thanks and blessings to all who partner with me on this journey.

This is the juice that keeps me going! This photo is the 2017 version for a family whose tradition it is to come to Ithaca and buy Silk Oak shirts each year for a family reunion. The privilege that I feel to be part of a family tradition is profound. I am fed year round with photos and stories such as these. How lucky and am I to be included in the ties that bind families together. 

 

This weekend, Silk Oak is generously offering the following gift to ONE lucky SouleMama reader:

a $100 gift certificate!

In addition, Silk Oak is offering 15% off your purchase from 8/13-8/20 with Coupon code SOULEMAMA.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9 am EST on Monday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

I would love this!!
Posted by: Sophia

A Garden Tour with Rachel Nafis

(While I'm away for a week in the woods, I'll be missing my garden! But I'm delighted to share with you this week some more peeks inside some of your gardens.)

Today we visit Rachel's garden in San Diego, where her background in farming translates to an urban neighborhood garden. Her garden reminds me that each garden truly is the creative expression of the gardener. Just like a quilt, no two are ever alike. What a treat to admire them all! 

Welcome to Rachel's garden! 

. . . 

Gardener: Rachel Nafis

Garden Location and Zone: San Diego, California, 10b

Garden Size: 30 by 60 feet + 4 raised beds

How long have you been gardening? 

Growing food has made our life such an adventure! This is my 8^th year gardening. I started container gardening in 2009 just out of college, then graduated to growing in raised beds when we moved to San Diego. In 2011 my partner and I fed 7 or so families a week from an overgrown abandoned lot in the city. Then in 2012, growing food led us to a 45-acre ranch where we worked as caretakers and raised pigs, goats, turkeys, ducks, and chickens. We have since moved back to the city where we’ve lived and gardened at this home for a record 4 years. When we moved here, the backyard was entirely decomposed granite and by adding tons of organic matter we’ve transformed the lifeless soil to a garden oasis. I prefer to grow straight in the ground versus in raised beds, but we have a few of those too! 
Why do you garden?

I loved to garden before I became a mother, but since beginning to spend most of my days at home with my two sons, gardening has taken on a greater meaning for me. It is my primary creative outlet (one I can practice with my children), and each year I enjoy crafting not only a productive garden that has fed my family, but a beautiful one as well. It is wild to think about how much love and time is poured into each aspect of gardening: from the planning stage, to the planting of the seeds, to the nurturing of small plants, and finally the harvesting and food processing. I am a better, more patient person because of all of the time and energy that I have poured into our land and growing food for my family and friends.

How would you describe your garden?

Urban! We live in the urban core of San Diego, with downtown San Diego just a couple of miles down the road. Ours is a fairly poor community where the houses are jam packed on top of one another and yard space is very limited. People pass by our garden all the time on foot, and it is a joy to hear people share how our garden reminds them of their childhood. 

Where do you go for gardening inspiration?

Instagram is a big source of inspiration for me! Pictures often spark ideas- this year it was growing runner beans and a wall of sunflowers. I’ve especially been inspired to grow our cut-flower garden and had great success with cosmos, calendula, snapdragons, chamomile, zinnias, and celosia intermixed with vegetables.

What are your favorite gardening books or resources?

For a no-work gardening philosophy I will forever be shaped by the book One Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka. I discovered the Encyclopedia Botanica podcasts this year and enjoy listening to them while I’m in the garden or doing housework.

What’s your biggest gardening challenge?

In Southern California (pretty much as far as you can get from Maine!) it doesn’t rain! I start all of my seeds in a flimsy greenhouse as early as January to take advantage of our brief “rainy season.”  A heavy layer of mulch also helps with water conservation and we use drip irrigation to water in the morning.  Another challenge in the city of San Diego is limited space. Because we feed our soil so heavily, we are able to grow our plants very close together. This year I am growing runner beans, cucumbers, morning glory, and ornamental gourds vertically on arbors made of t-stakes and rabbit fencing. They saved me a ton of space, provided shade for greens, and added an element of visual interest. We grow food wherever there is space to the extent that we have planted blackberries, raspberries, and boysenberries in our public alley. There were even enough berries for some alley-jam this year!  


What do you most love to grow?

Heirloom beefsteak tomatoes!  They take up a third of our precious space, which is what it takes to keep our family of four in tomatoes all year.  Black Krim (from Seed Savers Exchange) is my favorite variety to grow for their beauty and taste. Each year I try a new variety, but I like to revisit my old favorites, just like old friends.

If you have children, what role do they play in your gardening?

My 3 year-old and 16 month-old boys are involved (or creatively entertained) every step of the way. They help care for our ducks and chickens and raised our baby chicks this year. On a day when I am feeling *extra patient they help me start flats of seeds. I often give them packets of old seeds to “plant”, and the last 2 years we’ve given my son a raised bed all of his own. I’ve found that I can actually get a lot of weeding done as I wander around the garden with them, following their lead and pace. They still surprise us by what raw vegetables they’re willing to eat when harvested by their own hands, straight out of the garden.  It has also helped to have child-sized garden tools around like trowels, gloves, and watering cans. Our family life revolves a lot around the garden, very different than how I was raised, and I’m excited to see how this shapes them as humans.

Can you share one or two of your favorite gardening tips?

Feed your soil!  We amend our soil in the winter months heavily with manure from our ducks and chickens, vermicompost from our worms, ash from our woodstove, and locally sourced compost.  If you take the time and effort to prepare your soil, you will have a productive garden, guaranteed.  We joke about growing soil, not vegetables. Also mulch mulch mulch (I sound like Ruth Stout!)!  We keep a no-till garden and with the help of a heavy layer of wood chip mulch we have healthy plants, water less, and do practically no weeding (serious!). Finally, grow what you love to eat and what can be preserved well. I’ve discovered that I don’t need to grow 200 turnips each year, for example. I’ve started making a list of the most essential vegetables to grow, and I limit the rest. All of our excess goes to friends and sometimes the chickens, but I’ve felt much less overwhelmed by the mountains of food this way.

Can you tell us about yourself? 

I am a Mama to two small boys, clergy wife, and work part-time as an ER Nurse.  I enjoy all things homemaking and share things that inspire me on my instagram @psalterfarm

. . . .

Thank you, Rachel, for sharing your garden with us!

(If you'd like to share your farm or garden with us this season, send me an email for more details. We'd love to visit!)

A Garden Tour with Shannon Stonger

(While I'm away for a week in the woods, I'll be missing my garden! But I'm delighted to share with you this week some more peeks inside some of your gardens.)

Today, Shannon shares about gardening with a large family, off-grid, in Texas. Be sure to check out Shannon's fermentation book as well! 

Welcome to her garden!

. . . 

Gardener: Shannon Stonger (along with my husband who has actually done much of the work).

Garden Location and Zone: Zone 8b Texas

Garden Size: A bit over 1/8 acre plus other spaces I plant wherever I can fence my chickens out.

How long have you been gardening?

I have been gardening since 2008 but much more seriously since moving off-grid in 2011.

Why do you garden?

Because someone has to feed me and my family and I feel a deep conviction that it should be me. I've heard it said that only about 2% of our population is involved in food production and that concerns me a great deal. Gardening is also something I get a great deal of enjoyment and education from. There is just something about planting a seed and nurturing a plant at one end of the season, and then harvesting and fermenting on the other that is incredibly satisfying.

How would you describe your garden?

The garden is a mix of beds of various sizes and a small field all fenced into an eighth of an acre. In addition, we have various fruit and nut trees and a separate garden area we utilize for perennials and some annuals.

It is a work in progress, to be sure. We moved to Texas from the Mid-West on the heels of the worst drought in Texas history. On top of that, there was almost no topsoil to speak of on our little two acres. So it has been an ongoing process of building soil organically ever since. 

 
What are your favorite gardening books or resources?

Gardening When It Counts, The Resilient Gardener, and Texas Gardening are some of my favorite books. I also like What's Wrong With My Plant and What to Do About It as well as any permaculture-minded books.

What’s your biggest gardening challenge?

Making soil and working with the extreme climate. I think the former is going to be a life long process for us, as I imagine it is for most gardeners. Adding animals to the homestead and harnessing their manure has been a game-changer in this area. As to extremes: it can be over 100 degrees here as early as April and we can get frosts a week later. Likewise, it can get into the 80s in the winter and down in the teens within a matter of days. We've learned to grow short-season varieties,  cover crops in spring and fall, and mulch. Oh, and we check the forecast a lot, too.

 
What’s your biggest garden accomplishment?

Having children who know where their food comes from and who are eager to grow their own is something I am really grateful for. They get as excited as I do over harvests and saving seeds. They want to dig up garlic and potatoes and bring in onions as tall as them. It's been a gift to our family, I think, to be so connected with the land.

If you have children, what role do they play in your gardening?

Our children range in age from 1.5 - nearly 11 years old and they all make their way to the garden with us. Our two oldest have staked out their plots and our youngest three are all eager to put seeds in the ground. When I order seeds, I usually ask them if they have any requests. They bring in harvests and help chop, can, and ferment as well.

Can you tell us about yourself? 

I live on a five acre off-grid homestead in Central Texas with my husband, five young children, and our chickens, goats, and cows. I chronicle our agrarian journey on our blog Nourishing Days. When I'm not holding a baby or digging in the dirt, I enjoy writing books like 100% Rye: Wheat-Free Sourdough Rye Breads and Treats and Traditionally Fermented Foods: Innovative Recipes and Old-Fashioned Techniques for Sustainable Eating.  My kitchen is almost always a messy mix of ferments, dirty dishes, and home school books.

. . . .

Thank you, Shannon, for sharing your garden with us!

(If you'd like to share your farm or garden with us this season, send me an email for more details. We'd love to visit!)

A Garden Tour with Jen

(While I'm away for a week in the woods, I'll be missing my garden! But I'm delighted to share with you this week some more peeks inside some of your gardens.)

Today, Jen shares her urban garden (and secret chickens!), along with some of her ideas for small space gardening. It's a beautiful space! Welcome to her garden!

. . . 

Gardener: Jen

Garden Location and Zone: Northeast US, zone 6

Garden Size: 1/8^th of an acre (I think!)

How long have you been gardening? I have been gardening in some way or another for 25 years, beginning with pots of tomatoes and peppers on a stoop.

 
Why do you garden?

It is therapy for me and I am also compelled to. My mother had the greenest thumb of anyone I’ve ever known, besides my friend Ray who regularly brings plants back from the dead. She grew up in city with no backyard to speak of but had a yearning to put her hands in the soil, eventually taking us to an 8-acre farmette when I was 11-14 years old. Those years on the farm started an itch for homesteading that I wouldn’t recognize fully until I was in my 30’s.

How would you describe your garden?

Well-intentioned, mostly! I start my plants every March by using almost every seed in the packet, resulting in waaaay more plants than I can use/fit in my space. My coworkers love me because they are the benefactors of my overstock! My excitement for gardening in winter is the same for most gardeners---I have plansplansplans for The Biggest Most Perfect Garden Ever and find myself itching to start digging as soon as the ground can be dug. Then, when I’ve gotten all my plants in and it’s 90 degrees with 80% humidity, I poop out. Luckily, all I need to do is weed a little here and there and water if it’s dry. I basically allow my garden to become the jungle you see in these pictures. I am definitely a fair-weather gardener.

My garden is also my own little mini urban farm. I am one of many backyard chicken keepers that builds a big fence hoping no one will see that they’re there (why isn’t it legal EVERYWHERE??). My hens provide entertainment and even more therapy for me, as I love to care for them and watch their antics. They also keep the bugs at bay and provide us with fertilizer and the best tasting and most beautiful eggs.

Where do you go for gardening inspiration?

I used to be a major blog lurker, searching often for “urban farm blogs” and such but now I mostly follow a ton of gardeners on Instagram. It’s awesome to see progress photos almost daily from people all over the world, doing their thing to grow their own food and create a homestead. One of my favorites is Deanna at @deannacat3. She has a very different climate from mine, being from the Central Coast of CA, but it’s been very influential to me to see how she’s transformed her back and front yard into what is really a homestead oasis. She’s also fantastic about answering questions and even provided me with her hand-drawn plans for a chicken coop to transition young pullets into an established flock of mature hens. That coop was the first thing I’ve ever constructed myself and it was super cool to have someone I don’t even know cheering me on and being such a personal resource.

 
What are your favorite gardening books or resources?

I know it’s hardly original to say that Mel Bartholomew changed my gardening life, but he really did. When I finally had a yard of my own to plant a garden, not only did I plant every seed like I do now, but I also put every single plant I grew from seed into that garden. The result was a year when I had 20 tomato plants (for just my husband and me---I learned about canning that year!) and another year in which I planted 15 pumpkin plants in my 15 x 15’ garden (that year every other plant was run over and every visitor went home with a huge pumpkin!). After watching in amusement, I’m sure, my mother gave me her own copy of the original printing of Square Foot Gardening, and I’ve been using Mel’s tips and tricks ever since.

What’s your biggest gardening challenge?

THISTLES!!! They are EVERYWHERE and the bane of my existence. The longest tap root of all and so annoying. I should be a thistle farmer! Also, using the bounty! I tend to plant vegetables that I admire the look of but don’t necessarily love the taste of, but I’m getting better about finding ways to utilize everything. And once again, my coworkers appreciate my overstock.

What’s your biggest garden accomplishment?

Transforming an unused portion of my yard into a beautiful, productive space.

What do you most love to grow?

I love to grow unique plants (see challenges above!), so I always include something that I either haven’t seen before or something that is beautiful. Some of those have included Mexican gherkin cucumbers (or “Mice Melons” which is what made me plant them!), blueberry tomatoes (pretty but bland), glass gem corn (amazingly gorgeous but not good popcorn like I thought), and this year’s loofah gourds.

Can you share one or two of your favorite gardening tips?

Don’t be afraid to try something new! The thing that is the most frustrating AND the most rewarding is that gardening is all about learning from trial and error. The worst that can happen is that something doesn’t grow or that you have too much of it and have to share it!

Can you tell us about yourself?  

Because I am a “secret” chicken owner, I don’t want to reveal too much, but I can be found on Instagram @constantgardener70 and would love to connect with more gardeners creating urban homesteads.

. . . .

Thank you, Jen, for sharing your garden with us!

(If you'd like to share your farm or garden with us this season, send me an email for more details. We'd love to visit!)

Imagine Childhood {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from Imagine Childhood!

Imagine Childhood is a family owned and operated company specializing in earth-friendly goods, craft and activity tutorials and educational supplies that support and nurture the magic of childhood. Our carefully curated collection focuses on products that inspire children to create, imagine, and explore. With an emphasis on quality materials, our toys and tools are made for real kids and real adventures.  

Browse our 2016-2017 Lookbook for nearly 200 pages of inspiring and thoughtful gifts! We’ve spent the last nine years combing the globe for unique heirloom quality toys, tools, games, and craft projects. We hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

In addition to our shop we also share free crafts, activities and recipes on our blog here and our recent book, IMAGINE CHILDHOOD: Exploring the World Through Nature, Imagination, and Play- 25 Projects that spark curiosity and adventure, can be found here.

SouleMama: Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Sarah: As we move toward our 10th year of doing business, we thought it would be a good idea to revisit all of the reasons why we share the crafts and activities that we do, and why we adore the nature focused, imagination inspired goods that we sell in the shop. So, we launched a fun new weekly series on the blog titled “5 Reasons”. Each post focuses on an activity, toy, or tool and delves into why we believe they will enhance your family’s pursuit of thoughtful, wholehearted, adventure-filled living. Recent posts “5 Reasons to Love Geography” “5 Reasons to Love Old Fashioned Games” and “5 Reasons to Learn Knot Tying”.

This weekend, Imagine Childhood is generously offering the following gift to ONE lucky SouleMama reader:

a $100 gift certificate to the Imagine Childhood shop!

In addition, Imagine Childhood is offering 10% off all orders placed between now and August 10th, 2017, as well as free shipping for orders over $100. Use code "soulemama" at checkout. Discount expires 8/10/17.

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To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9 am EST on Sunday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

This is the first time I've encountered this shop/blog and I'm in love! thank you for the chance.
Posted by: Danni Suplicki

8.2.17

Just some of the smiling faces I caught while walking around with my camera in the pasture last night. There's a whole lot of life going on here, that's for sure. I still pinch myself sometimes, and am tickled to discover that they're all really there. Here. And all the beautiful, wild, and messy chaos that comes with them too.

8.1.17

It was a classic case of dinner being late, again, because....sweet peas! 

I think we're nearing the end of my sweet peas this year, actually, hence needing to be sure I got another round in last night (dinner can always wait). I've grown sweet peas before, but never quite as many and never quite as well. I got these as starts from a friend, and while I'm grateful to her for that, I'm also kind of cursing her. Because I don't think I can ever live another summer without sweet peas in my garden, and I'll need a whole lot more of them, please! She did that to me. Sigh. They are just so long lasting, long stemmed, and I think it's one of the best smells of summer - an armful of sweet peas coming in from the garden, or a tiny little vase next to my bed when I wake up. Oh! If only I could bottle that up for February. But then again, it wouldn't feel quite so precious if I could smell it all year long, now would it? 

Sorry about dinner, kids. Just wait till you grow your first sweet peas. You'll understand.