Early Summer Projects

In an effort to not over share on Facebook and fill everyone's feeds with pictures of gardens and birds, I'm writing another "update" post here. So here are the projects I have going on right now....

Unschooling Insect Study

One of my 6-year-old's money-earning tasks is to weed the gardens.  When he's really excited about saving up to buy a particular Lego set, he'll ask to go outside right after breakfast and get to work. I love giving him this job, because he learns so much about the garden ecosystem by getting his hands dirty.  He's right down there with the dirt and roots, the leaves and flowers, bugs and worms.  He knows the first two inches under the soil and the first two inches above as well as I do.  He may be earning money doing a simple chore, but he's also learning through his observation and experience. A recent conversation went like this:

"I was pulling weeds from under the bricks, and one brick was a home to rollie pollies! Can I put the brick back so they can still live there? They have a happy home."

I was pretty sure that pill bug are harmless, so I said that would probably be fine.  I did a quick search and learned that they eat decaying plant matter.  I told D and he asked if he could give the dead weeds he was pulling up to the rollie pollie family. Sure, why not?  He said, "That's so good!  We need to kill the weeds, and they need to eat them!  Isn't that so good?!" He was amazed by the serendipitous discovery.

All these little interactions with nature are why it's so important to me that my kids get outside.  Not just to play soccer or climb on a playground - but really into nature.  Spending quiet, thoughtful time watching, touching, building, exploring, creating and testing child-sized hypotheses about why and how things happen to be a certain way.  These are beginning lessons in entomology, biology, ecology, botany...  I call it "unschooling," because we're not planning lessons here - we're cultivating a lifestyle in which the kids can freely learn through exploring the world around them, and even under their feet. I'm around to answer questions, but their natural curiosity drives their learning. The thrill of personal discovery trumps any coloring page text book, or nature documentary in terms of both the experience itself, and for retention and meaning. Discovery is a meaningful personal memory, not a dry fact.

It seems so silly, but I distinctly remember adopting an ant hill in my backyard in Georgia when I was seven years old. I brought bread crumbs out to feed them, and watched, fascinated, as the teeny tiny creatures carried them away down into their tunnels.

Picking up worms and putting them into the garden because their waste helps feed the plants is a child's study in nutrient cycling.

Watching the ducks forage for slugs to keep our garden from their constant slimy attack is a child's lesson in organic pest management and biodiverse agriculture (watching the slugs decimate the garden this year, including the sunflowers D planted, because we don't have ducks, is a much less pleasant way to learn that lesson).

Watching plants wither and droop in the sun, then spring back to life after the rain is a child's study in plant respiration and circulation.

Observing that the clover closes up its broad leaves toward the evening, then opens them again to the morning sun, is a child's study in circadian rhythms and plant physiology.

Children are so curious, so excitable, so impressionable, that all we need to do is give them access to the outdoors, and they simply learn.  I leave you with these quotes from Charlotte Mason, a pioneer of homeschooling philosophy at the turn of the 20th century:

"[The child] must live hours daily in the open air, and, as far as possible, in the country; must look and touch and listen; must be quick to note, consciously, every peculiarity of habit or structure, in beast, bird, or insect; the manner of growth and fructification of every plant. He must be accustomed to ask why––Why does the wind blow? Why does the river flow? Why is a leaf-bud sticky? And do not hurry to answer his questions for him; let him think his difficulties out so far as his small experience will carry him."

"…because my object is to show that the chief function of the child––his business in the world during the first six or seven years of his life––is to find out all he can, about whatever comes under his notice, by means of his five senses..."

Do What You Love

Pinterest. Oh, Pinterest. We all have mixed feelings about Pinterest, right? It's so helpful and inspiring, on one hand. When I'm stuck on ideas for dinner I can find something new and yummy quickly. I adore browsing photos of white, turn-of-the-century farmhouses and decor ideas. I pin gratuitous numbers of horse pictures and have more pins on my Geek board than all four of my boards related to cooking.

But then there's the dark side (maybe not to Pinterest, but certainly to our hearts): the constant pressure to make your house Pin Worthy, your dinner, birthday party, or bathroom reorganization a Pinterest Success, and the need to occasionally claim (humble-brag?) that something you tried ended up a Pinterest Fail.

But, even for the Pinterest Fail, the point is that you TRIED to make that cake/tutu/throw pillow/dinner/homemade soap a Pinterest Success, right? We feel like we have to TRY, or what are we really doing with our lives? I mean, if it can't be photographed and shared with a couple hundred or thousand people, what's the point?

I'm not immune to any of this, for sure. And keeping a blog that relies on pictures of my property makes me want to keep everything perfectly curated and picture-ready. But that's not life (not my life, anyway), and that's not why I'm doing this. I don't really want it to look perfect on this blog, because it's not. At all. It's an experiment, and it usually looks exactly like an experiment - always hopeful and varying degrees of messy, fun, stressful, unpredictable, and wonderful.

If I could share one thing I've learned about this homesteading, homemaking, homeschooling life lived in the shadow of Pinterest and social media that keeps me sane, it's this:

Do what you love.

Do what you love, what you are passionate about, what gives you energy and hope, do what you want to do with your children and pass on to them as a legacy.

Yes, you still have to scrub toilets and go grocery shopping, that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about those extra things - the specially cultivated skills and activities of the homemaker that make a home uniquely warm and welcoming, and express her personality to her friends, family, and neighbors. Those things that you spend your time, energy, money, and resources on - 

choose wisely and LOVE those things.

You see, for a while I was convinced that it would be really great to be crafty. As a child I thought I had some artistic talent, so as an adult exposed to the world of Pinterest I thought it'd be fantastic if I always made homemade cards, and maybe homemade art for my children's room, and homemade wall hangings and so on. And wouldn't it be wonderful if now that I have kids I could sew? I could sew costumes, pillowcases, curtains... the possibilities and pins are endless. 

But after a lot of trips to Michaels it turns out that I don't actually enjoy crafting. I'm not actually an artistic person. I can sketch a bit, sure, but only because I am good at copying, not because I have any sort of vision of my own. Additionally, I don't really enjoy being inside, sitting down, or holding still. Or cleaning up the messes that happen after art projects. So sitting at a sewing machine or a table covered in art supplies didn't work for me.  It took me a while, but eventually I realized it wasn't bringing me any joy, and I let it go.

Yeah, Pinterest is full of all these really awesome things I could make. Yes, I love to see them in other people's homes. I admire the gifted and talented people who can really pull that off; their creations add to their homes and display their personalities and God-given talents. But that's not me.

For a while I pinned pictures and tutorials on "Easy Fast Ways to Style Long Hair."  Nope.  Couldn't make any sense out of those pictures!  And I realized I didn't care enough to try very hard to figure it out. I have three hair styles: up, down, and baseball cap.  Beautiful, intricately braided hair is awesome, but that's not me. 

I like dirt. Grass. Plants. Boots. Identifying weeds. Baseball caps and tank tops and wiping muddy hands on my jeans. 

 I love to watch things grow and never lose the thrill of watching a seed push up out of the soil. I remember that moment the plant's first leaves hit the sun when three months later I pick its first ripe fruit. 

The life cycle of the garden reminds me that God is faithful and true and good. I imagine that my joy at seeing my garden flourish is like a tiny taste of God's great glorious joy in creation, when he made the whole earth spring forth with living things by his word alone. The pests and weeds remind me that the world is fallen, and make me ponder what it was like in the Garden of Eden and make me long for Christ to return. The taste of our homegrown strawberries and tomatoes reminds me to yearn for the new creation when everything will be even better - beyond our wildest imaginings and greatest hopes. 

Pinterest can't give anyone that passion. No matter what a good idea gardening is, no matter how great it looks in that picture, if you don't love it, it will just wear you down, like crafting wore me down. Growing organic vegetables for your family won't express who you are, bring you closer to God, or create a restful, welcoming atmosphere in your home if you don't enjoy it. I enjoy it.  So I spend my time in the garden. But don't be like me.  Be like you.  What has God put in your heart?  What do you love?  How can you bring glory to Him by enjoying the things he created you - you in particular- to enjoy?

You love decorating your home?  Do it! Use the passion and creativity God gave you to make your home a reflection of His goodness, beauty, peace, and order. Use Pinterest to inspire you.  Make that shiplap whatnot.  Follow Johanna Gaines.  Not because you want to impress your friends, but because the art of decorating satisfies your creative soul.

You love cooking? (I did, before it involved tiny critics standing at my elbows whining and touching the hot stove). Cook! Whip up some amazing treats and gourmet dinners to bless everyone around you! Do it because you love food, you are thrilled with new ingredients, because you enjoy every taste and texture and smell of the experience.  Do it because purple potatoes are awesome.  Not because you feel like you have to.

But you know what, if cooking is not your thing, if crafting bores you, if you could care less about your hair, or you don't like gardening (I'll try not to judge you), then don't. Don't waste your time trying to keep up with your friend who just happens to love sewing. Don't apologize for bringing store bought bagels and cream cheese (done it) to a brunch when everyone else brings an overnight crockpot Pinterest Success. Don't start organic gardening because you know a lot of people who do.  Maybe Google "ombre" and "baylage" (and then Google will ask if you meant "balayage") so you know what everyone is talking about, but you don't need to dye your hair.

Do what you love, not what is trending.

And while you're gaining your freedom from the soul-crushing cage of comparison made so easy by social media, remember to offer others grace, too.

 That mom at the bake sale who clearly stayed up all night decorating tiny cupcakes with fondont flowers?  All the other moms hate her and her perfect little petals, right?  Don't. I know it's hard, trust me, but don't. Don't imagine that she's judging you because her cupcakes make you second guess your choice of brownies from a box (YUM!).  Don't make your self feel better by deciding that she must have neglected her children all day to pull off that feat. Those cupcakes have nothing to do with you.  For all you know she put the kids to bed, poured herself a glass of wine, put on reruns of her favorite TV show, and for the first time all week - relaxed.  Focused on something simple and beautiful.  Made something with her hands that she could sit back and enjoy for a moment before kids ripped into them.  And had the. best. time. all by herself in her quiet house.  

Don't hate that. Just say, "those cupcakes are beautiful!"

Or maybe she felt so much guilt at her initial desire to buy donuts from the grocery store that she stayed up all night, stressed to tears, making these things she saw on Pinterest and now is exhausted, embarassed, and upset because she realizes that her effort to make beautiful cupcakes, which was misguided to begin with, is also making all the other moms hate her.  Don't. 

We're all in this battle, navigating our own hearts, gifts, and web browsers. Don't lose yourself as you scroll Pinterest and see what everyone else is pinning. Don't lose heart as you check Facebook and see your friends' curated selection of images.     

Do what YOU love. Serve YOUR family. Bless others with YOUR gifts.  Inspire others to do the same. And always extend grace.

Spring Update

My last post on this blog was over a year ago! There has been so much I've wanted to share, but there's a very good reason why I've taken a long break: we had a baby! Our beautiful little girl was born last year on August 2nd. We are blessed beyond belief to have her in our family! She is joyful, giggly, and easy going. The boys adore her and she lights up whenever she sees them. Life is a little tougher, but a whole lot sweeter with her here.



Gardening while pregnant started off as a challenge and then became impossible. To keep the garden alive and flourishing I had a lovely friend do a "garden share" with me and come over to garden once a week with her little children. She planted some of her own things, kept up with what I had managed to put in, and weeded. We shared the harvest. It was such a great experience I would love to do it again if the need arises!

Since we would have a newborn (and no sleep) all winter we decided to sell all of our animals in the fall (we had our turkeys butchered and ate them!). So we are now starting over with our little homestead. This year the early spring weather was ridiculously warm, so I got a spring garden in by April. I made a third vegetable garden bed, planted sixteen more blueberry bushes, another twenty feet of raspberry canes, and have plans to finally buy the sheep we've been planning for for almost two years!

I promise I'll be back to share more, but for now here are some pictures of our spring garden.

Spring??

Because who could possibly resist the idea of getting such a head start on their spring garden!? Already-hardened-off spinach, lettuce, and snap peas from a little local store, ready to go in the ground! Here's to an early season!

Winter Homestead Update

Time for a winter update about the homestead!  Summer fizzled into fall and fall into winter.  The last tomatoes were picked and piled up in huge mounds on the kitchen counters, herbs were cut down and hung to dry everywhere, and a cover crop of clover was planted (too late and didn't grow!).

Between actually doing the end-of-season work, finishing up my seminary semester, and trying to diligently homeschool D through Five in a Row, I didn't end up with much time for blogging.  (However, I did take notes and pictures of our homeschool work, so they will be posted eventually!) 

Now all those things have settled down I have a bit of time to sit on my comfy sofa where the heater blows on my feet and bring you an update!

I decided to move the quail into the garage for the winter.  While they tolerate cold very well, we also have very, very wet winters, as well as strong northeaster winds.  I was worried they might get too wet to keep warm, and then be blown into smithereens by the strong winds (which frequently blow in the direction of the open side of the pen).  Our future plan for the quail is to build a tall aviary, which we now know needs to include full doors that can close to keep wind and rain out on the worst days.

 

We created an extra large brooder type box for the quail to live in for a few months.  They are still on shavings, and we added a lot of branches for them to hop over and hide under.  We're using wire shelving as the top, which is clearly not predator proof, but work perfectly while they're safe in the garage.  I can lift off each piece as I reach in for eggs around the pen. 

D had a great time helping me decide what should go in, finding it in the yard, and laying it out in the pen.  He enjoys the quail more than the ducks, for whatever reason, and takes special pride in doing any part of their care.  Since our only timer is being used for the ducks light, the quail have a brooder light aimed at their waterer (to keep it from freezing) which stays on all the time.  It keeps about half the pen fairly bright, while leaving the other half much more dim.  My hope was that they could settle down and sleep when they wanted to in the darker side, while eating and drinking in the brighter area when they wanted to be awake.  I feel a little bad about the constant exposure to light, but so far they are happy and healthy.  When we first moved them inside, they had stopped laying due to the decreased daylight.  After four weeks inside they started laying about an egg a day again! 

Inside the duck coop.  The box in the back holds the extra clean straw. 

    The ducks have supplemental light in their house to keep them laying, as well as tons of fluffy bedding and straw to keep them warm.  I leaned plywood against the inner sides of the shed and in between the plywood and the wall stuffed straw, to help insulated the space (I have since removed them, since they proved unnecessary).  I have to close the ducks inside the attached run around 4pm, or else they miss exposure to the light, because they’ll happily stay out in the yard all night long.

It appears that I have over-prepared my ducks for winter, because they seem COMPLETELY unbothered by the cold!     I am so thankful to have such hardy birds!  If I don’t close them in the run, they will spend the entire night outside in the yard, sleeping in the cold grass, instead of in their warm cozy house.  Even in their run, with access to the bedded house, they will usually nestle down out in the run!  I have it layered with straw to help keep it a bit warmer and drier.  Its easy to sprinkle a bit of new straw over the surface every few days to keep them standing on clean ground.  In the spring we'll dig it all out and compost it.  

(I have some big branches leaning over the corner of the run so they have a place to duck under if a hawk swoops over head.  They also like to sleep under them)

   

I began leaving the door to their house cracked open (like you see in the picture above) so they could go in and out freely, while keeping the warmth mostly trapped in the building.  Instead of locking them in the house every night, I was just leaving them in their run with access to the house.  This was a risk, because it left them more exposed to predators. Since we were traveling over Christmas and I needed a way to leave them so that a friend could come check on them once a day, instead of having to come out every morning to let them out, and every night to shut them back in.  Thankfully, I have never seen signs of raccoons around their area.  I think it helps that all around them is quite open and exposed; there are no close trees or bushes for a predator to hide in as it approaches.  The neighbors also have a loud, aggressive Jack Russell and we have a hound dog, so I think they might deter unwanted company as well.

Winter is not the most fun time to take care of outdoor animals.  It’s cold, dark, and in the Pacific Northwest, usually very wet.  But my daily care routine only takes about five minutes, and I bring in a bucketful of eggs every day, so its really not that bad.  We’ve had a couple of really beautiful days recently, which have given me the opportunity to do things like clean out both pens, spread new straw, and scrub the water containers while the kids bike and play on the tire swing.

I’m dreaming of spring when we can be outside most of the day, every day!  I can’t wait to get the soil tilled, more gardens dug, seeds planted, and experience the second year with our fruit trees, raspberry and blackberry canes, grape vines, and blueberry bushes!  Until we can get planting, Pinterest has been my best friend as I envision what my gardens will look like!  I’m hoping to spend a little time on the front yard, too, and start down the path toward creating a cottage style front flower and herb garden.  It will take years to accomplish a lush, full look, but taking one step at a time I’ll make it there eventually. 

Another update - I just ordered an egg incubator!  So pretty soon we'll be hatching quail chicks (from fertilized eggs from a farmer just north of us in town), and once my ducks start mating again we'll hatch out ducklings.  D is really excited about this, and I think L will love it too.  There are quite a few people in our area interested in raising quail and buying quail eggs, so I'll be hatching out as many chicks as I can sell and planning to keep some females to expand our laying flock.  I have a list of people who have purchased quail eggs from me, and hope to get it organized into a weekly "buyers club" once I have enough birds consistently laying for that to make sense. Right now we have ten females who lay about 9 eggs a day.  Once we build our new aviary I should be able to keep 20-30. 

Chicks will be our fun project to bridge the gap between winter and spring!

Happy hot chocolate and seed catalog dreaming!   

        

Five in a Row: Grandfather's Journey

Over the last two weeks we studied two books that take place in Japan: 

Grandfather's Journey and A Pair of Red Clogs. 

Both are excellent stories that D loved to read over and over - and I did too!  That is the mark of a truly good children's story!  Books that my husband and I don't like reading have a tendency to disappear from the house...

We cooked a lot of Japanese food and did a lot of cultural activities between the two books.  

D can easily pick out Japan on a map now.  and trace different ocean routes for travelling to Japan from the United States, thanks to another really wonderful Japanese story we read.  

Here are some of the activities we did as we rowed through Japan!

Grandfather's Journey:

Geography:  We found Japan on our world map and colored it in, and printed a Japanese flag to color.

Grandfather's Journey offered a great introduction to land forms.  Grandfather traveled from Japan, across the ocean and through the American West.  The illustrations show cliffs, the seacoast, plains, rock formations, mountains, valleys, and rivers.  We printed pictures of different landforms for D to color and label and made a land forms book.  He was really into making his pictures realistic and added rocks, trees, bushes and flowers to the scenes.  We also had the chance to talk about how Japan is a series of volcanic islands.  We watched a Discovery video on volcanoes.  We also found a documentary online about how the seacoast is formed and changed by the pressures of the ocean crashing against it.       

Culture: We talked about Japanese music, clothing, and house architecture.  We noticed in the book illustrations how the characters switch back and forth between Western and Japanese clothing as Grandfather and his family traveled.   

 

We cooked Japanese soup and had sushi one afternoon for lunch sitting round our coffee table on cushions, like they showed in the book. We used fresh greens from our garden and fresh quail eggs from our birds.  Neither of my kids really liked the soup or the sushi (more for me!) but they did both try.  While we ate we watched several performances of traditional Japanese dance we found on Youtube. 

 

Social studies: This book was a great start to our transportation board.  Throughout our Kindergarten year we will print and color pictures of the different modes of transportation used in the books and add them to our board.  From Grandfather's Journey we added an old fashioned steamship, a train, and a river steamboat. (we also put on a river row boat like the ones we saw in "Ping")

We created a family tree and talked about the meaning of the word "generation."  The story takes us through three generations: grandfather, his daughter, and his grandson, who is the narrator of the story.  I printed pictures of some of our family members (from off of Facebook), which were not very good quality at all, but it was still a really fun project!  We wrote in other names.  Then added a bunch of different leaves to make it attractive.  It's up on our fridge now!