Howdy!

[Myrth]

I joined this site years ago and then forgot about it. I stumbled back on it and have been reading a bit. I figured I would stop lurking and actually post.

I am a long-time homesteader, organic gardener, chicken wrangler, etc. We live in rural Illinois.

 

[Myrth]

Thanks, all, for the welcome!

We raise a lot of fruits, cherries, apples, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, mulberries, rose hips, elderberries, etc.

My veggie gardening is moving to raised beds - easier on me. I focus on greens, herbs, beans, tomatoes and squashes, primarily. Also potatoes. I used to raise a lot of corn but haven't planted any in several years. I will probably plant it again next year on a smaller scale. Some years I raise sweet potatoes also. Didn't this year.

I also love flowers - we have lots of those too. I say they are for the bees, and they are - I have something in bloom for the pollinators all through the growing season. If you keep the bees fed and healthy, they will keep you fed. But the flowers also feed my spirit.

I garden organically. I compost all manure and feed the plants with that.

 

[Myrth]

I think I am out of moderation status now.

 

[milkmansdaughter]

So does @CrealCritter.

Welcome from Alabama!

Welcome to the group. I'll be looking forward to seeing more posts from you. I'm relatively new to this so I've still got a lot to learn. I love talking to others,who have been living this way longer than I have!

 

[Beekissed]

Welcome from WV! I love flowers too and love to see happy bees and butterflies working them....makes me feel good to have fed them.

What kind and how many chickens to you raise? For meat/eggs or both? Can't wait to see pics of your homestead!

 

[Myrth]

@Beekissed - Had to start over with chickens due to a predator disaster.

We re-worked the chicken home, and hopefully it is safe now. I got buff Orpingtons this time around - had some years ago and loved them. We keep chickens mostly for eggs. They are 5 weeks old, so we are a long way from eggs.

 

[sumi]

Gosh, sorry to hear about the predator issue. They can devastate a flock. Been there…

Your garden sounds lovely and I'm with you on the flowers. They are so lovely to have around and attract bees and butterflies, so what's not to love? I only planted a few things this year as it's my first summer on this property and I moved in to a hot mess of a backyard, but I made time and beds for roses, sunflowers and sweet peas.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Welcome from New Hampshire!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Hey Myrth - glad to have you back! We'd love to hear more about your adventures in homesteading! Welcome, from Texas!

 

[BarredBuff]

Welcome to SufficientSelf! I just came back too! Been out of the homesteading business for a while and have came back to it.