The Helmstead

10/15/2024

Hey folks, a neighbor of mine has mastered gluten free baked goods and has officially started up a cottage bakery. Check her out!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LaPineOregon/permalink/8737000576390885/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

10/11/2024

Made my very first pineapple upside down cake today. I didn't have any cherries but I had marionberries! Have you baked anything new or different lately?
Ps, Ruby approved.

10/01/2024

Got a wild hair today and plucked some taters precious. There are still some in the ground, but dang, plucking taters is one of our favorite things.

09/27/2024

Been pretty productive here at The Helmstead lately.
Homemade sauerkrat made from homegrown cabbage. (Ive never grown a good cabbage or made kraut)
Sick juice- carrots, ginger, oranges,lemons, apples
Yogurt- you must try it some time
Mexican shrimp cocktail- get in my belly!
Fire cider- immune system booster
Have you been doing any fun projects lately? Food preserving?

08/28/2024

Hawk rolls, pretzels, cookies lemonade, popsicles, rice crispy treats and so much more. Come out and support our homeschool crew today!

EDIT***** ALL SOLD OUT, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE KIDDOS!

08/27/2024

Ruby is blessed to be a part of an amazing group of homeschoolers and their rad moms!. Come by Tomorrow to get some homemade goodies and lemonade. We may or may not ne making big soft pretzels!

08/26/2024

This is always a great feeling. You guys getting your wood in?

08/24/2024

I couldnt add a video to the last post. Here we gooo, 3,2,1, Embarrassment here we come! I might be sticking my butt out too far but I'm working on it and feeling rather confident! The sound the wood makes when you hit it straight on is very addicting.

08/24/2024

One thing I wanted to start working on is being more efficient in my axe swingin. We have a wood splitter, but in the chance I can't get it going, or I run out of fuel. I'd like to get better and more efficient with doing it all by hand. Now, I'm very embarrassed to post a video of myself as my esteem is rather shat currently but I wanted to share that you can do it, go slow and get er done. Also, showing ruby how to correctly and confidently swing . She's getting there.

08/22/2024

Peppers, punkins (yes punkins), horseradish, flowers, Ruby's garden bed and 8' tall Jerusalem artichoke. My raspberries are producing for the first time which is too fun to watch Ruby graze on, along with her baby carrot patch.

08/21/2024

A few new skills and recipes we've learned this last winter/spring/summer...

Yogurt, farmers cheese, mozzarella cheese, pressure canning, water bath canning, dehydrating. Enchilada sauce, fire cider, ketchup, sourdough granola/bars, both canned and refrigerated pickles, salsa, cranberry juice. A few medicinal tinctures and salves. A few ferments as well.

On the list to try soon is homemade shampoo/ conditioner, kombucha again (I've failed 3 times now), kefir, sour cream. There are many many others but here's just a fun little list. I'm thinking of sharing what I'm learning/trying in hopes of enticing others to try some new things, but to also learn from you guys as well.
This last spring Ruby and I ripped out our garden and fencing and rebuilt it all. I have a few more beds to add and finish up my frost cloth frames soon. Perhaps this fall we will start on our 25x75 hoop house that I bought used 3 years ago thats been patiently waiting to be rebuilt. Follow along if you'd like to learn with me, share ideas and basically conquer the world together lol. ❤️

08/21/2024