Twenty7Acres

Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring & ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream -Josephine Nuese For anyone looking to start or continue their own home garden, now is the time to get planning! I like to start with a list of everything I want to grow and then I cross reference with space available in the garden beds... For people entering their second+ growing season, I encourage utilizing crop rotation to help build your soil and minimize the damage of garden pests This is also the time I check my seed stock and plan out the weeks to start my seedlings, when to harden off those seedlings, when to transplant, when to direct sow as well as estimated harvest dates & additional sowings Eeeeeee! Excited over here! Happy planning y’all! #garden #gardening #ontario #backyardgarden #growyourown #growyourownfood #gardenprep #gardener #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #farmlife #homesteadersofinstagram #canadianhomestead #farm #farmliving #gardenlove #hobbyfarm #farmfresh #slowliving #sustainableliving #farmlifebestlife #homegrown #organicgardening #countryside #homesteadinglife #homesteadingmama See more

When the world is at its dismal, dullest, or darkest, your dog will insist on his walk- and cheer you back to sanity -Peter Gray #germanshepherd #dogs #dogsofinstagram #dogsofcanada #farmdog #farmdoglife #walk #walkinthewoods #getoutdoors #getoutside #homestead #homesteader #homesteading #farmstead #thegreatoutdoors #thegreatoutdogs #country #countryliving #countryside

Starting Parsley from Seed Parsley is a slow starter meaning their seeds have a long germination time (can take up to 3+ weeks before they germinate) I’ve had the best success starting parsley seeds by soaking them in water overnight before sowing them thinly over damp soil and tamping them down gently (no further than 1/4 inch deep)... If you’re in a cold climate (such as we are), starting parsley indoors will give your plants more time to mature which will yield you a better harvest, but they can also be direct sown with good success Since parsley is a very cold hardy plant, you can start sowing seeds directly in garden beds 4-6 weeks BEFORE your average last frost date but if you plan to start them indoors, you can start them 6-8 weeks before the average last frost date I plan on growing this parsley exclusively indoors in pots to add some greenery to our windowsill & for easy access when cooking. Then, in April, I will propagate new plants from the established potted parsley for the outdoor gardens Happy seed starting y’all! #garden #gardening #backyardgarden #growyourown #growyourownfood #gardenlife #seedstarting #gardener #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #farmlife #homesteadersofinstagram #canadianhomestead #farm #farmliving #gardenlove #hobbyfarm #ontario #farmfresh #slowliving #sustainableliving #farmlifebestlife #homegrown #organicgardening #countryside #homesteadinglife #homesteadingmama #growwhatyoueat See more

Happy to report that our beloved pooch has made a full recovery from his battle with a coyote about 3 weeks ago Winter is this dog’s favourite season and catching snow from the shovel is his favourite pastime (aside from fetching all things sticks & balls!) It’s such a relief to see him back in optimal health, frolicking around in the snow My children and our dog have renewed my love for snow. While I still don’t particularly enjoy super frigid temperatures, today’s... picturesque landscape is bewitching and I find myself just as enthralled with the newly fallen snow as the rest of the family Happy snow day y’all #snowday #winterwonderland #ontario #snow #germanshepherd #dogsofinstagram #farmdog #farmdoglife #farmlife #farmlifebestlife #homestead #farmstead #canadianwinter #canadian #homesteading #homesteader #homesteadersofinstagram #playinginthesnow #getoutside See more

And so it begins... By the end of the summer, we have had our fair share of fresh, raw vegetables and look forward to using all our preserves in warm, hearty comfort dishes By January we’ve made a good dent in our reserves and I begin to miss the satisfying crunch of fresh lettuce... I also really miss the feel & smell of good ‘ol dirt So yesterday afternoon was spent planting some lettuce & herbs in the greenhouse (where it was a beautiful 17 degrees) that I’ll continue to grow indoors Can’t wait to have the first bite of fresh, homegrown lettuce in a few short weeks Happy Sunday y’all! #garden #gardening #backyardgarden #growyourown #growyourownfood #gardenlife #gardener #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #farmlife #greenhouse #ontario #homesteadersofinstagram #canadianhomestead #farm #farmliving #gardenlove #hobbyfarm #farmfresh #slowliving #sustainableliving #farmlifebestlife #homegrown #organicgardening #countryside #homesteadinglife #homesteadingmama #wintergarden #growwhatyoueat See more

Prepping Raspberries for Winter For now, the only preparation needed for your raspberry canes is to protect the new growth from harsh winter conditions & from pests that like to eat the plant’s stems (like rabbits). In late winter, pruning will be required to ensure a healthy, bountiful harvest the following season Raspberry roots & crowns are perennial but their canes are biennial (they live for only 2 years). In the first year, they emerge as green primocanes and fo...rm fruiting buds. If your raspberries are a summer-bearing variety, these buds won’t produce fruit until the next year whereas ever-bearing varieties will produce a small fall crop from the tops of these canes while the lower portion remains dormant until the following season In their second year, the canes are called floricanes and the previous year’s buds turn into fruiting branches. As the fruit ripens, the floricanes’ leaves turn red or yellow and they start to die as winter approaches. The spent floricanes will predominantly be your main concern when pruning in late winter According to research conducted at Cornell University, dying floricanes send carbohydrates to the crown and roots well into winter, helping the plant survive dormancy so we don’t prune our plants until late February or early March Until then, we wrap our raspberries in burlap (this year we have repurposed our wind break instead) to protect the new growth from severe winter conditions and to deter any garden pests that may try to eat their bark. Alternatively, you can push the new floricanes down to the ground and bury them in soil (though you’ll have to do this way BEFORE the snow comes to stay unlike us who waited until AFTER) Sleep tight little raspberries! #garden #gardening #backyardgarden #growyourown #growyourownfood #gardenlife #gardener #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #farmlife #homesteadersofinstagram #farmstead #canadianhomestead #farm #farmliving #hobbyfarm #iamamodernfarmer #farmfresh #slowliving #sustainableliving #farmlifebestlife #homegrown #organicgardening #countryside #homesteadinglife #homesteadingmama #fallgarden #growwhatyoueat #gardenprep See more

Pickling is an easy way to preserve your fresh vegetables We had half of a red cabbage sitting in our fridge that was going to spoil if I didn’t use it quickly so I chopped it up and put it in a basic brine that will allow it to keep for another month or so in our fridge (or for an entire year+ if I use a hot water bath) A basic brine consists of vinegar, water, and salt. I usually use 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup water, & 1 tsp salt as a ratio. This is an excellent base and ...then you can adjust seasonings & volume as needed The variations are endless- you can use any type of vinegar (white, rice, apple cider, etc) and can add whichever herbs & spices you want to elevate it (sugar, garlic, mustard seeds, cumin, coriander, chili flakes, dill, etc). Seriously, the options are limitless Pickled vegetables are also incredibly versatile. You can use them in tacos, wraps, & sandwiches, to top soups & stews, and they are a lovely addition to a cheese or charcuterie board Happy pickling y’all! #wastenothing #wastenotwantnot #foodpreservation #pickling #backyardgarden #growyourown #growyourownfood #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #farmlife #homesteadersofinstagram #canadianhomestead #farm #farmliving #hobbyfarm #farmfresh #slowliving #sustainableliving #farmlifebestlife #homegrown #organicgardening #countryside #homesteadinglife #homesteadingmama #eatwhatyougrow #homesteadingcanada See more

Happy sunny Saturday It’s the first weekend of the new year and the weather is cooperating with our plans to get some outdoor work done! Wood chopping, tree felling, coop cleaning, greenhouse repairs & garden planning are all on the agenda ... What does your first weekend of the new year look like? #garden #gardening #backyardgarden #gardenprep #growyourownfood #newyear #ontario #gardenersworld #gardener #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #farmlife #homesteadersofinstagram #canadianhomestead #farm #farmliving #gardenlove #hobbyfarm #iamamodernfarmer #farmfresh #slowliving #sustainableliving #farmlifebestlife #homegrown #organicgardening #countryside #homesteadinglife #homesteadingmama #growwhatyoueat See more

This morning I used the last of my breast milk storage bags for freezing the rest of a marinara sauce I made this week and old yogurt containers for freezing lunch size portions of leftover homemade chicken soup One of the former versions of myself used to throw away everything. If I was done with it in it’s original state, it was gone. I lacked the imagination and creativity to see the many different uses my garbage possessed When we shifted our priorities and started... living off only one income, minimizing waste and maximizing every dollar spent became pertinent I save everything now: old flooring, cardboard boxes, empty food containers, scrap wood, ripped dish rags, cracked patio stones & bricks, outgrown clothing, used feed bags, toilet paper rolls. The list goes on and on. I’m a regular ol’ pack rat now! It’s a wonderful feeling to give old things a new purpose! Happy hoarding y’all! #wastenothing #wastenotwantnot #reducereuserecycle #repurpose #packrat #garbage #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #homesteadingmama #homesteadinglife #farm #farmstead #farmlifebestlife #country #countryliving #countrylife #sustainability See more

I wonder if the snow loves the trees & fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; And perhaps it says, ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again -Lewis Carroll Anyone else feeling a little sleepy these days? I know I’m struggling to find the motivation to do much of anything lately My energy level always plummets this time of year when the daylight is short-lived and the weather gets colder... Normally, I try to combat it, but this year I’m doing my best to embrace it knowing full well that the busy growing season won’t allow me the latitude to rest & relax as I can now Still, sitting idly doesn’t come easily to me so this is yet another opportunity to grow & learn; to plan & prepare; and to become further connected with nature Wishing everyone a rejuvenating & restful Thursday! #winterwonderland #rest #ontario #canadianwinter #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #farmlife #homesteadersofinstagram #canadianhomestead #farm #farmliving #hobbyfarm #farmfresh #slowliving #sustainableliving #farmlifebestlife #homegrown #countryside #homesteadinglife #homesteadingmama #homesteadingcanada See more

Tick PSA! We found this dead, blood-filled tick in our home this week despite consistent full body checks on every member of our household In Ontario, pets & people need protection from ticks from beginning of March to end of November AT A MINIMUM... Tick activity is temperature driven, not seasonal. The temperature must be below freezing during the day for several consecutive days before ticks become inactive. Any day it’s above freezing, ticks come out of hiding in search for a meal According to the RYAH, nation & province-wide about 1 in 5 deer ticks carry the bacteria Borrelia Burgdorferi which causes Lyme disease. But in certain areas where these deer ticks have been established for a number of years, as many as 40% of them carry Borrelia It can take as little as 24 hours for the black-legged tick to transmit the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, so the sooner you remove the tick, the better Tick-borne diseases are serious, but preventable: Pets can be given preventative medications, people can use appropriate clothing & bug spray, and by performing full-body tick checks after being outdoors We follow all the above recommendations and still have found ourselves with a tick that was obviously attached to someone in our household You can submit ticks to a provincial Public Health facility for testing in provinces that accept submissions. Contact your local Public Health facility for detailed instructions on how to submit as they vary based on location Public Health will identify the type of tick and will forward any black-legged ticks to the National Microbiology Lab (NML) Submitting a tick for identification & testing will not lead to diagnosis or treatment, but it will provide further information on how the ticks are spreading & the risk of exposure Stay safe y’all! #tickprevention #ontario #lymedisease #thegreatoutdoors #homestead #homesteading #homesteader #farmlife #homesteadersofinstagram #canadianhomestead #farm #farmliving #countryside #homesteadinglife #homesteadingmama See more

Last night was a bit intense... Our ferocious farm dog got into a bit of a battle with a coyote less than 100 feet from our front door It was only about 5:30pm, but darkness had already settled in so we couldn’t see much but it was quite a commotion as you can imagine... Our daughter let our dog outside as per usual only this time he jetted off our back deck like a bat out of hell, barking profusely The barking was immediately followed by an unpleasant altercation- lots of snarling, barking, and snapping sounds Then yelping. Painful yelping. My heart sank as I was terrified it was our dog who was hurt My husband raced to get to him, but it was a short lived battle. Our fierce protector emerged from the darkness limping and we quickly got him back inside to assess any injuries Luckily, it seems that aside from a sore leg and a small gash below his right eye, our beloved pooch is ok. That coyote yelped for another solid 20 minutes after the incident so I’d like to believe that our dog got the better of him It’s unnerving to me to have the coyotes coming this close to our home with two small children and a dog. Our neighbour’s trail camera has been picking up images of them during daylight (and my husband has seen them from his home office as posted earlier this week) It’s a good reminder to be on alert. I had become too comfortable on our property. I became acclimatized to country living compartmentalizing that wild animals are, well, wild and will do what they need to survive. I stupidly had stopped carrying some form of protection with me while out & about on the property. Lesson learned. This could have been much worse Our loyal guardian was rewarded for his heroics with a can of sardines, some chicken feet & necks and all the room he wanted on our king bed. And I’m certain he’ll be spoiled at the vet clinic after his check-up too. So much love for this doggie- lots & lots of love See more