Blog

Canning, freezing and drying!
All Summer long I have been busy putting up food. I have canned many quarts of vegetables, fruit, pickles and relishes. Some of which I have entered in County Fairs.That is a lot of fun!The last part of August I planted a second crop of lettuce and spinach. It has been very dry here so that needs to be watered twice a day.My dill and millet have been harvested when totally dry. I seperated the dill seed from the plant and stored it in a cool dry location.That is seed... Read more →
Loaded Apple trees Our Cider Press Project
Planting Apple trees was one of our first projects after buying our land roughly 30 years ago. I have always wanted a cider press, but they seemed so expensive. Many homestead projects are best solved one step at a time. Just keep looking for opportunities to piece together what you want. If you had unlimited money, you could shop for the best. If you had unlimited ability to fabricate, you could build what ever you wanted. Like most everyone else, I am some where in between. This article will... Read more →
Now Harvesting!
The garden has been a challenge this year. First we had a long dry spell followed by many excessive rains. One of the downpours was like a cloud burst! This meant many of my small seeds,that had not yet sprouted, were washed away. So I replanted again and again. Finally all is well and the crops are growing nicely. Unfornately so are the weeds. I spend many hours a day in my garden. Sometimes losing track of time. I enjoy being out doors and love to hear the birds singing.... Read more →
Now Seed for Security is an LLC!
Recently Seed for Security has become an LLC. This is just a change in the legal name of my business. There are no other changes in my day-to-day operations. I continue to grow, process and ship seeds and my son volunteers to serve as webmaster. Seed for Security, LLC will continue to offer free homesteading articles, photos, and videos as well as new products in the coming years just as we have been doing since 2007. Read more →
Garden started!
My first crops are planted! Usually I plan to get my peas, spinach,beets,lettuce,onions and dill planted by April 1st. This year the soil was too wet so I had to wait for a couple of weeks.There are still small piles of snow near our garden gate. We had a bitterly cold snowy Winter. Spring has never been more welcome! I also set out my cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts plants. They are doing well. Yesterday there were many showers around. The rain was just perfect for freshly set out plants.In... Read more →
Plants started!
The end of February I started my California Wonder Peppers, Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage, and Moss Curled Parsley.The seeds were sown in pots using a soilless germinating mix.They have come up nicely. I have 2 grow lights set to almost touch the tiny plants. Having the grow lights very close to the plants makes the plants have strong sturdy stems. Next week I will start my Beefsteak Tomato plants.This cycle of plant, grow, and harvest keeps us in a steady supply of the freshest seeds. Read more →
Red Winged Black Birds!
The month of February was incredibly cold and lots of snow too. Usually by now the Red Winged Blackbirds have returned from down South. Not this year. I told a friend of mine that if they come back now they will need boots and snow shovels! I can not wait to hear their song! Read more →
Cold!
The temperature was 12 degrees this morning. Plenty cold! A good day to stay close by my stove while I work. Latter this afternoon I will roast a turkey in my kitchen wood stove. Life is good! Read more →
Late Harvest!
It is the middle of November and I have just harvested my turnips and beets. I scrubbed them with a brush using plenty of cool water.They are being stored in my refrigerator. I boil,roast or use my turnips in stews.The beets will be boiled or roasted. A sweet nutritious treat for Winter! Read more →
Canning done!
Finally all of our canning is done for the year. It was a great year for so many vegetables.Our jars are full!! We still have turnips, beets, spinach, lettuce and dill growing for a nice Fall crop. Read more →