Growing tomatoes in cold climate and harvesting ripe tomatoes in the summer is something we write a lot about here at Northern Homestead. Today we are sharing a 'growing tomatoes summer update' in pictures. Starting from seeds, planting and harvesting ripe tomatoes in July. This (2019) is a good ...
Animal-Free Homestead
Technically we are not an animal-free homestead, we have always had some pets. It started with our daughter wanting a bunny. Over the years we have had several bunnies, a guinea pig, a hamster, and several cats. The real homesteading animals that we have raised were chickens before we gave up on ...
Gardening Without Pain
Just over a year ago gardening without pain was a dream for me. After an x-ray, I knew it was nothing acute but just a beginning of a painful road ahead. If what I felt was early osteoarthritis, I knew I did not want to go any farther with it. The joint stiffness hindered me to bend over, and the ...
Geodesic Dome Greenhouse Garden Update
We have been growing a Geodesic Dome Greenhouse garden since 2011, it's time for an update on what we like most on this greenhouse. Our first GeoDome was an 18-foot all wood structure with windows and a door. It had a water tank and passive heating and cooling using a car radiator. We ...
Making Progress on One Thing a Day
You know the feeling when there are not enough hours in a day, you are always behind trying to keep up with personal, job and home chores. If you would need a single management tip that was to help you to accomplish more and feel great at the same time, here it is: Making progress on one thing a ...
How to Freeze Herbs
Fresh herbs from the garden are so aromatic and delicious. However, the time frame when fresh herbs like parsley, basil, cilantro, and dill are at its best is short. To preserve the freshness for longer, herbs can be frozen. Here is how to freeze herbs. What herbs to freeze All herbs can be ...
Whole Grain Dinner Buns Recipe
Homemade, fresh from the oven, whole grain dinner buns are a real treat. I first learned to make buns from my mom. However, her’s were not whole grain. So I started to twist the recipe and created my own. For years, I used the same recipe that became famous as Anna Rolls. After we started eating ...
Rainwater Harvesting for Use in the Garden
Water is an essential need in the garden. Rainwater harvesting for use in the garden helps us to use water that would otherwise go to waste. We have been collecting rainwater for many years in different ways and places. Here we share some of our experiences. The rainwater Rainwater is free, fairly ...
Preparing and Storing Canning Jars
The canning season is a busy time of the year. Preparing and storing canning jars so that they are ready to be refilled helps a lot. Yes, it eliminates a few steps of work during the cunning season. This can be done all throughout the winter as jars get emptied out, or beforehand in spring. Just ...
Dry Spring Challenge in the Garden
Planting seeds into something that feels more like dust than soil, is a common thing here in Alberta. With over 300 days of sunshine a year we do not get much of rain at any time. Spring, however, often feels especially dry. Here we share how we deal with the dry spring weather challenge in the ...