by Texas Homesteader ~
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RancherMan & I drink coffee that comes in a handy lidded container. But I’ve been on a constant quest to find ways to use them once they’re empty.
But as gardening season hits in full swing, I’m reminded of another great use. Check out this Homestead Hack.
by Texas Homesteader ~
Aaaahhhh, gardening in Texas. July and August are certainly the biggest challenge months of the year. You’ve gotten a good start on your garden but the heat & humidity typically hits HARD in July!
Even with a few surprising struggles this year, I still have had a few successes. Come see how we’re faring here in our zone 8 veggie garden.
by Texas Homesteader ~
We love garlic. And thankfully it’s easy to grow garlic in our NE Texas garden. It adds a healthy yet powerful flavor to our food. We especially love it with Tex-Mex flavored dishes.
I recently harvested the garlic from our garden. I’ll allow it to cure for several weeks and then I typically hang whole garlic heads in my pantry. That garlic will be ready and waiting to be used at a moment’s notice.
But I grow & harvest lots of garlic every year. There’s no way I can use it all fresh before it goes bad. So to preserve some of the garlic further I also like to keep a jar filled with peeled garlic cloves in my freezer.
But ugh, peeling that many cloves is going to be a long, sticky chore, right?
Come see how I can peel whole heads of garlic cloves in seconds.
by Texas Homesteader ~
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Well guys, my garden was put behind schedule this year. I thought it was due to a colder/wetter than normal spring. There was plenty of water, but no warmth or sunshine!
But now that it’s starting to dry out a bit & warm up too, things are finally starting to grow. Still the garden’s lagging behind is a mystery. But I think I may have finally figured it out. 
by Texas Homesteader
It was with high hopes in late winter that I planted my indoor greenhouse with my heirloom seeds. Those seeds sprouted into tiny seedlings and I anxiously planted them in my garden immediately after Easter (as is recommended in our planting zone 8 here in NE Texas.)
But the strange spring weather battled with my tender seedlings.
by Texas Homesteader ~
I’ve always heard in our area of NE Texas (planting zone 8) that you don’t dare plant until after Easter because a rogue frost can still swing through & kill your tender plants. Oh my goodness it was so hard for me to wait! So to pacify my need to garden I planted up my Indoor Greenhouse weeks ago. As I watched those tiny seedlings sprout I just got more excited.
Then I sat back & waited (im)patiently for Easter. Then the big day arrived, FINALLY I was able to plant – woo-hoo! Here is my April veggie garden update:
by Texas Homesteader ~
Spring is almost here, y’all! I’ve been both planning on as well as working in my garden already. I’ve had a system in place for years for keeping weeds and grass out of my garden’s walkways, but now I actually have something to keep grass & weeds out of the planting rows too. Less weeding? Yes please! Plus it will still help to conserve moisture & also attract earthworms. SCORE! All garden goodness right there!
See what’s going on in our garden this month…
by Texas Homesteader ~
Spring is on the way, y’all! And I’m sure I’m not the only one getting antsy to get in the garden, am I?? LOL.
But as you know, much must still be done before that time comes. There are still lots of preparations to be made first. So this week’s 5 Frugal Things is aaaaaall about saving money with the garden. Come see 5 things I’ve done this week to save some cold, hard cash!
