two branches homestead

 

This blog has been a long time coming. I have been wanting to get a new blog out for our loyal, as well as new, followers, but our fellow homesteaders will agree that finding the time between August and October is nearly impossible because……It’s Harvest Season!

My husband recently shared a post with me that he saw on social media that said something to the effect of, “Check on us, we are not ok, It’s Harvest Season”. We got a giggle out of that because it hit the nail right on the head! I have shared a bit about myself in previous blogs (if you need a good laugh, read our blog, “Adventures in Homesteading, a not-so-country girl’s perspective”). I am not the brains of this operation. I can’t grow anything. Not even a weed. However, I can preserve in all ways possible and cook just about anything. And, when the brains starts to bring our bounty into the house, it can get a bit overwhelming. In fact, I am just now seeing the surface of our kitchen table that I have not seen in about 2 months. I am not complaining here, but I am sure those who live this life understand what a daunting task it can be to process all our food for the year in a matter of days. This food is perishable. Tomatoes can only sit around for a limited amount of time and time is not always on our side, especially since we both work regular jobs in addition to keeping the homestead going.

Don’t judge, but yes, this was my kitchen table!

So this Harvest Season, I had a bit of an attitude adjustment. I am not going to lie, I am thinking to myself…”if he brings in one more tomato…..”, but at the same time, I am so thankful and grateful that our food is lovingly raised and grown here on Two Branches Homestead, which is where my attitude adjustment came in. I heard something recently, not even sure where, but instead of saying to yourself, “this is what I have to do today” change the wording to “this is what I get to do today”. Some of my days can be hours upon hours in the kitchen cutting, peeling, chopping, de-seeding, cooking, canning, etc.

Let me give you a glimpse into a typical mid-harvest season day:

On this particular week, this same corn process was done several days in a row…..Peel the corn, place each cob in boiling water for exactly 1 minute and remove directly to ice water to stop the cooking. I found that a cheap, and I mean dollar-store cheap, chip and dip bowl works perfectly for this job. I just invert a bowl over the “dip” part. After cutting the corn off the cob with a very sharp knife, place in a single layer on a cooking sheet covered in wax paper or foil and freeze. Once frozen, transfer to freezer bags. I prefer freezing our corn, but if you prefer to can it, got for it. Remember? It’s what you get to do today, not what you have to do! I am already thinking about our home grown corn as a side dish for Thanksgiving…..

Nothing beats homestead raised pork chops with home grown, picked and homemade applesauce in January!

Lots of prep, blanching and freezing on this particular day….have you ever seen a more beautiful carrot or green bean? Those colors are just stunning.

Onions were also braided, just a typical 3 strand braid here, adding in an onion at a time

And the day ended with a pot of sauce, home grown, hand peeled and seeded tomatoes, of course, with pork stuffed cabbage. Amazing!

We run into a lot of people who often ask us “how do you do it?” and “how do you find the time?”. It’s not easy, and some days I am not sure how we do it. We just do. We are a really good team and knowing that “I got to do all of this today” so that I can feed my family our own home raised and grown food in the middle of our long Northeast winters makes it all worth it.

So give yourself and attitude adjustment too, as I have found that it applies in many aspects of life, not just homesteading. It has made me a better person, wife, mother and “Homestead Momma”.