The weather has finally started to change here in upstate New York. The maple trees are producing sweet sap that we turn into maple syrup. The robins have also returned and so has the mud. The spring means its time to get back to work after a long snowy winter. The coop needs to be cleaned out and the droppings
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When we think of homesteading, we often think of hard work and the simple pleasures. Two essential ingredients in our homestead are coffee and beer. One gets the day going and the other pushes you to get to the finish line. The thought of an ice cold beer as a reward will get you through the last chores of the
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We have always had a love affair with fermenting things here on the homestead. It all started years ago with our first batch of pickles, and then moved on to sauerkraut, beer and most recently wine. The real draw for us is making things that you can’t buy in the store. A fresh batch of homemade kraut is unlike anything
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Pruning Grape Vines One of my favorite things to do on the homestead is pruning the grape vines in our small vineyard. We have 50 vines of Marquette grapes that we use to make delicious homemade wine. We also have two Niagara grape vines for jelly. Pruning is done once the vines are dormant. We usually prune on a warm
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two branches homestead 