Blog

You actually can’t grow a chipotle pepper, because it isn’t a type of pepper in itself. A chipotle pepper is a Jalapeño pepper that has been allowed to ripen andContinue reading “Growing Chipotle Peppers!”

Rhubarb actually a vegetable with second year harvest! I planted a crown in early Fall 2023, but have previously had established plants that went gangbusters! Rhubarb likes a rich compost/manureContinue reading “3 Perennial Vegetables that you need to plant now!”

This year I took the leap into dehydrating. In the Essential Homesteading Skills Survey I did, I found that drying meats herbs, fruit and vegetables for storage in the pantryContinue reading “Adventures in Dehydrating”

Last Saturday we took the opportunity while the rain stopped, to get into the back country and go mushroom hunting! New to this as we are, Alex and I packedContinue reading “Mushroom Hunting October 2023!”

I recently had the opportunity to check on a friend place while he was away, and was instructed to pick as many figs as I like as they spoil quicklyContinue reading “Fancy Fig Preserve with Balsamic Vinegar and Honey”

July was perfect weather for the sun loving veggies, August saw a few things bolt, but it was nowhere near as hot as Kelowna on the last weekend in July,Continue reading “September Garden Update”

I planted some onions this year from onion sets that I purchased locally. They are Yellow Sweet Spanish Onions which I understood from the lady who sold them to me,Continue reading “Small Onions…why? And what to do about it”

After an unsuccessful Onion Harvest this year, I’ve started looking at companion planting for next year so I can be ready for next Spring and hopefully generate higher yields, betterContinue reading “Companion Planting for Vegetable Gardens”

For more updates follow me on instagram @moonsnailmicrostead The heat is finally here with temperatures pushing 30°C this week! The garden as sprung to new heights in the last coupleContinue reading “July Garden Update 2023”

The last frost date is fast approaching and its time to get the tomatoes, peppers and greens going for the garden. But, going to be away for a couple ofContinue reading “Do it Yourself – Self Watering Seed Beds & Grow Light Frame”

I am trying to work through some of last years fruit from my freezer. These scones will help if you’re interested in doing the same thing! Lots of sweetness fromContinue reading “Sourdough Discard Blueberry Scones”

I had to move again! That’s two summers in a row, but I’m stoked to be in a permanent location at last. I’ve been installing garden boxes which has involvedContinue reading “Update from the Garden! Building Beds and Starting Seeds!”

I hate kitchen waste with a passion, everything gets used if possible and when I’ve squeezed the last scraps out of the carcass or the vegetables they either go inContinue reading “No Waste Christmas Pastry!”

I’ve had a few close encounters of the overcooked kind with my instant pot, but thanks to more seasoned pressure cooking chefs, I’m gradually learning to get a long withContinue reading “The Best Instant Pot Chicken Broth”

The easiest way to get going with a sourdough starter is when someone gifts some to you, but if you have to start your own, here is how! It takesContinue reading “How to Make Sourdough Starter – A foolproof method”

Getting a sourdough starter going is a labour of love and maintaining it too! You have to take care of it like you would a plant, it needs to beContinue reading “Troubleshooting Sourdough Starter”

These cheese scones are a great way to use your sourdough discard, I developed these for my friend Liz who frequently laments the poor quality of coffee shop scones. Liz,Continue reading “Perfect Cheese Scones with sourdough discard”

My sourdough starter is called Marletta. She’s 33 years old and was gifted to me by a friend of a friend. I love her. Having tried and failed to getContinue reading “Easy Sourdough Bread, Everything you need to know”

Blackberry season is here, and as with the Stanley Cup play offs you have to sacrifice your body to get the best fruit. I’ve been out battling the brambles andContinue reading “Foraging for Blackberry Jelly! Two Ingredient Recipe!”

I learned a lot about garlic this year. I had to plant in the greenhouse because I was dealing with a rodent issue in the autumn and planing outside wasn’tContinue reading “Free Garlic!?! Harvest and more!”

Since I came from the city to my microstead on the Sunshine Coast, I had to make some big changes. I’m a fairly practical person but I’ve been surprised byContinue reading “Essential Homesteading Skills Survey”

Pet Bed  Old Chest  Beer Caddy  Trays Community Garden Box

Going crazy at home? Trying to keep your kids occupied while making sure they don’t interact with other people? Yeah that’s fun….said no parent ever! While you’re self isolating thanksContinue reading “5 Up-cycled Crafts to do with Your Kids”

If like me you’ve tried to take your recycling down and found it overflowing this year, you might want to try something new for next year to reduce waste andContinue reading “3 Post Christmas Up-Cycling Hacks”

If you’re staring down the barrel of a weight loss resolution you know you will fail at in a matter of weeks, try pledging to do better by the planetContinue reading “10 New Years Resolutions Everyone Should Make”

Aside from all the usual holiday, girl meets boy, comedy ensues, they fall in love etc. Movies you may get dragged into, perhaps this holiday season is the time forContinue reading “3 films for the planet that you need to see this holiday season”

We’ve all seen Mason Jars adapted in to wedding centre pieces, lunch boxes and candles but here’s the ultimate hipster guide to using these versatile jars in ever aspect ofContinue reading “10 Uses for Mason Jars You Need to Know!”

On average, Canada generates 720 kg of waste per capita (see the average by province). Yikes! The grocery store is one place you can quickly reduce that number by makingContinue reading “Zero Waste Grocery Shopping”

From skeptic to convert, a small investment for a big payout! Black gold: your own compost in an apartment!

There’s a lot of negativity surrounding being stuck indoors while we quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19, but there is plenty you can do while at home that willContinue reading “5 Creative Things You Can Do in Quarantine”

I received a calendar from the Anglican Communion Environmental Network covering the season of Lent, each day with a suggestion of how to use less plastic. Why? Well it turnsContinue reading “The Religion of Less Plastic”

Picture by Photo by Shanna Camilleri on Unsplash Visiting Powell River this past weekend, I was stunned to find up-cycling in the heart of the town site where the pulp and paper millContinue reading “Up-Cycling Fashion PowTown Style: A Review of Eunoia”

We continue our journey to living a cleaner life and we’ve been inspired by the recent decision in Vancouver to ban all plastic straws. Single use plastics are the latestContinue reading “The Last Straw: Zero Waste at Home, a Quick Inventory with Solutions”

Christmas is fast approaching, and like lots of families, we find our budget not only stretched, but when people ask what we would like for Christmas, they’re met with aContinue reading “Waste and Wonder, 7 Sustainability Tips for Christmas”

When it comes to minimizing your impact on the planet, a lot of people feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. A simple way to start thinking more aboutContinue reading “The 5 R’s of sustainable living — Dream a Little Green with Me”

What the heck, our garbage recycling room looks like one of the floating islands in the Pacific Ocean! Garbage and plastic everywhere, no pick-ups and a provider reusing to take the bins unless they are properly sorted. Who puts a loaf of bread in a glass bin?!?