The latest darling in my dye pot is acorn natural dye. The acorns produced the perfect pewter gray shade for dyeing wool yarn. Gray is the perfect neutral shade. It pairs with almost any color, and can be used for baby gifts, toy elephants and dolphins. Gray is perfect for both men's and women's clothing and outerwear. Needless to say, I am quite happy with my latest experiments and glad to share my method with you. Preparing the Acorn Natural Dye Acorn natural dye is a fall dye that does … [Read more...]
Harvesting Natural Dye Plants
Fall is the perfect time to harvest natural dye plants and store for later use. While not all dye plants store well after being cut or gathered, quite a few will yield color just as well later, as they will fresh. You may have grown some of the plants on this list in your natural dye flower garden. If the plant contains the dye in it's roots, fall is the time for harvesting. Each dye plant has it's own specific way to harvest natural dye. When the plant, flower or nut are also food for the … [Read more...]
Three Things Chickens Don’t Need For Winter (and three that they do!)
When raising chickens naturally, there are three things chickens don't need for winter. I know it's hard to believe that chickens can and do make it through the winter months, even in very cold climates, without our interfering. How can a chicken possibly survive the cold and reach the warmer spring months healthy and happy? Because this happens over and over. Chickens all over the world weather the winter without these three things chickens don't need for winter. What are … [Read more...]
Saving Pumpkin Seeds in 5 Easy Steps
Should you bother saving pumpkin seeds when you cut into your harvest jack o lantern? When your plans include eating pumpkin seeds or planting pumpkin seeds the steps are similar. The first thing you notice when you cut into the top of your pumpkin is all the stringy, gooey pumpkin guts. You scoop all that mess out and plop it on a pile of newspapers covering the table. Now what? Chickens and Pigs Love Pumpkin Guts and Seeds! All those seeds, at the very least, are a great snack … [Read more...]
Cooking Peaches, Preserved, Baked and Delicious
Cooking Peaches- The Ultimate Summer Fruit Summer fruit brings to mind tomatoes, nectarines, plums, peaches and more. My favorite remains peaches. For sweetness and aroma cooking peaches can't be beat. Preserving this summer goodness is easy. While you're at it, save enough to enjoy now with ice cream, fruit toppings, fresh fruit salsa and in baked goods. Start with fresh ripe peaches with little to no overly ripe soft spots. Choose for the delicious aroma, also. … [Read more...]
