| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Sep 09 2025 : 09:01:49 AM
I'm starting a new thread.
We can share what we are baking, sewing, planting, or prepping.
Autumn begins the 22nd. The month of August flew by and although I prepped something for freezer/pantry almost daily, I feel there is much more to do.
I don't sew or knit. but a warm yummy knitted sweater would be a need for winter.
I am planting Autumn crops-broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, pole beans, sugar snaps and carrots.
I am waiting for a very GOOD sale on winter squash(pests took out my plants)
I need more soil for raised beds and straw to keep them warm.
What are you doing to get ready for next season?
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| debbieklann |
Posted - May 03 2026 : 07:20:13 AM
I have my potatoes planted, just waiting for them to pop up. I added more plants to my strawberry patch. My tomatoes should be here soon so I can get them planted. I have plans for lots of canned tomatoes and sauce. I will definitely need to do a couple more dried batches of peaches this year, more than last year. And I think our apple trees will finally yield enough fruit this year for applesauce!
Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl of the Year
"Well behaved women seldom make history"....Laurel Thatcher Ulrich |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - May 02 2026 : 2:10:38 PM
Time flew by again! Into the month of May. What are you growing in the garden, container or window box? Preservation goals this year? Last year I missed out buying strawberries from local farmer. This year I bought a bucket, just over 5 pounds. Now I have 5 jars of strawberry jam on shelf. And I made a syrup from the tops.
With all that is going on I have my brain thinking of how to save more of what I grow. And save money.
We don't eat out-money saved
Drying clothes outside in warmer months-money saved on electricity
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| nubidane |
Posted - Mar 18 2026 : 6:02:59 PM
You can also easily make with heavy whipping cream. In the past, I have bought heavy whipping cream on the cheap and made butter for pennies.
If you can find whipping cream that is near or even beyond the sell by date, go for it! |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Mar 16 2026 : 2:41:20 PM
That sounds pretty easy, Heather. I will have to give it a try here soon.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| nndairy |
Posted - Mar 15 2026 : 11:04:47 AM
Making butter is super easy! The hardest part for me is getting the cream. The bulk tank that stores the milk has a thermostat to keep it cold. It also stirs it. In the winter it stays cooler longer so I can usually skim some cream off the top. That's why I make a bunch of butter in the winter. All I do is dump a quart of cream into my kitchen aid mixer, attach the whisk, cover it really well with a dish towel, turn it on low until it's foamy, then turn it on high, and wait until the butter is made. There will be little bits of butter floating around in milk when it's ready. I strain it (keeping the butter milk for other uses). Then I rinse it - make sure to use cold water! Rinse it, and rinse it some more. After it's well rinsed I squish it back and forth between my hands to get all the trapped milk out of it. There are other ways you can do that, but I just use my hands. Depending on the day and my mood sometimes I put it in molds, sometimes I just weigh it and make it into a ball. Then I wrap it in freezer paper, put it in a mylar bag, and store it in the deep freeze until I need it.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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| Nancy Joplin |
Posted - Mar 14 2026 : 2:27:59 PM
I want to know how to make my own butter, too, Heather!
Nancy 8352
FGOTM Oct 2024 |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Mar 14 2026 : 04:45:13 AM
Heather do tell us how you make butter?
Severe storm season getting an early start. I'll be hunting yard sales for extra camping supplies, tarps, ect on the cheap
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Mar 13 2026 : 3:44:09 PM
Heather, I am really wanting to make my own butter this year. I use so much of it with all my baking.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| nndairy |
Posted - Mar 11 2026 : 5:59:35 PM
It's too early to put anything in the garden here. Way to go on stocking up on butter and tea! I'm so blessed to make my own butter. I've been stocking up too :) Thanks for the advice on the peppers. I may have to try it lol!
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Mar 11 2026 : 2:49:42 PM
That's great news Tara! I am glad you are feeling better and that your pepper plants decided to grow. I hope your garden has a great season.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Mar 10 2026 : 06:13:45 AM
Krista, I am feeling better
I stocked up on butter from Sam's club. I couldn't afford to buy butter when it was $7 a pound last year.
Heather, did you get the onions planted? I doubled amount from last year. I want to pickle some this year.
There is a bargain grocery store in another town. I was able to get iced tea on the cheap. I want to stock up enough for a year.
Iced tea is enjoyed all year round in my house.
And " threatening" the peppers to grow or be composted works. I now have 8 orange bell peppers and a jalapeno pepper has germinated-yay!!!!!!! I will need to share a orange peppers with my FIL. I only have room for 3 Let's encourage each other to keep growing a bountiful garden. I may or may not be adding a few extra plants 
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Mar 04 2026 : 2:03:01 PM
Tara, I am so sorry to hear you got hurt. I hope you feel better soon! I agree with Heather! You are definitely ahead. My strawberry plants haven't even started to come up. I am a little behind on planning my garden, but will get around to that this weekend. The kids and I have already picked out different pumpkin seeds for this year and I know I need to double my green beans this year. The cans did not last as long as I had hoped. My kids just loved green beans too much.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
| nndairy |
Posted - Mar 04 2026 : 12:37:50 PM
Ugh! I hope you feel better soon! If that picture is currently what it's like at your place I'd say you're ahead not behind LOL! Our spring is just starting to spring. The tulips and daffodils are just peeking out of the dirt. I'm behind in my garden planning, but this year it's going to be a little less for me as well. I'm hoping for more onions though. I ran out of those way too soon this winter.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
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| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Mar 04 2026 : 12:25:58 PM
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I feel like everything is behind. I haven't been keeping up with this thread. I twisted my spine last month and trying to get better. All the seeds I started were struggling, lost a lot of peppers due to neglect, laundry room got too cold and other issues. . I tried 3 times to get sweet peppers to grow, nope. I have to stop being so tough on myself. This year I will buy pepper starts. I was going to down size the amount of tomato plants to 10, now I am adding 4-5 more. Planted 50 onions to go. I'll add more carrots and herbs to garden. With warmer weather and storms getting more intense what is on your list of items to get/do?
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| windypines |
Posted - Jan 08 2026 : 04:32:19 AM
I don't do the "pantry challenge" but I do try to live it every day. I have two chest freezers and all my canned goods. So that is what we eat. I try to keep staples on my shelves, so the sky is the limit to what I can make. Yesterday I organized my canning shelves yet again. Putting empty jars together instead of just putting them in front of the full jars. (wink) This week so far has been all homemade homegrown. Roast, potato and veggies, chicken soup, canned sauerkraut, with homemade hotdogs cut up in it. Tonight is taco's all homemade. Made a pear crisp from canned pears, and some quick breads, oh and a carrot cake. I really enjoy shopping in my pantry, much more then going to town.
Happy cooking everyone.
Farming in WI
Michele
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| Daizy |
Posted - Jan 05 2026 : 5:31:36 PM
Hay ya'll. I started the year off doing the challenge. I'm clearing out one freezer this year and cooking from home more. Good luck.
Hugs and prayers, Daizy #1093
Poor House Farmgirl Chapter {A virtual chapter open to everyone.}
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron??
www.poorhouseparadise.blogspot.com |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Jan 01 2026 : 2:37:25 PM
There are several homesteaders on YT doing the challenge. You can make your own rules. I can't get anymore food in our 3 freezers.
My husband make GF biscuits tonight-delicious! I keep a stocked pantry. I will need eggs in 14 days, but the farmers market is closer than grocery store. I will limit spending to $20 a week, hoping I won't need to use it.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| StitchinWitch |
Posted - Jan 01 2026 : 2:23:59 PM
I would love to join the challenge; goodness knows I have enough stocked in the pantry and freezers but since we are down to one roll of toilet paper I will be going to the store soon. DH drinks enough milk to make weekly trips a necessity.
Judith
7932 FGOTM 6/21 6/24 12/25
I'm old and I wear purple |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Jan 01 2026 : 2:16:59 PM
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Sick cat and the holidays kept me busy. But I am always thinking about how to be stocked up. If we want BBQ sauce I make it from scratch. 2 jars for my pantry
Who is ready for spring? January starts the "pantry" challenge. Cook from scratch is normal to me, rarely eat out. But I am all in for the not going grocery shopping in Jan for as long as possible. And using what put up last year. Who is doing the January pantry challenge?
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Oct 22 2025 : 3:31:26 PM
Freeze warning tonight. This is too early! I'll do something with the green peppers. 15 pounds worth. Grateful for the blessings from the garden.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| YellowRose |
Posted - Oct 22 2025 : 05:56:37 AM
Thanks Michell for your encouragement. Didn't get around to the broth yesterday so it will go on the stove this morning.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| windypines |
Posted - Oct 22 2025 : 03:11:53 AM
Sara, never give up! Good luck with your canning.
Farming in WI
Michele
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| YellowRose |
Posted - Oct 21 2025 : 08:36:26 AM
Tara, I have an order in for chicken wings to be delivered today if the store has them in stock. I seldom cook a whole chicken, so I like chicken wings for broth. Hope to make the broth today and can in the morning. If my energy holds out I will make the broth today but if not I will do it tomorrow and can the next day. I always have a plan B ready to go. Occasionally I may need a plan C.
Sara
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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| lovecatsandsunshine |
Posted - Oct 21 2025 : 07:33:19 AM
Made a large batch of chicken broth is slow cooker. 12 cups into freezer. I cook veggie soup for lunch 3-4 days a week in the colder months. A lot of stock needed.
Some of the tomato cuttings are not suckers. I wanted to try rooting as many cuttings as possible. I have the cuttings in warm water and place on top of my freezer. The top of the freezer stays warm. And my cats can't reach the plants.
Lisa, I have heard planting a whole cherry tomato and placing it in a sunny window will give same result. I planted a whole cherry tomato as an experiment.
Sara, try this next year. Have you cut tomato trims and placed in dirt to try to grow more fruit? I can't throw away the trimmings, I feel they could give me more fruit.
Today's good mood brought to you by a lot of coffee!!!
Farmgirl in SC
Farmgirl #8548
FGOTM April 2023 |
| MaryJanesNiece |
Posted - Oct 20 2025 : 1:47:35 PM
Wow Tara, that is really neat. I have never heard of that before. I will have to give that a try with my tomato plants next year.
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
