Syrup season heralds spring. It’s the first early spring food, a sweet reward for making it through another cold and gray winter, arriving with those first bursts of 50 degree, sunny days, just when the forest feels like it’s coming back to life. Sap flows when it’s freezing at night, forcing the tree to take in more water and nutrients from the ground and then around 45-50 degrees during the day. It needs to be just warm enough to unfreeze those nutrients on the inside of the tree, but not so warm that the tree starts to bud, generally speaking at least 42 degrees. Here in Indiana, as a result, the season lenth varies greatly each year–sometimes giving us a heady month, and others, just a few short days.
Category Archives: gardening
Welcome Back: Late Spring Homestead Updates
It has been quite a long time since I have felt up to writing a blog. Working a full-time, demanding job in academia, homeschooling both my kids, doing as much homesteading as possible, and living through a devastating global pandemic while also in the midst of all of the historical socio-political and cultural touchstone momentsContinue reading “Welcome Back: Late Spring Homestead Updates”
Garden and Life Updates: Early July
Firstly, let me say that this post was delayed by about a week, so I thank you all for your patience and understanding. When I last left you, we had just gotten back from our pop-up camper test drive in Shawnee National Forest after a week of plumbing disasters leading up to Father’s Day. ThatContinue reading “Garden and Life Updates: Early July”
Garden Updates: The First Half of June
Good morning and happy Monday, friends! It’s been a bit of a day here at the Homestead–our septic tank is backing up because, in all the recent goings-on in the nation and world, we neglected to make our pumping appointment. In addition, poor Liam has a nasty bug bite that has caused a swollen lymphContinue reading “Garden Updates: The First Half of June”
Garden: Forestry Management, Stuck Trucks, and Bee Stings
Note: Hey All, Future Kelin, here! I typed-out most of this post and then our internet went down for a few days. We’re back up and running again, but now we’re behind on posts. As a result, there will be no weekly meal plan (because the week is over). I’ve kept the post as IContinue reading “Garden: Forestry Management, Stuck Trucks, and Bee Stings”
Garden Updates: Last Weekend in May
Summer is still officially about a month away, but the classic Central Indiana humid heat has set-in his week. It’s not unusual for us to run 100% humidity, which, with all the rain we get in May, combined with temperatures in the mid to upper 80’s (Fahrenheit) makes for sticky, heavy, thick heat. My hairContinue reading “Garden Updates: Last Weekend in May”
Garden Progress and the Weekly Meal Plan: Third Week of May
I’m sitting here in my workout clothes because I am supposed to work-out this morning. Alas, I have not worked out yet and it’s nearly 10:30am. I got caught-up doing something pretty exciting–Hull Family Homestead can now take orders via our Facebook Page! Everything will be local pick-up only, I’m afraid. I once allowed shippingContinue reading “Garden Progress and the Weekly Meal Plan: Third Week of May”
Garden Progress and The Weekly Meal Plan for the Second Week of May
Last week was a very busy week! If you recall, we did May the 4th (be with you) with a Disney at Home day visiting Hollywood Studios. Then, we celebrated Cinco de Mayo, then my birthday, and then Mother’s Day (post coming about that). It’s also been a chilly few days in Central Indiana. WeContinue reading “Garden Progress and The Weekly Meal Plan for the Second Week of May”
Garden Progress & Weekly Meal Plan: The Raised Bed Garden Reveal!
As I write this I am sitting, still in my pajamas, on our sofa overlooking the back patio. The door is open and I can hear all of the birds and wildlife. Overnight we had gentle, rolling thunderstorms that has blanketed the garden in dewy raindrops, and the sun, hidden behind the remaining clouds forContinue reading “Garden Progress & Weekly Meal Plan: The Raised Bed Garden Reveal!”
Garden Progress and the Weekly Meal Plan: April 27 – May 3rd
It’s been a rainy Sunday morning, which has created a very welcome lazy mood here at the Homestead. The kids are out hunting for morel mushrooms in the forest after a morning spent tending their Minecraft homesteads (they each have their own virtual homesteads with gardens and maker spaces and I am so tickled aboutContinue reading “Garden Progress and the Weekly Meal Plan: April 27 – May 3rd”
Hull Family Homestead 