Mid-Summer on the Homestead

Mid-Summer on the Homestead

It’s the height of summer here on the homestead, and that means two things: the harvest is starting to roll in, and our to-do list to prepare the homestead for winter is growing just as fast. This week on the Pantry Chat, we’re sharing what’s been going on around here, from planting winter crops and managing pests, to sticky kitchen floors and deeper lessons about gratitude and letting go of control.

So pour yourself a cup of coffee (like our signature half-caff, mold and mycotoxin-free coffee blend), pull up a chair, and let’s talk about the good, the messy, and the unexpected moments of midsummer homesteading life.

Preparing the Winter Garden in August

Believe it or not, August is the time to start planting certain winter crops, especially if, like us, you get early frosts. Here are 20 crops you can grow in late summer and still get a fall harvest.

Some of our go-tos include:

• Yellow-hearted winter choy – A hardy, bok choy-style vegetable that thrives through the cold months and tastes great in garden stir-fries.





• Chinese “fruity” radishes – We’re testing these out this year, as most of our family doesn’t like the spiciness of radishes. Supposedly, this variety has a sweet, fruity flavor instead of the sharp bite most radishes are known for.

We aim to get these crops in the ground at the start of August so they have time to mature before the frost hits in September. If you haven’t started your winter garden yet, now’s the time.

Pest Pressure

This year, many gardeners are dealing with a wave of grasshoppers. If that’s you, take heart, it’s not your fault. Grasshoppers, just like many other pests, come in cycles, and some years are worse than others.

We’ve got an entire blog post dedicated to organic garden pest control. Be sure to check that out, but here are a few other strategies that help:

• Bug netting – Fine-mesh garden row covers are not only affordable and reusable, but they’re one of the most effective ways to keep grasshoppers off plants.





• Encourage insect-eating songbirds – Provide suet blocks to attract birds that eat bugs, especially early in the season when grasshoppers are still small.





• Plan for the bad years – Preserve extra food in the good seasons so you’re prepared for unexpected losses.

Remember, even experienced homesteaders lose crops sometimes. It’s part of the natural ebb and flow of gardening.

Lettuce Without the Endless Washing

If you love fresh salads but hate how long it takes to wash dirt from lettuce leaves, try growing lettuce with the cut-and-come-again method.

By planting non-heading lettuce densely and harvesting when it’s just 4-6 inches tall, you avoid the dirt problem entirely. We harvest with scissors right into a basket (pictured above), so no chopping is needed later. Most of the time, the lettuce is clean enough to use without washing.

It’s fast, easy, and keeps fresh greens on the table without the hassle.

Sticky Floors and a Thankful Heart

This time of year, the kitchen is in constant use, making homemade strawberry rhubarb jam, canning pickles, fermenting vegetables (like homemade sauerkraut, fermented ginger carrots or this fermented green hot sauce), which inevitably means sticky counters, sticky floors, and sticky fingers.

It’s easy to slip into grumbling mode when the house feels chaotic and the work never ends. But this is also the season when it’s most important to practice gratitude.

When we choose to see the sticky fingerprints as signs of little helpers (remembering we taught them the importance of chore time and pulling their weight), or the overflowing buckets of produce as proof of a fruitful garden, the work feels lighter. It’s a shift from “I have so much to do” to “I’m so blessed to have this abundance.”

The Illusion of Control

One of the biggest lessons homesteading teaches is that we can’t control everything.

Our fruit trees have been a reminder of that this year. Despite our best care and learning to properly prune fruit trees, some have struggled, thanks to disease, harsh weather, or simply being the wrong fit for our microclimate.

Instead of seeing this as failure, we’re learning to work with reality: some trees will thrive, some won’t, and that’s okay. The same goes for relationships and life in general.

Sometimes our job isn’t to force change, but to adapt and keep moving forward.

Homesteading is as much about mindset as it is about growing food or raising animals. Every season has its challenges, but it also offers opportunities to learn, adapt, and be thankful.

Whether you’re fighting pests, planting winter crops, or scraping jam off the floor, remember:

• Not every year will be the same.





• Control is more illusion than reality.





• Gratitude turns heavy work into joy.

Take a deep breath, keep tending your garden, and enjoy the blessings right in front of you.

More Posts You May Enjoy

• How to Make Money From Your Homestead





• Does Homesteading Save You Money?





• Our Homestead Journey (Apartment to 40 Acres)





• 8 Things You Need to Know When Buying Homestead Property





• How to Get Started Homesteading





• 7 Things You Must Do On Your New Homestead





• Preparing the Homestead for Winter





• How to Pivot When Things Go Wrong on the Homestead





• Good Enough is Perfect

The post Mid-Summer on the Homestead appeared first on Homesteading Family.

Source: Mid-Summer on the Homestead