July Homestead Diaries: Changes

"I have accepted fear as part of life- specifically the fear of change...I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says:  turn back."
​-Erica Jong

So much has changed since the last homestead diaries post, and so much continues to keep changing.  We're busy here on the homestead, and though the days are long, I feel like they're never long enough.  Summer is in full swing and this wonderful and warm season is here to be enjoyed, and the long days are to be taken advantage of.  This is a busy time; we've been given resources, we've been given daylight, and we've been given comfortable outside weather.  We have to use it now, because like every other season, this one too will be gone in a short time.  

One of my favorite parts of summer is working to create a crop that can sustain us through the winter.  Opening up a jar of something I put the time into growing, harvesting, and preserving is always more satisfying than opening a can from the store.  Right now, the raspberries are just beginning to ripen, and we've been out foraging for fresh raspberries to turn into jam.  A sweet summery raspberry jam is a wonderful gift in the dead of winter when the sun is hidden for far too long, and I want to provide that gift for my family.  So, we trek through the wet grasses that are up to our waists in pursuit of the wild raspberries that cover our land.  It takes a long time and many berry picking sessions to get enough raspberries to make into jam, plus they have to make it past the two older little ones who cannot seem to get the berries to stop taking detours to their mouths.  But, nevertheless, the supply in the freezer is beginning and soon a batch of jam will be made.

The Apple Orchard

One of the things we are going to miss a lot about this current house are the two beautiful apple trees that live here.  Every other year, we've been blessed with more apples than we could ask for and have really enjoyed making and preserving homemade applesauce from them.  We knew that if we wanted to continue to be self-sustainable on our new homestead in the future, we were going to need to get apple trees in as soon as possible to give them time to mature.  We chose to plant four trees this year in our orchard with a mixed variety.  Poor D spent almost 9 hours on one of the hottest days we've had so far hand digging holes for the fence and planting the trees.  He did a great job- the fence is wonderful and will surely keep out the deer who may try to sneak in and eat the young trees and the trees are looking healthy and happy in their new home.

The Garden's Gifts

The garden has began to give back to us as a gift for all of the hard work we've put into her this year so far.  We've been enjoying peas and lettuce for about a month now, and we are grateful for the continuation of their bounty.  The tomatoes have began to fruit, as have the cucumbers and beans.  Soon, we will be even busier as we work to preserve these gifts for our family to eat throughout the winter.  The corn has tassled, and we've peaked a bit at the onions and carrots which seem to be growing well too.  We were so excited to harvest 3 blueberries already from our first year plant!  They were the best blueberries I've tasted, I think :)  We also made a small batch of refrigerator pickled peppers, and they were so delicious!  We are excited for more to come soon!

Of course, there are still battles we have in the garden.  The weeds continue to persist through our mulch, and despite our best efforts, the quack grass has taken over some parts of the garden.  The potato bugs have grown from a problem to an infestation, and I'm really hopeful our potatoes won't suffer because of it.  Luckily, B really loves collecting the bugs and picking them off of the plants!  She's been a big helper when it comes to trying to manage this problem.  If any of you have any natural suggestions on how to keep potato bugs at bay, please let me know your secrets!  They are now my least favorite insect on the planet, followed closely by deer flies and mosquitoes. :)

Some notes about life...

We've had some really big changes for our family happen this last week, and I would love for your prayers as we all work through this transition!  

First, we sold our house, which was a big step for us in our journey.  It was really hard for me to take the leap and step out into this homesteading journey completely.  Though I know this is what I want, though I know it is the life we are excited about, it is still hard to leave the comfort of where we are now.  I overthink things and I drag my feet....I worry more than I should.  But I'm really trying to trust God here, taking a leap of faith and knowing that this is the path He has set for me.  Though I feel like I am not in control, I'm coming to realize that I don't have to be.  If this is what God sees for our lives, which I feel it is, then He will help us to make it reality.  We'll be ok, no matter what.  And as I sat and started to think about the memories our house here has for us, D reminded me that our family is where home is and they are all coming with us.  No matter where we go, home is when we're together.  Home is the comfort and love of each other.  That isn't going away.

Another big change is that my dad had a pancreas transplant this week.  It is an absolute miracle that this was a possibility.  It was relatively quick- they called from UW-Madison to ask him if he would accept being placed on the Active List, then a few hours later he gets a call saying they may have a donor, and then the next night he was on way to Madison.  To think that this organ was taken from another person whose time had come to an end on this earth, a person whose death brings a new life for my dad is just so incredible.  We praise God for a successful surgery, we are grateful for the healthy pancreas and for the donor, we are mourning for the family who lost their loved one and are grieving right now, we are anxious as my dad recovers in the hospital, we are praying for comfort for him as he heals, and we are rejoicing in the new adventures that are to come.  After 43 years, my dad is no longer a diabetic!  It really is just so amazing.  I don't have words to express how happy I am for him- He will have a new life.  

Well, this got to be a bit of a long one, but there is just a lot going on on right now!  It's a busy season, but a happy season.  A season of growth and change.  Stay tuned for more updates as our Wisconsin Homestead Journey continues to unfold. 

Until next time,
​Sadie