Waiting for my sweet Peter to get here so we can survey the damage up close and try to put some semblance of our two hives back together....

A rainy-ish Saturday is a good reminder of how much our watering gig here at the homestead has changed for the coming growing season....

Bees! Peter made sure our newest bee family, Sting, was settled in this morning. What a privilege to care for these awesome winged...

Hive #2 is here! Meet our newest bee family, " Sting ," like Bilbo's elven short-sword and/or (depending on the mood of the day) the lead...

Bee check complete! Alright, so this is intense stuff...I am glad Peter was here for this hive check. We made sure the colony was doing...

Successful bee transfer to our homestead! Peter reports no bees or apiarists were harmed in the process. This family of bees will be named Bina (pronounced bee-nah), which is Swedish for bees. I think some of the other names from the idea box will be kept for future bee families that come to stay! Welcome to the homestead! May you enjoy the pollinating flora and turn that into delicious honey.

Tomorrow morning, Peter, is going to pick up our first package of bees...that meant today was our last chance to prep! Also, please help...

As Peter and I are getting our homestead more established with plants and critters, our intent is to share the experience with others.

The unglamorous, sweaty, hard work of homesteading... Our second homemade raised bed is built and planted with more early spring veggies...

It's working! Last weekend we planted our first spring veggies, and what a joy to see little sprouts peeking through today. I am most...

More flowers coming up, fruit trees/bushes planted (including pomegranate, tayberries, elderberries, apples, peaches, nectarines, and...

The beginning of "Broken Chair Honey. " So excited to partner with my sister, friend, and sister-in-Christ on bringing a message of...

Preparing for next weekend as my sister will join us on the homestead to paint a bee box for a very special project we are partnering...

Lunch break (on a snow day) meant it was a perfect time to get some of our 2025 garden going! Our loft in our town house here in Northern...

Worm shed progress! Roof is on ahead of the coming snow storm. It still needs insulation, ventilation, and more paint, but we are getting...

Peter and I are in the midst of planning and preparing for our 2025 gardens. Let's call last years version Ricklig Strom 1.0. ..we...

This was a vermicompost harvesting weekend for Peter and me. Our not-so-little army of Gerards has been very busy making gorgeous black,...

Peter and I are dreaming of the day when we'll be able to add a farm dog, barn cats, chickens, goats, and even pigs to our little...

Weekends on the homestead are lovely, despite the blood, sweat, and tears - literally! We enjoy our time here, but this autumn, our...