I'm quickly learning that each season on a homestead holds its own treasures. There is an ebb and flow to the hard work, and the problems and jobs we had in summer and fall are far different that the tasks during winter.

This time is for rest, rejuvenation, preparation.

It's still winter here (both in weather and temperament), but we are gearing up for our spring "market" garden, preparing to get chickens, and have (slowly) started renovations on our rental cottage that sits at the top of our property. Ephraim is back outside putting up fencing to prepare the gardens from deer havoc, and I am working very hard to recover from another serious health flare-up that's ramped up the last 6 months. Next week, we will be planting our seedlings that will go into our future garden.

In this letter, feel free to skip around or read what interests you. I'll share more details below about 1) 2022 Accomplishments, 2) What's Ahead for 2023, 3) Animal Updates

Here are some of the big things we managed:

• Remodeled our pantry and made a few small changes to our house like a new dining room chanedlier (more to come some day in our "free time")

• Thinned all the apples and peaches

• Remediated fire blight on all apple trees

• Remediated brown rot on all peach trees

• Installed trailer hitch on CRV and bought trailer

• Set up, maintained, and winterized our pool

• Made LOTS of compost

• Bought and maintained a (very faulty) lawn mower

• Lawncare (mowing, branch clippings) for 7 acres

• Harvested peaches and apples and blueberries

• Made LOTS of cherry, peach, apple, and pear products

• Made LOTS of wood chips

• Built fall garden raised bed. Planted and grew lots of lettuce.... which all died from frost. But hey, learning is key. (What we learned: we can grow things, however unsuccessfully)

• Cut down two large trees

• Had lots of out-of-town visitors come to stay

• Got our mobile home (future rental cottage) up and running for short-term renters

• Built a barn ladder

• Fixed our crawlspace

• Made lots of homemade recipes from local farms and our own produce

Some of our plans for this year include:

• Plant seedlings to transplant into our market garden

• Fix the fencing on the property. Deer-proof our garden and orchards, and then create adequate fencing for chickens and future cows

• Renovate our cottage to be able to rent

• Acquire chickens

• (Maybe) acquire rabbits

• Utilize organic disease and pest control methods for more successful apple and peach harvest

• Have a successful fruit and vegetable harvest

• Develop permaculture layers within the orchards

• Plant an herb garden in the raised garden bed

• Grow lots and lots of flowers

• Build a new fire pit and gazebo area in our front yard

• Mow a lot more grass to make hay

• Build steps leading down to the gardens in the lower pasture

• Get our logo and website up and running

• Start selling some of our sourdough bread, herbal tea blends, produce, and other products to local families and/or at our friend's local bakery

• Continue expanding my medicinal herb cabinet and using herbal remedies therapeutically for our health needs

• Enjoy our farm :) Share it with others

• Learn a lot more (kind of a given since it's all new to us anyways!)

Holistic Nutrition Counseling

Do you have some health goals you want to reach this year? I'd love to help you reach those with one-on-one consultations or health coaching. Please don't hesitate to call or text me at 925.315.7032.

It is a privilege to support you in your health concerns.