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  • Homemade Cost Cutting
    E-Book,  Farm & Garden,  Homestead,  Recipes,  Stories

    Homemade Cost Cutting

    Cut Your Budget This is the beginning of how I saved my family $1200 on our grocery bill. Three years ago, we found out that we needed to make some serious chances in the food we ate due to health reasons. Everything needed to be all-natural, low sodium and have no preservatives or pesticides. Turns out this is quite a chore! Keeping Tract of Costs This prompted me to start documenting everything we did to keep track of the best recipes and decide which endeavors we could afford to tackle. We have now started growing, raising and preserving over 75% of the food and products that we consume. Putting Together…

  • soil texture test
    Farm & Garden,  Homestead

    Cheap and Easy Mason Jar Soil Composition Test

    Facebook Pinterest Email Print What’s the Point? The mason jar soil test will give a great snapshot of the soil texture in your gardening space. Soil texture is important for drainage, retaining of nutrients, and root health (especially root vegetable growth). Once soil texture is determined, there are a lot of simple amendments that can effectively balance the soil if needed. Simply simple This test is so simple to complete that I sent my kids out to prepare it with minimal verbal instructions. Now, if you know my kids, them following verbal instructions at all can be a nightmare. So, hopefully, that sells you on the simplicity of this test…

  • Soil Testing
    Farm & Garden,  Homestead

    Step-by-Step Guide to Soil Testing with Full Video

    Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on email Email Share on print Print Making the choice to soil test I have decided to test my soil before spring planting each year. Knowing your soils properties is key to not having issues with your growing. I outlined all of these in my Soil Testing Explained post, but really it boils down to it is important to know that any one of the things that can be tested for plays in integral role in the success of your garden. Now that you’ve decided to test your soil, you have to decide if you want to send your soil out…

  • soil Testing
    Farm & Garden,  Homestead

    The Mysteries of Soil Testing Explained

    Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on email Email Share on print Print Soil Testing Testing your soil every year before you start your garden is very important. Especially, if you plan on doing any amendments (adding fertilizer or organic matter). Otherwise, you might end up with too much or too little of any given nutrient causing potentially detrimental effects. The most common tests that can be done are soil type, pH (acidity), organic matter content, and various nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Some tests will also include micronutrients like iron and sulfur. Why it matters? Each item that can be tested for is integral…