Maggie

This easy and healthy strawberry chia seed jam recipe is perfect to make during the peak of strawberry picking season. All you need are 4 ingredients!

When Are Strawberries In Season?

Ah, strawberry season! One of my favorite times of the year. Here in North Carolina, in USDA Zone 7b, strawberry season is around the end of April-beginning of May. Growing up in Upstate NY, the season was closer to the end of May.

One of my favorite memories as a child, was going to my Grandpa’s farm to pick strawberries. He would give me a pint container and send me out to the field saying, “fill this up and bring it back.” He knew I would be out there for hours filling my belly with warm, juicy, red berries. I’d throw a few in the container to look like I listened to Grandpa’s instructions, but not many made it back to the house.

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This complete guide for growing & solar drying fresh herbs will provide you simple instructions from start to finish, as well as fun ways to use your end product.

Choosing Which Herbs To Grow

Choosing which herbs to grow really depends on what you intend to use them for. There are countless ways to use herbs, but some more popular ways are:

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An early Spring checklist for zone 7b is essential for staying organized and on track. I’ll show you how we do it on our small homestead.

What Does Zone 7b Mean?

Zone 7b is a reference to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The map can be found here. Basically, it’s a map that divides the United States into zones based of the average extreme low temperature. Each zone has a 10 degree difference. Living in Zone 7b means that our extreme low temperatures are an average of 5-10 degrees F. Based on this information, gardeners and growers can determine which plants will thrive in their particular location. Your zone will also allow you to estimate the average first and last frost dates, which are extremely important in the timeline of growing.

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Easily make your own lip balm with 3 simple ingredients. This nourishing balm will protect your lips throughout all seasons. You can customize your lip balm by adding in other ingredients for scent, color, and shine.

The Necessity Of Lip Balm

It’s currently mid-March here on the little suburban farmstead, and that means the Spring chore list is a million miles long! There is so much new life between animals and plants, and we always seem to be maintaining or repairing a building or piece of equipment. In a nutshell, we are outside ALL DAY LONG. Rain or shine, heat or cold, this time of year will not let you wait for the ideal sunny and 65 day to get it all done.

Being in the elements can have it’s challenges, and one of the biggest ones (second only to the sore muscles) is taking care of your skin. You’ve seen a gardener’s hands, right?! We’re always rubbing lotion on at the end of the day. And part of that nightly routine is the passing of the lip balm tube. We call it the “sneak attack” in our house.

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Learn how to ferment chicken feed for immune support throughout your flock. It’s an easy way to provide a yummy treat and boost gut health at the same time. You already have all of the supplies needed!

Why Ferment Chicken Feed For Immune Support?

If you don’t already know, one of the biggest ways many species can support a healthy immune system, is to first support a healthy gut. Our gut health is directly linked to our immune health. Beneficial bacteria resides in our gut to help fight the bad bacteria and viruses that enter into our body. Boosting the amount of beneficial bacteria is a great way to help our body fight off illness and infections.

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