Ohio Homesteading
Ohio is a state of contrasts. Mountains and plains. Cities and farms. Wealthy urbanites and poor country folk. Atheists and Amish. Browns faithful and Steeler fanatics.
Homesteading in this state is full of contrasts, too. The weather is changeable and completely unpredictable. The soil on your land might black and fertile or you may not have an inch of topsoil. Western Ohio farmers use equipment so large you couldn’t turn it around on an eastern Ohio farm.
But Homesteading isn’t about owning the largest combine made by John Deere. It’s all about taking what you have available and making a life. A real life full of fresh food, simple pleasures, and quiet nights watching the stars.
In Exodus 4:1-4, Moses was complaining to God that he didn’t have the tools to convince Pharaoh to release the Hebrew people. God asked him, “What is that in your hand.” Moses answered, a stick. (OK, he said a staff, but you get the idea – it was a stick.) God used that stick to show Moses and eventually, the Egyptian leaders, that even a worthless thing can be used to in miraculous ways.
So, you want to homestead, grow your own food, become more independent from ‘the man’? What do you have in your hand? What do you really want and what do you have, right now, to make it happen?
It’s winter in Ohio and my gardens are dormant. BUT I have southeast facing windows that catch every ray of sunshine for most of the day. I have a philodendron cutting in some soil and we will be planting seeds for our vegetable gardens in a few weeks.
Bob and I are retired now, so, we have time. Our greenhouse is clean and ready for early spring plantings. Our garden beds are cleared and we prepped them for planting.
Winter is also planning time. Get online and request seed catalogs. I recommend Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog www.rareseeds.com, Select Seeds www.selectseeds.com , Seed Savers www.seedsavers.org , and Southern Exposure Seeds Www.southernexposure.com
These catalogs have a wealth of information on planting and growing fruits and vegetables. Their websites have garden planning tools, blogs, apps and more. Now you have knowledge. Another thing in your hand.
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It’s winter and the ground is either frozen or a muddy mess. We have beef and dairy cattle, sheep, and chickens. Providing care for them in winter is a challenge. Frozen water buckets and hoses are the biggest inconvenience to us but the animals’ battle to keep weight on during these months is our biggest concern.
It isn’t really the cold weather that is the problem, but rather cold weather combined with rain or sleet. Our animals are outdoors all year. They have shelters they can get into and barns for lambing or calving. They grow rough winter coats that provide insulation against snow and wind. When they are wet, though, their coats are slicked down and they lose that insulation. It causes them to chill and then they use a lot of energy to stay warm. Energy = food. We supplement their hay / grass with a 12% grain mix for the beef, 16% dairy mix for the dairy and cracked corn for the sheep as they get closer to lambing. We buy feed at our local feed mill. The extra calories keep them warm.
We also make sure they have lots of clean water – a stream that doesn’t freeze is available to half of our livestock, the rest have tubs of water which we fill as needed throughout the day. I give warm water to my chickens to encourage laying.
Speaking of chickens, if you have chickens and they stop laying (for any of a number of reasons) you can kick start them again by providing sprouted oats or at least whole oatmeal. If you feel really loving, you can make a warm gruel for them with oats, a dash of salt, and hot water. Most chickens are photosensitive, which means they need long sunlit days to keep laying. Some people turn on lights in their coops during the winter (an extra 4 -5 hours of light) but I don’t worry about it. Chickens only have so many eggs to lay in their lifetime. If you push the chickens to artificially increase production, you will be replacing them sooner. You need to decide what your agenda is: continuous egg production with most of your chickens laying throughout the year (necessary when you have customers for the eggs) OR lower egg production during winter/dark season and you adjust your diet during the low production time.
Winter on the homestead means warm, cozy meals created from your food storage. You may can or freeze your garden produce. Some folks also dehydrate. I have done a little of that but it isn’t my favorite way to store meat and vegetables.
Here is a recipe using garden produce we have stored from this past summer. It is similar to a quiche. I got the original recipe from the Le Leche Whole Foods cookbook.
Pastry crust
Chopped vegetables (I used tomato, green pepper, onion. Try fresh spinach, mushrooms, scallions, too.)
Sausage, browned or bacon, cooked
Grated sharp cheddar cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese
Eggs
Milk
Place the pastry crust in a buttered glass pan (8x11)
Add meat and sharp cheddar cheese
Top that with the chopped vegetables.
Whip 10 – 12 eggs until lemon yellow
Add ¼ c. of milk and whip a bit more
Pour eggs over vegetables/meat
Top with ¼ c. parmesan cheese
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until firm in center. Top will be lightly brown. Pastry crust will be
done.
Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice for dinner.
Serve with homemade applesauce.
Two herbs for winter
It’s cold and flu season and, unfortunately, most of the over the counter medications only mask symptoms. They don’t shorten or lessen the impact of the virus. Because colds and influenza are caused by viri, it won’t do you any good to take an antibiotic. There are some antivirals on the market, but they need taken early in the infection. If you are vulnerable to complications of the flu (diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic illness) see your healthcare provider as soon as your symptoms appear, especially if you were exposed to a nasty bug.
For those of us who battle through the symptoms, there are some ways to support and restore your body to wellness. 2 herbs that are helpful in providing support are Mullein and Elderberry.
Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus
A tall, spike like plant with furry leaves and yellow flowers on a stalk that can reach 6 feet high. It usually grows in dry places along ditches and roadways. (It’s a good rule of thumb NOT to wildcraft/pick any herb along a roadway where it may be exposed to automobile fumes, salt and contaminants from the road, or nasty litter.) Move off the road as far as you are able while still being safe.
Mullein is picked in the morning after the dew is dry (late summer) and dried completely. I chop the leaves and flowers up in small pieces and let it dry a bit more. I don’t store the leaves whole because they are thick and it is difficult to remove all the moisture. You can use a dehydrator on the lowest setting. Also, when you chop them, you are providing more surface for water to extract the elements you desire from the herb.
Place 2 tablespoons of dried mullein in a sauce pan of steaming hot water. Don’t boil the mullein – boil the water, turn off the heat and then add the mullein. Place a lid on the pan and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Remove the lid and breathe in the steam. It should be similar to breathing in steam from a fragrant cup of tea – don’t burn your airways! Take 3 or 4 deep breaths then place the lid back on the pan to retain the steam. Take some cleansing breaths then repeat the process.
If you wish, you can pour boiling water over the dried mullein in a bowl, cover to steep, then remove the lid and place a towel over your head while you breathe in the steam.
Mullein relieves the tightness in your chest and soothes a cough.
https://wimastergardener.org/article/common-mullein-verbascum-thapsus/
American Elderberry Sambucus nigra
Found growing in wet or dry soil, elderberry is hardy from Zone 3 – 8. That covers most of the continental US. A well-known treatment for flu and cold symptoms, it has been used for years by herbalists and recent research is proving that the berry contains factors which seem to shorten the duration of viral illnesses, especially if taken early in the illness.
The most common form of elderberry used for treatment is the juice or syrup from fresh berries. You can also buy dried elderberries to make juice or syrup. I prefer to store and use an herb in the form closest to its natural state so, I wouldn’t buy elderberry gummies or other heavily processed form, there are some brands of elderberry syrup available in stores. I think making a fruit roll-up in the dehydrator is a great way to encourage kids to ingest elderberries.
I picked elderberries, softened them and extracted the juice, added sugar to taste and then canned it in 1/2 cup canning jars. The dose is usually 1 – 2 Tablespoons 2 -3 times a day. (It tastes delicious!)
https://www.gurneys.com/product/elderberry
If you haven’t picked mullein or elderberries this year, find a reputable supplier. I recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for price and quality. www.mountainroseherbs.com
Grab a good plant identification book specific for your area before you pick and use any plant. There ARE look-alikes that can make you ill. I included links to state extension resources about both plants. This information is for educational purposes only and not designed to diagnosis, treat, or prevent any disease process. See your HCP when you are ill.
Until next time, Polly
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