Ever so slowly...then a bit faster...

...we are adapting a self-sufficient lifestyle. I guess it started gradually with a small garden and food in the fridge freezer, then developed into this mega garden and three chest freezers plus a pantry full of home canned goodies.

Despite the slow start, it seems that things are picking up steam. Just this year, we've expanded the garden, started incubating, raising, and butchering our own chickens, got a mating pair of Muscovy ducks (to raise ducks for meat), among other farmsteading advances. We're even going to start using a composting toilet. Closer to the end of the year, I'll post a list of our accomplishments for the year.

My farmsteader attitude has greatly improved: I've stopped being frantic over firewood, mostly thanks to Hubby and his ever so calm demeanor. I don't complain about the tons and tons (and tons) of canning that keeps me stuck in the house on beautiful days (not complaining, just stating facts) because I enjoy popping open a jar of fresh homegrown goodies in the middle of a snowstorm. I try to worry less about the approach of winter and enjoy fall.

Harvest is finally slowing down. I think we did well despite this being a blight year. And was it ever a blight year. Yikes. Harvest totals will be posted once I have finished up the canning (still doing tomatillo salsa), picked all the peppers and winter squash, and finished digging up the potatoes and onions.

Speaking of which...I'd better get diggin'.