{A simple, green, homeschooling family of six learning to thrive with less on a modern-day Iowa homestead.}
Happy post election day! I am so glad the madness is over, the political poison ads will stop, and we can get on with life! And thanks also for holding me so accountable that, with the help of my husband, we actually got my garden cleaned up and ready for winter! Check it out: Before: [...]
Welll…here’s my confession. Garden = abandoned. I have NOT even cleaned it for winter yet. Oppps!!! I keep thinking I’ll get out there and do it, and then I don’t. It’s a mess, and I’ll even show you! The good news is, I did get another surprise garden haul yesterday: Broccoli, kale, a radish {I [...]
Mountain Rose Herbs recently sent me an awesome box of their Epicurean Organics product line, including a wonderful assortment of cooking oils, peppers, salts, and pumpkin pie spice! It’s taken me quite a while to work through all of their products, but I have to tell you how much I love everything they sent! If [...]
It’s official. I let the weeds get my garden. I dug up all of potatoes and I’m still picking a few tomatoes, kale, broccoli, and peppers, but the nights are getting cooler and my garden doesn’t like it that much. None of my fall plants have done much and honestly, I’m done gardening. I don’t [...]
I just realized that it’s 9/11 when I typed that date. Hmmm. I was in grad school at Arizona State University on 9/11. My husband was active duty Air Force, but also a full time grad student on the military’s dime, for he was slotted to return to his Alma mater the Air Force Academy [...]
Rain does a garden good! It rained and rained all day this past Sunday. And this morning when I made it out to pick, I ended up with almost 5 gallons of tomatoes, a huge bowl full of broccoli, sweet peppers, kohlrabi, and tons of green beans. Let’s not forget the kale and swiss chard… [...]
My garden is still in full swing. I’m busy canning pickles my lovely friend keeps bringing by and tomatoes and freezing broccoli. I’ve got more kohlrabi and swiss chard and kale than I know what to do with. And yet, I’m planting more! Last week, I added more carrots, more peas, spinach, and {I’m trying} [...]
The weather has cooled down. We’re getting rain. I’m glad about both – but it seems very strange to me that we turned the AC on in May {super early} … and off in August {so far anyway – normally the hottest time of the year }. I’m a tad worried about my tomatoes. They [...]
My kids and I packed up the van on Sunday and drove down to Central Missouri to spend some time with my parents. My two oldest kiddos are attending a fine arts camp at the college I teach at this week, and I was looking forward to hanging out with my mom and helping them [...]
Pluses and minuses in my garden this week ~ Despite no rain, the weeds continue to grow. And so does my kale. I’m guessing that in the event of a Zombie Apocalypse, kale will come in very handy because it seems to grow no matter what!! Good thing I like it. Too bad no one [...]
Welcome! I'm Michelle and I'm glad you're here. Simplify, Live, Love is a blog about simple life in rural Iowa. We are a self-employed, frugal, green, mostly homeschooling family of 6 working to go off the grid on a modern day homestead in Eastern Iowa. Please subscribe for gardening tips, green living hints, recipes, fun giveaways, and frugal ideas. Thanks for stopping by.
