A Little Bit About Me …

My name is Linda.  I have been married to my husband, Bob, since 1979 and am the mother of 3 children.  Andrew, my middle child, was born in 1988.  He’s an EMT and Volunteer Firefighter and I am extremely proud of him.  My oldest, Robert, and my youngest, Leigh Anne, left this world, way too soon, from Cystic Fibrosis.  They are no longer suffering and I truly believe they are in a better place living with our Lord, but I miss them very much.  Robert passed in 2000 at the age of 18 and Leigh Anne passed in 1996 at the age of 6-1/2.  I know that, one day, I will see them again.

I am the middle daughter of three girls and I grew up a Tom-Boy.  I tell people that I was the son my Father never had.  I helped him fix things in and around the house.  As an adult, I began to do things for myself, mostly because I like tinkering around the house but, also because of financial restraints.  I’ll try anything myself, at least once, before paying someone else to do it.  And, it’s usually to my benefit.  I can do most any home improvement project and my (hopefully) soon-to-be-started new project is to do something I’ve never tried before.  I’m going to attempt to make new kitchen cabinets.  My husband thinks I’m crazy, but, because he doesn’t know the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver, he, more often than not, doubts my home improvement and DIY skills and ideas.  He really should get over his way of thinking because I’ve almost always proven him wrong… and I’ll prove him wrong again with my cabinets.  lol

Where I Live …

I live in South-Central Jersey on an 80′ x 100′ lot… that’s only 8,000 square feet and my house and driveway take up approximately 2,500 square feet of that!!!  This doesn’t seem like very much to work with, but I’ve been reading everything I can find on small-scale homesteading and I believe it can be done.  I’m determined to do it!!!

Why I Want to Homestead …

Over the last few years, I’ve seriously been thinking about the foods we eat, where they come from, the pesticides, chemicals, steroids and antibiotics.  And, what about the stuff we don’t know about???  I’m obsessed with this!!!  So much so that I think everyone around me is tired of listening to me when I find out something new.  lol

We all know that we need food to survive and I want my food to be the best quality it can possibly be.  Why should I have to depend on big business for their pesticide-covered GMO fruits and vegetables, processed foods with ingredients that I can’t pronounce and steroid- and antibiotic-pumped animals for my family’s consumption?  I believe that everyone should be able to eat healthy foods.  I know we have that option at the supermarkets or health food stores, but I don’t want to have to pay an arm and a leg for that option.  And, my question is, are we really getting what we are paying extra for?

We should all have the right to farm our little piece of land (however small that piece of land may be), to raise a few chickens or do whatever is necessary to provide healthy foods for our families… within reason of the size of our piece of property, of course.

In the Garden …

Until my obsession with the foods I am putting on my dinner table, my veggie garden had only been a hobby.  Each year I try to plant a small backyard garden which supplies my family with enough produce to last us from mid-summer to mid- to late autumn.  I say “try to” because sometimes life just gets in the way and I don’t get it planted.  Not too long ago, I’ve had to deal with groundhogs living under my shed who just loved nibbling on my seedlings… leaving me with nothing!!!  I didn’t want to kill them, but I didn’t get any help from animal control.  So, I just didn’t plant for a couple of years.  That worked and they moved out, but I lost a few years of my garden.

Anyway, I love being able to walk out my back door to pick fresh, organic vegetables for our meals.  I haven’t seen the groundhogs for a couple of years now, so this growing season I’ll be back to work.

This year, I’m planning to expand my little “hobby” garden into trying to grow enough produce to last until next season.  I’ve read up on crop storage and canning and it doesn’t seem to be too difficult, but we’ll just have to see what happens.  I’ve never had enough to store before, so this will be a trial and error effort.  Plus, I’m not sure where I’m going to store my harvest.  I don’t have a basement or garage and my kitchen is a bit small but, I’m going to be optimistic.  I’ll figure it out… or I’ll donate to a food pantry.  I welcome any food storage ideas you might have!!!

I’ve been thinking about dwarf fruit trees.  I came across a catalog ad which says that I can fit 6 different dwarf fruit trees in a 10′ x 20′ space.  Because my property isn’t big enough for the standard size version of the trees, I’ll have to go with the dwarf versions.  But, I’ll have to do some research first.  I don’t know what’s been done to them to make them grow smaller.  Anyone know anything about dwarf trees?

In the Henhouse …

I’d like to raise a few chickens, but my town doesn’t allow it… yet!!!  I’m planning to request to have the Zoning Law changed.  I haven’t submitted anything yet, but I’ve been working on a proposal.  I know I have a long, hard road ahead of me, but I’m going to try.  I don’t think that four or five chickens in my yard is a lot to ask for.  From everything I’ve read, I believe a small amount of chickens is less trouble than a couple of dogs or cats.  Chickens don’t grow to be 75 or 100 pounds and they’re much quieter than any loud, barking dog… and a responsible owner isn’t going to let their chickens roam the streets like the neighbors outdoor cats.  Chickens eat ticks, fleas, other bugs and garden pests such as mice and snakes, they help with garden clean-up by eating whatever they can and, the best part is, manure for the compost pile.  Anyway, wish me luck; I know I’m going to need it!!!  Hey, if any of you live in Beachwood and want to raise backyard chickens, maybe we can all get together to make it happen!!!  E-Mail me!!!

In the Beehive …

And, as a future project, I’d like to have a beehive for honey.  This is a new thought for me, so I’ll have to do a lot of research before I buy the hive and the bees.  I wasn’t a fan of getting stung when I was a child, but I guess I had it coming since I used to torment them.  Guess  I won’t be doing that again!!!  lol

So, Welcome To “My Little Backyard Homestead” …

I feel like I may have had a past life living in the mid to late 1800s.  I’ve always been interested in old farmhouses and the primitive furnishings of that era, veggie gardens, living a more down-to-earth way of life and now trying to live a life of self-sufficiency… or as close to it as I can possibly get.  I’m determined to change my garden hobby into my new lifestyle, along with recycling and repurposing as much as I possibly can.  Actually the recycling and repurposing is something I already do, so this won’t be too much of a change for me.  I love to sew and crochet and I’m, also, going to try my hand at homemade health, beauty and cleaning products… and who knows what else I’ll want to try as time goes on.

So, join me on my new venture of growing and eating healthier foods, living a little greener than I have in the past and to what I believe will be the closest thing I can think of to what would be most like homesteading.

Get In Touch With Me …

Want to get in touch with me?  Please e-mail me at ThisGalsGarden@gmail.com.  I welcome  your friendship, comments and questions.

Oops, I Almost Forgot The Boring Stuff …

My Disclaimer… “My Little Backyard Homestead” is my personal blog and is written just for fun.  I am here to share the ups and downs of my new adventure in starting “My Little Backyard Homestead”, as I strive to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle and to write about whatever pops into my head. I hope to make new friends along the way and to maybe learn something new from my new friends.  I have learned many things throughout the years by trial and error and will write about the things that work for me.

I do not claim to be an expert in anything I write about.  Like most of us, if there is something I need to learn, I consult with family and friends and/or research the internet.  I make every effort to post the most accurate information that I possibly can, but it is up to you to decide whether or not you would like to try or do anything I have written about.

In other words, please be responsible as to what you may try from my blog as written.  Unless otherwise stated, my words are my words and I do not make any representation as to the accuracy or validity of anything I post.  No warranties are expressed or implied and, as I do not claim to be an expert in anything posted here, should you decide to use anything I’ve written in any way, shape or form, you agree that you will hold me harmless of any injuries, damages or losses which you may incur.

All rights reserved.  No content on this site may be reused in any fashion without my written permission.

Happy Reading!!!