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Produce More and Save Money – Shop Your Zone
Have you ever been told to shop your zone? When I first heard this I was like what the heck is a zone!? haha But in the plant world zones are super important. They give you a great indication of what plants will thrive in your area depending on how far or close you are to the equator. I live in zone 9a. The varieties of plants I can plant are super similar to what Sam (my co-blogger) can plant. But she lives in zone 5 so there are some differences. These differences can make or break your gardening adventure. It can cost you money in plants that will not…
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Easy Three Ingredient Low Sugar Thimbleberry Jam Recipe
If you’ve been searching for a low-sugar thimbleberry jam recipe, you know how rare these wild berries—and reliable recipes—can be. Thimbleberries have a bright, tart flavor and soft texture that makes them perfect for jam, but their naturally low pectin content means they need just the right method to set. This recipe uses less sugar than traditional versions, so you can really taste the thimbleberries. It’s ideal for smaller batches, and it works well with fresh or frozen berries. Using a low or no-sugar pectin helps achieve a good consistency without needing to over-sweeten. Whether you’re foraging, growing your own, or were lucky enough to get some from a friend,…
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Store Your Canned Goods On This Amazing DIY Shelf
Do you have a designated place where you store your canned goods? I know this might sound like a crazy thing to think of if you don’t have your garden built – but my brain is always thinking 5 steps ahead. When I started really thinking about growing a garden it dawned on me that I would need to have a place to store it all. And even though it might seem that I put the cart before the horse… having a place to store food before it gets here makes so much sense to me. So off to Pinterest I went! (wink) Yup, it is always my go-to place…
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Easy Planet Activities for Your Homeschool Space Unit
At the beginning of July, another teacher and I hosted a space-themed camp and it was a total blast! Day 2 was all about the planets! We had a lot of fun exploring the planets, learning some facts about them, and creating our own! We had kids 5-10 years old and they all found joy in these Planet Activities. The older kids spent more time perfecting their projects and some of them worked with the younger students when they needed some extra help. I am excited to share a few of the activities with you today. Check out the MOON activities we did HERE. This post contains affiliate links. This…
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Three Simple Steps Explaining How To Propagate Grapes
Propagating Grapes is such an easy way to start your own little vineyard. After visiting a local winery and learning all the basics from the masters I took everything I learned and tried it on my own. Haak Winery is right down the road from me. They, along with many other vineyards, open their doors to the public to let them come in and participate in picking grapes and/or pruning back the vines. This can be such a fun family event AND if you are blessed – they will a lot of the time let you take home the vines to play around with and try to grow your own.…
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The Best 3 Ingredient No Pectin Black Raspberry Jam Recipe & The New Love of Your Life
If you’re looking for a no-pectin black raspberry jam recipe, you’ve come to the right place! Black raspberry season in Northern Illinois was in full swing last June, and we made the most of it with bars, jam, and pie. With about 7 cups of berries still in the freezer, I’m considering another pie or maybe some mini pies next. This simple, no-pectin recipe highlights the rich, natural flavor of black raspberries without relying on added thickening agents. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone wanting a straightforward way to preserve these delicious berries. If you’re interested in exploring more homemade spreads, be sure to visit our Jams and Jellies page,…
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This Minestrone Soup is my New Favorite Italian Dinner!
A couple of years ago, my husband brought me some Minestrone Soup from the Olive Garden. I was put on bed rest after my surgery, and as for me cooking, well… it was not happening. Haha, I had never had their Minestrone Soup before, but after one bite, I was in heaven!! And I knew I had to add it to my arsenal of family meals. I spent a while trying to figure out a recipe that I loved. After a few trials, I finally perfected something that was not only delicious but is super easy to make! This recipe makes a huge pot of soup. But it is simple…
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How to Start a Small Garden That Will Thrive
Starting a garden can seem really intimidating, especially if you’re a newbie (like me) and you don’t have a whole lot of space (also like me). I live in a small townhome with a teeny tiny backyard, but I wanted to have a garden for my daughter and me to learn and explore in. So, we built ourselves a small vegetable garden! Sure, there were some ups and downs the first year, but that is to be expected! Overall, it was so much fun building it with her and watching our plants grow! The real reason we started this garden was because of the pandemic! We kind of got tossed…
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Attaching a filter to a Stock Tank is super easy.
With all the amazing decorating ideas online about styling the perfect backyard stock tank pool, there are very few that talk about how to set it up. I spent hours on top of hours trying to figure out exactly what and how to do it. Not only did I get excited and jump in the stock tank pool world without knowing what I was doing, but I also bought one that had bumps and lumps in all the wrong places and I was so lost on how I was going to hook up a filter system. But all my research paid off and I have had my tank up and…
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The Best & Most Simple Black Raspberry Bars That You’ll Crave All Year Long—Watch Out for Those Thorns!
Man, do I LOVE black raspberries! Tiny and seedy little raspberries were graciously planted by the birds in my hometown in Illinois. This summer, we got the surprise of the year when we were walking in the back of my MIL’s property and found a TON of black raspberry bushes. I think we found a new section of bushes every day that we went out there, and we collected a bunch of berries every time we went. The first thing we made with them was Black Raspberry Bars. Get inspired with more amazing dessert recipes by visiting From Scratch Desserts. This post contains affiliate links. This will not cost you…
