Blog

Muffin Batter mixed and ready Homestead Muffins
In my part of the country Thomas brand English muffins have long been popular at grocery stores. I always liked them at breakfast or for a snack. I usually toasted them whole and then sliced them just before adding butter, jelly or peanut butter and let the topping melt in. They are not sweet tasting, but a type of bread with a wonderful crust and lots of air bubbles inside. In stores English muffins are also available with raisins or made from whole wheat. Fast food restaurants offering breakfast usually... Read more →
Our first Grain Collection Millet, an Ancient Grain that's Good for You!
Millet is seldom grown for food in North America, but it is widely grown to eat in the rest of the world. This healthy food crop is easy to grow and prepare for the table at home. Once your soil has warmed up well this grain will grow quickly and be ready in 60 to 90 days. While growing it does not look like a food crop at all. That makes it ideal to plant not only at home but also near a camp or cabin retreat. The... Read more →
Beans & Corn drying inside Flint corn!
Be sure to check out our video on Harvesting Flint Indian Corn. According to Suzanne Ashworth*, in her excellent book "Seed to Seed" Flint corn seed keeps "for 5-10 years ". I continue to highly recommend her detailed seed saving book. This figure is for seed storage in a cool dry room, not sealed in aluminized poly bags with a desiccant. Flint corn seeds not only keep better than Sweet corn, once fully mature it also is a good source of protein. Sweet corn is a... Read more →
Thinking Inside the Box Why Store Seeds in a Vapor Proof Pouch?
When storing seeds for many years keep them dry and cool. Suzanne Ashworth's book confirms what we have been doing for many years. "The two greatest enemies of stored seeds are high temperature and high moisture."1 and "Home-saved seeds will retain maximum vigor when thoroughly dried and stored in a moisture-proof container."1 Moisture can pass through plastic, as well as paper. Food bags that are metalized 2.2 poly provides two layers of protection from moisture and light are ideal. These are used to preserve foods and grains. They should be... Read more →
Red lettuce plants How Long Will Your Seeds Last?
I keep getting this question emailed to me over and over again, asked in slightly different ways. For the longest keeping seeds, five to ten years or more, I offer seeds sealed in foil pouches. This includes Our Garden Security Collection, Our Garden Bean Collection, and two small grains. Hulless Oats and Winter Rye. These have been carefully dried and a desiccant packet has been added. They are properly prepared for even longer storage in your refrigerator. In your freezer they will last much longer, like Grampa Neffs... Read more →