Missy's Homestead: Succulent Art

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick feel good blog post from the homestead.  

Starting The Project.  Cardboard inside

Packing the Dirt

I love pinterest.  I think it is a great way to check out the amazing talents of people around the world and keep track of ideas and inspirations.  Several of the projects that I have been working on throughout the past year have been from items I have seen and liked on pinterest.  As you all know from my previous post I love succulents.  I think they are super awesome plants that last a long time and don't really require a lot of work.  You can leave your house for an extended period of time and they will still be there alive and kicking.  A few projects I have seen on pinterest have involved succulents and while I was back home in California I wanted to start a few in order to give the succulent cuttings a chance to root down while I was gone.  I made a succulent basket awhile ago that hangs infront of my kitchen window.  It took like 20 minutes to make all from succulent cuttings and some rocks I found in the ally behind my house.  It is still going strong a year later, and I hardly ever pay attention to it.  I water it occasionally but it really does take care of itself.  

One project I have been obsessed with for awhile is like a living piece of artwork.  I have seen a lot of pins about succulent collections that are made inside frames and hung on the wall.  I have been wanting to make one of these for a very long time.  Well I finally did it! 

Everything I made this living artwork with was recycled except for the new piece of wire that I used to help hold the dirt down.  I decided that for my first attempt I wouldn't make anything too big.  (I have seen them huge like this one I found two days ago at a co op)  

Something to inspire to.  Large Succulent Art on the wall at a Co Op

Starting to put cuttings in.

I had a few old wine boxes that my father had given to me that I had never really made anything out of.  First thing I did was I covered all the cracks with some recycled cardboard,  just to make sure things didn't start falling out the bottom (or the back when it is finally hung on the wall.)  Next I took a small layer of dirt and packed it into the bottom.  I layered a piece of wire mess (you can use any size just don't go super small in the openings) and secured it to the sides just by using tension.  I then took very small succulent cuttings and inserted them throughout the mess.  If the root wasn't strong enough to dig a hole through the mess and dirt I would use a nail and if the mess I used wasn't large enough I would use my shears to cut a larger opening for the root systems to fit.  I watered all the plants slightly and will keep the box flat for a couple weeks while the roots take to the soil.  After that I plan on mounting the little box on my wall like a piece of art.  All the succulents I used were from cuttings from my other succulents and I even found a few growing in the ally behind my house that I was able to take some cuttings from.

Finished Product

I think this is a great way to get some green in your house without spending a ton of money.  There are many other tutorials out there that are much more in depth than mine but I wanted to share with you how easy this was to make.  I think this would be great project to do with a friend.  You could each bring cuttings from your succulents and do a trade.  Hopefully everything will root okay and in a few weeks when I am back I can show you how the finish product looks on the wall.  

Okay well that is all for now.  Just wanted to share my latest recycled project!  

Remember Consumer More, Buy Less, Have Fun Making Things You Love.

Missy

Missy's Homestead: Impressed by my neighbors

I am back at home for a few weeks! 

I am so excited to be back with the chickens, my garden and my husband.  I have a lot to do in the short time that I will be home.  The chickens have taken over the back yard and there is chicken poop everywhere.  Time to build that enclosure we have been talking about for so long.  Greg has been super busy and the ground has froze for weeks at a time so the garden took a little bit of a dip.  Not sure I am going to get anything out of it this winter.  Oh well that is risk you run when you leave your homestead.  No matter what has happened it is good to be back and I am going to do a little clean up.  

Things have continued to evolve and change since I have been gone, and I have been walking around the neighborhood to see the changes.   I love finding little gems in the area that make me proud to be associated with the city.  I have not even been home a week and already seeing signs of people out making a difference where they live.    The lady around the corner from me is now doing story readings on Wednesday at here home, with a sign on the street telling people to come on over.   My neighbor on the other side has signs for her community crop share, but the best new thing that I have seen since being back is the free library that someone has put up in their front yard.  

Free library?  Yes that is exactly what it is.  A little box on a stand with a sign that says free library.  Take a book...leave a book!  Amazing.  What a great way to get your old books into circulation and create a sense of community.  Now I don't know if anyone would actually take a book,  but I have to say I got a huge smile on my face when I found this on the lawn of this house.  (Of course I was immediately taking picture!!)  Even if no one every does take a book, the thought of giving back to your fellow neighbors is so nice.  

This is just such a wonderful idea that I have never seen done before.  I have walked by a box on the sidewalk that just says free, but I have never seen someone go to such great lengths to put something so permanent outside their home.   It made me start to wonder what are the small things I could do to help make my community feel more homey.  This is the kinda of thing I want to strive for.  

How can I contribute to making the world and my community a better place with simple acts of kindness? Have you seen any examples of community  giving/kindness in your area?  I would love to hear your ideas.  Please comment below.

More to come as I attempt to get things back in order!! And...oh my word are the chickens huge and laying tons of eggs!!!

Okay got to go clean the coop...not sure if anyone has done that in awhile ; )

Until next time,  Consume More, Buy Less, Be the change.

Missy

Missy's Homestead: Freezer, Freezer, Freezer

A couple weeks ago my Brother-in-law and his wife had their very first child.  She was born 2 weeks early but very healthy and happy!  As I shared late last year I threw a shower for my sister in law in preparation for her baby.  We had a wonderful time and I made a ton of my own decorations, food and favors.   As more and more of my friends are having babies I have realized that a great way to help out new mothers and their families is by helping to provide simple tasks such as dinner preparations, house cleaning etc.  Before I left I asked if any of the ladies at the shower would be interested in doing a meal or two for the new family.  Everyone was willing and wanted to donate a meal or some cleaning.  Over the past three weeks we have had meals every couple days dropped off to the new family.  It was an easy task to contact the people and coordinate dates and times.  A simple task that I know has been  extremely  appreciated by the new parents who are not getting much sleep.  I was equally impressed with my husband Greg who has already gone into uncle mode and helped out by cleaning their kitchen.   

Sometimes I think people feel overwhelmed by the feeling of not knowing how to help in situations (our creator for WYCD Jessica talks extensively about this).  There are always simple ways that you can help family and friends in times of need.  It is just a matter of taking the time to see the need and understanding what is the best way you can help.  Next week I will be going back home for a few weeks. I have started my list of simple items that I can cook and put in the freezer for my sister in law.  I plan on providing inexpensive and simple dishes that will be easy to thaw and heat back up.  Offering meals etc. is not just a great thing for new parents.  Often the elderly around you might need assistance with meals.  Maybe one day a week you can offer to go to your grandparents house or to your elderly neighbor and cook them a meal or make them something for their freezer.  Even just offering up some time to clean someone's house or visit with them can be much appreciated.

Simple yet inexpensive items that can be made include some of the following:

Homemade pasta sauces - Marinara Sauce, Pesto Sauce or a Vodka Sauce.  Sometimes the hardest part of making a great pasta dish is making the sauce.  Having a homemade sauce already made in the freezer can make dinner prep easy and tasty!

Chili (Veggie or meat)  - An easy and inexpensive meal to have in the freezer.  Just thaw and heat up.  You could even freezer some cornbread and you have a full meal. 

Soups and Stews (of course!)  - Most soups are easy to make and easy to freezer and thaw.  They can make a great meal especially if you just throw some crusty bread on the side.  

Lasagna and Enchiladas -  Fairly easy to make and easy to freeze.   

Casseroles - Old school but classic way to fill your freezer.

More ideas to come when I am actually in my kitchen and making some meals up for the new family.

Until Next time, Consume more, Buy less, Try to help out...

Missy