Phone App: Plant Identification, Wild Edibles, Herbal Medicine, Foraging

I've been using this since it started. This is an EXCELLENT resource for those who like plants and would like to know what is growing in their yard or neighborhood, at a park, or as a volunteer plant in their garden. It can be used to identify plants for foraging or herbal medicine. If you catch your child or pet chewing on a plant, you can identify it to make sure it is safe.

I recently shared the app on my phone with Clint and Bethany. Both of them disappeared for quite a while as they walked around snapping pictures and getting identification. They both downloaded the app into their phones after they finally brought my phone back with big grins on their faces. 

There is an Apple version also.

Enjoy! My love to all!

It is Biblical to Store for Lean Times

If you've been reading the blog for a while, you know I like working with heritage breed livestock and heirloom seeds. I could not get some of the seeds I wanted from my normal suppliers, so I had to look a little harder. I am glad I keep years worth of seeds on hand. I was still able to get the rare squash seeds I hope to grow ordered. 

Here's the note that came with the order:

"Since we are all still living with the effects that the pandemic and subsequent economic unrest, it should be no surprise to hear that disruptions can possibly occur that may slow delivery. Just as there are no cuts in line at your local store, we fill orders fairly on a first in / first out basis. Please DO NOT ask for preferential treatment, it will not be considered.

Due to the unprecedented interest in gardening during this pandemic, we have been experiencing higher than normal order volume. Although we will try and ship as quickly as possible, it may take up to 7 business days from receipt until we mail your package to you. This email is confirming that your order has been received and that it is in our queue. Another email will be sent when your order is mailed and on its way to you. Also keep in mind that the U.S. Postal Service is experiencing delays; currently 3 to 10 days, depending partly on the class of mail service that you selected at checkout."

Dear Reader, If you are a Christian who reads the Bible and believes it gives us instructions for living, then you should be preparing for lean times. It does not take as much money as you may think to put a little away each time your grocery shop. I started with a lean income and a houseful of seven growing children. One of the easiest ways to build up your food storage is to look for ways to reduce food waste. Another method is through gardening. Instead of planting landscaping varieties of bushes and trees, I planted grapevines, fruit trees, medicinal plants, etc. There are many ways to accomplish the same goal, but you will get anywhere until you get started. You don't need to be on a farm either. I have friends who live in cities who are very, very well stocked up for lean times. 

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,

But a foolish man swallows it up. 

Proverbs 21:20

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. Proverbs 6:6-11

Gardening, Poultry, Rabbits

With the uncertain times, many people are asking us how to do things we've been doing for quite a while... like planting fruit trees, raising rabbits, raising poultry, gardening, pressure canning, homeschooling, hydroponics, dehydrating food, wild edibles, etc. 

All of a sudden, our lifestyle is very, very popular! We feel like God has had us live this way for such a time as now..to educate and assist others. We are certainly getting many requests for information.

There is a lot on those kinds of activities in the blog already. Please use the search bar in the top left of your screen. If you can't find it, lmk. There are also tags at the bottom of the post you can click. I'm not the best at tagging the posts, but again, there is the search bar.

I will try to answer specific questions. For example, it would take a long while to answer "How do I raise chickens?" but a question like "Can chickens be kept with ducks?"* can be answered in a few sentences.

Spring is always a very busy time for us, and we have two big projects going. Clint is also working OT due to a higher demand because of coronavirus. Please don't be offended or think I am shortchanging you. The list you see pictured is my list from yesterday. That is the "extra" in my day right now. Homeschool, laundry, housework, meals, farm chores, and much aren't listed. I work as hard as I can to knock the list down, but I still have many miles to go before I sleep. 

*Opinions vary. Some people do with no issues. Others have, and it was not a good experience. Clint and I do not keep them together in the same pen. Ducks foul the water, and keep everything wet which breeds bacteria not good for chickens. Then, young chickens are often on medicated feed to prevent coccidiosis. That medicated feed can kill a duckling/duck because they eat so much they overdose. If you can manage the different needs, it can be done. We have plenty of space and resources, so we choose not.

Marsh Periwinkles and Survival Skills

These snails are called Marsh Periwinkles. They are edible.

One good thing the empty shelves in the stores seem to have accomplished is to make people more aware of their need for survival skills. I am very thankful for the survival skills I have acquired since becoming an adult. We've tried to pass many of them down to our children and the young people in our ministry. Some pictures of these activities have been in the blog.

I don't eat snails. I'm a blue crab kind of girl. I would be thankful for periwinkles if I needed them, but thank the Lord, I do not need them. However, I know where they are and how to use them to take care of my family. Now, you know they are edible too!

I sought out basic survival knowledge decades ago, so I'd have it if I ever needed it. Knowledge of practical things is often looked down upon. "Why would someone in my position ever need to learn something like that?" Because everyone needs clean water, sustenance, and medicine. Those three things are essential to everyone's survival. 

If one doesn't know how to keep oneself alive, one can't keep anyone else alive either. Anyone who can't take care of themselves is a burden. We can't minister to others in bad situations if we do not have the skills to do so. People save money for hard times, but forget to gather knowledge for the same.

Today, I rejoice because I can enjoy the snails doing their thing and don't need to eat them. Down the road of life, I might rejoice that I know how to find them and use them for food.

The lowly ant, that God instructs us to learn from, knows what she can and can not eat in her surroundings. The knowledge of what we can eat around us gives us an extra measure of safety, which is a synonym for refuge, in very challenging times.

The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
Proverbs 27:12

Dehydrating Chickweed

We are dehydrating chickweed to turn into green powder for 
smoothies, medicines, and more. Our poultry and tortoises love to eat it too.

Knowledge is something no one can take from you. Do you have knowledge on how to keep your family alive and healthy during hard times? Can you correctly identify and harvest wild plants growing all around you for food and medicine?

 This simple and once commonplace knowledge can give you a lot of confidence during times of trouble. I've taught myself over the years this lost knowledge through many books, videos, online articles, and a few phone apps. When I was younger, I use to read fiction, but as I matured, I decided to redeem my time by learning things that might matter a lot to my family in the future. I am now passing the knowledge down to my children in hopes it will bless our future generations.

Chickweed is comparative to spinach in nutritional value. How much is spinach in the store? Would you like to get the same nutrition for free?

"Chickweed’s pretty packed with nutrients, especially for such a diminutive plant.  It contains vitamins A, D, B complex, C, rutin (a bioflavonoid), calcium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, sodium, copper, iron and silica.  In comparison with spinach, chickweed holds up extremely well.  It’s got just as much iron, along with other nutrients." source here

At the time of posting this, Walmart was selling organic spinach for $6.72 a pound.


Spinach powder is selling for right at $16 a pound on Amazon.

Harvesting wild growing chickweed is a bargain for the small effort it takes, 
but the knowledge of chickweed and how to use it is priceless.

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. Genesis 1:29-30