<![CDATA[Three Seeds Farm and Homesteading Blog - Colorado - Blog]]>Thu, 14 May 2020 01:00:55 -0700EditMySite<![CDATA[How to Turn Kitchen Scraps into Bacon]]>Thu, 16 Apr 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.threeseedsfarm.com/blog/how-to-turn-kitchen-scraps-into-baconAnd what not to feed your pigs!Picture
One of the most exciting aspects of raising pigs, in my opinion, would be their ability to turn "trash" into a treasure of bacon! Once I started collecting kitchen scraps for the pigs and goats on our farm I realized how much food goes to waste. Onion skins, egg shells, and potato peels were once sent to the trash, never to reach their full potential. Yes, I realize these items are gold for the compost pile, but I have an ugly confession to make here. 

I am a terrible compost keeper! 

There, I said it! I am determined to master composting but today let's talk about another way to create a (nearly) zero waste kitchen. 

Pigs are wonderful homestead recyclers. They are pretty content eating almost anything which makes them perfect for recycling kitchen scraps. Of course it is important to give them a variety and keep in mind their nutritional needs, mainly lysine. Lysine is important to swine. Without it amino acids cannot combine and form muscle protein (less bacon, no thank you). 

Kitchen scraps that are good sources of lysine include peas, any dairy including cheese, and cooked meat and bones (not from pigs). You will find mixed opinions on feeding pigs meat and so I will give you my opinion here and let you decide what works best on your homestead. Pigs are omnivores. In past generations, pigs were not limited to a vegetarian diet. Pioneers depended on their farm animals to make the most of what they had in order to provide for their families. Presently, a pig will not scoff at eating a field mouse or snake that happens to cross their path during feeding time in the pasture. They also enjoy worms and other critters that call the pasture home. I DO NOT feed my pigs pork. This is where the possibility of disease transfer outweighs the desire to be zero waste. I bring meat scraps and bones to our livestock guardian dog that lives in the pasture with the hogs full time. What she doesn't eat the hogs do. 

Dairy is possibly the most abundant source of lysine on the homestead when there is a milk cow. Presently, our farm is lacking a milk cow and so we have to either ask our local organic grocer for outdated milk or give up the small amounts of whey thats leftover from draining yogurt or making ricotta cheese. Dairy never goes to waste. Even the funky smelling cottage cheese that got pushed too far back in the fridge is a welcome pig snack. Avoid extremely spoiled dairy, of course. 

As lysine insurance, I always keep a few bags of organic field peas in the barn. When the kitchen isn't producing enough lysine rich scraps, I will dish out a few scoops of field peas a day. Planting peas in the pasture is another great way to ensure your hogs will get what they need. Our pasture is in need of some maintenace. Field peas are a wonderful cover crop that add nitrogen to the soil. I love multi-use items on the homestead. 

Some things to remember about kitchen scraps- they vary greatly from day to day. I have read lots of books with varying information as far as what NOT to give pigs. I do agree that giving your hogs a basket full of avocadoes each day can give them issues but the occasional avocado in the scrap bucket hasn't been an issue on our farm. Same goes for raw potato peels and raw eggs. My diet is varied and so is theirs. 

I do have a list of foods that I never feed our hogs. These include soy, pork, uncooked and dried beans, processed foods with lots of sodium, sugar, and questionable ingredients. Yes, pigs are great recyclers but you are what you eat eats. I have high standards for our food supply and that doesn't end with my animals. 

With some forethought, kitchen scraps can be wonderfully supportive to your hog's health. Garlic is a powerful natural antibiotic. Adding raw garlic regularly to your pig scraps will help prevent health issues. I take the peels out of my garlic press and throw those in the bucket frequently. Squash and pumpkin seeds have been fed to pigs as a natural dewormer. If you feed grains, it is best to ferment them first for better digestibilty. You can find spent grains from the fermentation process in beer making at a local brewery usually for free. Occasionally I will pour the juice from my fermented veggies in the bucket too. 

I hope this gives you some ideas on how you can turn your food waste into delicious pork roast and bacon. For this reason alone every homestead needs a pig! Other farm animals can be picky eaters or their nutritional needs can't be met with kitchen scraps. I know my chickens avoid mushrooms at all costs but our hogs love them. Less waste on the farm means less inputs from off the farm. It's a wonderful balance. 

<![CDATA[DIY Bath Bomb Recipe]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2020 01:43:48 GMThttps://www.threeseedsfarm.com/blog/diy-bath-bomb-recipeCornstarch free version with FREE printable recipe card!Picture
Easter is right around the corner! This happens to be one of my favorite times of year. The Easter bunny will be here soon and watching the kids find eggs always comes with lots of laughs. One thing we don't do on Easter is lots of candy and when the kids already had enough play-doh and matchbox cars I was searching for goodies to put in there!

Last year I tried making egg shaped bath bombs and they were a huge hit with the kids! These bath bombs are infused with essential oils so they come with great calming and immune supporting benefits. The epsom salt helps the body detox and the fizzy citric acid is fun to play with. You can color them with natural dyes by using activated charcoal, pumpkin seed oil or beet powder. They are very easy to customize with what you have on hand. 

PictureWhen mixing you want a wet sand consistency.
This year I had everything ready for some more beautiful little egg bath bombs. Only problem is I only had the rigid and cheap Easter eggs that would NOT cooperate with me. After getting frustrated and contemplating abandoning the whole thing, I figured I would turn them into bath bon-bons. Now they look like little cakes for your tub. I am sure the kids will be just as happy!

These bath bombs are not just for Easter. I love giving these as gifts and let's not forget Mother's Day is around the corner! They make Mom's skin silky smooth and leave her relaxed and thankful she has such thoughtful children. ;)  

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<![CDATA[How to Make and Use Cloth Toilet Paper]]>Fri, 20 Mar 2020 18:45:45 GMThttps://www.threeseedsfarm.com/blog/how-to-make-and-use-cloth-toilet-paperDuring a nationwide toilet paper crisis!Picture
I hate to give the coronavirus anymore attention that what it already has. Every news outlet is reporting, my social newsfeeds are packed with it and anyone you speak to is speaking about it. Not to downplay the seriousness of this issue, but the hysteria has really gotten out of hand! 

One of the more surprising outcomes has been the the amount of toilet paper that was snatched up in a matter of days from every store within fifty miles of my house. Now being a homesteader I am normally more prepared for these situations but this time around I was down to a measily six rolls of TP! This amount wouldn't cause me any concern accept the toilet paper isn't getting restocked or if it does people are racing eachother to get to it. Now that's a situation I happily opt out of. 

I don't buy into the scarcity mentality. I also don't like to depend on outside sources for my needs. So I decided the best way to avoid the chaos and regain some control and independence was to make my own toilet paper! I know some of you are going to think "Ew! Gross!" and I completely understand your reaction. I would have felt the same way before I had kids. Those little germballs sure do alter your way of thinking. 

It wasn't until my third child I decided to cloth diaper. Once you enter that realm, family cloth becomes way less taboo. And once you can't get your hands on any toilet paper, you're willing to wipe with anything! :P And I havent even gotten into the environmental impacts of ditching paper toilet paper! (although I'm sure you can figure that out) Plus my septic system will fill up with less waste. From every angle, I see a lot of positives. 

Let me assure you, cleaning cloth toilet paper is not as gross as it sounds either. But first let's start by how to make cloth toilet paper...

Finding fabric for FREE or very cheap

I have found burp clothes to be an easy and cheap material to make cloth toilet paper from. I had a stash leftover from my kids that I used to start. When I needed more it was an abundant resource. Many used burp clothes end up getting tossed after baby outgrows them, so start by asking friends with small children if they have any to spare. I scored a dozen or so this way. Next, check out garage sales. If you see loads of baby items then you know your chances are good. I easily found a stack for .25 a piece over the summer. Thrift stores are another great option although I haven't had much luck there. If you can't seem to find burp clothes then look for flannel fabric, again garage sales can be an option but sewing and craft chains will have it for relatively inexpensive (always look for a coupon too). 

Sewing your cloth toilet paper

You will need:
Several burp clothes or flannel fabric
Cutting mat
Lip edge ruler
Rotary Cutter
​Sewing Machine
There are many different tutorials on cloth toilet paper. I prefer to make mine two ply. It's more absorbant so you use less. I also cut my squares into 7x7 inches. They shrink up a tad in the wash but that size works very well for us and creates less waste if you're repurposing burp clothes. 

I begin by folding my fabric in half, trying to get all four corners to match up. Not all burp clothes are perfect though so you may have some wonky edges. Do the best you can and dont worry about it. This project doesnt require perfection! Makes a great introduction to sewing and even young ones can get involved if they want. After folding the burp cloth in half, fold it again the same direction, like a hot dog is how I remember my teacher explaining it. Use a cutting mat to square up your pieces the best you can and cut your 7 inch wide strips.

Once you have your strips, open them up and lay one on top of the other. I end up stacking 5-6 on top of each other to speed up the cutting process. Then cut your strips into 7 inch squares. You will now take your 7x7 squares and stack them together, right sides facing out. 
Grab your sewing machine and set your stitch to a zig zag. I like this stitch best for this project because I can get very close to the edge which prevents the flannel from unraveling too much. Some sewing machines have the option to keep the needle down even when you lift up on the presser foot. Using this option helps you turn the corners. Make sure to stitch in place or make a few backstitches so the threads do not unravel after repeated washing. Now sew around your 7x7 square, getting as close to the edge as you can. If you don't stay close to the edge you will ened up washing the TP 2-3 times to get all the unraveled fabric off them. Not a big deal, but sort of a pain. When you come to the end, backstitch again to end your stitch. Repeat these steps until you're finished with your stack!

Throw them in the wash before the first use. This helps them become absorbant and if you're using second hand burp cloths then you will want them to be clean. Washing them will also get the frayed ends to come off. Over time you will not have this issue. You can seen in the photo my newly washed cloths next to a cloth that has been washed many times. 

How many will I need?

The number will vary from family member to family member. My children definetly use more than I do in a day. Also consider how often you want to wash your cloth toilet paper. I like to wash every third day. Any longer than that and you might get some funky smells come wash day or the next time you open your wet bag. 

I would say a minimum of 20 cloths for adults and 40 for kids. I use these same cloths as baby wipes too. I just soak them in a basic solution so they are moist and ready to wipe baby's bottom. 

How to care for my cloth toilet paper?

It's not as complicated as you may think! I just wash mine with my towels in the hottest water, in the highest soil level with a normal amount of detergent. I don't add bleach. You can add baking soda or use cloth diaper detergent such as this. If you're familiar with cloth diapering then the same rules apply. You can toss these in with your cloth diapers too.

I have never needed to rinse a number two off my cloth toilet paper. Maybe if you have serious digestive distress this would be an issue. We keep toilet paper in the house for guests and for such issues. Basically, just don't flush them and you'll be golden. If you come across issues, feel free to contact me and we can figure it out.

If you have hard water like me it will be a huge benefit to use this in each cloth toilet paper load.  Minerals can build up in your cloths and hold onto ammonia and other bacteria. Using this with each wash will prevent any build up. I actually find it very helpful to use it with most of my laundry. It keeps my whites brighter and removes build up from my towels. 

If you end up with staining there is no harm. If the stains bother you, lay your cloths in the sun to sun bleach the stains away. This works well for many stains and is probably why people used to hang their clothes out in the sun to dry. I haven't had any staining yet but I'm sure it happens.

​You may be wondering if your wash routine changes during your monthly cycle. I use "mama cloth" or cloth pads and wash everything the same way. 

My bathroom set-up

I keep my cloth toilet paper in a basket on the back of the toilet. You will need a wet bag to hang your used cloths in while they wait for the washing machine. I used a command strip to secure my wet bag next to the toilet. 

For children or maybe a messy situation, it can be nice to have a clean bottom spray next to your toilet. Spray the cloth before wiping for extra cleaning power. (recipe to come) 

If making your own cloth toilet paper is not something you're interested in doing but you want to become more sustainable, then chceck out the merchantile to purchase some already made cloth TP!
<![CDATA[Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls]]>Wed, 26 Feb 2020 01:53:09 GMThttps://www.threeseedsfarm.com/blog/sourdough-cinnamon-rollsNo refined sugars needed...Picture
When I first started baking with my sourdough starter, I never realized how versatile it could be! You can transform such simple ingredients such as flour, salt and water into an array of wonderful home baked goods. By adding butter and milk to our dough, its very easy to turn sourdough into a rich bread dough. 

There are many reasons to start using sourdough in your vintage kitchen. The fermentation process that takes place unlocks the nutritional value making iron, folic acid, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, and calcium bioavailable to us. Phytic acid prevents us from absorbing these vitamins and minerals, which is present in the bran layers of cereal. With even just a few hours of fermentation, phytic acid can be neutralized. Longer fermentation helps to break down gluten. I aim to use a 24 hour fermentation in order to break down as much gluten as possible. By using an age-old method of preparing bread, we not only eat like our ancestors but we also enjoy the benefits of their ancient wisdom. 

But back to the delicious, no sugar added cinnamon rolls! I have taken the basic sourdough and transformed it into a sweet treat that I don't feel guilty about! 

Easy Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

1 1/2 Cup Flour
1 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour (I used sprouted flour here)
1 Cup starter
1/4 Cup Melted Butter
7/8 Cup Half and Half
1 tsp Salt
1/4 Cup Honey

1/2 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Honey or Date Syrup
3 Tablespoons Cinnamon

Add your starter and flours to the mixing bowl and beat until incorporated. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add butter, half and half salt and honey and mix again. 

Once well mixed, set a towel over the bowl and let sit for thirty minutes. After the rest, flour the work surface and knead the bread until well incorporated and not tacky. When your bread reaches a nice pliable and not overly sticky texture roll it out with rolling pin until its about 1/3 inch thick. 
Mix the filling ingredients together. I used date syrup for this recipe. I prefer the vanilla undertones the date syrup adds to the filling but honey tastes just as good here too. Once the filling is mixed up spread it over the dough generously. 
Now the fun part! Roll the dough up and cut into equal sized pieces with a very sharp knife so you avoid smooshing the roll and having "ugly" rolls. I speak from expereince here! Luckily ugly still tastes good. To get equal pieces I like to cut the log in half, then cut  the halves in half. From that point it is much easier to judge equal thirds by eyeballing it. 
I brush the rolls with butter, usually there's enough residual butter in the saucepan to do this. Then I cover them and stick them in the fridge for the morning. This overnight fermentation process is where the magic happens. The longer the ferment the better! 

Wake up the next morning, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and pop these beauties in the oven for thirty minutes. Make a cup of joe and smell the cinnamon fill the house. The farm kids usually wake up and they know by their nose that there is a breakfast treat for them. I don't frost these guys because frankly it doesn't need it! They are perfect right out of the oven. 
I hope you will find these sourdough cinnamon rolls as delicious as we do. This is one of my favorite breakfast treats to serve in the morning with some scrambled eggs and bacon. Share your experience in the comments! 
<![CDATA[So, What is Regenerative Agriculture anyway?]]>Sat, 11 Jan 2020 02:02:25 GMThttps://www.threeseedsfarm.com/blog/so-what-is-regenerative-agriculture-anywayHow Farming Practices Could Save the PlanetPicture
Regenerative agriculture seems to be popping up more and more. So, what's all the buzz about? Simply put, regenerative agriculture focuses on soil health in order to reduce carbon emissions. Healthy soils that do not feel the harsh blades of tillage are able to sequester carbon in our enviroment. The United Nations believes adopting these practices could offset total global emissions by 10 percent, which is significant! 

You might be wondering how this is possible. Soil that has been undisturbed already contains carbon and microbes. Once the soil has been worked such as using tillage the carbon is released into the air. I often tell people I am a soil farmer. My goal is to rebuild the soil by increasing the organic matter that will effectivly store more water and draw carbon out of the atmosphere. But regenerative agriculture is more than just that...

Going Beyond the Soil

Regenerative agriculture goes beyond caring for the soil. This is a wholistic approach to farming that includes sustainability, animal husbandry and environmental impact. Working with nature, is the key. In order to do this you must incorporate the following principles. 

The Principles of Regenerative Agriculture

1. No soil disruption: Most enthusiasts will agree that the first principle to regenerative ag is not tilling. Soil health is at the core of this method of farming and in order to nurture it, you must not disturb the microbes, tear up root systems and otherwise destory the microscopic eco system below our feet. There are more living organisms in a teaspoon of soil than people living on earth. Let that sink in. 

One of the most well known soil dwellers in the earthworm. Earthworms benefit soil in many ways. They can improve walter infiltration, which in turn mitigates erosion. Earthworms aerate soil delivering oxygen to plant roots helping them thrive. They improve organic matter, nutrients, soil PH and more. Tilling the soil decreases the amount of earthworms dramatically. Soils that have not been tilled have double the amount of earthworms as newly tilled fields. 

2. Protect the soil: Cover crops are like armor to the soil. They protect it from erosion by cushioning from rain and wind. This aides with soil regeneration by adding organic matter and nutrients. There are a variety of different way to implement cover crops that will depend heavily on your unique situation. Things to consider are what crops you plan on growing, length of growing seasons and your soil's specific needs. 

3. No chemical fertilizers or pesticdes: I feel like this is a give in. Using chemicals on your soil does massive damage to the living organisms that call it home. There are also numerous enviromental impacts to chemical usage such as contaminating water supplies, killing beneficial insects, birds and fish. 

One peculiar piece of information to consider is there were ten times the amount of pests found on pesticide treated corn fields than a corn field using regenerative practices. Designing pest-resiliant food systems has been shown to outperform  conventional farming methods. 

4.Livestock: At the center of the climate crisis we hear pleas for everyone to go vegan! The cow farts are killing the planet. Well I respectfully disagree. Livestock are crucial to thriving plants and soil. By using holistic rotational grazing practices, livestock will actually have a positive impact to green pastures, as well as produce a higher nutrional quality meat. Farm animals chomp down the grasses in the pasture, stimulating plants to grow and eliminating the need to mow (burning less fossil fuels!) . They recycle the plant matter into nutrient rich fertilizer. Their hooves press seed into the soil, essentially seeding next season's pasture. 

5. Biodiveristy: All over the farm, biodiversity shall be implemented. Having many different microbes in the soil, plants and animals creates rich soil, healthy crops, and resiliency that does not require unnatural interventions to manage pests or disease. Each different plant, animal and microbe adds its unique piece to the ecosystem. The natural world has an amazing system of checks and balances. Understanding nature and using these checks and balances in our favor is integral. This includes native species and perennial plants. 

Different grazing and browsing animals help control differents plant varieties making it important to diversify your livestock. Just as in nature we see a diverse variety of ruminants (bison, deer, elk, antelope) living off the land, the farmer can mimic nature and do the same. 

The Future of Farming

According to retail giant, Whole Foods, regenerative agriculture is one of the top food trends for 2020. Companies such as Stonyfield and General Mills are already dedicating resources to research and implement regenerative practices within their companies. Whether or not this is a marketing strategy to green wash their products and dupe unsuspecting customers is yet to be seen. 

One thing is for certain, what it means to be a regenerative farmer will evolve as we continue to gather research and data on the impacts of healthy soils, how we sequester carbon and ensure a future for the next generation. Here on the farm, we know we have a long way to go! Implementing this system takes a lot of time and resources (resources meaning manpower and considering there is only farm husband and I that means a lot of resources!). 

Baby Steps to Sustainabilty

We have begun our journey to use regenerative practices on the farm. It can seem overwhelming at first and the learning curve is sharp. The best advice I can give a farmer that is considering adopting these practices is just start somewhere! Even if you're not a farmer, start at the local farmers markets. Most farmers will relish at the chance to share how they manage their farm or ranch. If they do not jump at the chance, then there's a good chance they have somthing to hide. Ask your local farmer if they use cover crops, rotational grazing or no till methods. 

Our focus has been on rebuilding our pasture, acquiring animals to graze and browse the pasture and implement them in fertilizing it. It will be an exciting spring as we see the impact they have created since joining our farm family in October of last year. 

​In what ways do you plan on contributing to the regenerative movement?