If there’s one thing that I absolutely love, it’s freeze-dried goodies. Lyophilization, otherwise known as freeze-drying, not only preserves the color of food but also preserves the flavor. Freeze-drying reduces thermal damage to nutrients that are heat sensitive. But how do you freeze-dry and store foods? Freeze drying foods is a straightforward process. Prep food…
Author: Kimberly Starr
I'm a ginger who loves being outside, homesteading, and spending time with my family. I believe humor is the best medicine, followed very closely by chocolate and tacos.
Can You Grow Spinach from Store-Bought? 5 Tips to Grow!
Can store-bought spinach be regrown? Inquiring minds would love to know – and then grow. Spinach is a common vegetable, it’s no surprise many people wonder this: can you grow spinach from store-bought bunches? Spinach bought from the store is one of the vegetables that can be replanted. Given that it’s hardy and has still…
How to Keep Fruit Trees Healthy: 22 Essential Tips
Growing healthy fruit trees are worth it – especially when harvest time comes and there are fresh and delicious varieties of fruit. If trying to troubleshoot a problem with fruit trees or learning what it takes to successfully grow them, then this is the right place to find help. To keep fruit trees healthy, make…
Do Chipmunks and Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
If you’re noticing that someone other than yourself is tucking into your tomatoes before they’re even plucked from the vine it might be time to investigate. Usually, it’s my children or the chickens who get the produce, but sometimes I wonder if chipmunks and squirrels are eating my tomatoes. Squirrels and chipmunks love to feast…
Do Raspberries Need Full Sun?
Raspberries, which I recently learned are not true berries in the strict sense (because they emanate from one flower with multiple ovaries, while true berries stem from a single flower with one ovary and many seeds) need a good bit of sun, though mine tolerate some shade. Even so, do raspberries need full sun? Raspberries…
Do Beans Grow on Trees?
Beans are healthy, nutritious foods that come in many different varieties. Growing beans and other things in the garden one year, one of my younger children commented on how tall some plants get. Then, they asked if beans grow on trees. Beans like coffee and carob beans grow on trees or plants, while most garden…
How to Get Rid of Hitchhiker Weeds? (Complete Solution!)
From crop losses to injuries to people and pets, the adverse effects of hitchhiker weeds are far-reaching. Through an array of barbs and hooks and sticky substances, these pest plants are able to easily transplant themselves to new regions by attaching themselves to people, moving objects, and animals. Hitchhiker weeds are almost impossible not to…
Can Tomatoes Grow in Indirect Sunlight?
If you have a vegetable patch, you already know that many of its plans need direct sunlight to grow. Tomatoes are no different, and they thrive when they receive enough sunlight, water, and nutrition elements from the soil. But how much sunlight do tomatoes need, and can they grow in less or indirect sunlight? Tomatoes…
How to Store Turnips (freezer, dehydrator, freeze-dried)
Have you found yourself with more turnips than you know what to do with? A crucial part of running a successful homestead is learning how to preserve your produce and create variety in your diet. Keep on reading to find out about the different methods you can use to make your excess turnips last for…
Do Pine Trees Attract Mosquitoes? (Read Before You Plant)
Pine trees can grow up to 3 feet per year, so this is why you might want to use them as a border around your garden. But before you plant any tree, you need to make sure it’s the right one for your environment. With pine trees, in particular, one thing you might be wondering…
Can Ferns Grow in Water Only? (Do They Grow in Water?)
Considered as one of the more ‘ancient’ divisions of plants out there (some going back to 358 million years ago), ferns have a strong survival instinct. But can you grow ferns in water only? Ferns can grow in water only, without soil. This is known as hydroculture (or hydroponics) and is the ideal way to…
Can Carrots Grow on Trees?
Carrots are delicious, nutrient-rich vegetables that are easy and affordable to produce at home. Not only that but they can also be grown in many different climates! If you’re interested in producing your own carrots, it’s important to know exactly how to grow them. Carrots cannot grow on trees. They are root vegetables, which means…
