My chicken is brooding! What should I do?
On May 19, 2020 by VladWhen you first start growing chickens, especially if you start with young chicks, you might not think about the fact that one day, inevitably, your chickens will start brooding. This is a normal part of any hen’s life and it shouldn’t scare you. Depending on what you plan to do next, either stop it from
What to do during quarantine? Grow a plant, any plant!
On April 11, 2020 by VladThe COVID-19 outbreak got most of us isolated at home. If you’re also stuck inside, wondering what do to while the quarantine is over, I challenge you to grow a plant during this time. If you love gardening this activity is right up your alley, but if you never tried to sprout a seed in
How to protect your poly tunnel greenhouse from strong winds
On March 30, 2020 by VladHaving a high tunnel greenhouse is a blessing for most gardeners. It allows us to expand our growing season considerably, or even grow all year round in some areas, and it also gives us the chance to grow things that wouldn’t otherwise fair well in our local climate. However, installing a polytunnel greenhouse in a
How to Grow Marigolds & Why Should You Plant Them in Your Garden
On February 8, 2020 by VladMarigolds are beautiful orange flowers grown all around the world, for thousands of years, for their medicinal use and gorgeous aesthetics. Also known as pot marigold, ruddles or by its official name, Calendula officinalis, this flower is extremely easy to grow, and once you know how to grow Marigolds, you’ll always want them in your
A new gardening year | What we plan to do different
On February 1, 2020 by VladEver since we took the big step and ditched the city life to start our own homestead, the plan was to eventually get to a point where we could make a living off our homestead. However, we’re in no rush at the moment. Our city jobs pay fairly well, and other than us wishing we
Top 5 Easiest Herbs to Grow Indoors Right Now
On January 12, 2020 by VladEvery good cook, from the top chefs to every grandma out there, loves cooking with fresh herbs. Nothing beats that freshly-picked taste, and you know it! If you’re looking to try your luck with gardening for the very first time, herbs are actually a great start as some of them are really easy to grow,
Finally finished cutting all our firewood
On January 5, 2020 by VladThis past week I took advantage of this year’s warm winter weather and the time off from work I got for the holidays to finally finish cutting all our firewood. Our first winter on the homestead, I promised myself that next year I will get the job done by the end of autumn, yet I
85+ Gardening Quotes | Find your gardening inspiration!
On December 26, 2019 by VladWho doesn’t love all those savvy sayings and quotes that brighten up the day or inspires you to do better yourself? Here’s a list with our favourite quotes for gardeners: “A weed is but an unloved flower.” ― Ella Wheeler Wilcox “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece” ― Claude Monet “The greatest fine
Building Hay Mulch Beds in our Food Forest | Part 2
On December 25, 2019 by VladIn part one of this food forest experiment series, I talked about food forests, what they are and how to build one. Going forward I will mostly share only advice that I’ve put into practice in our own food forest. Like I tried to explain in the first part, the way you design your food
Fall gardening activities | Getting ready for the next season
On December 7, 2019 by VladAn old Romanian proverb says “Fa-ti vara sanie si iarna car”, which roughly translates to “Build yourself a sledge during summer and a carriage during winter”. Although none intuitive at first glance, this saying passes down a lot of wisdom and urges good homesteaders to always think, plan and act in advance, always getting ready
Hello and welcome!
We (Vlad & Greti) are building a home on a homestead in a rural area of Romania in Western Europe and sharing our story as two passionate gardeners who ditched the city for a simpler, better life.