Clyde's Dale Homestead

11/12/2025

Earth-sheltered greenhouse progress. Yes, a roof! Fun fact: we bought every 2” wood screw with EPDM washers in the area. Sorry if you needed some.

11/12/2025

I’ve never seen an Aurora like this. These colors were visible to the naked eye. My unfancy phone camera does not have a night setting or any aperature or exposure settings. There were colors and lights in every direction. What a show! Did you see it? Share your pics!

11/11/2025

You’ve heard the saying “make hay while the sun shines?” This is “set up the electric waterers while the sun shines.”

We’ve not had a freeze up here yet, but the forecast is looking increasingly wet and cold so today is the day!

11/10/2025

Are you thinking about improving your home food security but it just seems too overwhelming?

Here is an easy, super do-able way to make your long term food storage a little bit better TODAY: get some shelf-stable, ready to eat (not condensed) SOUP.

Soup (or chili) is available in every grocery store, is extremely cheap, and comes in flavors for every palate or dietary preference.

Don’t be discouraged if your soup isn’t home made. Commercially canned soup is perfectly fine!

Canned soup is the ideal emergency food- just open and eat. You don’t have to add water, cook anything, or even heat it (it’s not the best cold meal, but it’s perfectly safe.) You can also eat straight from the can, elimating the need to dirty extra dishes at a time when water might be scarce.

This week I challenge you to add 3 cans of soup for every member of your household to your shelf. Check the expiration dates and get the freshest soup you can find. Then write that date in big, beautiful numbers right on the label. Stick them in the back of your pantry or cupboard and set a reminder on your phone to have soup for dinner the month they expire. Unless of course you eat it before then!

Return and report! I want to hear if you do this!

11/10/2025

11/08/2025

There are so many things I’d rather do than wash, sort, and put away the eggs. So far today I have transplanted asparagus, rhubarb, and daffodils, shipped a package, and organized my desk. I’d start on the eggs now, but the bread just came out of the oven and somebody needs to make sure it’s not poisonous.

11/07/2025

Every minute of sunshine is precious in the winter up here. Even when its blinding my view while cleaning out the chicken coop.

11/06/2025

So many beans. At least I won’t have to make any more for about a year. We have Great Northern, pink, black, and garbanzo ready for quick meals. A couple jars didn’t seal so we have tacos and chili on this week’s menu.

In other news three trees came down across our road in today’s storm. No damage was done but a neighbor couldn’t get home until they were cleared. Yay for neighbors working together!

Any favorite bean recipes?

11/05/2025

Timber and Mando say it’s a good day to go for a walk. Don’t forget the snacks.

11/04/2025

Are you thinking about improving your home food security but it just seems too overwhelming?

Here is an easy, super do-able way to make your long term food storage a little bit better TODAY- go inventory your salt.🧂

Most food storage calculators recommend having 5 lbs of salt per person per year. Salt is available in every grocery store, is extremely cheap, and also very difficult or even impossible to produce yourself. You need salt!

If you do a lot of cooking from scratch and preserving you probably will use more salt than most people who buy premade food. (Though I bet your total sodium intake is Iess.)

I have a few kinds of salt like canning salt, sea salt, and Redmond’s salt but you don’t have to be fancy. Just make sure you have salt and keep it dry and easily accessible. Label it if it’s in a generic container. It literally will last forever and never expire. Then you’re done with one good thing! 🏆

11/03/2025

Root veggies getting ready for some pecan oil, salt and pepper then roast @ 425F for about 40 minutes stirring halfway through. Olive oil, tallow, or lard would also work for the fat. So simple and so delicious. Oh, I added some sliced onion after I took the pic.

Carrots and beets picked today (November!) red and purple potatoes harvested in September.

11/02/2025