Category Archives: suburban homesteading

Train of Thought: Heavy Cream

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Bettina Colonna Essert

It’s 2012. Less than a month before the world ends. Do I believe that? Well, I’m not sure. Honestly, I am a little bit concerned. I don’t want the world to end. I don’t want electricity to end. I want … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, suburban homesteading, weird stuff | Leave a comment

The Chicken Hutch

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Bettina Colonna Essert

We live in the surburbs, on a river, on several acres of pecans, pines and salt bush. In this world of well-groomed lawns and tidy little boat docks, ours is a wild heaven. Fairies and devas collect here and plant … Continue reading →

Posted in chickens, Four Oaks, gardening-organic biodynamic natural, Mark, suburban homesteading | 5 Comments

Sometimes I Just Want to be a Girl

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Bettina Colonna Essert

Lately we’ve been spending a lot of time at our barn. We have had a huge herd turnover after years of no changes. We sold two horses and bought three. The only remaining long-timer is my old gelding, Payday, who … Continue reading →

Posted in health and well-being, horses, Martina, personal, rural life, suburban homesteading | Leave a comment

Honey for Seasonal Allergies

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Bettina Colonna Essert

There’s a lot of talk about using honey for seasonal allergies and I’m here to tell you that it’s working for me. The bees may be able to help you very specifically with allergies to local pollens. If you’re allergic … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, bees, environment, gardening-organic biodynamic natural, health and well-being, herb/herbalism, honey bees, suburban homesteading | Leave a comment

A House Built of Straw

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Bettina Colonna Essert

We were spending a good deal of time wondering how to keep the sheep out of the rain this winter, not having a shelter in place already. In typical me fashion, I dreamed this. Yes, like in my sleep. Mark … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening-organic biodynamic natural, sheep, suburban homesteading | 1 Comment

Garden Update, mid-June

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Bettina Colonna Essert

What used to look like this: Has now become this: Amazing what a few weeks can change, isn’t it? Our vegetable garden is small this year because we will be gone for several weeks. (Note to potential thieves, our housesitter … Continue reading →

Posted in Four Oaks, gardening-organic biodynamic natural, health and well-being, suburban homesteading | Leave a comment

Today I Learned:

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Bettina Colonna Essert

How to skirt a fleece. Apparently my sheep have nice fleeces. One has a really nice fleece and I’m excited to send it off for processing. It should only be better next year when she should have had less stress … Continue reading →

Posted in Four Oaks, sheep, suburban homesteading | 1 Comment

Suburban Homestead Update

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Bettina Colonna Essert

It’s Spring and we’ve been busy doing the obvious springtime things: tilling; amending; spreading compost; mulching; planting; getting bees. Getting bees? Yes! Mark has been a busy bee himself and totally obsessed with bees and, to be honest, bigfoot. Bigfoot … Continue reading →

Posted in chickens, environment, Four Oaks, gardening-organic biodynamic natural, herb/herbalism, honey bees, suburban homesteading | Leave a comment

On the Need for Community and Integrity

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Bettina Colonna Essert

Yesterday Mark cut down a few trees in our yard. You see, we want to put our garden in the back of the stretch of yard up there, in front of the big cedar. In order to get some light … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, decency, Four Oaks, health and well-being, Mark, suburban homesteading | Leave a comment

Ships!

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Bettina Colonna Essert

Confession: I love sheep. Needlefelting is also an incredibly attractive passtime for me. I love making little dolls and toys and things. So wool sheep (as opposed to meat sheep) seemed like the perfect thing to bring into our little … Continue reading →

Posted in Four Oaks, health and well-being, sheep, suburban homesteading | 1 Comment