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Learn how to mix the right soil + the right mindset...
Btw, what type of beginner homesteading guide would you find most helpful?
Cedie Omaña
August 11, 2024
What type of beginner homesteading guide would you find most helpful? |
In Today's Edition:
Homestead Tip 🌱
Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊
All Things Homestead: Your Guide to Soil Types and How to Make Them Work for You 🌱
Personal Development: The Science of Seeing Yourself Clearly 😎
Today's Top Picks: Back-to-School Essentials 🛍️
Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣
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Homestead Tip of the Day:
Plant trees or shrubs as windbreaks to protect your garden, crops, and livestock from strong winds. Windbreaks reduce wind speed, prevent soil erosion, and create microclimates that can extend your growing season. Choose fast-growing, hardy species that are suitable for your region.
Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊
Would you like to join in on a monthly homestead project challenge?
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Yes, absolutely!
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Maybe, I’d like to know more details first.
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I’m not sure, but I’m open to the idea.
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, I’m not interested.
via @beehiiv polls
Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉
All Things Homestead
Your Guide to Soil Types and How to Make Them Work for You 🌱
Understanding the type of soil you’re dealing with can turn your gardening game around from tragic to magic. Let's dig into what makes each soil type special and how you can tweak it to make your plants happier.
The Lineup of Usual Suspects: Different Soil Types
Clay Soil
What it’s like: Think of clay soil as that clingy friend. It holds onto nutrients and water really well but can be a bit too suffocating for plant roots.
Pro tip: Loosen it up with some compost; think of it as adding a little fiber to its diet.
Sandy Soil
What it’s like: Sandy soil is the life of the party—super easygoing and drains faster than you can say "water." But it forgets things easily, like nutrients and water.
Pro tip: Bulk it up with some organic goodies to help it remember to feed and water your plants.
Silty Soil
What it’s like: Silty soil is smooth and kind of secretive, holding onto water well but can get a bit too compact.
Pro tip: Keep it light and fluffy with organic matter and avoid treading on it when it's wet.
Loamy Soil
What it’s like: Loamy soil is the goldilocks of garden soil, just right with a mix of sand, silt, and clay.
Pro tip: Keep the good times rolling with regular compost love and smart gardening moves.
Peaty Soil
What it’s like: Dark and moist, peaty soil is the mysterious, brooding type, perfect for acid-loving plants.
Pro tip: Lighten its mood with a bit of lime if you want to broaden your plant horizons.
Chalky Soil
What it’s like: Chalky soil is the free spirit, alkaline, and stony, but a bit low on the fertility scale.
Pro tip: Enrich its life with heaps of organic matter and choose plants that dig the high pH vibes.
Soil TLC: Boosting Your Soil's Mood
Organic Matter is Your BFF: It's like a spa day for your soil—refreshing and rejuvenating, no matter the type.
Mulch for Moisture: Mulch is like a cozy blanket for your soil, keeping it cool and moist while feeding it as it breaks down.
pH Party Adjustments: Lime or sulfur can turn the pH party dial up or down, making your soil more inviting for a variety of plants.
Drainage Drama: If your soil's too clingy, add some gritty sand or go for raised beds to avoid waterlogged roots.
Personal Development
Mirror, Mirror: The Science of Seeing Yourself Clearly 😎
Understanding how you view yourself can explain a lot about why you do what you do, from planting tomatoes to choosing your clothes. Let's dig into how your self-image shapes your life on the homestead and beyond.
How Self-Perception Shapes Us
It Starts With Reflection: Not the kind in your bathroom mirror, but how you reflect on your experiences. Your self-image is built from your successes, failures, and everyday interactions. Ever noticed how a good harvest can make you feel like a farming superhero?
Feedback Loop: How people react to you influences how you see yourself. If friends always praise your homemade jams, you start to see yourself as a jam master. But if they're just being polite about your not-so-great pickles, you might shy away from pickle-making in the future.
Social Comparisons: We often gauge our abilities by comparing ourselves to others. If you've got the greenest lawn on the block, you might feel like a gardening guru. However, scrolling through perfect garden photos online might make you feel less confident.
Roles and Responsibilities: Your roles at home and in your community play a big part. Being seen as the go-to person for building chicken coops or organizing the local farmers' market can boost your self-esteem.
Impacts of Self-Perception on Daily Life
Decision Making: Your self-image influences every choice you make. Think about planting season—your view of your gardening skills might decide whether you go for easy-to-grow zucchinis or the finicky heirloom tomatoes.
Behavior Patterns: How you see yourself affects how you act. If you consider yourself a practical person, you might opt for functional over fancy when it comes to farm equipment or even wardrobe choices.
Relationship Dynamics: People treat you based on how they perceive you, which can reinforce your self-image. If you view yourself as a leader, you'll likely take charge in community projects, and people will respond to that energy.
So next time you're knee-deep in garden soil or planning your next big project, remember that how you see yourself plays a big part in your homesteading success. Shine on, self-aware homesteader, shine on!
The Steady Home’s Giggle Chamber
What did the potato say on its first date?
"I yam so excited!"
Today's Top Picks: Back-to-School Essentials 🛍️
Let’s Keep It Reel!
I’ve found some hilarious farm videos for you—check them out and enjoy the laughs!
When your chicken’s full-time job is screaming 24/7:
@chickenhappyhour primal scream therapy to hype the day🫨 #scream #rooster #worklife #chickentok #workhumor #chickensoftiktok #funny #backyardchickens #chick... See more
Just a bunch of goats having a dramatic fainting party:
@kimrain49 fainting goat #babygoat #goat #goatoftiktok #minigoat #farmlife #funnygoats #faintinggoats
Me, cracking up at my own cheesy homestead jokes:
@dumbwaystodie i wanna know whats so funny @Milanda_LuLu_DogMom ❤️🐾 #dwtd #donkeyoftiktok #donkey #laugh
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