Must-Freeze Foods for Winter + How to Never Quit Homesteading

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Sunday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Essential Foods to Freeze for Winter Storage 🧊

4. Personal Development: Developing Grit - How to Keep Going When Homesteading Gets Tough 💛

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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POLL RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY

Should homesteaders experiment with growing exotic crops for new opportunities, or stick with reliable local crops that are known to thrive?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Exotic crops offer new opportunities and should be explored.

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Reliable local crops are more dependable and sustainable.

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 A combination of exotic and local crops is the best approach.

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ It depends on the climate and market demand.

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Essential Foods to Freeze for Winter Storage 🧊

Freezing is the final stop in our winter food storage series, and it’s one of the easiest ways to preserve your harvest. If you’ve already mastered canning and drying, freezing is the perfect addition to keep your favorite foods fresh and ready for the colder months.

Why Freezing is Great for Busy Homesteaders

Freezing helps lock in the flavor and nutrients of your food, making it a quick and simple method to preserve veggies, fruits, and even whole meals. The best part? It doesn’t require any fancy equipment—just your freezer, some bags or containers, and a little organization.

Freezing Best Practices:

• Blanching Vegetables: This quick boil-and-cool process helps preserve the texture, color, and taste of most veggies. Skipping this step can lead to mushy vegetables later on.

• Vacuum-Sealing or Freezer Bags: Remove as much air as you can from your bags or containers to prevent freezer burn. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, simply squeeze out the air by hand before sealing.

• Organize Your Freezer: Label everything with the date and contents, and try to freeze items flat. This makes stacking easier and helps you find things faster when you need them.

Top Foods to Freeze

• Vegetables:
  Corn, peas, green beans, broccoli, spinach, and zucchini freeze really well. Just be sure to blanch them first for the best results.

• Fruits:
  Berries, peaches, plums, and apples are perfect for freezing. Use them later for smoothies, pies, or snacks straight from the freezer.

• Prepared Foods:
  Freezing soups, casseroles, lasagnas, and sauces can be a real time-saver. Cook in bulk, freeze in portions, and you’ve got dinner ready for those busy days.

• Herbs in Oil:
  If you have extra fresh herbs, freeze them in olive oil using ice cube trays. This is a great way to add fresh flavor to dishes during the winter.

Quick Tips for Part-Time Homesteaders

• Use Freezer-Safe Containers: Make sure to use sturdy containers or freezer bags to prevent leaks and freezer burn.

• Label Everything: Trust me, it’s easy to forget what’s in that bag a few weeks later. Label with the contents and the date to keep things organized.

• Freeze in Portions: Freeze foods in portion sizes so you only defrost what you need. This helps reduce waste and makes meal prep easier.

• Plan a Freezer Day: Set aside a day each month to prepare and freeze meals in bulk. It saves time during the week and ensures you have homemade meals ready when you’re short on time.

How to Freeze Vegetables: A Quick Demo

For those just getting started, here’s how to freeze green beans:

1. Blanch the Beans: Boil them for 2-3 minutes, then quickly transfer them to ice water to stop the cooking process.

2. Dry and Pack: Pat the beans dry, place them in freezer bags, and squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.

3. Label and Freeze: Write the date on the bag and store it flat in the freezer.

Once you get the hang of freezing, you’ll be able to preserve a wide range of foods, from fresh veggies to whole meals.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Grit - How to Keep Going When Homesteading Gets Tough 💛

Let’s be real—homesteading can be tough. Sometimes, things go wrong all at once: crops don’t grow, the weather won’t cooperate, and you feel exhausted from all the work. This is where grit comes in.

What Is Grit, and Why Is It Important?

Grit is your ability to push through challenges and keep working toward your long-term goals. In homesteading, it’s essential because you’ll face all kinds of setbacks—bad weather, animal issues, crop failures—you name it. But with grit, you don’t give up. You stay focused, keep working, and remember why you started homesteading in the first place.

How to Push Through Tough Times

When homesteading feels overwhelming, it’s easy to get discouraged. But with a gritty mindset, you can keep going. Here’s how:

• Keep your long-term goals in mind: Think about why you started homesteading. Whether it's for more self-sufficiency or a healthier lifestyle, keep that reason front and center to stay motivated.

• Tackle things bit by bit: Don’t try to do everything at once. If the garden is a mess, spend just an hour a day working on it. Breaking tasks down makes them feel less overwhelming.

• Celebrate small wins: Even if something goes wrong, find the little things that are going right. Maybe your vegetables didn’t do well this season, but your herbs are flourishing—celebrate that!

Daily Habits to Build Grit

You don’t have to be born with grit—you can build it over time. Here are a few simple ways to strengthen your grit every day:

• Get comfortable with discomfort: Let’s face it, homesteading isn’t always easy. Whether it’s working in the rain or getting up at dawn, embrace those tough moments—they make you stronger.

• Stick to a routine: When motivation is low, having a routine helps keep you on track. Whether it’s feeding animals or checking the garden at the same time each day, a routine builds consistency.

• Be patient: Homesteading is all about waiting—whether it’s for plants to grow or animals to thrive. Practice patience and trust the process.

Turn Setbacks Into Lessons

Failure is a normal part of homesteading, but it doesn’t have to stop you. Instead, use those setbacks to learn. If pests destroyed your crops, learn about natural pest control. If something didn’t work, take time to figure out why and try again. Every challenge is an opportunity to get better at what you do.

Grit-Building Challenge

Here’s a fun challenge: think of one homestead project you’ve been avoiding. It could be fixing the fence, clearing out the barn, or organizing your garden shed. Commit to tackling it this week. By the time you finish, you’ll feel accomplished and more confident in your ability to handle tough projects.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

What did the scarecrow say after a long day’s work?

"I’m feeling straw-ng!"

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

Explore these sweaters!

Organic Moisturizers & Lotions

The Ultimate Homestead Planner

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LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. POV: You and your bestie cracking up first thing in the morning:

@kell.marbelrace_ph

for todays video✅ #goatscream #goatlaugh #goatmeme #funnylaugh

2. When your customers attempt to name the plants you sell:

@plantstella

Elephant ear. 💀 **Disclaimer: We love you and all of your names! This is meant to have fun, not poke fun! We hope you enjoyed! 💚🪴 #planthu... See more

3. This duck totally captures my vibe when I'm deciding whether to buy new plants or not! 😂

@prestigeworldwide9

Duck running back and forth #hilarious #wildelife #duck #funny

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