How and when to harvest home luffa (loofah) sponges

How and when to harvest home luffa (loofah) sponges

Harvesting my luffa sponges was a bit of a confusing endeavor. I read so many “How-To” articles and felt they were pretty misleading in ways. The truth is these little cucurbits and their gourd family is bewildering! I’m going to explain to you what I’ve learned about harvesting luffa sponges. I’ll also let you know how I did…

Fastest growing vegetables and fruits for your garden

Fastest growing vegetables and fruits for your garden

All these fast growing vegetables and fruits are ready to harvest in around 75 days or less. Some of them will be better suited for the early spring, and others for the late summer. Many of them are great choices for early fall when the cooler weather starts arriving, such as leafy greens. And all of them are great to add to a cold frame,…

Growing luffa sponges

Growing luffa sponges

So, you want to start growing luffa sponges? You’re in the right place! This is a step-by-step guide on how to grow these natural luffa sponges. ​ Luffa sponge (also spelled luffah or loofah) is a cucurbit vegetable in the gourd family. They actually can grow right in your backyard! I always thought they were…

Tips on how to store and preserve homegrown lettuce longer

Tips on how to store and preserve homegrown lettuce longer

I’ve been learning how to preserve homegrown lettuce from the garden and have found the best way to make it stay crisp and fresh longer. Outside of utilizing the crisper drawer to store lettuce, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks over the years. Learn how to keep your lettuce crisp and fresh longer so you can grow your garden and eat…

Composting made easy

Composting made easy

Composting is one of the most beneficial activities for the homestead. Plants grow better and provide a more substantial harvest with home compost. It also cuts down on food scraps waste and yard waste, etc. I’m going to make it easy for you to understand hot to compost. How to make compost easy while understanding…

Heat tolerant vegetables

Heat tolerant vegetables

I live in Florida so growing heat tolerant vegetables is really the only option when planning for crops. We have a long growing season, with just a small amount of cool weather. As a generally hot climate state, Florida brings hot weather even in the Fall and Spring season some years. I’ve set out to…

What are loquats?

What are loquats?

Plenty of folks have asked me what are loquats, and it’s a fair question really. We have two loquat trees in our yard and I didn’t know what they were. Just as there are easy vegetables to plant in a garden, there are easy fruit trees to grow in the backyard. Loquat trees are one…

Gifts for the gardener

Gifts for the gardener

Are you shopping for gifts for the gardener in your life? Well I’m glad you’re here because I have the perfect gifts for you! All of these gifts are sure to grow your special someone’s affection for you in no time, or just simply put a smile on their face. Gift ideas for the gardeners…

The Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Homesteading (Book Review)

The Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Homesteading (Book Review)

Disclosure: I received a copy of The Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Homesteading for free in exchange for my honest review of its contents. Receiving this book free of charge has not influenced my ability to provide my honest opinion on the contents of this book. Additionally, this post contains affiliate links. By utilizing these links,…

Victory gardens

Victory gardens

Victory Gardens (war gardens) are gardens promoted in 1941 shortly after the US entered WWII due to a food shortage. Food was prioritized to be sent to the military and allies so civilians were encouraged to grow-their-own. Folks grew everything from vegetables to fruit and herbs! Victory gardens and why you need them. I’ve always…

Over 15 ways to get closer to self-sustainability

Over 15 ways to get closer to self-sustainability

I’m constantly trying to think of ways to get closer to self-sustainability through our homesteading lifestyle. The next step is to actually do those things! If you’re homesteading and need guidance towards self-sustainability, here are 19 ways to achieve your goal. I’ve done a lot of the things on the list below. Some others are…

Luffa sponge uses

Luffa sponge uses

Do you know how many uses there are for a luffa sponge? When I started harvesting my sponges, I had no idea what to use them for. Here are a few uses for luffa sponges. How to use your luffa sponges after growing harvesting them. Luffas are versatile vegetables to grow with many uses. You…

The first year on a homestead

The first year on a homestead

Tropical Storms and First Years on a Homestead The first year on a homestead has been kind of wild. We’re officially experiencing our first storm, Tropical Storm Colin, as homeowners and homestead owners!  What we accomplished the first year on our homestead and our future goals. Although we’re calmly watching countless episodes of Netflix we’re…