Fern Valley Homestead

04/19/2026

I had no idea that they are edible! I can’t wait to try as mine are getting ready to kind!

I have been obsessed with edible flowers long before I started homesteading and researching healing plants and such!

I just finished freeze drying last year’s elderberry harvest (way behind).

I am excited to research and do some experimenting with my peonies! I wonder if the colors taste different?

Edibke flowers make lovely salad and plates garnish! Nasturtium has always been my favorite. It grows wild where I lived in CA!

Well, after making Dandelion Jelly, I wondered what other options were out there. So today I again did something I didn't know one could do. I made Peony Jelly. Yep, that's right, those beautiful blossoms are edible. Who knew? And they make amazing jelly.

03/10/2026

Loving this weather!

01/24/2026

There might be a reason Cafe Marion was known for it’s Sausage Gravy, as much sausage as gravy, no water used!

We had a hearty brunch today at the homestead with Country Fried Steak!

Our meat came from Newton Farm Fresh Meats just up the road from us! Oh my, locally sourced meats are SUPERIOR in every way!

07/11/2025

10 pounds of Newton Farm Fresh Meats local beef cooked up and freeze dried!

Made 8 quarts of ready to go Italian seasoned ground beef!

I have some test jars from 2020 that taste like I cooked them today! This is one of my favorite things that I regularly keep in pantry rotation and on hand! It makes for such quick and easy meals in a pinch!

I also do a taco seasoned one that I use for easy taco salads when!

04/28/2025

What is a PrepperDifferent classifications of PreppersWhy Prep

03/09/2025

Did you know those tightly curled hosta shoots that pop up in early spring are not only edible, but delicious? And you can harvest them without sacrificing summer foliage. (They'll send more shoots up!) Here's how to harvest and eat them, including some delicious recipes to try >>> (in comments)

02/19/2025

02/19/2025

I have been meaning try this for forever! I washed and dried, this romaine lettuce and vacuum sealed in a mason jar almost a week ago! Ordinarily, this lettuce would be rusting and deteriorating by the next day. It is so fresh, crisp and not a blemish on it!

I have seen people do this with berries and other fresh produce!

I LOVE vacuum sealing things to keep them from going stale like crackers, croutons, bread crumbs, dried fruits such as apricots, raisins and cranberries!