Pennyroyal Point Homestead

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Pennyroyal Point Homestead Join us as we build our little homestead from scratch on the outskirts of East Tennessee.

10/16/2026

I've been working on this for 2-3 years. This is more of a raised bed using hugelkulter principles. A true hugelkulter is a completely covered mound, but this is what worked best in this space.

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I have never had much success growing spinach. It rarely germinates and when it does, it quickly bolts. Over the years ...
10/15/2026

I have never had much success growing spinach. It rarely germinates and when it does, it quickly bolts. Over the years I've heard it said to plant it in the fall and it will come up in the spring. I've never tested it, but I'm about to. I just picked these seeds up at our local co-op and they will be going in the ground shortly.

Have you had success with spinach? When do you plant yours?

My biggest "w**d" by far this year was the marigold. There could be worse problems, for sure. I have learned that just...
10/15/2026

My biggest "w**d" by far this year was the marigold. There could be worse problems, for sure. I have learned that just because they show up doesn't mean I have to keep them. Even if I carefully dig up the babies and plant them in a better place than where they landed. Even if they are a pest deterrent and the petals make a pretty little addition to a salad. Even if they make a beautiful dye for food and natural fabric and I can string them into lovely garlands. Even if I love them them so much. And even though Queen Sophia is my favorite, maybe, just maybe, I should down grade to a dwarf marigold. I'm sure I had over a hundred plants this year...this pile is all but one row I left under my luffas and it's taller than I am! Granted I'm only 5 feet tall, but still! Help!

**ds

10/14/2026

I'm just about finished sifting my wood chip pile! Look at all the trash that was in it! To be fair, they did ask if it would be okay that there would be bottles in it and we said yes. We didn't expect this. We had woodchips delivered before and there were only a few and no food wrappers and certainly not a welcome mat. 😆 Still grateful for the delivery.

10/13/2026

1. Wood Sorrel - Acts as a living mulch that helps reatain moisture. The roots provide provide aeration and do not deplete essential nutrients from other plants. In fact, the oxalic acid helps break down the phosphorus in the soil making it available to plants around it. It's also edible with a lemony flavor and rich in vitamin C, but don't eat too much because that acid (found in other leafy vegetables) can upset your stomach.

2. Plantain - It's another good living mulch and soil aerator, but I keep it for it's medicinal uses. It's handy to have close by if you get an insect bites or sting. Just grab a leaf and make a poultice by chewing it up to break down the cell walls and mixing it with your saliva. Put that green paste directly on the bite or sting. The anti-inflammatory and drawing properties should offer relief in short while.

Dandelion - This superstar supports pollinators before other plants begin to bloom. The tender young leaves are edible and so are the blossoms. Around here, turning those flowers into fritters is a family tradition each spring. That deep tap root means this plant is a dynamic accumulator. It mines nutrients from the subsoil and makes them available to other plants once the dandelion dies and breaks down. And lastly, you can harvest the roots in the fall and roast them. They can be used a caffeine free coffee substitute and is considered good for liver support and detoxification.

**ds

10/12/2026

Our beets were amazing this year, so I want to be sure to save the seed. Beets are a biennial so they won't produce seed until next year. In the meantime, I moved them to a smaller space and buried them in ground so the root is completely covered. I lightly mulched for now, but once the freezing temperatures arrive,I will put another 6-12 inches on top. If the temperature really dips, a frost cloth will be added temporarily.

It's still rainy here, but I did manage to get outside to do a quick garden walk. Remember way back in the spring when ...
10/11/2026

It's still rainy here, but I did manage to get outside to do a quick garden walk. Remember way back in the spring when I said I felt comfortable enough that my clay soil had been amended enough that I might try carrots this year? Well, it looks like I'm going to have carrots! I also have parsnips in various stages just waiting for that first frost to harvest. I don't know if it's too late, but I'm going to go ahead and throw some old turnip and rutabaga seeds out there this week and see what happens.

10/10/2026

The garden is on a rolling hill that curves and dips. Having paths on contour make the beds wide in some areas so I put in couple of paths made from old bricks and rocks that are too small to use anywhere else. I feel like I'm playing Chutes and Ladders when I walk across. 😆 The strawberry patch has a new home and I planted a little fig tree cutting in the middle as an experiment. Buckwheat was broadcasted in the back to help build up the soil and up front where the soil is better, I planted lettuce, radishes, bok choy, arugula and some bunching onions. I was hoping to get a little more finished before Hurricane Isaias moved in and watered everything, but I'm still happy with my progress.

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It's still unseasonably warm here during the day, but I'm glad the 90⁰+ seem to be over! Does it feel like fall where y...
10/09/2026

It's still unseasonably warm here during the day, but I'm glad the 90⁰+ seem to be over! Does it feel like fall where you are?

10/08/2026

Do you think a wooly bear is a good indicator of what winter will be like? What do you think this one is saying?

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