The Hawk & Hummingbird Homestead

The Hawk & Hummingbird Homestead Growing food, raising chickens, building a Christ-centered community and more.

DON’T LET AUGUST PASS WITHOUT TAKING ROSEMARY CUTTINGS!If you already have one healthy rosemary plant, you may be able t...
08/20/2026

DON’T LET AUGUST PASS WITHOUT TAKING ROSEMARY CUTTINGS!

If you already have one healthy rosemary plant, you may be able to turn it into MANY more without buying another plant.

This is one of those simple homestead skills I absolutely love because it teaches us to work with what we already have.

Here’s how:

1. Take your cuttings
Choose healthy, non-flowering growth and snip stems about 4–6 inches long.

2. Strip the lower leaves
Remove the rosemary needles from the lower portion of the stem, leaving healthy growth at the top.

3. Plant the cuttings
Place the bare portion of each stem into a small container filled with a loose, well-draining potting medium. Adding perlite can help with drainage.

4. Give them the right environment
Keep them somewhere bright but protected from harsh direct sun and heavy wind while they’re establishing.

5. Keep the soil lightly moist
Check them regularly. You want moisture for developing roots without keeping the soil constantly soggy.

6. Wait for roots
Depending on conditions, roots may begin developing within a few weeks. Give the stem a very gentle tug later on. Resistance can be a sign that roots are forming.

7. Pot them up!
Once they’ve developed a strong root system, move each new rosemary plant into its own larger pot or plant it into the garden where conditions are appropriate.

And just like that…

ONE rosemary plant can become an entire collection.

Use them in the garden.
Grow them for the kitchen.
Give them as gifts.
Or keep propagating and expanding your herb garden year after year.

This is one of the things we’re learning to love more and more at Hawk & Hummingbird Homestead:

Grow what you have. Multiply it. Share it. Grow again.

MARIGOLDS ARE DOING A LOT MORE THAN LOOKING PRETTY.The more we learn about what is happening in our garden, the more fas...
08/12/2026

MARIGOLDS ARE DOING A LOT MORE THAN LOOKING PRETTY.

The more we learn about what is happening in our garden, the more fascinated we become by the intelligence woven into creation.

We planted marigolds throughout the Hawk & Hummingbird garden, originally appreciating them for their beauty, their ability to attract pollinators, and their reputation as a companion plant.

But what is happening beneath the soil is incredible.

True marigolds (Tagetes spp.) produce natural compounds called thiophenes, including α-terthienyl. Research has shown these compounds can suppress certain plant-parasitic nematodes, interfere with egg hatching, and cause oxidative stress within nematodes.

And here’s the part that surprised us…

Researchers have demonstrated that α-terthienyl can have nematicidal activity even in darkness.

Research has reported marigold suppression across as many as 14 genera of plant-parasitic nematodes, although effectiveness depends on the marigold variety, nematode species, and how the plants are grown.

So no, one little marigold beside a tomato isn’t necessarily a magical force field. But used intentionally, particularly as a dense cover or rotation crop, these beautiful flowers can become part of a natural strategy for managing troublesome nematodes.

Above the soil, they’re feeding pollinators.

Below the soil, there’s chemistry happening that we can’t even see.

The more we understand creation, the more extraordinary the garden becomes.

And THAT is one of our favorite parts of learning to grow.

Now the only question is… what are we making with all these tomatoes? Salsa? Sauce? Fresh tomato sandwiches? What would ...
08/01/2026

Now the only question is… what are we making with all these tomatoes?

Salsa? Sauce? Fresh tomato sandwiches? What would you make?

Coneflowers, or Echinacea, are well known for attracting pollinators, and once the flowers mature, their seed heads can ...
07/27/2026

Coneflowers, or Echinacea, are well known for attracting pollinators, and once the flowers mature, their seed heads can also become a food source for birds.

That’s exactly what we want more of around here: plants that create beauty while contributing to the little ecosystem we're building. 🌿🐝🦋

And judging by all those buds, these aren't finished showing off yet!

Behind every pretty harvest photo… there’s this. Someone is down in the dirt.There’s pruning, staking, watering, mulchin...
07/25/2026

Behind every pretty harvest photo… there’s this.

Someone is down in the dirt.

There’s pruning, staking, watering, mulching, watching for pests, figuring out what went wrong, trying something different, and occasionally having a serious conversation with a tomato plant.

Our garden isn't perfect, and neither are we. But look at all those tomatoes!

We're learning that homesteading isn't really about having everything figured out. It's about becoming more connected to the process of producing what we consume and being willing to keep learning season after season.

Grow. Learn. Adjust. Grow again. 🌱

And somewhere along the way, you get dinner.

From garden to table. Homemade veggie pizza started with a sauce made from fresh tomatoes straight from our garden. We t...
06/12/2026

From garden to table.

Homemade veggie pizza started with a sauce made from fresh tomatoes straight from our garden. We topped it with homegrown basil, bell peppers, and jalapeños for a meal that was fresh, simple, and absolutely delicious.

There’s something special about stepping outside with a basket, gathering what’s ripe, and bringing it back to the kitchen. The harvest may not be huge, but every bite reminds us that good things grow with time, patience, and a little love.

Fresh basil and dill filling the garden with the sweetest smell 🌿💚One of our favorite parts of homestead life is growing...
05/11/2026

Fresh basil and dill filling the garden with the sweetest smell 🌿💚
One of our favorite parts of homestead life is growing herbs right outside the door — simple things that make meals feel special and remind us to slow down a little.

Nothing fancy… just sunshine, water, patience, and grateful hands. ✨

Not every part of homestead life is pretty… but every part is worth it 🤎Loads of mulch, sore backs, dirty boots, and lon...
05/10/2026

Not every part of homestead life is pretty… but every part is worth it 🤎
Loads of mulch, sore backs, dirty boots, and long days are slowly turning into healthy soil and future harvests.

A dream is built one shovel at a time. 🌱

Little by little, the garden grows 🌱✨Peppers, herbs, corn, and new life soaking up the Texas sunshine. There’s something...
05/06/2026

Little by little, the garden grows 🌱✨
Peppers, herbs, corn, and new life soaking up the Texas sunshine. There’s something healing about tending what feeds your family with your own hands.

Every tray holds future meals, seeds for tomorrow, and reminders that growth takes patience. 🤍

No filters needed when the chickens are painting Easter eggs for you naturally 🥚🌿✨Soft blues, olive greens, warm browns,...
05/06/2026

No filters needed when the chickens are painting Easter eggs for you naturally 🥚🌿✨
Soft blues, olive greens, warm browns, blush pinks, and deep terracotta… every day feels like a little surprise around here.

Farm fresh eggs just hit different. 🤎🐓

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Quinlan, TX
75474

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+12142282605

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