I have dedicated 4 years to sharing our adventures from our little Homestead via this blog. Lots of pictures accompanied with my many words and How To's. Our children are at an age I can now expand the direction I aim with this blog. I will have plenty of downtime after today to organize my list of upcoming posts which will bring a fresh and new side of adventures in homesteading.
I plan to experiment with a new method. From short tutorial videos on tapping our maples tree's all the way to adventuring the big open road to other homesteads. To share the many diverse way's of self sufficiency, gardening, animal husbandry, to hands on crafts such as glass blowing. I'm taking you along for the ride via Blog videos. Learn the simple way's with a first hand view and meet new interesting people who share a piece of their lives with us. To inspire you. To teach you something new. To transport you on an adventure with Panda and I as we venture out in the wonders of our world.
Oh,do not worry. Not all posts will be video. I still have many more words yet to share. So grab your bag and be prepared to step it up and come along for the ride!
Our video will not be High definition. Nor will it be Television quality. This is down home personality with video's put into a format like a short segment from a few minutes up to 10. All depends on the subject and location.
Now I must start my research for exciting places to share while I travel down & am in the Fort Worth Texas area. This farm Chick is adventure bound, with you riding shotgun!
Sweet dreams,
~Tammie
13 comments:
Sounds like fun ... I will be looking forward to reading all your stuff.
sounds super! can't wait.
I love that there are adventures in the offing. Fun!
Can I ask what happened to the honeypot giveaway? Even the post announcing the 'winners' seems to have vanished.
Thanks.
Thanks guys. I am so stoked from the brain storm in topics during the down time I have had. I have found some local people who I discovered are pro's in certain "crafts" which would be beneficial to many in the form of a how to. Things I have touched on in the last 4 years and the video blog will bring more knowledge, tips, and how to's.
As for the Honey pot post, I had to remove it due to some unknown referal but I had over 50 comments of spam in 1 hour. Something about the topic set off the spam bots and since I can not figure out why, I just removed it after almost 2 weeks. I have been dealing with too many bad days before my surgery this week and let too much be neglected. I am rather ashamed of my negligence in those last few months but the pain and other issues took over my life. I am 3 days postop and feel amazing compared to before. My head feels more clear and my body feels even better then what was expected.
I am still working on finding a few sponsors for equipment which will be needed for better quality video. I am lucky to have a friend who is schooled in production that will be helping, nameless per request.
I am working with another friend on making up a logo to go with The Unusual Farm Chick name. I hope to have online sales of tank tops and t's to help in the costs of transportation.
My notebook is filling up with names and ideas. So many amazing people out there with knowledge to share and of course have fun while doing it.
Sweet dreams,
~Tammie
I am so glad you're feeling better. It's so hard to accomplish things if our bodies can't cooperate, and spam bots are disgusting aren't they?
Hope your recovery continues to be quick and joyful.
I just found your blog by searching "homemade spiles" I'd love to tap some of our maple trees this year but don't want to spend a fortune. I don't have any elderberries or sumac to make spiles, but I loved the idea of yours made just from pens. Did they work out for you? Will you be buying this year or using the same setup you did last year? If you purchased spiles did you buy from the company listed in that post? I know the hours are counting down for sap collecting and I need to figure this out! Thanks. :)
Thank you Nikki. Now that I am spacing out the pain medicine, I have slowed down much more. I have a high pain tolerance but without the medicine I could tell I was doing way too much too fast.
Alina, Hi and welcome! I will most likely never go back to the store bought spiles. My pen/tube method works fantastic! Start saving gallon jugs (with lids) now so you can use them for the sap collecting. I did try the metal spiles and did not like them as much as my method. Just remeber to wash them with HOT soapy water before and after tapping use. Let air dry then store in ziploc bags for next year.
Once I am able to do a video tutorial without looking "uncomfortable" I will be sure to get it up for everyone. I hope to have it up next week at the latest.
Thanks for your response. I'll look forward to seeing the video. Were the pens just regular "Bic" style pens? If you drilled the holes first, what size drill bit did you use? And can you tell me what you used to seal the pen parts into the tubing? Sorry for all the questions! I think the sap is already flowing around here. :) I have a university extension agent coming around on Friday to help me identify my maple trees and I want to be ready with my "gear" by then if possible. :)
I did not seal the tubes to the pens. I used "click" pens The Captain brought home from work. I will be sure to show the before and after on the pen. I do not see why a Bic style pen would not work. Just be sure you take one with you when you pick up your tubing and be sure it will fill snug into the tube.Try to shove the pen into the tube a good fingernail distance. This way, it is snug and no need to worry about any sealent.
You need a 7/16 drill bit and will need to drill in about 2 inches at a slight upwards angle. You want the sap to go with gravity so the hole after drilling will act as a downward spout -the spile which will direct the sap through the pen and tube into your awaiting container.
Now you have me wanting to make that video ASAP! We have had some great tapping weather but I am just not able to go out and maintain this early. I hear The Captain calling me o I best be off. He promised to help dye my hair back to black today. LOL. Then I am back to bed for some needed rest.
I hope the above will help answer and guide you through my tapping method. Please do let us know how it goes and keep us informed of your progess. I will be book marking your site so I can keep up with any progress of your first tapping season. Best of luck Alina!
Sorry, one more question: What did you use to cut the pens so the plastic wouldn't crack legthwise? I thought loppers, but I guess they're too dull and cracked my trial run.
How did your hair turn out? :)
Alna, the pens I used were asofter then the normal boc type. I would suggest putting them in a table vise/clip and using a handsaw or jigsaw. I hand sanded the cut portion to smooth it out.
I am so happy to be dark again. Although Panda picked out real "black" and my hair is darker then before, the light colors make me look 10 years older then I am.:).
Let me know if the above works out. You may want to try warming the pen body up a little by holding over a boiling pot of water. This may help soften the plastic for hand cutters. Best of luck!
Thanks so much! I'll try those things and I'm sure I'll get it to work.
Funny how blond hair isn't a "youthful shade" on some people--I should know, I'm one of them. Glad you like how it turned out!
Sounds like you've got some fun changes in store, I can't wait to see what you'll have for us!
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