Domestic Arts: Candlemaking

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On my list of things to try in my little urban homestead, was candlemaking.  It was easy as 1,2,3.

1.  Melt wax in a double boiler to about 170 degrees

2. Place wick in mold (I used a pencil to prop it up in the melted wax)

3. Pour wax into mold or container and let cool

That's it! Instead of waiting until I have my own beehive and learning how to harvest the wax, I bought some beeswax online at www.bulkapothocary.com (1 lb for about $9).  They also sell wicks (100 for $6) and tons of other homesteading supplies for soapmaking and natural body care.  I picked up some cute little tart tins at a yard sale for $2 to use as molds/candleholders.  To melt the wax, you need to do so in a double boiler.  I opted to purchase a candlemaking pitcher and a wax thermometer but you really don't need anything special.  You just need a pot of some kind that has a pour spout and one that you can devote to only candlemaking. (The wax will stick to the pot.) I do recommend a candlemaking thermometer to monitor the temperature of the wax.

Making homemade candles was so easy and fun, that my daughter and I will make lots more to give away at Christmas time. (Oops!  There goes the surprise!) 

My Custom Homestead: Steps 15 & 16

Continuing my work with Jill Winger's Your Custom Homestead e-book, it is time to start taking action.  Step 15 is to plan out your year with important dates of things to do so that they don't sneak up on you.  Things that will go on my annual planning calendar may not be completely relevant now.  But when the time comes to call a patch of grass my own, I know I will be overwhelmed with the amount of work to be done.  Having my plan ready to put into action will keep things fun and enjoyable.  Let's say we move into our farmhouse on October 1st.  I can open up my plan book to that date and see what needs to be done so that the spring gardening season will be ready when the last frost chills the ground.  There are tons of free gardening planning tools online that make the growing season a breeze.  Plug in your gardening zone and the plants you want to grow and viola!  The planner will even send you a reminder so that when you are up to your elbows in water bath canning, you don't forget to put in the next round of plants in the empty space where your tomatoes were yesterday, ensuring that you have more veggies in the weeks to come.  My favorite garden planner and journal is on the site www.smartgardener.com.

www.smartgardener.com

Other things I will put on my planning list include giving vaccines to my farm animals (when I have them), checking all the fences to see what might need repair, ordering and storing hay, chopping firewood (which will pretty much be daily...), and ordering chicks.  In addition to planning the farm work, I will be planning and facilitating art workshops and retreats.  As exciting as all of this work feels, I also feel a little twirl of anxiety in my gut just from writing this.  Better get started on that plan!

Step 16, is to start doing what I can.  Jill explains this perfectly.  "If you are waiting for the stars to align perfectly before you start canning or putting in that garden or building those cold frames," (that's me!), "then you are going to be waiting a long time....I want to encourage you NOT to sit around and wait for the 'big day' to come.  You might not be able to do everything, but remember that every little bit helps." Jill goes on to provide a perfect example for me.  Even though I don't have my own veggie patch yet, I can buy veggies at the farmers' market and practice canning them.  Looking back at my list that I wrote when I first started Your Custom Homestead, I see several things I can do right now.  I can email the guy in the woodworking studio to schedule the safety class so I can learn how to build things.  I can make a list of questions to ask when I go to the sheep and wool festival in October.  I can get out the candle making supplies I bought and make candles.  SARK taught me all about "micromovements", and I will create a micromovement right now:  Get out my weekly planner and put it on the table with a pencil.  :)

My Custom Homestead: Step 14

As I travel along in Jill Winger's Your Custom Homestead (www.theprairiehomestead.com), I am finding myself a little discouraged.  It happens I suppose, but I want a farm now.  While making the best of my current city life is challenging and rewarding, it still falls short of the peace and serenity of the country life I long for.

Perhaps if I work on Step 14, "Know your local resources," I will find support during these times of feeling the longing of a Barnheart (Jenna Woganrich).  Jill suggests a few starting points for connecting to local resources:  becoming a regular at your local farmers' market, checking Craigslist for homesteading ads, or starting/joining a club.  These are all great ideas, and if I did them myself I would probably find come good company on this trail I am blazing towards my destiny.

Manhattan Farmers' Markets

Asparagus, chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner. 

Melt-in-your-mouth strawberries

Beautiful

Gorgeous radishes

Crispy lettuce

Ahhhh, chamomile

Country Living Fair: Rhinebeck

The first thing I noticed when my sister, my daughter and I stepped out of the car at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York, was how quiet it was.  Ahhhh, peace.  No sirens, no trucks, no car horns, no people yelling on the street.  Just the rustle of leaves in the trees and birds chirping.  My ears were ringing from the silence.  It was good to be home.

This is the second year that Country Living has hosted their fair in Rhinebeck.  Since I missed it last year, I was determined to go this year.  We were not disappointed!  So many treasures and ideas, artists loved and new artists discovered.  Only 364 days til the next Country Living Fair!

Dirt Under My Nails

It's the first full day of having completed my graduate school requirements and responsibilities.  I can breathe now....To celebrate, my daughter and I planted our windowsill herb garden with all the edibles we purchased from local farmers at the green market just a few blocks from home.  As we cultivate this mini-farm, we will sow our plans for a bigger farm, with room for chickens, goats, and sheep (and much more homegrown food!).  My little girl and I will nurture our garden daily and pinch off some fresh leaves for meals.  I actually had to ask her to stop eating all the arugula straight from the pot!  Our garden includes parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, lavender, tomatoes (grown from free seeds that came with a gardening catalog), basil (green and purple) , and of course, arugula.  Even though our organic potting soil came in a giant bag we ordered online rather than from digging holes in the yard, we still had a blast getting dirt under our nails.

www.GrowNYC.org lists 5 reasons to grow your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs:
1. Improve your health.
2.  Know your food.
3.  Save money.
4.  Teach your kids about where food comes from.
5.  Have fun!
For more details on any of these great reasons to plant your own garden (no matter the size!) go to www.grownyc.org.

My Custom Homestead: Step 13

Field trip time!  Jill Winger (www.theprairiehomestead.com) invites you to take a country (or city) drive in search of inspiration.  "I'm willing to bet that once you become more tuned in to the homesteading mindset, you will start to discover kindred spirits in the most unlikely of places," Jill says.  I agree!  Living in a big city has left me starved for some sweet grass scented breezes, the sound of crickets and peepers at night, and some cool soil to wiggle my toes in on an early morning walk.  Nevertheless, since I have started reading "Your Custom Homestead", I have found many places that support my homesteading goals.  And guess what?  The places I have found are run by

kindred spirits:  urban gardens and farms, farmers' markets, pottery studios, wood shops, craft fairs,

yarn and fabric stores.  Once I started turning over rocks, I discovered that the city does indeed have little pockets where a bohemian farmgirl can get cozy.  I have also found a daily dose of inspiration on Pinterest.  Each night before I go to sleep, I peruse beautiful photos of homes, farms, gardens, art projects, DIY projects, and spectacular places.  These images serve to plant seeds in my sleepy mind for nighttime journeys to not so far off dreams.  Check out my boards by clicking on the Pinterest link to the left of this post.

image from Country Living June 2013

 I already know that I want to plant my minifarm in the Hudson Vallley area of New York.  I can take a drive once again on my computer via Craigslist.  The possibilities of affordable land and a fixer-upper home (ie. blank canvas) are at my fingertips.   I also love to look at the listings for farm stuff for sale and things being given away.  This is enough to fertilize my goals and motivate me to create my homestead.