June's Jam Session + Strawberry Honey Jam Recipe

It's strawberry season which means sticky red delicious jam will be stirred until perfection is achieved and then carefully poured into jars, waiting their grand finale - a few minutes in the water bath pool.  And then we wait to hear the "pop", "pop-pop-pop" as the lids seal on the now cooling jars.

There's just something so comforting about the process.

One of the most important traditions in the jam making process is the official licking of the spoon and sharing of the foam which is skimmed off of the top before spooning into jars.  J and I delight in getting our first taste of the newest batch.

A Year of Eating Locally Challenge-Meal Plan + Food Costs: June 17, 2018

If you’re just tuning in, this is our 1 year challenge in which I share our weekly meal plan as we try to eat primarily locally grown food.  You will see that I often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not.  Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines.  Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time.  You can read more about meal planning here.

Read the entire series here.

Change Your Life In 2018 - June Challenge: Simplify Your Life, or, Finding Your Why

If you’re just joining in, the “Change Your Life In 2018” series is my quest to make some small changes this year.  Rather than setting easily forgotten resolutions I wanted to focus on 12 changes that would help me learn and grow as a person.  I’ve chosen to focus on one change per month so that it could not only become a more manageable goal, but I have a better chance at making these new habits as well.  I hope you’ll join me in the challenge!

Reading the words "simplify your life" can immediately result in shivers for fear of the task of decluttering as you envision your home stripped down to absolute minimalism.  Let me assure you, that's not what we're focusing on for this month's challenge. 

Instead, our focus is on the "why".

The Most Delicious Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

I love strawberries.  I always have.  I could eat them 3 for each meal for weeks on end.  J likes strawberries, but he likes baked goods made with strawberries even better.  I make this pie every single year at the onset of strawberry season and once or twice in the winter with frozen strawberries and rhubarb (if you're using frozen, don't unthaw the fruit and increase the flour to 1/2 cup).

This pie is absolutely delicious.  It's sweet, a touch of sour from the rhubarb, warm from the spices, and oh so juicy.  (if your family are not fans of allspice or cloves, certainly omit.  but keep the cinnamon if you can) It is the PERFECT spring dessert.

A Year Of Eating Locally Challenge-Meal Plan + Food Costs: Week of June 10, 2018

If you’re just tuning in, this is our 1 year challenge in which I share our weekly meal plan as we try to eat primarily locally grown food.  You will see that I often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not.  Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines.  Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time.  You can read more about meal planning here.

Read the entire series here.

This Month On The Farm: May 2018 - Kitchen Reno & Chick Updates, A Whistle Pigs Wind Tunnel, Jack's New Bath Mat, and More!

If you’re just tuning in, this is a brand new ongoing series in which I document each month of our lives in our transition to a simple, homemade life on a modern homestead. We ditched town and moved to the country in 2008 and we blog about both our successful and not-so-successful ventures in homesteading, switching to natural products, and embracing a whole foods lifestyle.  Check out the entire series here.

Oh, the weather.  It's been quite a blend of beautiful days, a sprinkling of humid days, and a day here and there of rain (also deemed a beautiful day - particularly to the garden!!).  While April ended up being one of the warmest on record, May was a bit cooler than normal overall.  It was a lovely month though and we were even able to get the garden in early and without row covers to keep it warm.

1 Year Of Eating Locally - Weekly Meal Plan + Food Cost: Week of June 3, 2018

Some of this week's veggies purchased at our farmer's market

If you’re just tuning in, this is our 1 year challenge in which I share our weekly meal plan as we try to eat primarily locally grown food.  You will see that I often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not.  Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines.  Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time.  You can read more about meal planning here.

Read the entire series here.

One Year of Eating Locally Challenge

This post contains affiliate links.  When you click on one of the links and make a purchase, we receive a small monetary compensation at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for supporting Cobble Hill Farm!

Last year I wanted to try to switch to primarily eating local, in-season, meals. Unfortunately, I was just so busy splitting my time between my "day" job and our business, that it felt too overwhelming to try and start something new. But, with May's change your life challenge of getting out of your comfort zone, it's time.

Some of you may be asking why and I wanted to give a bit of background on this.

$100.00/week Real Food Weekly Meal Plan - Week21

If you’re just tuning in, this is an ongoing series in which I share our weekly meal plan as I (attempt) to convert us to a Whole/Real Food lifestyle.  Our grocery budget is $100.00/week for 2 adults.  Often I make 2 different meals because I am primarily plant-based and my husband is not.  Most of what we eat is made from scratch and any boxed, canned and/or frozen products follow the Real Food guidelines.  Meal planning is my way of controlling the grocery budget (read as a LOT of dollars saved), ensuring there is no food waste for the week, as well as saving time.  You can read more about meal planning here.

Change Your Life In 2018 - May Challenge: Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

If you’re just joining in, the “Change Your Life In 2018” series is my quest to make some small changes this year.  Rather than setting easily forgotten resolutions I wanted to focus on 12 changes that would help me learn and grow as a person.  I’ve chosen to focus on one change per month so that it could not only become a more manageable goal, but I have a better chance at making these new habits as well.  I hope you’ll join me in the challenge!

“If it’s still in your mind, it is worth taking the risk.” ~ Paulo Coelho

This month's challenge is somewhat similar to last months in that it's time to shake things up.  As we discussed last month, if you want things to change in your life then you need to change.

They say that everything you're after is at the end of your comfort zone.  It seems this is true!  If you've ever really stuck your neck out on the line only to have things suddenly work in your favor, then you know that this is where the magic happens.  Pushing yourself to do what may seem uncomfortable or unnatural can be incredibly beneficial.