On our Own Homestead

06/05/2026

The Pink Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia) is a stunning, fast-growing tropical shrub known for its massive, 6 to 12-inch pendulous blooms and intoxicating evening fragrance. It can be grown outdoors year-round in USDA Hardiness Zones 8b–11, or easily kept in large patio containers in colder climates. Luckily our Dogs go nowhere near it because it is highly toxic but absolutely beautiful!

06/05/2026

One of my favorite canned Soup, Zuppa Toscana! 8 quarts in the canner and 12 more to go. My most favorite thing about the Digital Canners beside the fact that I don't have to babysit them is, that they don't heat up my kitchen!

06/05/2026

lol

06/05/2026

One of the things I love about raising heritage turkeys is that they continue to surprise me!

The jar on the left is broth from a commercial turkey. The jar on the right is broth made from one of our heritage birds. Look at the difference in color!

Many people assume darker broth means something is wrong, but it's actually often the opposite. Heritage turkeys are slower-growing, more active birds that develop stronger muscles, denser bones, and more connective tissue than their commercial counterparts. All of that translates into a richer, darker, more flavorful broth.

Their muscles contain more myoglobin (the protein that stores oxygen in muscle tissue), and when you simmer the carcass for stock, those pigments along with collagen, minerals, and other nutrients are extracted into the broth.

The result? A beautiful, deep amber broth packed with flavor and gelatin.

Just another reminder that not all turkeys are created equal, and sometimes the old-fashioned breeds really do bring something special to the table.

Have you ever noticed a difference in broth color between heritage-raised birds and commercial poultry?

06/05/2026

05/27/2026

How start a Homestead Garden in Florida Zone 9a/9b... Welcome new Transplants to Florida ;)

Starting a homestead garden in Florida can feel a little chaotic at first. Between the heat, bugs, sandy soil, and nonstop weeds, gardening here is definitely its own experience. But once you learn Florida’s rhythm instead of fighting it, things get much easier. In this blog, we share realistic ti...

05/26/2026

Pretty excited to share that our property has officially been recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat® through the National Wildlife Federation and Florida Wildlife Federation!

Creating spaces for pollinators, birds, native plants, and wildlife has always been important to us, so this one feels pretty special. Every little pond, flower, tree, brush pile, and patch of habitat really does matter.

Certified Wildlife Habitat ID: 341861 🌿

Being certified as a Certified Wildlife Habitat means your property met the basic habitat criteria established by the National Wildlife Federation for supporting wildlife in a sustainable way.

It is not a government designation or legal conservation status. It’s more of a recognized conservation and stewardship program.

To qualify, a property generally has to provide:
Food sources for wildlife
Water sources
Cover/shelter
Places for wildlife to raise young
Sustainable gardening/environmental practices

Examples include:
Native plants
Pollinator plants
Bird feeders
Brush piles
Water features
Avoiding excessive pesticide use
Providing nesting habitat

So what the certification really means is:
Your property has intentionally been managed in a way that supports biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

For a homestead or rural property, it’s honestly a pretty meaningful recognition because it reflects active ecological stewardship rather than just ornamental landscaping.

Practical benefits can include:
Educational/community credibility
Pollinator and bird habitat recognition
Networking with native gardening/wildlife groups
Habitat signage
Sometimes local conservation recognition programs

It does not:
Put your property under government control
Restrict what you can legally do with your land
Create conservation easements
Override zoning/property rights
Automatically provide tax benefits

In short:
It’s essentially an acknowledgment that your property functions as intentional habitat rather than just maintained land.

As insect Breeders in Florida (which is our primary Business since we breed a specific cockroach for reptile food) this is really exciting for us as we foster all wildlife out here but especially insects and reptiles!

05/23/2026

The beauty of bees

05/20/2026

This morning I decided to make Focaccia (we have some cold cuts left over from a get together and what better way than to put it on top of a Focaccia). I watched a video last night on how to make Focaccia with a Stand Mixer from Urban Treats Baking Community and got a little too enthused and.. well.... see for yourself LOL

05/18/2026

My Husband is the absolute best person on the planet!