Purple Thistle Farm on the KP -The White Homestead

09/18/2026

We are still here! This season is just wild.

Our first real Granny Smith apple hsrvest.... yum yum!

07/07/2026

In 2014 I ordered a few native to our area trees. I planted them and most didn't make it. One clump i had no place for at the time and I planted with the intention of researching it and planting in a perfect spot. That was my intention.....

It was a Hawthorne tree. Last year was the first year I noticed berries on it. This year it is loaded with fruit. I guess, they will be staying where they are for now.

The folk medicine is that its good for the heart and circulation.

Let's see if i can keep the birds away until harvest.

07/04/2026

Have an amazing July 4th.
Stay safe friends!

🎉🎉🎉Happy birthday America!!🎉🎉🎉

06/29/2026

This past week I was taking care of the girls and looked over and saw a chicken I've never seen before.... our neighbor's hen was visiting. 😆

06/14/2026

Its been a long time a ince we shared a video, but I hope to start doing that more.

Here is a work in progress

Purple Thistle Farm is our family's Homestead. we are trying to create our piece of land into a Homestead that just allows us to provide more of what we eat.

05/28/2026

Need Eggs?

We have 2 dozen available for a home this week. We just ask for a donation of $4 for each dozen.
Local South KP pick up.

05/28/2026

Its been a sad week on the Homestead. A bear and cub got into the animal area and tore the door off the brooder that had 13 chicks, Tumbleweed the gosling, and two 2 week old ducks. The carnage was bad. 6 chicks survived.

Homesteading isn't just about daffodils, sunshine, and pixie dust. This week was hard, but we know that not all the days are full of sadness. Homesteading is life, and sometimes hard times happen. The hardtimes make the other times all the sweeter.

05/03/2026

Yesterday evening one of the geese hatched 6 babies. One was shoved out of the nest and mama wouldn't let us put her back. We brought the one inside, it was a chilled little one. This morning we noticed she had splayed legs and we are currently hopefull to help the wee one.

Here is a photo of the other five being cared for by mama goose.

04/18/2026

This week I've done more canning and decanted several brewing extracts.

First up is Chilli. I canned home made Chilli. I filled up a large Dutch oven full and ended up with 13 Quarts!

And then so far I've spent about 3 hours straining and bottling several extracts that have been brewing since January.

Almond extract is truly a labor of love. Its pretty intense. If people tell you its easy... they are lying. 😂 or they have a better way to do it than I do!

So, I have several citrus blends, almond extract (no almonds harmed ), coffee, coconut, and others. Fun and busy week in the kitchen.

04/11/2026

What a busy canning week!

I've canned 6 quarts of strawberry syrup because the family loves it! 14 pints of Chicken Chunks. 12 quarts of Sloppy Joe meat, 8 quarts of Salsa, and tomorrow I am trying chili!

Chickens are slow to start back to a full laying schedule. Just 4 or 5 eggs a day.... I'm considering telling them about a place called freezer camp.😂😂😂🐓🥚🥚🥚 Start laying girls.. winter break is over.