The Morris Tribe

Taking a Break

kmorris — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 01:08:42 +0000

After over 3 years of consistent writing, it’s time for this mama to take a break!

I will be unplugging from Facebook and the website. As much as I’ll miss hearing from everyone, I need some time to clear out my thoughts and get rejuvenated.

I’ll be back after the first of the new year and wish you a Happy 2013.

If you are new here, check out “How to Get Started Homesteading“.

My video page will keep you busy with tutorials on pressure canning, sprouting, bread making, making your own detergent and much more!

Thinking about raising your own meat? Read more here about how to get started!

Maybe you live in the city? Check out how to be more sustainable in an urban setting here!

Want to learn more about foraging? Read here.

Hunting for Sustainability

kmorris — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 01:24:49 +0000

Today we are featuring a guest post by Jeff at Sustainablelifeblog.com about hunting for sustainability. As is the case with many hunting pictures, there are dead animals that may bother you. Whether or not you agree with hunting isn’t up for debate here, and if you are opposed to hunting, you may want to read another post.

That said, thank you so much, Jeff, for sharing your hunting experience with us. Enjoy and be sure to hop over and check out Jeff’s blog! He’s got a lot of great information to share!

Every fall where I live (Wyoming) the talk turns to hunting. What tags did you get this year? Where are you hunting this year? Guys at my office are talking about hunting and women in my office are talking about hunting. I can happily join the conversation now and not feel like a total fraud, but it wasn’t always this way.

I grew up in a city and I had a few friends that hunted. Talking to them and pairing knowledge gained through my studies I started to overcome my apprehension to go hunting.

I knew from my studies that overgrazing was a problem, and too many animals in one place would cause problems for farmers and ranchers, as well as problems in the environment by using resources that other creatures need to survive.

Hunting started to seem more and more like a great way to satisfy all parties with very little waste. The population would be reduced, the farmers and ranchers wouldn’t have animals causing damage to their crops or eating their hay, and interested parties would get a high quality source of meat. Despite all of these positives, I couldn’t bring myself to purchase all the required equipment (firearms are expensive!) and head out alone.

Thankfully, back in 2008 while I was dating my then girlfriend (now wife) her dad invited me to go antelope hunting with him and my now brother-in-law. I jumped at the chance.

I could finally see what it was all about and decide if I really liked it, and I didn’t have to buy all of the equipment because my father-on-law was happy to share his equipment.

We had a great hunt – we all got an antelope by about noon! I have since learned that this was a fluke and sometimes you end up being out all day for many days in a row and don’t get (or even see) an animal. After we got back to town, we processed the meat ourselves, and I took some of the rougher cuts in to the butcher to get ground up for antelope burgers and antelope stroganoff. (Caution: graphic pictures to follow)

Hunting was a great experience, and I was happy that I was able to add one more activity to my sustainable and self-reliant repertoire. I was able to use my own skill (since greatly improved) and some tools to provide food for myself. It’s not just normal food either – it’s very high quality meat. It’s all pasture raised, grass fed, organic and natural – stuff that you pay a huge premium for at the grocery store.

In addition to the personal benefits, while hunting I was also helping out the environment. By hunting, you’re stopping overgrazing and leaving food around for other animals that share the space, or helping a rancher keep his cattle (or sheep) alive through the winter. By hunting the population down to a level the area can sustain, you’re keeping the species alive for generations to come.

After that hunt, I spent a lot of time thinking about out where my food came from. After doing my research, I decided that I wanted to be more involved in the process. This led me to hunting and fishing for my own meat. I’ve hunted antelope, elk, duck, and blue grouse. I’ve gone deep sea fishing off the coast of Alaska for halibut, and I’m going to Florida in March to go fishing for tuna.The pride I feel when hunting isn’t about the size of the animal or the death, but of providing for myself and family. This year, I’ve got tags for white tail deer, antelope (2), and elk. If all goes according to plan, I’ll have a full freezer and lots of high quality meat to eat, give away to my family and friends,or donate to the local shelter.

There’s nothing more satisfying than pulling some meat out of the freezer and thinking to yourself

“I put this on the table. I know where it comes from and what was (or in this case, was not) added during packaging and processing.”

Readers: Do you hunt? If so, what are the reasons that you hunt and what do you hunt for typically? If you don’t hunt, Why not?? Share your stories in the comments!

This is a post by Jeff, who blogs about sustainbility and personal finance at “http://sustainablelifeblog.com/ “Sustainable Life Blog. Head over to his site to check out his experiences (and cost-benefit analysis) of his other hunting and fishing trips.

Welcome to The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival – #28

kmorris — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 23:20:24 +0000

It’s Monday and time to share the best of what’s happening out there in the world of homesteading and sustainable living!

Take the time to either link up, if you have a blog, or leave a comment about what’s happening at YOUR homestead, be it

Urban, Rural or Suburban!

This is a family-friendly, G-rated website, please link up as such.

Please link back to “The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival” and use our banner, thank you!

Welcome to The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival #27

kmorris — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:54:43 +0000

It’s Monday and time to share the best of what’s happening out there in the world of homesteading and sustainable living!

Sketching out the quilt…

Fabrics that my son chose….

If you’ve been following The Morristribe on Facebook this weeked, you know that I’ve been working on my second quilt.

This one will be an heirloom quilt for my other eight-year old. While I love the pinwheel pattern block, I’ve been hesitant to try it for fear that my corners wouldn’t line up correctly.

To be honest, some lined up better than others. Yet, this is the best quilting that I have personally ever done…and that’s what’s important. Skill is built with practice and I look forward to achieving a higher level of skill as the months pass.

This quilt will be a twin-topper, a size that’s very doable for me right now. I look forward to making larger quilts, but for now I don’t want to overwhelm myself.

When learning a new skill, keep your projects small and manageable, so that you can finish what you start.

Here’s where I left it Sunday afternoon. I plan to finish it be the week’s end.

Hummingbird Highway is graciously giving a copy of “Cut the Scraps” away to one lucky Morristribe reader!

*****

All quilters know one thing for sure: a fabric stash is a living thing.

It grows imperceptibly at first, but soon takes over your sewing room, and, if you’re not careful, your life.

Joan Ford is a quilt designer who recognized a need to clear the clutter among her fellow quilters and came up with a fun and effective way to deal with it. Enter ScrapTherapy, Ford’s feel-good method for organizing the mounds of fabric — from yards and fat quarters to skinny scraps — and turning them into quilts and a wide array of accessories.

In this innovative book, Ford offers step-by-step instructions for cutting a fabric stash down to size — quite literally — and provides 20 original patterns for quilts, pillows, table runners, and more.

How to Enter to Win?

*Visit Hummingbird Highway’s website and look around a bit. Don’t forget to check out the freebies! Come back here and leave a comment letting us know what you liked best.

* “Like” Hummingbird Highway on Facebook and let them know that The Morristribe sent you. (Leave a comment and let me know what you did)

* Share this giveaway on YOUR Facebook page, one entry each time you do. (Leave a comment, you can do this as many times as you want!)

Drawing for the book will take place October 1, 2012 at 9pm, good luck!

*****

Take the time to either link up, if you have a blog, or leave a comment about what’s happening at YOUR homestead, be it

Urban, Rural or Suburban!

This is a family-friendly, G-rated website, please link up as such.

Please link back to “The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival” and use our banner, thank you!

How to Get Started Quilting

kmorris — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:12:55 +0000

Well, I’ve done it. I completed my first quilt.

To be honest, I’ve made quite a number of rag quilts in my time. Most of the kids own one.

Yet, I’ve always wanted to make a “real” quilt, you know, the kind that really lines up at the corners and looks like something from an Amish quilt shop.

After making a simple quilt plan, I embarked upon my first heirloom quilt for my 8 year old son. I allowed him to choose the fabric, given that it was a special gift from his mother. My workmanship still has much to be desired, but I’m pleased that it’s finished and that my little boy is thrilled.

Fall and winter are my fabric arts months. Once the garden has been reduced to the fall garden size, I’m ready to curl up and make something!

“Crafty” wouldn’t be a word that any of my friends would use to describe me…believe me. Learning how to be creative and make use of leftover fabrics didn’t come naturally for me. Thank goodness for resources like YouTube and the library. There’s no excuse anymore for not learning to do something that you really want to do! You don’t even have to leave the house if you choose not to.

To clarify, there is a difference between making a scrap quilt and a quilt made from purchased fabric. Scrap quilting is more what I’m into and the primary purpose of quilting in it’s origin.

Our fore-mothers didn’t have the luxury of purchasing new fabrics. Quilting was a necessary skill that most, if not all, women possessed. Women cut up clothing that was no longer repairable and extended it’s life in the form of a quilt.

More than just sewing happened as women stitched together. News about the community, recipes and child-bearing advice were all part of the quilt making process. What a beautiful way for women to connect and still be productive.

The Morristribe will be talking more in the coming weeks about quilting because I truly feel that it’s an important skill that anyone pursuing sustainability needs to know.

I’m a firm believer in…

“Waste not, want not”

Imagine how many warm blankets your homestead could have this year if you learned how to quilt, or just got organized and did what you already know how to do!

That’s one reason I’m giving “Cut the Scraps” away this week! I stumbled onto this book at the library and absolutely had to have it for myself! Joan Ford speaks to me in her book on more than one level.

Joan describes in 7 steps how to get your fabric stash organized and working for you.

1. Getting Started

2. Cutting

3. Sorting

4. Selecting a theme

5. Gadgets and tools

6. Piecing and sewing

7. Finishing the project

How to Enter to Win?

*Visit Hummingbird Highway’s website and look around a bit. Don’t forget to check out the freebies! Come back here and leave a comment letting us know what you liked best.

* “Like” Hummingbird Highway on Facebook and let them know that The Morristribe sent you. (Leave a comment and let me know what you did)

* Share this giveaway on YOUR Facebook page, one entry each time you do. (Leave a comment, you can do this as many times as you want!)

Drawing for the book will take place October 1, 2012 at 9pm, good luck!

How to Get Your Stash Under Control ~ “Cut the Scraps” Giveaway

kmorris — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:31:24 +0000

As the temperatures begin to cool down, I long for fabric arts. This year, I am learning how to quilt.

Fabric arts are an important part of any sustainability plan! Knitting, crocheting, weaving and quilting are all important skills for at least one member of the family to master.

Fabric art skills will not only serve your own home and family, but these skills are also very useful for bartering!

Quilting makes use of our fabric scraps, which many of us have a difficult time organizing…myself included. Over the years, I’ve developed a personal plan to organize and use my scraps (see video).

However, after stumbling onto “Cut the Scraps” at the library, I knew I had to own a copy. Even as a novice quilter, I was not only motivated by Joan’s system, but inspired to go beyond my own preconceived abilities and go for it!

Hummingbird Highway is graciously giving a copy of “Cut the Scraps” away to one lucky Morristribe reader!

All quilters know one thing for sure: a fabric stash is a living thing.

It grows imperceptibly at first, but soon takes over your sewing room, and, if you’re not careful, your life.

In this innovative book, Ford offers step-by-step instructions for cutting a fabric stash down to size — quite literally — and provides 20 original patterns for quilts, pillows, table runners, and more.

How to Enter to Win?

*Visit Hummingbird Highway’s website and look around a bit. Don’t forget to check out the freebies! Come back here and leave a comment letting us know what you liked best.

* “Like” Hummingbird Highway on Facebook and let them know that The Morristribe sent you. (Leave a comment and let me know what you did)

* Share this giveaway on YOUR Facebook page, one entry each time you do. (Leave a comment, you can do this as many times as you want!)

Drawing for the book will take place October 1, 2012 at 9pm, good luck!

Welcome to The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival # 26

kmorris — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:24:21 +0000

It’s Monday and time to share the best of what’s happening out there in the world of homesteading and sustainable living!

Would you be interested in submitting a guest post for a new series coming up?

I’m looking for those who would be willing to share their experiences with prepping, why they prep and how to get started. Email me at morristribemom@gmail.com if you are interested in writing for the Tribe and I’ll send you the submission guidelines right away.

Take the time to either link up, if you have a blog, or leave a comment about what’s happening at YOUR homestead, be it

Urban, Rural or Suburban!

This is a family-friendly, G-rated website, please link up as such.

Please link back to “The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival” and use our banner, thank you!

How to Make Manure Tea Fertilizer – Important Revisions

kmorris — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:54:50 +0000

What the heck is “manure tea”?? Sounds completely disgusting!

Experienced gardeners know the benefits of consistent fertilizing, it’s the secret of becoming a “green thumb”!

Manure tea is…

* Easy to make

* Super cheap

* Completely effective

* Absorbs quickly

* Regenerates lagging plants and promotes new growth!

How to Make Manure Tea

The first thing you’ll need is manure. Not all manure is created equal, so read on.

We use a combination of donkey, rabbit, goat and chicken because that’s what we have around. If you don’t have your own manure source, call your friends with critters and ask them for some. Cow, horse, goat, rabbit and chicken manures are generally safe to use to make “tea”.

Knowing what the animals are fed and any medications that are administered would be of concern as well. Here again, obtaining manure from your own animals is preferred.

NEVER use human, cat or dog manure!

Ratios of about 1 part manure to 1 part water works well for me. During hot summer months, I reduce the manure to 1 part and increase the water to 2 parts. The heat makes the “tea” brew faster.

The point of the tea is to allow it to “steep” until the water turns to a nice brown, which depending upon the weather could take a couple of days to a week.

The temperatures in Ohio now are in the 60′s and 70′s during the day, so I’m letting mine sit for a week. When the days hold 80-90 degree days, an afternoon or two is plenty.

When your “brew” is complete, you’ll need to strain your tea to separate the manure. I use a rake and/or a pitchfork to hold back the manure while I strain the tea into a large bucket or two.

How to Use Manure Tea

Use manure tea on plants that are well established, not new seedlings.

Pour manure tea and the base of the plant, not the leaves.

It’s September and I just picked another round of red tomatoes from our plants. There are still a number of green tomatoes left to ripen. NOW is the time of year when I regenerate the tomato plants with manure tea.

Last year when I did this, within a week or so, my tomato plants grew over a dozen new blooms….each! If the weather holds, I would have tomatoes until December! If it gets cold and the tomatoes don’t ripen in time, the green tomatoes can be wrapped in newspaper until they do ripen.

Manure tea can….

* Produce MORE food for your family!

* Extend the food production season!

* Make you look like an expert gardener!

Welcome to The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival #25

kmorris — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 23:28:11 +0000

It’s Monday and time to share the best of what’s happening out there in the world of homesteading and sustainable living!

I’ve got a few things to share this week, first the birth of our final mini donk baby for 2012…..introducing baby “Jelly”.

This cute little jenny was named as a result of a joke we’ve all been giggling about for a year now. We’ve all said that if Peanut Butter (the mama) ever had a little jenny, we should name her “Jelly”. I didn’t think that we were being serious….obviously we were! Jelly is a sweetie, a bit smaller than the other babies this summer, but she has a precious disposition and is doing well.

For those of you new to chickens or just thinking about chickens, I thought I would share this information about how long you’ll wait for eggs.

Generally, hens will begin to lay eggs at their maturity point which is about 20 weeks. That said, some breeds take a little longer.

My Golden Comets began to lay small eggs (far right size) at about 18 weeks and full sized eggs by 20 weeks. However, my Americanas are now 22 weeks old and are just beginning to lay the small egg on the far right.

Further, we have some New Jersey Black Giants, which are a very large chicken and they take until about 24 weeks to begin to lay.

My “girls” have started with small eggs and quickly graduated to full-sized eggs within a week or two.

Thanks to everyone who entered to win “Cooking with Wild Berries“! Marylou is the winner and has been notified by email, congrats to Marylou!!

*****

Take the time to either link up, if you have a blog, or leave a comment about what’s happening at YOUR homestead, be it

Urban, Rural or Suburban!

This is a family-friendly, G-rated website, please link up as such.

Please link back to “The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival” and use our banner, thank you!

“Cooking with Wild Berries” Book Giveaway – Drawing Tonight!

kmorris — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:41:46 +0000

It’s Friday and tonight is the drawing for this fabulous and unique book!

Check out how to win below!

Once I began to learn how to forage, I was surprised at how difficult it can be to find good recipes!

After another evening of looking for more than a random recipe here and there, I stumbled across this book and ordered it immediately…..I’m so glad I did.

So glad, in fact, that I knew I had to give a copy away to one lucky Morristribe reader!

Cookbook Features

* More than 175 recipes, featuring 50 of the region’s edible berries and fruits.

* Recipes for sauces, baked goods, drinks, desserts and more.

* Tips on harvesting, freezing, dehydrating and canning.

* Small-batch jelly and jam recipes to maximize your harvest.

* Tasty treats, whether ingredients are picked or purchased.

* Handy cross-references to Teresa’s companion field guide: “Wild Berries and Fruits Field Guide“

* Winner will be able to choose from their preferred region: Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio * Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan* Illinois, Iowa and Missouri * Rocky Mountain States *

How to Win?

( Please comment here and let me know what you did so that you’ll get proper credit)

* “Like” The Morristribe on Facebook here for one entry.

* Share this giveaway on YOUR Facebook page, one entry every day that you do.

* Recommend The Morristribe on Facebook to your friends, have them mention your name.

You can do this as many times as you want for additional entries.

* Follow me on Pinterest!

* Share this contest on YOUR Pinterest!

Drawing will take place 9/14/12 at 9pm EST