The Nourishing Hearthfire

From the homestead

Last month the sun sank to its lowest point on the horizon here, and this month we are aware of the growing light, the growing sunshine, and the coming growing season.

In drafting this email I’ve been writing about about connecting with natural cycles and disconnecting from technology. What I wrote ended up being too long to send out to you in full, so I’ve posted the rest of this on the blog.

Bailey, one of our milking sheep, is looking very pregnant, but the other ewes aren’t showing any signs yet. Getting sheep has been a big learning curve for us, but at times when we see them looking happy and healthy, with beautiful wool, we feel like we are doing the right thing. There is still a lot to learn, but having sheep and making things from their wool has been a goal of mine for a long time and we are slowly getting there.

After last years disaster with our goats wandering too far and drying up too early, the goats have now very thankfully settled into a routine of staying nearby and coming down to the house to be milked and eat treats every morning. I really love goats, and after being very upset last year thinking I’d have to give them up, things are looking much better this year.

From the archives

450:350:250 flapjacks. This crunchy caramel-flavoured slice is really easy to make, and is a great treat at any time of year.

​Simple flapjacks​

Make perfect pulled pork with simple ingredients and hands-off slow cooking in an oven or slow cooker. I like to make large batches of this and freeze or pressure can the leftovers for easy meals any time.

​Perfect pulled pork​

You can make butter without special equipment. You don’t need a butter churn or a food processor to make butter, and the jar-shaking method can be awkward. In this post I share my way of making butter.

​How to make butter​

New blog posts

We are making these pasties (savoury hand pies) around once a week at the moment. This recipe is so good for using up leftovers or bits and pieces from the garden.

​My recipe for pasties (savoury hand pies)​

I like to use the freshest possible milk for cheesemaking, and the amount of fresh milk I can use changes from day to day, season to season. Here is how I adjust recipes to work with whatever milk is coming in

​How to scale cheese recipes up or down ​

2026 Homesteading bundle

I’m really excited about this new homesteading bundle. There’s heaps of books, plans, courses, videos, and podcasts from experienced homesteaders who know their stuff.

Build the best solar dehydrator for any climate, raise chickens and goats the natural way, grow your own mushrooms, make compost, harvest rainwater, heat your home efficiently, cook great homegrown meals, and create a productive backyard food system that works for you.

These skills help you produce more of what your family needs, spend less, and gain real confidence. Whether you have a small yard or a large homestead, in this bundle you’ll find many projects and ideas you can start right away.

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With warmth from the hearth,

Kate

​The Nourishing Hearthfire​
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