After a full and rewarding farmstand weekend, we finally took a moment to rest yesterday—just long enough to catch our breath and prepare for the busy week ahead. And as always, the same question seems to follow us into every new week:
How is there never quite enough time for everything that needs to be done?
Homesteading has a way of filling every corner of your day—but somehow, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
A Weekend Well Spent: Preparing the Garden
This past weekend, one of our biggest accomplishments was getting the garden fully covered and ready for planting.
We use a thick sheet of plastic to cover the entire garden space. Each year, we reuse the same material, already cut with designated openings for crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. This simple system has become one of the most valuable tools in our garden.
It serves two critical purposes:
- Weed suppression: Prevents weeds from taking over before they even have a chance
- Moisture retention: Helps keep the soil hydrated, especially as temperatures begin to rise
If you’ve ever spent hours battling weeds under the hot sun, you know just how much of a difference this makes. This method saves us countless hours over the course of the growing season—time that can be spent tending to other parts of the homestead.
A Perfect Day for the Bees
With temperatures climbing into the 70s today, it’s finally time to get back into the beehives.
Spring is one of the most important times of year for hive management, and today’s focus includes:
- Checking overall hive health and activity
- Treating for mites to ensure strong colonies
- Adding additional boxes to allow for expansion
- Installing queen excluders to keep brood separate from honey production areas
Adding boxes is always an exciting step. It means the bees are thriving and ready to grow—and hopefully, gearing up for a strong honey season ahead.
There’s something incredibly grounding about working with bees. It forces you to slow down, be present, and pay attention to the small details. This afternoon, I will be sure to make videos so that everyone can see the progress in the hives.
Building a Better Space for the Turkeys
This week also marks an important upgrade: assembling a new and improved turkey run.
Our turkeys came to us in one of those unexpected, “right place at the right time” moments—but with that came the reality that their setup wasn’t quite where we wanted it to be.
That changes this week.
We’re building a larger, more functional space that will give them room to move, explore, and thrive. As with most things in homesteading, sometimes you start with what you have—and improve it as you go. They are going to be so happy!
Expanding the Garden: A Big Step Forward
One of the most exciting projects this week is expanding the garden to twice its current size.
This expansion is more than just extra growing space—it represents growth in what this homestead can provide:
- Food for our family
- Feed and enrichment for our animals
- Fresh produce for the farmstand
With the added space, we’ll be growing even more varieties, including:
- Tomatoes and peppers (always a staple)
- Zucchini
- Potatoes
- Onions
- And many more seasonal favorites
The garden truly becomes the heart of the homestead this time of year, and watching it grow—both in size and purpose—is something we look forward to every season.
The Reality of a Busy Homestead Life
Even with a plan in place, we know this week will be filled with a hundred smaller tasks that don’t always make it onto the list.
That’s the rhythm of homesteading.
It’s early mornings, full days, and the constant balance of priorities. It’s learning to celebrate the progress, even when everything doesn’t get done. And it’s finding joy in the work itself—whether that’s planting a row of tomatoes, checking a hive, or simply walking through the garden at the end of the day.
Looking Ahead
As we step into this busy week, we’re feeling grateful—for the work, for the progress, and for the opportunity to continue building something meaningful here at J & J Homestead.
There’s so much ahead, and we’re excited to share every step of it with you.
Stay tuned for more updates from our little adventure—and as always, we hope you have a wonderful day.
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