Oh, the memories that Buggy will have of helping her mama and daddy with all of the farm chores! Standing on the counter to get the tomatoes 🍅 processed..... priceless!❤
Last week a skunk sprayed outside our bedroom air conditioner. I woke my husband, half asleep he says,"that's some bad weed". Lol He thought it was the upstairs neighbor! 😂
@@5GreenAcres A $ 10.00 of some “cheap Mexican” full of stems and seeds was what was available. Not to be disrespectful to friends south of the border. 💙
You and Meg are great examples of how to make do with what you have! I grew up in the 70's in a very small home (500 sq ft) with my parents and one older brother. We learned how to fill every nook and cranny, make do with what we had and repaired things rather than buying new. More so out of necessity than choice but we made it work.
I so love this Family !! You guys are so real and down to earth ... We also live in North Carolina.. in Hillsborough NC.... we have homesteaded all our lives from the time we were born.. til now... We have been married 53 years and this year we had to do container gardens on the deck and give up our chickens... and not get any meat chickens or a goat or two... We have reached our golden years .. but we still freeze and can food .. We had three girls .. and I am so thankful that they know how to garden can and freeze and raise chickens .. I know they are safe as long as they can work the land !!
I made soup yesterday by walking through the garden ,my cold room and freezer( a friend is down with covid ) it consisted of swiss chard, zucchini leaves, one zucchini, green beans, 2 onions, lots of garlic ,parsley, a jar of carrots, 3 jars of chicken stock, homemade pasta and 2 chicken breasts . Drove into the city today and dropped it off in her apartment lobby ...it made her extremely happy. I love having everything to create a great meal on hand.
I come from a huge family 13 kids. We canned all summer and ate it all winter. My favorite was moms applesauce. We had a red apple tree and a yellow delicious. The red apples had wonderful flavor and the yellow were so sweet. We combined them and put them through a food mill just like you are using. The applesauce didn’t need any sugar and had some texture. Yummy food! Thank you for sharing your life’s with us.
Skunk spray smell remover 32 oz hydrogen peroxide 2 TBS dish soap 1/4 cup baking soda Put it in a spray bottle and spray the whole area that got sprayed by the skunk. I got sprayed by a skunk a couple years ago and this is the only thing that got the smell off of my body! It's pretty harsh washing your whole body with the mixture but it's the only thing that works!
Our bedroom was built with a regular closet, and a big walk in closet. My husband built shelves for my walk in and we turned it into a second pantry for all our canning. We have a large family as well and know how fast the jars get used up. It astounds me every time.
After leaving home, we never returned to mom and dad's without taking home canned tomatoes, green beans, beets, peaches, pears, salmon, venison, elk, etc. the lists go on and on. For our birthdays, for our holidays, we always looked forward to restocking our individual pantries from mom and dads stash. My mother canned and canned just like I see on this channel.
@4:40 when buggy said " Hi my Millie!" oh I just melted. How precious. Also I have to agree about the skunks, I notice them more around my area this time of year as well. They must be getting ready for fall/winter. And where can we sign the petition for Ben to build Meg a large walk in pantry/caning room lol
I had a volunteer squash in my compost this year, and when it got quite large a gopher decided it was just right and the whole thing went down the hole.
I have a large house... but always feel great when I have 2 or more empty jars in the sink after making a meal! I love how you preserve and use what you grow!
Haven't seen anything about Buggys birthday. I know she just turned three. I remember how proud you were the first time you introduced her to us. She was I think 2 days old.
You both are so amazing in all you do! What people need to remember is that your are feeding preteen and teenage boys and a growing little girl and that means a lot of food. When my brother turner 12, I only seemed to see the back end of him bent over in front of the fridge or in front of cupboards looking for food for the next 6 yrs. A teenage boy is voracious!
So is a tall, very hardworking farm girl ! I ate a lot all along, esp. by the time I was 10, and then as an older teen and in my 20s. My husband met me near the end of a SUPER hard-work filled era in my 20s, and was hanging out at our farm while dating me. One day I made tacos ( hardshell, the only way we had, & I like, them) for myself and little siblings, and his eyes about popped out when I was considering having more, after having my 1st eight ... and I wasn't fat at all at the time. ( I settled for adding a few more toppings and meat to the debris on my plate and called it good) My husband says he was wondering how he'd keep me in food if we got married. I didn't understand the issue, as I was planning on huge gardens, animals, permaculture and more... . We haven't gotten as far as I'd wanted w all that, life happens, but I am growing and preserving quite a bit, and eat less now most of the time :). ( My Dad's dairy farm was unusually work-heavy, and all spread out on a ridge, too, and that was just the main barns and yards. We didn't have 4 wheelers until I was gone, of course... ).
Farm life & country air creates bigger appetites. When young and on the farm my little brother was 10-12 years old and breakfast was 27 pancakes or French toast and 1/2 a pound of bacon just for him. There was 6 of us who had to eat so it took a lot of food. He grew up to be 145 pounds and 6 feet tall and as skinny as a rail. He could eat a 1 pound burger and a bowl of coleslaw and double huge order (12 Oz each) of fries and a couple hours later looking for a "snack". At our family Thanksgiving dinner he usually ate 6 pounds of turkey, mash potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, pickles, olives, cranberry sauce, some ham (a pound or 2), cranberry jel, and a whole pumpkin pie with cool whip. Oh and some jello "flop" which has cool whip jello powder, crushed pineapple, marshino cherries, manderine oranges, and baby colored marshmallows. And a couple hours later he would be eating a snack.
You could get those large metal shelf’s and put behind the couch that would be a great place for your canning. I never knew skunks would eat chickens! I learned something new at 60 years old! I love your family videos! I look forward to watching them all! Thanks for sharing part of your lives with all of us! ❤
Tis the season!!! I so feel your pain Meg!! The last few weeks I have made so many different things with all my tomatoes. Sauces, tomato preserves, tomato juice, and just canned tomatoes. This year I started from seeds and planted so many plants and they went wild! We are truly blessed this year to have the tomatoes. We all will enjoy them this winter.
You'll get to that new room off the kitchen one of these days and be sure and "over build" it so you have plenty of food storage! Enjoy the squirrel tornado cause she's growing fast,nnn❤❤❤
Oh yes, I guess I commented on how your home is so full of all your preserved foods. Wonderful, but I bet Meg would just love to have an addition built for just a pantry for all her canning, dehydrated foods. I had one when we had a huge garden and it was called my canning/jar/dehydrating room. It held all my canning equipment, dehydrating equipment, jars, and all my preserved food…it was a beautiful site to see all the gorgeous colors of food put up on shelves. And, so easy to get to. But, I am sure you all would rather we didn’t keep giving you suggestions on your storage space. 😃 A home full of children is such a blessing. I have just ordered a huge box of peaches and can’t wait to make my peach butter. You guys are very busy everyday and your animals must love you. Do you home school? Isn’t fresh cut grass the most refreshing smell?????
You truly do an awesome job with your residence, in fact, you had outgrown it before it was finished!! I understood your joy at its completion, but the square footage is very small for a family of 7!! You inspire so many of us, thank you and Blessings!!!!
We love going to the canning cupboard and do our grocery shopping. I love seeing all the empty canning jars in the dishwasher. The pocket book also enjoys it as does our bodies knowing exactly what is in those jars. You are a Wonderful family.
I think it's great how you find space and utilize what you have. I just love your sweet family. I love all your videos. So glad I found your channel. I'm binge watching now. Be blessed.
I started seriously canning a few years ago. I knew retirement was looming and I wanted to have some things put aside for the days when there was less money coming in. The food security I feel when I look in my cold storage room is priceless - I am very blessed to have so much space to put my goodies, but your family makes the best of your options. I have a friend who aims to put up 1,000 jars every year - 300 quarts of meat, 300 quarts of fruit, and 300 quarts of veggies, as well as pickles, sauces, etc. When you think about it, that's not one of each for every day of the year, AND that's only one meal, not the three that she feeds her husband and two kids every day. People need to stop and consider what they actually consume in a year - no matter where it comes from. Kudos to you for being able to grow a good percentage of your needs.
I must have had a skunk too two years ago because overnight half my meat birds were killed right below their heads. Very discouraging. They were very close to butchering too! Nice scythe Ben. That was fun to see you using it. Wood chips to the rescue! I like the wood stove you had on a pallet. I'm glad buggy likes to help. I hope everyone gets over the cold quickly! More tomato sauce Meg! You do a great job finding nooks and crannies to put all the canned food in. Yum, build your own burritos. Thanks for this Hollar family! Buggy said bye so cute!
We have a small house too. We have converted our smallest bedroom into what we call our extended pantry. We have lined the walls with shelves plus have a central shelving unit. It is full to the brim with all our home canned goods as well as bulk supplies from the supermarket. Everything from canned and packet foods to cleaning products and personal care items. As well as the shelves being full we have things stacked up on the floor and we still have other stuff squirreled around the house. Even the garage has shelves full of empty jars. Oh, and don't get me started on the four freezers! It's insane, but it feels good knowing that it's there.
There’s nothing better than squirreling away vitals for the months ahead🤗🤗! The skunk smell is enough to make you pass out if you hold your nose too long😂! Can’t imagine how scared the duck and all the chickens were🙃. Ben, You made short order of the compost pile for the chickens🐔🐔🐔🐔🪿! Little Buggy saying goodbye at the end was so precious💜.
Meg, thank you for clarifying why you peel tomatoes, i.e., you freeze the skins as a seasoning. Such great frugality. Ben, storage space is always a consideration. In many Asian homes, people install shelves on the walls and ceiling. Also, ceiling hooks are installed to support hanging shelves, etc.
You should build a canning shed/cellar where you put all you're canned jars for safe keeping and out of the way storage . Insulate it for the temps in you're area. Just an idea from no body important. Lol. Thank you for sharing you're daily doing's with us viewers !
Ben, you’re so talented and resourceful with building, I’ve wondered why Meg doesn’t have a nice little storage room, utilizing your beautiful shelving talents, and built right off her kitchen, to store food jars and canning supplies. You could do it! Little by little, board by board…
Ben put some spikes (like on lamp post in the city) on the top of the coop all the way around so the skunk can not climb through. As he gets near the top his paw hits the spike he would fall back. Barbed wire rolled up on top also could work.
I find it somewhat amazing that you feel the need to explain why your family is canning and stocking up on home grown organic foods. These are challenging times. We are only three adults on our two adjoining family farm residences and yet I have been steadily stocking up since March 2020. Our farm just pays the bills to keep it going and we are on social security. Just when I think I can sit back, enter a new strain of covid this summer in New Hamsphire. Nursing homes and my local hospital have mask mandates again. Grocery store prices are increasing. I took a que from watching Meg use her Fruitsaver steam canner, to purchase one this week to go along with my All American pressure canner. I hope that folks are paying attention to how you approach accomplishing a measure of being self sustaining. Well done. ~ Diane
I am so proud of you guys. You work and utilize everything for your every living. You are you and keep it that way. Love the baby. Look forward to seeing her everyday. We have been watching since your beginning and when the baby came got so attached to seeing her. Hope to beconnected for a long time with your life and family. Love it, Sandy
I feel ya, everyone is at that hungry time of year. 3 coyotes took a neighbors roo that was out. My 3 roo's that were out jumped back in because we don't have a "lid". Thanks for the skunk reminder. We were set to start leaving the birds back up all the time because of fall garden. Bee hives are uneasy, too.
I only scythe on my property. It saves the soil from being compacted with heavy machinery, it's good exercise, it's very meditative, and it gives critters time to get out of the way. Since it moves a little slower you can see if you're about to chop bugs and you can alter what you do. I love it!!
Yeah, and not saying Ben should do that, but for anyone's info, Jim Kovaleski is a great one to watch how he does it/teaches it. How you swing your body, NOT your arms, to save energy, effort, make it most ergonomic etc. ( besides having one custom made to your arm).
I’m like you. Jars are stashed all over. I try to organize - jams and jellies together, pickles together, sauces together, soups, etc, and no matter how hard I try, sooner or later (usually sooner) they start to get mixed up. But who cares? When I reach for a jar for me, or a few jars for a friend, I feel wonderful!
@Tzippy323- Yes I am the same way. Fortunately our farm cottage has a walk in cellar for canned goods, but all the dry pantry items are everywhere upstairs, in book cases, under the bed. I set up two narrow metal shelving units down on wall in the middle hallway. But it is a good feeling to be able to reach for powdered cream or buttermilk that I bought at 2021 prices. No shortage of yeast for bread, etc. Our neighboring farms are all selling to each directly because we cannot afford local grocery store prices. We are out straight selling hay this week to desperate neighhbors. They are loading their trucks before the hay leaves the fields! Shades of the 1970s. ~ Diane
Not "skunky boy" 😂 OMG you all crack me up! Love, love, love your videos, I learn so much and secretly love vicariously through you & your wife ❤ One day I'll get there, when I'm too old to do anything but sit in a rocking chair 😊 Take care! Beautiful job with your homestead!
Many years ago I visited my Aunt in Pa. and she canned. I couldn't get over how she used 1/4 of her basement to can and the entire rest of the basement was -- stored canned food and there were only two of them.
I thank you! Meg you always inspire me to cook from scratch and preserve my own food. Ben I hope to compost to your level one day. I’m just one person who works full time job. But you still help me dream I’ll get there one day. Thank you!
Skunks were here in the City 2 weeks ago. 5 am we met walking close to the woods. We stopped for a few seconds, looked at each other and we continue to go our way. We both were startled. One became road pizza and stunk for a few days..
I don't slice my fried green tomatoes anymore. I cut them in chunks, put them in buttermilk, coat them in flour, cornmeal and Cajun seasoning and fry. Crispy outside, nice and juicy inside! Delicious!!!
Our garden did so well , after my pantry was filled, I had to store under my bed, in a spare bedroom, any nook or cranny in my cabinets, I had to be imaginative, but thankful.
Loved seeing you use your scythe! I have one now for 2 years, still learning my rhythm. Thanks for showing us yours and how you do it. I am encouraged to keep trying.
I'm new to your channel. But I'm so intrigued with everything that you all do on your homestead. I'm especially pleased to see how you handle your children and involve them in all the projects. I love that you have prayers before every meal. This is homesteading done right. Wish I could be there with you all. I'm sure that you both have so much to teach . What a wonderfully blessed ,loving ,caring family .wish you all the best and thank you for the videos. They are truly amazing
Good job saving your flock and duck from the skunk ! Nice scythe workout x's 2 . Awesome family tomato preparation for cool tomato end-result. You are an awesome family !! Nooks and crannies rule !! You know what you are doing and are very good at it !, love the way you can and stash as you squirrel-it away. Animals are wise and you are cool to follow the true and trusted way on how to store and protect the goods. Yum
I truly hope someday you can build a space for all your canned goods and food storage. I can't wait until when you finally have the time and man power to add the deck and outdoor kitchen as well, because I can really see your family using it to the fullest ❤ One day at a time. I'm rooting for you 🙏
Sprinkle some bakingsoda around that coup and it should help reduce the odor in there. It won't harm the chickens either. It will aid in livestock and poultry digestion.
Skunk spray is horrible and lingers for so long. All the tomatoes you've canned will be so good this winter!!! Meg, have you canned plenty of peeled and quartered tomatoes (or whole) as well as sauce? Canned whole or quartered tomatoes are so wonderful in soups and spaghetti sauce. Have you kept a count of how many jars of tomato sauce/spaghetti sauce/salsa you've canned this year? Your garden this year has definitely been plentiful!! Saw a video yesterday of how to can sliced green tomatoes for frying this winter. Wish I'd known that back when I used to can maters. My goodness, what huge cushaws that came up as volunteers!!! Some good pies will be in their future!!!🥧 Buggie is learning so much as she helps you in the kitchen!!! She will be a great cook like her mother!!
Wonderful food stock for the winter and 'off garden' months. I watch a couple other channels where the families have 5-6 children and they can, freeze, etc. for a year's worth of food. I have heard of tomato powder from the skins, and as Ben says 'instant flavor' - that's a convincing note! 💚
I hear that there are people out there that have entire closets filled with towels and sheets.... called "linen closets" and they keep off season clothing under their beds. I have pouches of spices tucked in shoe pockets hanging from the backs of cabinet doors. Y'all are so doing this right. It's amazing to watch.
I utilize all of my space in my home for the food I can and freeze dry. We eat it and we love it. That’s when you can truly say that you know what you’re eating. God Bless
My granddaughter let others in the family know (7 yo), “Nana doesn’t use the food she puts it in jars, I know where she puts it”. LOL. She doesn’t realize she has eaten much of the food I put in jars.😂❤
You’re doing a great job canning -reminds me of when I was growing up and my mother & grandmother would fill up shelf after shelf with canned fruits & vegetables and a huge box of potatoes in our basement. Plus every fall, steers & hogs were butchered and the meat was either smoked or frozen. Plus mother raised 100 chickens at a time for a total of 300 chickens and then we processed and froze them. We also had deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, rabbits and squirrel meat and fish. Good food.
Don't feel bad! I also live in a single wide mobile home, and have jars everywhere...under my bed, around & under kitchen table, in cabinets, etc! Not ashamed one bit! Proud of my hard work, and my home canned food! I also live in Western NC! ❤
Our tomatoes are still going. I'm getting a 5 gallon bucket full every three days. Northern Maryland. Green beans too. About 3 gallons every three days.
Nice ! For anyone who doesn't know, and I only learned this a couple yrs ago myself, it'd dangerous to ever stack canned goods directly on each other/have anything much on them. If they happen to unseal, having any weight on them could, when conditions are right, while the lid is being held down by it, make it reseal, but it's now no longer a good seal &/or it's not safe, due to time spent unsealed, etc. . Since botulism doesn't smell or taste bad, but can kill before you know it, it's too risky. Apparently without any weight on them they wouldn't seem to re-seal, will be clearly enough not sealed ( if they come unsealed). So, for doing more than one layer on a shelf or in a box, one has to have something else being the support, and then have a layer of thin board or whatever across that, for the top layer to sit on. No offense meant !!!! Just making sure folks know the risks !
Daniel & Meg thank you both for sharing your life stories with us, I’ve txtd y’all many times over the years. Started following your trip leaving California touring America, such adventure with family.
how wonderful.........3 of my favourite channels posted their videos for me to enjoy..........yours, Threerivers Homestead and the Veggie Boys. big smile on my face. 😀
Ben, you need to build Meg a cellar over where you keep the pigs. Dig in the side of the mountain. You have the imagination and ability to do it. My Aunt did it and it worked wonderfully. You guys need all the storage you can get with such a large family in such a small space. Just an idea.
We have drawers under beds that hold quart jars of pasta sauce. We also have a hall closet, the only cool dark place, for boxes of potatoes. Store food from the garden where you can!
Thank you for the "reminder" comments. They help especially when they apply to what you are currently showing. Can't speak for everyone, but some of us are forgetful. Best.
Ben, you're going to have to build Meg a cooler/pantry close to your home. Would be nice if you could somehow attach it to your trailer, is there possibility off a sliding door/deck? Just a thought. I sure enjoy your videos, thanks for sharing.
Boy that brings back Skunk memories. In 1984 we were farming on irrigated land. We would set out two sets of 12" pipe each day. One to be ready for evening changes. My husband was setting each pipe together and heard noise in one. It's a rabbit he said but no momma and 6 little skunks. Pipe stunk for about 5 wks.. I always helped with the irrigation except that 1 pipe. Always looked for diamond back rattlers also. Blessings
Maybe you need to build a Meg Pantry Shed Cellar (10’x12’ with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling) and figure a way to connect it off one area of the trailer, so you can add a lot of wall/ceiling, maybe floor, insulation for coolness in summer…even adding AC.
Buggy so sweet 💕 God bless her heart
Oh, the memories that Buggy will have of helping her mama
and daddy with all of the farm chores! Standing on the counter to get the tomatoes 🍅 processed..... priceless!❤
I am blessed EVERY time you all hold hands and thank the Lord for your food.
Last week a skunk sprayed outside our bedroom air conditioner. I woke my husband, half asleep he says,"that's some bad weed". Lol He thought it was the upstairs neighbor! 😂
😂😂😂
Holy skunk weed, what a memory! 💙
Yes and now the generations think that if it smells like skunk it is good stuff. We always said....Skunk is junk.
😂
@@5GreenAcres A $ 10.00 of some “cheap Mexican” full of stems and seeds was what was available. Not to be disrespectful to friends south of the border. 💙
You and Meg are great examples of how to make do with what you have! I grew up in the 70's in a very small home (500 sq ft) with my parents and one older brother. We learned how to fill every nook and cranny, make do with what we had and repaired things rather than buying new. More so out of necessity than choice but we made it work.
So Jack’s ducks saved the day ❤
I just want to say I’m so impressed with how you utilize the space in your home for your children and all your preserving
I couldn’t agree more! There’s allot of people, food, and *love* in that tiny space❣️
That is an awesome tool to have, Ben. No fuels, no electricity.
The weight of the jars will keep your house on the ground in case of tornado. 😂
Not just 5 kids but 4 growing boys, that's a LOT of food.
🙋🏼♀️🕊for sure🥀
Lol!
So did i
I think people don't factor in you are producing, harvesting and feeding seven people. Amazing job guys!
I so love this Family !! You guys are so real and down to earth ... We also live in North Carolina.. in Hillsborough NC.... we have homesteaded all our lives from the time we were born.. til now... We have been married 53 years and this year we had to do container gardens on the deck and give up our chickens... and not get any meat chickens or a goat or two... We have reached our golden years .. but we still freeze and can food .. We had three girls .. and I am so thankful that they know how to garden can and freeze and raise chickens .. I know they are safe as long as they can work the land !!
That precious little "Bye" so cute!
I made soup yesterday by walking through the garden ,my cold room and freezer( a friend is down with covid ) it consisted of swiss chard, zucchini leaves, one zucchini, green beans, 2 onions, lots of garlic ,parsley, a jar of carrots, 3 jars of chicken stock, homemade pasta and 2 chicken breasts . Drove into the city today and dropped it off in her apartment lobby ...it made her extremely happy. I love having everything to create a great meal on hand.
I come from a huge family 13 kids. We canned all summer and ate it all winter. My favorite was moms applesauce. We had a red apple tree and a yellow delicious. The red apples had wonderful flavor and the yellow were so sweet. We combined them and put them through a food mill just like you are using. The applesauce didn’t need any sugar and had some texture. Yummy food! Thank you for sharing your life’s with us.
Large families are great aren't they, i come from a family of 16 children.
Skunk spray smell remover
32 oz hydrogen peroxide
2 TBS dish soap
1/4 cup baking soda
Put it in a spray bottle and spray the whole area that got sprayed by the skunk.
I got sprayed by a skunk a couple years ago and this is the only thing that got the smell off of my body! It's pretty harsh washing your whole body with the mixture but it's the only thing that works!
I’ve used this for our skunk killing dog. We used a gentle shampoo after so he smelled like perfume/ wet dog.
This and then spritz some odoban when ur done lol my dog makes friends with skunks about 2x a year and that’s how I get him fresh again
We did this with a dark brown dog that got skunked. We started with a bad-smelling brunette and ended up with a better-smelling blonde dog.
@@robertbuckley9303😂
That worked really well on our three doggos las week.
Our bedroom was built with a regular closet, and a big walk in closet. My husband built shelves for my walk in and we turned it into a second pantry for all our canning. We have a large family as well and know how fast the jars get used up. It astounds me every time.
After leaving home, we never returned to mom and dad's without taking home canned tomatoes, green beans, beets, peaches, pears, salmon, venison, elk, etc. the lists go on and on. For our birthdays, for our holidays, we always looked forward to restocking our individual pantries from mom and dads stash. My mother canned and canned just like I see on this channel.
I hope you were also involved in the canning process. It's a lot of hard work.
SO MUCH PROGRESS ON YOUR FARM. IT IS AMAZING TO SEE MY BABY GIRL HELPING BOTH IN THE KITCHEN AND IN THE GARDEN. TIME REALLY FLIES. THANKS, MOM AND DAD
@4:40 when buggy said " Hi my Millie!" oh I just melted. How precious. Also I have to agree about the skunks, I notice them more around my area this time of year as well. They must be getting ready for fall/winter. And where can we sign the petition for Ben to build Meg a large walk in pantry/caning room lol
Ben you’re right about the squash and melons. Next year I’m going to plant seeds in my compost. Maybe I’ll fool the little suckers. 😂
We had several volunteer squash in the compost pile. Lovely examples 💙
I had a volunteer squash in my compost this year, and when it got quite large a gopher decided it was just right and the whole thing went down the hole.
@@domesti-city I wonder if either it blocked his hole or he got so fat from eating it all “he” blocked his hole. 💙
@@hollyjobitner3285 He pulled it down the hole, and left one large leaf that wouldn't fit.
I have a large house... but always feel great when I have 2 or more empty jars in the sink after making a meal! I love how you preserve and use what you grow!
She will remember helping you for years! Some of my best memories with my mom and grandma!
Haven't seen anything about Buggys birthday. I know she just turned three. I remember how proud you were the first time you introduced her to us. She was I think 2 days old.
It's a good thing when you can live PRACTICALLY! Our house has jars stashed everywhere too...and it is a good feeling. ❤️
Ben, a pantry building sounds like a project for your never ending list!
You both are so amazing in all you do! What people need to remember is that your are feeding preteen and teenage boys and a growing little girl and that means a lot of food. When my brother turner 12, I only seemed to see the back end of him bent over in front of the fridge or in front of cupboards looking for food for the next 6 yrs. A teenage boy is voracious!
So is a tall, very hardworking farm girl ! I ate a lot all along, esp. by the time I was 10, and then as an older teen and in my 20s. My husband met me near the end of a SUPER hard-work filled era in my 20s, and was hanging out at our farm while dating me. One day I made tacos ( hardshell, the only way we had, & I like, them) for myself and little siblings, and his eyes about popped out when I was considering having more, after having my 1st eight ... and I wasn't fat at all at the time. ( I settled for adding a few more toppings and meat to the debris on my plate and called it good)
My husband says he was wondering how he'd keep me in food if we got married. I didn't understand the issue, as I was planning on huge gardens, animals, permaculture and more... . We haven't gotten as far as I'd wanted w all that, life happens, but I am growing and preserving quite a bit, and eat less now most of the time :).
( My Dad's dairy farm was unusually work-heavy, and all spread out on a ridge, too, and that was just the main barns and yards. We didn't have 4 wheelers until I was gone, of course... ).
Farm life & country air creates bigger appetites. When young and on the farm my little brother was 10-12 years old and breakfast was 27 pancakes or French toast and 1/2 a pound of bacon just for him. There was 6 of us who had to eat so it took a lot of food. He grew up to be 145 pounds and 6 feet tall and as skinny as a rail. He could eat a 1 pound burger and a bowl of coleslaw and double huge order (12 Oz each) of fries and a couple hours later looking for a "snack". At our family Thanksgiving dinner he usually ate 6 pounds of turkey, mash potatoes & gravy, green bean casserole, pickles, olives, cranberry sauce, some ham (a pound or 2), cranberry jel, and a whole pumpkin pie with cool whip. Oh and some jello "flop" which has cool whip jello powder, crushed pineapple, marshino cherries, manderine oranges, and baby colored marshmallows. And a couple hours later he would be eating a snack.
You made me feel better that I am not the only "crazy jar lady" around...
Certainly not on your own. My son sees me eyeing up another box of jars and pulls me away protesting that no you can never have enough!!
Ya you all make me feel better.not only one with can..jars out an about..Jesus love you.
You could get those large metal shelf’s and put behind the couch that would be a great place for your canning. I never knew skunks would eat chickens! I learned something new at 60 years old! I love your family videos! I look forward to watching them all! Thanks for sharing part of your lives with all of us! ❤
Tis the season!!! I so feel your pain Meg!! The last few weeks I have made so many different things with all my tomatoes. Sauces, tomato preserves, tomato juice, and just canned tomatoes. This year I started from seeds and planted so many plants and they went wild! We are truly blessed this year to have the tomatoes. We all will enjoy them this winter.
You'll get to that new room off the kitchen one of these days and be sure and "over build" it so you have plenty of food storage! Enjoy the squirrel tornado cause she's growing fast,nnn❤❤❤
Oh yes, I guess I commented on how your home is so full of all your preserved foods. Wonderful, but I bet Meg would just love to have an addition built for just a pantry for all her canning, dehydrated foods. I had one when we had a huge garden and it was called my canning/jar/dehydrating room. It held all my canning equipment, dehydrating equipment, jars, and all my preserved food…it was a beautiful site to see all the gorgeous colors of food put up on shelves. And, so easy to get to. But, I am sure you all would rather we didn’t keep giving you suggestions on your storage space. 😃
A home full of children is such a blessing. I have just ordered a huge box of peaches and can’t wait to make my peach butter. You guys are very busy everyday and your animals must love you. Do you home school?
Isn’t fresh cut grass the most refreshing smell?????
When you build Buggy's bedroom you could add a 2nd pantry. All your work preserving your food is a wonderful sight to see.
You truly do an awesome job with your residence, in fact, you had outgrown it before it was finished!! I understood your joy at its completion, but the square footage is very small for a family of 7!!
You inspire so many of us, thank you and Blessings!!!!
Through some charcoal if you have any in the coup it will absorb some of the skunk spray.
Meg you are amazing
I love watching you can and all your cooking Meg.I used too for years. Now, because of my health I can’t and I miss it!
Again, nobody eats better than the Holler Family!!!
We love going to the canning cupboard and do our grocery shopping. I love seeing all the empty canning jars in the dishwasher. The pocket book also enjoys it as does our bodies knowing exactly what is in those jars. You are a Wonderful family.
Hope the boys feel better soon! 🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️
Awesome. Thank you. Blessings
AMEN and Amen!! Love this family ❤️🙏
Buggy is an adorable little girl ❤❤❤
I think it's great how you find space and utilize what you have. I just love your sweet family. I love all your videos. So glad I found your channel. I'm binge watching now. Be blessed.
I started seriously canning a few years ago. I knew retirement was looming and I wanted to have some things put aside for the days when there was less money coming in. The food security I feel when I look in my cold storage room is priceless - I am very blessed to have so much space to put my goodies, but your family makes the best of your options. I have a friend who aims to put up 1,000 jars every year - 300 quarts of meat, 300 quarts of fruit, and 300 quarts of veggies, as well as pickles, sauces, etc. When you think about it, that's not one of each for every day of the year, AND that's only one meal, not the three that she feeds her husband and two kids every day. People need to stop and consider what they actually consume in a year - no matter where it comes from. Kudos to you for being able to grow a good percentage of your needs.
I must have had a skunk too two years ago because overnight half my meat birds were killed right below their heads. Very discouraging. They were very close to butchering too! Nice scythe Ben. That was fun to see you using it. Wood chips to the rescue! I like the wood stove you had on a pallet. I'm glad buggy likes to help. I hope everyone gets over the cold quickly! More tomato sauce Meg! You do a great job finding nooks and crannies to put all the canned food in. Yum, build your own burritos. Thanks for this Hollar family! Buggy said bye so cute!
We have a small house too. We have converted our smallest bedroom into what we call our extended pantry. We have lined the walls with shelves plus have a central shelving unit. It is full to the brim with all our home canned goods as well as bulk supplies from the supermarket. Everything from canned and packet foods to cleaning products and personal care items. As well as the shelves being full we have things stacked up on the floor and we still have other stuff squirreled around the house. Even the garage has shelves full of empty jars. Oh, and don't get me started on the four freezers! It's insane, but it feels good knowing that it's there.
Your family warms my heart. 💜
Feel better, Hollars!
There’s nothing better than squirreling away vitals for the months ahead🤗🤗! The skunk smell is enough to make you pass out if you hold your nose too long😂! Can’t imagine how scared the duck and all the chickens were🙃. Ben, You made short order of the compost pile for the chickens🐔🐔🐔🐔🪿! Little Buggy saying goodbye at the end was so precious💜.
Meg, thank you for clarifying why you peel tomatoes, i.e., you freeze the skins as a seasoning. Such great frugality.
Ben, storage space is always a consideration. In many Asian homes, people install shelves on the walls and ceiling. Also, ceiling hooks are installed to support hanging shelves, etc.
You should build a canning shed/cellar where you put all you're canned jars for safe keeping and out of the way storage . Insulate it for the temps in you're area. Just an idea from no body important. Lol. Thank you for sharing you're daily doing's with us viewers !
Ben, you’re so talented and resourceful with building, I’ve wondered why Meg doesn’t have a nice little storage room, utilizing your beautiful shelving talents, and built right off her kitchen, to store food jars and canning supplies. You could do it! Little by little, board by board…
I have jars in my bedroom closet and under my bed; and I'm only one person. Stashing is an art! 🤣❤️🤣❤️🤣❤️
Ben put some spikes (like on lamp post in the city) on the top of the coop all the way around so the skunk can not climb through. As he gets near the top his paw hits the spike he would fall back. Barbed wire rolled up on top also could work.
I find it somewhat amazing that you feel the need to explain why your family is canning and stocking up on home grown organic foods. These are challenging times. We are only three adults on our two adjoining family farm residences and yet I have been steadily stocking up since March 2020. Our farm just pays the bills to keep it going and we are on social security. Just when I think I can sit back, enter a new strain of covid this summer in New Hamsphire. Nursing homes and my local hospital have mask mandates again. Grocery store prices are increasing. I took a que from watching Meg use her Fruitsaver steam canner, to purchase one this week to go along with my All American pressure canner. I hope that folks are paying attention to how you approach accomplishing a measure of being self sustaining. Well done. ~ Diane
I am so proud of you guys. You work and utilize everything for your every living. You are you and keep it that way. Love the baby. Look forward to seeing her everyday. We have been watching since your beginning and when the baby came got so attached to seeing her. Hope to beconnected for a long time with your life and family. Love it, Sandy
I feel ya, everyone is at that hungry time of year. 3 coyotes took a neighbors roo that was out. My 3 roo's that were out jumped back in because we don't have a "lid". Thanks for the skunk reminder. We were set to start leaving the birds back up all the time because of fall garden. Bee hives are uneasy, too.
Reading this from Australia I was thinking Kangaroos😂😂
@@clairecoutts7832Ditto!😅
@@clairecoutts7832 She's not talking about a kangaroo? 😆
@@clairecoutts7832 LOL I bet you were ! It must be a little confusing until you get used to our slang.
Rooster? 🐓
I only scythe on my property. It saves the soil from being compacted with heavy machinery, it's good exercise, it's very meditative, and it gives critters time to get out of the way. Since it moves a little slower you can see if you're about to chop bugs and you can alter what you do. I love it!!
Yeah, and not saying Ben should do that, but for anyone's info, Jim Kovaleski is a great one to watch how he does it/teaches it. How you swing your body, NOT your arms, to save energy, effort, make it most ergonomic etc. ( besides having one custom made to your arm).
I just love this family ❤
Adorable baby girl!!
Awesome video guys!!!🎉
I’m like you. Jars are stashed all over. I try to organize - jams and jellies together, pickles together, sauces together, soups, etc, and no matter how hard I try, sooner or later (usually sooner) they start to get mixed up. But who cares? When I reach for a jar for me, or a few jars for a friend, I feel wonderful!
@Tzippy323- Yes I am the same way. Fortunately our farm cottage has a walk in cellar for canned goods, but all the dry pantry items are everywhere upstairs, in book cases, under the bed. I set up two narrow metal shelving units down on wall in the middle hallway. But it is a good feeling to be able to reach for powdered cream or buttermilk that I bought at 2021 prices. No shortage of yeast for bread, etc. Our neighboring farms are all selling to each directly because we cannot afford local grocery store prices. We are out straight selling hay this week to desperate neighhbors. They are loading their trucks before the hay leaves the fields! Shades of the 1970s. ~ Diane
Not "skunky boy" 😂 OMG you all crack me up! Love, love, love your videos, I learn so much and secretly love vicariously through you & your wife ❤ One day I'll get there, when I'm too old to do anything but sit in a rocking chair 😊 Take care! Beautiful job with your homestead!
Many years ago I visited my Aunt in Pa. and she canned. I couldn't get over how she used 1/4 of her basement to can and the entire rest of the basement was -- stored canned food and there were only two of them.
I thank you! Meg you always inspire me to cook from scratch and preserve my own food. Ben I hope to compost to your level one day. I’m just one person who works full time job. But you still help me dream I’ll get there one day. Thank you!
Skunks were here in the City 2 weeks ago. 5 am we met walking close to the woods. We stopped for a few seconds, looked at each other and we continue to go our way. We both were startled.
One became road pizza and stunk for a few days..
I don't slice my fried green tomatoes anymore. I cut them in chunks, put them in buttermilk, coat them in flour, cornmeal and Cajun seasoning and fry. Crispy outside, nice and juicy inside! Delicious!!!
Do you think it’s possible to save some cholesterol & calories and “fry” the chunks in an air fryer with similar flavor & mouthfeel?
I have no idea
@@barbarairwin8651 Thanks anyway.
Our garden did so well , after my pantry was filled, I had to store under my bed, in a spare bedroom, any nook or cranny in my cabinets, I had to be imaginative, but thankful.
Loved seeing you use your scythe! I have one now for 2 years, still learning my rhythm. Thanks for showing us yours and how you do it. I am encouraged to keep trying.
Hope the kids feel better and the 'eau de skunk' subsides soon! 🤗
I'm new to your channel. But I'm so intrigued with everything that you all do on your homestead. I'm especially pleased to see how you handle your children and involve them in all the projects. I love that you have prayers before every meal. This is homesteading done right. Wish I could be there with you all. I'm sure that you both have so much to teach . What a wonderfully blessed ,loving ,caring family .wish you all the best and thank you for the videos. They are truly amazing
Good job saving your flock and duck from the skunk ! Nice scythe workout x's 2 . Awesome family tomato preparation for cool tomato end-result. You are an awesome family !! Nooks and crannies rule !! You know what you are doing and are very good at it !, love the way you can and stash as you squirrel-it away. Animals are wise and you are cool to follow the true and trusted way on how to store and protect the goods. Yum
I truly hope someday you can build a space for all your canned goods and food storage. I can't wait until when you finally have the time and man power to add the deck and outdoor kitchen as well, because I can really see your family using it to the fullest ❤ One day at a time. I'm rooting for you 🙏
Coming from a family of 10, I understand how much food you can go through.
Praying you can build an addition.
I love your channel! A honest, real and beautiful family living the best life!!!
Sprinkle some bakingsoda around that coup and it should help reduce the odor in there. It won't harm the chickens either. It will aid in livestock and poultry digestion.
The baby green tomatoes are great pickled with dill. ❤
Skunk spray is horrible and lingers for so long. All the tomatoes you've canned will be so good this winter!!! Meg, have you canned plenty of peeled and quartered tomatoes (or whole) as well as sauce? Canned whole or quartered tomatoes are so wonderful in soups and spaghetti sauce. Have you kept a count of how many jars of tomato sauce/spaghetti sauce/salsa you've canned this year? Your garden this year has definitely been plentiful!! Saw a video yesterday of how to can sliced green tomatoes for frying this winter. Wish I'd known that back when I used to can maters. My goodness, what huge cushaws that came up as volunteers!!! Some good pies will be in their future!!!🥧 Buggie is learning so much as she helps you in the kitchen!!! She will be a great cook like her mother!!
I love to listen to Ben talk about compost. I never knew anyone could wax euphoric about compost ... but he's shown why it's so important.
Wonderful food stock for the winter and 'off garden' months. I watch a couple other channels where the families have 5-6 children and they can, freeze, etc. for a year's worth of food. I have heard of tomato powder from the skins, and as Ben says 'instant flavor' - that's a convincing note! 💚
I hear that there are people out there that have entire closets filled with towels and sheets.... called "linen closets" and they keep off season clothing under their beds. I have pouches of spices tucked in shoe pockets hanging from the backs of cabinet doors. Y'all are so doing this right. It's amazing to watch.
I utilize all of my space in my home for the food I can and freeze dry. We eat it and we love it. That’s when you can truly say that you know what you’re eating. God Bless
But that is as it should be and how comforting to look around and know that you have that security. Keep up the good work!!!
My granddaughter let others in the family know (7 yo), “Nana doesn’t use the food she puts it in jars, I know where she puts it”. LOL. She doesn’t realize she has eaten much of the food I put in jars.😂❤
You’re doing a great job canning -reminds me of when I was growing up and my mother & grandmother would fill up shelf after shelf with canned fruits & vegetables and a huge box of potatoes in our basement. Plus every fall, steers & hogs were butchered and the meat was either smoked or frozen. Plus mother raised 100 chickens at a time for a total of 300 chickens and then we processed and froze them. We also had deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, rabbits and squirrel meat and fish. Good food.
Don't feel bad! I also live in a single wide mobile home, and have jars everywhere...under my bed, around & under kitchen table, in cabinets, etc! Not ashamed one bit! Proud of my hard work, and my home canned food! I also live in Western NC! ❤
Love the kusha. My mom peels them and cubes the inside, sautes it in a skillet, and then adds corn to saute with kusha. Yummmmm.
Our tomatoes are still going. I'm getting a 5 gallon bucket full every three days. Northern Maryland. Green beans too. About 3 gallons every three days.
When I was a kid dad put the beds on risers high enough the put 2 layers of quarts under the beds you can put a lot of food under there
Nice ! For anyone who doesn't know, and I only learned this a couple yrs ago myself, it'd dangerous to ever stack canned goods directly on each other/have anything much on them. If they happen to unseal, having any weight on them could, when conditions are right, while the lid is being held down by it, make it reseal, but it's now no longer a good seal &/or it's not safe, due to time spent unsealed, etc. . Since botulism doesn't smell or taste bad, but can kill before you know it, it's too risky. Apparently without any weight on them they wouldn't seem to re-seal, will be clearly enough not sealed ( if they come unsealed). So, for doing more than one layer on a shelf or in a box, one has to have something else being the support, and then have a layer of thin board or whatever across that, for the top layer to sit on.
No offense meant !!!! Just making sure folks know the risks !
Time to plan the root cellar, and make it large enough and close enough for storm shelter too!!!
I love hearing your little girl talk. She is so sweet.❤
{Daddy‘s Little helper.}
Daniel & Meg thank you both for sharing your life stories with us, I’ve txtd y’all many times over the years. Started following your trip leaving California touring America, such adventure with family.
Ben, not Daniel.
how wonderful.........3 of my favourite channels posted their videos for me to enjoy..........yours, Threerivers Homestead and the Veggie Boys. big smile on my face. 😀
I can see a addition in the form of a pantry for all the food
Ben, you need to build Meg a cellar over where you keep the pigs. Dig in the side of the mountain. You have the imagination and ability to do it. My Aunt did it and it worked wonderfully. You guys need all the storage you can get with such a large family in such a small space. Just an idea.
We have drawers under beds that hold quart jars of pasta sauce. We also have a hall closet, the only cool dark place, for boxes of potatoes. Store food from the garden where you can!
Maybe time for root cellar. Or the little house. Always goodness from the Hollars!!
Thank you for the "reminder" comments. They help especially when they apply to what you are currently showing. Can't speak for everyone, but some of us are forgetful. Best.
Ben, you're going to have to build Meg a cooler/pantry close to your home. Would be nice if you could somehow attach it to your trailer, is there possibility off a sliding door/deck? Just a thought. I sure enjoy your videos, thanks for sharing.
Praying for the babies…
Love you guys
Boy that brings back Skunk memories. In 1984 we were farming on irrigated land. We would set out two sets of 12" pipe each day. One to be ready for evening changes. My husband was setting each pipe together and heard noise in one. It's a rabbit he said but no momma and 6 little skunks. Pipe stunk for about 5 wks.. I always helped with the irrigation except that 1 pipe. Always looked for diamond back rattlers also. Blessings
Maybe you need to build a Meg Pantry Shed Cellar (10’x12’ with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling) and figure a way to connect it off one area of the trailer, so you can add a lot of wall/ceiling, maybe floor, insulation for coolness in summer…even adding AC.