Harvesting Moringa

Have you heard about Moringa trees? The leaves are considered a super food, full of goodness. I use the leaves as tea. You can buy powdered Moringa to take as capsules too.  You should Google it, perhaps a Moringa tree is in your future.  I planted my Moringa tree from seed in May of 2021. Typically, these trees grow extremely fast, many feet each year, but mine struggled for the first year. My ground is so hard I don't believe it's tap root could penetrate deep enough to give it the start it needed. Moringas love the heat and as this summer began, it slowly started to grow, and after a few rains it really took off. It went from about 2 feet tall to just over 14 foot this year. I wanted to begin to harvest the leaves but chose to wait until the last minute. I noticed the flavor of the leaves changed from a mild radish taste to more of a spinach flavor, I'm not sure what that means. Next year the tree will be larger, and I will harvest as I have need.

Fall Garden 2022

This is my happy place. When I need to calm down, or take a break, rest, or recharge in any way; this is where I go. Its where I bring visitors and show off to the kids and grandkids. I visit it first thing in the morning and the last thing before dark descends. We had a good rain, one that was slow and gentle enough to soak into the ground rather than ran off; it was a good time to take pictures. 

Fall Garden Journal 2017

I think this has been the worst gardening season I have ever had! And I thought my spring season was bad. Gosh it makes me want to just throw in the towel but I love to garden so I know I won't. And truly, I didn't give it the time gardening needs as I was stretched pretty thin with the Christmas season and my new soap biz.  

Hill House Soapworks Boutique

Hey everyone, I have opened a small Bath & Bodycare Boutique called Hill House Soapworks, on Facebook. I have some fun Halloween items in there, and will add more items as I have time. I plan to eventually carry a full range of Body care items. I would love for you to visit, Like and Follow. I also have a Facebook Group you can join, Hill House Soapworks Group, to hear about new items before they are stocked in the boutique. Thanks for your support!

August & September Garden Journal

I've waited so long to write this post that it almost seems pointless. But, this is for me as much as for you and I want to document life around here so I guess better late than never. Let's see what I can remember about August.

July Garden Journal

Nothing much happens in my garden in July. During July were blessed with cooler temps and some rain. We are so grateful! My plants really suffered in June and now they are trying to make a come back. I hope to plant again in August but we will see how I am feeling. Summers are pretty hard on me.  

June Garden Journal

June is over and it was one of the hottest Junes on record here. I know 119 was the official high one day this June, but I can tell you I heard reports of plenty of people saying their cars were registering 123 and up, one said 128! In the summer here, I often get cabin fever. It usually sets in about August but I already have it this summer. Glad our monsoon rains will be starting soon.

May Garden Journal

I thought it would be fun to keep a journal of my gardening photos all in one convenient place. Photos, along with a few notes and dates, will help log my progress in my garden. I have never taken time to write notes on my efforts or track when I fertilize, and often forget to write down planting dates and what I planted. A photo journal with notes will help me out. 

Gardening Journal 2017

I post the newest garden journal post here monthly. Scroll down for each month posted.

August & September Garden Journal

July Garden Journal

June Garden Journal

May Garden Journal

I link at these parties.

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Front Yard Garden

Well here's the front garden! When we moved here, the house was not painted, just bare stucco. And nothing but dirt and weeds in the front yard! It was (and still is unfortunately) a major fixer upper. After we had lived here about a year, I decided I just had to plant something in the front yard. I put down a soaker hose and planted some cosmos flower seeds around that. A neighbor was out for a walk and told me I was wasting my time. He said nothing would grow up here on the hill, all rock and clay. Well guess I proved him wrong!

Backyard Gardening

Thought I would show you my gardening efforts in my back yard. My back yard has come a looonng way! Yes it is possible to grow a large variety of things in Phoenix, the trick is to forget everything you think you know about growing and re-learn the desert way. I bought books, looked up things online, and still didn't get anywhere. After a few years of trying with little to show for it, I found a group on Facebook called Organic Desert Gardeners of Maricopa County. If you live in zone 9 I highly recommend joining!

DIY Fertilizer

I have a new idea, a new experiment of sorts. Well new to me anyway - making my own fertilizer, at least my own bone meal. I have always been interested in being self sufficient and one of the best ways to do that is to use what you already have and not run to the store to buy something. I really don't like having to buy fertilizers and I have been thinking of ways to make my own.

Long Time No See & Pear Vinegar

Well I have had a vacation haven't I? I really didn't mean to go so long without a post. It all started, my time away I mean, when I made some changes to our internet/cable service. There was a problem with the internet line and it would let me on for about 5 minutes before it would kick me off. I would have to wait a couple of hours and try again only to get the same treatment. 

Drying Peppers

I leave some of my Anaheim Peppers on the plant to ripen. These lovely red peppers are then strung on quilting thread or embroidery floss and hung to dry. Like my drying rake/rack? 

* Spring Time and Family Day

We celebrated spring on Family Day here at our house this last March.  The kids and grandkids gathered for fun and food and some life lesson teaching about sowing and reaping. Our day began with visiting and the kids playing.  Then we all gathered together while Gramma explained the natural laws of reaping what you have sown.  I had many kinds of seeds for everyone to see and feel and try to guess what kind of seeds they were. I included some sprouting potatoes too.  Everyone thought that looked gross! 

Then we headed to the crafting area to paint small flower pots for each to take home with chosen seeds planted in them.  

While the paint dried on the pots we went out side to plant spring vegetables in an old horse trough, the right height for little ones and also to make it easier for Grammas and Pappas backs. I had prepared popsicle sticks ahead of time and pushed them into the soil.  On them I wrote what was to be planted in that space and how many seeds should be planted there.  I gave some instruction on planting depth too.

With the pots filled and the seeds planted we all headed inside for a potluck meal, we had a wonderful time together; it was a good teaching time for little ones, and a good reminder for us older ones. Sharing times like this helps us keep our family bonds strong and relationships growing.

As if on cue, we heard the ice cream truck coming right as we finished dinner and we  ran out to find him and enjoy some ice cream.

Days later a few of the veggies were sprouting; I sent pictures out to all kids and grandkids by e-mail or phone.  We posted pics on Face Book too.

At 10 days things are looking good out in the tiny garden.

 It’s now 3 weeks since the seeds were planted, look how the potatoes are sprouting. There is also watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, carrots, lettuce and onions.  A LOT for such a small space.  We'll see how is goes as it grows!

Family time should be fun time.  Then you can use it as teaching time, not ‘preaching’ time. Let’s grow strong fruitful families!

Copyright © 2013 by Hill House Homestead ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

* The Family Day Garden Grows…..

Here is a picture of our family day garden we planted in an old horse trough filled with purchased compost and dirt. At the very bottom we put a few plastic bottles and containers to take up some space, covered that with straw before adding the mixed dirt and compost. We watered it well for a week before it was planted to help it all settle with the plug removed at the bottom to allow for drainage. The picture is taken from the end of the trough.

* Spring Time and Family Day

We celebrated spring on Family Day here at our house this last March.  The kids and grandkids gathered for fun and food and some life lesson teaching about sowing and reaping. Our day began with visiting and the kids playing. Then we all gathered together while Gramma explained the natural laws of reaping what you have sown.  I had many kinds of seeds for everyone to see and feel and try to guess what kind of seeds they were. I included some sprouting potatoes too.  Everyone thought that looked gross!