Sammy of Graham Family Homestead lives in Oregon with her husband and three children where she runs a small dairy business from home while also homeschooling her children as well as being a homemaker. The following is an excerpt of a previous Instagram takeover.
We are not get-up-early people around here (the kids and I at least). I think there’s this stigma around sleeping in that if you aren’t getting up before the sun you aren’t working hard enough and that’s just not true. I do more best work 10am-11pm and forcing myself to get up early just makes for an unhappy mama. I do wish to be someone who can hop out of bed before the sun so that I could work outside before it’s horribly hot but for now that’s just not me and if that’s not you, that’s ok! What time you wake up has no indication of how motivated or hardworking you are.
Gardening is hard. Gardening in the high desert is really hard. Our last frost isn’t until mid June/potentially never and our first frost is mid September or earlier leaving us an extremely short growing season with really hot days and nights in the low 40’s. Not ideal weather for plants (or me lol). I have no tips as of now besides start things inside really early and up pot as many times as you need. Other than that, I’d say skip growing warm weather crops outside and put them all in a greenhouse if you can.
Chickens are where I tell everyone to start their homesteading journey if they can. I had my first flock of 12 when I lived in town, four times more than I was legally allowed to have (oops) and ever since it’s been an addiction. We currently have close to 100 chickens/ducks/Guineas combined and I never want to live without them… Well at least without the chickens and ducks.
p.s. coffee + ice + maple syrup + raw cream, you won’t regret it!