Blog: Handmade, Homegrown, and From Scratch Living

knitting pattern cowl

FREE & Easy Knit Pattern: The Homer Bound Cowl

When I opened a letter one day and discovered we were invited to a wedding in Alaska, I just knew I had to make something for the trip! It’s the perfect climate for knit and crochet, and arguably the most picturesque places in the world, so my inspirational juices were flowing. After honestly not a […]

Choereg Armenian Sweet Rolls

Choereg Fail (Part 1) – Making Armenian Easter Bread

If you follow me on Instagram (@sweetgumspot), you know that I do a “From Scratch Adventure” every month; April’s adventure was an Armenian Easter bread called Choereg. My husband Mike is half Armenian, and his family makes this bread every year. My mother-in-law makes it into little rolls and even puts chocolate in the middle. […]

Homestead Month in Review: April

March was a bit crazy, but we’re back with another month in review from our homestead! I’ll be sharing what we accomplished, recipes I tried, new and finished knitting/ crochet projects, as well as what we’ve learned. I hope you learn something and feel encouraged! What We Accomplished This month was all about the garden. […]

Knitting for Crocheters: How to Make Knitting Easier

You’re a either a crocheter or a knitter. Never both, right…? You can in fact do both, even if it seems impossible. I was a crocheter first, who then learned to knit. And while I feel comfortable knitting now, there were some things I wish I’d known that would have made the transition easier. Here […]

Are Those Cheap Store Bought Greenhouses Really Worth It?

At some point in everyone’s gardening journey, there comes a day when you start to run out of room, or you want to extend your garden season. You look at your options, and inevitably you start seeing beautiful greenhouses, built in beautiful backyards, with beautiful plants filling it up. Then you see the not-so-beautiful price […]

The Quick & Easy Dish that is Perfect for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner

We’ve all been there: a busy week night, a crazy day with errands and outings, or a lazy weekend morning. None of these scenarios scream “I want to cook something fancy!” What they need is something quick, easy, healthy, and delicious. Enter frittata! No matter what meal it is, frittata can fit the bill. You […]

Here’s How to Make a Strong Sourdough Starter

At some point during the last three years, you probably decided to try your hand at sourdough. It’s trending, and for good reason. Being able to make your own, nutritious bread free of preservatives is a great skill to have! But if you’re new at it, you’ve also probably run into some snags. Bread not […]

Homestead Month in Review: February

In an effort to document our journey through homesteading better and more tangibly, I’ve decided to do a “Homestead Month in Review.” I’ll write monthly articles encompassing all the things we accomplished on the homestead. I’ll also be documenting recipes I tried, knitting and crochet projects I finished/ started, and things I learned. I hope […]

How to Use Bone Broth in the Kitchen

Bone broth is all the rage these days. There are “sipping” bone broths, broths for soups, and all different kinds of broths being marketed in stores. But you don’t need to buy these boxed versions. You can make it yourself! And use it to make the rest of your cooking better too! Here’s how to […]

Seeds to Sow Right Now: A Top Ten List

While you won’t be eating sun-ripened tomatoes for a few months, there are plenty of seeds to sow right now! Taking advantage of these cold-hardy plants will help you extend your growing season, and get you eating fresh garden food way before tomato time. Where should you start your seeds? Growing Zones There are a […]

The Best Places to Get Seeds for Your Garden

If you’re in the midwest like me, you’re probably getting ready to start some seeds inside soon! If you’re just starting out (or even if you’re not), here is my list of the best places to get seeds for your garden. It might only be February, but garden planning is in full swing in my […]

The Most Exciting Goals for Our Homestead in 2023

This past year we came so far in our homestead. We almost tripled the size of our garden, we got bees, and we got three Silver Fox rabbits. I worked on canning, freezing, and preserving our harvest, and improved my baking and cooking skills. I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but my husband and […]

The Best Soup for Leftover Turkey!

I’m going to show you how to make the best soup for leftover turkey! But first, a quick story. The past two years, my family has supported a local farm and gotten a pasture raised turkey for thanksgiving. The quality of the meat is outstanding, and we just love supporting our farmer friends! The one […]

The Best Gifts for Gardeners, Bakers, Homesteaders, and Makers

Here we are! It’s Christmas time already, and trust me, I’m more surprised than any of you because that means baby #2 is coming in a little over a month! In honor of the most wonderful time of the year, I wanted to create a gift guide to share some of the best gifts for […]