Chokecherries are a rural prairie classic. From chokecherry pie to chokecherry syrup, these tart berries are a late summer treat. Read on to get the low down on harvesting chokecherries and making chokecherry syrup. Different years produce ...
Native Plants
Plant a Tree: Native vs. Introduced Trees
Have you been wanting to plant a native tree in your yard? Have you had trouble finding one to buy? There may be logical reasons why they are hard to find, and why choosing an introduced tree species might be a better option. You know I like ...
Prairie Wildflower Honey
When we started with bees in 2016, we were surprised at the different types of wildflower honey the bees produced from our land. Each season brings different honey, and within that, each beehive differs as well, in colour, firmness and texture. It’s ...
Air Drying Herbs
During summer and fall, the shelves I start seeds on turn into drying racks for various herbs. Drying herbs is a great way to store them when freezer space is a hot commodity. Dry herbs do not use costly electric power for storage. Drying is also a ...
Planting Native Prairie Flower Seeds
Last year I started my native prairie flower garden in my sunny front yard, with excellent drainage on a gravel ridge (read: dry). This year I am adding a few more species of drought tolerant, native prairie plants. My last attempt at seeding drought ...
Starting a Native Prairie Flower Garden
My Front lawn is south facing and sits on a gravel ridge. It gets brown every year – by July, and NO, I do not want to water my lawn. I live on an acreage and refuse to water that much lawn. So what to do? Drought tolerant plants, which quickly lead ...
I'm Erika, I live on eighty acres in the northern prairies of southern Manitoba with my husband and four kids. Here, we enjoy the outdoors and try to be more self sufficient as we try new things in the garden and learn about our land and the world around us.