This past week, for #BreadChallenge, I decided to make a loaf of simple oat bread. I looked around for recipes that lacked the fussiness that some bread recipes seem to impart. I had a busy weekend of bottling beers, yard work, class prep and teaching so I knew I wouldn't be able to give the task the attention it deserved.

I settled on THIS oversimplified recipe. It didn't turn out so good. I know where the problem started.

The recipe doesn't require that you proof the yeast. I don't have any bread starter or poolish yet (I plan to make some this week) so I used dry yeast as the recipe called for and got very little rise. It also just suggests that you combine all of the ingredients (as opposed to dry with dry, wet with wet and then combine), which I think is a sloppy and lazy way to do things.

The end result was a very dense, cakey, doughy lump that tasted just fine but texturally was really unappealing. In the chicken bucket it goes! I wish I could say I am disappointed, but I'm not. I like learning and this was certainly an education in assessing a recipe beforehand. My advice to new bakers is to opt for more detailed recipes when possible. Don't be lured in by 5-step bread-making. There are nuances to making bread and if you don't understand them, rely on a detailed recipe to help guide you through each seemingly tedious step. Even the little details make a huge difference in baking.

So, this week I am going to try to improve on this bread. I like the challenge of taking a bad recipe and turning it into a reliable one. Instead of dry yeast, I will make poolish and use that to try and get a rise out of the dough. I think that one little tweak might be enough to salvage it. We'll see! The proof is in the poolish.

How's everyone else's bread baking coming along?

You'll hear me repeat this every so often, but here it goes again: I'm cheap. Mostly out of necessity because it's so darned expensive to live in NYC and if you aren't careful about spending you could end up broke as a joke. Even things like groceries, which most folks who dine out frequently opt to buy as a way to save money, are vastly more expensive here than in other places. Oftentimes it can be cheaper to eat low-quality takeout than cooking homemade meals. Obviously, that is not a habit that interests me. Practicing frugality in the city is a learning process and I want to get as close to perfecting it as I can.

One of the first two rules I've learned in regards to feeding yourself on the cheaps are as follows:

1. Buy staples such as dry goods (flour, beans, grains) in large quantities and store them in airtight containers in the pantry.

2. Bake instead of buying. I.e. bread, cereal, cookies etc. They taste better homemade, can be better for you (fewer or no additives and preservatives) and are less expensive because most of the time you'll have the materials on hand to whip any of them up on a whim.

**So with that in mind I decided that this fall/winter I'd challenge myself to bake a minimum of one loaf of bread a week. **

The rules for this winter long challenge are as follows:

-Once a week I will make a loaf of bread.

-I will post the recipe and any modifications I may have made.

-I will share pictures or video of said bread. (Rhyming is fun.)

-I will eat and enjoy the bread and do solemnly swear to not waste any of it. I'll find creative ways to use the stale bits (if there are any) before offering them to the chickens or worms.

I encourage any of my readers/bloggy friends to do the same and post about their experiences. If you don't have a blog, tweet about it using the hashtag #breadchallenge.

First post coming later this week!

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There have been whispers of late at Jewel Street Paradise. Questions mostly, perhaps head shaking but certainly what seems to me like a quiet disdain. Maybe it was the rabbits, perhaps the worm bin and bales of hay in the basement. Perhaps it was the round of questioning from me regarding the homemade detergent that I thought had disappeared (it was only moved, my fault)... whatever it was, it seems that I've finally reached a point where the people I share a house with no longer completely understand my motivation to live a certain way. Beekeeping, raising livestock, gardening and self-sufficiency are usually done in roomy locales for good reason. I've done the best job I can to be conscientious, cleaning up the bits of straw that find their way to everywhere and tidying the yard on a daily basis, but what I see as perfection is seen as a blight by others. But the road goes both ways. I see grotesqueness where others see beauty, too.

And you know what-- that's ok. I've never wanted any of this to be a situation where people are expected bend to my ideologies or adapt to my lifestyle. Of course you sort of hope that it inspires people and they want to be part of it, but the truth is, not everyone's head is in the same place as mine. Some people just want things simple, uncomplicated. Everything in it's correct place so it needn't be worried about. When many people share that place, you've got to contend with the fact that little annoyances will mount up and become big problems in our minds, disrupting the flow of normal day-to-day thought. I've been on the other side of things, getting miffed over people making noise or not composting "right" or fussing with my laundry. None of them being particularly serious issues, but I let them get to me and they taint my experience of home. That's on me. I can't let resentment take me. None of us should allow it. It's a big challenge but simply, it's part of the deal when you live here. You just have to adjust to being around people, with all of their greatness and foibles, constantly.

Five years into living in Brooklyn and I am just starting to truly understand what that means. You are never really alone. Not everyone wants beer bottles and brewing equipment taking up living space. Not everyone finds the smell of a smoldering smoker romantic. Not everyone wants to wake to the sound of a chicken celebrating their daily egg. A few of us revel in it. But many do not. You've got to think about these things constantly if you want to get along.

But I won't complain, I've been very fortunate. I butt heads with the people I live with seldomly, and never to any extreme. They are all very accommodating and for their part they seem to enjoy some aspects of our little urban homestead. If they are put off by something, I am usually pretty good about reading between the lines and trying to improve the situation. I do the best I can. I want everyone to be happy. I want to be happy. It is our home. Sometimes I think it's all we've got.

I should thank my neighbors more often. I think that if they knew that I appreciated them for what they do and don't do perhaps they would simply say to themselves "Oh, that crazy Meg!" (I don't think of myself as crazy) when I bring home donated bus tubs of insect larvae for the chickens or a leaking bag of spent grains instead of possibly silently resenting it. After all, it's in part because of them that all of it is what it is.

What is "it"? It is home and we share it. It needs protecting too, even if it is from myself. We all look to this place as a sanctuary and it is so needed. I've got to figure out how to keep everyone happy, without having to sacrifice my way of life. If I don't have this, I don't have anything.

Regarding a sense of home, Jenna writes in a recent post on my favoritest blog in the whole world, Cold Antler Farm:

"Those of you who have been reading this blog a while know how much I admire and look up to the work of Polyface Farm, a beyond-organic farm in Virginia. While at the Mother Earth News Fair I got to hear the honcho of that operation talk, a charismatic fellow by the name of Joel Salatin. He does many speaking gigs like this all around America, and when I sat down to hear him in Pennsylvania I didn't get what I expected. While there was plenty of talk about agriculture, it was really more about our personal culture, and I took one main thing away from his talk.

Home.

Joel pointed out that one of the largest problems with our culture, health, and community is how our houses (specially our kitchens) have gone from the center of our lives to a boarding house we sleep and eat at. Home has faded into lazy nostalgia, we're remember a place we no longer actually practice. There are people who pay every month to live there, hire someone else to mow and clean it, and unless we are asleep or grabbing a Pop Tart out of the toaster: they aren't there very often. Even weekends are dedicated to hitting the road to shop and go to soccer practice. Some people claim they could not even fathom spending an entire weekend at home: their children would go nuts without activities and events and play dates. Others without kids just find their homes boring, a place that is shut off from the world. They don't want to stay home because, even as I type this, I feel like the words "stay home" are a stick-in-the-mud's anthem..."

To read the rest of the post, click away. She's a really gifted writer who is living the dream, as far as I am concerned.

I'm just going to come out and say it: I'm a shitty gardener. I know the rules, but I break them all the time. I'm too lazy and distracted to do a proper job of planning and maintenance. My garden is a series of closely planted, haphazardly trellised, wildly growing crops and anytime a spot opens up I toss a handful of radish, bush bean or lettuce seeds in the space to fill it in. It's the complete opposite of the way I teach gardening. It looks absolutely nuts but for the most part it works. Except for when it doesn't.

There are times when the weather doesn't co-operate and puts a damper on my plans for an abundant harvest. One season it rained heavily and the soil couldn't properly air out. Mildews and blight took much of my garden (Cucurbits didn't stand a chance) but some things could be salvaged. In response I ripped up all of my blighty tomatoes, pulled all of the healthy green tomatoes off and pickled them. I might have to do the same this year as some of the tomatoes I bought in seem to be showing signs of early blight. The others, however, seem to be going strong.

One big mistake I make year after year is not thinning my carrots. They grow in and end up competing for nutrients and shading one another. I end up with stubby little carrots with long, abundant tops. The average person might feel some level of disappointment over it, but I took the opportunity to make a batch of Carrot Top Pesto with the greens and still had enough funny, stubby carrots to make a batch of spicy pickled carrots.

(Nubby carrots before pickling and a jar of carrot top pesto)

Remember: Error + Salvage= SUCCESS!

(Only picking a few raspberries a day, but I've got abundant leaves for tea!)

My raspberry bushes take up a ton of space in the garden. Though it is the shadiest part of the space, I often wish I had that portion reserved for faster growing, shade tolerant crops. It takes a few seasons for the bushes to produce much of anything but instead of crying about it, I just harvest the leaves of the plant for teas that help with digestive complaints and menstrual discomfort. It also tastes great and is high in vitamins and minerals, so if your gutty-works or woman parts are working just fine, enjoy it as a refreshing and nourishing beverage with slices of citrus and a bit of raw honey. I have a sensitive tummy so I find that this helps to soothe it when it's feeling a little queasy.

In another season or so, my raspberry bushes will have really established themselves and I'll get a larger berry harvest, but in the meantime the rest of the plant provides me with another form of sustenance.

When I sow seeds in a place thats a bit too shady and the seedlings get spindly, I pluck them up and use them like sprouts. When some of the leaves on the greens I've grown get a little chewed up by insects, I blend them into a pesto. When I plant things to close and I have to rip out some established plants to make room, I dry them out on the pavement and use them as mulch. Just because I've failed to produce one product, it doesn't mean there isn't some other matter there that can be put to good use.

It's important as a new gardener to try and think outside of the box. Read up on the crops you are growing. Find out what components are edible, their benefits and how to prepare them...you'd be surprised at how many parts of common plants are just forgotten about or composted instead of being used, which in many cases can substitute things you're probably already spending your money on!

Body scrubs are a prime example of something homemade which can both save money and is often better than the store-bought version. They could not be any simpler to make, and your skin is left feeling amazingly soft and smooth. There are tonnes of scrub recipes online with every imaginable variation under the sun, using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. They're quick and easy to make, and make a great little gift when scooped into a glass jar and given a sweet tag. These recipes are some basic ones to begin with and are really flexible - feel free to play around with the amounts of sugars and oils or to swap in ingredients that you think might work well. Have I convinced you yet?

On to the recipes!

Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup almond oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil
1/2-1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Morning Coffee Scrub
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup used coffee grounds
15 drops essential oil (peppermint is invigorating)

Basic Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub
1 cup coconut oil
3/4 - 1 cup sugar
15-20 drops essential oil of your choosing

Just mix, and store in a lidded jar. I prefer small canning jars with reusable plastic lids. (These can be kept in the shower without rusting.)
And lastly: It's not a sugar scrub per se, but I love to gently rub a bit of crystallized honey all over my face at the beginning of my morning shower (I keep a little jar in there) and rinse it off at the end.

A few notes about ingredients:
- Solid fats (i.e. coconut oil, lard, shortening) can be used in place of liquid oils; when at room temperature those scrubs will be semi-solid, which I kind of like. Using hands to mix these works well, and feels lovely.
- If you've never worked with essential oils before, they are very potent, some are not recommended for use while pregnant, and they should be used in very limited quantities with great care. Do your research before using them.
- Any sugars or combination of sugars can be used; brown, granulated, turbinado - whatever you like. Confectioner's sugar would probably just make a slimy mess, though, so stick to the scrubby ones.

Safety notes:
It's important to keep in mind that these scrub recipes don't have any preservatives in them, so they should be made in small batches and used up relatively quickly.

One last warning: because of the great oils in them, these scrubs will leave the floor of your tub or shower a wee bit slippery. And it's worth it!

BK Swappers, a food swap based in my hometown that I've had the distinct pleasure of co-organizing, has been in existence for the past year. In that time, swaps have popped up all across the country and even in the UK, recently. These events are a great way to freshen up your pantry, challenge yourself in the kitchen and make new friends. If you are interested in participating in a swap near you, you can find a list of swaps here at Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking. Kate and I started the first swap here in Brooklyn and upon her move to Austin, TX she started organizing one of her very own. Don't see your city on the list? Start your own...it's easy!

(The spread at onne of our swaps this past Autumn)

First, it helps to have a friend or two help with organizing the event. Since attendees each bring a little bit of food, it's a fairly low-maintenance affair. Having two or three folks involved in logistics, though makes it a breeze. Compile a email list of folks you know who you think might be interested, create an email address for your swap and import those to it so that all organizers can have access to the account and take turns handing the responsibility of corresponding with aspiring swappers.

Secondly, if you use social media like Twitter and Facebook, create a Fan page and hashtag that people can follow and share ideas through. We use the hashtag #BKSwappers which allows everyone to participate in the exchanges. We get a lot of questions about the swap this way. Many new folks have come on board just by seeing people tweeting about it. Facebook Fan Pages are great for posting pictures, recipes or blog posts pertaining to the swaps.

Next, find a space to hold your swap. If you are open to having strangers come to your home, you can host it there. My suggestion would be to host it at a local cafe, bar, gallery or recreational space that is willing to let you use their place in exchange for exposure or added business. Be sure that bringing outside food is allowed in the space, though. The potluck portion of the event gives attendees to sample out some of their swap offerings.

Once you have a space set up set a date, inform your mailing list, Twitter feed and Facebook Fans. Set up an Eventbrite page and get people to RSVP for the event.

On the date of the event, you will need a table for potluck offerings and a table for swap goods. each swap item should be given a ¼ sheet sized bid form that contains spaces for the following information:

- The item available for swapping.
- The name of the person who made it.
- Notes regarding the item (Vegan, Gluten-free, made with eggs, tips on serving, etc.)
- At least 5 lines where interested parties can offer an item and list their name

About an hour after attendees arrive, you'll want to encourage them to make a few offers (as a rule of thumb, I only put 2 bids down for every item I brought) and usually by hour two, the swapping is ready to commence. The bid sheets do nothing more than serve as a guide, a list of opportunities to swap for the goods offered. More often than not, a lot of the swaps are done "freestyle", but it is surprisingly free of chaos and everyone leaves happy with what they traded for and a some new friends for good measure.

(My haul from a recent swap, Kombucha, chicken liver pate, vegan macaroons, heirloom applesauce and goji berry bark!)

Hey y'all. I'm Kelly Harp. Me, my hubs and our two kids are living the super glamourous suburban life in Houston, Tx. Our dream is to move to the Texas Hill Country (that's around Austin for you non-Texans) and do some serious homesteading, but for now we're doing a little gardening, a little cooking, some experimental cheese-making in our smaller space. In my free time, I create and sell tees, onesies and whatever else I get inspired to do! It's fun. It's my life.
I'm glad to get to share a little with you here.

In my 30's, I've discovered there's this crunchy, granola hippie living inside of me. Who knew? She likes to whisper things to me like, "Let's grow a big veggie garden and get chickens!!". She's crazy like that. My hubs, Clint has a hippie, Ray Lamontagne-type living in him too so it works. Until we can get a bigger yard, we do little things like making our own laundry soap...

Did you know you could do this yourself?

I KNOW! So cool. We've used this recipe for more than 6 months now and it hasn't disappointed. My favorite part, apart from it being cheap, is the light, fresh scent the soap lends. Now that we use homemade, all the store bought detergents are way too over powering and give me a headache. When I used them all the time I didn't really notice, but that smell can't be so good for you.

Did i mention that making it is SO CHEAP??! I used to dread having to buy that big box of tide because it was so freaking expensive. Crunchy granola girl likes saving money.

You can find the borax & washing soap at several grocery stores, but I did have to search a bit. For example, my HEB doesn't carry washing soap, but Kroger does. Anyway, just do a little investigating.

You only need one special item, which you might already have - a microplaner. It's a grater, but makes tiny slivers and helps the soap to dissolve much better. Microplaners are great in the kitchen for things like parmesan cheese, or lemon/orange zesting as well. You're likely to get some good use out of the investment.

So here you go...

Homemade Laundry Soap

You will need:

-6 cups Arm & Hammer WASHING soda (NOT baking soda)

-6 cups Mule Team BORAX

-4 bars of unscented soap**

+ First i grate the soap using the microplaner. Now, I'm not going to lie to you - this takes awhile, BUT it makes a great activity to do while catching up on some trashy television :)

+ Add washing soda and borax to the soap shavings & mix well.

+ Voila! that's it! you only need 1/8 c. per load - amazing!! i use a 1/4c & fill it half way for each load.

(Side note from Meg: feel free to add a few drops of an aromatic essential oil to the mix for a customized scent!)

**The original recipe recommends fels naptha soap, but I use this lavender soap from the dollar store for (you guessed it) $1 each.

I love the smell of the lavender. Ivory or Dove would work as well, I'm sure. I do think basic is best.
I ended up buying a bar of Fels Naptha soap the other day and it's amazing at removing stains - i just wet the bar, used a little elbow grease directly on the garment and out came the stain!

So there you have it, laundry soap for about 7 cents a load. Not too shabby!