Blog - Homesteading, Permaculture, Gardening

21 Great Plants For An Edible Landscaping Design

Edible landscaping is a way to combine the beauty of traditional landscaping with the practicality of growing your own food. By incorporating edible plants into your landscape design, you can create an aesthetically pleasing environment while also providing fresh, healthy produce for you and your family. What is Edible Landscaping? Edible landscaping is the practice…

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February 22, 2023

Book Reviews

Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture by J. Russell Smith

Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture by J. Russell Smith is a classic book on agroforestry that was first published in 1929. Despite being nearly a century old, the book remains relevant and influential today. It is widely regarded as a seminal work in the field of agroforestry. One of the key themes in Part 1…

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February 22, 2023

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Live Q&A

Live Q&A 2/21/23

https://www.youtube.com/live/sB5QJRPYVAs?si=Um4FTtFjU6wDZ-ST

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February 21, 2023

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Testing, Amending, and Preparing Your Garden Soil For Spring Planting

On This Episode of The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Harold and Rachel Discuss Getting Ready For Spring Planting By Testing, Amending, and Preparing Your Garden Soil. The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 190 – February 21, 2023 Listen To The Podcast Testing, Amending, and Preparing Your Garden Soil For Spring Planting We Discuss: Why? Preparation for planting…

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February 21, 2023

Blog - Homesteading, Permaculture, Gardening

The “Renaissance Man” Has Been Reduced To “Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None”

What Is A Renaissance Man? The phrase "Renaissance man" comes from the period known as the Renaissance, which began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. This era was marked by a renewed interest in classical learning, art, and literature, and by a focus on human…

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February 20, 2023

Blog - Homesteading, Permaculture, Gardening

How To Determine The Health Of Your Garden Soil

As gardeners, we come to understand that we are more soil farmers than vegetable farmers. Without healthy soil, you cannot have a healthy garden. So how do we determine the health of our garden soil? Understanding the Soil Structure Soil Composition The ideal soil composition for most garden plants is a loamy soil, which is…

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February 16, 2023

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

Clearing Land, Growing Livestock Feed, Meat Rabbits, And More With Guest Jordy Buck

On this episode of the Modern Homesteading Podcast, Harold is joined by return guest Jordy Buck from NorthernHomesteading.com to discuss clearing wooded land to grow livestock feed, raising rabbits, and more. The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 189 – February 14, 2023 Listen To The Podcast Exploring Practical Homesteading with Jordy Buck: An In-Depth Conversation In…

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February 14, 2023

Product Reviews

Reotemp 20 Inch Fahrenheit Backyard Compost Thermometer

The Reotemp 20 Inch Fahrenheit Backyard Compost Thermometer is a thermometer designed for monitoring the temperature of compost piles in a backyard composting setup. This thermometer is 20 inches long and displays the temperature in Fahrenheit. The thermometer is made of stainless steel, which is durable and resistant to corrosion, and features a large, easy-to-read…

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February 13, 2023

Blog - Homesteading, Permaculture, Gardening

How To Build A Garden Planter Box With A Trellis

If you’re limited on gardening space or maybe want to block out some neighbors and get a little privacy in your backyard, then building some planter boxes with trellises may be the way to go. These great additions to the garden are easy to build, inexpensive, and can provide you with a lot of food…

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February 9, 2023

Product Reviews

Farm Innovators Heated Digital Circulated Air Incubator

There are several great incubators on the market and some not so great. The bottom line is, the better ones are more expensive and the extra features do make a difference. The one I have is the Farm Innovators Model Digital Circulated Air Incubator with Automatic Egg Turner and it does everything I need it to do…

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February 7, 2023

The Modern Homesteading Podcast

17 Useful Flowers To Grow On Your Homestead

On This Episode of The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Harold and Rachel Discuss 17 Useful Flowers You Can Grow On The Homestead. The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 188 – February 7, 2023 Listen To The Podcast 17 Useful Flowers To Grow On Your Homestead Calendula (Annual) Direct sow outside or start inside. A pretty little flower…

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February 7, 2023

Blog - Homesteading, Permaculture, Gardening

Why and How to Plant Jerusalem Artichokes in Your Food Forest

If you are looking for an easy to grow, colorful, and nutrient rich plant to add to your food forest then Jerusalem artichoke, also known as Sunchoke, is exactly what you need. Jerusalem artichoke can be harvested for its tubers which can be cooked up like potatoes and provide iron, vitamins, and other health benefits,…

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February 5, 2023

Support the work of Redemption Permaculture at the Small Town Homestead and the Modern Homesteading Podcast

Lisa on This Week On The Homestead – Week 30
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Purslane is easy to grow and tasty! I recommend it highly to folks looking for new goodies to add to…
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You ve got me hooked. thank you so much for sharing your education with the world. You are a good…

Lessons from the Hive
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Today I spent some time watching the activity around my honey bee hive. It seemed like every bee had a purpose. Some were leaving the hive in search of nectar and pollen. Others were returning with their legs covered in golden pollen. There was a constant flow of movement—busy, organized, and productive.

As I stood there watching, I was reminded that none of those bees were working for immediate reward. They weren’t gathering nectar to enjoy it that afternoon. They were working for something larger than themselves. Every trip, every flower visited, every load carried was contributing to the health and future of the hive.

It made me think about my own life.

So much of what I do on the homestead feels like that. Planting seeds. Building soil. Repairing fences. Pruning fruit trees. Many of these tasks don’t produce immediate results. They require faith that the effort invested today will bear fruit tomorrow.

The Christian life is often the same.

Galatians 6:9 reminds me not to grow weary in doing good. Sometimes I want to see results right away. I want the garden to grow faster, the project to be finished sooner, or the answer to prayer to come immediately. But God often works through seasons of patient faithfulness.

The bees don’t quit because they haven’t made honey yet. They continue their work day after day, trusting the process God designed for them. Likewise, God calls me to remain faithful in the work He has given me, trusting that in His timing there will be a harvest.

Watching that hive today reminded me that small acts of obedience matter. A prayer offered. A kind word spoken. A task completed. A seed planted. None of it is wasted when it is done for the Lord.

One day, the harvest comes. The honey is stored. The fruit ripens. The prayers are answered. But until then, God calls me to keep working faithfully.

Reflection Questions
- Am I growing weary in an area where God is calling me to remain faithful?
- What “small acts” of obedience might God be using to accomplish something much larger?
- Where do I need to trust God’s timing instead of demanding immediate results?
Prayer

Lord, thank You for the lessons You teach through Your creation. As I watched the bees today, remind me that faithfulness matters even when results are not immediately visible. Help me to work diligently in the tasks You have given me and trust that You are bringing a harvest in Your perfect timing. Keep me from growing weary and strengthen me to continue doing good. Amen.