IKEA for the homestead

Who would have looked at Ikea and thought "I could get some great homestead stuff there" but

the uber-modern blue and yellow beacon is chock full of homesteading surprises. Part of the allure of Ikea is the design concept of working effectively and efficiently in small spaces; a

concept well in the heart of a homesteader. Like many fancy, overpriced city apartments, Homesteads generally run on the smaller side, combining work functions in single spaces. Homesteading and Urban life also parallel in economics; finding the least expensive and best usable item for the space available. "Going Green" is a concept that spans both environments

and is no stranger to Ikea. Limited packaging, reusable bags, and sustainably made products are inviting for any homestead.

But whether your homestead is city limited or rurally spread, Ikea has a lot of great items that

will assist you in your day to day. Here are a few of my favorite homestead items.

ANTONIUS

Height adjustable clothes dryer

$14.99

The best idea for hanging laundry on a rainy day. Spacing saving design; lower to hang clothes and raise up to dry, store it raised up and you can hang laundry virtually anywhere in your house without taking up valuable floor space. Some ideas are over the tub, over the kitchen sink, on a screen porch. Just remember that wet clothes can drip! And don't forget the clothes pins! IKEA also sells the best I've ever used, 50 pack for $1.99.

SYLLING

Fold-away guest bed

$79.99

This bed is great for guests, camping, sleepovers and rv's. Lightweight and easily stored. Would fit under a bed and hang in the back of a closet with ease, even with the matress. No need for a seperate sleep area for guests, cheaper than a Murphy bed and takes up less space. Plus the added benefit of being easily portable, take them with you when you go visiting or want to hole up with sick or expecting livestock!

NEKTARIN

Self-watering Plant Pot

$4.99 to $9.99 depending on size

I can't wait to get my hands on some of these pots! They're basically small "Earth Boxes". They have a pipe that goes down to the bottom chamber to provide water from the bottom up, encouraging the plants to shoot down firm roots to get to the water. The small is 9x9 and the larger almost 12x12 with indentations for carrying on the outside. These would be wonderful for an urban homesteader that has limited outdoor space and great for rural homesteaders to use in greenhouses and kitchen gardens. There is also a larger pot on wheels that is self-watering that runs $19.99 and is round.

IVAR

Wooden, Modular Shelving

Price varies

I can't wait to get my pantry set up with the IVAR system. A wonderful solid, untreated wood shelving system that fits virtually any space. The shelves are adjustable to 1" increments providing the perfect fitting space with little waste. Shelves vary from 17" to 33" lengths and 12" to 20" depths. Storage drawers, cabinet doors, corner shelves, clothes railsand shoe racks make this system virturally indespensable. The photo above isn't from IKEA, it's our diningroom wall set up with IVAR as shelving for books, homeschooling, kitchen tools and emergency supplies. As you can see, we used one desk with a trofast bin and rails to make a desk with pull out drawer and it's own work light.

We're considering using the IVAR for an entertainment center/bookshelf area, our final homeschool room, shelving in the shed and barn and the pantry/utility room.

Have fun shopping (I know I do!) and remember products can be used for more than one function!

Garden Progress (or lack there of)

Black Mission Fig

This being my first year I feel like I'm working with only the troubleshooting garden handbook. I've gotten every kind of issue out there; aphids, snails, assassin beetles, ants, shield beetles, floods, drouts, no germination, lack of polinization and fertilization. So far this entire season I've harvested a pint of cherry tomatoes, about 2tbs dried of basil leaves and dill leaves and that's it. Out of a garden that had cherry tomatoes, a corn stalk (yes, just one), sage, basil, dill, butternut squash, lavender, fig, red and yellow peppers, pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchini and lettuces. And seeds that included those plus yellow squash, carrots, beefstake tomatoes, watermellon and cantelope that never even sprouted.

New growth on the tomato vines

A very tiny cucumber

We started the garden using 18 gallon plastic totes we found on sale, pond baskets and pvc pipe to make our own "earth boxes" with organic soil. These boxes work out great except the aphids and ants had a great time in the wonderfully rich soil. Trying to stay organic I used a lot of methods to get the buggers out of there but ultimately had to turn to orange oil based insecticide and bio-chemical based ant granules. Like I said, it's a learning process!

Momma and baby Aloe

If I've learned anything this year it's not to give up. And tried to learn from my mistakes. The season isn't over yet. Here in Florida we'll be going strong for a few more months. The peppers look promising and the basil is growing strong. I have three small 1" or so cukes that I'm holding out hope for and blooms and blooms of butternut squash I'm waiting for just one of those babies to go to fruit. The fig is progressing with foliage and new blooms and tiny cherry tomatoes are making a comeback for a second harvest this season.

Thriving Basil

After dousing the tomato plants with the orange oil based insecticide which really didn't do much unless you drown them in it (in which case, just about anything would have worked, drowning is drowing) a beautiful silver frog moved into the vines and magically, after watching a very plump looking froggie for a few days) the assassin beetles disapeared. Then I couldnt' find the froggie anymore and a few days later, I found this teeny guy hanging out on a leaf. Less than half the size of the other, I'm thinking she left me a baby to plump up on my butternut squash.

Baby Froggie visiting my garden

Red and Yellow Bell Peppers

Overall, this gardening season has been a little disheartening. I have learned lots of information. One of my very favorite sites is http://www.blogger.com/www.homesteadingtoday.com The people there are just a well of great advice and experience. It really encourages me to see more experienced farmers and gardeners,both urban and rural, sharing their stories. The site isn't mainly gardening, but all facets of homesteading. Be sure to check it out!

Butternut Squash Blossoms

Family Movie Night

I try very hard to limit the amount of TV my kids watch and censor what they view. Though, it seems that they end up watching TV at some point each day. Usually, in the mornings while I'm trying to wake up my brain. Once a week, I get the kids, grab some grub and put on a family movie that we can all enjoy. It's become a tradition on either Friday or Saturday nights. I think it helps pass the time through the week as they try and maintain their behaivor to earn this priviledge.

Amelia sampling the offerings.

For food, it varies, though I like to make something easy and that won't make too big a mess in the livingroom. Eating in front of the TV is also part of the treat. Sometimes I'll pop up a huge bowl of air popcorn and make a fruit salad, maybe homemade pizza, other times a raw fruit, veggie and nut tray like this night. I also made a fresh loaf of herb and cheese bread which they ate with gusto.

Emmy and the food.

Olivia enraptured with Veggie Tales.

It's nice to be appreciated for the food I make and it's very nice to have this hour or two each week to settle down with my brood and cuddle and laugh and eat. I like to make this night cheap too. Staying in has just as much appeal to kids as going to the movies, even watching a movie they've seen lots of times. We do have cable, so I am able to get a movie off the free on-demand. My neighbors sometimes loan us movies we haven't seen which is always a special treat, as it comes from them. All in all, it's a really great night. They go to bed easily after the movies over and they know we'll do it again. Soon. I can't wait for Rob to come home from Iraq to share this special night with us.

Engrossed Alex.

Cordi likes dancing vegetables. With no arms. That weild swords anyway. And hover.