Happy New Year!

I am not one to make new year's resolutions. However, I want to set some homesteading goals for 2010 -- to help me focus and map out planned growth. There is so much to learn and so many areas to explore, I don't want to get sidetracked and wind up not getting much accomplished. Here's what I've got so far:

January - Now is the time to plan what I am going to plant and where. I am considering doubling the size of my garden. I want to buy heirloom seeds this year.

February - This should be the best time to really use my new greenhouse (pictured here). So far, it has been neglected and not used to its full potential. I may need an additional shelf or two for all the seedlings. The grape vines and fruit trees will need pruning, which will require research on proper techniques.

March - Our bees need all the help they can get, so I want to plant (and divide) perennials the bees favor. We will be taking the beekeeper course offered by the Wake Co Beekeepers' Association.

May - Strawberries! Eat them and make jam!

August - This should be a good time to can using the pressure cooking method. I canned lots of stuff in 2009 using the water-bath method, but I want to add green beans and peas to the vegetables I put up.

September - A good month to focus on making wine and mead. The grapes, berries and honey should be harvested.

Miscellaneous goals to accomplish as I can: experiment with goat's milk lotion recipes and pursue the process to get it FDA approved for sale; hire my graphic designing step daughter to "brand" UdderMost Farm products and finish setting up my online store; investigate what it will take to become "Certified Naturally Grown".