Intentional Living Archives - Lehman's Country LifeLehman's Country Life

What’s Happening on the Homestead: Sunflowers and Sunshine!

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Karen Geiser

We’re in the midst of summer and beautiful sunflowers have appeared. (Photo by Elizabeth Geiser)

What does July sunshine bring in Ohio? Some hot, sticky days to be sure but it also is the season of sunflowers, tomatoes, zucchini and more. After a cool, wet start to the garden season, the heat is making our popcorn and other plants grow almost in front of our eyes. It is now most pleasant to work in the garden in the early morning hours or the cool of the evening till we can’t see the weeds we are trying to pull. Popsicles made from homemade yogurt and fresh fruit are a main stay for getting through the afternoons. Continue reading →

What’s Happening On The Homestead: The Battle In The Garden

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Karen Geiser

Organic mulching is one way we help control weeds in our garden. (Photo by Elizabeth Geiser)

Around here, the busiest months in the garden for me are May, June and September. May is a planting flurry, September is a harvest and preservation marathon, and June is the month where we win or lose the battle against the weeds. Thankfully, long days are in our favor and I am often out working in the garden till dusk. This year in much of our area, gardeners and farmers are all out working anytime that raindrops aren’t falling. A few things are behind schedule but most of my plants are benefiting from the good moisture, however, the weeds are enjoying it too. Continue reading →

Meet Homesteader Jill Winger (Coming to Lehman’s July 13th!)

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Patrice Lewis

What’s wrong with Jill Winger? Did she take Laura Ingalls Wilder a bit too seriously? It’s a question worth examining when considering the lifestyle of this modern pioneer. Continue reading →

4 Ways to Make Better Butter

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Karen Geiser

Go beyond the basics with these easy butter making tips. (Read on to find out how to make molded butter, like pictured above. Photo by Elizabeth Geiser.)

Editor’s Note: June is National Dairy Month, so in celebration, we’ve asked local homesteader and butter expert Karen Geiser to give us tips for making better butter. So, get ready to churn – it’s going to be delicious!

If you come by the Lehman’s store on a Thursday, you likely have seen my son and me churning butter. It is amazing how many butter stories I hear each week, from reminiscing about churning with grandma to folks who do it on an industrial scale. The grandpas often comment to my 10-year-old son, “When I was your age, that was my job” while others jokingly remind me, “Honey, you know they sell butter in the store these days.” Besides being a great conversation starter during my demos and giving our arms a nice workout, making fresh butter for my family is definitely an act of love and we savor the taste and nutrition from our fresh butter. Continue reading →

What’s Happening on the Homestead: Fresh Rhubarb and Baby Chicks

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Karen Geiser

Spring is in full force on our homestead this month…baby chicks have arrived! (Photo by Elizabeth Geiser)

May has brought plenty of rain to Ohio but just enough sunshine for some productive days of working outdoors and we are enjoying the extended daylight. The lettuce seedlings, spinach, radishes and Japanese turnips are growing rapidly in the misty rain but as we wait on them to get to harvest size, we are relying heavily on our perennial vegetables at the supper table. Some of our favorite spring flavors are asparagus, rhubarb and winter onions (aka Egyptian walking onions.) It is nice to have numerous perennials in the garden that don’t require planting each year, just some light maintenance and harvesting. Several take a few years to get established but if you are planning to stay on your property long term, getting these perennial crops started is a worthy investment. Continue reading →

Living Off Grid 101: Water

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Doug and Stacy

Editor’s Note: They’re back! Our guest bloggers Doug and Stacy are sharing with us today their journey of providing water for their off-grid home.

The one thing we cannot live without is WATER. Somehow that thought escaped us when we bought our 11 acres in the Midwest. We, being Doug and Stacy who homestead off grid on YouTube and other social media, came straight from city life. The property we found had a little of everything except the most important thing which was a water source. The pond on the property was the only source for water, and we thought putting in a well could be a good option. What we didn’t realize was the average cost of a well in our area is $10,000 and up. This is with no guarantee that you will even hit water! We came to our property with no debt and so spending that kind of money was not in the plan. We knew that this lifestyle was going to require being solution focused and patient.
Continue reading →

Living Off Grid 101: Lighting

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Doug and Stacy

Stacy with oil lamp

Editor’s Note: Please welcome back our special guest bloggers Doug and Stacy from popular YouTube channel OFF GRID with DOUG & STACY! Eight years ago, they decided to leave the rat race, cut that average $100 a month electric bill, and live a much more simpler life. Today they’re sharing with us how they light their home without electricity.

One of the biggest things people take for granted is electricity. The ability to flip a switch and turn a light on is rarely thought about or questioned. When you live off the grid like we do and embrace the pioneer lifestyle, turning the lights on takes a bit more thought and effort. Continue reading →

Lehman’s Tiny House Has Arrived – Join Us For The Unveiling!

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Glenda Ervin

Lehman’s Tiny House has arrived!

Simple living in a small space might be just what you need. Big houses come with big bills and big chores and sometimes – big headaches. Which is why we’re pleased to announce the unveiling of Lehman’s Tiny House on a Tiny Homestead on April 20 at our store in Kidron, Ohio. There is no charge to attend the event, which will be held from 10 am to 3 pm. Continue reading →

Our Journey To A Simpler Life: Doug And Stacy’s Story

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Doug and Stacy

Doug and Stacy standing on the front porch of their off grid cabin

Editor’s Note: Today we’re welcoming two very special guest bloggers, Doug and Stacy from the popular YouTube channel OFF GRID with DOUG and STACY. They’re sharing with us their journey to a simpler life. Enjoy! Continue reading →

A Simpler Life Starts With Love

Posted on February 15, 2019 by AllisonErvin

As people, we love love. You love love, I love love, everyone loves love!

It feels great to love other people, things, places, everything. Feeling love is a fundamental part of what makes us human. It connects us all and gives us all something in common – we all want to love and be loved. The complex, wonderful thing that is ‘love’ guides all living things to act not only for themselves but for others, too, and that is what keeps the world going! Continue reading →

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Category Archives: Intentional Living

What’s Happening on the Homestead: Sunflowers and Sunshine!

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What’s Happening On The Homestead: The Battle In The Garden

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Meet Homesteader Jill Winger (Coming to Lehman’s July 13th!)

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4 Ways to Make Better Butter

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What’s Happening on the Homestead: Fresh Rhubarb and Baby Chicks

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Living Off Grid 101: Water

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Living Off Grid 101: Lighting

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Lehman’s Tiny House Has Arrived – Join Us For The Unveiling!

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Our Journey To A Simpler Life: Doug And Stacy’s Story

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A Simpler Life Starts With Love

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Ideas for a Simpler Life

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