All the work that went into preserving the harvest during the summer and autumn months is now paying off. My grandmother uses the apples we dried to make fried apple pies—her specialty and something worth fighting for, which we do! I slather my morning biscuits with preserves and dip my snack chips in Mom’s homemade salsa. All these handmade, garden-based delicacies make the bitter chill of winter that much more manageable.
This issue of
Hobby Farm Home continues the handmade theme with ideas and inspiration to keep your hands busy and your belly full. If the aroma of fresh-baked bread and sweets is what your heart (aka stomach) desires, consider an alternative to your standard flour. Discover the benefits other types of flour can offer and how to incorporate them into your cooking routine with tips and recipes from Adrianne L. Shtop in “Uncommon Baking Goods.” I’m looking forward to devouring a batch of Dangerous Brownies—my mouth is already watering!
If you’re looking for something to do that doesn’t have a negative effect on your glucose levels or waistline, try your hand at sewing a crazy quilt. These beautifully wild quilts break from traditional, repetitive patterns with lots of character and personalized touches, often created in the memory of a loved one who has passed. Erin McKay takes you along on her journey as she immortalizes her mother’s favorite people, places and things in a visually stunning work of art in “
Patchwork of Memories.” With a family full of quilt-aholics, I have a sneaking suspicion that this will make its way onto this year’s list of projects.
Speaking of projects, we received several compliments from readers inspired to recreate the gift ideas in our “Handmade From the Heart” article (November/December 2009). If you haven’t been able to shake the hand-crafting bug that started with the Christmas gift-giving season, perhaps you’ve found a new calling—and a new revenue stream. Check out “Exclusively Etsy” for tips on buying, marketing and selling on Etsy.com. Who knows, your favorite pastime could lead to an on-farm career—or, at the very least, pad your pocket for some Etsy.com shopping of your own.
Whether you’re looking for something to entertain the kids indoors (“Hands On: Painting a Barn Plaque”) or for a reason to brave the cold—dog sledding, anyone? (“Nature Calls”)—we’ve got you covered. So bundle up, stay warm and craft and cook to your heart’s and stomach’s content!
P.S. Be sure to check out our new reader-submitted column “Homespun” to see what motivates others like yourself to craft and work around the home and farmstead. Then drop us a line about your latest project at
hfh@bowtieinc.com